One time during the college years my roommate and friend told me, “You’re really harsh sometimes. But it’s cool, I know it’s just you and you don’t mean it like that.” I honestly kind of took it as a compliment that we were so tight like that. But, in retrospect it should have been a solid heads-up.

I pretty much figure people don’t like me until they give me some indication that they do. Part of being oddly shy I guess. Anyway, I don’t think that helps with being perceived as a bitch either.

After almost loosing a very old friend last year I really got to thinking about learning to be nice. We were in a cycle of feeling insecure and defensive about our differences. At some point along the line we kind-of forgot how to be nice.

The learning process is not always easy, but the lightness it offers is seriously beautifying. A few key steps:

-Apologies! You’ll have more pride after for having done the harder thing.

-The little things. The ‘can’t wait to see you’ and ‘you’re awesome’ type comments are super duper. Throw it out there, most people like it.

-Smile. I worked this at dinner with new people the other night and I’m pretty sure they thought I was nice.

You’re probably like…. Sally, you are the last to know. This is like normal. But I feel like while I may be an exaggerated case, most people could stand to be a little nicer. And being nicer will make the burden lighter, the spirit higher, and the glow more gorgeous.

Here is a list of films that I feel provoke that feeling, maybe in a vessel of melancholy or humor, but after some thought with the end result that of purity. You know I love to get philosophical, so I’ll define that kind of purity as beauty. Each interpretation is my own and without consulting anyone else’s, so let me know if you think something different.

In no particular order, here are the relatively recent films I believe inspire individual beauty. I also find the colors and presentation in all these movies to be arrestingly pretty.

There are so many from past to present so I’m just sticking to the last few years and indies so there’s more likelihood of them not having been seen.

-Lars and the Real Girl: What is more beautiful than a community collectively appreciating what it is to be a flawed human? The comical relief is essential to the digestible nature of a film otherwise very easily seen as weird ….. And yet to feel for Lars is so natural. His plight become’s everyone’s plight and weird becomes normal, acceptable and even endearing.

-Little Miss Sunshine: This movie already got a ton of press, awards, etc but I wanted to include it because I really love it. This movie is about dreams. It’s about those dreams meeting reality and in that intersection there is family. There are those who have your back and are the makers or supporters of those dreams, wherever they may go and whether they want to or not.

-Amelie: This film changed my life. I thought it to be filled with such beauty, that I could hardly believe it. Must be my favorite of all time. I feel it’s about finding your passion, or enjoying your passions, whether it be coin collecting, polka dancing or cat petting. It’s about finding that unique passion in others and maybe contributing a little where you can to help bring happiness. It’s about the little things that conspire to beauty.

-Stranger Than Fiction: This movie is about goodness. That’s it. That’s what it’s about. I keep writing more, and then deleting it, so I’m just going to leave it at that.

-Juno: I got to see this with my nieces, which I value to be a special theater-going experience. It’s so amusingly poignant on the issues of love, life, and sacrifice. And how all are the same thing really. And how to embrace that. I cried. My nieces cried. But we laughed too ….. we laughed and cried together and even my husband and brother thought it was pretty good.

-The Station Agent: I’d like to say this is about tolerance, but not in the racial, religious etc. way. More in the learning to be patient way, with ourselves and with other each other, and being open to what we might find, for better or worse.

-Buffalo 66: Sometimes all you need it someone who believes in you. I have a John Lennon song ringing in my head ….. like an Old Navy ad at Christmas time which is very aggravating. Anyway,  the characters in this film are very quirky and flawed. But I love the message, it’s pretty powerful in it’s simplicity. This is the ‘darkest’ of the choices so if you’re sensitive to that it may not be the best. 

I think all these movies make you feel better about the possibilities in yourself and others, and generally make for a pretty good-looking life.  Take yourself home for a date on the couch and see what results you get; it is cheaper than a facial.

Here are some solutions to second day hair:

Greasy: Dry shampoo is no longer old fashioned. It’s new fashioned. When my bangs get greasy, I spray them with Ojon dry shampoo. It also adds a little scent, like Fabreeze for your hair.

Sleepy Kinks Long Hair: My step-sister-in-law taught me this one. She takes big old-fashioned curlers and rolls the hair up in them for an hour or so. When she takes the rollers out, the kinks are gone. Velcro curlers will give great volume. Another solution is to add a little style spray like Bumble and Bumble throughout the hair and roll it into a bun for, again, an hour or so for fresh waves.

Sleepy Kinks Short Hair: Use a little light to medium styling substance like Aveda Confixor on the kink and blow-dry out the kink with small, round brush. The trick here is not to let the kink area differentiate from the rest of the hair, so be sure to only use a small amount of product and spread it evenly.

Flat Hair: Hot rollers are great for this. If long strands lost their pa-zaz take a curling iron quickly to them. 

For dry/frizzy hair, also be sure to use a natural bristled brush to spread your oil out from the scalp and try a good shine serum.

Illustration by Manuel Rebollo

Dumpette had gone out with this guy a few times and ended up staying over at his place one night for the first time. Having to leave earlier than her for work, he told her to feel free to let herself out when she was ready; the door would automatically lock behind her.

Alone in the apartment and getting ready to head out, she paused to give birth to a food baby. Ah! The toilet wouldn’t flush. She worked at trying to fix it for a while, but desperate not to leave this little crap cake present for her date to find, Dumpette grabbed a plastic grocery bag and scooped it up, planning to throw it out in the trash shoot. I don’t have information on what tool, if any, she used to do the scooping.

Putting the grocery bag on the kitchen counter for a moment, she wrote a quick note to the dude saying she had a great time. Dumpette then turned and happily walked out of the apartment, letting the door slam behind her. Doggy bag still chilling next to the sweet note of thanks. Shit!

The guy did call. She did not answer out of fear and mortification. He did not leave a message. Dumpette hopes never to run into him again.

While this story is most humiliating for Dumpette, it also a story that is sure to spread joy to those amongst her close set, and then friends of those friends…. and on and on. In fact, this story holds the kind of humor that could, if spread, cause a moment of world peace. And that makes Dumpette bomb-shell gorgeous in my book.

Feel free to comment on what you think must of gone through the guy’s mind when he came home that evening….

After trying a few places I settled on a cool local girl named Kaylan at Aveda for a pretty fair price. Just last week, though, she moved up to ridiculously outlandish and fun salon in swank Bay Harbor. The interior is very Betsy Johnson meets Design Within Reach. Or, Design NOT Within Reach as my Friend Daniel calls it. Referred by Kaylan, I went by today to meet with them about doing makeup for their large wedding parties. While there, Kaylan asked if I’d be her hair model next week for both cut and color….for $10! I remember hearing about stylists at Bumble and Bumble or Arrojo’s in New York giving free or low-cost cuts for new stylists to prove themselves…. but kind of forgot about that whole deal. 

Fancy salons are, by nature, constantly turning over staff and thus always looking for guinea pigs. This isn’t beauty school, these stylists just have to show what they can do, quite a few times over. Often times the stylist has to find their own models, and as I remember from New York, will even solicit people on the street to fill the need. So, for a high end salon experience at a below Super Cuts price, give your local posh-o-rama a call and offer yourself as a hair model. Just don’t forget to tip!

Pics of the new 1160 Salon: Above is the hair washing station…. dude, fireplace! To the right is the pedicure station. Personally I like the massaging chairs, but this certainly looks gorgeous. Below is Kaylan (hiding her face like she’s someone famous)getting a manicure done by a technician who is also going through a process of showing what she can do.

Some of us glam divas take vast amounts of pride in our make-up collections.  Colors, formulas, and products for every occasion just floating around with us; we are saddened beyond belief on days when we reach in for just the lip-gloss. Old mascara (which is just BAD BAD BAD for the health of your eyes) and the 87 “Gift With Purchase” lipsticks (different names=same color…hmmmm….) are only slowing our beautification rituals.

Here’s my advice, Vixens…

1.) Throw some of that old crappity crap-crap away, already!!!!!!!  Y’know, make-up is like fish & company; it doesn’t get better the longer it hangs around.

2.) Update your cosmetic carry-all!  I *adore* the clear ones…they make it so much easier to find that MAC Rage after knocking back a few.  On the GREEN tip, wash your old bag with a little warm, soapy water and hang to dry…VIOLA! Refreshed and ready to go.

3.) End your make-up tool denial, dolls.  If it’s ratty, broken, or just generally trippin’, pitch it.  After a certain age, it’s time to invest in some proper tools.  Gal up & just do it.

4.) Have an “heir” & a “spare”.   The heir is your main, everyday, all-purpose, old faithfuls.  The spare is your Friday night, court date, random self-portrait, or cousin’s shotgun wedding stash.

Feng Shui is all about clearing the bad energy out so that the good vibes can flow. Making room for the new is good for the soul…which will show on your face!

About the Contributor: Whitney Ashley Streets, Domestic Diva, is a veteran cosmetics junkie and Earth mother with strong southern style and humor. She has recently undertaken the task of Feng-Shui-ing her house. 

-Your car is broken into and your purse stolen while at the beach. Perhaps this is a good time to start afresh with a new identity? While you’re canceling your cards, consider having Countess or Madam added to your title on the new ones. When the police officer arrives be sure to let him know what kind of regal stock you come from. 

-The condom broke! Ah gheez, what a mess. After you’ve made plans to pick up the morning after pill, pick different attributes of yourselves that, if combined, would make a monstrous human being. Do this over a huge hot fudge sundae and include traits of ancestors like Great Uncle Jean’s infamous clubfoot.

-You’re having a one-on-one interview in a closed office and are forced to lay out a silent but deadly. How hilarious is this going to be when you tell your friends later? Smile as soon as you catch a whiff and don’t loose eye contact. Add a conspiratorial feeling to your look but continue on as the professional you are. 

-You’re making out with a dude (or chick, we’re open-minded here) for the first time and they go for second. The two-cups worth of added size in your bra padding is about to be discovered! Now, this is a situation that can only be humorous if the mood isn’t broken and that’s a tricky buggeroo. In that type of quandary, I suggest taking the bull by its horns.. so to speak. Take the bra off yourself and add a self-caress over the studs while making a comment like ‘they’re actually really little’. Soooo saucy! And it’ll be so silly that you’ll have to laugh at yourself after for being so ridiculous.  The other party in question will undoubtedly giggle with you and assure you they do not care, because of course they want to keep making out. If it ends up working out between the two of you, you can laugh together later about your Helen of Troy bodice. The same strategy can be applied to girdle-like body-shapers, granny panties, etc. 

-Your electricity is shut off just as you have company coming from out of town and it’s winter. Ha! Well, aren’t you fun and bohemian? Run an extension cord from the neighbor for necessities like the hair dyer and turn it into a camping theme. If they don’t like it, they’re not really your friends anyway so there’s no need to waste a marshmallow stick on them.

So I’m sure you’ve get the just of it. If you’re looking to get a laugh out of life…..well damn your hot! 

Email me at Sally@makefacebeauty.com with any stories that you’d like to share where seeing the humor really got you through a tough situation. 

First, your eyebrows need to start where your eyes do. If you have a hard time determining where that exactly is, hold a brush up vertically creating a straight line from your inner eye to the beginning of your brow. The start should be the same. Trim or grow in accordingly.

Second, make sure your arch is in the right place. If the arch is at the inner part of the eye, for example, you look stupid. Take that same brush and, looking straight ahead, hold it to the outer edge of the iris. That’s the part of the eye that has the color. If you’re not in front of a mirror by now, it would be really helpful to find one. Then angle the bottom of your brush to side of your nose. Wherever the top of the brush lines up to on the eyebrow, this is where your arch should be. Trim and fill in as needed.

Here is a great chart I stole from e-Beauty Blog

Use a pencil for precise shaping (I like Laura Mercier)  or a powder with brush (Benefit has a good kit) for filling in. If you can pull it off, try making tiny little hair-like strokes for a more natural look with the pencil. And if you’re getting really fancy use that tiny eyeliner brush with the powder to shape.

Once the brows are shaped properly, take a clear mascara or brow groomer and, taking off the excess goo, brush the hairs upward to keep them in place.

Try to avoid making your eyebrows too thin. They really do frame the face and add definition to your existence. Plus, thick eyebrows are totally in right now.

Never tattoo your eyebrows and if you already did you should be wondering what the hell you were thinking??

For a great site all about brows check out Billion Dollar Brows

*Sperm-y or apostrophe shaped eyebrows are super gross and kind of ghetto. If you think that’s your look, well you go on with your bad-ass self. For the rest of you, it’s not too late to reform. Grow it in, fill it in, do what you have to do to fight the urge to purge those hairs!. 

-It’s ok to use foundation or spot cover, but try to go easy on it. Bags under the eyes, for example, should retain some of their integrity. Pimples and the like can be covered, unless you’d like to attribute them to stress.

-Go easy on the blush too. If you have a more neutral, tawny color that will give your face definition without a healthy glow, use that instead. A little shading under the cheekbone to look extra gaunt it excellent if you can pull it off subtly. 

-Just a touch of lip balm as needed. If the family is Greek, Italian, or celebrity, everyone will be wearing lipstick so it’s ok to choose a medium-toned matte color. 

-Mascara is completely appropriate, but just make sure it’s waterproof (unless of course you posses that extra flair for drama). Even if you don’t think you’re going to cry, you never know what can spark you off at these kinds of things. Maybe something will remind you of that paper-mache farm you stayed up all night making in the fifth grade only to drop it to a million pieces on the way to school. See, I’m tearing up a little here already. 

R.I.P. Michael

Nothing brings people together like celebrating their American freedoms.  Drinking firewater all day in the sun with a quick game of chicken fight in the pool before stuffing your face with junk food can really take the shayna out of your punim though. Here are a few tips for independent, as in DIY, remedies for post-weekend cures.

Sunburn: There’s nothing better than real aloe to sooth the burn and heal it fast if you ask me. Plus it’s an easy plant to care for while adding that ‘organic’ touch to your home. I cut a piece off and filet it, rubbing the goo all over the burn. It’s sold all over the place-Target, Home Depot, etc.

Fireworks Burn: Assuming that you didn’t actually maim a friend or have to use the phrase ‘stop, drop and roll’, try mustard to soothe a minor burn.

Chlorine Hair: For a quick moisture infusion use a mix of honey and olive oil for a leave-in treatment.

Dehydrated, ‘Stressed’ Skin: Yes, skin gets emotional too when it’s over-worked. Drink a ton of water and treat yourself to an oat, lemon, and honey mask. The oats will absorb ‘toxins’, the honey will moisturize and the lemon will kill bacteria. But you can’t use fake honey like the kind that comes in the bear. Get the raw, unfiltered honey… more expensive but has tons of anti-oxidants and stuff that the flavored sugar water crap doesn’t have.