Yes, cocoa butter might help, as the previous columnist said. The best thing, though, is to stop touching the area and let it heal on its own. There is a scar, but if you continuously pick at it or touch it, it will worsen, or heal more slowly.

One thing I find that works very well for superficial acne scars and hyperpigmenation, is using a good face scrub and mask no more than twice a week. I like using Queen Helene facial products.. I have the Oatmeal and Honey face scrub, which is great, and I also use the mud mask. There are minimal and quality ingredients, and the price range is very reasonable- you can find Queen Helene products at Sally's Beauty Supply, and maybe at a drugstore. I have found that using gentle face products has helped calm down my skin. Use a gentle facewash, scrub/mask as needed- but make sure the scrub is very gentle, not something like St.Ive's which is way too harsh. That helps clear away dead skin cells and makeup, clearing up your skin and helping fade acne marks.

If you try taking care of your face this way, you'll see that the condition of your skin will improve by a lot.

I agree, Claire's has a lot of different types of jewelery- it's inexpensive, and not the best quality, but fun.

Also, you can try going to B.P (Brass Plum) section at Nordstrom's department store-it's the juniors section; there's lots of different types of necklaces there, including longer ones. You might also consider H&M- if there is one in your area, or Forever 21 store...all of these stores have cute and fun necklaces at reasonable prices.

If all else fails, you can always go to a bead store, or even a craft store like Michael's, and make your own using your imagination.

I agree, you could find some good pasta recipes online, or just use regular pasta sauce, mixed with sauteed vegetables or meat.

Or, you can marinate some chicken breast and heat it up on the stove. Another thing I love is stirfry...you can get creative with it. Sautee your favorite vegetables with some soy sauce or teriyaki sauce, and add chicken if you want, or tofu. Serve that with white jasmine rice.

I lived abroad (Amsterdam) for a year, and didn't even have an oven at the student residence. You can adjust well..there's so much you can make on stovetop.

It should help that you have the box. The salesperson might be able to scan it, and see if your information comes up- or maybe there is a product ID or something on it as proof of purchase.Ask if that is possible.

Try seeing if the store has your information, and let the salesperson (or if needed, the manager) that you did by it from them, but lost the receipt. Hopefully they will be able to help you out.

In the future, save all your receipts, as it can help out.

I'm not in your shoes, but here's my personal viewpoint. You cannot try hard to feel happy, it's something that happens naturally. It sounds almost like you are trying to force yourself to feel something. If you do not feel happy (realistically happy, not necessarily totally elated like a fairytale), then only you can ask yourself deep down what could be causing it. And also, do not have unrealistic expectations. You aren't going to feel lovey-dovey, dancing in the clouds every time you see him. If you do, great. But at the very least, you should be comfortable, at ease, and pretty happy around him.

Your boyfriend now can be a great guy, but maybe he is not a good match for you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. A good relationship shouldn't feel "empty" (as you mentioned). Maybe he just isn't a good match for you.

Listen, you just need to be honest with him. I know from experience that the more you keep your feelings to yourself, the more they fester within you- this is not constructive. Let him know how you feel, and let him explain himself too. Don't worry about what people think of you...it's their problem, not yours. All I can tell you is to be honest and open with him..who knows, maybe that in itself will strengthen the relationship. But keep an ounce of reality at hand at all times.

Valentine's Day is around the corner, but you know what, why celebrate with someone you aren't completely into? I'm not telling you to definitely call it off, but do not stick around simply because V Day is coming. If you feel it's worth it, then work at it. Talk to him, be honest, give it a shot. BUT ONLY if you think that's the right thing. If you have a feeling that the relationship isn't going anywhere, or that it has not potential AT ALL, then you probably already know what you should do.

** To add to all the above, try not to compare this relationship with your last, or this boyfriend with your previous bf. Two different people and situations deserve some distinction.

If you have to ask, then you are too young. You are having doubts,your girlfriend (or whoever) felt worried, and you said you "didn't feel right." These all point to the fact that you are not ready to be doing these things. When you are ready, you will not feel this way.

Sorry to say, but you are too young to be doing these things. Your brain is not fully developed till you are around 20, so yeah, emotionally and physically, you are both too young to mess around. I'm not giving you a timeline or anything..but a few years of waiting will not hurt you at all.

I agree with the other answers. I read somewhere that you should avoid putting conditioner right at the roots, since your scalp produces oil anyway...this especially applies to you, since you already have fine hair that is prone to getting oily.

It probably isn't a good idea to shampoo your hair every day- for most people, once every other day is fine. You could try using less conditioner, as the others have mentioned. Also, see what type of shampoo/conditioner you are using, and if it's suitable for your hair type.

You might want to try using a clarifying shampoo, that could help with the excess oil. Also, Finesse and some other similar shampoos might be causing buildup, which can make your hair dull and damaged in the long run. I recommend using a natural shampoo, or even Neutrogena Clean (helps with buildup). Or, try Head and Shoulders- the citrus one, or ocean breeze are good. Head and Shoulders new line of shampoos are great, not at all like a typical dandruff shampoo- also with formulas for all hair types. Try one of the above regularly, and you should see improvement.

You seem really upset about this, but just remind yourself that this is how you feel, and there is nothing you can do to deny what's going on inside.

Chances are that you feel you messed up the friendship with her since she didn't feel the same. I know how it feels- it isn't ever easy to like someone who doesn't feel the same way (and she's your friend, so it might feel more awkward). But you know what? It should not matter if you are really friends. Although it's understandable that either she or you (or both) might feel awkward or otherwise uncomfortable about it, if you are truly friends, then your friendship will prevail.

Do not expect her to reciprocate the feelings- she rejected you twice so she probably doesn't feel the same way. But at the same time, you should also watch out for yourself. What I mean to say is this: be true to yourself. You should let her know how you feel because it's upsetting you..it seems you have something to get off your shoulders. Plus, a good friendship rests on solid honesty.

Do what you have to do- be honest with her. But also be yourself. Let the chemistry you have guide your friendship. Being honest with her about how you feel should not ruin the friendship. If you are very good friends, then the initial awkwardness will quickly disappear..and time will tell what else life has in store for the two of you. In the meantime, relax, be yourself, and enjoy the friendship.

Oh yes, and to add, if she's a good friend, she won't react unrationally. If she does (as in, overreacts, treats you mean), then you might have to re-evaluate the friendship, or at least have a good talk with her.

Try searching for her on the website, "zabasearch.com." Type in her full name and the state you think she lives in. If she is registered, you might get address/phone information. Or you can try looking for her in the white pages, or whitepages.com

I agree with the answer below- if it is literally right on your lip, then it's likely a cold sore, and I agree that Abreva's the best thing for it..it's a bit pricey, $14 for a little tube at the drugstore, but well worth it.

If it's around your lip (and not on it), and you can tell for sure that it is a pimple, the first thing is to avoid picking at it or touching it. You could dab some rubbing alcohol on it at night, which will help dry it up. One other thing you can use is Bert's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick, which you could get at a drugstore or Target. That helps dry up pimples as well. Whatever you do, don't pop it- it should diminish within a few days.

The more self-conscious you are about it, the less outgoing you will be. Try not to think too much about it, and just be yourself. It may sound easier than it is in reality, but if you are yourself around others and try opening up a bit more, you are likely to see that other people will want to do the same.

The main thing is not to care too much about what other people think. No body is going to look at you at think "uhm eww," as you mentioned in your question. As for those less accepting of you, forget about them-they are not worth your energy. If you are yourself around other people, and you don't constantly think about what they think, or about saying the "right thing" (there is no such thing, by the way), you are a lot more likely to relax and be more outgoing.

I know how things are in Highschool..a lot of people are self-conscious, and too critical of others. Avoid people who make you feel like you don't belong, or try to show off too much, etc.. stick to those who are true to themselves and to others. When you are in class, you could strike a conversation with someone nearby, simply by talking about the class, or a movie, for instance. Don't think it over too much, just let it flow. Relax, be yourself, and try not to worry about what others think. You will see that if you do that, and try opening up to others, you'll be more outgoing.

If you have any other questions, you can always ask.

You have a right to be sad and upset. It isn't ever easy to get over a guy (or girl). He, whoever he is, was not worthless, otherwise you would not be this upset over everything. You had what you had with him, and now that it's over, you are understandably really sad.

Your options are to continue crying, put your life on hold, wallow away in your sadness. Or, you can just give yourself the time to heal, and deal with the pain constructively.

First off, give yourself time to get over the relationship- how much time you need depends on your situation. You have a right to feel in despair; let it out. Then, remind yourself that these things happen. It has nothing to do with you, or him..just the situation. Move onto things that make you feel good about yourself, whether it's painting, exercising, writing, listening to music...whatever. Talk to a good, trusted friend. Let out your feelings, get some words of advice, go have fun. Don't sit around pitying yourself, it can only make your feel worse. In time, you will get over this. It isn't easy, but it is entirely possible. It may hurt now, but you will be alright if you remind yourself of your strength, and other things that you are grateful for.

To add to the answer below, once you choose a page theme, you could always switch to another one, or even go back to "classic view," by clicking on change to classic view (if you ever get tired of the new page themes). Right on your homepage, above "status and moods," and right below your profile picture, it will say, "page themes," so you can switch by choosing, "new home skins". As far as I know, that's how it is for everyone's myspace page.

It's almost like asking whether to brush or floss first. Although it isn't absolutely important, there are benefits of having a set routine for cleaning your face.

I have read that it's best to exfoliate first, then cleanse, as it allows the face wash to penetrate deeper into your skin. Remember only to exfoliate 2-3 times a week, not everyday...and use a gentle exfoliator, not the ones with big crushed seeds or kernels (e.g., St. Ive's is too harsh).
Afterwards, you can tone as usual, if needed (especially if you wore makeup)- the last step is to moisturize. The only thing missing off the list was face wash, but I'm sure that's something you do anyhow. So the order is: exfoliate (when needed), cleanse, tone, moisturize.

A couple of tips: For normal purposes (ie, you have pretty healthy skin, maybe some breakouts, but nothing major)..use a gentle facewash, like Liquid Neutrogena or Cetaphil...the same thing applies to toner/moisturizer, etc., avoid harsh products, as they can aggravate your skin and worsen the condition. If you have acne, try talking to your dermatologist for recommendations. You might also consider using a face mask 1-2 times a week to soften skin and tighten pores.. I use Queen Helene's Mud Pack Mask (you can get it at most drugstores).. perfect for all skin types.

As you know, you should be able to feel the tampon, but it should be pretty far up so that it's not right at the vaginal opening- meaning, "right there," as you asked. Once the tampon is far enough inside the vagina, you should be completely comfortable, as though it isn't there. If you do feel discomfort, it isn't far up enough, so you can just push it a little further. And remember to change your tampon as needed, but at least every 3-4 hours.

There are lots of exercises that stretch your lower back area.
Here is an excellent website that shows lower back exercises, complete with pictures:

http://www.nismat.org/orthocor/programs/lowback/backex.html

(I think I might try some out, too!)

Oh, and another site that might help:

http://www.lower-back-pain-answers.com/lower-back-stretches.html

One thing that I do that stretches the entire back is called Spinal Twist, a common yoga pose...you've probably seen it done before.
It's hard to explain, but here's a site that has instructions and a couple pics (just scroll down to "Spinal Twist"):

http://www.squidoo.com/workplaceyoga
(there are also other yoga poses you can try, for all parts of the body).
Good luck!

You should try not to tweeze too much- it can make your eyebrows look excessively thin. Try to only clean up around your eyebrows..just underneath and above the arch, but not too much, and if needed, in between your eyebrows.

Before you begin tweezing, put on some rubbing alcohol (it's sold at any drugstore, in the first-aid section). You might already have some at home..you could ask your mom, she'd know. If not, you can have her pick some up for you, it's very inexpensive and versatile. You could even get it yourself, it's just a disinfectant sold at all drugstores and supermarkets.

Anyway, the rubbing alcohol disinfects the area and moistens the hair, making it a bit less painful to remove (though tweezing is going to be painful regardless). When you are done tweezing, put some rubbing alcohol on the area (using a cotton ball) to help disinfect and prevent redness. You should also dip the tweezers in rubbing alcohol, or wipe it with a cotton ball soaked in it. It is hygienic to clean the tweezers- if you don't, you could introduce new bacteria into the area being tweezed, which could potentially lead to more irritation.

Here's a bit of advice: if you don't want to pay for expensive eyebrow waxing, ask if the salon has " eyebrow threading," where they use folded thread (yes, like sewing thread) to pull out your hair. I sometimes get that done, and most places offer that for around $20. If not, try and ask if there's a salon around you that might have it..or even search online, it's well worth it. In the meantime, whenever you need to clean up your eyebrows, remember not to overdo it, and only tweeze the edges.

It depends- if you do like using a lip stain, then maybe. But you could get a slightly reddish/stained look by simply using Cherry Chapstick (you know, the classic kind that's sold everywhere). Seriously. Or even use a tiny bit of reddish lipstick- dot on a tiny bit, and blend with your finger. If you really want, you could try using the lip stain...but I think there are other alternatives, it's just up to you.

As for the lip sugar, I really don't think $14 for a simple accessory is worth it. You probably won't use it often, and it seems like something you could easily get sick of. Plus, there's very litte in the container anyway. You could just use a very shimmery lipgloss or lipstick instead.

Again, it's all up to you. But I feel that Revlon's Limited Ed. collection is full of things that are not makeup staples, and look like fun to use, but are pretty impractical in the long run (not to mention expensive).

I do like Revlon makeup- you could try sticking to other products in their line...they have a nice collection of Colorstay eyeshadow quads. You might also like their cream eyeshadow, which comes in a set of 4 and sort of looks like a watercolor palette. All in all, I'd say stick to the basics. If you want to experiment, experiment with different colors, rather than "limited edition" products, that seem pretty impractical.

I agree with the answer below- as long as you let the bath salts soak for a little while, but not for too long, then it can be temporarily hydrating.

I would personally not recommend using Olay Quench..I have tried it and feel that it is a bit thin and strongly fragrant- but of course it depends on personal preference. I would get a good body lotion, like Curel, Vaseline Intensive, Lubriderm, St. Ives...they are inexpensive and have formulas for dry skin- best of all, they are very effective, even in the long term. Try using something for dry, or very dry skin. You can use it all over, wherever you feel needs moisture. Most lotions are also sold in large bottles, and some, like Curel, often have 25% more free.

At night, I like to use cocoa butter (I use Palmer's Cocoa Butter solid, it has a buttery consistency), to moisturize my feet, elbows, cuticles, etc., anywhere that's particularly dry. That works wonderfully as an overnight treatment. You could also use vaseline for the same purpose.

Drinking water is good for you no matter what, and I've heard that drinking the recommended amount per day helps hydrate skin. But also use a good body lotion or cream.

It probably is related to dehydration. When you drink enough water, your urine is clear-ish, or very pale yellow. So try drinking more water and see what happens. If it still does not improve, you could always talk to a doctor to see what could be causing it.

If at anytime you notice pain while you pee, or see any of the following- cloudiness in urine, any blood (of course when you aren't on your period), mucus..then see a doc. right away, as it could be a sign of some sort of infection or other health problem.

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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