Prom Dresses: Tips to Find the Perfect One!

I'm almost ashamed of how early I bought my prom dress this year. But at least I won't have to worry about it. In my defense, I was just browsing, and happened upon a dress that I loved and had a good price. Here's the dress, in case you were curious:

Enough about me; here are some tips for finding the perfect dress!

1. Start browsing early, before all the good ones are cleaned out! This will also give you time to figure out what kind of dress you want and what flatters you best, without the pressure of needing a dress ASAP!
2. Don't be afraid to be yourself when you choose a dress! It doesn't matter what the season's hottest trends are; as long as you feel fabulous in that dress you've got it made!
3. Be wary of strapless dresses, as well as mermaid-style dresses in fabrics that don't stretch. You're going to prom, so my hope is that you'll want to dance the night away! That would be difficult if you're worrying about your dress falling down or ripping!
4. If you're not sure what color to go with, try a multicolor dress so you don't have to choose, or choosing a dress that goes with your eye color is always flattering.
5. Be aware of function as well as form. That dress may make your assets look great, but make sure you're not falling out of the top of your dress! Similarly, the fingertip length rule is always good if you opt for a short dress. You have to keep it classy!

And here's a guy's (my boyfriend's) perspective on prom dresses:
"I want the dress to show off how beautiful YOU are, not the other way around."

Hope this is helpful as prom season approaches! Best of luck, and remember that you are beautiful, no matter what your prom dress looks like.

Peace&Love,
Natalie

Product Rave: Clearasil Daily Face Wash

To put it simply, I love this stuff. I've been using it for a few years now, and it's without a doubt one of my "holy grail" products. It keeps my face clear of acne, makes it feel clean, and doesn't dry out my skin. I actually think that the kind I have has moisturizers in it, which is perfect for someone with combination skin like me.

There's a new formula out that's called Clearasil Ultra. I've tried it, and it just didn't work as well for me. My acne came back, it smells weird, and it's about twice as expensive as the original formula that does its job better.

Maybe the Clearasil line is like a movie and its sequels; the original will always be the best.

Peace & Love,

Natalie

Attention All Females

Girls, listen up.

I don’t know what compelled me to say this, but I need you all to know that you are beautiful.

Naturally.

Before you cake on the foundation, the bronzer, and the black eyeliner.

Before you fry the living crap out of your hair with that flat iron.

and before you slip into your skin-tight miniskirt and 8-inch stilettos.

You are beautiful before all of that.

You are beautiful in sweat pants and your favorite raggedy t-shirt

with your hair in a bun on the top of your head while wearing your favorite fuzzy socks.

You don’t need to have size 32Q boobs to be attractive, so stop stuffing your bra.

You don’t need to be orange for boys to like you, so trade the skin-cancer-in-a-bottle that they call tanning oil for some sunscreen.

The only accessory you need is a smile.

Just be yourself, because there are a ton of people out there who love you for who you are, not what you look like.

And I’m one of those people.

Peace & Love,

Natalie

I'm Loving: Maxi Dresses

I just LOVE maxi dresses! They're comfortable, flattering, and perfect for bearing this summer heat! Plus with how long they are, you don't have to worry about if the skirt is inappropriately short. I know I'm behind the game, but I just got my first maxi dress for my senior pictures, and I'm in love! I found it on clearance at Rue 21 for just $9, and it makes me feel like some sort of hippie princess. As you can see in the picture, I'm not a fan of wearing shoes, but I'd pair this with some flat gladiator sandals for daytime wear, or maybe wedge sandals if I want to dress it up a bit. This dress is such a statement piece that besides a skinny belt to accentuate the waist, there's really no need for a lot of accessories. Pretty, comfortable, and simple - my kind of outfit.

Peace & Love,

Natalie

D.I.Y. Jean Shorts

Are your jeans starting to look more like floods, or even capris? That's how mine were, but they still fit perfectly around the waist, and I did not want to let a pair of well-fitting jeans go! I needed a pair of jean shorts anyways, so I took advantage of what I had: an old pair of jeans, and a pair of scissors.

1. Put on your old pair of jeans, and mark with a pen or marker where you want your jean shorts to hit. I suggest cutting 4-6 inches longer, so that there is room to make a cuff.

2. Remove the jeans, and lay them on a flat surface. Cut one side parallel to the original hem at the bottom of the pant legs.

3. Fold jeans in half along the center seam, make sure everything is even, and repeat on the other leg.

4. If desired, roll them up at least 2 times to make a cuff.

Viola! Quick & easy.

Peace & Love,

Natalie

Product Comparison: Facial Scrubs

I've been using the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for a while, and I love the product. So when I ran out of it and found the cheaper Up & Up brand of it at Target, I was very excited, because I absolutely LOVE to find bargains.

When I read that little orange and white tube, it instructed me to "compare to St. Ives Apricot Scrub," and when a tube of off-brand facial scrub asks me to compare it to my favorite, I will not hesitate to do so. Thus, this blog.

I hate to admit, but I was disappointed. Maybe it's because I was asked to compare a bargain to a tried-and-true favorite, but it just wasn't the same. The grains in the Target brand scrub are much larger than those in the St. Ives brand, and I feel that it doesn't clean my face as effectively. Also, it dried out my skin much more than the St. Ives scrub. Not to mention that while I love the apricot-cinnamon-y smell of St. Ives, the off brand has a stench that is reminiscent of a mixture of toxic chemicals in comparison. All in all, the extra 80 cents for the St. Ives brand is extremely worth it.

Lesson learned: stick with what you know and love.

Welcome!

Hi there, and welcome to my blog! I'm starting Brain Before Beauty as an attempt to give helpful health, beauty, and fashion advice while simultaneously helping women to realize that true beauty comes from within.

I've always seen makeup as an art form, as an outlet for self-expression if you will. I've always been girly, so I will admit that I enjoy experimenting with different makeup looks and hairstyles. However, I have been fortunate to have become much more comfortable in my own skin throughout high school. I never wear makeup to school, and only wear it occasionally when I go out. I have come to see makeup as more of an extravagance than a necessity. But that's not to say that I don't enjoy makeup and beauty as much as the next girl. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be blogging about it. :)

Anyways, that's essentially what this blog is for. If you have more of an interest in my completely random thoughts, you can find my personal blog here. And I have yet another blog for my philosophical moods, that will be filled with words of wisdom, hope, and confidence boosters. Blogging is starting to become my way of organizing my thoughts, to say the least.

I hope you enjoy, and thanks for visiting!

Peace & Love,

Natalie