Girl Talk: A Girl's Must Have App

Hey girls! Today's post is a little about something that every girl will go through at some point in her life, periods. I won't be going into much detail on that time of month when cravings, moodiness, and well... period stuff, rear their ugly heads today (more posts on that will be coming in the very near future). But I would like to mention a great way to keep track of that time of month and prepare for it, period predictor apps. 

Recently I was curious about an app that could better help me prepare for that time of month, and give me an alert when that time is coming around. And somewhat without surprise, there are many period predictor apps available in the app store! (Paid and free, I went for free, LOL!) After trying a few, I found the one that I liked best, and worked best for me, Period Plus. This app allows you to keep track of several factors: breakouts cramps, weight, flow, and more. You can even create a custom factor if you wish. You can set this app to notify you of your period starting up to 5 days before your period is estimated to start. And as you enter more periods and cycles (the amount of days from the start of your period, to the start of the next) the prediction will get more accurate, and make changes based on what you enter. You can even password protect this app if you don't wish for others to view your content. 

There is a paid version of this app ($2.99 american dollars), but the free version works just fine. Also feel free to check out other apps available on the app store. This app will run on iPhone, iPod touch, and I believe iPad as well. Feel free to check out other apps if this one doesn't work for you, the app can be easily deleted from your device if you don't like it. You may also be able to find many similar apps on the android market if you don't have an iPhone. But even if you don't have any of these devices, you can still keep track of your period. Simply mark your calender when your period starts (it doesn't have to be anything fancy, a dot, heart, or any shape you like will do. plus not many people would know what it's for other then you) and mark it each time your period starts. The days from one mark to the next is the length of your cycle, so you can use this to estimate when your period may start. 

The average cycle is 28 days, but EVERYONE is different. You may be a little longer, or shorter then other girls. Your cycle may also sometimes be longer of shorter then usual, you may even miss a cycle (this is very common when you just start having your period). This is completely normal, and you shouldn't worry about it to much. However, you shouldn't miss more then 3 periods in a row. And if you have any concerns, don't be afraid to see a doctor. And never be afraid to ask your mother, older sister or friend, or another woman you trust questions.

Do you use a similar app? How do you keep track of your period? Feel free to ask any questions, as well as answer any questions other girls may leave on this post. I'll try to answer questions the best I can. I'll also be doing many more posts on this topic. I am not a doctor, nor am I trying to be. What I know comes from personal experience and research. 

***FTC Disclaimer: This was a free app in the iTunes app store, and is free to everyone. I am not being paid to write this post. All opinions are my own.***

Keep the summer boredom away

I don't know about you, but sometimes I can get a little bored with summer vacation, especially in the last few weeks. And while this may sound crazy, I'll even want to go back to school, just to have something to do. (And for the fact that I love back to school season, even though I'm not the biggest fan of school, LOL.) But since school is still 5 weeks away for me, as well as for many others, I have to make the most of these last few weeks rather than just watching them pass by. Since I'm going to be a senior, this is my last official summer vacation,(no job, or real responsibilities to take care of), and I really want to enjoy it. Even when things start to get a little slow.

So one of the best parts about summer is the lovely warm weather, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is to get outside, and even spend time with the besties. But I know that not everyone is an outdoors person, and that sometimes it can be just a little to hot to be outside for long periods of time. (If it is really hot out, and you plan to be outside, drink a lot of water. Especially if you'll be doing a lot of activity. You don't want to become dehydrated. And no matter what temperature, you should always wear sunscreen to protect your skin.) And sometimes, the besties may be away on a family vacation or busy with other things. So I came up with a list of things you can do to keep yourself busy,and entertained over the last few weeks of summer. 

Starting with the bleh... but time passing activities 

♥ If you have summer homework, work on that. I did an entire blog on this. 

♥ Clean your room, or even other parts of the house a bit- It may not be fun, but it has to be done. You'll be much happier in a cleaner room. You can even reorganize things a bit, and have a nice clean, organized room when school starts. And doing a few other chores, even if you don't have to do chores normally, can really help score some points with your parents. 

♥ Embrace the boredom- Just laze around a bit and enjoy the slow pace. Just remember, you could be loaded with homework and test stress. You don't have to wake up early, or go to bed early, or sit in class. It is better to be bored at home than to be bored in class. :) You could even take a little nap and not worry about it. 

And now for the more fun stuff :)

♥ Start a new hobby- A lot of people can agree that this can really help to pass time, and can be very enjoyable. It also gets your mind going and being productive. Think about what you are interested in, and start doing an activity based on that. You could start a blog on something you are interested in, or make a few videos for YouTube. You could even start scrap-booking, or even stop by a craft store or use items you already have to make jewelry. There are so many things you could do! 

♥ Watch some of your favorite childhood movies and TV shows- Pop in an old movie that you loved as a kid, but haven't seen in a while. Or if available, watch a TV channel like Nicktoons (separate from the usual Nickelodeon) that shows old shows like Rugrats, Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, and other childhood favorites all day. You could even look to see if you have TEENick, which shows some of the old favorites like Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Drake and Josh, Zoey 101, and other favorites all day. (I have GOT to start watching this channel again, LOL) If you don't have these channels, you may be able to find a few episodes online, or on Netflix if you have it. This would be great to do alone, or with friends! You could even think of how your views have changed since you were younger, and pick up on some of the jokes you didn't get as a kid.

♥ Practice some hair and make-up styles you might want to wear for back to school- Try out a couple of those hairstyles or make-up styles you're thinking of for back to school. You can then decide on which ones you like best for that first day. And you can get better with practice, so you won't be as stressed as to how it may turn out when you actually go back. It can even bring on a little bit of the excitement of back to school. You can even make a tutorial to put on YouTube if you'd like.

♥ Pamper yourself- Give yourself a spa day. Take a nice bubble bath, or a nice hot shower with your favorite body products. (did you know that a cold shower is actually better for you than a hot shower? i didn't until i read it on elleandblair.com! but it is still nice to take a relaxing hot shower.) Put on your favorite lotion, give yourself a manicure or pedicure, just make yourself feel good, and relax for the day.

♥ Read a good book- Reading a book you enjoy is an amazing pass-time, and also helps to keep your mind sharp. Find a good book you want to read, and open it up. (If you have to read an assigned book for the summer, you may want to read that first.) There are so many amazing books out there! But if you don't have enough money to go buy a new book, you could always re-read other books you may have. You may pick up on something you didn't get the first time you read the book. It's best to find a book on something you are interested in. Don't read a book JUST because it's popular. You may also want to consider expanding and reading other kinds of books, or books by different authors. (I tend to stick with my Nicholas Sparks books, LOL)

     -if you aren't much of a book person, you could always read blogs.  

♥ Make a snack- You could find some recipes online or even from your mom or grandma, or even a friend. You may even want to get creative and come up with your own! It can be a yummy desert item, lunch item, or even just a healthy snack. It doesn't necessarily have to require the stove. You could make a nice fruit salad, sandwich, or a smoothie or milkshake. You could make it for yourself, or even make enough for a few friends. 

♥  Computer Time- Normally it's best to try to get off the computer and try to go outside... But the computer is a pretty good pass-time. You could spend a day reading (or even writing!) blogs on things you are interested in. Watching YouTube videos you like (maybe watch some tutorials or organization videos to get back to school ideas.) Chat with some friends on skype, aim, or any chat service you may use. Play some games (they can be as simple as a few Facebook games, or even games like The Sims 3 if you have it) if you play games like The Sims 2 or the Sims 3, you could create a different type of family you wouldn't normally play, or even get an expansion pack you don't have (if you have the money.) You could also play video games on your Wii, PlayStation, or Xbox if you have one. 

What do you like to do when you get bored during the summer? Leave any additional tips in the comments. And enjoy your summer, you only have so many summer vacations left. :)

Products I'm Loving: The Eye's Have It Shadow Set by Claire's

Review: The Eye's Have It Shadow Set by Claire's

So I have to say, I love to shop at Claire's for their cosmetics as well as their accessories. Their stuff is generally low priced and of pretty good quality as well.  Though sometimes cosmetic items may be damaged in the store, so I would suggest looking at the packaging as well as the product (if it isn't already sealed, and preferably go for sealed products) to make sure it isn't damaged or already used. I also find it best to kindly report damaged products to someone who works there. But aside from the occasional product damage in the store, Claire's in one of my favorite stores to shop for make- up, as well as hair accessories and jewelry. I always have to at least stop at Claire's when I do to the mall! :)

 The colors looks even prettier in person :) 

A couple of months ago, I purchased The Eye's Have It Shadow Set by Claire's, and I love it! This pallet comes with 100 colors! It has neutral colors such as grays and browns, and some bright fun colors like pinks, purples, blues, greens, and more! There are so many looks that can be created with this shadow set! From neutral looks, to fun colorful looks. (I'll be doing many tutorials on YouTube using this pallet. They will be posted on my blog.) The colors are also very pigmented and look amazing when you use a little eye primer (I may review my current favorite eye primer soon.) This set is perfect for creating everyday, as well as party and special occasion looks!

This eye shadow pallet comes at a great price of $20.00 (american dollars), not bad for a set of 100 great eye shadows! Price may vary a bit based on your location. It comes with two of those sponge applicators you often get with eye shadow, but of course you can use your better brushes if you prefer :) Maybe even pick up a cute brush set from Claire's! Beauty products from Claire's are buy one get one 50% off, so you may be able to get your brush set 50% off! Or any other beauty product you wish to get :)

***FTC Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this blog were purchased by me with my own money. None of these products were given to me for free. I am not being paid for this blog. All opinions are my own.***

This may sound BLAH, but if it applies to you...

It seems that this summer is going by really super fast, it's already almost the middle of July already! With summer going by so fast, it may be a good time to start that dreaded summer homework, if you haven't already. I know, the last thing many of us want to think about at this point is school or homework, but believe me, it's best to try to get summer homework done a little early rather than saving it until the last week or two of summer. It's much less stressful and you don't have that nagging feeling that you should be working on your homework!

You don't have to try to get it all done in one day, or even by the end of July (unless you start school at the beginning of August, and if you get it done earlier you wont even have to worry about it in your last few weeks of summer). If you have to read the not-so-fun assigned reading book, just read a chapter or two (or more depending on the length of the book and how quickly you want to get done) and answer any assigned questions or reading logs you may have to do with it. If you don't have to answer any questions, it wouldn't hurt to take a few quick notes in case you have a test or discussion when school starts back up. (You may want to read this before you go on to your next pleasure read.) 

You can also get together with a few other friends who have the same assignment as you and work on it with them. You can even have a little snack or even a picnic with them while you work, just try to stay on task, LOL! Sometimes working with others can help make an assignment much easier and quicker, and you'll have someone there to help you as well. But you can always work alone if you wish, and if you are home alone for any portion of the day during the summer, that's one of the best times to get to work. Just try not to get distracted to much by the computer or TV, LOL. 

Just don't get to stressed out, and don't feel as if you need to rush. Take your time, that's the point of starting early. If you get confused or need help with something, ask a friend for help. Sometimes others may understand different things a little better. You can also feel free to ask a parents, or even look to an online resource. If you are able to contact your teacher, feel free to email them with your questions and they can help out. And if you feel stressed, you can always walk away and do something you enjoy, then go back to your homework later, or even the next day. 

While I may not have been assigned anything for this summer, I have been in the past. From personal experience I can tell you that it's VERY stressful to try to get a summer assignment done in two weeks or less, and all I had to do was read a book. I couldn't imagine how it would have been if I had written work to go with it. Try your best to get to complete your work at least a week or two before the first day of school. You deserve to enjoy your last couple weeks of summer, while doing a little back to school shopping as well. :) 

*Back to school blog series will be posted around the beginning of August.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!!!!!! 

Don't forget your sunscreen!

You hear it from dermatologists, on TV, online, and even from your parents, you have to wear sunscreen if you plan to spend time outside, especially in the summertime! I also mentioned in several past posts not to forget your sunscreen when you go to the pool or spend a day outside to protect your skin, though I haven't gone into much detail on the topic. Since this is an important topic, I've decided to research a little bit on the internet and write today's post on sunscreen and protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

We all know some of the harmful effects that sitting out in the sun without protection can have. From a painful sunburn, to even more long term consequences such as premature aging and even skin cancer. (Tanning beds can have the same effect, as they give off the same rays as the sun.)  And just one blistering sunburn puts you at a higher risk of getting skin cancer (one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer, especially in younger people). But even if you've already had an awful sunburn, it's not to late to protect your skin from further damage. Put on that sunscreen when you go outside!

As we shop for sunscreen, one of the things many of us look at is the SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number. This number is determined by the amount of time a person wearing sunscreen would take to burn vs. the amount time someone not wearing sunscreen would take to burn. These generally go from SPF 15 and higher. And it's logical to think that a higher SPF means better protection, and while that may be true, are they really that much better then a lower SPF? A sunscreen of SPF 15 blocks about 94% of the suns UVB rays (many sunscreens don't do much for UVA rays, which are just as harmful and can cause deep skin damage), SPF 30 blocks about 97%, and SPF 45 blocks about 98%. And higher rated sunscreens block a little more UVB rays, but none offer 100% protection. It's still always good to protect your skin as much as you can, but you should always at least go for a product of SPF 15, even if you want to get a tan. You should also go for a water resistant sunscreen if you are going swimming (and so you don't sweat if off, ewww right?) You also shouldn't forget that sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours, or after swimming, drying off or sweating. 

Along with sunscreen, you should also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays. Along with a cute style, also make it a high priority to look for sunglasses with a high rating to protect from UV rays. Preferably 99-100% or UV 400. If you wear glasses, look into transitions lenses that can adjust as lighting changes.

Facts: 

~ You can even get sunburned in cold weather! The risk of getting a sunburn has nothing to do with temperature, but UV rays from the sun. It's often believed that it has to be hot because the suns rays are what warms the earth. 

~ You can still get sunburned on a cloudy day, and even through a window! 

The truth about Tanning:

While we would all love to have a nice summer glow, the risks that can come along with tanning aren't really worth it. It's best to stay away from the tanning beds to avoid premature aging or more serious problems like skin cancer. If you wish to get a tan from the sun, you should still wear a sunscreen of SPF 15. You can always go for a self tanning lotion for the healthiest way to achieve a nice summer glow, especially if you have really sensitive skin. Just remember, you're going to have your skin for the rest of your life, so it's best to keep it looking young and healthy :) 

We all forget the sunscreen sometimes, nobody's perfect. But you should always make it a priority to put on sunscreen when you'll be spending time outside. 

***Please note that I am not a doctor, not am I trying to be. I am taking research and prior knowledge and simplifying it as much as I can for this blog.***

More information on sunscreen, UV rays, and sunglasses can be found at the following links from: WebMD, ehow, and about.com.  ***I am not being paid or sponsored by any of the sites listed***

Girl Talk: Acne, Pimples, Zits, OH MY!

Hey girls! For my first Girl Talk blog, I figured I post on something that just about every teenager (even boys!) can relate to. Those icky little bumps that appear on your face, and even on other areas of your body such as your neck, shoulders, back, and chest. ACNE. Just about everyone will have acne at some point in their tween and teen years, and even in their adult years. Some may even have more severe acne then others. If you feel that your acne is effecting your social life or self esteem, or you have really severe acne, you may want to set up an appointment with a dermatologist to help control your acne. 

Causes of Acne:

-Overproduction of oil (sebum), your body naturally produces oil. (Your skin would be really dry without it, and dry skin can cause break outs as well.) When to much oil is produced, it could clog the pores in your skin.

-Dead skin, your body naturally sheds dead skin cells, but irregular shedding of dead skin can result in irritation of the follicles in your skin.

-Bacteria buildup

Acne can be worsened by:

-Hormones. This is why your acne is usually worse in your tween and teen years as you go through puberty. You may also experience break-outs around the time of your period as your body goes through hormonal changes. Pregnancy and birth control  may also effect the amount of oil produced in your skin. 

-Some Medications may also cause acne. 

-Diet. Studies have shown that some foods, including dairy products, and foods full of carbs such as breads, chips, and foods that raise blood sugar may also be a cause of acne. It's been shown that foods such as chocolates, and greasy foods have little effect on acne. 

Facts: 

~Acne actually isn't caused by dirt. Over scrubbing and the use of harsh products can make acne even worse. Though it's still necessary to wash your skin to remove excess oil, dead skin, and bacteria. 

~Stress isn't actually a cause of acne, but can make it worse.

Here are the different forms of acne you could possibly get:

-Comedones (blackheads and whiteheads). Probably one of the most common forms of acne. These are caused when the opening of the skin becomes blocked with oil, dead skin, or even bacteria. 

      -Blackheads are open at the skin surface and have a dark color. 

      -Whiteheads are closed at the surface and have a more skin colored appearance. 

-Pustules (pimples) are also common, these are the red tender bumps with white pus at their tips. 

-Papules may also be red and tender, these usually signal inflammation in the hair follicles. 

-Nodules are large, solid and painful lumps beneath the surface of the skin, caused by build up deep in the follicle. 

-Cysts are large, painful, pus filled, boil-like. lumps beneath the surface of the skin. These can cause scarring. 

Some treatments and remedies:

-Over the counter topical treatments. These are generally mild acne lotions that can dry up excess oil and fight bacteria. These generally contain benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid or sulfur as their active ingredient.  These usually work best for mild forms of acne. Some initial side effects may include  dryness, irritation, and flaking. These usually improve after about a month.

-Prescription topical treatments. If your skin doesn't respond to over the counter products, you may want to see a doctor or dermatologist to prescribe a stronger treatment. 

-Antibiotics. For Severe or even some moderate forms of acne you may need to take oral antibiotics for a short term. Your doctor may have you slowly decrease your doses as your acne improves, or if the antibiotics aren't working. You may also be using these with a topical treatment. Antibiotics can cause side effect such as upset stomach, dizziness, and skin discoloration. They may also increase your skins sensitivity to the sun, and reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. 

-Isotretinoin. This is a very effective and strong remedy for deep cysts when antibiotics aren't enough. This is reserved for the most serve forms of acne. Patients will need close monitoring by a dermatologist to watch for severe side effects. This drug is known to cause birth defects and can not be used safely by women who are pregnant of may become pregnant. Women of reproductive age must participate in an FDA approved monitoring program to be prescribed the drug. 

*More information on these treatments and remedies, and a complete list of treatments can be found here.*

Do NOT try to pop blemishes! While it is very tempting, picking and squeezing can make them worse and even cause infection. (and it's icky anyways, LOL!)

Prevention:

-Watch what touches your face. Try to keep your hands off of your face as much as possible. Try to avoid resting your phone on your face as well. Also keep your hair clean and and as out of your face as possible.

-Wash with a gentle cleanser to wash away excess skin and oil. (Only was twice a day to avoid drying your skin out).

-avoid products that irritate your skin. including some cosmentics, hair products, and even some sunscreens. Though sun rays can worsen acne, and some acne products can make you more sensitive to the suns rays. Use a non oily sunscreen to protect your skin. 

-try to avoid putting on heavy foundation (especially in the summer when your more likely to be sweating). take off all make-up before going to bed. 

-shower after exercise to wash away sweat and oil.

So here is just some of the basic information on acne. Please note that I am not a doctor, nor am i trying to be. I am simply taking prior knowledge and research and simplifying it a bit for this blog. I may do several more posts on acne in the future to include further information. This is the first of many Girl Talk blogs that I'll be doing on Glitter Glambitions. Feel free to ask questions and I will try to answer them to the best of my ability, and also feel free to answer other girls questions. Also feel free to leave a topic you would like me to blog on, and I'll try to get to it in the future :) 

I got my information from here. More information on everything discussed in this post can be found here as well. 

Products I'm Loving: Maybelline Color Tattoo

Review: Maybelline Color Tattoo Eye Shadows by EyeStudio

I always love to wear eye shadow when I go out. In fact, eye shadow is most definitely my favorite make-up product to buy and put on! There is just SO much you can do with it, and I love to get colorful with my make-up. But sometimes, as we have probably all experienced, I just get lazy and don't feel like spending a whole lot of time on my make- up. Either that, or I'm running low on time. Yet I still want to look glamorous! Since, for me and probably many other girls out there, doing my eye make- up tends to take up the most time, I've always wanted a product that will give me a beautiful look in half the time, with very little effort. (quick question: what part of your face do you tend the most time on when it comes to make- up? do you tend to spend more time on your eyes? or do you spend more time on your face or lips?) After one of my favorite make-up gurus on YouTube, MacBarbie07 (check her out if you haven't already!), mentioned the Maybelline Color Tattoo eye shadows,  cream eye shadows that can give you a gorgeous look within minutes, (or even seconds!), i just had to try one of them out. 

So I have to be honest, I was a bit hesitant to buy these eye shadows because of the price, which is only about $6.00 in american dollars at Walmart. (pricing may vary depending on your area, and the store you purchase it at.) Actually not a bad price at all, but I'm a penny pincher, LOL. But a friend of mine convinced me to try one out, so I picked up Maybelline Color Tattoo eye shadow in the color Bad to the Bronze. A really pretty, yet neutral color. Perfect for everyday! 

So one thing I really like about this product is that you can easily apply it with your finger, no brush is needed. You also don't need an eye-primer to get long lasting vibrant color! You can apply this product within a minute, and have a look that looks as if a lot of effort was put into it. And just a small amount goes a long way with this product. You can always build up  the look with additional colors if you wish :) This product is definitely worth the $6.00 in my opinion, and I can't wait to try out some of the other colors!

*I  may do a make- up tutorial with this product when I start my YouTube Channel.

***FTC Disclaimer: All products mentioned in this blog were purchased by me with my own money. None of these products were given to me for free.  I am not being paid for this blog. All opinions are my own.***