holiday hiatus

You might have noticed we've been absent around here. Unfortunately, we are enjoying our Christmasing so much that you might just have to wait a few more weeks for some real posts. Sorry, dudettes.

Anyways...some changes might be coming your way, so don't give up on us just yet.

Breaking Dawn..or just Breaking Out

do you know how easy it is to break out? its pathetically easy and sometimes we dont even know what we're doing wrong. there's always the emotional aspect of stressing out or being under too much pressure at one time, or even it just simply being our time of the month...but are there some things we can do to prevent other breakouts? why yes, there are.

Conditioning. it works wonders for your hair and i'd never recommend someone to go a day without it, but. did you know that conditioners contain emolients that clog pores? so always try to either wash your face and body after you rinse out your conditioner or be sure and rinse off your back and face before getting out.

Water Temps. Sounds crazy, huh? the temperature of your water when washing your face can affect your break outs? it can. the most effective way to wash is actually to begin by wetting your face with warm water, applying face wash, and rinsing with cool water. the warm water in the beginning opens your pores and the cooler water closes them back up. BUT tricky thing is that if you end with warm water too it can actually help bacteria to grow causing acne.

Wash Yo' Pillow. have you ever noticed waking up a little greasier than you went to bed? yeah, because everyone's bodies work all night long and as a result, you prespire. buut, your bed is the one that suffers it. and sleeping on your sheets and pillow repeatedly for long amounts of time will cause breakouts.

Cell Phones. Or any types of phone really. if you use it and talk on it frequently, you may start to see breakouts on one cheek or side of your face more than the other, its your phone. simply get rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball and clean that sucker up. personally i try to clean mine about once a week.

Moisture. did you know that drying your skin out can cause acne as well? its simple to fix ofcourse, just moisturize it. but be sure to look for oil-free products when looking, for your face you'll need to use face moisturizers because regular body lotions have too much in them and can also clog up your pores and cause breakouts.

Face Touching. Dont be a face toucher, no one likes a face toucher. its the most obvious way to cause breakouts. dont pick at your face and avoid touching your face with your hands ALWAYS.

Operation: Hydration

Colder weather means drier weather, especially out here in the west. I grew up next to the Great Lakes, and we didn't have dry weather. Ever. So this desert stuff is a whole new ball game for me. However, I have found a few products to beat this arid climate.

First off is Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. Love this stuff.

This is a great all-over lotion. It is fragrance free, which is great for my sensitive skin. It absorbs quickly and doesn't leave an oily residue. I like to lotion up after I shower. Apply to damp skin to lock in the moisture. I also carry a tube in my purse for when my skin starts to feel a little parched. If you like to apply hand lotion throughout the day, make sure you give your cuticles and nails some love, too. They tend to dry out in the winter months also.


Another product in my arsenal is good ol' Vaseline.

I have a tube of Vaseline Lip Therapy with me at all times because I can't stand to have chapped lips. Vaseline also works really well on rough elbows and knees. I like to slather it on before bed. Use a terry cloth sweat band to cover your elbows if you like. That way, you will protect your sheets and give your elbows a better chance to absorb the Vaseline. This also works really well on cuticles. Cracked cuticles can be painful. Just rub a little Vaseline on your cuticles a few times a week, and you can avoid them cracking. Wear gloves to bed for extra protection. What about rough, cracked feet? Mine get that way sometimes, especially in the heel area. Rub some Vaseline on before bed, and pop on a pair of socks. By morning, you'll be in better shape.


For you contact wearers, dry weather can be hard on the eyes. I know when I first moved away from my beloved Midwest, I had a hard time keeping my contacts wet. Now that I've lived here for a few years, it's less of a problem. Nevertheless, I still carry eye drops with me.

Refresh Optive is where it's at. These eye drops are boss. They are safe for us contact wearers, but even if contacts aren't your thing, these drops will work for you. They keep your eyes moist no matter the weather.


Sometimes in the winter, my hair gets a bad case of dry-frizz. Ew. To combat this, I am a big believer in serums. Connie outlined pretty well what to look for in a serum (see here), but I'll tell you two products that have really worked for me. First, Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Serum, and second, Fantasia IC Olive Moisturizing Shine Serum Hair Polisher.

Both of these are bombspice. Just a little goes a loooong way. Add either one of these products to damp-dry hair, and say goodbye to the frizzies. Instead, your hair will be super-soft and lightly fragrant (both of these serums smell great). The Garnier Fructis serum might be a little easier to get your hands on, since it is sold at most drugstores or retailers like Walmart or Target. The Fantasia Hair Polisher might be available at those stores, too, but I definitely haven't seen it as often. If you can find it, snatch it up! I have been using my bottle for 2 or 3 years now, and I still have about a 1/3 of it left. I use it almost every day in the fall and winter, and a little less in the spring and summer. Just a few drops is all it takes to keep your hair hydrated.


One more quick tip for staying hydrated: drink water.

If you aren't drinking enough water, your skin will dry out unaided by the weather.


Well, that's all folks! Don't let dry skin, nails, or hair get you down this winter!

another heads up...

Head on over to Recipe Girl for a Shabby Apple Dress giveaway!

heads up!

Hello, friends! I don't know about you, but I love me some Sephora. There is a giveaway over at Recipe Girl, so head on over for a chance to win a $75 gift card.

You can thank me later.


Also, what are some topics you would like to see here on Girly Girls? Don't be shy. Give us a shout-out!

costuming

Halloween is right around the corner! If you are doing the last minute scramble, don't fret. As long as you are willing to get creative, a great costume is at your fingertips.

First, consider what you already have. Most of my costumes in the last few years have been comprised of stuff I found in my apartment.

Example 1: I was a Greek Goddess three years running. (I move a lot: new place/new people...it's like it was a whole new costume.) I found a bed sheet in my room and paired it with a bit of leaf garland that was adorning my apartment.

Rad every time.

Example 2: Last year, I got a hand-me-down green organza skirt. I knew I wanted to wear it in some capacity for Halloween. So I brainstormed. I came up with a few ideas, but I ended up going with Mother Nature. I wore the green floor-length skirt and wrapped myself in some leaf garland (are you sensing a pattern here?). I topped off my look with green glamour eyes.

Not a flattering pic, but you get the idea.

Example 3: Lady Gaga. Love her.

Not my best work, but if you'll forgive me for that and my slouchy pose, I'll forgive you for not having a costume yet. Oh snap!

Next, think about what you can borrow and who you can borrow from. My costume this year is made up of clothes I'm borrowing from someone else. Was it a bit awkward asking a boy if I could wear his pants? Yes. But sooo worth it. Didn't cost me a cent, and it turns out he was more than willing to loan me his clothes.

Since I don't have a picture of this year's ensemble yet, here is another costume that I borrowed:

I know what you are thinking: Best. Costume. Ever. Borrowing is boss.

Third, take a look at thrift stores. Thrift stores tend to have awesome finds for cheap. Don't be afraid to venture into sections you normally wouldn't. A male friend of mine found a purple blazer in the women's section that perfectly completed his rocker outfit. I also found a great 80s-style dress at a thrift store for the low low price of $8. I might even wear it to one of the Halloween shindigs I attend this year. What an investment.

We. Are. Hot.

If you are still coming up empty, get punny. Clever costumes are memorable. In high school, I dressed as a cereal (serial) killer for the annual Boo Ball. I glued plastic knives to mini boxes of cereal, then attached the boxes to myself. A little corny, but it was definitely unique. I've also seen men dress up as "God's gift to women" more than a few times. Simply wrap yourself as a present labeled "To: Women   From: God." At least you'll get a chuckle.

My personal favorite:

If all else fails, I suppose you can go buy a costume. But where's the fun in that?

Penny Pingleton, I Love You!

Hokay, so Halloween. you know the classic musical turned movie "Hairspray!"? :D great one huh? well personally my favorite character is Penny Pingleton! shes fun, funny, quirky and cute. SO, she's ofcourse known most for her hair..

so how do you get her fabulous do? lemme tell ya.

i first started with straight hair parted down the middle, and your hair doesn't have to be perfectly flat ironed or anything, just smoothed out.



the next step can be done one of two ways. first remember to leave some of your bangs down to frame your face..but to create the beehive on top of your head you can either tease your hair using hairspray and a comb or use a BumpIt (i recommend a BumpIt because this is considerably less damaging to your hair) and after you've pulled your hair about half up into a bump, secure in back with a discreet rubber band.



now, easily pull the remainder of your hair into two high piggietails and get your curling iron/curlers or curling instrument of choice ready because you're almost done!



lastly curl your piggie tails in sections, i did two curls in each one..but feel free to do as many as you want! and also, if you want you can grab a small piece of hair from the bottom of the piggy tail to wrap around and bobby pin to hide the elastic you used to secure your hair.


and voila! your done!

Halloween How-To's: Glammed-Out Eyes

An eyeball! Creepy! It must be Halloween time...

I don't know about you, but I love halloween. I actually love all holidays. I just love a good excuse to get excited, really. At halloween-time I not only get to decorate (which is oh-so-fun), but I have the added bonus of dressing up! (insert little-girl squeal)

It probably reveals too much about me that I thoroughly enjoy covering my face in shimmery makeup one day a year, but boy-oh-boy do I enjoy it. Here's the great part: glammed-out makeup is something you can add to almost any costume. Since eye makeup is my favy-fav, I'm going to show you how to do my special glammed-out eyes.

You will need:
-shimmery eye shadow, neutral in color (I'll be using white)
-eye shadow, in the color(s) of your choice (I'll be using green)
-glitter, optional
-eye liner, liquid or felt-tip recommended
-mascara

***I apologize in advance for my poor photography skills. These pictures do NOT do this look justice. To get a better look, just click on any picture. Be careful, though, since you might not want to see a close-up of my face.***

You'll want to start with a face devoid of eye makeup. Foundation and concealer are okay.

I like to prep my eye area with white shimmer powder to start with. This makes it easier to blend colors. I also just like shimmer. I'm a go-big-or-go-home kind of a girl, so I apply shimmer all the way above my eyebrows (just a little above) and down until just above my cheekbones. You can include the bridge of your nose if you would like (I like), and then all the way out to the edge of your face.

On the outer edge of your eye, apply your color. Blend in toward the bridge of your nose, using the white shimmer powder to make a sort of gradient.

Last step: eye liner and mascara. You can even apply false lashes if that's your pleasure. Since it's halloween, you can be bold.

If you like, you can add glitter to this ensemble.

You can also try this with other colors. Or even multiple colors, like purple, white, and blue.

You can also keep it simple with just white shimmer and perhaps some glitter.

I have used this makeup style to accompany several costumes, including a Greek Goddess, Mother Nature, and a Fairy Princess (I know, I'm like 5). A friend of mine did something similar with yellow and gold to go with her Bumble Bee costume. The possibilities are endless!

Whatever you choose, have fun with it. Happy Halloweening!

Va Vooooom

today's tip n trick is super short and super easy. i just recently heard about it and started doing it, and i honestly think it makes a difference.
if you want fuller, faster growing, beautiful hair then all you need is 30 seconds a day.
flip your head upside down and massage your scalp for thirty seconds. it's that easy!

au naturale

Some of you out there prefer to use natural scrubs and face masks. Lucky for you, I do too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not gonna give up my Clean and Clear Morning Burst, but I like to do the natural thing, too.

There are tons of ingredients you can use to make cleansers, scrubs, and masks. Here are a few that I have used and that I like.

Milk and honey cleanser. Gently warm 1 teaspoon of honey until it is runny, but not hot. You don't want to burn yourself, after all. Add the honey to 1 tablespoon of milk. Mix well, and apply to face. The milk cleans the skin while the honey helps your skin maintain its natural moisture.

Oatmeal and baking soda scrub. Combine about 2 tablespoons plain oats with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Mix with just enough water to make a paste, and apply to face. This scrub is gentle on the skin. The oatmeal absorbs oil and impurities on the surface of your skin, while the baking soda deep cleans your pores.

Wheat germ and applesauce mask. Combine equal parts wheat germ and natural applesauce (I usually do about 1 tablespoon of each). Gently spread this mixture over your clean face. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. The wheat germ gently exfoliates while the apple provides nutrients to your skin.

Avocado face mask. This is the easiest one. Smash up half an avocado and spread over your face. Put some cucumber slices over your eyes while you let all that avocado goodness sink in. Rinse after 10-15 minutes. This treatment is both nourishing and moisturizing, leaving you with soft, healthy skin.

Strawberry face mask. Okay, so this one might be just as easy as the avocado one. Smash up a few strawberries, and apply to the face. Be careful with the juice, though, since you don't want it dripping on your shirt. This one is soothing if you have a bad case of sunburn. Or even a mild case. Even if you don't have sunburn, strawberries help reduce the oil in your face. They are also a great remedy for under eye circles and puffiness.

I like these recipes because they are easy-peasy, and the ingredients aren't hard to come by. Feel free to try your own combinations to see what works best for your skin. You can also try adding other foods to the mix. Lemon juice is a natural astringent, for example.

In any case, you can feel great about using homemade scrubs, cleansers, and masks because they are natural and inexpensive. Give it a whirl!

fun and easy nails :D

So, personally Im sort of addicted and in love with doing my nails. but it gets so boring sometimes!!! sooo. let me tell you what i think is great and super easy.
all you need is clear nail polish, white nail polish, an old newspaper, and rubbing alcohol.
first ofcourse do your base coat and white coat. and for this particular design, its really importanat that you let them dry completely!
next, use a cotton ball (sorry, i forgot to tell you that you need those too!) and cover your dry nail in alcohol. then quickly get a small spot of newspaper and press it against your nail. the alcohol will make the words soak onto the white polish (itll be faded though, more of a gray color letters) but its super fun and easy! i personally love em. and be sure to finish up with another clear coat to help make sure it doesnt chip off, and so that the newpaper ink wont rub off!
<3 enjoyyyy

Beautiful Inside & Out

Healthy hair, skin, and nails all come from within. "You are what you eat"—who knew?

There are many schools of thought as far as what is healthy and ethical to consume.

I don't want to debate the pros and cons of each, but I will give you my two cents:

   1. We absorb nutrients best if we eat the foods in which they naturally occur. This means that while taking supplements certainly helps, eating foods that are naturally high in nutrients are better.

   2. Any sort of processing breaks down nutrients. Any sort of processing—even cooking—breaks down nutrients. What am I saying? Make sure to eat plenty of fresh foods: vegetables, fruits, even nuts. Also, eat plenty of whole foods, especially whole grains.

  3. Keep it balanced. You know what they say about too much of a good thing... Eat a wide variety of foods, and don't feel like you have to completely give up the foods you love in order to stay healthy.

   4. Choose a diet that works for you. Vegetarian, vegan, fruitarian, edenic—what to choose! Make the choice that suits you, but make an informed choice. Make sure you understand exactly what an eating style entails, how you will get your essential nutrients, and how it will affect your life.


Chew on that.

faded hair is the poops.

most women nowadays color their hair, i know i doo. but there are a few little tips n tricks that you can do to help keep your color longer! :]
for one thing, as weird as it may sound, do not use volumizing shampoo!
also, when you're in the shower leave the conditioner in as long as you can.
use shampoos for color treated hair, they're made to help with this kinda stuff after all.
on a lazy day around the house that you're not going to see anyone, cover your head in conditioner and just let it sit while you go about your business.
when you brush your hair, use a wide tooth comb. it helps keep your hair from getting damaged-which helps maintain color.
and fun fact, green and red are the two fastest fading colors you can dye your hair! so take extra care :]

keepin' your face clean

I have really fair, sensitive skin. As such, it is sometimes hard to find face wash and scrubs that aren't too harsh, but still get the job done.

After trying several products, here are a few I like:

Clean and Clear Morning Burst cleansers and scrubs.
My personal favs are the Detoxifying Facial Cleanser and Skin Brightening Facial Scrub. These are the perfect balance for me: they aren't painful or abrasive, but I can feel the clean afterwards.

L'Oreal Go 360 Clean Scrublet.
This is a fairly new product, and I haven't had a chance to try all of the cleansers in the line. I bought the Deep Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin. The cleanser itself is just okay, but what I really like is the scrublet: "This super-soft, flexible cleansing disc applies the cleanser with 500 extra-supple touch points that gently glide across the skin" (L'Oreal Paris, 2011). The scrublet stores easily in your shower, as one end is a suction cup you can stick on your tub surround or shower wall. Plus, it's fun to say "scrublet."

Almay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads.
Before I discovered baby shampoo, these makeup remover pads were my go-to. Almay also sells makeup remover towelettes for your whole face. These are pretty boss because they are oil-free (so no greasy residue), and they are hypoallergenic, which is perfect for my sensitive complexion. These are also great for traveling: they aren't liquid, so you don't to worry about how many ounces they are at the airport.

What about you? Are there products you swear by? Any I should try?

srunch-a-doodle-doooooo

ohkayy, so scrunching your hair. its not hard, its just a matter of getting the recipe rightt.
start with wet hairr. then you wanna towel dry but scrunch it with the towel.
get some mousse. scrunch.
let it sit for about 10 minutes if you can then get conditioner and scrunch with that.
let it sit for a bit longer, if its not quite curly enough, scrunch in more mousse (but not too much, just one hand full)
and then get a SMALL bit of gel and scrunch in for hold.
:] annnd yer done! <3 enjoyy

deodorant say whaaat?

Do you ever get deodorant on your shirt?  It happens to us all at one time or another.  aaannnnddd....it's super annoying.

I have a trick that works like magic to get rid of those tell-tale white streaks. But alas, I am not Harry Potter, people. I don't have a magic wand, and nothing happens when I say Avada Kedavra! Just kidding. I've never tried that one.

Anyways...grab a pair of pantyhose and we'll be on our way. Just rub the pantyhose on the deodorant spot, and voila! It's gone.

As if by magic.

dead skin be gone!

when you're trying to use an over-the-counter self tanner you need to be sure you've exfoliated before you use it. (this is actually a good idea to do whenever you do any kind of fake tanning) but exfoliaters sometimes can get a bit pricey..sooo make one :]
sugar scrub:
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. olive oil
optional:
a cap full of lemon juice
and a few drops of orange essential oils
now you can use any scents you like or ones that relax you (like lavender) but i like the citrus-y one. it's invigorating and just smells super yummy :]

eye makeup remover...in the baby aisle?

Betcha didn't know that baby shampoo makes a great eye makeup remover.

Simple, gentle, and inexpensive. Just mix one part baby shampoo with two parts water. Wet a cotton ball with the solution and gently rub around your eye. Rinse off excess shampoo with warm water.

Try it. You like it.

through thick and thin, everyone can win

Most of you probably know whether your hair is thin, medium, or thick. buut start off by giving you a simple way to determine what yours is just in case you're not quite sure.
get a new, average sized pony tail holder and pull your hair up into a plain n simple pony tail. if your hair tie only wraps around 1-2 times you have thick hair, if it goes around 3-4 times you have medium, and if its any more than that you have thin hair
anywho, i'm a firm believer that hair serums and leave in conditioners should be enjoyed by all three hair types. its mostly just a matter of how much and what kind.
for thicker hair you want to choose a product that focuses mostly on de-frizz and shine (because thicker hair often gets course and dull easier) and use a good quarter sized handful
for medium hair i recommend trying to find a hair serum to make your hair softer and smoother but doesnt contain any silicones because that will weigh down your hair and cause it to lose volume and appear greasier faster. when pouring the product into your hand get it to about the size of a nickel
for thinner hair pick products that specailize in volumizing, like root boosters. you'll also want to avoid any products that have silicones in them because your hair just can't handle it, at least not on a daily basis. and use only a penny/dime sized dollop to apply to your hair
and finally, when you're getting ready to apply any serums or conditioners of any kind--be sure and read the back of the bottle--most will advise you to add to damp hair, so add to clean, DAMP hair (not wet, this DOES make a difference. the wetter your hair is the less your hair is able to absorb the good oils and nutrients from the product). and squirt the product onto your finger tips to help with even distribution focused on your ends, then once you have it all over your hair use a wide tooth comb to brush through. your hair is at its most sensitive when its wet, so brushes can cause unnecessary breakage. which isn't fun. :p

fun in the sun

Since it is summertime, I'm sure most of you are enjoying yourselves outdoors. I know I am. Summer is my prime season.

Anyways...I suggest y'all protect yourselves out there. What do I mean? Sun damage. Before exposing yourself to those UV rays, put on some sunscreen or lotion that is at least SPF 15. Even if you are tanning. A little protection goes a long way.

Another little idea that you might not have considered...the sun can damage your hair, too. My hair is pretty delicate (I'm a natural blonde, what can I say?), so it easily gets dried out in direct sunlight. How do you combat this problem? A little SPF, my dears. You can either spray a light mist of aerosol sunscreen on your locks, or you can mix up a solution yourself.

In a spray bottle, combine 2 Tbsp sunscreen lotion, 1 Tbsp conditioner, 1 Tbsp hairspray or gel, and 1 cup of water. Shake it up and spritz. These measurements are approximate, and you can, of course, alter this recipe to fit your taste/style. If you don't like hairspray/gel, don't add it. If there is another hair product you think you would like added, add it. You can also add a little bit of lemon juice to maximize the sun-bleaching effect. Ta-da! Sunshine-y, happy, healthy hair.

Another helpful hint: protect your locks in the pool by putting a little bit of conditioner on the ends of your hair before taking a dip.

Amazing, no?

Clean up your mascara

So I'm one of those people that has specific products I simply can't live without, and one is mascara. I'm a HUGE mascara dork. I love the stuff. But have you ever noticed that after you have a tube for a while it stops doin quite such a good job defining those lashes n it starts getting clumpy and thus making your eyelashes clump? well its actually really a simple problem to fix.
First you want to take the mascara wand out and wash it in warm soap and water.
When its completely dried get some hairspray-whatever kind you have handy will work-and spray it all over the applicator bristles.
Once again let dry, then BAM! It works like brand new all over again! No need to waste money on a whole new tube of mascara when you can just clean it up a little and be ready to go :]

washin' the hair

I know what you are thinking. You don't need help washing your hair. You know how. Maybe that's true. But I have a very particular way of washing/conditioning my hair. Here it is:

1. Get in the shower.
2. Lather up with shampoo.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply a generous amount of conditioner.
5. Use hair clip to clip up hair. (This way you can wash your back/neck without interference from hair)
6. Do whatever else you do in the shower (wash face, body, etc.).
7. Rinse.

Simple, right? But it makes a huge difference. Believe me. Letting the conditioner stay in your hair for your WHOLE shower makes it nice and soft. I would also offer this piece of advice: never, never use hot water on your hair. Warm is okay. Cool is best. Just remember that heat dries out your hair, K? K.