Beauty Blog » Tips & Tricks

We all want to take care of our skin, and while many with acne problems or oily skin issues only focus on anti-acne washes and oil-free facial pads that dry out the skin, it’s important to remember that the face needs moisture too in order to look healthy and elastic. Before the winter really sets in, think about the lip balms you will need to protect your lips. Your lips get especially chapped, more so than your cheeks or hands during the winter, because lips have only a very thin layer of skin and are exposed to the brunt of the cold air, just from your breath. So, be nice and take care of your lips. Pucker up!

Here are some of the top winter lip balms on the market. You want to look for a lip balm that has SPF in it (because lips can get sunburned too–it’s not pretty!) and you want to look for a tube or dispenser that is going to collect the least amount of germs. While there are those nice balms in the tiny little pots, think about how many times you are going to reach it to hurriedly balm your lips without washing your hands…and again, and again, and again. It’s flu season, and the last thing you want to be doing is putting contaminated lip balm on your lips–that’s almost a sure fire way to get sick!

Also, please, don’t share lip balms. I know it may seem silly and you don’t want to seem rude to your friends, but cheap and competent lip balms are only $1-2 at the store, and there’s really no need to be spreading germs in such an obvious way.

Here are the top lip balms on the market today:

Ultra-Hydrating Lip Protector SPF 20 Gel from MissionSkinCare.com: $3.99

Designed especially for athletes, Mission Skin Care’s Ultra-Hydrating Lip Protector has SPF 20 and a good clean reusable tube. It is also preservative free!

Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Balm from NeimanMarcus.com: $35.00

By no means your average, store bought lip balm, the Amore Pacific Lip Balm revitalizes and replenishes your lips just like a normal balm, except it’s powerful antioxidants have a slow-release over 8 hours, which keep your lips evenly smooth and soft throughout the day. Great for those who don’t want the oily, greased look of slathered on lip balm for the first 30 minutes, and then have to reapply 30 minutes later.

Labbri Lip Treatment from DermStore.com: Marked down from $48.00, now $38.40 with free shipping!

The Labbri Lip Treatment has the same natural oils as your lips, but with an extra twist: It has all natural, no preservative ingredients that help seal in and protect your natural oils and replenish them at the same time! A very unique spray dispenser as well, which still requires finger application, but for the organics among us this is a beautiful design with a great product.

Shop for affordable lip balm at Smarter.com.

We all know how pesky acne can be. It persists, unfortunately, in small doses all through the teens and twenties, and unless you have the proper products to keep acne at bay you are going to be wrestling one uneven topography of a face from day to day. For confidence’s sake, let’s take some tips from the experts and look for the best washes available to keep you looking and feeling your very best.

Top acne washes rated from AcneWash.org:

1. ProNexin: Rated the best for having the most effective treatment without using harsh chemicals, so it doesn’t irritate your skin.

Best Price Online: $28.99

2. Epuri Purifying Foam Cleanser: Heralded for it’s use of organic materials which restore the pH levels of your skin, making oils more balanced and less likely to cause breakouts.

Best Price Online: 1 month trial for $39.99 from Epuri.com

3. Oxycerin: Praised for using tea tree oil to soothe any wayward side effects from the harsh acne fighting agents, which will help prevent acne breakouts and redness in the future.

Best Price Online:: $28.99

Shop for more acne wash at Smarter.com.

Some of you might think I’m crazy for recommending this, but I swear by it now.  Shaving my legs with hair conditioner has changed my life!  As someone with super sensitive skin, it was impossible to shave without getting out of the shower with little red shaving cuts all over both of my legs.  But now!  The difference is amazing!

I used shaving cream for many years, and then made the switch to an eco-friendly shaving cream.  The eco-friendly one, made by Kiss My Face, smelled great but was actually worse on my skin that traditional shaving creams I had used in the past.  I was complaining about my shaving cuts one day when my girlfriend suggested using hair conditioner, I had heard of this trick before but never tried it.  I happened to have an old bottle of Charles Worthington London Moisturizing Conditioner in my shower.  A light formula, it was perfect for shaving and I’ve used it since, with no more cuts to complain of.

How is this eco-friendly?  Well, you aren’t having to buy so many different products, first of all.  You can buy one conditioner and make it last for use on your hair and legs.  This is economical.  Fewer bottles means less waste of course.  Not convinced?  Okay, if you really want to get crazy, go buy a bottle of eco-friendly, natural conditioner and use that for conditioning and shaving.  Whatever you end up using, your legs will be smooth, and I think the shave lasts longer. I  couldn’t find the exact Charles Worthington Conditioner that I’ve been using, I know it’s from Walgreens but it wasn’t on their website.  I did dig up a couple of different ones that can be used just the same…you’ll have to report results now!

Organix Hydrating Tea Tree Mint Conditioner: $6.99

Yes To Carrots Pampering Hair Mud Conditioner, Paraben Free: $7.99

Vitamin Conditioner, Blueberry Avocado: $6.99

These are just a few moderately priced eco-friendly conditioners for normal to dry hair.  You can, of course, go cheaper or more expensive based on what you like to treat your hair with.  $1.99 Suave would probably work great on your legs, but I also know this doesn’t quite do it for every woman’s hair.  As far as razors go, I don’t spend a lot of money on the fancy ones anymore.  Perhaps this is why my legs suffered?  Who knows…but they are happy now!

Is it just me or are these two wearing the same shade of fuchsia lip gloss?  It sure looks that way. I guess this is an okay color for big smiling mouths.  Based on my observations though, Hip/Hop R&B singer Ciara looks like a young Whitney Houston here, and Kim Kardashian looks like the one brown haired barbie doll Mattel used to make back in the day.  I dislike both of their outfits, a lot.  Makeup isn’t bad, but Kardashian always goes so heavy on the lips AND eyes.  I wish her makeup artist would lighten up on one or the other.  Remember what we’ve learned in the past?  Dramatic is good on one (lips or eyes) it shouldn’t be both…its too overwhelming.  If you’re going to wear heavy, glossy, bright lips you want little to nothing on the eyes…and vice versa.  And it appears to me that Ciara got the message on that one.

Here are both ladies at the Los Angeles premiere of The Orphan at the Mann Theatre in the Westwood Village.  Since we are smack dab in the middle of yet another hot summer here in Los Angeles, it is of course almost absolutely impossible to go without seeing a celebrity (A,B,C or D list) in their bikini.  Now, this girl looks like she is modeling PINK in a Victoria’s Secret Catalog.  Wouldn’t you Agree?

Pictured here in Malibu, she looks great, cute ruffled Juicy Couture swimsuit, good beach body and tan, and her hair looks fabulous!  AnnaLynne McCord is her name, she’s on 90210–the new one, and I’ve only seen one episode but her hair is always curly on it if I remember correctly.  Don’t know whether she kept hers salty or not, but it it’s a great look and an example of how to work the beach hair.

Katherine Heigl just made an appearance on David Letterman in this shocking blue dress…

She looks good, I can’t decide whether I like that dress or not.  But, I do know I do not like her hair brown.  For that matter, it’s not even a true, rich brown…it looks golden on top…and this can look mousey.  Heigl is gorgeous, a true, natural born beauty.  I wish she would just stay blonde, it suits her and she wears it well.  Her makeup looks good though, smoky, bronzy eyes, with a nude shimmery lip.  Very on point with the current trend.  I have to admit though, I do love seeing her looking like a real bombshell with her long blonde hair and red lipstick on.

Image Source: people.com

Curly haired girls should understand where I’m coming from on this one: how annoying is it to leave the house with wet hair?  I’ve done it hundreds, millions of times!  As a curly girl myself, we have been instructed to let the tendrils air dry, otherwise deal with frizz.  But this can take forever.  If I have to allow for natural air drying after shampooing, I need to at least leave a good hour for this to take place.  I had to do it this morning!  And it still wasn’t completely dry when I was driving to work.  Okay. E nough whining.  It’s not so bad in the summer, the wet hair acts as a natural coolant, but in case you are wondering, there are ways to style wet hair, and it doesn’t necessarily mean slicking it back with heavy product.

If you are in a hurry and looking to style wet hair out of the shower, comb it out and if you part it in the middle or to the side, do that after brushing.  Tousle a bit with finger tips, and then what I usually do to avoid my hair getting out of control is twist the wet hair into a low, but and secure with some bobby pins.  The front of the hair and crown will begin to air dry first and since it is groomed back, frizz should be minimal to none.  Once you feel the bun begin to dry slightly, release and tousle once again.

Styling wet hair on the beach or by the pool?  Since you will be protecting you hair from outside elements, it’s always smart to bring some sort of styling product along with.  This only makes sense, and it doesn’t have to be fancy, you can make it yourself.  Don’t wanna spend?  Combine a couple of dollops of conditioner and water in a spray bottle, mix and throw into your purse or bag.  Keep this on hand when coming out of the ocean or chlorine pool, your hair will need the extra moisture after being exposed to the salt and sun.  You can also spray this on prior to going into the water.  If you are going swimming in a pool, a smart thing to do would be to rinse hair with fresh water first, so the strands won’t absorb so much of the chlorine.  And as I’ve mentioned before, if you’ve spent time in the ocean…leave the hair salty!  You will have amazing body, texture and volume.

Image Source: allure.com

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for hair care products.

Even though I really don’t care for her…today I will show you how to get those luscious lips of Angelina Jolie’s, or at least make my best effort to.

This idea popped into my head last night at 10:30 p.m. while cruising the aisles of my local drugstore, as I usually do on a late weeknight after work.  I was in need of a new lipstick and came across some version of a Cover Girl lip plumping lipstick that supposedly gives you a fuller pout.  It was a nice color…Honey Rose to be exact and it was cheap, only $7.99.

So, I went for it and put it on this afternoon while getting ready for work, and to my surprise…the lipstick worked!  There is some sort of ingredient in it that makes the lips tingle, kind of like the secret ingredient in Lip Venom, but not as painful.  (For those of you who have ever tried Lip Venom…you know the sting that I am referring to.)  Incredifull Lipcolor is what its called, and yes it made my lips look full!  It plumped them up with the minty/tingly sensation and the color goes on smooth and creamy looking, not matte, not glossy.  Totally worth 8 bucks.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to get this lipstick, and you may all not like the results because they may differ from lip to lip.  But to continue on in our quest to get the legendary, iconic Jolie pout, the first step is to find a decent lipliner.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive, fancy brand.  As long as you pick one that is a neutral color, something along the lines of nude, or fleshtone, or a very brownish rose color.  I can remember for the longest time (particularly late 90’s) that MAC’s Lip Pencil in Spice was all the rage.

I mean, every woman in my immediate family owned that thing…and still might!  It was a good color.  This time around though, I would go for a lighter nude…and if you feel confused or overwhelmed, just be sure to pick something with the actual words “nude” or “naked” in the title…you should be good.

Line the lipline with your “naked” pencil, and don’t be afraid to use a heavy hand!  Next, fill in the lips with the same pencil, and top with either a simple lip balm like Blistex or something, OR a similarly colored nude lipstick.  Last, get ready to pucker up.

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more nude lip liner.
Discounts on lip balm.

Check out the following tips on how to keep your breath fresh during DATE NIGHT! 

Meal Time:

Choose wisely when placing your order. Personally if it is a first date I tend to choose items off the menu that can be sliced into small pieces and chewed quietly in my mouth. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and the last thing you want is lipstick on your chin and hoovering down chunks of hamburger to ruin the mood. Ha!

Menu Tips:

• Meat eaten in large quantities can cause bad breath, mostly due to the digestion process, which begins in the mouth.
• Carbohydrates cause the strongest odors in the mouth – sugars, starches, and cellulose
• Milk intolerance is also a cause of bad breath. If you are sensitive to dairy products – steer clear of ice cream desserts!

After Your Meal…

• Lick the inside of your wrist. This is the best test to see if your breath is foul.
• Use dental floss. Bad breath can be caused by food caught in your teeth.
• Chew your garnish! Parsley is a well-known home remedy for bad breath.
• Order the fruit dessert. Fresh fruits help cleanse the mouth after a meal and flush away odor-causing bacteria

At the Bar…

• Alcohol dries out the mouth, which reduces saliva production.
• Mojitos contain lots of fresh mint, so order one and ask for an extra mint garnish to chew on after you finish your drink.
• Water will help thwart the dehydration effect of alcohol. Order one glass of water for every drink and you’ll stay sober and sweet!
• Alcohol consumption causes digestive problems which leads to bad breath. In addition, alcohol dries out the mouth, which reduces saliva production.

I hope these tips prove helpful for you on your next dating venture. Lord knows that there is enough to be worried about without worrying if you mouth smells like sewage. Good Luck!

If you are interested in taking some discount nutritional supplements to help aide your breath, click here.

I am actually a wax girl myself, but there are times when you are in a pickle and need to get rid of the growth stat!

Also, let’s face it waxing can get pricey and some women just don’t need to do it in order to achieve silken smoothness. I am not one of those women. The reason I choose to wax is because whenever I shave I tend to get bikini razor burn. I think my bikini skin is too sensitive or I just wasn’t doing it right.

Well time heals all wounds and I have learned a tip or two since then. Check out these tips and spare yourself the bumpy, ugly and not to mention embarrassing mess.

Tips on how to shave your bikini area:

1. Always use a new razor.
2. Shave as soon as you get into the shower/bath. Do not “soak” in water as this gives time for your skin to absorb the moisture and swell up.
3. Shave the bikini area first so that the razor is sharpest.
4. Apply your favorite shaving gel, home-made secret mix, etc. Give it plenty of time to sit on the skin before shaving.
5. After shaving, apply an after shaving treatment that contains lidocaine.
6. Avoid friction from tight clothing or human contact immediately after shaving.
7. If bumps surface, don’t squeeze them or pick at them. Use Neosporin or similar product to heal them faster.

* Infant’s diaper rash cream will get rid of razor burn quickly — apply it over an existing rash or where you fear one might develop.*

 Product Tips: 

I pooled my girlfriends and they came up with the following suggestions:

Razors - men’s razors are apparently nicer - try the Mach 3 - has more blades and gives a nice, clean shave.

or my sensitive skinned ladies suggested…

Shick Intuition Plus Razor - it apparently provides sensitive skin with shea butter, aloe and vitamin E. I think it creates it’s own lather so you don’t need to buy a separate shaving gell or foam.

That should help. Also, if I missed any key tips to avoid or treat bikini razor burn - feel free to share your tips with the rest of us!

I love shiny black things: shiny black heels, shiny black bangs, shiny black nail polish, shiny black tights. Hmm…Could it be the goth girl in me? Now that black is the new black, and biker chic, is well, so chic, I say hurrah for black lip gloss! I know I may not be of popular opinion and really, one couldn’t rock this look everyday but hot damn, it is just so… HOT. Could you wear it to a Kings of Leon concert? Yes! Yes! with a cropped denim jacket and fierce heels. This look debuted on Fall runways and lo and behold, when Yves Saint Laurent came out with their Pur Lip Gloss this fall, the gloss sold out immediately.

But here is what I propose: wear it as eye gloss and keep the rest of your face soft and muted. This would make it daring and pretty and be a bit more wearable if you are going for the rocker eye. That being said, eye gloss can be a hassle to wear and can slip slide about. Constant touch-ups are needed, which is kind of funny, because then you find yourself saying things like: I have to go to the little girl’s room to gloss my eyes. But hey, why not? I find the look personally smoking. Make-up artists have smeared vaseline on model eyelids forever to give it that dewy look, so why not do it with some color? Here is another tip: Rosebud Lip Salve over some neutral peach shadow. Blend. Be forewarned: It is messy, feels weird, but god, it looks like you just came breathlessly out of a meadow, looking glowy.
Also, in other news: This month, Lancome is coming out with a limited edition of Color Fever Gloss in glossy, raven black. I am such a beast for limited editions. I cannot wait till it hits stores. The gloss is for your lips as well as your peepers. Keep an eye out, girls.

Ok, and final note: I am SO loving Christian Dior’s Black Sequins Vernis ($19).

It is full of silver sparkles and is perfect for the holidays. Pair it with some innocent (or not so innocent *wink*) make-up and you will look edgy and pretty at the same time. Try it. Let me know what you think.

To shop for an array of discount cosmetics and make-up, click here.  

On Sunday me and my best friends went to Pasadena and immersed ourselves in female bonding. Which roughly translates to brunch (w/ Mimosas) followed by leisurely walking up and down Colorado Blvd. window shopping and shopping-shopping. It was good times!

Tipsy shopping is perhaps the best version of shopping out there. Makes elbowing that chick who keeps eyeing the shirt you are holding bearable.

Well we wandered into Sephora and quickly broke formation and went to different parts of the store. I headed towards the make-up brushes, where I was greeted by this lovely Indian girl who was sporting a serious female mustache. (Mind you the gal had great eyelashes and it was evident that if she didn’t tweeze she would probably have a unibrow as well..) To be clear I mean she didn’t just have the occasional 2 or 3 random long whiskers around the corners of her mouth, she had full stache attack! My Asian brothers would have been envious of her robust growth is my point.

Which inspired this post, HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR FEMALE MUSTACHE?

Do you suffer from great big, chain smoking, trailer park mustache?

Solution 1: SHAVE /WAX

Personally I get mine waxed, it’s become a beauty combo meal. I get my bi-weekly mani-pedicure and I throw in a lip wax for good measure. Now keep in mind I am Asian so my growth is not really furry mammoth status, more like faint peach fuzz. If I were the lass from Sephora I mentioned above I would go once a week!

I was always told NOT to shave! The conspiracy theory is it will grow back thicker and hairier! I don’t know from experience if this is the case but I know some people who do, and their upper lip looks fine to me. Plus it may be cheaper. You could always have it threaded too. The cool thing about threading is that the hair definitely grows in finer since it is being pulled from the root. (If anyone knows from first hand experience that shaving is bad, please do share)

Do you have a crazy Hitler mustache with additional chin p^bes?!

Solution 2: Laser Removal / Electrolysis

For you ladies that God neglected during the creation process (I kid) if you have heavy to severe growth you might want to crack your piggy banks and research Laser Removal or Electrolysis. In all honesty I would consider doing this for my bikini area, I am just afraid the skin down there would be too sensitive. Also, I knew this one girl who did electrolysis on her face and she got a slight discoloration on her upper lip. I think her skin was sensitive to the light or whatever. I think I’ll stick to my waxes for now…

Do you have Purple Rain peach fuzz?

Solution 3: Tweeze / Bleaching

I nearly forgot to mention that you could always tweeze if you have a handful of long cat whiskers. I would only recommend this if you have a couple of stray hairs that grow abnormally long and don’t require full wax and such. They say that tweezing loosens the skin due to the tugging, and may eventually cause premature saggy skin. Hmm, I don’t think this is too much of a concern around the lips, but is something to consider around the eyes.

If you have very moderate, fine, peach fuzz hair growth you could always bleach it! The logic here is to lighten the hair thus making it less of an eye sore. Personally I think this is sortuv counter productive. The way I see it is if you have to bleach it, you can see it and turning it platinum doesn’t make it invisible!

If you are spending the time and money to bleach it, why not wax it and get rid of it?

Lastly:

Do you have a Yosemite Sam quality mustache like this lass?

Solution 4: JOIN THE CIRCUS

…and I am done.