CC Beauty Live: Quick & Dirty-Free Your Mane

I’ve introduced you all to a lot of products throughout CC Beauty Live, hair products in particular. We’ve done a few hair oils and what not, but I have to tell you that Free Your Mane really impressed me. I absolutely adore products that aim to be chemical free, and this company has made that its mission and keep things affordable at the same time. Haircare is something that should be one of the top priorities in your beauty routine next to skincare. Your hair needs a lot of love, and it can be difficult to keep it healthy when products are filled with sulfates and chemicals.

Free Your Mane sent me their Sulfate Free Shampoo ($16), Daily Detangling Conditioner ($16), and Baobab Brilliant Restorative Hair Oil ($25) with “ultra-moisturizing Argan Oil from Morocco, anti-oxidant rich Pomegranate Seed Oil and Sweet Almond Oil.” This hair oil is fantastic and has made my split ends almost disappear. The shampoo and conditioner are wonderful, and you can really tell a difference compared to products containing sulfates.

Watch below! Read More »


Protect Your Hair This Winter

As a native Minnesotan, the frigid cold of winter is nothing new to me. And while the snow might be pretty sometimes, dry skin and hair never is. Keeping your hair moisturized in the winter can be difficult, but this College Candy girl has worked at a hair salon for three years and is going to share her knowledge on the best products to help your hair weather out the winter on a college budget. (And that’s the end of my talking in third person…)

To have your best hair in the winter, experts say you have to start with the basics.

Starting with a moisturizing shampoo is crucial. And there are plenty of them out there that won’t cost you a fortune. My favorites: Read More »


Candy Dish: Oh God, I Hope This Happens

jon gosselin smokes

Best. Hollywood couple. Ever?

Michael Buble is a pot-head.

Your daily delicious dose of RPatz.

The 10 worst drug store shampoos.

I knew Angelina wasn’t perfect.

Pick up a dude this Halloween weekend!


Lusting for Lush Cosmetics

lush-all-natural-cosmetics copyThe first time I heard about Lush cosmetics I blew it off as an expensive Bath and Body Works. Little did I know, I would become a fanatical Lush fan. Earlier this summer, for a “just because I love you” present, my boyfriend sent me a huge package of Lush products. (He’s cute, I know.)  And now I’ve found something I love more than him: anything and everything Lush.

Although I have fallen in love with Lush’s unique products and packaging, it is the company’s goals and mission that keeps me coming back (and spending the extra cash).

They make it their business to use fresh ingredients, make the products by hand (how many places actually do this anymore?), not partake in animal testing, and protect the planet by making the products ‘green’ or vegetarian/vegan friendly. With minimal preservatives in their products, I have truly been refreshed by the products I have tried and I believe that using fresh products like seaweed and avocados has made a difference in the way these bath bombs and gels work.

Buying cosmetics is important to every girl, but in the current state of the economy, spending money on lavish products may seem silly. However, with a company promising to help the environment and its customers with the freshest and hand-made products, dishing out the extra few bucks is worth it… especially when it comes to these guys: Read More »


Makeup 101: Beat the Grease and Frizz This Summer

FrizzyHair copyThere’s nothing I love more than summer, and sometimes my hair agrees.  I love the waves that salt water puts in my hair, and the fact that I can just throw it up and go out.  But what I don’t love is the greasiness and frizziness that accompanies the excessive heat.  If I’m not looking over-gelled like Danny in Grease, then I have a minor fro going on comparable to a clown.

Shockingly, neither of these are good looks.

But what am I supposed to do? If I let my hair go naturally, it blows up Monica-Gellar-goes-to-Hawaii-style. But if I add product, my hair becomes a slick, oily mess.  One summer problem would be enough; dealing with both of these can be tricky.  Luckily, I’ve devoted lots of time to fixing this problem before the heat sets in this summer and I’ve found some products that can help tame these heinous summer looks.

Control the Oil:

Shampoo: Oily hair is actually caused by an oily scalp.  Your scalp produces sebum (oil) and it transfers to your locks.  So when you are looking for a shampoo to combat the oil, you want one that will control the root of the problem.  Shampoos labeled “Sebo-control” are designed to remove the oil from your scalp, like this shampoo from L’Oreal. After lather/rinse/repeating with it, I’ve noticed that the grease stays away longer, especially when hair is straight.

To Condition or Not to Condition: If your hair is only mildly oily and you want to condition, make sure you don’t condition the roots of your hair.  If your hair is especially oily, condition only twice a week and just apply a small amount of conditioner to the ends. Read More »


Candy Dish: The Spawn of Satan Weds Barbie

cover.jpgMr. and Mrs. Spencer Pratt. I just barfed.

Even your lips can Go Green.

Tips for bullsh*tting an essay so you can go out and still pass that class.

Britney’s looking goooood on the cover of Rolling Stone.

Shampoo can clean more than just hair.

The most expensive college dorms (and they probably still suck).

The ins and outs of walking in heels.

Gratuitous hottie link. We couldn’t help it.

The Pink Sari Gang – standing up for women’s rights.

The best site for fashionistas on a budget. (That’s us!)

Tom and Katie have only been married for 2 years?


Candy Dish: Has Angelina Had Work Done?

angelinaplastic1.jpg

Angelina is looking freakishly plastic in London.

Check out Justin Bobby’s band on MySpace.

Out of the limelight and into the sunlight: Sarah Palin sunbathing.

Wacko sports traditions!

The perils of fashionable footwear.

Some really creative answers to the question, “What have you been smoking?”

Instant bug killer and other unconventional uses for your shampoo.

A cup size bigger for just $19.99?

Scarlett claws back at Lindsay.

Gag gifts for the holidays!


How You Do: Removing Grease Stains from Clothing

laundrylady.JPG[I used to think I knew everything...until I found myself stranded in the middle of adulthood with no map and no one to guide me when I got lost. I have learned a lot since then - from how to balance a checkbook to how to sew on a button - and will share my wisdom with you. Every Monday I will be back to teach you how to do something useful, even if it also happens to be completely random. Because, hey, you never know when you just might need to know how to change a tire...or mix a perfect martini.]

It happens—you’re out to dinner (most likely with someone you find attractive), you order some sweet-potato fries, and suddenly the glob of grease that was on its way to your mouth is blossoming all over your new white sweater/ blouse/ pants/ tank/ beautiful item of clothing. You might have to keep that glob around for the night (and swear to god that it is the only thing attractive boy is looking at), but you can get it out. Yes, even without mom’s help.

The first rule of thumb for getting rid of (embarassing) grease stains is more of a don’t than a do: don’t toss that sucker in the laundry basket when you get home and “deal with it later.” Detergent and water will NOT remove grease stains, so you’re going to have to get tough.

Now onto the do…

Perhaps the easiest thing to try is a stain-removal spray. You can find them in any store right by the detergents, and if you spray them on stains pre-wash and rub them in, they’re supposed to take any spots right out. I say “supposed to” because my spray is a little full of itself and doesn’t work quite as advertised.

If that doesn’t work, this page will totally bail you out. This person has compiled dozens of tips featuring numerous household items that will likely be able to save you in a pinch.

Most successful for me have been the following: Read More »


Candy Dish: Don’t worry guys, Miley’s still with us

miley-cyrus-peace-out-1.jpgMiley’s not dead!!! YAY!

Brad Pitt channeling Charlie Chaplin!

Men are taking advantage of Paris Hilton!

What’s the right bang?

What’s gonna change now that change has come?

Baby Simpson-Wentz tricks Mommy!

Wanna roll in the benjamins? Don’t become a professor!

Shampoo gone bad? It’s still useful…

The world’s youngest king

…and hottest Prime Minister

Man eaten alive by tigers…yikes!

Jamie-Lynn Sigler hearts Turtle? Yes, it’s true.

How sick are you of Billy Mays?


Welcome Back, Curly Hair!

Every once in great a while, the Gods of Fashion send word down to the mortals that curly hair is in. And the peasants rejoice.

But, when said peasants actually look at the Fashion Gods’ pictures, they are whole-heartedly disappointed. All too often, to these arbiters of taste, “curly” means “straight with a very slight artificial wave about half-way down.” Take, for instance, these “natural-looking curls:”

fake curls

And the peasants cry.

That hair is beautiful, but realistic? Hell no.

But this year, this year, goddammit, it supposedly the year of the curl. Celebrities are donning curls, stylists are throwing away the irons and magazines are telling us to “embrace our natural texture.” Too bad, for many of us, that is far easier said than done.

For a lot of us curlies, our hair has always been the bane of our existence (unless we were around in the 80′s). The 90′ s and most of the 00′s have told us that if our hair is “big,” it’s dated, or out of fashion. Curls are okay…as long as they’re flat. Which, quite frankly, natural curls are not. So, we attempt to flatten and – bottles of gel later – we don’t look fashionable; we look like drowned rats. Read More »