New Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

Super heroes have been lending their powers, attributes, and beauty to various products over the years and they have most definitely infiltrated the world of movies and imagination. Now, however, they've found a new cause: breast cancer. In Mozambique, artist Maisa Chaves (in conjunction with the Public Health Office and DDB) created these illustrations that allude to the copyrighted DC and Marvel heroines, being extremely careful to leave their faces out to avoid being sued. The women are portrayed mid breast-exam, checking for lumps over their superhero garb, it includes the infamous Storm, strong She-Hulk, mysterious Wonder Woman, and feline Catwoman.

Some believe that these ads are making light of the serious situation of breast cancer, but I am of the opposite mind. I think the artist knew right off the bat that these are iconic figures and their performing monthly breast exams proves that nobody is 'too super' for cancer and we should all be checked. The ads all have a caption that says "When we talk about breast cancer, there's no women or superwomen. Everybody has to do the self-examination monthly. Fight with us against this enemy and, when in doubt, talk with your doctor". Surely, this makes sense and rather than portraying graphic ads with women's exposed breasts having bugs crawl under them, this is an eye-catching and meaningful way of showing that we all must fight towards a common goal, starting with personal prevention. Kudos to Mozambique for such an original ad display that not only hits home to older women because of its message, but also to those of us who are younger and may be comic book fans. This ad has a target demographic that is larger than previously grotesque and gruesome shock-value ads, it is tastefully done and beautiful to look at, while the message lingers in your mind long afterwards.

Trend Alert: Peter Pan Collars

I've noticed a new trend lately that happens to be in all the stores I peruse: Peter Pan Collars. How do you define this trend, really? Wikipedia refers to it as 'a small, flat, round-cornered collar without a stand' and mentions that it is popular in children's and women's fashion as of the early and mid-20th century. A good accent to this look is either a brooch in the middle, a bow, or a dainty tie. I'm going to say that this definition should be expanded to include collars that are not necessarily round-edged, but can also be hard-edged because I found this particular dress which I believe suits the 'Peter Pan Collar' trend but isn't particularly rounded. I believe the main descriptive in the trend to be the fact that the collar doesn't have a stand and is slightly more gaped than in traditional collars, which gives it a feminine appeal.



Lately, this look has appeared in shirts, outerwear coats and sweaters, and most prominently in dresses. I particularly think it looks cute and conservative in a quirky, doll-like way. I'm a fan of this look, particularly if you're going to be showing a lot of leg in your outfit, keep the risque down below and cover up on top with this whimsical collar to draw attention one of your assets. Many times this collar comes with below-the-knee dresses, but that can look a little too much like nun-fashion, especially for a younger lady. Sleveless or cap-sleeved fashions with this collar are quite adorable and fun. I wouldn't wear this collar with completely long sleeves that go past your wrists because, again, you don't want to look too covered up, so unless the fabric is sheer, I would stick with three-quarter sleeves at the most. This fashion has even gone so far as to transfer onto shoes! That's right, they now have peter pan collars on shoes as well!


I don't know that this look would be so great on busty girls because it might make you look too top-heavy and out of balance with the rest of your body. However, I do know that petite and slim girls look tres chic in this fashion. This is an acceptable fashion for interviews if you're going for a job in fashion or really anywhere the dress code isn't too strict. Here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure:

You can purchase this style here:

Festive Holiday Hairstyles

Tis the season that you'll be going to or holding many get-togethers, for family and friends, and holiday X-mas parties. You'll be sure to wear snazzy clothing and don your best swag for the festivities, but are you looking for something to make sure you stand out from the crowd of gorgeous people? Well, you may be wondering how to wear your hair with the various outfits you have this season, so I'm going to do a quick how-to review of some simple, yet unique, hairstyles to go with your holiday garb.

Faux hawk
This trendy punk-inspired hairstyle has bled into the mainstream over the past several years and is a great option for short and long hair alike. You don't need to cut your hair any particular way to achieve this hairstyle, so do not make this a permanent mohawk change unless you are absolutely sure you're going to love it. It's easy to style, but do not do it on freshly washed or frizzy hair, you will need the natural oils from your scalp to aid in the process. Using styling gel (not mousse because it won't hold as well) pull your hair in the middle and on the sides of your head together and up, put gel in from the roots to the tips. Simply mold your hair to the desired shape you're looking for and either use pins to secure it up on the sides, or skip this step if just using a strong hairspray works for you. Either way, finish off with plenty of hairspray for hold.

French-up your braid
I love french braids and think that they are basically the classiest hairstyle you can get because their simplicity, yet perfection, is absolutely breathtaking. If you can manage to do this hairstyle at your holiday party, you will definitely get compliments! I suggest starting this hairdo in the mirror to help you out, but then as you continue your braid, you should probably try not to look in the mirror as it will confuse you and you need to keep a pretty steady track of your strands. Before you do anything, you want to make sure you brush your hair out to get any knots out. Then start at your hairline and grab hair from the top of your head to begin a normal braid, dividing into three sections (equal in size). Hold the right section in your right hand, left in your left hand and the middle one between the thumb and forefinger of whichever hand is easiest. then you want to cross the sections, going right over middle, do the same with the left, fairly tightly as you go. Then, gather a bit more hair from your right section and do the cross-over again over the middle. Repeat with the left side and keep doing this over and over until you come to the end of the braid.

Adorn your 'do
Consider adding a beautiful flower or hair clip that will really spruce up your hairdo, or maybe go as far as wearing an embellished head band to make a statement. This idea is so simple because you literally only need to clip on your hair accessory or put it on, and I am a particularly large fan of barrettes because they can add elegance to any simple hairstyle in the simplest of ways. You can wear a headband either over your forehead for that hippie-chic look or with your hair pulled slightly back to keep it away from your fresh-looking face. Either way you cut it, a sparkly hair accessory definitely will make you look like the festive belle of the ball. Try a braided headband or floral silver headband for a unique look that I can almost guarantee others will not be brave or creative enough to wear.

Festive Holiday Look - Emerald Green Peacock

For the holidays this year, many people will be tempted to pair red and green together for a merry and festive ensemble. However, I urge you not to simply combine those two extremely different colors together, without incorporating a neutral: brown, for example. If you add brown to red you would get burgundy and this color is far more complementary to emerald or pine green than a simple fire-truck red will ever be.I've created this inexpensive outfit for the holiday season. This beautiful Dorothy Perkins dress can be found for only $27 on her website. I added a touch of peacock accent with this super cheap shawl ($19 from bootlegger.com) and Lucky Brand earrings for $42. I love the way the Luisa Viaroma high heeled booties look with the rest of the peacock-themed accessories, but I absolutely loathe their price. So for those of us who don't have pockets that deep, I recommend the burgundy boots by Roberto Vianni for $110, or any boots you can find in a burgundy color. I would pair this with some simple brown fish net stockings that flatter your legs and a cute $7 H&M hat (which I personally own) to shield you from snow and rain, but also to make you look cool like Indiana Jones. The hat doesn't come with a peacock feather, as shown, but you can put any craft-store peacock feather inside the bow yourself and spruce up your hat!

Emerald Green Peacock by lethalglam featuring a pencil dress

Dorothy Perkins pencil dress
$27 - dorothyperkins.com

Roberto Vianni burgundy boots
£71 - debenhams.com

High heel boots
€739 - luisaviaroma.com

Lucky Brand drop earrings
$42 - piperlime.gap.com

Glitter Lurex Fishnet Stockings - ACCESSORIES A'GACI
$5.50 - agacistore.com

H M feather hat
£6.49 - hm.com

Kismet peacock shawl
$19 - bootlegger.com

Aerosoles Boots purchase!

I'm so excited about this most recent buy that I got with my birthday money and the other pair that my mom bought for me as a gift for the holidays, that I absolutely must share with you.

Aerosoles is having a 20% off boots which are already on sale, so I took advantage of these real suede studded boots. They're flat, with a little bit of an arch for support. The model is called Sota Fountain and it fits my abnormally large calves. I usually have such problems finding boots, especially suede and leather boots, because of how large my calf muscle is and they are always too tight or will not pull up past a certain point. These boots absolutely delighted me and the pattern is so chic and fashionable that I'm sure that I'll wear them for years to come. They are sturdy and feel like they're made of thick suede, so you probably don't have to worry too much about wear and tear. These are perfect for Seattle's terrain, where I need a flat shoe but with arch support and comfort so that I can walk up and down the many hilly streets.





The regular price for these was $200, which is absolutely way more than I will ever pay for a pair of shoes, any kind of shoes. However, I was delighted to find out how big the sale was that they were offering! The yellow pair was retailing for $69.99 but with 20% off, they only came to $55.99. The black pair wasn't on such a large sale because it was $99.99 and with the 20% off it came to $79.99, apparently this color happens to be a lot more popular than the yellow so it doesn't go on sale with as big of a discount. So if you're interested in purchasing a pair, don't waste time! They come in olive and brown as well, with the olive color being on huge discount just like the yellow pair (as they consider it a less desirable color) and I am considering purchasing them too!!! Hurry if you want a pair, the sale will probably end soon or they 'll be out of stock.

You can find them online here.

Fashionista on a Budget, episode 3

This week, my friends and I went on a shopping escapade through downtown Seattle and ravaged Pacific Place, Forever 21, and H&M for things to wear to the company Christmas party (which was last night). We didn't find anything we particularly liked in terms of dresses, but we walked away with assorted other items like tank tops and sweaters. All of these items are much more suited to the weather here and our lifestyles, so they were probably wiser purchases than a dress anyway.

I picked up this Ecote Feather Embellished Tank Top from Urban Outfitters because it was on sale and it is made of a thick cotton material that I love wearing during the winter-time under cardigans. I purchased two of these tank tops, one in the off-white with beige beads, and the other in black with gray beads. They are low-cut in the back and can look a little sultry. The original retail price of these tank tops was $49, which I think is ludicrous for the tiny bit of material any tank top is made from, so I waited until they were on sale for $19 and the UO was having a 50% off sale items day. I picked up both of these tank tops for under $10 each. Now, that's what I call shopping! I'm very happy with this purchase because they suit day-to-day activities and are not under-dressed or over-dressed for any occasion.

Next, I saw this Staring at Stars Fuzzy Open Stitch Open Cardigan that I had seen weeks before but it was originally $59, which is far more than I had valued it. Therefore, when it went on sale, it became $29, and with the half-off promo they had going on, it became $15/each. However, at the cash register, the lady that rang it up, only charged me $10 for it, so I was absolutely thrilled. I got one in coral (which they don't have pictured on the website, so they must be sold out) and one in white. I'm kind of upset I didn't pick one up in black, but I wasn't sure if I wanted the same cardigan in triplicate! The damage I did during this shopping trip was around $43 with taxes and all, so I got two tank tops and two cardigans for that amount. The original amount would have been $98 for the tank tops and $118 for the cardigans, leaving the whopping non-sale, non-50% promotion, total at $216.

I'm a firm believer that if you're not desperately looking for one thing or another, you won't spend too much money shopping on the essentials for the winter season. Everything goes on sale, eventually. That's my mantra. Purchasing from the sale rack of this type of store is even a great idea for holiday presents for friends and family. They will be surprised and the big present you got them, but you don't have to reach deep inside your pockets to do it.

Expensive holiday outfit

I made this outfit using Polyvore because I was inspired by my dear friend Angelica's blog (www.closetsandcocktails.com)!!!!

This is an adorable and extremely expensive dream outfit that I've put together for the holiday season. It's just an example of the ways I like to play with shapes and patterns that are in the same thematic narrative. For me, the guidelines when I put this together became clear when I chose the dress. This was my first pick because I absolutely adore this Jessica Simpson collection dress. It lends itself to the usage of many other old-world patterns and geometric as well as organic-feeling jewelry (the ring reminds me of a laurel wreath and ancient Greek gods) while the earrings and clutch bring the outfit into modern day. The scarf feels very antique and soft, it is in contrast to the hard-edged geometrical clutch, giving the outfit nice variety. You could pair this outfit with a slightly more masculine leather jacket, but for my hourglass body-shape, I prefer an A-line, mid-length coat. The booties are something I am in love with, the whole concept of lace-up boots during the winter makes me smile. I will attempt to make an inexpensive version of this outfit in the next post! Stay tuned!

Holiday outfit by lethalglam featuring

Jessica Simpson dress
$148 - jessicasimpsoncollection.com

Ryu a line coat
$120 - modcloth.com

Giambattista Valli suede lace up booties
$535 - net-a-porter.com

Kate Spade gold bag
$325 - katespade.com

Asha by ADM 14k jewelry
$495 - calypsostbarth.com

Alex Monroe feather jewelry
$225 - cultstatus.com.au

Bottega Veneta printed silk scarve
$595 - net-a-porter.com

Trimming your own bangs

Do your bangs grow too fast? I know mine are grown out 3 weeks after I get them cut at a salon. I really don't have the patience or willingness to go to a salon every 3 weeks just to get my bangs trimmed. So I've researched and devised this simple way to cut your own bangs.I suggest investing in a pair of Barber Shears before you do absolutely anything, because regular craft scissors are going to leave you with an uneven cut, and you won't be satisfied with the results.

Starting off, your hair will have to be dry and already styled the way you normally wear it; this means your bangs will have to be placed the way you like them. When doing this, you do not want to pull on your hair, you want to just gently hold it, because if you pull the sections hard in between your fingers, you won't get an even cut. Adjust the angle that you place your fingers at with the angle that you're cutting, if you're cutting your bangs straight across and horizontally, then you will want to hold your fingers horizontally. If you're scared of cutting off too much incorrectly, use straight edged cuticle scissors because they are small and will give you the most control. 

In order to shear the hair nicely, you will want to use the scissors vertically and cut into your bangs, not straight across because that would give you the appearance of a permanent helmet on your head. If you cut into your bangs vertically, you will thin out your bangs, giving them a softer appearance, and making them look wispy. Remember that when you're doing this less is more. Trim small portion of hair off at once, going at most a quarter of an inch at a time. I definitely recommend starting in the middle of your bangs and then working your way out until you reach above the middle of each eyebrow. Then continue on to the end of your bangs at whichever angle you like.

chinese young female model pic

Urban Decay NAKED 2 Palette Review

If you know me, you may know that I am a huge fan of the original Urban Decay Naked palette. Such a huge fan, I've been using it since it first came out and love it so much that I try to use a bare minimum of the colors so I don't run out (I realize it's now back in stock, but it wasn't for a really long time at one point!). So imagine my excitement when there was an announcement on Urban Decay's website about something new arriving to do with the Naked line. I instantly rushed to the conclusion that they were going to have another palette, as did many of my fellow makeup junkies. However, many called up the company and were repeatedly told that it would not be another Naked eyeshadow palette. They were lied to. Behold, the new Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay:

Extras that come with the Naked 2 palette

Let's start with the main differences: The Naked 2 palette comes with a dual-sided brush, one side is a shader and contour brush, while the other side is a regular (but very well made) eyeshadow brush. These brushes are of the highest quality and they are from the Urban Decay Good Karma brush line, consisting of the Crease brush and Eyeshadow brush, I have provided links if you are interested in purchasing them separately. This is a nice touch over the dual-sided liner that you got with the original Naked palette, just because people are likely to purchase both and you don't really want to double-up on liners, especially since almost all of their palettes come with the 24/7 pencil eye liner. You also receive a travel-sized lipgloss from their Lip Junkie line in the color 'Naked', this is a really cute added bonus and fits perfectly in your purse for on-the-go touchups. Online, I received a free sample with the order and it was a mini 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in ElDorado. I'm happy about this eye liner because it's a shade I've never tried and am excited to experiment with! However, you won't be getting this necessarily, you may get other samples or colors if you order the Naked 2 online (Sephora won't be giving out free samples with purchase when it hits stores).

If you're looking for a giant change in this palette, you won't find it. The colors are not astonishingly different, they are in the same line of products for a reason. There is an overall neutral theme, but Urban Decay claims that there are more taupe and greige shades in the new palette. I wouldn't say that this is true, however, because the most prominent color is probably bronze (as 5 of the colors learn more towards bronze). There is most definitely a movement away from the overwhelming bronze overtone of the original Naked palette. I will go over every new color and tell you what the comparison is between the new and old one. Foxy is a new and unique shade and is not duplicated whatsoever. Half Baked, unfortunately, is exactly the same in both palettes (this was kind of a cop-out in my opinion, they could have attempted to make a new color here). Booty Call is very similar to Virgin from Naked 1 but it might be a tad more on the peach side. Chopper is orangey and does not appear to be similar to anything other than a lighter cross between Half Baked and Suspect. Tease is a brand new taupe and is matte, but it would be very similar to Sin (Naked 1) if it was shimmery. Snakebite appears to be a shade in between Half Baked (Naked 1) and Smog (Naked 1). Suspect appears unique like a slightly less glittery version of Sidecar (Naked 1). Verve and Pistol appear to be unique colors, they are lighter and are more along the greige spectrum Urban Decay was looking for. YDK is like a mixture between Sidecar (Naked 1) and Toasted (Naked 1). Busted is really just very similar to Hustle (Naked 1) but slightly more maroon. Blackout is unique because it is a matte black eyeshadow and Creep (Naked 1) was sparkly.

Naked Palette (Original)

Naked Palette 2

 I hope you found this review helpful when considering if you would like to purchase this palette or not. It retails for $50 and it really is a great deal because you're getting 12 full-sized eyeshadows (which normally retail for $17/each from Urban Decay), two eyeshadow brushes (which each retails around $26), a free lip gloss, and a free sample from their website. The deal on this is phenomenal and it would make a great Christmas or Hanukkah present for that special girl in your life. I promise you nobody would be disappointed if they received this as a gift. I am ecstatic, my husband purchased this for me as a birthday gift and I couldn't be any more over the moon. I'm a long-time fan of their original and I love this one too. These shades are really practical and you will use this palette every day because it is so versatile.

Side by side comparison of Naked 2 palette (top) vs. original Naked palette (bottom)

E.L.F. review

I purchased a bunch of things when E.L.F (eyes, lips, face) had a sale awhile ago and I got basically everything you see here for about $31.00, shipping included. I've heard great things about some of their products and seen them in video reviews, so I figured I would give them a shot, after all they are so inexpensive it's hard to stay away (most of their products are sold for $1/product). I don't know how they sell everything so inexpensively, but it goes to show you that a lot of makeup products are so overpriced and are probably filled with the same kinds of chemicals. Obviously there will be *some* quality difference, I wouldn't purchase face creams and health-related items from an inexpensive website because you don't necessarily know what you're getting, but in terms of the things I got, I'm perfectly fine with the quality. This is my haul:

I decided to experiment with bronzers but I wasn't willing to pay too much for them because I don't know how often I'll be using them or which shade I like best, I figured it was best to first try my hand with these big products from E.L.F. that I knew would last me awhile. It also helps the packaging is basically a mimic of NARS packaging, which gives it a higher quality feel. I also purchased an eyebrow kit, brushes, brush shampoo, sponges, shimmering facial whip, cover sticks, all-over face powder, blushes, and an eyelash curler (something I've always wanted to try out but never wanted to splurge on as a purchase).

 For $3 each I purchased the 'Golden Bronzer' and 'Contouring Blush and Bronzing powder' from left to right on top of the photo, respectively. These colors are true to the way they look, the color payoff is great, and they have a beautiful shimmer to them, which isn't too sparkly but appears as a dewy finish on your skin. In terms of single-shade bronzer, I chose the $1 each 'Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder' in 'Sun Kissed' and 'Matte Bronze'. The latter of these is too dark for my fair skin tone, but they also have a little bit of sparkle (matte bronze has considerably less and will not give you a dewy finish). Finally, as an all-over face powder, I chose 'Clarifying Pressed Powder' in 'Rosy Beige' because I was running low on my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish. Obviously, this product's quality is nowhere near that of a MAC powder, however I was pleasantly surprised that it is just as good as any drugstore brand (L'Oreal, Revlon, etc.) which usually retail upwards of $8. I found that the powder colors appear darker in reality than they do on their website photos, had I known this, I probably would have gone with a lighter shade.

I was intrigued with their $3 each blushes being package duplicates of NARS blushes, so I purchased one as a highlighter in 'Gotta Glow' and one in 'Mellow Mauve' because I normally purchase colors that are lighter, so I wanted to try a darker blush for a change. I have used the highlighter a whole lot, it's useful for the inner corner of your eyes to give you that refreshingly awake look and for on top of your cheekbones so they appear larger and more beautiful. I was glad I went with a darker blush because the color payoff doesn't appear to be too great with these blushes, you have to put quite a lot on your brush to get any color at all out of it. Finally, I purchased the 'Natural Radiance Blusher' in 'Blushing', this one had larger glitter specks inside of it and is much more pigmented than the other ones, but the packaging is just awful. I wouldn't purchase this again even though it was only $1 because it's really a small amount of blush, in a very annoying package that you have to slide to get open every time (it even took me awhile to figure out how to open it!).

 I got extremely excited when I saw that they had a 'Waterproof Eyeliner Pen' because I thought that for $1 I could get the equivalent of Stila's waterproof eyeliner pen (which this appears to be a packaging duplicate of). Right off the bat I purchased three of them in plum, coffee and black. when they arrived, I was excited that they tip is easy to use and went on waterproof on my hand. Unfortunately when I tried it out on my eyes, I found that the formula was too dry and the pen has to be pressed too hard onto your eye and you never quite can achieve that perfect line that I go for. If you're fine with just a smudged line, these are ideal. But if you're looking to do that perfect cat eye, stay away from these pens because you'll just be disappointed. I also purchased a $1 eyelash curler which is just as good as any other eyelash curler I've ever seen and even comes with a replacement pad. Then, I went for the $3 'Eyebrow Kit' in 'medium' which happened to be the perfect color for my eyebrows. This comes with an eyebrow pigmented wax (the darker color) to fill in your eyebrows and keep them in place, as well as the lighter brown color as another aid to filling the color in and setting the wax. I'm very happy with this product and I use it every day now, it also came with a handy little brush if you don't have one to begin with.

The difference between the 'All Over Cover Stick' and the 'All Over Color Stick' is that the former is very matte and can cover your pimples (it's a thick formula) and the latter is sheer and slides onto your skin like cream (it has a shimmery finish and is not matte at all). At $1 each, they are both worth the price for their respective uses (one to cover pimples, the other to add highlights to your face). The 8-pack of sponges is also $1 and is just as good as any sponges you will get at the drugstore, while the brushes I purchased were also the same price. I'm a big fan of the 'Defining Eye Brush' for contouring my eyes with nude colors because the color doesn't go on too harsh as with other brushes, the bristles are more spaced out and give a fluffier appearance to the brush. However, I have nothing positive to say about the 'Foundation Brush' and the 'Eye Shadow Brush'. The foundation brush is far too small to do anything with, it would take you much too long to apply your foundation with this poor excuse for a brush (it's way too thin and small overall). The eye shadow brush is also really flimsy and very short, you can't pack a whole lot of product onto it, so unless you like a very faint wash of color on your eyes, this is not a good brush.

 A video review convinced me to purchase the 'Shimmering Facial Whip' which is a product of creamy consistency which a very potent color. These colors also have a ton of staying power, they won't come off or wear off as the day goes on at all. They're a great value at only $1 each, I purchased the colors 'Lilac Petal' and 'Toasted'. I use these as a base for eyeshadow looks by placing them on my eyelid instead of primer or concealer, they give a very sheer finish. You can use these in any way you want on your face, they are very versatile, I have read of people using them as lipgloss and blush. This is definitely a product I recommend.



You can purchase a bunch of their items online at Amazon as well, they make great stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts and really are very inexpensive for a large quantity of good products:

PSA: Giving during the Holiday Season

Regardless of your spiritual or religious affiliation or lack thereof, we can all agree on one thing this holiday season: giving is of the utmost importance. We take for granted that we have a roof over our head, clothes on our backs, a job to call our own, and food to eat. We don't even think about the fact that people in our own country are starving, can't shower, and will not be able to read blogs like this because they don't have the internet, not even a computer or any technology to speak of. We should all take a moment and think about the reality of this situation and contemplate how it is we could go about at least putting a smile on someone's face this holiday season, if we can't help them in a more significant way.

More often than not, when we donate, we end up helping the rich become richer through supposed donation organizations where the majority of the funds (roughly 85% of the donations in general) go to the administrative staff that is supposedly 'distributing' the donations. Yeah, mostly distributing it to their own pockets. Let's stop this vicious cycle of feeding the ones who were never lacking in the first place, and donate items of consequence. Go to your local homeless shelter and donate some food, or do the same in your neighborhood grocery store. Maybe even walk up to someone who you see on the street and hand them some food. We constantly focus on severe situations in various other continents, but lest we forget that those close to home are very much in need.

According to Columbia University, nearly 15 million children in the US are living below the poverty level. You may be asking yourself how much that means, it equates to less than $22,050.00 a year for a family of four. That's right, you read that correctly. I can't even fathom how one person could live off of that amount, let alone four. This means that 21% of all children in the United States (a first world country since last I checked) are below the poverty line, when it is estimated that you would need at least double that amount, $45,000.00 a year or more to cover basic expenses (this means shelter, food, water). 42% of all children live in low-income families, this is classified as families of four which make less than what I just told you would be required for basic needs. What is going on with our society? Why aren't we donating our time, efforts, and expendable money to the people who need them.

You may be reserved to give to adults, thinking that they can do better for themselves or they wasted their opportunities, but you can't hold a grudge at children as they are not underprivileged through any fault of their own. Even so, I implore you to reserve your judgments on others. Until you know the truth about each person and their history, you have no right to make any judgments (and even then, it's probably better that you don't). I will tell you all honestly that I am unemployed. I say this not because I want your pity, because I'm not in dire straights, but because it is important to realize the gravity of the situation. I am not unemployable, I have a degree from a prestigious university in Neuroscience, and as you can probably tell already, I am very adept at communication. However, this doesn't change the reality of the situation I'm in. I suppose many people are nowhere near as lucky as I am to have been able to achieve an education and to be surrounded by people who accept me regardless of my personal financial acquisitions. In this economy, it is hard to get a job, even doing something you think is far beneath your skill set, let alone trying to get a job you're not qualified for.

Please give to those who are less fortunate than yourself, especially the children. Rather than splurging on your next trip to the mall or giving ridiculously over-the-top gifts to your friends and family, keep your presents realistic (does anyone really *need* $40 soap from Lush?) and donate to someone who is in need. You will really be making a difference in someone's life and although you may not get personal recognition because donations tend to be anonymous, you will feel fulfilled and warm inside knowing that you have done the greatest service to someone that you ever could: given them the basics for survival.

Let's all work on our inner beauty this holiday season.

Different concealer colors: What are they for?

Do you find yourself shopping for concealer and looking at a rainbow of colors, wondering what the difference is if you buy a pink, yellow, or green? I had this problem and never knew what they were used for so I limited myself to purchasing the nude shades which literally were the same as my skin tone for fear that I would start to appear clownish with the rest. Fear not, however, because I'm going to tell you exactly what they're all for so don't be afraid to add them to your arsenal of blemish and imperfection coverage.

In general, concealers hide dark circles, scars, pimples, and really any skin flaw you can think of. It's always important to consider whether or not your concealer is of adequate quality and won't cake on your face, as this will make you flaws stand out even more (not exactly your intended result, is it?). Concealer colors are all about neutralization, since most of our skin's imperfections have a color hue to them. For example, your under-eye circles tend to be blueish in hue, many people have redness on their faces, and pimples can be plenty of colors. As for imperfections that aren't affected by color, such as wrinkles and fine lines, we would stick to using the neutral concealer that just matches your skin tone and foundation.

Let's take a look at the color wheel because it holds the key to the mystery that explains what all the various colors of concealers can do for your skin. The theory is that colors on the opposite end of the spectrum (so right across from each other, the way violet is to yellow) cancel out or neutralize each other. Therefore, if you had a yellowish blemish on your face, you would want to use the lavender concealer to neutralize the color before you put on your foundation (foundations generally will not cover up blemishes unless you use a ton, and rather than making your face look like a kabuki mask, you should use concealer). Mint green concealer is used to combat redness such as inflamed pimples and rosacea (redness due to capillaries being too close to the skin). Yellow shades are used to hide nasty veins that may be seen, and the same goes for orange shades which are usually for purple and blue bruises as well. Baby blue or lavender concealers are used to even out your skin, for example if you have bruises or birthmarks that you want to get rid of. The three general concealer colors are yellow, lavender and green. Yellow or apricot warms the skin color and counteracts discoloration on top of its already mentioned uses. Lavender concealer brightens dull skin and can even be used to conceal very dark under eye circles (but not in fair skinned people generally because the dark circles won't be dark enough and can be handled with yellow). Green concealer minimizes redness is general so this color is the most useful for people with red blotches or port wine stains around their mouth as well.

If you have tattoos and you want to cover them up without spending a pretty penny for your tattoo concealers, use the regular drugstore concealers but consider the color of your tattoo. If you have a blue tattoo, use a concealer that is yellowish and make sure that you have a waterproof formula as well as applying a translucent powder on top to set the product for the longest staying power possible.

Below is a collection of concealers that I am familiar with and that have worked well for me at a reasonable cost.