Kristina is out to put an As Seen On TV product to the test. So, she’s heading off to the As Seen On TV Store! Um, did you know these existed? We did not. But now we know that we really want a field trip! Anyway, Kristina tours some hilarious products and decides to test out the RoboStir. Does it work? Well, you’ll have to watch to find out.

Have you ever tried an As Seen On TV product? What do you think is the craziest As Seen On TV product you’ve ever seen? Tell us about it in the comments!

See Gurl Try Getting Super Pretty Curls!

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Phew, the rest of the day could have been a disaster. Just look at all the ways Sally Hansen can transform your day from blah to huzzah!

Julie Can’t Even Type

 

Melanie Can’t Find Her Lips

 

Jess Can’t Figure Out Scissors

 

Em Just Has No Friends

 

No Luck At The Vending Machine For Julie

 

Melanie Lost Her Dog Drawing Abilities

 

Jess Can’t Figure Out Cups

 

No One Wants To High-Five Em

 

Thanks to Sally Hansen, the editors at Gurl can be fabulous and functional once again!

This post written in partnership with Sally Hansen.

Welcome back, James Van Der Beek! We've missed you so! | Source: Shutterstock

Seeing James Van Der Beek back on TV is stirring a lot of memories of his breakout role as Dawson Leery on Dawson’s Creek. Here’s a look back at James Van Der Beek and Company’s best moments on Dawson’s Creek, the show that put the star (and that handsome forehead) on the map.

Season 1: James Van Der Beek as Dawson, Katie Holmes as his female bestie Joey, Joshua Jackson as Pacey, Michelle Williams as Jen–can you believe so many A-listers got their start on the same show? Season 1 introduced us to everyone and their relationship dynamics, and it featured a lot of plot points that came up in later television shows, like when Pacey lost his virginity to one of his teachers (hello, Pretty Little Liars!). While the most dramatic moment was the Dawson-Joey kiss, our fave  was the “Detention” episode, which was a tribute to The Breakfast Club.

Season 2: Drama drama drama! We were stoked to meet Andie and Jack, but the real heart of the season was its heartbreak (nice knowing you, Abby) and family traumas. Andie has a nervous breakdown over her family issues (yikes!), and Dawson struggled to deal with his parents’ divorce. Not many shows dealt with broken homes so openly before from a teen’s P.O.V., so it was relatable and groundbreaking for its time.

Season 3: Dawson’s Creek continued to break new ground in its third season. Like the “Detention” episode in season 1, season 3 paid tribute to and poked fun at another highly influential movie–this time, The Blair Witch Project. Even cooler, though? Season 3 of Dawson’s Creek had network television’s first teenage gay kiss between Jack and his boyfriend, Ethan. You’re welcome, Glee!

Before there was Tom and Suri for Katie Holmes, there was Dawson Leary. | Source: Shutterstock

Season 4: So much drama this season that it was almost hard to keep up! Andie overdoses on ecstasy at a party and a lot of people blamed Jen. So scary! We think the best part of season 4, though, was when Joey and Pacey were under the same roof for a while but still waited for a while to have sex–that’s willpower! We love that the show portrayed the pair acting responsibly about sex without being preachy about it.

Season 5: You know how terrible it is to make fun of someone when they’re down? The world couldn’t help it. After tragedy struck Dawson and he lost his dad, the world was introduced to the now infamous James Van Der Beek Crying Face. Watch. Enjoy. Repeat:

Season 6: We hated to see them go, but we loved to see what happened in their futures! Audrey is a rock star, Dawson goes on to make, well, another version of Dawson’s Creek (how meta!), and more. What we liked a lot, though? The endings, while generally positive, were also realistic and not entirely happy, just like real life often is.

What’s your favorite Dawson’s Creek moment? Are you Team Dawson or Team Pacey? Team Joey or Team Jen? Did you watch James Van Der Beek in Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23? Sound off in the comments!

What Other ’90s Shows Did You Love? We’ve Got Them All!

A pretty quick regimen--and surprisingly easy!

Full disclosure: My actual eyelashes are short and thin. Without some sort of enhancement, my eyes tend to look like they’re sinking into my face. Combine that with a ponytail (and maybe some duct tape), and I can easily look like a dude. One of my remedies for this? Mascara by the bucketload. No one knows quite how much I’m wearing because I need so much of it just to look normal, let alone overdone.

I’ve seen ads for prescription eyelash lengthening products and have heard about eyelash extensions, but each of those require deep pockets and commitment. I don’t have the former and I’m terrified of the latter, so those were each a no-go.

The mascara and eyeliner combo makes my otherwise nekkid face look somewhat presentable.

That said, I was stoked to get my hands on the EnvyDerm lash growing line. It consists of the Eyelash Growth and Conditioning Serum, Volume Mascara for Lash Growth and Conditioning, and Intense Liquid Eyeliner for Lash Growth and Conditioning. (For the sake of length, we’ll just call ‘em “serum,” “mascara,” and “liner.”)

EnvyDerm’s mascara is pretty standard and works reasonably well, but with three caveats: First, I found it tended to clump a little bit (especially close to the tips). Secondly, I crave a little more length from my mascaras (this one was primarily volumizing). The third issue was that the spoolie brush is deliberately made larger than the tube it comes out of. This is to prevent excess mascara from getting on the brush, which is brilliant in theory–but the handle was a little bit wobbly when putting it back in, so I was always terrified I’d break it. Out of the three products I tested, I’m least likely to buy this one.

The eyeliner was pretty awesome. I have terrible motor skills with liquid liner and tend to avoid it in favor of powder or pencil formulas, but this one was surprisingly easy to use compared to others. The brush was simultaneously flexible yet firm, so you could only screw up by your own hand. It’s also fast drying and doesn’t smudge (even after laughing until you cry!), which is great. Also remarkable? It still comes off easily with your regular cleanser, no weird oils or special removers required.

This is what I hope my lashes will look like someday. | Source

EnvyDerm’s serum claims to “repair lash damage and add volume, length, and fullness.” Sounds like a pretty sweet deal! Even better? One tube will last you six months if applied correctly to your upper lash line nightly before bed. So does the serum work?

After applying pretty religiously for four weeks, my lashes do look a wee bit longer and thicker than before, which is rad. I can wear fewer coats of mascara now, and I still have five months of the serum left to go. I’m not quite batting a .500 with my lashes, but I’m well on my way.
 
 
Have you tried lash lengthening products? Do you have a go-to mascara or eyeliner? Tell us in the comments!

<p style="text-align: center;"Now let’s REALLY talk about your beauty routine!

This look in 30 secs. Mission impossible? | Source: czano.tumblr.com

I’m a big make up wearer, but in a very simple way. I’m a mess when it comes to things like coloring in the lines and writing legibly. (I got C’s in both art class and handwriting in elementary school. True story.) So I keep my makeup easy and neutral to avoid looking like Bozo the Clown. I’d always assumed that liquid eyeliner was only for professionals, like models and makeup bloggers. Not me.

I think this was try 8...maybe 9

I headed to Sephora and asked the first salesperson I saw to point in the direction of some junior varsity liquid eyeliner. She handed me a tube of Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner and told me that liquid liner didn’t get any easier. The liner is actually a lot like a felt tip pen and is easier to use than the traditional brush and liquid liner pot, she explained. Even for $20, which is about 3 times what I pay for my drug store eye pencils, I was sold. Sensing I was a newbie, she also left me with the words of wisdom, “Short strokes from the inside of your eye to the out.” Easy liner, simple directions, what could go wrong, right?

Going for eye drama...but not this much! | Source: facebook.com

Eventually, I got my lids to good enough level and even with my less than perfect application, my eyes were so much more dramatic looking than they are with my pencils. The line is so rich and such a statement. I la-la-loved it.

So, bottom line, there probably is no such thing as super simple liquid liner. It’s a sophisticated look that requires some work and skill. But, with a little more practice and a lot more q-tips, I think I could incorporate the liquid pen into my regular make up routine.

Any out there ever nail a dramatic eye? Or have an eye drama horror story? Shout it out in the comments!

Your Complete Guide To Doing Your Nails

liquid eyeliner review

Will this fast dry nail polish pass the test?

Every time I do my nails at home, I screw them up by texting someone, trying to tie my sneakers, or doing some other random (and probably unnecessary) thing before they’ve had a chance to fully dry. Revlon Top Speed Nail Enamel promised that it would be dry in five minutes. “Five minutes! I think I might be able to sit still for that long!” I hopped to the register like a bunny and was on my way, a pretty bottle of blue nail polish in my bag.

Busted--but so easy to fix!

The downside (there always is one, right?) is that it chips pretty much right away. Like, maybe a day after you’ve painted your nails. It’s annoying, but I have to say that since it does dry so fast, it’s not a big deal to have to do a quick touch-up on your way out the door.

Would I buy it again? Yes! Do I think you might want to check it out, too? Yes–but make sure you keep it on hand to cover those chips. You’ll need it!

Have you tried fast dry nail polish? What’s your favorite color of nail polish? Tell me everything in the comments!

Wanna Talk About Your Relationship Without Fighting? Here’s How!

fast dry nail polish

Pale vs. bronze--which leg looks better?

I want a tan for beach season, but I’ve learned the hard way that summer is not the time to start experimenting with self tanner. Instead, you want to have your bronzing arsenal set and ready by the time warm weather hits, so you don’t step out in that sundress with streaks, spots or splotches.

While a ton of things can go wrong when it comes to self-tanning, it’s loads better than what can go wrong with baking under harsh, gross UV rays. After college I worked briefly at a tanning salon and got the message loud and clear that staying out of the sun is the key to preserving a wrinkle-free face. Seriously, the clients looked like saddles.

So, I’ve become an expert on all things faux-soleil but I thought I’d try the Neutrogena Micro-Mist Tanning Spray since it touts a streak-less, quick-drying tan.

I chose the medium shade–I’m not trying to change races, just tone down my blinding paleness–and here are my official pros and cons!

At $10, it's cheaper than a trip to cancun! | Source: Neutrogena

PROS:

• Price–At about $10, this was way more affordable than a salon airbrush tan that can run upwards of $60, but doesn’t last much longer!
• Easy–The directions tell you to hold the can about 12 inches from your body and spray in a small circular motion. The can works well upside down so you can get those, ahem, hard to reach spots without being a Cirque du Soleil performer.
• Color–Hands down, this is the most natural-looking color that I’ve found in a self tanner, including airbrush and Mystic Tans. IMO, it looks natural and subtle, not Snooki-esque. Do you agree?

CONS:

• Ventilation!–I’m still coughing from applying this in my small NYC apartment. I didn’t anticipate a massive cloud of self-tanner to fill my home, but it did, even with the windows open and my ceiling fan on. Now my floor is sticky and I’m just waiting for my perfect white couch to develop a tan. Proceed with caution unless you have a big, breezy back yard!

• Intensity–While I love love the color, there wasn’t quite enough of it. One application yields the perfect shade for a subtle, mid-winter glow, but I had to apply it three times to get this color. Still though, I’m not sure if this is dark enough to convince people that I’ve spent the winter sunbathing on my yacht, the Gurl Talk! (heehee!)

Overall, I really do like this spray. It made good on it’s streak-less promise, and I wasn’t left with stained palms or weird too-dark patches on my elbows and knees. I will definitely use this again…but only if I get a gas mask first!

Have you ever used a spray tan? Tell us what you thought in comments!

Do you need to break up with your ex? Find out!

i want a tan

Miracle in a jar? Here's hoping! | Source: Hellman's

There’s nothing I hate more than winter weather – chapped lips, course hands and, of course, by just a few days in my skin is dry. If you’ve got brown skin like me, heck even if you don’t, we all know being ashy is not cute. I hadn’t even noticed how dehydrated and flaky my legs were (I know yuck and it gets better) until someone recommended, when all else failed, mayonnaise.

Look, I don’t even eat mayonnaise; I find it too gross to consume, so I was not stoked about lathering it all over my body. What is mayonnaise anyway?

Turns out, the ingredients are: soybean oil, water, whole eggs and yolks, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice, natural flavors, calcium disodium EDTA.

I know what most of those things are, it can’t be so bad, right?!

Gross, yet so moisturizing.

First I did it the “traditional way.” I slathered the sandwich spread all over my feet, left it on for ten minutes and  – whoa! The results were fantastic. While everyone was watching the Superbowl, I was making my feet smooth as a baby’s butt – speaking of butts . . . I was so impressed with the suppleness of my new toesies that I may have gotten a little carried away.

I was in the tub already and thought, I am out of shaving cream may as well. In a matter of seconds I dressed up my legs like a club sandwich. I slowly shaved up to my thigh – the razor did get clogged faster because the mayo is so thick, but it is totally worth the smoothest legs I’ve ever had. Now, back to butts. This is totally weird because I’d love to show you the really-hard-to-take before  picture of this tiny little dry patch on, well, my booty.

Check out these hairy gams!

I studied abroad one semester in London last year and the super dry weather left its mark in the form of a tiny, flaky island on my right cheek! I had tried everything, lotion, cream, Chapstick, Vaseline! Then I went for it with the mayo.

Ten minutes later I was ready to strut bare bottom down the street. Are buttless chaps in this season? ‘Cause I am so ready!

Would you ever use mayonnaise to remove dead skin? Let us know in the comments!

Now read about this gurl’s cure for sweating too much!

my skin is dry

Kim vs. Shallon! Who looks better?

So imagine my delight when I spied Violent Lips temporary tattoos. These babies first caught my eye when Kim Kardashian posted a not-at-all-heavily-Photoshopped pic (is there a sarcasm font yet?) of her self in the checkerboard style.

I ran out and scooped up a set for myself and the results were…um…

Rawr!

“What in hell?” My sorority sister, in town visiting from Napa, was horrified. “You’re not…seriously wearing those things out tonight. Are you?”

Clearly this wasn’t the typical fashion in wine country. I boldly told her that YES I am flaunting my newly leopard-printed Violent Lips for all to see! And see they did!

And judge. And point.

Especially when the tats started to peel off, which was about 20 minutes and one drink after I put them on, even though the package assured me they would last four to eight hours.

Not to mention that you can’t really talk with the tats on, merely stand there looking fierce and sneering at those wearing–pffft–regular lip gloss.

But I did give talking a try in one of my oh-so-fab dating advice video blogs. Check it out and see what the lips look like in action!

After a few hours I’d had enough of looking like a Goth cat lady and the tats came off easily with a little baby oil and cotton ball.

They're made with bits of real puma, you know

Still, it was fun to have such a radical new look for a change, kind of like wearing a wig or a fascinator.

Despite the peeling and partial mouth paralysis, I’d definitely wear Violent Lips again–they’d be perfect for a fun girls night out with all of us in crazy lip looks.

Would you dare to dress up your luscious lips with Violent Lips? Or is a bold gloss about as wild as you’re willing to go? Tell me what you think in the comments section!
 
 
 
 
What do you usually put on your pucker? Lipgloss or Lipstick? Tell us!

violent lips

She seriously could have used clinical strength deodorant!

I’ve tried every brand under the sun, but nothing worked well enough. By the end of the day almost every day, I’d know that I was starting to smell slightly like a goat and try to not let anyone get too close to me.

All of that changed when I decided to try one of those clinical strength deodorants. There are a few to choose from now without a prescription, but I’m a sucker for cute names so I went with the Secret Clinical Strength Ooh-La-La-Lavendar. It was about double the price that I was used to paying for a stick of deodorant (roughly $10 instead of $5), but I was desperate and figured if it didn’t work, it wasn’t that much money down the tubes.

My best discovery yet.

I’ve been using the clinical strength deodorant pretty religiously for a few months now and won’t be turning back anytime soon. Yeah, it’s more expensive altogether, but I don’t think an extra $5 a month is a lot to pay for the smell of sweet freshness all day long.

What kind of deodorant do you use? Does it work? Tell us in the comments!

Now, read about stick on nail designs–and whether or not they work!
sweat too much