about

Hello! I am studying esthetics at an Aveda Institute after spending years in retail. I am proof that nothing turns out how you think it will, and that's a good thing. When you think you've got it figured out, you don't. Life would be boring otherwise, right?
Makeup, skincare, and psychology are my passions and I'm also happy to give advice on relationships, particularly for teenagers (so many things I wish I could have told myself a decade ago!) I'm happy to help fellow abuse survivors as well.
I'm a diehard SF Giants fan and also enjoy watching the Sharks and Niners. Addicted to music, especially The Gaslight Anthem. Oh, and my name is Krista. :)

advice

Here's a picture of me: http://i.imgur.com/e2uF7w6.jpg

I have a stupid haircut and i don't look good.

I have no idea what hairstyle would look good for me, but could someone tell me what hairstyle would look best with my face? Every time I've asked this, people have just made fun for how I look; I know I'm ugly, but I just want legitimate advice as to what would look good for me.

First of all, you're not ugly, you have really nice eyes. Your hair just doesn't suit your face shape, but that's ok, it's easily fixable.
I would recommend something shorter that at least partially covers your forehead.
Here's a more casual, messy looking option:
http://hairstylesweekly.com/images/2012/07/2013-Short-Hairstyles-for-Men.jpg

And at least to me, the guy in the picture looks a lot like you, so I think this would work too:
http://menhaircutideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/good-short-haircuts-for-men.jpg

When you get your hair cut, make it clear that you don't want the "sticky-up" hair that's popular right now. Good luck!

-Krista, 23/f

[view]

How do you get a job as a mac makeup artist? where do you go and who should I talk with to make my dream happen? Thank you!

I'll be honest, MAC is one of the harder makeup jobs to get. They want someone certified (either a cosmetologist or esthetician, which means going to school and passing a state board test) and experienced with a really nice portfolio. This would mean going to beauty school (or if there's a makeup school like MUD in your area, that might work too) and then doing freelance makeup for a while to build up your portfolio and resume. They're also looking for outgoing people with extremely strong sales skills, so that's something to work on.
Keep in mind that in the world of beauty, there are a ton of different opportunities and things could totally change for you. I started beauty school with a passion for makeup and now really love doing facials. Sometimes you're better at something else, yaknow? good luck!

- Krista, 23/f, studying estiology

[view]

I just went natural and I normally go to a salon to get my hair flat ironed. It's not really helping much because my hair still ends up in a ponytail. So instead I thought of using a product that will let meme west my hair out and curly without being really poofy. If you can name some product names that would be a great help! Thanks!

First of all, make sure your hair is well moisturized to avoid frizz. A moisturizing shampoo and conditioner can make a big difference, as well as deep conditioning twice a week.
I swear by It's A 10- it's a spray in product that makes hair smoother, softer, shinier, and protects against heat. However, it is qiite expensive. Aussie Hair Insurance is a cheaper option.
Aussie Sprunch conditioning mousse is the best curly/wavy hair product I've ever used. It defines without making hair too big or crazy. (If you have extremely kinky curly hair, you may want to use a serum like John Frieda Frizz Ease instead.) For tight curls, Tresemme Curl Defining heat activating spray is great. If you want wavea, L'oreal Txt It is amazing.i also like to sleep with my hair in two loose braids to create waves. Whatever product you use, make sure you start with a small amount and build up.

[view]

What are the best places you have found to shop for clothes online? I don't really know which sites to trust. I mean, do you only buy from places that you have near you so you can go in if your order is messed up, or can you buy from stores that aren't in your area and still do ok?

Oftrn it is easier to buy from stores that have a location near you, but if that's not possible, it's not a big deal. It just takes them a bit to process the return sometimes.
I don't recommend buying from places like Forever 21 or Love culture online. Often the sizing is totally weird or inconsistent and things will look totally different in person. I've had the best luck with Banana Republic (they do 40% off sales pretty often) and American Eagle (they also do the 40% sometimes if you sign up for text alerts and have a really good clearance section), as wellnas American Giant and Sevenly.org. I recommend buying in larger quantities rather than individual items, because many sites do free shipping if you spend over 50 bucks.

[view]

how do I nominate someone for what not to wear

You can do it online on the TLC website, but they've already announced that this will be the last season, so they may have filmed all the episodes already :/

[view]

What can you do to your nail polishes when they start turning sticky ? especially the white ones !

Do you mean when you've had em for a while and they start getting thick and take longer to dry? You can buy nail polish thinner at Ulta or a beauty supply store and it will help a lot. It sounds weird, but putting a few drops of nail polish remover in has the same effect.

[view]

Photos of me: http://imgur.com/a/UtAqm
Obviously the second one is really bad quality but I took it with my iphone.

Today I went to Bealls and saw one of the girls from my old school (I graduated in June) there.
The whole time I was there I couldn't help but think she was so much prettier than me and I'm sick of just being "cute" or "normal" pretty.

She's the girl on the left: http://imgur.com/Rv1Pe

It's inspired me to make myself become more noticeably pretty. I'm deciding I've had enough with my bad habits like biting my fingernails. I'm stopping that once and for all tonight. I want long beautiful fingernails so I'm applying Sally Hansen's Maximum Growth nail polish.

I have sort of white teeth but they are a little yellowish so I picked up some maximum whitening flouride toothpaste and I plan on brushing them at least twice a day! I don't get acne but my skin without makeup is a little blotchy around my cheeks and the bottom of my chin, I also want gorgeous clear skin so I bought an $8 salycic acid maximum cleansing daily face wash and I'm going to start using it twice a day as well.

I'm about 4ft 10 in and 78 pounds so I am very skinny but I want to get rid of that "womens tummy pouch" thing. I've heard people say every woman has it but I know celebrities don't so tomorrow I think I'm going to start doing situps until it's gone.

I want to get tanner as well but I don't know how. I stay inside most of the time and we don't have a beach in my town and I don't have a yard since I live in an apartment. We have a balcony so maybe if I lay out there I can. I'm not going to use any of that fake chemically crap or go to a tanning booth though.

Other things I want to get rid of are:
Wearing sneakers, I think that's a big no-no because they aren't cute or classy they're just like lazy shoes. I really need to buy a pair of flats. Right now I have two pairs of boots (both high heels),two pairs of sneakers that I normally wear out,one pair of sandals and two pairs of heels (one stilletto) and obviously I'm not going to wear heels 24/7. I don't want back problems so I think my only choice is to get a cute pair of flats.

Pants: I AM SO SICK OF WEARING PANTS! I get so mad at myself every time I look in the mirror and my skinny jeans look faded or just bad. They are really starting to drive me crazy! I want to wear skirts and dresses but obviously I don't have a ton of money so I can't go and buy a whole new wardrobe so this one is going to take a lot of time and money to get right.

Makeup: I think I need to start buying more high priced makeup. I used to like my makeup but I hate how my mascara seems to dry out and flake or look kind of clumpy and how my foundation starts fading and looking powdery about 6 hours in. Or when I have to reapply lipstick every hour. I usually spend $7 on mascara,$7 on foundation and $5 on lipstick but it isn't working so I think I need to start saving up to buy the more expensive stuff like Urban Decay or YSL.

I'm also going to regularly dye my hair a reddish brown so it looks vibrant and not so dull like in the second photo.

Does anybody have any other ideas? I don't usually wear my makeup that bright as it is in the photos so that's not a problem.

Honest opinion? I think you're way prettier than that other girl. You have way prettier features and I'm not a fan of the fake blonde with tons of eyeliner look.

Definitely stop biting your nails- maybe even try a vitamin to make them grow faster?

Also, do NOT use that face wash- salicylic acid is extremely harsh, meant for acne-prone skin, so it will just make your blotchiness worse. If you want your skin to glow, try something like Aveeno Positively Radiant with a matching moisturizer. And make sure you exfoliate your face 1-2 times per week.

Here's a really great workout to tone up your abs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoeE9VTxvHY (there's a printable version)

Don't worry about being tan, it isn't worth the damage to your skin and being pale looks good on you. You could try a gradual self-tanner lotion- i think Jergens makes one.

Payless has cute flats and I'm pretty sure they're having a buy one get one half off sale right now. It's ok to wear pants sometimes, but dresses and skirts (with tights, too) can be just as comfy. Since you have a small budget, try places like Forever 21 and TJ Maxx.

Makeup: You don't necessarily need to buy a ton of high-end makeup. I'm a freelance makeup artist and I use some really great drugstore stuff sometimes. In particular, there are some great drugstore mascaras- try Maybelline the Falsies or Revlon Photoready 3D Volume. Avoiding clumpiness is all in the application, and make sure you're not putting on too much. (And always curl your lashes first!)
Brown eyeliner/eyeshadow will really make the color of your eyes pop. If you want to invest in some nice makeup, try the Urban Decay Naked palette- tons of gorgeous colors that will compliment your coloring and eyes.

A good primer can make all the difference in your foundation looking nice. I swear by the Too Faced Primed and Poreless- it is a little pricey, but it lasts forever and makes foundation look so much better.

To make your lip color last, start with a liner, then lipstick, then a gloss on top. Or just buy a lipcolor specifically designed to be long wearing.
I learned a lot of what I know about makeup from Youtube tutorials, you might wanna try that.


Good luck!

[view]

I want to use a face primer to make my face less shiny and to help keep my makeup from coming off during the day. What is a good face primer to use?

I know a lot of people that swear by the Smashbox oil-free photoready for oily skin.
That being said, I have very oily skin and I refuse to use anything but the Too Faced Primed and Poreless- it makes foundation look so much more smooth and natural and keeps my oil under control decently if I use a good powder (the Maybelline Dream Matte is amazing).

Everyone's different and it may take some trial and error to find the right one for you.

-Krista, 21/f

[view]

I saw this wrap around towel in a tv show and it looked like it buttoned or velcroed or something to hold it up so it doesn't fall down while you are running around the house in it. Where can you buy a wrap around towel? I called places and they were like: "Well, uh, take a towel and wrap it around you..." I think they thought I was playing a joke on them or something! :(

Did I imagine this or is there really such a thing?

Saw something like that at Bed Bath and Beyond the other day:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=202149&RN=372&

[view]

I am 17 years old & I have small breasts. Like, they look like they belong to a 14 yr old...& I was just wondering if there were any ways to make them look any bigger??

Here's some help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HErdtVkR3Nw

Make sure you have a good bra, too, of course- padded pushups can work wonders :)

Hope that helps.
-krista, 21/f

[view]

But how long will the koolaid stay in? And what color will it turn out to be for different types of hair?

Koolaid can permanently stain your hair, to the point where you'll have to wait for it to grow out for it to be gone. My cousin's (light brown) hair turned a weird green color and it took years to grow out. I don't recommend it, just try a temporary or spray-in hair color or colored clip-in extensions instead.

[view]

How long does koolaid stay in you hair when you dye it

It actually doesn't wash out, even on dark hair...my cousin has brown hair and she had to wait for it to grow out. It took years. (And it turned this weird greenish color, not the color she wanted).

[view]

I need jeans for work and I honestly can't find them anywhere..No back pocket designs, jeggings/super skinny jeans, dark with no fading or rips or designs, and either size 0 or 1 with Long not regular length. That is overly specific for a pair of jeans but it is for work. Any stores that have that or jeans close enough to that would be greatly appreciated, I have been searching everywhere with no luck. Thankyouu!

Have you tried American Eagle? (Either online or in-store). They have a million jean styles, have the option of 'long' on every size, and are pretty reasonably priced for being high-quality.

[view]

My 11 year old sister likes to wear makeup. Any good makeup sites?


Also, don't say stupid stuff like "Uh, too young!" or "Ahaha. Wanna be 16 year old!" or anything like that. It's her choice.


To learn how to do makeup, your best source is youtube.

For basic technique and very wearable looks, Kandee Johnson is great:
http://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson/featured

Some specific looks that might be good for your sister-
soft and pretty- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivQAxz4zpjU&list=UU9TreTE-iXwfwQl72DzDurA&index=44&feature=plcp
Five minute makeup- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSVta42Wp60&list=UU9TreTE-iXwfwQl72DzDurA&index=81&feature=plcp

For playing with bright colors, I love Xsparkage:
http://www.youtube.com/user/xsparkage

I used to be really horrible at makeup and now I always get compliments, and I only learned off youtube. Just takes lots of practice and good products/brushes. At her age, she definitely doesn't need foundation or contouring or anything like that, either. She should just have fun with color in a subtle way- maybe colored eyeliner or mascara.

-Krista, 21/f

[view]

Hey you answered a question for me some minutes ago. Im the one with the brown eyes black hair and médium skin tone and i wanted my eyes to pop and i wanted it a natural look i am wondering if you have any other suggestions and it doesnt have to be a natural look it can be anything i just Want my eyes to pop thanks for your advice i enjoy them!

Well, like I said, purples, silvers, and navy blues are your best bet- so if you're comfortable with makeup, you could try doing a purple smoky eye, something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQTHThmUZs
(Obviously you can use any purple shadow, not just the ones she says.)
You could also substitute a navy blue.
And I forgot to say it, but there are two important things for making your eyes pop:
- Always line your inner rim (if you don't know what that means: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTry7fUwIS4)
- And always curl your lashes and apply a good mascara to make your eyes look really good. You could even try playing with false lashes.

[view]

I have Brown eyes,black hair,médium skin and wear glasses. I am looking for a natural look that will make my brown eyes pop. Also if you would give me any color suggestions. Thanks everyone!

I have brown eyes, too, and purples, dark blues, and silvers really make them pop.
Since you want a natural look, I'd use a colored eyeliner with neutral shadow. A light, flesh-toned shade from lashline to brow, then a slightly darker shade in the crease. Line your eyes with a navy blue or eggplant-colored eyeliner, then 'set' it with a similar colored shadow.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about, although you could definitely tone down the shimmer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gGpdGticAU

I think a slightly bolder look, like this, would look a lot more subtle behind your glasses to make your eyes stand out more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0rmrbTb7fU

If you have any more makeup questions, let me know :)

-Krista, 20/f

[view]

I'm getting married in 9 months time, the venue has cost more than we expected so we're having to cut costs elsewhere, which means I will be doing my own make up.

I'm 27 years old and I still have no idea about make up, I have very dry skin so I have to put mosturiser on my face, then foundation and it still looks flakey.

This is my main problem so if anyone can recomend any brilliant foundation fo that smooth airbrushed look? I've read about "Primer" too but I have no idea what that is, i'm never used it.

Next i'd like gorgeous eye make up, celebrities wear it a certain way which seems to change the shape of their eyes.

As you can tell i'm completely clueless and desperately need some fab advice.

Thank you

Youtube is your best resource for learning how to do makeup- tons of makeup artists post how-to videos. I learned a lot of what I know on there.

I'll give you some tips and then videos.

First of all, for your face. Do you exfoliate? (At least once a week). If not, now is the time to start. And if when you moisturize, your skin still looks flaky, it just means that your moisturizer isn't doing enough and you need to switch to a more thick, rich cream.

When it comes to doing your wedding makeup, you have two choices: airbrush or liquid.
Airbrush is put on your face using a little machine (sounds weird, but it's pretty easy). It's what's used for most photoshoots and weddings to give that flawless look. It's also good for your skin, waterproof, and very-long wearing. It will require an initial investment and a little time to learn, but I think it's worth it. The easiest to use for beginners is Temptu, which is sold at Sephora.
It's also important to make sure your foundation perfectly matches your skin. Get professionally matched if you haven't already.

If you're going with liquid foundation, not airbrush, you do need a primer- it evens out your skin to make your makeup apply more smoothly and last all day. Too Faced Primed and Poreless is really great. (Again, sold at Sephora.)
The best liquid foundation, especially for when you'll be having your picture taken, is Make Up For Ever HD. (Sephora) It's super popular with makeup artists because it perfects your skin, giving you a glow without looking cakey and fake.
After you apply foundation, you'll want to set it with a powder to make sure it lasts all day. Use a big fluffy brush and a small amount of loose powder- the Make Up For Ever HD setting powder and Laura Mercier translucent powder are both good.

Here's a video on perfect foundation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqwpFfiXmFs

If you have any under eye circles, redness or blemishes, you'll want to cover those with concealer before you put the powder on.

The next step is blush- important to have a glow for your wedding day. Since you need it to stay on all day, I'd go with a cream blush in a soft pink- MAC and Urban Decay both make good ones. Then set it with either a little more translucent powder or a subtle blush powder color.

To look like you have radiant, perfect skin, you should highlight your face. Here's a video on how to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jiGkVCCZL0


For your eyes, I'm just gonna refer you to a video, but here are some tips, too:
- Make sure you use an eye primer. Urban Decay Primer Potion is pretty popular, but for extreme long-wear (it's waterproof) and making sure your shadow doesn't fade, I lovee Lime Crime Candy Eyed Shadow Helper.

- Curling your lashes before applying mascara is a must! Makes such a big difference.

- And for your wedding day, fake lashes are also a must. They make your eyes look amazing. The best ones are Ardell Demi-Wispies, used with Revlon Precise lash glue. You can get both of those at a drugstore or Ulta. Fake lashes do require some practice, so buy a few pairs (they're super cheap) and practice lots before hand! Here's a how-to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_c0LI-gr64

- Make sure you're using a variety of decent eye brushes, not just one of those sponge things that comes with a kit.

- Perfect eyebrows are really important, too. If you're not getting them waxed, then at least pluck them and fill them in a little. How-to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK1LfRjCkEY

- When your makeup is done, you'll want to use a setting spray to keep it in place- Urban Decay All Nighter is really great.

- If you don't have a lot of eyeshadow, I highly recommend the Urban Decay Naked palette- lots of gorgeous, shimmery neutrals that are perfect for your wedding day.

Now, here's your wedding makeup how-to video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjChX9RCkL4

And if you have any more questions or need any more help, please let me know- I love makeup and have been professionally trained. I think the key for you will be lots of practice. Good luck!

[view]

Ok so i wanna die my hair with kool-aid. But i wanna know how lonng ittle last?

It pretty much lasts until your hair grows out...and unless your hair is super light blonde/white, it won't come out the color of the Kool-aid. I have a friend that tried to dye her hair with Kool-aid and ended up with the grossest, uneven dirty green shade that refused to wash out, she had to use regular dye to try to cover it and it took forever to grow out. Wouldn't recommend it.

[view]

i got some expensive eyeliner from sephora and now im out...but i want to get something similar for a better price.
it wasn't liquid but it wasnt a pencil...im not sure what you'd call it...it was really easy to apply.
im pretty active so i need something that won't run if i get sweaty. what are my best options?
i also need a new mascara. other than the classic maybeline green and pink bottled one..
thanks!!

The best drugstore eyeliner I've ever used is the Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner- you apply it with a brush. It's easy and has really great staying power- I actually like it better than the 20 dollar one I used to wear by.

For mascara, I know a lot of people like Maybelline's The Falsies, my fave is L'oreal Double Extend Tubes (the red and white one).

[view]

16/f.

I know I'm young, but I was just wondering. I have dark circles like an old lady's and nothing seems to work. I can't afford expensive stuff either. The things I've tried are--

All CG concealers (minus the Queen and Simply Ageless collections)
Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer
Maybelline Coverstick

And none have had enough pigmentation to make them any less noticeable. So I'm wondering if I need to step it up to the anti-aging formulas or if they don't help any more, but just a different consumer group.

Undereye concealer is tricky, because you don't want something too thin (your circles will show) or too thick (you'll look like you have wrinkles). I really love the Revlon Photoready concealer, have you tried that? And here's a video on proper application:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL3m0E8xULk

[view]

<<< Previous Advice Column
Next Advice Column >>>
eXTReMe Tracker