I have always had bothersome blemishes; although it has improved over the years, there were many trips to the dermatologist back in the day.

I know it is “darkest before the dawn,” but I hate that when I try to adopt a skin care routine, the problem increases. Honestly, it makes me want to avoid washing my face altogether. To tell you the truth, I usually just remove my makeup and call it a night.

BUT, as a beauty editor, I am constantly receiving and trying out new products. Most of the time I do so apprehensively because I know that these tests will result in breakouts. However, I feel it my duty to give a fair review of the item in question so that readers can forgo buying products that don’t live up to their promises. More »

As I brush my hair after I shower, I notice that a lot of it ends up on my brush. This has been happening for quite some time but I’ve never really thought too much of it. I come from a family with full heads of hair so going bald isn’t something I fear. However, I do fear the day that I see a gray hair. My mom has been dying her hair since she was very young, and while her brothers and sisters have lush mounds of hair, they’re all salt and peppered!

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Some of you may have heard of the “lemonade diet” in the past. However, it’s not meant for weight loss, but as a form of detoxifying the body. This diet aims to cleanse the intestinal walls and colon, rebooting metabolism, and riding the body of toxins. For 10 days, about a gallon of this lemonade is to be taken throughout the day while fasting. Water, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, organic maple syrup, and cayenne pepper make up this lemonade. It is also accompanied by a salt-water flush in order to help rid the body of toxins.

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No, the woman in the picture with me is not my sister, she’s my mother. And no, she hasn’t had any work done, she just ages really well. It’s because of her nearly flawless skin that I’ve never been afraid of growing older or getting wrinkles. Until a few months ago, I didn’t even know about all the various procedures that are available to those that do fear fine lines and wrinkles.

(Myself with my mom, the reason I don’t fear aging.)

With the media focusing on maintaining a youthful appearance, it’s no wonder that non-invasive procedures for the face are becoming more and more readily available. It’s also not shocking to see many women in their late 20s and early 30s lining up for Botox or lip-plumping injections. The younger you start, the longer you’ll be able to say “I’m really only 31,” when in fact you are 40. Every woman is looking for her fountain of youth. More »

June 1st marked the day that Beauty Chat turned a year old [proud teardrop].

You see, this blog originally developed as a social networking project between me and Randy. Our goal at that time was to reach out to the beauty and plastic surgery communities, with our original “Look good, feel good, and speak on it!” philosophy. Turns out this idea not only paved the personality of Beauty Chat; we learned that there are a lot of others out there who feel the same way. You know, the non-judgmental chatterboxes (like us) who love talking about the latest this and that.

Turns out, there are TONS of you – our local, national, and international friends – who have subscribed to Beauty Chat and even have a favorite “Beauty Chatter.” I mean, with 10 writers on staff, including myself, a very productive project editor (Denice) and an eye-for-detail managing editor (Leeann), a fabulous in-house designer (Khevna), and a righteous programmer ( Randy), it only makes sense that you would connect with someone who is just as opinionated as you are!

Really, when it comes down to it, the team that makes up Beauty Chat is, like, the coolest group you could ever meet. (Sorta kidding, but not really.) More »