Beauty Girl's Secrets #14: Summer Fragrances: Part 2, Night

Some might say that fragrances cover up your natural scent and therefore detract your "perfect mate" from smelling your natural pheremones. Personally, I think it's a bunch of crap. Have you ever been truly attracted to a person's natural scent sans deodorant or soap like they are in the movies? No? Didn't think so. I say wear the fragrance you want but don't worry there are some man magnets out there. Here are the perfect summer date night scents for you.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb
This is one of those cult scents for a reason. Every time I get it as a sample in a magazine I can't stop sniffing it. Somehow it's very adult while still smelling sort of like a cupcake at the center surrounded by a field of flowers. Seriously, when reading magazines I keep smelling the scent and it literally lingers on my skin until I wash it off and all from a scent strip at that. I think this would be the perfect man attractor. It smells fabulous, grown up and fun all at the same time.

Kat Von D Adora
For night, or the office, I would really recommend Kat Von D Adora. When I was at Sephora I tried it on again and fell in love all over again. I swear it smells like tea, light and refreshing even with the heavier notes listed on the bottle. This is perfect for a more sophisticated woman due to the earthiness of the scent itself but it also is light enough for those of you still in high school or college. It's not overpowering and men probably won't realize the scent is even coming from you unless they are close enough to tell. *wink wink*

Chloe Love
Another great night choice that's a little heavier than some of the others but it would be perfect for a late dinner alfresco. I love the bottle for it's adorable flask-like quality and it's minimalistic design. This is one I'd want on my vanity. This one has powdery musks listed on the sephora site but I swear I'm not a fan of either powdery scents or musk but I still love this floral scent.

Two of my absolute favorites, and ones I personally own are Calvin Klein Euphoria and Armani Code. Both are stronger scents but they're perfect for date night year round. I can't see wearing these during the day in this kind of heat but as long as it cools down slightly before you head out I think you'll be safe. These would be perfect right after a thunderstorm and the strong scents remind me of just that.

What about you? What is your perfect date night fragrance? Does it vary from guy to guy or is it all about what you love?

Beauty Girl's Secrets #13: Summer Fragrances: Part 1, Day

I can't even tell you how long it's been since I've updated my fragrances. I have a ton of body sprays from Victoria's Secret that keep me trucking through the warmer months and those days when I don't want to wear a heavy fragrance. But I've been thinking, what if I want something to help me stick out? What if I want something yummy and delicious to smell all summer long? Well, I'm working on that. I'm not a huge sucker for keeping certain fragrances for summer or winter use only but here are some great lighter choices for those of you that like to keep 'em separated. Of course you could just go for a lighter (eau de toilette as apposed to eau de parfum) version of your favorite fragrance during the warmer months.

CK One Summer
As you probably already know both Matt and I love the original CK One but it's nice to mix it up sometimes. This version has lemony topnotes that smell amazing and not at all like furniture polish like you can get elsewhere. It's that clean CK One scent with a few added surprises.

Katy Perry Purr
Can I say how much I adore the bottle on this one? I know the kitty kinda freaks Matt out but I'd love to have this on my vanity table. This scent is not so subtle but it is light and fresh. I'll liken it to a baked good, this one's a cupcake not the whole cake. I love the light fresh notes with a little fruity and a little foody. I think this is one young men would enjoy but not the type you'd wear to attract a wallstreet type.

Harajuku Lovers G of the Sea
This is another scent that I love. Don't worry it's the same Harajuku Lovers G you've come to love just in a cute collectible bottle. This one is as fruity as they come and I can't get over the pineapple smell that lingers on me all day. How cute is that bottle? You can always pick it up in the regular bottle if this one's not your thing.

Coach Summer
As I mentioned before a great way to lighten the load, so to speak, is to wear an eau de toilette or EDT. These lighter versions have lower concentrations of fragrance and are perfect for those hot summer days where you can't be bothered to do much else besides sit in front of the TV with the AC cranked. This one's a sweet floral so if that's your thing get all over this limited edition scent.

Coach Poppy
If you're looking for something a little stronger definitely check out Poppy by Coach, it's a heavier scent than Summer but still very light. If only I could find a Coach bag for the same prices as these fabulous perfumes, then my life would be complete! This one's a mixed bag (haha, pun intended) of fruity, floral and gormand,(which to us regular folk means "smells good enough to eat." It's got some fruity/floral opening notes then mellows down to a marshmallow base (pun not intended this time)!

Demeter
A favorite of mine is Demeter's scents and I'll admit there are some pretty weird ones, Lobster anyone?

I mean, I'm a Maine girl but who wants to smell like lobster? Trust me, most lobster men are not dateable so attracting them with your scent is slightly silly. I digress... One Demeter scent I know for sure I can get on board with is Frozen Margarita. After trying Philosophy's Senorita Margarita 3n1, I couldn't not try Demeter's version. WOW! It's dead on. There's the faintest smell of salt and tequila but you're not going to smell like an alcoholic, I swear. The lime scent is delicious and light enough even for a day at the beach with superior wearability. I could still smell this on my clothes when I went to do a load of laundry.

Dolce and Gabanna Light Blue
Another totally wearable citrus scent is from Dolce and Gabanna and again, is probably the only thing I'll ever own from the brand. I love the citrus-y grapefruit notes and I love how fresh the scent reads. Seriously, I could wear this year round with very little difficulty. This is a perfume I like to lightly spritz on before a workout to keep me energized and in a good mood. Try it sometime, I think you'll find that I'm right!

Jennifer Aniston
I've heard wonderful things about Jennifer Aniston's first foray into perfuming although I could have sworn I remember reading about her making fun of celebrity scents a while back. Anyway, what does it matter if it smells amazing? I'm not a snob and therefore I don't care who's name is attached to my perfume if it smells amazing. Come on, I'm not a fan of Christina Aguilera but I adore one of hers. Jennifer's a little higher on the celebrity totem pole so you might want to try her jasmine and sea air scent, you just might love it.

What do you think? Are you like me and don't really care if your fragrance is "summery" as long as it's what you're in the mood for? I've been known to wear Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber year round and still enjoy the way it smells on me in the summer.

Beauty Girl's Secrets # 12: Home Exfoliators

You know what I hate perhaps more than George Lopez and country music put together (yes, I unapologetically hate both)? When products I love are discontinued! Especially products that are the best I've ever used. Case in point: Victoria's Secret Body Scrubs. These gems are so gritty that it feels like a nice hearty backscratch whenever I use them. Now I'm hoarding them, using a tiny bit at a time and dreading the point where they are all used up. What can I say? I live for those things.

Now, what's a girl to do? Sure, I'm sure there are a ton of great body scrubs out there but I'm very particular. I like them in a squeeze tube and not a tub that just gets product under my nails and therefore wasted. I like them to be gritty, salt or sugar based, not oily, who wants that kind of residue on their skin after a shower? Not me! Well, sometimes things just aren't meant to be because I can't find another one like it, anywhere! Do let me know if you know of any that are great.

I've heard people have great success with creating their own exfoliating products, my mentor, Julia over at All About the Pretty, was even featured in Glamour magazine for her amazing concoction, adding 1/2 a teaspoon of brown sugar to your regular cleanser. I've tried it, it really works. For the body I also recommend adding more brown sugar to olive oil to make a gritty paste but this is best done before bed and on days when you're not going to be applying self-tanner, as the product will not adhere to your skin properly. Honestly, this leaves skin less greasy than some oil based products.

There are many other things you can do to exfoliate your skin, I've heard of using regular "table" sugar, baking soda, even sea salt for really rough areas. Have you tried any of these? Also, I've heard great things about Philosophy's Exfoliators and even though I have a sample I haven't actually tried it yet. Of course, I have a favorite facial exfoliator which happens to be from Philosophy as well!

Beauty Girl's Secrets # 11: DIY Hair Tricks from Marie Claire

I frequently read about DIY (do it yourself) ideas for healthier skin and hair and while I always want to try them, I rarely do. I can't attest to the helpfulness of all of these treatments but the few that I have tried seemed to work. Let me know if you've had any experience with these, good or bad, in the comments.

1). As I've mentioned before loads of hairstylists recommend applying conditioner to hair for a day at the beach. They also say to add conditioner to hair before swimming to decrease the likelihood that hair will absorb chlorine or other chemicals that may alter the color or texture of your hair. This is something I usually do anyway just as a treat for my hair and it seems to work wonders.

2). Apply a gloss treatment between dye jobs, it extends the life of your color and amps up shine and boosts color. I recommend John Frieda's Glazes, they work well, although be careful not to stain your hands with the red or brunette versions. Some stylists recommend using a dark blonde shade even if your hair isn't blonde.

3). At the end of your shower, blast your hair with cold water to seal the cuticle and up shine. I've tried this and seemed to have shinier hair but it's not for the faint of heart.

4). Use clarifying shampoo only about once a month, or when you notice buildup on your strands. Any more than once a week will dull color and strip dyes from the hair.

5). If you're swimming in the pool and your hair turns green, try remedying it by applying ketchup. Sounds weird but whatever works right? As a dark haired girl I've never had problems with green hair.

6). I've also read that you can apply 1/2 cup of vodka mixed with 4 cups of water.

7). To revive color and reduce build-up rinse with one capful of apple cider vinegar in three cups of water. Make sure to use plenty of water or you'll end up smelling like a salad.

8). A little to zealous with the haircolor? Try dish soap immediately after coloring goes awry. Dish soap can also be used mixed with baking soda to remove green tinge from chlorine. Use only on the areas effected and make sure to use a heavy duty conditioner after.

9). Apply coconut oil to hair and leave on overnight. I've never done this because I'm breakout prone and terrified to clog my pores and live with cystic acne for weeks just to have healthier hair. If you're not as acne prone as me try it out, just make sure to wrap hair in a scarf and use a pillowcase that you don't care about.

10). Adding oil, vinegar and eggs to hair sounds like a new one but it's not. Those are the three major ingredients in mayo, a hairmask I've been known to do, though not since high school. Make sure you do this one a day that isn't so sweltering, you don't want to drip mayo down your face. Also make sure to rinse well.

11). To brighten haircolor listen up! Make a pot of chamomile tea for blonde hair, coffee or espresso for brunettes and cinnamon sticks boiled for 30 minutes for redheads. For some reason the pigments in these products brighten the hair and add shine all while smelling delicious.

Share with me any diy ideas you've used. I have to know!

Beauty Girl's Secrets #10: Healthy Hair at the Beach

It finally feels like it's starting to warm up in my neck of the woods, time for those hot summer days spent on the beach with a good book and a frozen margarita. Well in case you forgot you also better be slathering your body in SPF every two hours missy or you're going to end up in serious trouble. Really, I'll hunt you down. The sun can do some pretty miserable things to your skin and hair if you're not careful but I've found that the best way to prevent it is to embrace the heat and make it work for you. Once you're slathered in your SPF rub the excess on your part and around your hairline. Think that's enough? Think again!

If you're anything like me your hair easily fries in sun. My hair is dark and it feels about a million degrees on those 100+ days. Honestly, there's not much you can do about that. To protect your strands you could wear a hat but unless you're a glamazon who can pull off a Samantha, Sex and the City style straw hat or a sporty chick who totally rocks her Red Sox cap then it's probably going to kill your look fast. What's a girl to do? Simple solution, if you're going to be sitting in the sun all day, why not look better because of it? Have a little fun and do yourself some beauty good at the same time.

It's as simple as coating your hair with conditioner, leave in conditioner or even a hair mask, homemade or from a bottle. Coat your strands like you would if you were washing it out, twirl your hair into summer's hot topknot/ballerina bun style and rock it. When the day's over simply rinse out and you're left with super soft strands. The heat from the sun actually helps open up the cuticle of your hair and allows the conditioner to go deep into the hair shaft and do wonders on all that damage. What do you think? You up for all the compliments you're going to get the next day?

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 9: Foil Nail Removal Method

Well, well. I guess great minds really do think alike. Just as I was about to do a big write up for this weeks Beauty Girl's Secrets, I realized that one of my favorite blogger's already beat me to it. Christine over at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic (you're reading her, right? If not, you should be) did a great manicure series last week and she completely stole the words right out of my mouth and wrote a much more eloquent post than I ever could on the topic of foil nail polish removal method.

Personally, I've never tried it, so I can't vouch for it but I know it's something I should be doing, especially since scrubbing my nails to remove stubborn polish is the easiest way for me to end up with hangnails. UGH! I've heard about it all over the blogosphere but it was always something mentioned in passing, like I should already know how to do it, but didn't know how. I finally looked it up about a month ago but with the frequency in which I actually polish my nails, I haven't needed it yet. In fact, my nails are bare and short right now, something they usually are not. No, usually they're all different lengths and in complete chipped disaray. I'm a bad, bad blogger like that. I'm working on it, I really am. In fact I'm going to start backlogging mani/pedi pics that I can use once summer hits for a fun nail polish series. Since I'm not really a trend follower in the polish department, I'll showcase the colors I already have and probably a few I pick up between now and then.

Anyway, here's a link to her post, check it out! I'm not even going to try and write out the details, I think she did a wonderful job of that already.

Here are a few additions I'd like to add. From what I've heard felt is amazing at removing glitter nail polish as it's harder to tear but I think cotton would be just fine for dark or otherwise hard to remove polishes. If you have hangnails like I always seem to, definitely do your best to keep the cotton/felt only on the nail and not the surrounding area. Plus, if you don't run around your house pretending to be a robot with tin foil on your fingers, we are no longer friends! Have fun!

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 8: Dry Brushing

One of those things I hear about all the time but rarely make time for is dry brushing. Okay, when I heard that Miranda Kerr is a huge believer, I ran out and bought myself a natural body brush. Are you happy? I can confess! Plus, if you suffer from dry skin it makes a spectacular back scratcher or even a lotion applier. Just make sure to rinse and hang to dry or you'll end up with unsightly back-ne. Here's how to make it work for you.

First of all, it sounds weird but it's best that you do this dry. Of course, you can do it when you're wet but you get much more noticeable results if you go with dry skin. I'd really only recommend doing it wet if you have extremely sensitive skin or if you're trying it for the first time. I recommend standing in the shower that way any flakes that you exfoliate are easy to sweep down the drain.

Starting at your ankles, rub the brush is small circles gently. Don't press down too hard or you'll risk scratching yourself, keep that in the back of your mind but you don't run that big of a risk, don't worry. Work your way up your body and towards the heart. When you reach your arms brush up from the fingers to the heart and on the neck and chest move down. You'll feel your skin is smooth and stimulated immediately and upon shower and washing with a moisturizing body wash you'll feel like silk.

Have you ever tried it? Gosh, it's amazing!

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 7: Emergency Pimple Treatment

It's inevitable, you will get a pimple right before that first date you've been anticipating, your important job interview or your high school reunion. It never fails and more than anything I wish none of us had to deal with it. I'm here to help when the inevitable becomes a reality. How to get rid of that sucker and fast.

First of all you're going to have the urge to squeeze it. Don't. Not unless you have a whitehead and even then there are certain protocols to follow. We'll start there.

First off, wash those hands and well. You don't want any bacteria lingering on your hands to be transferred to an open wound. Then, grab a washcloth with warm water and press and hold it on the pimple for a while to speed up the process. A lot of times the hot water and pressure are all you need.

If that's not enough to do the trick dab the area with rubbing alcohol (if your skin isn't overly dry or sensitive) or a pimple cream containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Either can be used for anybody so feel free to use whichever you're most comfortable with. After a few more cycles of hot water grab a couple q-tips and gently press on either side of the whitehead until it pops. Rinse the area well with cleanser and water and apply another dose of pimple medication.

Then, sometimes all the squeezing in the world isn't doing anything but don't push too hard and risk pushing bacteria deeper into the pore and leave yourself with a pimple that will take forever to go away. If worst comes to worst grab a needle, sterilize it with rubbing alcohol and pierce the whitehead, careful not to draw blood. Realize this is only a last resort, don't do this unless you absolutely have to, I wouldn't recommend it unless it's your only option. I'll admit I've done it a few times but it's always a little scary.

If your pimple is not a whitehead there are still many things you can do to reduce the size and pain. Your best option is to use the warm washcloth to alleviate some of the pain and swelling. The best thing that works for me is a gentle exfoliation, a round with my Zeno mini followed by a dose of salicylic acid. The scrub breaks down the old skin allowing heat and acne medication to better penetrate and if you don't have a Zeno, I highly recommend that good ol' washcloth and some hot water.

Let me know what works for you as some things that work for me may not work for others or I could find my new best beauty friend who can solve all my pimple worries.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 6: Home Facial

One of my all time favorite ways to relax and help myself look great is a home facial. It takes a lot of set up and preparation but I swear my face has never felt better than it does after I'm done.

What you'll need: Washcloth and towel, large bowl, glass of cold water, plenty of steaming hot water, a facial cleanser, scrub, toner and for after, a serum, moisturizer and eye cream.

Bring plenty of water to a boil and dump it into your bowl. Carefully bring it to a table and, while draping a towel over your head, rest your face over the bowl and allow the steam to hit your face. Do not get too close to the water and risk getting a steam burn on your face. Also, if you start to feel dizzy stop immediately. I've never had either of these complications but I wanted to forewarn you.

As soon as you start to sweat, dip a corner of the washcloth in the hot water, allow it to cool off to a respectably hot but not scalding temperature and wet your face and cleanse, alternating between the hot water and cold water on your washcloth. Immediately after cleansing use a gentle scrub on your face. You may also reverse the order of scrub and cleansing depending on your preferences but to me they're interchangeable.

Now, continue where you left off with the steaming hot water and steam your face for 5-10 minutes, newbies start with 5 this time around and work your way up to longer. You may also want to add essential oils to your water to help relax, invigorate or stimulate your senses.

Lastly, towel off and apply a toner if needed, an antioxidant serum followed by a rich moisturizer and eye cream. I promise you that your face will feel so smooth it will be hard to keep your hands off it all night. Do try your best but I can't make any guarantees that it's possible.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 5: Frizz Free Hair

Here's one you may not have thought of although it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Well-conditioned hair is frizz free hair. *Cut to me shaking my head disapprovingly at the mirror* My hair isn't, and probably never could be considering it's current condition, well hydrated. Load up on conditioner and I end up a greasy mess before my next shampoo, skip it and my hair is so dry that horses might just start feeding on it. Through trial and error I've come to the realization that leave in conditioner is my friend. Let me rephrase that lightweight, spray on, leave in conditioner or hair oils, not necessarily leave in creams, at least not the ones I've tried, are my best friends.

Here's how it works. Towel dry your hair and comb through the tangles as quickly as possible so there is no previous drying time. Spray on or scrunch in leave in conditioner and leave the hair alone. Do not touch it. Do not rest your head on the car seat. Do not put on a pullover. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. The conditioners will sit on top of the hair and in my experience leave you significantly more frizz free, not to mention completely conditioned.

Of course, this always works best when you apply another product such as the original John Freida Frizz-Ease and it's big sister counterpart Living Proof No Frizz. Both work wonders for my hair and keep it on it's best behavior. If you're going to go this route you will have to wash your hair more often so invest in a good hydrating shampoo and conditioner and I suggest you add a leave-in to your nightly routine, just make sure to change your pillowcase often as to avoid breakouts.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 4: Tea Tree Oil Scalp Treatment

You know that tingly feeling you get on your scalp when you wash with a tea tree oil shampoo? I love it, as in, can't live without it, I just can't fathom using the same shampoo day in and day out. That's where tea tree oil comes in. I picked up a mini bottle from Desert Essence and used it to spot treat pimples. As an acne sufferer it's a godsend, just don't apply it straight from the bottle to your face. Dilute it with water or add it to a wet cotton ball before applying.

Another great way to use the product, and incidentally one I found in a beauty magazine, apply some to the tips of your wet fingers and massage into your scalp as you let the shampoo penetrate your strands. The shampoo gives your fingers slip and allows you to apply it to a larger area with less risk of scalp irritation. If you have a sensitive scalp or have recently colored your hair I would avoid this treatment for a while. As with all beauty products you should do a spot test on your inner arm before use and you only need a couple drops for your whole head, don't splash the whole bottle on there and then come running to me when it burns like hell. I'll feel horrible.

This treatment is best left to once or twice a week max or you risk injuring your easily irritated scalp. Also, you should know that the scent tends to linger so you may want to re-shampoo your roots immediately after use to mop up some of the smell. Tea tree oil is a great remedy for treating mild to moderate dandruff as well so it's great for those of us that suffer from seasonal dandruff.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 3: Blush Layers

Now that we are officially into spring I've really gotten into sporting my bright blush that I shared my love for with you a while back. But, you can't just put it on and go. Come summer any color I apply to my face slides right off but I read a great trick to stop that from happening that I just have to pass on.

You've probably realized before now that powder sets your foundation, right? If you want your base to stay add powder on top and you get much longer wear. Well, did you know it works in the reverse, too? I can't remember where I read it but I was shocked when I heard that adding gel/cream/liquid blush ON TOP OF powder blush creates a better flush than doing the reverse. I thought they were crazy but I experimented anyway. A few days later I was going to an outdoor concert and tried it out. Whatdaya know? It worked. My blush was much more vibrant and lasted hours longer than it normally would.

Here's what to do. Apply your foundation and concealer topping with powder. The powder is very important here because as you may or may not know it's always best to apply product types together; if you're wearing gel blush apply it on freshly foundation-ed skin and if you're wearing powder blush, first apply transluscent powder to give it staying power. Next, load up on powder blush and feel free to use a shimmery formula, it didn't appear to hinder the performance. Then, lastly, slick on some gel/liquid/cream blush. As the top layer fades you're left with the powder that was applied first. Crazy but true!

So pass on those crazy beauty tips to me and I'll be sure to give them a good old fashioned Beauty Girl try.

Beauty Girl's Secrets: Week 2: Aspirin Mask

Phew! Week 1's confession was all in good fun. It's time to get serious. (If you haven't read week one, check it out here: to see what the heck I'm talking about).

Week 2's is a little more conventional and after I gave it a shot I wondered why I'd never done it before. Pretty much every beauty blogger and makeup junkie knows about the Aspirin mask but it bears repeating, just in case you aren't in the know.

It's simple. Take an Aspirin (I use the cheapest I can find at the drugstore, uncoated, about 99 cents for 50 pills) and crush it up in your hand. Add a drop of water, or if you need extra hydration I've heard of people using Argan Oil. Mix those two up until you have a semi-dry paste and apply to your face. DO NOT RUB just dab it on avoiding the eyes and any sensitive areas. The acids in the Aspirin go to work exfoliating your face, the same salycilic acid we pay for in our products in it's closer to nature form in the pain reliever. After 5 minutes (less if you're in a hurry) rinse off. Trust me, you will not be able to believe how soft and smooth your skin is, you won't be able to keep your hands off. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

This mask is perfect for use a couple times a week for 5 minutes or even daily if you keep application time to a minute or so. You'll wonder why you never did it before.

Beauty Girl's Secret: Week 1: Vibrating Cleansing Tools

Do you ever have a product that you just love, love, love but it's so silly that you never bring it up with friends? I do, and since we're all friends here I thought I'd pass along the information to you, shame free.

For the past six months or so I've been going absolutely crazy with a product but it's not what you would expect. I'm pretty loyal to my face wash (right now it's Purity Made Simply by Philosophy for cleansing and their Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash for gentle, yet thorough sloughing) but sometimes I just need something MORE. I found it without a need to stop using the products I know and love, in fact, I found two things that up the oomph of my cleansing routine.

Ready for this? Now that I've got you thinking it's something weird or unconventional I'll spill, resting you assured that I have not lost my mind and starting exfoliating with moldy bread or something like that. It's these babies....

Yes, I know it's not weird but wait until I tell you the best part. It's not that I use (and love) these little gadgets it's that I don't use them with the products you're meant to use with them. I've not once touched the L'Oreal 360 Clean cleanser that came with the scrublet and while I use the Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser and Neutrogena Wave pads that came with these products I like to use the vibrations with a clean washcloth and my own cleanser. Is that weird? Someone please reassure me that I'm not the only one!!!!!

Now I know I'm not the only one who does things like this or has a secret recipe for the perfect hair cocktail. I love these little factoids and I'm ready to share them with you. Every Wednesday here on Drug of Choice I'm going to share with you a secret or two from my vault. Try it if you dare and spill your secrets to us so we can all be as beautiful as we can be.