Too Faced Melted Rainbow

Aaaanndddd...I'm back again. After a recent conversation with a coworker, I decided to try to get back into writing/blogging. Which means taking baby steps by starting with reviews.

Since my last post over two years ago, I started working full time. That being said, I am still relatively frugal, i.e. I still lean towards drugstore products and only buy from Sephora when either a) I have a gift card, b) it's friends and family discount time, and/or c) there's a big online sale.

During one such occasion I came across this beauty, Too Faced Melted in Melted Rainbow. I became a Melted lipstick fan the moment I tried a sample of Fig. I purchased another set of minis later, but until then, had not come across a shade that I needed so badly I was willing to drop $21 for a full size.

Until I laid eyes on Melted Rainbow, described by the site as a magenta shade. I typically gravitate towards red/berry lip colors, but after purchasing Girl About Town by MAC several years back, I grew a soft spot for pinks. The tipping point was the name...is there anything more yummy sounding than a melted-down rainbow?! *insert rainbow and heart eyes emojis*

My hopes were temporarily crushed upon realizing that not only was this shade exclusive, limited edition and online only, but also only available to those with VIB Rouge Status. I may have more of a disposable income than I did compared to my on-call/temp job days, but I still can't justify spending a minimum of $1000 a year at Sephora alone, even if free shipping is involved. #sorrynotsorry Luckily, I have a best friend who is (ok, WAS) willing to. She made the purchase for me, and almost a month later (we kept missing each other), it was finally MINE.

Even the packaging is perfection.

As with most of the lippies in the Melted line, a little dab goes a long way. Once the satin finish fades, it still leaves a pretty stain that in my opinion, looks just as good (if not better) than the freshly applied product. Melted Rainbow is the stuff of Lisa Frank childhood dreams!

Product Review- Maybelline Volum' Express Pumped Up! Colossal Mascara

Confession: I rarely buy mascara. For the past several years, I've managed to get by mostly on various Clinique mascara samples given to me by my grandma. They're not bad, either! But when my last sample was up--this time a freebie of Benefit's 'They're Real!"--I knew I had to get down to the drugstore, stat. I was aimlessly wandering the beauty aisles of my local Target when I came across the Maybelline Volum' Express Pumped Up! Mascara (whatta mouthful) on sale for $5.99. Despite the fact that I hadn't even read any reviews on the product, I grabbed it and bought it. I had purchased the original Volum' Express Colossal before and vaguely remembered that I'd liked it (remember, I hadn't purchased drug store mascara in at least three years), so I figured this one would be just as good, if not better.

Here it is, in its pristine, still-packaged glory:

On initial use, I was not impressed. Having gotten used to the tiny wand brushes of sample sizes, this one felt oversized and awkward. I ended up with mascara on the underside of my eyelid, which was definitely not attractive. Not to mention uneven, clumpy eyelashes.

Despite that unsuccessful first attempt, I decided to give the product another chance. A couple weeks later, and while I'm still not in love, it's an OK mascara: one that I'm willing to use up, but won't be repurchasing afterwards.
 
       

Urban Decay Naked 3 Monolid Looks

After almost a whole year on hiatus, (!) I'm back for yet another attempt on this blog.

I managed to get my hands on the Urban Decay Naked 3 a few months back, after seeing and hearing multiple raves about it. My first run-in with this palette happened when I stopped by the UD counter at Macy's, and the MUA on duty insisted on giving me a new look! Le result:

Wish I could remember which colors the MUA used! The only one I can remember is Blackheart.

I was actually sold on the palette that day, but, being broke, that didn't happen. It wasn't until Sephora had a sale a few months later that I finally caved. I know Naked 3 has been out for some time now, so everyone and their mom has probably seen it, but here it is again:

I still consider myself a total eyeshadow newb, so although I loved the romantic, sensual color scheme, I had no idea how to wear them. Enter YouTube tutorials, specifically those geared towards monolids. Here were my favorites:

 blushmepinkk. Concise and to the point. Nice!

ahreum17. Sometimes vloggers get a little too chatty for my taste, so tutorials set to music are A-OK with me. Plus this look is smokinnnn'!

From Head to Toe. One of my favorite beauty vloggers- how could I not include a tutorial from her?   

 I've been told this isn't the most versatile of the Naked collection, but I'm liking it so far. However, I'm debating getting one of the other ones. Out of all the palettes in the collection, which is your favorite and why?  

 

nail 911!

I began a lifelong love affair with nail polish at an early age: I believe I was about 6 years old. I vividly remember hanging out at my then best friend's house, and her teenage sister agreed to paint our nails. We both chose a bright red. After my dad picked me up and we went home, he told me I would have to take it off; he didn't think it was "appropriate" for girls my age to wear nail polish. What?! That was the end of me wearing nail polish..until I turned 10.

I remember my 10th birthday party, where my mom bought several bottles of Wet'N Wild nail polish to put in goodie bags. I was allowed to keep one for myself, and I never looked back. Around the same time, my dentist was giving away little prizes for every time we went in and didn't have new cavities. Naturally, I chose the nail polish.

Oh, and my dad never said anything about me not being allowed to wear nail polish again- although he did laugh at some of my color choices, particularly the blacks and blues I favored in middle and high school. (I still do, to this day.)

Anyways, moving on from the back story...it could be a combination of factors, ranging from diet to overdoing my nails, but I've noticed that lately, my nails are in less than top shape and they split pretty easily.

Au naturel- is there any wonder why I like to keep them polished 24/7?

I'm placing a portion of the blame on my base/top coat: I'm currently using the Base/Top Coat Pro by Rimmel. I like that Rimmel is a brand that doesn't conduct animal testing, but the quality of this product is something to be desired. I've seen a fair amount of reviews on MUA that it causes nails to split/peel. Not to mention that I can do my nails hours before bed and STILL end up with creases the next morning.

I'm also thinking I might be encouraging damage by redoing my nails every week. When I was in high school (and even college), I would go for weeks between paint jobs. But now that I'm attending job interviews/meeting new people as part of my volunteer job, I feel I should look more put-together - no more three-weeks-in chipped nail polish! I suppose I could go au naturel every once in awhile, but I've become so accustomed to having my nails painted that I can't go more than a couple days with naked nails. Is it even realistic to have your nails polished almost 24/7 and still healthy? Or am I gonna have to suck it up and...*gulp* go bare?

What are your favorite base/top coats? Do you prefer multitasking products (base/top coat, 4-in-1's, etc), or stick to separate products? How often do you do your nails? Let me know in the comments- I'd love to hear what other nail fanatics have to say!

happy feet (new shoes!)

I currently work in women's shoes, so I spend a lot of time trying not to give into the temptation of buying every sneaker, boot and sandal I lay eyes on. Still, there are times when I can't resist. Here's my latest deal, a pair of oxfords by Rachel Roy. They feel like butaahhh! I haven't worn them yet, but they're so soft on the inside, I'm pretty sure I could work an entire shift in these babies. At $34.50 (originally $89), these were a bargain. Can't wait to wear 'em out!

Purify & Refresh (Philosophy gel cleanser and moisturizer review)

In my opinion, Philosophy is one of the best-smelling bath and body lines out there. The first product I purchased from them was their Raspberry Sorbet shower gel. You know how they say scent can trigger memory? That shower gel reminds me of my junior year of high school. Good times, haha.

Anyways, I digress.

My most recent Philosophy purchase was the Purify&Refresh set from the Impulse counter at Macy's. It contains the Purity Made Simple gel cleanser and Take a Deep Breath gel cream moisturizer.

Purity Made Simple gel cleanser

   I've been intrigued by the Purity Made Simple cleanser since I saw the original one-step facial cleanser in the shower caddy of one of my college housemates. Because I have oily skin, the SA recommended I use the gel cleanser, but she was also nice enough to provide me with a couple samples of the creamier original formula.

To be honest, I wasn't all that impressed by this product, especially since it was expensive. I'll admit I was sold by the claim that it could double as an eye makeup remover- in my ongoing quest to simplify and green my routine, I've decided to cut back on using the cleansing wipes, i.e. use them only when I end up crashing at a friend's place and am too tired/drunk to really wash up. Unfortunately, this only does a subpar job of removing eye makeup- especially liners/shadows with more pigment to them, a la MAC and Sugarpill. Not to mention, if it gets in your eyes, it stings!

I recently asked my mom what she uses to take off her makeup at night, and she said Cetaphil! D'oh! How did I not think of that? I've been using the Purity gel cleanser for almost three weeks now, and it hasn't caused me to break out, which I take as a good sign. Once I finish up with the tube, I think I'll make the swap to plain ol' Cetaphil. It's a tried and true classic, no?

Take a Deep Breath gel cream moisturizer- found in both tube and pot!

I was slightly more impressed by the moisturizer, but not by much. However, it didn't do a very good job of making my skin feel hydrated. I guess this is ideal for oily skin, but I'm used to the heavier texture of Origin's A Perfect World- a much better antioxidant moisturizer, imo. The microscopic sparkles give my skin a nice faux glow, which is kind of pointless when I'm just going straight to bed after I wash up. I would consider using this moisturizer during the day- IF it had SPF! Also, I was disappointed that this cheap plastic jar isn't even slated for recycling. (Its recycling program is another reason why I'm pro-Origins.)  

Overall, both products were just OK. If there's anything from Philosophy I'll repeatedly go back for, it'll be their shower gels, but not their facial products.     

Gimme the Fine One One (Product Review)

Benefit Cosmetics- one of my favorite brands. The quality, the retro packaging, the quirky names they give their products...unfortunately, they don't meet my requirement list (green packaging, no animal testing, etc), so Benefit makes it onto my guilty pleasures list.

During the last employee appreciation at Macy's (see previous post), I picked up one of their newer products, the Fine One One. It's a blush/highlighter that can also be used to give the lips some color.

The full product.

Product view from the top (shades L to R): pink champagne, sheer watermelon, soft coral.

I'm not the most confident blender, so I typically tend to stay away from cream products. However, the handy size of the product made it relatively easy to use. The colors are gorgeous, and give me a nice flush. It looks nice in person, but my crappy little camera does not do it justice.

Other reviewers have complained that the color doesn't last, but I also made sure to put on the POREfessional beforehand, so we'll see how it goes! The girl at the Benefit counter also recommended putting a powder blush over Fine One One, so I just used a MAC blush over it. I'll probably try it again tomorrow with the Nars Orgasm blush.

As I mentioned earlier, Fine One One can also be used on lips, but I think I'm just going to use it on my cheeks only. Call me a weirdo, but there's just something not right about putting a product on my lips that's been rubbed up my cheekbones.

Beauty Mini Haul (Macy's Edition)

I started working at Macy's during my first year of community college. One of the perks is employee appreciation! As I may have mentioned before, this is the only way I'm able to afford department store beauty products! Anyways, during the last employee appreciation I went on a mini-haul and came home with some goodies from Philosophy and Benefit. Here's what I ended up with (also got a pair of high-waisted shorts, which aren't included):

  (In no particular order): Philosophy "Purify & Refresh" kit, Benefit Fine One One, Philosophy freebies

 The Freebies. (Pictured left to right): Field of Flowers shampoo shower gel & bubble bath, Kiss Me Color tinted high-gloss lip shine in pink, Miracle Worker anti-aging moisturizer, Purity 3-in-1 cleanser

I'll do a product review of Fine One One in a separate post. I haven't tried any of the skin care products yet (I believe in using up old products before opening new ones ;p), but hopefully they work out! Have you tried any of these products? If so, did they work out for you? I'd like to hear what others think!  

E.L.F. Brow Kit product review and eyebrow herstory

This is an adapted version of the review I posted on makeupalley.

For most of my short life, I've had issues with my eyebrows. As demonstrated by the following pictures, they've gone from too bushy to too thin, with far too "just right" moments in between.

2013: Finally more or less at peace with my brows, thanks to the Benefit Brow Bar and E.L.F. brow kit. (I'm on the left.)

2007: Best friend and I, back when our only makeup strategy was black pencil eyeliner. (I'm on the right.)  I had my eyebrows waxed once at the beginning of high school; this picture was taken right after our first semester/quarter of college. Clearly I didn't keep up with plucking.

Summer 2007..or 2008? Strategy to avoid dealing with caterpillar brows: wear sunglasses so oversized, they cover your brows entirely! (Still not really a good look.)

Early 2009: More of a shape, but my brows still look a little funky. Also, why am I not wearing more eyeliner? I can't believe I thought I looked cute when I went out like this! 

Summer 2009: 20th birthday. Overplucked.

Fall 2010: Another strategy to avoid brow issues: grow out your bangs so they're covered! This was more or less my go-to solution, til my bangs grew out, I couldn't afford as many trims, and I was forced to confront the situation..

Enter the e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit. With this product, they finally feel just right. (That being said, I could stand to take a trip to Benefit and get them cleaned up!) Anyways, I digress...

This is the first brow kit I've ever purchased. I usually like to start with cheapie drugstore brands before investing in the more expensive stuff, but as far as brow products go, I'm content to stick with E.L.F. This product does a good job of making my dark hairs look more polished/keeping them in line, which is more than I ever expected for $3. Because my brows are naturally on the thicker side, I feel I have to use a lot of the gel. But like I said, luckily this product is cheap! 

I've laughed at the E.L.F. Studio line for its dupe NARS packaging, especially when the product was terrible. But because the Eyebrow Kit actually works, it deserves to look luxe! 

My only issues is that the brush is TINY. But we all know that's a problem easily solved. :)

clean slate (nighttime skincare routine)

At the end of a long day, there's nothing more refreshing than taking off my makeup. Here's a short and sweet list of what I'm currently using. (However, the makeup cleansing towelettes are subject to change, as I'm still on a quest to find one I like best!)

Step 1: Cleansing towelettes. I use these to make sure I'm getting off the majority of my makeup, with the bonus of cleansing my face. At the moment, I'm using the Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes. (I'll probably do another more detailed post on this product later...based on the review I wrote on MakeupAlley.) On nights when I'm extremely tired (or let's face it, just plain lazy) I'll count this as "washing my face," but otherwise, I'll wash my face anyways, even though most towelettes claim there's no need to rinse. Which brings me to...

Step 2: Facial cleanser. I'm currently using A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea by Origins. This was a stocking stuffer- I'm probably gonna have to look for something new once I run out, as Origins is on the pricier side and I am but a somewhat broke college grad. After rinsing and patting my face dry, I go on to...

Step 3: Moisturizer. I was acne prone as a teen, but now that my skin's more or less calmed down (one of the few perks of getting older), I'm in love with Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant moisturizer with White Tea. Again, this was another stocking stuffer. When I was in school, my mom would buy all my skincare products, so I could "afford" higher-end products. But honestly, I love this moisturizer so much, I think I'll go beyond my budget to splurge on it.

Additional Steps:

-Spot treatment. When my skin does flare up, I'll use a spot treatment. I currently have one by Clean & Clear, but I'm planning to move on to a different brand once this one finally runs out.

-Eye makeup remover. I like to layer on my eyeliner (pencil and liquid), so cleansing towelettes don't always get the job done. I'm currently using Almay's oil-free liquid makeup remover. This isn't my favorite brand, but 1) it's formulated for sensitive skin, and 2) Almay doesn't conduct animal testing. (I know, I know, some of the other brands I use still do- I never claimed I would cut them out completely, but I'm in the process of seeking alternatives.)       

City Eats

For the past four months, I've been interning at a nonprofit in San Francisco. The office is located right between North Beach and SF Chinatown, so I'm close by some good eats! As much as I love me a good Subway sandwich, I've been trying to avoid chains and try as many new places as possible. I've written about a couple of these places on Yelp.

Here are the places I've tried so far, organized by cuisine:

American

• Hollywood Cafe/

Dimsum/Cantonese

• Great Eastern Restaurant

Italian

• Golden Boy Pizza

Japanese

• Onigilly
• Sushiritto
• Sushi Taka
• Kirimachi Ramen

Shanghainese

• Bund Shanghai Restaurant

I also tried an international food court one day, and have been wanting to go back ever since. (It's on Bush Street, for those of you who are familiar with the FiDi!) They serve Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Filipino, Vietnamese and Chinese. I was so overwhelmed that I broke down and bought what I felt most familiar with- a bento box. Too safe! I really want to try the bibambap next time. =) Luckily, my internship got extended, so I'll have at least another month to try more places! I'm hoping my wallet and waistline are up for this, lol.  

Personal Beauty Buying Guide

This list was compiled by another beauty blogger. I'm taking this list with a grain of salt, as I know some of the companies here are questionable. But it's a good place to start!

Call me a little late, but I've finally decided collect my thoughts and put down my beauty resolutions in (virtual) writing. This year, I want to become more conscious about the products I use on my face, hair, body and nails. And if I can accomplish this while lessening my impact on the environment, that's even better.

My goal is to buy products that meet as many of the following standards as possible (if it's only meets one, that's cool, but the more it meets, the higher its chances are of becoming a product I rebuy in the future)

1) environmentally friendly* (including recyclable packaging)
2) cruelty free*
3) benefits a charity of some sort

*I know there's broaaad definitions of "environmentally friendly" and "cruelty free"- believe me, I will take more time to read up on the topic.

I know and openly acknowledge that I am not perfect- a lot of the products I still own do conduct animal testing and contain questionable sounding ingredients. But this year, I will take the time to research and support companies that do not test their products on animals/support green policies, and cut down on products that do.

While doing a Blackle search (a "green" search engine option), I came across multiple lists of beauty companies that supposedly do not test on animals. I notice that many of the brands are still questionable (see above photo), so for now, I'm going to list brands that I personally use and that I've done research on, and provide links that lead directly to their policy page. I'll be editing this post again soon- I use way more than the two I have below, but I'm too lazy to add everything right now. ;p


Burt's Bees
-e.l.f. cosmetics
LUSH Cosmetics
-Rimmel London
-Sugarpill
-tarte
-Too Faced
-Urban Decay
-Yes To

worst beauty trend of 2012?

http://www.stylelist.com/view/2012-wrap-worst-beauty-trends?icid=maing-grid7%7Caim%7Cdl29%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D248973

According to this article, extreme cat eyes are the worst beauty trend of 2012. 

They've gotta be kidding. I love me a good cat eye! I've been in love with the look since sophomore year of college, circa 2008-'09. Regardless of whether it's a "bad" trend, or a trend at all, I'll continue to rock the cat eye long after 2012. So there, Stylelist! /endofrant

bleeding blue and gold

*Edit on 2/16/13- I removed the picture of my mani because I'm too ashamed of the crap job I did. I'm considering redoing it so I can repost it. 

So it's official....I'm no longer a college student. I've joined the ranks of UC Davis alumni! That being said, I will always be an Aggie at heart. The night before I walked, I did my nails using Milani Nail Lacquer in Bolting Blue. (It matched my stole perfectly!) Sadly, I had left my Sugarpill Goldilux at home, so I didn't add that on til now. (It's really a loose eyeshadow- I just layered it over a coat of clear nail polish.

I'm going on a cruise with my boyfriend and his family in a couple weeks. After we get back, the job hunt will probably commence. I've always been a fan of "dark" or "fun" polish colors, so I'm not looking forward to going nude/neutral for interviews!

get cheeky: e.l.f. vs. NARS

L to R: e.l.f. Studio blush in "Fuschia Fusion" , NARS blush in "Orgasm"

Over spring break, I went home and decided to splurge on not one, but two new blushes. (Okay, maybe "splurge" isn't the right word, as the e.l.f. blush was only a mere $3. Not to mention that my best friend and I managed to score the NARS blush for $18 at Sephora, as opposed to the usual $28!) :D

I've heard from multiple sources (both on the Internet and word of mouth) that e.l.f. blushes are supposedly dupes of NARS. Yes, I'm aware that the blushes I bought are not even close to being the same color. But hey, the way I see it, if I'm going to buy two blushes, I'm gonna make sure that I'm not basically buying two of the same product. 

I digress. From the outside, the two products do appear very similar: note the near-matching black containers, each with a mini mirror inside. e.l.f. .....I see what you did there, lol.

And then we get to the actual contents.

Here we have the e.l.f blush. Pretty rich pigment and high sparkle content. It's brighter and way pinker than what I'm used to seeing on myself- the only other blush I own is "Mocha" from M.A.C. (sort of a dusty rose shade) A little bit of "Fucschia Fusion" went a long way. However, while swiping my brush across the product, it sent powder flying everywhere (as you can also see on the container)

 This is the NARS blush. I don't think my funky flash did the color justice- it looks hella orange here, da fuq. I've heard that "Orgasm" is a universally flattering shade. Upon trying it on, I do agree. Unfortunately, I feel I have to use a lot of product to get it to show up on my skin. -____- I can only imagine how much I'll have to use once I get darker in the summer.    

    

-----

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my purchases. I feel that with the e.l.f. product, you get what you pay for- I wasn't really expecting the eighth world wonder in exchange for 3 bucks. NARS is much more worth the price, although I'm not really sure how I'd feel about rebuying it for $28. I am but a poor student, after all. 

baby (soft) lips - Maybelline Baby Lips

As an avid magazine reader, I come across a lot of advertisements. This is how I first heard of Maybelline's newest lip balm, ever-so-cutely (and, okay, controversially-more on that later) named Baby Lips.

Confession: I'm vain about my lips, so I'm drawn to almost every product that promises a softer, smoother pout.

After telling my best friend about it  (she responded by looking up reviews on Makeup Alley- the top few she looked at were positive enough) we both ended up getting the "Peach Kiss" color/flavor.

Later that night (after we'd both applied and reapplied a couple times) I decided to do my own research. I went back to Makeup Alley to read more reviews.

I found a mixed bag of responses, ranging from "omg...this is my product of the year" to "I applied it before bed and when I woke up 9 hours later my lips were destroyed." (!!!!!)

But hey, my philosophy is: don't believe the hype (or the horror) unless you've tried it for yourself.

That being said, the comments about the product leaving lips even drier than they previously were has officially freaked me out, so whenever I put my Baby Lips on, I put on Smith's balm or Chap-Ex (generic Chapstick) first.

I'll do another update in the next few weeks!

nail polish remover recommendations?!

As a broke college student, I definitely consider myself a bargain shopper. However, a good bargain shouldn't come at the expense of good quality!

For the past several years, I've relied on Rite Aid Nail Polish Remover. (OK, maybe I've gone a little TOO cheap.) That being said, I so need a new polish remover that is....

a) cheap ($5 or less)
b) effective (I'm definitely impatient, so I have little tolerance for removers that take forever to work!)
c) gentle/nourishing (I polish my nails A LOT, so I need something that won't dry my nails out and/or repair them

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Sally Hansen Salon Effects in "Wild Child"

Here's the result of my first experiment with the "Salon Effects" nail polish strips by Sally Hansen. While I do love DIY nail art, the truth is that I'm an impatient kind of girl. So these no-dry strips seemed like a dream come true! My mom bought these for us to try awhile back. When I opened it, I discovered one of the little packets containing the strips had already been opened. Thinking my mom had just opened it to check out the pattern, I brushed this off. Unfortunately, upon reading the instructions, I quickly realized that once the packet has been opened, the strips lose their stickiness. Being the frugal Asian-American that I am, I refused to throw out an entire handful of otherwise perfectly good nail polish strips. My solution? Using a basecoat, then immediately sticking the strips down while the polish is still...damp? The final effect didn't turn out as clean as I thought it would, but hey, it was my first time! I guess I don't mind that they didn't turn out TOO perfect...I ended up going wakeboarding with my boyfriend and his family the next day, which scuffed up my nails anyhow. ;p

All in all, I think I would give these strips another shot. The designs are too cool to pass up!   

birthday swag from Sephora!

*excuse the non-rotation, even when I rotate my photos right-side up when I import them, they don't stay that way.


One of the many benefits of being a Beauty Insider at Sephora is that they give you a free gift on your birthday: this year's gift is a body wash from the Philosophy line. It smells like vanilla cupcakes! Happy birthday indeed. <3

eye candy and food for thought.

Saw this video on a friend's Tumblr: I'm hooked! This is "Ugly" by K-pop group 2NE1. I'm pretty sure this could be an anthem for many girls out there, even if you don't understand Korean. (I don't either- but the chorus is in English.) ;p 

Chorus: (courtesy of lyricsmode.com)

"I think I'm ugly

And nobody wants to love me

Just like her I wanna be pretty

I wanna be pretty

Don't lie to my face

Cause I know I'm ugly"

It's an interesting thing when women as gorgeous as the ladies of 2NE1 look at themselves in the mirror and don't like what they see. (Actually, who's to say whether they do or don't- pop songs don't always reflect the singers' actual lives!) From one perspective, it makes them seem more down-to-earth; it makes ordinary girls feel as though these superstars can relate to us. That at the end of the day, despite all the glitz and the glam, they have insecurities, just like the rest of us. But on the other hand, it's downright crazy- if our idols don't feel THEY live up to standards of "beautiful," then who can?!