Love Stories? More Like LAME Stories

Teen magazines offer a lot of worthwhile advice for the average American adolescent female. But most of the tips given in the love department are anything but valuable. I don't want to read an entire page about boys' views regarding the pet name a hypothetical girl has given her ex in her cell contacts list. Taking the online quizzes (see title link) that reportedly give you real answers about your boyfriend are a waste of time as well.
So if you want to read these magazines, do so, by all means. But think twice before following its love advice. You may just crash and burn.

Mobile Games

Cell phones are the icon of the adolescent generation of 2008. I, too, feel that they are a necessity for my on-the-go lifestyle. Cell phones give us teens more independence. But what's the deal with these extras, such as ringtones, wallpapers, and games, that we find it crucial to download? These small purchases have become the latest fad, and before I know it, I've spent ten dollars on a couple of extra mobile perks.
For example: How many times am I really going to play that Truth or Dare game from Smart Logos (see title link) on my cell phone that I've spent five dollars on?
These obsessions are dangerous on our wallets. So breathe and think a little before downloading that ringtone you just have to obtain. Use your voice recorder to record it from YouTube and set it as the ringtone. Sure, it's of a slightly lesser quality, but you get the same effect!

Ado-Health: Stay Conscious

No product review today. Only a simple, important tip that I am uttering in an extremely hypocritical way: STAY HEALTH-CONSCIOUS.

There's a common myth out there that makes girls believe that they are invincible in their adolescent years. This is simply untrue, and it is important to stay aware of what you're doing and eating. Make sure to get ample exercise, and stop yourself from making any decisions that could be potentially harmful to your body (see title link).

There's always that image to look like the celebrity women that are thin as a rod. Although it's important to stray away from this peer pressure, make sure to look at healthy celebrities if you must search for a potential role model. Jessica Biel (pictured), for example, works out frequently while walking her dogs, making sure to stay healthy despite her hectic schedule. Even if we don't have the same perks (like a personal trainer!), we can stay healthy. So remember your body and don't neglect it. Without that, you have nothing.

Image courtesy of theblogyoulovetohate.com.

Curly-Haired Solution

Curly hair is often difficult to manage. I recently donated my hair and chopped off ten long inches. Despite my short bob, my thick, curly hair is still difficult to handle at times. What do I use to deal? I smooth an antifrizz cream from the roots to the ends after washing. The perfect product to use is Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk. I know what you're thinking: What's worse for thick, curly hair than a heavy, greasy cream (see title link)? On the contrary, the milk actually smoothes your hair without weighing it down, and helps to protect it from humidity! After blow-drying, hair will be tame, smooth, and beautiful. The milk is available at virtually any drugstore for just $4!

Come prom night, I'm going to have a perfect solution to that problem lying on top of my head. And so will you.

TRESemme!

So many teen girls are coloring their hair these days. In fact, it seems that a woman changes her hair color almost as often as she changes her shoes. Although it is healthiest to not color at all, it is important to keep your hair healthy if you do have the urge to change your look once in a while.

There is a plethora of shampoos and conditioners specially created for colored hair. But did you know that there is spray as well? To prevent fading, I recommend Tresemme ColorThrive Daily Color Lock in Spray. This is especially wise to use for darker hair shades, since it fades faster. If you heat-style your colored hair, this spray (see title link) is especially crucial to use, as it protects your locks from breaking. It's reasonable $5 price keeps it affordable, so check it out (pictured) at your local drugstore. It's a worthwhile investment.

Shine like a Star!

Always using hairspray that creates stickiness and only makes your hair look artificial? Try Sally Hershberger Star Spray, which actually puts a shine into your styled locks. The spray (pictured) feels extremely lightweight in your scalp, so it will never weigh your hair down. Plus, it helps to tame frizz. The best part? You can get it at Walgreens for a mere $13 (see title link). Now that's a win-win situation!

Sun-In Modeling Opportunity

Ever heard of Sun-In Hair Lightener? It's a harmless, alcohol-free spray that uses solar power to lighten your hair, perfect for a day at the beach. Branching out from their original product, Sun-In has now created a lemon flavor (pictured), which will make you hair smell great.

Each year, Sun-In partners with Seventeen magazine to hold a Go for the Glow Contest for young women ages 13-24 who make a difference in their community (see title link). All entrants must submit a photo and essay discussing their contribution to the community and the reasons why they can't live without Sun-In! The selected winner will get an all-expense paid three-night trip to an undisclosed beach location, where she will get the chance to be featured in a solo photo shoot for the monthly Sun-In Go for the Glow ad in Seventeen. Four finalists will get Sun-In and Seventeen gift-baskets!

There's no harm in entering and for those of you who help the world, this may be a deserving award! Try and enter the contest today! The deadline for entries is May 5, 2008.

Save the Environment AND satisfy your cosmetics craving!

Advertisements advocating environmentally-friendly apparel with burlap and recycled rubber. But did you know you can help save the Earth while purchasing makeup, too? Some brands donate a percentage of their profits to environmental organizations, while other try to manufacture Earth-friendly products. Here's my personal recommendation (pictured):

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Face Powder is amazingly effective on your complexion. The pressed powder (see title link) wears light on the face, so skin doesn't look cakey. Including a brush and a mirror, the compact is actually made of paper, so the total product uses 93% less plastic than most other compacts (statistic courtesy of Seventeen).
The powder sells for a retail price of approximately $14 in drugstores nationwide.

So do the right thing: Save the Earth while beautifying yourself every morning; it will make you feel beautiful on the inside, too.

Why can't we just be happy?

Statistics show that one of the biggest concerns girls obsess over is their hair. A typical conversation between two teenagers involves each ruthlessly insulting her own hair while passionately expressing envy of the other's locks. Girls with straight hair find it dull and wish for something a bit more exciting. Girls with curly hair yearn for a tamer scalp. Through this inner dissatisfaction, brands such as Conair make millions. Curly-haired teens by straighteners, and straight-haired females buy curling irons.

My parents' strict rules meant a restriction on unnecessary hair products. With my curly, infuriatingly frizzy hair, I needed a solution desperately. At 13, I went to my best friend's house daily to get my hair straightened (at that point, her parents were the coolest in the world because of their lax hair-product rules), trying as hard as I could to distract my parents when arriving home with my newly-sleek locks. One day, my BFF raised the heat to a particularly high level to quickly straighten my thick hair. She kept checking to make sure I did not feel a burning sensation. A few days later, I felt a bump on the side of my scalp. Six months and three dermatologist appointments later, I realized the dangers of hair-processing and vowed to remain with my natural, annoying hair. I, too, initiate the hair-insulting conversations with my friends with seemingly perfect hair. But it's time to break the cycle. If girls learned to appreciate their own unique look, the "perfect" hair standard would become extinct, and there would no longer be a single look deemed acceptable. Adolescents would be doing a favor for their scalps as well as their parents' pockets. The large-barrel curling iron pictured above is Infiniti by Conair's 1 1/2" Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron (see title link). It costs anywhere from $30-$35. Paying to damage your hair doesn't make any sense. So try to break the addiction; if I can do it, so can you.

Trendy Tunic Tops

Every day, I see women trying to pair their new tunics with stylish bottoms. One tip: try to balance the bulky top with skinny jeans on the bottom. It gives you a sophisticated look, and makes you look longer and leaner. Try darker colored tops, too. The pale colors of some tunic make the top seem bulky. Tunics with open necks are best; they highlight your shoulders and neckline. To prevent unwanted volume, select a shape that fits close to your body. Tunics are amazing to wear, especially if you wear them in a flattering way!