To add to the answer below, when you use a bronzer, only use a little on your cheeks, and maybe a bit where the sun naturally hits, like your nose. Benefit (department stores) has really good bronzers, if that's not in your budget, try Physicians Formula, which is available at most drugstores. Again, if you overdo it, it'll look like a fake tan, so little will go a long way.

This is most likely nothing to be worried about. Normal discharge is clear/whitish, and can dry to a very pale yellow color. I would recommend using panty liners throughout the day, to absorb discharge.

However, as the previous answer mentions, you should consider seeing your doctor about it just in case, in order to rule anything out. Also, if anything is wrong, they can discuss it with you, and again (as the answer below says) prescribe antibiotics if needed. Be sure to see a doctor ASAP, just to be sure.

People tend to lose touch with distance. It does not mean that your cousins do not care about you or do not want to talk to you. All it means is that the distance- and the fact that you are no longer in the Philippines-has caused you to temporarily lose contact.

I think that you should try IM-ing them the next time you are on Yahoo messenger, I'm sure they will be so happy to chat with you. Otherwise, try to email or call them, and make sure to make it a point that you would really love to keep in touch from now on.

Don't worry, the same thing happens to me and my cousins overseas. You just have to make more of an effort to keep in touch..try calling once in a while, and email them. I am sure that they want to talk to you, as much as you want to talk to them.

That is probably caused by dryness and irritation, and maybe some scratching. It might also be caused by dandruff, and if so, try using Head and Shoulders shampoo- the one that is called "Dry Scalp."

Use a very gentle shampoo. You could even consider buying an all natural, organic shampoo at a health food store like Trader Joe's. That way, you will know that your scalp will not become irritated. If you don't want to use an organic shampoo, I'd say go for something like Head and Shoulders, or even Neutrogena Clean shampoo, or baby shampoo.. Avoid shampoos that have harsh fragrances or chemicals, as they will further irritate your scalp.

Benefit, Philosophy, Dior...can only be found either at Sephora, or at the makeup section at a department store. Some of the other ones, including NYC, Prestige, Physician's Formula, are available at most drugstores, Target..places like that.

I wouldn't recommend spending a lot on lipgloss...although pricier lipglosses are good, there are some you can find at drugstores that are just as good. I especially like Maybelline, "Lip Polish," lipgloss. It's not on your list, but I think it's really good.

I do not dye my hair, however, my mom does all the time, and she swears by Schwartzkopf hair dye..the only thing is that you can only purchase it at a beauty supply store or salon. Otherwise, I don't know what else to recommend, but you should definitely look for something moisturizing that also includes a conditioning treatment in the box.

There is nothing you can do about your boyfriend's brother's girlfriend, other than ignore her if she bothers you. If you happen to catch her butting in on your phone conversations (which she has no right to do), then bring it up to her.

As for you, if you feel that you are always getting into other people's business, then try hard not to. Every now and then we all get a little nosy, but the key is to restrain yourself and have some respect for other people's personal life. It's good to hear that you are trying to work on that. Try not to gossip about other people, or tell other people's secrets to others-even if you are not explicitly told not to tell. Just try keeping things to yourself as much as you can, and don't beat yourself up over it. Also, you might want to talk to your boyfriend about why he went and told his brother about what you said...although they are brothers, it wasn't right of him to talk about something you said (especially since it applies to his brother). If I were you, I would just let him know, without getting mad, that he shouldn't tell his brother everything you say about him next time. He should get the point, and at least know your boundaries. In the meantime, practice setting them for yourself.

Just to add, when you go out to concerts, use the WAX earplugs. They work the best, and you could get them at any drugstore. In the meantime, as the others mentioned, continue to lower the volume on your Ipod just a tad..that should help.

By the way, if you aren't constantly exposed to super loud noise, then you will be okay. Oh, and usually all old people are hard of hearing to some extent, regardless. To minimize damage to your hearing, just use earplugs when you need to.

First off, let me tell you that your boyfriend is not only being respectful, but responsible. Good for him for being prepared and for not pressuring you. And good for you for having someone like that (not all guys are that responsible).

Next thing: your mom. Trust me, I know EXACTLY how you feel. When my mom found out I'm no longer a virgin, she was shocked and got very mad at me (and she is also domineering)..mostly though, it's just her old-school cultural tradition. But you know what, I realized one thing through it all: I am my own person (and a mature adult, so...). And you are too. You are passed the stage where your mom needs to make all your decisions for you. If and when you feel ready, it is entirely your choice. Just be smart about it and take precautions. It would be nice to have an open mother whom you could talk to about these things, but a lot of parents are old-fashioned and do not want to even think about the fact that their children may just be growing up.

You are pretty young, but like you said, old enough. There are a couple of things that are holding me back from telling you outright to go for it. With sex comes responsibility. You don't want to see a gyno, but regardless, it is the responsible (and healthy) thing to do after you become sexually active. If you really feel this uncomfortable, maybe you could wait until you let down your guard and don't care about going to see a doctor. Doctors are not at all going to judge you and think you're a slut. Not at all. They are there to help, and it's their profession. Your mom doesn't need to know about it, but if you're at the point where you're dead worried, then at least think things through. By the way, you have to see a gyno when you become sexually active, it's all written out in pamphlets, medical sites, etc.,: GO to the gyno either a) when you become sexually active, or b) when you are 21. So...do not have sex until you are completely comfortable, but when you do, see a doctor for an exam.
When you feel completely ready to have sex, just be cautious. Use a condom every time. And for your own sake, see a gyno for your yearly exam, it couldn't hurt. You are not obliged to tell your mom every single detail about your life. If she really will flip out now, then she'll flip out later down the line...why? You're her 'little' girl. It does seem like you're having doubts about the whole thing, so my advice is, wait a bit for all the worry to subside, and then make your decision. That way, you will have no regrets. All the best.

If your stomach growls, it's almost as though it's telling you, "I'm hungry, feed me!" It may sound funny, but the fact is, it's just your body's way of telling you it needs some food and nutrients- a sign that you need to be eating something more filling.

A piece of toast and a glass of milk or juice may seem perfectly fine, but it is not a balanced breakfast. There is a reason they say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Think about it: when you have a nice, wholesome breakfast, you tend to feel better throughout the day, and have less hunger pangs. A piece of bread is not filling enough. You do not need to have an IHOP style, pancakes, eggs and bacon breakfast, but you should try having something filling in the morning to prevent you from feeling excessively hungry later in the day. Try having eggs in the morning- a hardboiled egg (or two), or a couple of eggs, any style, will not only give you needed protein, it will keep you full. Starting your day with protein will ensure that you get what you need in your diet and have more energy.

Try carrying some granola bars with you to snack on- even if not a lot of people snack at school, it doesn't mean you can't, especially in between classes. Oh, and do you have to eat so early? 6 AM seems early, and a few hours go by, by the time your stomach growls..if you can, wait till 7. All in all, try having a more balanced breakfast. Some choices you could try...eggs, oatmeal, omelet... and try also having a side, such as fruit, yoghurt or granola as well.

The same thing applies to your porn addiction, though it seems to me that for you, it should go further. If you find yourself wanting to look at porn ALL the time, then you need to force yourself to go out and do other things.

You probably need some outside help as well. Here is a good website I found off of google. It deals with helping people overcome addiction to porn:

http://www.no-porn.com/

There are people out there like you, who are addicted to porn, among other things. Like any addiction, it is not healthy, and can be harmful to you in the long run. I advise you to check out that website. There is a survey, links to where you can help, etc., it seems to be pretty good. Otherwise, google "porn addiction."

I can only tell you my personal opinion regarding your above question. I do not see anything wrong with anyone, married or not, to masturbate every now and then. If it gets to a point where it's interfering with your personal life and those of your loved ones, then yes, it is a problem that needs to be dealt with. Oh, yes, and the issue of virginity is entirely personal, so if you think there's nothing wrong with being a virgin, it's your choice. Just understand that your being addicted to porn and masturbating is just that: an addiction. There are others out there who can help, just take a look at that site and its links.

He was probably a bit too rough and might have slightly cut your vagina. Brown discharge could actually just be old blood. Anyway, it is probably just that..or it could be some sort of infection. I would talk to a gyno or nurse about it to make sure, especially if it doesn't clear up on its own.

All I can tell you is that it is extremely hard to change someone, especially for the better. I'm sure you are concerned that she is a smoker due to health reasons, and the fact that she seems to be doing it just because her current boyfriend is. But the fact is that people who start off on the wrong path often get lost- to the point that outside help is of little use.

She may very well wake up one day and think that she was wrong to have gone out with this guy and taken up smoking. But for now, it seems to me that she's just your average immature 15 year-old who is trying to fit in and act older. She might not ever want to get back together with you (or maybe she does, I don't know), but if she matures enough , then in time she will see she was wrong.

You are right to be concerned, but if you are overbearing with her, then she is not going to listen to you. You might want to have a talk with her and express your concern, but you can not force her to change, she has to wake up on her own. That will definitely take some time, but maybe eventually she will come to her senses (or not). There's only so much you can do. Just let her know that you are concerned about what she is doing, and possibly the new path she is taking with her boyfriend. And end it there. If she is willing to open her eyes, she will. If she isn't, it really isn't your problem, but hers.

By the way, as I like to say, a hole is a hole. Oral SEX, is still sex (albeit not traditional vaginal sex, but still).

Oh, yes, and to add- you mentioned she's stubborn- it might be part of who she is, or just a product of her teenage years (probably both), so don't get your hopes up too much. You do your part, and the rest is entirely up to her.

Use a good facial scrub no more than 2-3 times a week- it will help to get rid of white/blackheads and will help shrink pores over time. Also, you can use a good mud mask to shrink pores (Queen Helene mud mask is great). Whatever you do, don't use a harsh scrub like St.Ive's-it does more harm than good. Stick to a basic, gentle scrub.

You might also consider getting a deep cleansing facial, it helps so much. Make sure the person also gets rid of all the gunk on your nose (it hurts a bit, but it's worth it).

I also get blackheads on my nose, and they tend to clear up a lot when I stick to a good facecare regime that includes using a scrub and mask about twice a week.

Try what the previous answer said. Also, you might need to change or alternate shampoos. Try using a clarifying shampoo, which will help with the oiliness and buildup (actually, it's formulated for oily hair). If anything, look for a shampoo made for oily hair, not a heavily moisturizing one. You can also use a basic 2-in-1...

Another thing, if you do use conditioner, do not apply it to your scalp- only at the ends. And make sure to rinse very thoroughly- even a little bit of left over conditioner can make your hair feel greasy.

All habits are hard to get rid of. Masturbating is perfectly fine and healthy, but like anything else in life, too much is too much. It is understandable that since you are a virgin, you are resorting to masturbating in order to ease the tension. Even if you aren't a virgin or even have a sexual partner, it's fine to masturbate- everyone does it, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.

In your case, it seems to be something that you're doing all the time--2-3 times a day does seem a bit much, but only because it's diverting you from doing other things. Also, you mentioned that you feel tired and restless, which could be caused by this, or a combination of factors.

I think that the best thing to do is to occupy your mind with other things. Go out with friends, go for a walk, take up another hobby-it could be anything, study, catch up with work, whatever. I especially recommend doing something active or creative, like writing/art, exercising, listening to or playing music, etc. That will not only help keep you busy with other things, it will allow you to re-focus your energy and feel a lot better about yourself.

If you are concerned about being a virgin at this age, just understand that it's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. Try not to go for just any girl- if you want to meet someone, try going out more with your friends, or going somewhere to meet like-minded people. It will happen when it happens. In the meantime, masturbating (whether or not you are going out with someone) is fine, but if it's getting in the way of your life, then try some of the above pointers. All the best.

I also have dark hair (dark brown), and have only gotten highlights once, more than five years ago. They did not look good on me at all- too blonde, and the streaks were too thick, so I had to dye my hair and wait for everything to grow back. I haven't dyed my hair since then.

I do remember another hair stylist ( a much better one) mentioning that people with dark hair should not get really light highlights, since the contrast is too obvious. The color also depends on your skin tone. Since you have dark hair, I'd recommend sticking to darker shades of brown, not blonde- maybe something in between light/medium brown, or even a wine colored reddish/brown-that looked REALLY good on a friend of mine, whose hair is dark brown/black. Actually, if you like that, that is the color I'd recommend most. Since you have very dark hair, it will blend in nicely and will not be obvious.

I think it's a good idea for you to see a good hair stylist and tell them those suggestions..see what they can do. Someone who is experienced at dying hair will make all the difference.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there with the same mentality as your girlfriend's parents. It all comes down to their ignorance, arrogance and racism. They have absolutely no right to be against people of mixed race (or anybody who is not white, for that matter). But since they are so narrow-minded and fundamental in their beliefs, they will think whatever they want and think it's the absolute truth.

I honestly do not think that her parents would disown her if they were to find out- probably get really pissed off at her and forbid her from seeing you. But I am not one to judge- I have no idea who they are or what they'd do to their own daughter. I am deeply sorry that you and your girlfriend are going through this- it is nothing either one of you or anyone else in the world deserves.

There is nothing you can do about her parents- they are who they are. Besides, people like that never, ever change. All I can tell you is that if you two really like each other, you should work at it, even if that means being secretive (which I know is really annoying and uncomfortable). It seems that it may be one of your only options. She can just say she's out with friends, if that's what it takes. Talk to her about it, and see how the two of you can work things out and try arranging something. Her idiot parents should not get in the way of things.

Oh, and by the way, it is in no way a sin to be of mixed race, or to have children with someone of another ethnicity, creed, belief, etc., for a number of reasons:

a) We are all human.. simple as that. We are all people, human beings with dignity and feelings. People should treat each other equally no matter what, but because of prejudice, racism..and in this country, a history of bigotry, people tend to forget this- and make excuses for poor beliefs.

b) Religion preaches equality, not bigotry.

c) Religion or no religion, who is anyone or any belief to say that something is "wrong?" If you are a good person and treat your fellow human beings with dignity and respect, that is ALL that matters.

Hope I was of help, and I wish you the best with your girlfriend.

Yes, it does seem that you are being too sensitive about it. His death was tragic, but he was a celebrity, known only by the movies he acted in. Trust me, I was also saddened by the news, if only because he was so young and died such a tragic death- not to mention leaving behind his little daughter. But you have to remain level-headed about it all. There is no reason for you to be this upset over it, to the point of being so sad and quiet. Ledger was not a part of your family and had no relation to you at all, apart from the fact that you liked his films.. I think that part of you is drawn to the effect that 10 Things had on your early teen years, so it may just be a matter a nostalgia.

All I'm trying to say is, although it is completely fine to be saddened and a shocked by the event, it's time to move on and realize that these things happen. Had you known him personally, then of course your reaction is completely fine. I just think that a lot of people identify a bit too much with celebrities and agonize over a tragic death as though it had truly happened to a loved one. I'm really not trying to sound mean at all...just letting you know that things happen to celebrities, just as they happen to everyone else. After a couple days or so you will be alright, just stop thinking about it and focus on other things.

You probably already know deep down that the best thing to do is tell him in person. How would you feel if someone texted you something so personal? It sounds like something anyone would want to hear in person. Things like that should not be conveyed through a text or IM.

If you still like him as a friend, there's nothing wrong with hanging out with him. But you should be honest with him first, and preferably let him know how you feel in person. It might be difficult and awkward, but in the end, it's the best thing to do.

I am here to give honest advice, when I feel I have something to contribute. I try to be as empathetic and understanding as I can, as I know that the way something is said is as important as the message itself.

I usually advise on love/relationships, friendship and family issues, nutrition, and health (mental and physical). If I feel I can help out, there's not a whole lot I am unwilling to answer. Ask away!

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