Source: ShutterStock

Think you know what’s causing your acne? I’m going to say you might be a little bit off. If you thought the causes of acne were all about touching your face and not washing your face and stress, you’re right. But you’re missing something. New (well, old, but kind of new) research has led doctors to believe that drinking milk and eating foods that are high in sugar are also causing your breakouts.

Just a question: why does acne have to be so freakin’ complicated? I mean, can’t there just be one or two concrete causes and a few foolproof ways to get rid of pimples? Didn’t you think science would have solved this pesky little issue by now? It’s 2013! Come on, guys.

In all seriousness, doctors have determined that your diet does, in fact, affect your acne. In case you didn’t realize, this has been an ongoing debate. Growing up, I constantly heard that eating too much chocolate caused breakouts. It freaked me out and made me sad, because frankly, I never was and never will be willing to give up chocolate to live a zit-free life. Then a few years later, doctors were like, “JK, chocolate and food in general don’t affect acne” and I was really relieved. But now it looks like they were wrong. Sigh.

Here’s the deal: an overview of research that has been going on for over 50 years reveals that milk and foods with a lot of sugar can aggravate and maybe even trigger acne.

How does this happen? Foods with a high glycaemic index (AKA foods with a lot of sugar) causes hormone fluctuations that can cause acne. Milk also has some hormones in it that can trigger breakouts. Even more interesting? People who drink skim milk have the worst breakouts. I love sugar and I put skim milk in my coffee every day. I’m officially screwed.

So what can you do with this info if you’re prone to acne and you want your zits to disappear? Well, I’d say that cutting milk and sugar out your diet completely is a little bit extreme and also it’s probably not going to happen because sugar is in basically everything. Also, keep in mind that acne is caused by many different things and so everyone needs to figure out what’s triggering theirs on their own. If you want, do a little experiment: cut down on the amount of milk and sugar you consume, and see if you notice a difference. Or, better yet, talk to a dermatologist about it. There are lots of ways to get rid of acne that don’t involve ditching your favorite foods, so see if you can get a prescription or even something over the counter that works for you.

Do you suffer from acne? Do you get a lot of breakouts? Are you going to try cutting down on milk and sugar? How do you get rid of acne? Tell me in the comments.

10 of the best acne products I can’t live without

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Looking good, girl! | Source: Shutterstock

Good thing? We’ve got some majorly simple winter beauty tips that’ll make looking hot when it’s cold outside a snap.

Read on for the best beauty tips around!

Brrrrr! It’s getting cold out here! | Source: Shutterstock

But what are goosebumps, why do we get them, and what can we do about them? Here’s the scoop:

* Goosebumps are a result of your nervous system kicking into gear when your body feels cold or scared, when you think something is really wonderful, and sometimes when you’re sexually aroused.

* Basically, the tiny muscles around your hair follicles contract and make your hair stand on edge.

Look familiar?! | Source: Shutterstock

* When porcupines “bristle” and raise up their quills, they’re just having goosebumps like us–except their hair is a lot showier than the stuff that grows on our arms and legs!

* Goosebumps are obviously not contagious or anything to worry about, but if you see a friend get a case of them, you might want to offer her your cardigan!

Do you get goosebumps easily? Are you already wearing fall sweaters, or are you braving it in tank tops and sundresses? Tell me in the comments!

Can You BUY Perfect Skin?!

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The sun is my enemy. | Source: Flickr

Growing up in Southern California, in a predominantly Mexican-American neighborhood, being the whitest girl around (well, besides my equally ghostly sister) wasn’t exactly easy. While the other kids would turn a golden brown color playing out front in the sprinklers, I’d either have to stay in the shade or risk turning lobster red during the summer months. I was different. I was weird. I was . . . so freaking white, and desperate to blend in even just once.

My parents didn’t make my chalky skin any easier to wear, either. My mom, who isn’t quite as pale as I am, would yell at me to come get another coat of sunblock applied roughly every 2.5 minutes whenever I was trying to play with my friends–and my dad, who truly is as white as a sheet, would embarrass the hell out of me with his own inventive skin protection schemes. Once, after I cut off an old pair of jeans to make jean shorts, he asked if he could keep the denim legs I’d cut off. Thinking he wanted them for rags to wipe down his car or something, I handed them over–only to totally regret it later. He wore my old jean legs (I kid you not) on his ARMS while driving to protect his skin from the sun. The first time he picked me up from a birthday party with those things on, I just about died. Thankfully, he never insisted on me wearing a similar getup.

Oh, Linds! Orange on orange isn't such a good look! | Source: Shutterstock

It was then that I realized that not only would I not look amazing with a tan–I’d look flat-out bad. I love how pale I am and feel sad when I think about how much I wanted to blend into a sea of tan skin when I was younger.

Yes, being more “brown” was trendy when I was in high school–but then, lots of girls with naturally darker skin use skin lightening creams and other techniques to try to be more pale, since lighter skin is more “desirable” in many cultures. If you ask me, it’s all ridiculous and honestly sad. Since when should one skin color be “trendier” than another? It’s creepy and it’s what keeps us from realizing just how beautiful we all are naturally.

Take a look at Cate Blanchett, Devon Aoki, Mila Kunis, Padma Lakshmi, Aisha Tyler, and Selena Gomez. Gorgeous ladies. All different skin tones. Proof that blending in is boring, and that being you–whether you’ve got pale skin like me, honey coloring, or deep skin–is beautiful.

Do you have super pale skin? Have you ever wanted to be tanner or more pale? Tell me everything in the comments!

Why Are Only White Girls On Book Covers?!

Birthmark turned beauty mark! | Source

My mole first appeared when I was about 14; as if having eczema and feeling like the poorest kid in school wasn’t bad enough. Like a crazed beauty addict I would cover my own “beauty mark” with swooped bangs and then draw cuter and more appropriately placed moles on to my face with eye liner.

Then, as soon as I could, I saved enough money I had my mole removed. The doc lasered it off and my face was flawless – to me. I loved my mole-free environment. I was gorgeous!

What happened next is crazy. Within a year another mole grew on my face in the SAME frigging area. The docs refused to remove it again because they didn’t want me to risk having a bigger scar on my face. Even though the doc says this is a new mole and not the same one as before it looks just like the same old mole to me.

“Some people are just mole-y people,” the doc said.

Even in shades, Cindy's birthmark gives her away! Source

So I do my due diligence and mole maintenance. I check in with my doctor annually to make sure that it’s still healthy. I add a cute dab of black liquid liner to it when I go out. And voila, my “birthmark” is a beauty mark.

At my last check up the doc said that now I may have to have it removed for health reasons. My first thought?

“Aw, please check again. I’d miss her.” She, my mole, is kind of like my personal trademark now. We’ll see what happens but either way I’m “all good” because true beauty comes from within.

Do you have a birthmark or beauty mark? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Got stretchmarks, too? I feel you.

Not my body but kinda similar! via webmd.com

When I was 13, I broke my ankle in a terrible horseback riding incident. I was laid up in bed for two weeks and, because fate wanted to compound my misery, those were the precise 14 days when my body decided to go through a growth spurt. I grew three inches and because I wasn’t up moving around (not that that would’ve helped that much) I developed a spate of vertical stretch marks on my hips. I was horrified. HORRIFIED. I mean, really. What are stretch marks doing messing up my body?

A few months later when summer rolled around, I stayed cloistered under a towel, petrified of putting on a swimsuit and letting the world see the red, angry streaks running down my hips. I felt like you could see them from space.  And when I did have to finally slip into a bikini, I walked like a frozen penguin with my arms glued to my sides to cover up the stretch marks. Smooth, Shallon. Real smooth.

Determined to get these ghastly things off my body, I did as much research as I could. Stretch marks form when there’s a rapid growth or weight gain. Pregnant women are the most common victims since their tummies grow so fast. Ditto with bodybuilders who add muscle super quickly.

Yup, LeAnn has 'em too! via celebitchy.com

I had felt like such a freak for having them on my hips, but I learned that they can pop up on your underarms, inner thighs, boobs, biceps and butt. Even super-skinny LeAnn Rimes has them on her backside and upper hips—who knew!

Unfortunately, there’s no cure, so don’t blow your money on creams or potions that promise to get rid of them. Over time they’ll fade into a silvery white, but they will never go away completely.

The best way to avoid them is to keep skin ultra moisturized, preferably with lotions that contain Gotu Kola extract and vitamin E, but plain ol’ Lubriderm will work wonders.

I won’t sit here and tell you that I’ve learned to love my stretch marks because I still hate them, but really, they’re no big—I kept trying to take a pic of mine but I can hardly see them anymore. I’m living proof that they won’t ALWAYS look so red and noticeable–trust me. Plus, almost every single girl has at least one stretch mark somewhere on her otherwise awesome bod. Guys do too! So don’t stress about people pointing and judging because chances are, they’ve got a few of their own!

Do you have stretch marks? Have you tried to hide them or are you okay with them now? Tell me in the comments!

Now, tell me–would you date a shorter guy?

what are stretch marks

Cutest. Tattoo. Ever. | Source: clutch.mtv.com

Tattoos can be very cool–from thorny roses up your leg to a Disney Princess on your arm, they can show your personality or symbolize something really important to you.

That said, if you wonder if you should get a tattoo, there are a few facts you should know–besides the design you want, that is!

Here’s the real scoop on getting a tattoo:

 
 
 

* In most states, it’s illegal for girls and guys under 18 to get inked. In other states you can get a tattoo earlier, but only with your parents’ permission.

* If a tattoo artist says they’ll ink you and you’re underage, don’t do it. They’re probably not licensed, and they could end up botching your tattoo (yikes!) or using dirty equipment.

There's so much to think about! | Source: vixenvintage.blogspot.com

* Speaking of dirty equipment, make sure your artist removes all needles and tubes from a sterile sealed package before use. If they reuse these, you could get hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus, or even HIV.

* It’s normal to bleed a little while getting tattooed, and the process hurts. I mean, you are having a needle puncture your skin over and over and over again!

* Your tattoo won’t look perfect right away. You have to keep it bandaged for a day, and then it’ll scab over. Don’t pick the scabs, or you could get an infection!

* A tattoo from a reputable shop (the only place you should go!) costs a lot. Even a tiny tattoo can cost $100. Think about it first!

Now that you know the facts, do you think you will get a tattoo, or do you already have ink? Tell us in the comments!

This Girl Has A Ton Of Ink–Check Her Out!

get a tattoo

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

SHAVING

What is it? Using a razor and shave gel or cream (or frothy body wash), shaving removes hair at the surface. Your razor makes a huge difference – don’t be afraid to splurge a bit here! Single-blade disposable razors often result in nicks.

Invest in one with multiple blades and preferably a pivoting head – it makes areas like knees and ankles less susceptible to cuts.Shaving is the easiest and most common method of at-home hair removal.

Pros:

 Shaving is cheap! A good razor and gel will set you back at most $20 and will last for a long time.

 Once you get the hang of it, it’s quick and easy.

 No appointments necessary!

 You don’t have to wait in between shaves like you might with other methods.

Cons:

 If you’re not careful, your shower could look like a scene from Psycho. Lather up and use slow strokes to prevent cuts!

 It’s a myth that shaving makes hair grow back faster and thicker. What actually happens is, hair gets finer as it grows. When you cut off the fine tip, what comes up after it? The thick root that was under the skin before.

 The results don’t last long, but they vary from person to person. You may have to shave daily, you may feel stubbly by 9 pm, or you may be able to get away with it once or twice a week.

 Ingrown hairs and razor burn are real! Prevent them by exfoliating before you shave, and by not going over the same area more than twice.

Best for: Legs, underarms, toes, bikini line. Never shave your face!

CHECK OUT MORE WAYS TO GET SMOOTH SKIN ON THE NEXT PAGE!