4 glasses a day sounds about right to me, Glen. It's important to keep the entire body moisturized but one also has those kidneys to think about. Rather than drinking more water I would focus on eating more fruit.

I probably eat about 3-4 cups of fruit a day. Is that enough?

I would think so, GtG. And I know often I probably don't get 4 glasses of water a day, so you're doing fine.

I want to post a few links to some makeup tutorial's on youtube. The makeup artist, Tanya, is seriously the most talented one I've ever seen--definetly on youtube at least! Here are a couple of my favorite looks she's done:

This one, one of her more extravagant looks, for Valentines Day.

A tutorial for summer, using coral colors.

Another bold, evening look, based off Hayden Pattetire's makeup.

Here, she gives advice/tutorial on contouring/highlighting. It's really helpful!

Enjoy!

Great videos! I love this forum now. i'm finding out a few things I never knew now. Good thing I eat some type of fruit every day.

Glad you enjoyed the tutorials, Damsel!

Curious--do any of you color your hair? Or if you don't, would you ever? When I was younger I swore I never would, as I saw some women with extremely damaged over-processed hair...but then I somehow fell into the trap. I don't do it regularly though, and I'm careful to take good care of it (not to use heat tools often, put on a protein and extra conditioning mask every once in a while) when I do. It's been a while but I'm going to re-color it next week in preperation for my traveling this summer My hair's naturally a dark brown, but I really like a auburn/red look for it.

I highlight mine, my is blonde anyway so it doesn't take a lot to lighten it and I don't use straighteners or blow dry my hair, so it's in good condition. I don't do the whole head either, just the top layer and then a few run through the rest so it blends together.

I also once dyed it pink, but the upkeep turned out to be waaay more effort than I could be bothered with And having to make sure your outfit doesn't clash with your hair is an activity I can't endure.

Interesting tutorials, Val, I had a peek at the last one because I always wonder how to put on bronzer properly. I haven't seen that presenter before; I think I've watched a few of another girl from the UK though. What aren't there tutorials for?

Curious--do any of you color your hair? Or if you don't, would you ever?

I dye my hair quite often, I started out just putting a dark henna through it when I was 15, then moved on to ....many colours. Now I'm going back to natural brown, and hopefully staying there; I think it's more chic somehow to have one colour (and best for me).

My hair has held up pretty good considering the years I've been dying and straightening and curling it, but what I'm really cautious about is the after-effects of chemically relaxing it. It makes it amazingly easy to deal with and saves me so much time; but I do notice my hair falling out for a few weeks afterward -scary, as I've always had super thick hair (and they only left the stuff in for about 10 minutes and about two inches away from the roots). Now I've got some over-priced treatment that I'm supposed to wear for 20 minutes every week, which certainly keeps my hair very soft but doesn't stop the immediate fall out. I'm going to get on the organic carrot-beet juice bandwagon though, it did wonders for my mother's hair (and nails) and doesn't taste too bad.

I would assume it's good for skin too, but my philosophy on skin care goes strictly to diet -cut out the processed, synthetic foods and soft drinks, cut down bread and especially dairy...basically try to eat a less Western diet and you'll notice a difference. Meanwhile, for my hair problems currently a couple of clip-in hair extensions work wonders.

Shantih I can't stand green tea either -tastes like hay so I try to make up for it by drinking every other herbal tea under the sun...which taste less like hay. But I'm being harsh, I do like fruit teas! If you're after nice anti-oxidant liquids though, you might like to try drinking pomegranate juice.

p.s. I've been taking a tonic lately made up of fresh aloe vera leaves, honey, and a touch of whiskey (as a preservative) and it tastes HORRIBLE, but it's made my skin go back to normal (it was getting dry and oily; yes, both) already and I've only been on for a few days. Powerful detoxing tool!

Aloe vera Barbadensis Miller (not the synthetic stuff we buy over the counter) is known to penetrate up to seven layers of skin, is an antifungal, antiseptic, antibiotic etc and helps with external skin conditions, such as eczema (and wrinkles!) and internal conditions such as diabetes and even cancers. Link: http://www.dpdotcom.com/freebie/Aloe%20 ... xtract.pdf

It's really powerful stuff, and I say that coming from a family that has tried almost every natural treatment option available for health reasons. Try to buy the real plant over the pill versions of anything, even if they are expensive and 'organic' check if they are synthetic or heat-treated; the majority are, which makes them about as nutritional as eating hay. Try and drink the real stuff, or grow the plant and make the tea/tonic/remedy/pills yourself, the potency is far stronger.

*collapses*

I'm about to do blonde highlights and I have dark medium brown hair. This is hilarious and in a way very stupid but one of my friends combs peroxide in their hair and stay in the sun for about 30 mins.

Does anyone know that that actually ruins your hair?

I keep telling this person to use lemon juice if they want to lighten their hair a little. It's more natural to do and I do it sometimes. It's completely safe to use

is it better if I wore make-up that is just light for the prom or thick? I need help guys! (I am trying to immitate the Pride and Prejudice 2005 styles for gowns), and need some suggestions on the make-up part.

sandy, if you're wearing a P&P-ish dress, I'd say go light on the makeup.
I really think a winged-eyeliner look would look fab, though! It goes with anything and manages to look both bold and not to in-your-face.

Loreal makes a really good liquid liner, which is a must-have for a winged-eye look:

http://www.lorealparis.ca/_en/_ca/produ ... 5b_4_Large

It can be tricky at first, but the way to perfect it is practise, practise, practice, and a steady hand. I find it helpful to hold my hand as close to my face/mirror as possible.

Before you do the liquid liner, though, use a pencil liner to get in right amongst your top lash line. Then after you've got the cat's eye perfected, swipe on mascara (having curled your lashes first!), and your eye's are done! Depending on how your skin is either use no foundation or just a tiny but, as you don't want it too thick. A bit of blush and then lipgloss would finish the look off just right!
Hope those suggestions help!

*looks through the tutorials*

Hmmm, I don't mean to put a damper on or be a 'wet blanket' *loves Puddleglum*, but why would anyone want to look like that? The finished results, especially of numbers 1 & 3 are so fake and unnatural-looking. Thinking back on my many conversations with different guys as a teen/young adult, they would prefer someone who is herself, rather than all made up. Know what I mean?

To me, the girl looks better (more naturally pretty and approachable) before she gooped herself all up with stuff.

Am I the only one who feels this way? (Aside from that, look how terribly skinny those 'models' are! Kind of scary, if you ask me.) If I'm on my own in this, then I'll just shut up. I'd kind of like some guys to weigh in on this. What do they prefer? Have guys really changed that much in one generation?

I can't say I know what amounts of make up guys like, but...I don't care When I do decide to put a bit more effort into my make up I do it because I feel like it, not because I think it'll attract guys. If any guy did try to tell me how to do my make up (or any other comments regarding my appearance) it would probably be the last time we had a conversation.

This is coming from someone who doesn't actually wear much make up, I often go days without it which a lot of people I know think is some kind of social suicide. I guess I just have strong feelings on this subject - what's important isn't figuring how to dress to make guys like you, but how to dress so you feel confident and most like yourself.

I'd kind of like some guys to weigh in on this. What do they prefer? Have guys really changed that much in one generation?

I've lost count how many times I've heard this-- "what do GUYS like", or "But, guys don't like that much makeup!"
Frankly, I don't really care what guys think, as I don't dress for them and I certainly don't put on makeup for them. Jo, I once tried to explain this to Jon and Steve, and they both just couldn't "get it", the concept of dressing for ones-self and not for all the guys. I think their exact words were, "But, I thought girls just put on makeup to look good for guys!" I practicly combusted

Aside from that, look how terribly skinny those 'models' are! Kind of scary, if you ask me.

What models? The girl in the youtube tutorials? I thought she looked normal and healthy. And if you mean the picture of Keira Knightley...There's ANOTHER topic I've heard WAY too many times.

The finished results, especially of numbers 1 & 3 are so fake and unnatural-looking.

Jo, I find makeup to be a way of expressing myself--I often don't put it on in the hopes of looking "natural" or having it be "unnoticeable"-I want to stand out, I want the colorful green eyeshadow. I like being creative and colorful and bold, and makeup is one way to do that. For girls who are really into fashion and "high fashion" and all that, makeup is definetly supposed to be noticed--it's basically a fashion statement.

If anything, when dressing, aside from doing my makeup how I like it, the next "person" I dress for would be other like-minded girls. Girls who are into fashion generally notice other women's makeup and clothes, they "get" the look or idea you're going for. Where a guy sees technicolor eyeshadow and goes "EWWW!" a girl would be more likely to think "wow! that's so bold! I love that color!"

And, one more thing---in case anyone brings this up--I definetly don't put on makeup to "make myself look better" because I'm insecure about my looks, or anything. Of course I, like most other females, have days where you feel ugly or whatever, but generally I like my looks as they are As I said before, makeup is fun--it's creative, it's art, it's a way of expressing myself

If I'm on my own in this, then I'll just shut up.

Don't worry, Jo, I don't think you're on your own. Besides all the guys that "hate girls with tons of makeup!!" I'm sure there's lots of gals out there who prefer looking natural rather then wearing high-concept makeup looks. And that's okay! I think it's good to realize where each of us are coming from though.

Definitely, Shantih. (I brought up the 'guy' thing, because of that Valentines look, specifically.) But I think you and probably many of the girls on NWeb are exceptions: from our sons' observations in high school, though, many girls dress for others, whether guy or girl. How sad is that?!

I'm still curious how guys perceive girls (or other girls see other females) if they obviously spend a lot of time on themselves ...

I concur that one needs to dress so that she feels comfortable and confident, reflecting herself, but my concern is that the amount of make-up shown in those tutorials seems to be in such excess and therefore not enhancing one's true self. And that's not beginning to tackle the amount of money and time spent. I heard on the news the other day the dollar figure for cosmetics in Canada: it was staggering and utterly absurd.

And I see Val has posted too (good stuff!). *goes to read*

The amount of time and money that goes into fashion and make up (as they're very similar things) is an interesting point, Jo. I definitely consider spending more than 5 minutes sorting my hair out as time wasted, but I know girls who spend 1-2 hours doing theirs each day. Same goes for make up and skin care, also sometimes at night I like to spend a bit of time cleansing, moisturizing and that sort of thing as I find it really relaxing and almost theraputic (I've heard this is actually quite common, it's just another variation on one's nightly routine I guess).

But one the other hand, there's people who like to spend a long time playing around with make up or their outfits not because they feel they need it to be accepted by their peers or liked by guys, but because they enjoy it as an art form. I'm thinking here of people like Val, who enjoys trying out different kinds of eye make up and so on. A good example that comes to mind of this in fashion is blogger Tavi Gevinson ( http://www.thestylerookie.com/ ). She obviously spends a huge amount of her time thinking about fashion, playing around with outfits, looking through magazines, etc...but it's not to get people to like her, it's because it's an art form she loves and will probably go on to do as a career. That's time well spent, in my opinion, whereas spending two hours trying on outfits and getting upset because if you wear that dress your crush might not like it isn't. I think a person's motivation is what's important here, more than anything else.

Val - Very true about hoping like-minded girls notice what you're wearing more than what guys think. If I'm going into university wearing a new dress or something, I'm generally thinking "I wonder what so-and-so will think of the fabric" more than if the guys are thinking it's cute. Actually, there's quite a lot of fashion minded males on my course (must be something to do with being illustration students) so it's very likely one of them will notice your new shoes