12 Things You're Doing Wrong With Your Sunscreen

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I've written a lot about sunscreen over the years, with good reason. It's the #1 thing you can do to prevent damage to your skin, the largest organ in your body. That damage can result in cancer, but more superficially (and this is a beauty blog after all) who wants to deal with sunburn, freckling and hyperpigmentation and further down the road more photodamage induced aging? Not me!

Even if you have the best of intentions, chances are that you're making at least one of these 12 sunscreen mistakes. Take notes!

Teen Makeup: Great Product Picks from Cosmetically Challenged

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Living with a skin disorder is hard, especially when it’s strategically placed on your right eye and you're married to a 6’3 250lb ex-football player! I constantly find myself saying, “Yes, everything is fine at home!” Now that I’m older I’m not as self-conscious about my skin disorder as I used to be. Before, I was all about not leaving the house without covering it up but, this period of low self esteem helped spiked my love for makeup and its amazing ability to transform you’re look with a flick of the wrist.

If you’re a teen dealing with a skin disorder and you’re looking to create a beauty kit on a budget I’ve shared with you my favorite correctors and concealers. I’ve also included some of my other favorite beauty items that will help you complete your entire look!

• Choose a corrector or a concealer. If you’re looking to cancel out redness a Green Toned Corrector works well. If you’re looking to conceal dark birthmarks or disorders try correctors or concealers that have salmon shades. Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealers work great just for this! $5.49

• Choose a foundation that will give you great coverage but not be too heavy. L’oreal True Match foundation comes in a range of shades and is great for all skin types! Choose a powder in the same shades to apply over your foundation to set it. $12.99

• Milani Baked Blush gives the option of a wonderfully pigmented blush with a bit of shimmer! $7.49

• Milani Runway Eyes and Baked Eye shadows give you a great array of colors that are super intense when applied wet! $7.99

• Maybelline The Rocket Mascara will really make your lashes take off! $7.99

• My favorite go to eyeliner is the Maybelline Ultra Liner. I love it because it’s waterproof and doesn’t smear. $5.10

• Maybelline Vivids and Color Whispers lipsticks are some of the hottest shades around. Be daring and go bright with the Vivids or tone it down with the Color Whispers. $7.49

• NYX has great range of inexpensive lip liners. You can find most of these at your local beauty supply store retailing for as little as $2.00 per pencil.


These are my number one go to beauty products for creating an amazing flawless yet simple look. Remember beauty is only in the eye of the beholder. If you feel fabulous then you are!


Melody is the blogger behind Cosmetically Challenged, and one of the beauty bloggers I talk to the most! She's an amazingly sweet person who also happens to be working on her PhD, working to save the world from Malaria! Her blog is definitely worth reading daily, her pictures will make you want to buy every Maybelline Vivid Lippie. I'm not kidding.

Win It! Truth in Aging and 15 Minute Beauty Giveaway Your Best Face!

Product Provided by Sponsor


Today I'm so excited to share a great contest with you! I'm holding a giveaway with Truth in Aging, one of my favorite websites. (You may have noticed that I like to link to them quite a lot, in particular when I'm discussing product ingredients. They offer really great info on products and what really works from a scientific perspective. I love that!)

It turns out that one of their favorite skin care companies is also one of my favorites, Your Best Face. I'm pretty sure I've reviewed every single product that they offer and I am frequently recommending them to friends and family. Their skin care contains very high levels of spin traps, which are super powerful anti-oxidants in addition to other anti-aging ingredients. While anti-oxidants aren't going to help reverse the signs of aging they will help fight them and prevent damage. Anti-oxidants are key if you get exposed to elements that cause free radical damage, such as the sun or pollution. So, if you live in a city or go outside ever, spin traps are your friend!

The giveaway is hosted over on the Truth in Aging website, and is open to those in the US and over 18.


There will be 2 winners, each getting $455 in Your Best Face skin care products!
• Control
• Correct
• Antioxidants Concentrate
• Private Reserve Sandalwood
• Quench Lip Treatment

Go Enter Now!


Truth in Aging
Product Provided by Sponsor

DIY Cascading Braid: Recreate a Red Carpet Look

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With the weather getting hotter, I'm on the look out for new ways to keep my hair out of my face without resorting to a boring pony tail over and over. Kristin Bell recently had a cute look on the Red Carpet, luckily Stylist Emily Owen from Dyer & Posta shared some tips for how to recreate the look.

1. Start by french braiding the top of your hair until you reach the middle of the back of your head (level with your ears). When you reach the middle of your head, switch to a basic traditional braid.

2. Tie the end of the braid with a hair tie and pull the braid back so that you can flatten it down with your hand.

3. Next, take a small section of hair starting from your right temple and braid it traditionally toward the original French braid so that it meets the middle part of the back of your head and connects with the original braid. Then tie with a hair tie and pin for hold.

4. Repeat this process on the left side of your head using two smaller braids to finish. You should come out with one big braid in the center of your head, one braid coming around the right side of your head to meet the large middle braid, and two smaller braids coming around the left side of your head to reach the other braids.

5. For this look, Emily recommends applying Bumble and bumble Texture Crème while hair is damp. This product will help with hold and provide a matte-look finish. Bumble and bumble Surf Spray should be applied next while hair is still damp before blowdrying. Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode Hairspray is perfect for setting and finishing the style.

Dyer & Posta

Mom: Get Glamorous!

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My friend Shannon from A Girl's Gotta Spa is holding her annual Mom Get Glamorous Contest! This year I'm very honored to be one of the judges.

The contest is to honor moms across the U.S. who have overcome adversity, boldly negotiated impossible odds, triumphed over tragedy, went above and beyond or is a pillar of her community. Simply put: a woman of fortitude and strength, someone deserving of the recognition and undeniably in need of some pampering. Is this you? Do you know someone who fits the description? Then you have until May 24, 2013 to submit a nomination! The winning mom can get a huge beauty prize from sponsors like CoverGirl, Beecology, Beautisol and Ma Mi Skin Care!

Read more about the contest on A Mom's Gotta Spa

On Wednesday, May 15th at 1 PM EST, join us for a Twitter Party! Hashtag is #momglamorous

Tweet with @TheMakeupGirl @ClumpsofMascara @BryceGruber @15minbeauty and Shannon @agirlsgottaspa so we can talk about the moms who inspire us most!

Tons of prizes will be given away during the party, check out the full list!