Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!
********************************
Hey everyone!
It's the first Questions and Answers entry ever on ibeauty! :D I'm so excited that I was able to answer so many girl's questions, and will be answering some in the entry.

Remember, if you send me a question you don't want me to post just tell me so and I won't. :)

Where are some of your favorite places to shop for clothes/accessories for a good price? 
Personally, I love bluenotes for deals. They have an awesome sale going on right now where you buy your first pair or jeans, get the next pair half off. So I buy two really good pairs of jeans for only 45 dollars. :)
Another place I love is Smart Set. They have great sales going on at all times! But remember NEVER to buy something JUST because it's on sale. try it on first, and if it doesn't look great, don't spend the 7 bucks on it.
For accessories, I like Ardenes. :) They have good prices on everything, but be careful not to use their testers. You never know who's used them before.

What are some products (shampoo, conditioner, etc.) that you would recommend for really frizzy, wavy hair?
I answered this question about two entries back, so you can read about that here. :) It's under "Curl Perfect."

Hey,
I have a question. My hair grows forward. It's confusing but it does. So...I have always had bangs until summer in 2008 and I decided I wanted bangs that went to the side. Like you were talking about in your post. Welllll....so I cut them like that and Mom said she didn't like them because they were always in my face. But my hair doesn't look good with normal straight down bangs. So I thought maybe I should grow them out. Although I would rather keep the bangs. It said in your entry to do the clip thing.. but aren't they still in your face? Can you think of any styles, ways to put my bangs, etc. for my hair? Thanks!!!

I know what you mean. :) Here are some ideas: 

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!
*****************
Hey everyone!

Fall and winter are coming up, and want to know what's really in?

JEWELRY.

Specially jewelry with any of the following:

• charms
• LOTS of funky chain
• bold colours!
• something that combines these three. :)

Ideas:

• Buy a chain necklace that has bright pink, orange and blue shells.
• Charm  bracelets! Dig through your mom's jewelry box from when she was your age (WITH her permission, of course) and find an old charm bracelet. take it into a jewelry store or a friend who knows how to make jewelry and add tons of new charms and beads!
• Go for extremes. Either use icy colours like lilacs, light blues and greens, or even whites and blacks or else go for neon green, bright pink, or a dashing orange with a tad of blue! NEVEr at the same time, though.
• For earrings find stuff that is dangly and has chain on it. The American Eagle site has some earrings that are made of chain and pearls. They're really pretty!
• Layer chain necklaces or charm bracelets! No joke. Just make sure they're around the same size and are both the same colour, otherwise it looks kinda weird.
• Silver is in! Try going for a silver look instead of for a gold or bronze one.

Hope I could help you guys! I'm a jewelry fanatic, and I make tons of it myself. :) I might post pictures on this entry after my camera starts working again. :) every single one of these tips came from my jewelry making business and from different sites like American Eagle, Bluenotes, Smart Set, Suzy Sheir, etc.

Thanks for reading!

OH, and I FINALLY have everyone on my mailing list who asked. :) thanks soo much! I love all your comments and e-mails, so keep them coming!

ibeauty
***************************************
have questions for ibeauty? Send them here! Please ask me anything. :) I'm hoping to have a Qs and As entry in the next two weeks.

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!
********************
Heyy Girlies!

So I wrote about straightening hair last time, and so now I'm going to write about curly hair. :)

I have the problem that I have really curly hair, but with that comes major frizz. So here are some tips:

1. As soon as getting out of the shower, get a moussing gel and put a small amount through your hair. Wrap strands of hair around your finger until your entire head looks curly. Leave to dry. that's what i did today, and it looks great! :)
2. Towel dry, and don't comb out. If your hair doesn't get exceedingly frizzy this often works. Leave to dry.
3. Pull it back messily into a bun--try not looking in a mirror while you do it. Then after you're done, go and add finishing touches while using a mirror.
4. Use a spray-in conditioner after getting out IN ADDITION TO your normal conditioner. This eliminates lots of frizz.

So that's all I have time for today. Sorry I haven't been posting barely at all. :( But I'm getting back to it at least.

Have a great week until I post next!

ibeauty

PS: I almost have enough questions to make a question-answer post. :) Keep them coming!

**************************
have questions for Becca to answer? send them here!

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!

*********************

First off, does anyone want to be added to the ibeauty mailing list?
Second, I will not be replying to all comments. I will add a comment ONTO ibeauty. unless I really think the comment needs to be replied to on their blog, I will not answer all of them. There are just too many! o.O Good problem to have, of course. :) it's not because I'm fed up with them, it just takes so much time and now that school's started I'm pretty busy. :( But keep them coming! :D

NOW, to the entry:
**********************

my natural hair type is something often classified as I.N.S.A.N.E.

for YEARS I tried to get it under control... I tried everything! Smoothing creams, blow-drying, air-drying, sprays, different conditioners, taming shampoos--but nothing seemed to work.

however, I've learned that there are ways to keep your mane tame, so listen to these tips I have for you, whether you have straight or curly hair:

1. Straightening doesn't have to kill your hair.
   Lots of girls don't straighten their hair because it leaves it looking like straw (mine used to do this, too.). Also, it would go back wavy after about two hours in the humid spring air.
   When you straighten (OR curl) here are some tips:
   --For straightening, do it LAYER BY LAYER. I separate my hair into about five layers when I straighten, and do those layers in four different sections. Same for curling. A small curling iron is not going to be able to handle a big piece of hair. Do lots of little curls, and then using simply your fingers entwine them together to get the one big ringlet look.
   --Dampen your hair before applying any heat. Curling and straightening alike suck the moisture out of your hair when they work their magic. get your hair slightly damp before starting. This will get rid of the dry straw look.
   --Use hairspray. when you're straightening, put hairspray on the part that you're about to straighten THE SECOND TIME AROUND. If you do it the first time it'll be hard to get you comb through. But it gets the little frizzles into control, and your hair still feels smooth as silk when you finish. when curling, use hairspray when the curl is on the iron. it helps keep the curly look, although your curls will be harder than usual.
2. Curl Perfect!
   If you have naturally curly hair, believe it or not it's a GIFT! You can go either curly or straight without much effort! But getting the curly under control is the hard part. 
   I'm going to reccommend three things:
   --A curl defining shampoo
   --A curl defining/natural conditioner
   --Moussing gel.
   For shampoo, I have fallen in love with two different brands: Herbal essence's "None of your frizziness" shampoo, and Charles Worthington Results: Curl Perfect shampoo. I especialy like the curl Perfect one. However, it's more expensive i believe of the two, and herbal essence's shampoo is easier to find.
   make sure if you use a curl-defining shampoo to not use a smoothing or taming conditioner. Your hair gets confused, and so becomes frizzy, and oily. Believe me. it's pretty bad. Use a conditioner that is also curl defining, or a natural. I use tresemme for conditioner, and I especially like their natural one or the one for colour treated hair.
   Last but not least, a moussing gel. Normal mousse leaves my hair feeling like someone rubbed jello in it and left it to rot, but with teh Alberto Moussing Gel I have my curls are hard, but well defined and there are no little frizzies getting in the way. I haven't tried other moussing gels, but i've heard they all act the same way. I use a bunch of the stuff, but most of it falls out when I tease my hair to make the curls curly (not 80s tease... like go upside down and scrunch it all).
   This should help keep your hair under control.
   Also, if you don't want to buy all of this, a good idea is to throw your wet hair into a messy bun and sleep on it and in the morning it should be all dry and curly. It works for me!
3. Random Tips
   --To get frizzies under control, put gel all over a comb and comb through them.
   --If you're in a hurry and your hair still needs to dry stick it into a messy bun to keep your curls under control and still have a cute hairstyle.
   --Want bangs but don't like them in your face? Use a cute clip to pull the back to the side, while they still sweep over you forehead and eyebrow.

Hope this helped you all!

Have fun!

ibeauty
*********************
ibeauty REALLY wants your questions! mail them in now with ibeauty as the title.
also, want to be in our mailing list? leave a comment or e-mail me so I can add you. Ibeauty updates about every ten days.

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!

Hey everyone!
Today we're talking about SHOES!

Let's get to it:

1. Styles of shoes
   There are tons of different styles of shoes! Pick out the one that's best for you. If you want cute shoes, but don't like the whole girly girl approach, go for vans or converse. If you DO like girly stuff, try wedges, ballet flats, or anything with a bold design!
2. Colours
   Shoes are a GREAT way to spice up an outfit. I love the bright pink polkadotted ones I have in the picture above. I wear them with a solid colour top and jeans. You can get away with anything on your feet as long as you don't wear anything else that is very patterned.
   It's also a good idea to have at least two pairs of practical shoes. The brown pair above are both extremely comfortable and extremely trendy. Plus, they go with absolutely everything. Get at least one pair of neutral shoes if you can.
3. Good Quality shoes
   It's VERY VERY VERY important to have shoes of good quality. If you can see they are starting to wear down in some places when you get them, it's not a good sign. Shoes with the shiny plastic covering look cute, but get scratches and marks on them so much easier.
   Also, make sure that your shoe has a great sole to it. If you get the kind of flat that you pull onto your foot like slippers with elastic all around it, (I have a black polka dotted pair like this) make sure your heel does not hang over the edge, or else you will quickly wear a hole through it.
4. Bargains
   If you're a size 5 or 6 or even 6/12 ladies you can often fit into the KIDS SECTION! (I do.) you can find extremely cute flats for less than half the price of the ladies shoes. Just make sure it doesn't have dora the Explorer on the front. That would be kinda mortifying.
   Shop for the next year. During fall, go to shoe stores and check out all the neat sales! I found a cute pair of sandals at Winners, a liquidations store, from Roxy (the white shoes in the picture) for FIVE DOLLARS. they were originally sold for FORTY. That's a deal!

So yeah! Have fun shoe shopping!

ibeauty

*****************************

remember to send me your questions. I really want them! :D I can answer anything. (We have friends who work for various make up companies, and my dad's a paediatrician. I can ask them anything!)

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!
************************

Hey everyone!

Today i'm going to point out a couple cute items for this fall, and some common lies that are spread.

First, the must-haves:  

1. Scarves!
   scarves are a great way to spice up an old outfit. Grab those jeans, that ugly old t-shirt, and a funky scarf, and it'll look better than ever.
2.  Big Bags
   Purses are a great accessory as well. And now it's "bigger is better" all over again with bags! Find a funky colourful purse. It can change your entire wardrobe!
3. Jeans
   Ok, this sounds basic. but there are lots of different kinds of jeans. Skinny jeans, flare, bootcut, etc. I'd say get whatever looks best on you. when you're buying your jeans keep these considerations in mind:
   (a) Quality= how ripped up or thin they are. Get thicker jeans. If you want to get ripped jeans, watch where the rips are. No rips on the behind area.
   (b) Tightness= if jeans are tight, they're going to make your thighs look big. it's a fact. but then again, if they're too loose they'll do the same thing. Make sure your jeans fit snugly--but not tightly--around your legs.
   (c) Rise= if it just barely goes over those panties (unless they're granny panties) it's too low. When you bend over if you can see your underwear, it's too low. Anything that is more than an inch and a half below your bellybutton is too low.
   Remember, even if you have to buy  a size up in jeans, it'll look better than a size too small!
4. SHOES SHOES SHOES!
   I have a challenge for you: buy more solid shirts, or not so big prints, and funky shoes! buy polka dot or striped flats, or plaid converse (on sale of course, since they're insanely expensive) and go wild! You can often find awesome shoes at Winners at the end of most seasons, or at any liquidation store. Go check it out! shoes are awesome. Look for sales. that's how I treat my self. I save up like 30 dollars and go buy 1 or 2 pairs of awesome shoes.

Now the lies:

Before I start, disclaimer: I AM NOT TRYING TO OFFEND ANYONE AT ALL. THIS IS SIMPLY MY BELIEFS ON THIS SUBJECT, AND IF YOU THINK I'M WRONG, I'M SORRY.

Ok. now let's go:

1. Leggings are not the way to go.
   If it's too immodest without the skin-tight leggings, it's too immodest with leggings. Leggings are too tight to be considered modest. They cling to your skin, letting people see every outline. If a skirt is too short without the skin-tight leggings, it's almost worse with them. Besides, the long skirts are coming back in fashion! and they are so much prettier than jean skirts anyway. In my opinion. Don't layer leggings, and don't wear leggings unless you wear them under something you can wear on its own. Respect our brothers in christ, girls! They deserve better than that.

I can't think of anything else I'd like to say against some fashions... but if you see any please tell me.

thanks for reading!

ibeauty

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!

*********************

Hey everyone!

we're talking about c o l o u r s today, so here we go:

Step 1: Learning which colours "go".
we're going to talk about how to layer your old tops so that your old outfits look brand new! Here are some ideas for layering tanktops under t-shirts which you may not have thought of:

(a) Opposites! layer purple with a bright sunshine yellow! work with blue and red! Opposite colours add a whole new look to a t-shirt.

(b) Neutrals over bright colours. try a grey t-shirt over a bright pink tanktop, or try a black tanktop over a purple one! It's hard to go wrong with neutrals, so most shirts go with these.

(c) Different shades of the same colour with each other. try two different shades of blue, or two different pinks and stick them together. just make sure they aren't too close, or else it will just look sloppy.

Step 2: Layering
When you find out which of your shirts "go," you can try to layer them in all different ways. Here are some quick ones:

(a) try a tanktop over a t-shirt. Add a cute checkered scarf and you're all good to go!

(b) try two tanktops over each other. be careful about bra straps showing, though. You may want to buy a criss-crossed strap bra for tanktops. modesty is important. Don't ever underestimate it.

(c) try a t-shirt over a tanktop. this is a great way to make a v-neck shirt perfectly modest! Or you can stick a bright pink tank-top under that favourite grey t-shirt to add a touch of colour.

And there you have it! Just remember that clothes, while it's fun to try and look pretty, are really supposed to be used to honour God. Remember to stay modest, while still dressing God's Temple (your body) as you think you should dress it.

We are God's temple. that means we're supposed to take care of our bodies, and not use them like some sort of garbage can just to throw all that trash we're watching on TV or listening to in our songs into. How many garbage cans are going to win hearts for God? It's important to look nice, I believe, since we're supposed to be representing our saviour, but it's not important to look hot, if you know what I mean.

Next time you think you're ugly, or that you don't like your body, remember: when you insult yourself, you're insulting God's temple--His creation which he loves.

ibeauty
*******************

what do YOU want to hear about next? Becca can answer any question (with the help of google at times) and loves suggestions! please leave them in a comment, private message, or e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title. Thanks, and God bless!

Want to send your questions to ibeauty? e-mail them in with "ibeauty" as your title!
****************

Man I'm good at titles.

Just wanted to say that this is the LAST entry that we will have the whole thing about what it's about. For now on the title will be really what explains it, and the content of the entry. Ok?

Here we go!

Finding the right mascara

1. Eyelash Colour Matters!
   Did you know that mascara does not only come in black? It can also come in blues, browns, and even clear!
   Which one is right for you? It really depends on what colour those pretty lashes of yours are.
   If you have lighter hair, a very fair skin tone, and blue or green eyes, you are more likely to have lighter eye lashes. More of a light brown colour. My sister is one of these. If you have light lashes, dark black mascara will look terrible on you. Believe me. I tried it on Katie. (my sister) it was TERRIBLE. Browns will look much more natural, while making your lashes look longer and thicker at the same time.
   If you have a darker complexion (tan easily, or naturally browner or olive skin) and darker hair (dirty blonde, brown, black) then black mascara is most likely for you. If your hair is naturally dark, your lashes tend to be quite dark as well. If they look black, or extremely dark brown, black mascara is for you.
2. A Backup!
   If you don't want the really dark macara, or think it just doesn't suit you, you can always go for clear mascara.
   What it does is simply enhance the lashes you already have, and adds a bit of shine. However, this does not usually work on girls with thin, shorter lashes. It is ideal for thicker, longer lashes.
   It's also great to quickly put on if you're going somewhere in a hurry and you're scared of smudging. It doesn't smudge, and acts like a real mascara without having to worry aobut it running, smearing, or clumping.

Applying Your Mascara

1. Safety First
   One thing about mascara that is very very important to take into consideration is that if you poke yourself in the eye with the brush hard enough, it is able to blind you. Getting mascara itself in your eye will not do any damage, just sting a little, but make sure you have
   (a) Adaquate lighting
   (b) A large enough mirror so that you can clearly see everything you're doing
   (c) An open door so that your little sister who simply loves to sneak up on you doesn't take you by surprise!
2. How to...
   When you apply your mascara, start at the bottom of the lash and sweep away from your eye, in a diagnol away from your nose. I've found this is the way it clumps the fewest times whenever I apply it!
   It'll take a few good sweeps to get it the darkest you can.
3. Where do I apply it?
   Apply mascara on the top and bottom lashes. If you have smaller eyes, it's a good idea to only do the top, since both can sometimes be a bit overpowering if you have naturally smaller eyes.
   If when you're applying it to the bottom you always smudge (heh heh. *puts up hand*) it's a great idea to use the clear mascara on the bottom, and the coloured on the top. That's what I do. :)

Some back ups...

1. I simply don't like mascara. Anything else I could use?
   I heard from one of the girl bloggers that vasaline works! just rub a little into your eyelashes, and it's supposed to work the same way as mascara. I haven't tried it yet, but it makes sense. :) If clear mascara works, Vasaline should too!

Thanks for reading!
What would you like to hear about next time?

ibeauty

*******************

1. Less is more.
   I know you don't really want to hear that, but honestly! You don't want to look like some made-up doll. You have natural beauty! Instead of trying to cover it up, play with it! Use neutrals like browns, or use pinkish colours...even deep red if you can get away with it! However, that brings me to my next point...
2. Do not use pinks or reds if you already have a rosy complexion.
   If you use pinks of reds on your eyes when your cheeks, forehead, or nose already have a natural tendency to look red, using any shade of pink or red on your eyes is going to make you look redder. It isn't bad if you have a bit of pink in your cheeks, (i'm not lucky enough to) but it's going to make you look more of a sweaty, overworked type of red.
   However, if you have a more olive or brown complexion or light brown, even skin (like me), you can pull off red and pinks! Try a deep pink--but not in neon colours! Just a deep pink-rose kind of pink. I put blush on my eyes, and it does the trick.
   
3. Have something to build on!
   Before applying any eye makeup at all, apply a *very* thin layer of moisturizer on your eyelids, or, if you use foundation, apply a thicker coat of foundation. Not too thick, though. You don't want your eyes to look painted on, do you?
   
4. Purple eye shadow looks good on most people.
   It just depends on the shade. If you're a blue-eyed blonde, you should likely go for the darker purple, while brown eyed girls can go for lighter. However, it really depends on the skin tone. If your skin tone in lighter, use a lighter purple. If it's a darker brown skin tone, use darker or lighter.
   
5. Sparkles sparkles sparkles!
   Often even in little makeup kits you'll get a light white powder in with your eye makeup. If you dab a bit of these sparkles on your pinky, and apply a very thin layer right under the brow, it'll tie the whole look together.
   

1. Second hand shops.
   Here where I live, it's easy to find second hand shops anywhere you go. We have Value Village, Salvation Army, and lots of locally owned boutiques. Don't feel embarrassed to go into these shops! Most of the shirts I own are actually from AE and Garage, but I get them all at second hand stores for 20% of their original price. That's a deal!
   
2. Timing is key!
   You can get really cheap clothes at stores that are usually really expensive if you go at the right time. For instance, there are always blowout sales for shorts and summer skirts and bags around September. I saw a shirt that started out as 30$ go down to 5$ simply because it was out of season. 
3. Newsletters.
   If you're comfortable, often signing up for a newsletter by e-mail lets you know first hand when the best sales are so that you can get to the good stuff before anyone else.
   

1. The band at the top of your thighs should 1 inch thick or more. No little strings!
   
2. The back should cover your entire behind. The less you cover, the more attention you'll get there, which is NOT what you want. Plus, the more you show, the bigger it makes your behind look.
   
3. make sure it is a thick material, and replace them often. Often a girl doesn't realize it, but when she jumps into a pool the back of her bottom is completely see-through. Even if it's modest in every other way, you can see all the outlines of her bottom. VERY unattractive. If you have a pool at home, check and make sure it isn't see-through when you get it wet, and if you don't have a pool at home, (believe me, it may feel stupid, but it works) get it wet and then put it on, and see if you can see through or not. Replace bottoms immediately after they begin to be see-through.
   

1. Longer tops help you look taller, and take attention off of the tummy. Also, you can get them in really cute designs and patterns, even at places like sears. I get almost all my bathing suits from the mall, you just need to go at the right time. :)
   
2. The top should cover your entire chest. I'm not talking turtleneck or anything, but if you lean over and you can see right through to your bellybutton, there is something majorly wrong.
   

1. THIN TANKTOPS ARE A NO
   If you can see the outline or pattern of your bra, you need to either (a) layer or (b) wear it UNDER another shirt.
   
2. Short-shorts are bad.
   Only like 3 out of 10 girls can actually pull these off to begin with, but even they shouldn't be wearing them! Here are some ways to tell if they're too short. If you answer "yes" to any of them, they're too short. Here they are:
   (a) lean over with your back to the mirror and look through your legs. Can you see hints of underwear peeking out where your leg holes are?
   (b)Sit down on your bed. Can you see more than 1/2 your thighs? This may seem too conservative, but believe me. Your good, Christian guy-friends will appreciate it, whether you realize it or not.
   (c) Can you start to see where your thighs round out to become your behind? I see tons of girls walking around with this hanging out of their shorts, and they don't seem to realize how unattractive they look! This may seem like a no-brainer, but try it anyway.
   (d) Can you see the same place where your thighs round out when you lean over like in number 1? if so, GET.RID.OF.THEM!
   
3. Sometimes looser is actually better.
   You can find TONS of cute high-necked cotton t-shirts at stores like American Eagle, Bluenotes, even Garage! But before you go to the smallest size, find one that doesn't cling to you, but "hugs your body", as Stacy and Clinton from "What Not to Wear" would say. It's guaranteed to make you look slimmer and is MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!
   

1. High necked shirts are actually trendy, matched with a lacy tanktop. Especially if it has a cute graphic on it! Experiment.
   
2. Long shorts, or "walking shorts" are super cute on anyone. They are much more comfortable, and are actually cooler than short-shorts. no more sticky skin sticking to that parkbench you and your friends sat down to eat your ice cream!
   

1. Beauty tips galore!
   
2. Common beauty mistakes, and how to avoid them
   
3. short devotionals that will make you think every time you go and apply that mascara or rub on foundation.
4. What famous people think of makeup
5. How to analyze and breakdown the photos and "tips" in hair and fashion magazines.