7 Easy Ways to Update Your Summer Look for Cheap

   Summer season is already upon us!! While everyone else is going crazy at the gym, doing celery diets & blowing their budget on summer dresses, I'm just chilling out. Who needs to be hungry & sweaty all the time when you can get ready for the season with my 7 simple summer secrets:

   1. Go to sleep!! Your body needs time to relax & recharge after a harsh day, so you need at least 7 hrs of sleep. Aim for 10 hrs if you can, but 8 or 9 hrs is fine.

   2. Go to a dermatologist if good skin doesn't come naturally to you. To keep up what the dermatologist does for you wash your face with a cleanser every morning & night. After this, you may want to tone your skin, moisturize or use an acne treatment.

   3. Don't get fake nails because it'll wreck your natural nails. Keep your natural nails trimmed & filed & always keep your cuticles pushed back. Moisturize your hands frequently. If you've ridges, buy a nail buffer & keep them buffed. You may choose to polish your nails.

   4. Let your hair grow out during the summer. After college gets over, get your hair trimmed & leave it that way. During the summer, experiment with different shampoos till you find the perfect one. Go to your local salon & ask what shampoo they'd recommend for your hair. If you really want to change, commit to it. Ask the hair stylist which hair cut would be best for your face. If you want to color your hair, try it early in the summer in case it doesn't work out. But if it does, have it done again about a week before college starts.

   5. Get your eyebrows done professionally if they're difficult to manage, then pluck the stray ones yourself. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, just find your brow bone & follow that. You can find YouTube videos on how to pluck your eyebrows.

   6. Do your make-up according to your skin type. If you've dry skin, you'll want to stay away from mineralized makeup because it'll dry you out. If you've normal skin, you can use basically any brand & not have it harm your gorgeous amazing skin. Oily skinned people'll want to find foundations & powders that're oil free. Splurge on foundation, concealer & powder because when you've amazing looking skin, it'll make the rest of your makeup look flawless. Everything else: just head to the store unless you've a sensitivity to any product.

   7. Brush your teeth twice daily. And FITNESS TIP: do wall sitting/squats while brushing. That way it's a little bit of exercise for a daily routine!!! And it's not that hard!

   With easy fixes like this, who needs to waste money on a new summer wardrobe??

Let it Shine: Top 7 Beauty Products for a Summer Shangri-la

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   There's something magical about the sun that just seems to make the holidays complete.

   Reading old magazines in the sun, taking photos of friends & wearing something short seems charming & sweet. But what's a girl to do when it makes more sense to stay at home than go out?? Never fear: here're 7 fabulous beauty products inspired by the sun. This way, no matter where you're, you can sing 'Let it Shine' with pride.

   1. Avon Neon Nail Enamel

   When else could you get away with painting your toes an eye-popping neon hue than the next few months??? Shown here: Avon Intense Bright Nail Enamel in Blue Shock.

   2. Blu Mediterraneo: Arancia di Capri

   Summer calls for a light & zesty scent. This breezy fragrance fits the bill with refreshing notes of bergamot, grapefruit & mandarin.

   3. Chambor Delicious Lip Gloss

   Chambor has created a line of 5 lip glosses in juicy flavors such as mint, strawberry, vanilla, peach & choco. Yum!!

   4. Clinique Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream

   A smooth, glowing bod is a must when you're showing lots of skin in a swimsuit or dress. Get soft all over with this cream. It instantly unveils silkier, more refined skin all over.

   5. Dove Beauty Bodywash

   Heavy cleansers & lotions're too much on a steamy summer day. That's why I ♥ Dove skincare products, a line of ultra-light weight body products that leave your skin really silky & not the least bit greasy. Lather up with the Beauty Bodywash post-pool since it contains moisturizing cream, making it the mildest of all.

   6. Avon Lotus Shield Frizz Control

   Use a few spritzes of this light-weight & water-resistant find at the pool to keep your hair looking radiant all summer.

   7. Mary Kay Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15

   In the mood for something stronger than regular chapstick? This luscious lip balm will keep you buzzing. And it does it all: provides color, protects & moisturizes. Warning: you'll be very tempted to lick it off.

   I hope the products in this post inspire you to enjoy the magic of the season. Even though I know it can be tough to walk in the heat, try to remember just how lovely summer can truly be! Let me know which products you use that remind you of the sun or of your favorite season & have a happy holiday!!

Your Hot-Weather Guide to Combatting Oily Skin

   This time of year (with its melting temperatures & wayward weather) seems to be when we all need beauty products the most!!! When getting out of your cool snuggly bed & preparing to brave the elements, a little push by way of a much-needed beauty boost can make all the difference. And nothing's better after a long day in the heat than to enjoy a night of pampering.

   As you may have noticed, I take beauty very seriously. Therefore, each of these beauty products has been selected with care to combat one of the most obnoxious side effects of summer: oily skin. I know that while you're focused on finals & trying to get in & out of the heat as quickly as possible, perfectly smooth hands might not be your top priority. However, achieving smooth skin in summer is doable without going too much outside of your regular routine: I promise!!

   1. Cleanse!!!

   Not more than twice a day, with a gentle cleanser, suitable for oily skin. Avoid alcohol based cleansers.

Left to right: Neutrogena Facial Cleanser/ Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser/ Lancome Deep Purifying Cleanser

   2. Moisturize!!

   Oily skin makes its own lubrication but you should also want to moisturize it as well. Use water based moisturizers. Moisturizing is crucial if you've combination skin.

Left to right: Clinique Superdefense Triple Action Moisturizer for Oily Skin SPF 25/ Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream/ Lush Enzymion Moisturizer for Oily Skin

   3. Cover!!

   Make sure to use makeup that doesn't clog the pores & is oil-free. There're really good foundations for oily skin these days that control the shine & keep the skin matte.

Left to right: Lancome Adaptive Foundation for Oily Skin/ Revlon Colorstay Foundation/ L'Oreal Paris True Match Natural Mineral Foundation

   After following these 3 steps, you should be well on your way to having the best skin around. Now I wanna know your thoughts. So let me know: what're your secrets for good summer skin??? Which products are your favorites???