I pretty much wear at least a little bit of makeup every day, but you'll hardly ever catch me wearing bold or bright lipstick, except for the ocassional special event like New Year's Eve. And yet, I love the way it looks on other people! (Especially the ladies of Mad Men. Am I right?) About a month ago I had a little epiphany: I happened to have bright red lipstick on when I popped into the grocery store one afternoon, and it totally made the whole chore much more enjoyable. So, I thought it would be fun to run a little experiment: put lipstick on every single day for a week -- and I mean bold lipstick that Betty Draper would approve of -- and see how it affected my outlook (if at all).

I just picked a random Monday to start my experiment, and you can see a photo a day, what I was up to, and the particular shade I was wearing, in the slideshow below. Did my lipstick improve my mood? Click through to find out! Groundbreaking scientific research, I say!

There have been plenty of hot and happenin' trends over the past couple years that many of us haven't necessarily been able to get on board with. For me, I'm still puzzled by this whole reemergence of the crop top and can't even imagine attempting to rock overalls. But one trend I can get down with? The jumpsuit.

Now before you get all like "are you SERIOUS?!" on me, hear me out: When styled and worn correctly for your body type, the jumpsuit can be the perfect option for daytime casual or dressy evening.

Have I piqued your interest? Good. Check out these 5 dos and don'ts for rockin' this season's hottest trend: the jumpsuit. 

DO: try layering. If you've never worn a jumpsuit before, it's a bold look to take in all at once. Try layering your jumpsuit with a blazer or denim jacket. Keep in mind -- if your jumpsuit is a pattern, you're better off wearing a solid top, and vice versa.

DON'T: pick the wrong waist for your shape. Some women are naturally pear-shaped, others have more of a boyish figure, and so on. Pending on your shape, you know where clothes hit you best. Most women I know opt for an empire-waist style, cinching at the waist.

DO: go black: Everyone has the perfect little black dress in their closet, and the perfect black jumpsuit can be just as handy. It's an easy ensemble to take from day to night by swapping out sandals or flats for heels and chunkier jewelry.

DON'T: go without hemming. Although many of us wish we were equipped with legs for days, the reality is that, well, we're not. Many rompers are on the longer side, which means the last thing you want to do is ruin your chic look by stepping all over the bottoms. Splurge for the extra $15 to $30 and have the item taken up to just the right length.

DO: accessorize. Go ahead, have fun with your flirty look! Just a note: If your romper is printed, your best bet is to keep the accessories on the wrists or opt for earrings. The last thing you want is to take an already bold look and add too much clutter -- so to speak -- around the neck area.

Do you have a jumpsuit? If not, would you try one if you found the right one?

Image via lyst.com

Anyone who is eczema-prone knows one thing: the irritated and inflamed skin is painful. Keeping your skin moisturized is key, but moisture-rich facials and body scrubs are expensive.

So to help you keep your skin as supple as possible, we've put together a healing and calming DIY facial mask that you can make from inexpensive items in your pantry.

So grab the oatmeal, honey, and yogurt -- and get ready for some majorly relaxed skin.

Here are the 4 easy steps you need for an amazing at-home facial:

Image via Fawad Hassan/Flickr

I'm no skinflint when it comes to spending money on beauty and skin care products, and I've had more than a few facials in my time, but holy moly people! This latest celebrity facial craze is really beyond.

Supermodel Bar Refaeli posted a photo of her face covered in gold goo to her Instagram account the other day. Guess what she was up to ... and how much it costs?

Let's take a looksie, shall we?

Reportedly, that gold stuff dripping off of Bar's face is what's known as a "Gold Bee Venom Facial," which costs around 1,000 British pounds, or over $1,600 U.S.

I mean ... what?! Right? Does it, like, rewind your skin in front of your eyes?

According to a write-up I found, bee venom is known as "nature’s Botox," which means it "firms, smooths, lifts, and most importantly 'freezes' the skin." (Um, for how long? At least all day, I should hope!)

Then, on top of everything else (literally), apparently a 24-carat gold mask is applied over the bee venom goo, in order to "lock in the cream."

Paging Marie Antoinette! Your beautician is here!

Look, I know that bee venom is the latest hot skincare ingredient, and in fact I've been wanting to try a product myself called Manuka Doctor Apinourish Rejuvenating Face Mask. It contains Manuka honey and "purified bee venom," which the company says "was proven to prevent sun damage and accelerate the recovery of damaged skin cells." It's $85 for a 1.65-oz container of it at Sephora, which is not cheap but not totally crazy when you think about how many applications that includes.

UNLIKE, SAY, A SINGLE FACIAL that costs over $1,600!

Don't get me wrong: if someone offered me the opportunity to try it out, of course I'd say yes. But to pay that much money for something that's legitimately only skin deep?

Celebs: they really are NOT just like us.

What would you rather do with an extra $1,600?

Images via ZenSpa1/Flickr and BarRefaeli/Instagram

If you love those photos of celebrities where they have cellulite, bags under the eyes, acne, and snot dripping from their nose, because it makes you feel like those elevated beings are really just human like the rest of us, then you will ADORE these new photos of Jennifer Aniston.In her new movie, Cake, Jen obviously plays a plain Jane. Because she looks absolutely nothing like her usual gorgeous self.

Feast your eyes:

Seriously, can you believe that? Frumpy ladies of the world, unite! The woman who Brad Pitt married looks ... just like us! Or maybe worse.

This just goes to show you how a little can go a long way. Remember that old ad, "This is your brain on drugs" and then someone fries an egg? This is like Jen's looks on a diet of Walmart clothes and $20 haircuts.

Take off that baggy sweatshirt and put on a well-fitted dress; add a professional makeup and hair job; and voila! She'd be back to Jennifer Aniston again.

I mean, if Jen walked down the street looking like this all the time, I think she'd be hard pressed to find a date. And yet she's engaged to hunkazoid Justin Theroux. It just takes blond highlights and perfectly applied bronzer, people!

Think of this the next time you sink into despair that you will never be as beautiful as a celeb. Apparently it doesn't take THAT much to make a world of difference.

Oh, and don't forget the expression on your face. This sour one is doing Jen no favors at all.

Did you ever think Jen could look this plain?

Image via Shahanaj27/Flickr

After I finished breastfeeding my fourth baby and lost most of my baby weight, I was pretty depressed about my boobs.

I realize I'm not supposed to say that because it sounds vain. Plus, they fed my children and that's amazing! And awesome!

And yes that's great, really it is, but I miss my old breasts.

As it turns out, half of my problem was that I was wearing the wrong bra. Maybe you are too.

To me, getting sized for a bra in a fancy bra shop seemed like a luxury. And for all intents and purposes, it is. The thought of spending $100 on something that holds up my boobs seemed utterly ridiculous, so I'd usually just pop into any larger store, maybe try it on (usually not), and go on my merry way.

That also meant I was pulling up falling straps, tugging at the back, and constantly adjusting the front.

But after ditching the nursing bras and seeing a gaping space in my old regular bras, I decided it would be worth the time and money to get sized. Logic says that after you breastfeed or, heck, just gain weight (and then lose it, maybe) from a pregnancy, your breasts are going to be a different size. Your back is going to be a different size.

More from The Stir: 7 Bra Mistakes You're Probably Making & Tips on How to Fix Them

And you're going to need a new bra. 

Behold! I was correct. And after getting sized, which, by the way, is not as awkward or weird as it might sound, my life was completely changed. Because not only do they give you the correct size, they will also suggest what types of bras you should be wearing.

And guess what? It's not always the same bra with every shirt.

It's okay, I did that too.

Of course some of the bras, if not most of them, might be pretty expensive, but if you can't afford some of the higher-quality ones, you can at least get a sense of your size and what works for your breasts.

Who knew that the harder cup bras weren't actually great for me because they only emphasized the loss of tissue after nursing? And there wasn't that big of a cup size discrepancy, which really shouldn't matter that much, but let's just be honest here, IT REALLY DOES.

If you do invest in good bras, make sure you're not just tossing them into the laundry, which, I admit, I still do from time to time. Okay, more than not. Very bad. It's really important to wash them separately (and gently) and then hang them dry. You'll get way more wear for your money.

Granted, none of this solves the challenges of being bra-less. But really, how often is that happening? I just make sure I'm on my back and not standing up.

Just kidding.

Maybe.

Have you ever been sized for a bra?

Image via tracy hunter/Flickr

Do you like fashion? Do you like music? If you answered 'yes' to either one/both of those, OR you happen to feel like humoring me, you are in the right place! Last night, the glittery, cowboy-hat-wearing stars that dot the firmament of the country music scene came out to honor themselves and each other at the American Country Music Awards.

It was a great event, and the fashion was eye-catching. I mean that in ways both good and bad. I've been staring at photos since the event, trying to sort out my choices for the best looks of the night and the worst.

There was singing and swaying as the stars came out to look back on the year that was. But don't let their folksy roots and down-home flavor fool you. Ain't nobody knows better how to get damn fancy than the stars of the country music scene.

There was hair, and there was tulle, and there were jewels: Oh the jewels. It was hard to pick out which looks really stole the show last night. Still, I managed to finally out pick my favorite ensembles. But in every life, some rain must also fall. Thus it was that I also picked some of the not-so-awesome (aka 'WTF are they wearing?!') looks the night had to offer. Check them out!

Did your favorite gown of the night make the list?

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty

Miley Cyrus is on the cover of Elle magazine for May, you guys. And I have even more exciting news: She doesn't have her tongue out on the cover. Actually, if you want to get real about it, Miley looks like her own evil twin -- and in this case, bad is better. Miley's cover look is captivating. I dare you to look away from it and not look back at least once.

For any haters out there (and you are a legion), this shot alone is proof that Miley can be 100 percent high fashion when it's necessary. You know, for magazine shoots. Of course, I might be biased. She is, after all, wearing head-to-toe Marc Jacobs (my favorite designer) and it's hard to shake a stick at Marc. Plus, the styling of the shoot is so elegant and meticulous, from her manicured black nails to the killer gold nail bracelet she's wearing.

Miley's true fans don't care if she's rocking runway realness or cut-offs and pasties. They love her no matter what. I can respect the shock-and-awe factor that Miley's employed lately (who doesn't love a teddy-bear printed, synthetic, beige onesie?). But I like the grown-up, classed-out appeal of this more conservative Miley even more. Also, can we just point out that I described a woman wearing a matching print top and pants totally covered with beading as being conservative? Yeah. That. Standing by it.

I'm also pretty stoked about what the color palette of this cover means for spring fashion. The neutrals are mature and sophisticated while the bead-work and print itself keep the look from being blah. There is no baby blue or pastel pink in sight, and I couldn't be happier to see them banished. Even though she's not wearing the colors we'd usually associate with the season, you can't say it doesn't have a certain sort of ineffable, vaguely Easter-like appeal. A win all around.

What do you think of Miley's high-fashion look?

Image via Twitter

So, you’ve been diagnosed with eczema. Bummer. But hey, there are a lot worse diagnoses out there. Eczema may be unsightly and uncomfortable; however, it is also treatable, non-life-threatening, and non-contagious, so you are golden. All you really need is a positive attitude and a solid skin care regimen.

Here are a few skin care tips to keep you itch- and flare-up-free. Eczema may feel like a total nightmare at times, but hopefully a little regular love for your skin can go a long way.

Check out my 14 personal skin care must-dos for adults with eczema:

1. Take warm (never hot) showers.

2. Pat skin dry after showering, never rub.

3. Moisturize every day. Since eczema makes your skin dry and itchy, lotions and creams are helpful if applied directly after bathing when your skin is still damp. This will help skin retain moisture.

4. Apply cold compresses to relieve itching.

5. Use a humidifier during dry months.

6. Wear soft, natural fabrics.

7. Drink lots of water.

8. Reduce the amount of caffeine that you are drinking as it may irritate your eczema.

9. Always wear sunscreen to prevent further damage to your skin.

10. Avoid rapid changes in temperatures that might make you sweat.

11. Treat the cause. Eczema is usually associated with intestinal issues. See a doctor and get those taken care of first and foremost. If you don’t, you are only band-aiding the situation by treating the symptoms rather than the cause.

12. One percent hydrocortisone cream or prescription topical steroids may be used to calm a flare-up, but steroids are not recommended as an ongoing treatment as they are bad for your skin, in general.

13. Antihistamines may be used to reduce severe itching caused by a flare-up.

14. Elidel and Protopic are two drugs approved by the FDA to help alter the immune system's response and prevent severe flare-ups. Personally, I won’t use these two drugs because of the “black box” warning on the side of the package that scared me to death with the potential cancer risk associated with the creams. So, if I were you, I would read the warning labels before putting it on my skin.

What is your best tip or product that has proven to help relieve your eczema symptoms? Please share in the comments.

Image via Amaretta Kelly/Flickr

Hide your hair clippers, y'all! This new hair-shaving trend for ladies is becoming an epidemic. Kelly Osbourne just shared a pic of herself on Instagram showcasing her new haircut. It should come as no surprise that Kelly's bold enough to shave off a portion of her locks. After all, girlfriend is not wary of showcasing outrageous beauty trends.

This settles it once and for all: Partial head-shaving is an acceptable thing now. I still have a hard time acknowledging that shaving off massive chunks of hair is a new tress trend, but that's just my deeply rooted sense of denial talking. I love jumping on a fashion bandwagon as much as the next person, but I feel this look would make me look like I suffered a terrible accident -- and I'm not alone!

Kelly might usually be cutting edge where such matters are concerned, but in this instance, she isn't the first to break out the buzz-clippers. Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer shaved off one side of her long, blondish locks not so long ago. Following closely behind her on the buzz-clipping train was the ever colorful Demi Lovato.

Natalie's haircut made me deeply sad. She looks so great with long hair! I know she's going for an edgier look, but with that cut, she now has no options other than edge. It's a limiting look, and I don't care if that makes me sound beyond lame. Same goes for Demi. I think she's beautiful, but I also happen to think that the partial-shave on her looks like an accident rather than something she was going for intentionally.

All of my huffing and puffing out of the way, Kelly's take on the shave ... kind of worked for me? Let's put it this way -- it's the first take on the partial shave that I could actually imagine seeing on the average person walking down the street. I think the stunning color of her hair and the fact that the rest of the cut is super-conservative make her tiny bit of shaving work. That said, I won't be trying this look out any time soon.

Would you ever try the partial-shave?

Image via Instagram

Spring is definitely here. I know, because I just saw Beyonce's latest magazine cover, her first since releasing her self-titled album. Bey is featured on this month's Out magazine, and she looks stunning. So stunning, in fact, that they decided she didn't need any clothes and they'd better not run a bunch of text all over the place. It's just a chic, black and white photo of Beyonce in a platinum bob, with "OUT" on the top and "POWER" running on the bottom. Okay, then! Here comes the sun. Winter is so over.

First of all, let's talk about this blond bob. Not everyone could rock it the way Beyonce does. It's classic Marilyn Monroe, airy like cotton candy with just the right amount of curl. And if you're going to go blond, why not go all the way with the palest shade possible? It practically looks white.

Bey's 'do is perfect for spring, don't you think? Reminds me of cherry blossoms and white puffy clouds. So light and fun. And it's a wig, of course, so it kind of makes me want to run out and get a Marilyn wig myself. You know, just to borrow a little bit of that sexy magic, on a temporary basis? With some long fake eyelashes!

And then I love what they did with the rest of her look -- by which I mean almost nothing. When you're Beyonce, all you need is strong brows, thick lashes, lip gloss, and the usual glowing skin. Flawless. Oh, and a few simple necklaces. And the word POWER running across your neck. Bey's interview is all about empowerment through claiming your sexuality, which is an idea I can definitely get behind. But she sure says it all with just this look.

What do you think of Beyonce in a platinum bob?

Image via Out

For those of you do engage in ladyscaping down there, I've just heard about the latest trend in bikini waxes. But it's not even going to make sense when I describe it, so sit down and get ready to hear the most mind-meltingly absurd personal grooming idea ever. Ready? It's called the full-bush Brazillian.

Basically you're rocking a 70's vibe (as Gwyneth once put it) in the front, but waxing everything else bare. Your undercarriage? Zip. The front of you? Full cavewoman. For real. This is a thing women are getting done ... supposedly.

So basically it's the reverse mohawk of bikini waxes. The thought that comes to most people's minds when they first hear about it is, WHAT IS THE POINT OF THAT? Let's explore this question together.

Apparently girls with "hippie boyfriends" are requesting this wax because it's something the guys want. I guess? Who are these hippie boyfriends, anyway? Because they're kind of trying to have it both ways: Nature girl in the front, porn star in the back.

Another thing: The front is the easiest part to wax. That takes a few seconds! It's the undercarriage that takes time and precision. So this isn't even going to make my life easier. Not that I would try it anyway -- because here's another problem.

More from The Stir: My Home Bikini Wax Ended in Disaster

What in Sam hell are you supposed to do when you wear a bikini? The whole point of a bikini wax is to wrangle the bush so there's no peeking around the triangle. I guess if you're going with the full-bush Brazilian, you're maybe wearing a Land's End one-piece as well. Maybe one of those skirt suits, even.

All I can think is that what's really going on here is women are just sick of the usual and want to try something new. And there's only so much you can do down there. We've already done dye jobs, vajazzling, creative hedge trimming. I guess the only thing left is the reverse full-bush Brazilian. Ugh ... that actually sounds worse. But you know someone is going to try to make it happen.

I know what you're thinking, women who don't bother with any sort of hair removal down there at all ...

Is the full-bush Brazilian something you would try? Do you get the appeal at all?

Image via Dave and Les Jacobs/Blend Images/Corbis

Count on our favorite celebs to keep us guessing when it comes to their hair. One minute we're ripping out photos of Anne Hathaway and begging our stylist to give us her brunette layered locks. The next, we discover she has chopped off all of her hair and is bravely rocking a pixie 'do. Some stars have made such drastic, amazing hair changes that we can honestly say their careers have benefited from their bravery. And others (oh, Jen Aniston, what did you do?) have seriously let us down with their highly questionable beauty choices.

Here are 10 unforgettable celebrity hair makeovers that got us talking.

Image via Instagram

Katy Perry's latest look is a disaster. I've actually coined a phrase to cover its myriad sins: Breakup Chic. The slime green hair, the sexy-granny look she's trying to make happen, none of it is really her fault. Breakups can make even the sanest among us do crazy things. Katy here is living, breathing proof. That's why you're always reading about how you should never cut off all your hair or make any other drastic changes to your appearance right after you call it quits with someone. 

So you see, if you want to blame anyone for this latest whack-a-doo choice in duds that Katy's wearing, you're better off blaming John Mayer. If the twosome hadn't split, I can't imagine Katy going slime green OR thinking that doing her best imitation of your grandmother wearing a crop-top was a really good idea. Katy's body is bangin' (don't you love alliteration?), but dude -- no matter how hot you are, this look is not. 

Katy would have been better off going conservative or going risque. She erred when she thought doing both at once was a thing wise or even possible. I'm not wild about floral prints as a rule (too many years spent forced into Laura Ashley dresses as a kid in the '80s). I'd be willing to make an exception for the bold print here based on the length of the dress and the unique oversized look of said florals.

But I can't make that exception. Because this dress is also a crop-top. And that is as unacceptable as my grandmother getting her nipples pierced. Seriously though! If you are wearing a dress that doesn't even show your knees but then is all "behold, my abdominals," think twice before leaving the house! Katy is beautiful and talented. She's just reeling from her split with John Mayer. With any luck this breakup chic blunder will prove to be the exception and not the rule for her wardrobe from now on. 

Do you like Katy's dress?

Images via Trina Hobson/Getty/Instagram

What if you could take a drug that would make you more beautiful -- or at least feel more beautiful? A new Dove ad teases that question with RB-X, a "beauty" patch. As part of a clinical trial, women wear the patch and keep a video diary recording their thoughts about how they feel from day to day. Will they soak up something from that patch that changes how they look?

Well, because this is Dove you know there's going to be a twist in there, somewhere. Remember the Dove ad that compares how women see themselves with how a stranger sees them? That twist will have to do with women discovering the beauty they had all along. Can you guess what happens?

Not much happens at first. But eventually the women report changes:

On Day 10 a woman (who looks like a young Phoebe Cates, for cryin' out loud) says, "I feel beautiful no matter if I'm sick, tired, or the fact that there's a pimple on my nose."

On Day 13 another woman says, "I felt very comfortable in my skin today."

On Day 15 another woman says incredulously, "I went dress shopping today!" She never would have done that before the patch.

After the experiment the women report feeling like they've had a life-changing experience -- they're more daring with their looks, and they feel like they've uncovered a more confident part of themselves. And then the researcher reveals what's really in the patch: Nothing.

Ah-hah! It's the power of a placebo, my friends. And it could work on the smartest of us. Just one simple psychological device to help us shift our perspective for the better.

So I understand the overall message here, and how transforming this experience would be for these women. I do cringe for them just a little bit. I think I'd feel a bit silly if I'd participated in the experiment only to find out the patch was a placebo. Oh Dove, playing a tricks on women again! You! (Wagging my finger at them.)

But we know Dove means well (and, of course, they're a company that sells self-care products). It's to these women's credit that no one gets mad and throws the table over. But if I were there, I think in addition to feeling silly, I'd be wondering a few things. Did I really need this patch to turn around how I feel about myself? How much of beauty is something I feel inside and project outward? Does feeling more beautiful make me actually look more beautiful?

These are questions we sometimes ask anyway. The patch experiment just gives us another way to ask those questions. I'm not going to get all righteous and say how other people see us doesn't matter to us, because it actually does matter to most of us, whether we want to admit it or not. But I think it's interesting to think about how much our beauty depends on how we see ourselves, and how we bring that out.

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

How much of beauty do you think is something you project from the inside, out?

Image via DoveUnitedStates/YouTube

It's almost time for the Easter Bunny to arrive! I look forward to this time of year for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being ... CHOCOLATE! Yummm! Get yourself -- and your fingers -- into a festive mood with these super cute Easter nail art ideas. (Each of these slides link to a video tutorial if you want the blow-by-blow.) All the better for eating Cadbury mini eggs with!

Which design is your favorite?

Braids continue to be an extremely hot trend this spring, and for good reason. They are cool, versatile, an easy DIY alternative to the ponytail, and a way to keep your hair off of your face when temperatures rise, yet they still look funky. Unlike severe updos, braids don't have to be flawless to work. In fact, one of the greatest styles we've seen recently is the ultra-hip messy braid.

You don't have to be a stylist to re-create this look at home. Simply grab an elastic band, hairspray, and a curling iron and follow these 11 steps to achieve messy braid perfection!

1. Start with your hair down. "Second-day hair" works best so that your mane has some texture to it -- in other words, don't bother washing your hair!

2. Gather the top section of your hair and clip it. You'll be working on this section later.

3. Pull all your hair to the right side of your head, leaving a piece on the other side.

4. Loosely braid the hair on the right side of your head.

5. Secure your braid with an elastic band.

6. Go back and pull your braid apart slightly so that it isn't too tight.

7. Spray your braid with a quality hairspray.

8. Unclip the top portion of your hair and curl small sections of hair using a curling iron. Curl away from your face and use a 1-inch barrel for best results.

9. Lightly brush the curls with a paddle brush.

10.Curl the face-framing piece of hair you left loose on the left side of your head and remember -- curl away from your face!

11. Lightly spritz your hair with hairspray and -- that's that! You are now rocking a trendy look that is effortlessly gorgeous!

Check out this fantastic messy braid tutorial and let us know how it goes!

See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.

Have you ever rocked a messy braid? Would you give this trend a try?

Images via Daniel Grill/Tetra Images/Corbis, YouTube

I've got two tattoos. I got one when I was 18 and the other, two weeks ago, at age 30. A lot changed between the two inkings. For example, this go 'round I was much more concerned about how to keep my tattoo looking good and making sure it didn't get an infection or fade. The first time I basically ... did nothing! 

I turned to the Internet for guidance on how best to heal my tattoo, and I got a load of conflicting advice. Luckily, a plucky girl reporter, it was within my power to solve this problem. I interviewed Toph McDermott, an insanely talented St. Louis-based tattoo artist, and picked his brain about tattoo myths, what to do right after you get a tattoo, and how to prepare before you walk in the shop door. 

What's the biggest mistake you think people make when taking care of their healing tattoo?

The extreme case would be the person who comes in and gets a nice tattoo and then says, "Is this going to be healed up in time for my canoe/beach trip this weekend?" No, it won't! Don't be that guy. 

The intense sun and dirty water are a huge no-no. So, timing is a big factor. You want to avoid getting tattooed during a time when you'll have to face adverse conditions for healing. 

Another common mistake is globbing on the aftercare ointment. People tend to think that if some is good, then more is better. The problem with that theory is that over-application suffocates the tattoo. 

A healing tattoo needs to breathe, so while you do want to reapply throughout the day, you should apply a very, very thin layer.

Is there such a thing as a 'bad place' to get a tattoo?

There are some skin types that rarely hold ink well. The worst offenders being the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet.

This skin also wraps partially up the sides of the hand/fingers and feet. Basically all the skin with "finger-printing."

If you saw a girl on Pinterest with a fresh word tattoo going down the side of her finger and thought it was cute, I'd recommend against it.

In terms of aftercare -- what do you think is best for the newly tattooed?

Use warm water and antibacterial soap to wash your hands and then your tattoo (make sure to get off any blood/plasma/ink that may have oozed out).

Quick showers only, avoid getting the tattoo wet except to wash. Then pat-dry or air-dry, but do not rub-dry.

Once dry, I recommend Aquaphor by Eucerin (A&D ointment is my second choice if you're ballin' on a budget) as a healing ointment to be applied in very thin layers about four times a day for the first few days until peeling occurs. 

At that point I recommend switching to a white fragrance-free lotion, like Lubriderm Fragrance-Free. 

Continue using that a few times a day for the next few weeks until the shininess goes away.

All that said, these are MY aftercare instructions. Your artist may give you slightly different guidelines. Follow them. Different artists have different variations and that's okay as long as they guarantee their work with free touch-ups (many shops will have a time limit on this though, so don't wait too long). Almost all aftercare guidelines will have three main components:

What do you advise folks do to keep their tattoo looking good long-term?

AVOID UV EXPOSURE. This means staying out of the sun and/or liberal use of sunblock. The UV rays in sunlight are the biggest enemy of tattoo longevity. As a general rule, this affects lighter colors first. So someone with, say, a full color portrait that has lots of subtle light skin tones and detail has a lot more to worry about from the sun than someone with, say, a big bold black tribal piece.

Rapid or extreme weight gain or loss can also affect the appearance of a tattoo. The overall shape can distort or the design could be marred by one or more stretch marks.

And, tattooed or not, it's always a good idea to keep your skin healthy and moisturized.

On that note, a good moisturization regimen a few weeks prior to getting tattooed can also help to better prepare your skin to receive the tattoo.

Parting words of wisdom for those heading to the shop?

Do your research.

Find a clean and reputable shop and look at portfolios to find an artist who you trust and whose work you like. Once you have done this, listen to their advice. They do this every day and have a lot more insight into what will and won't work well for a tattoo.

Obviously you shouldn't let someone talk you into something you don't want, but if you did your research, then you chose this artist because you liked his/her work. Trust that he wants to give you a tattoo that you love AND that he can be proud to have done.

Thanks, Toph! If you live in the St. Louis area, be sure to go visit our guest expert at Enigma Tattoos. You can also email him at tattoosbytoph@gmail.com

Have you ever gotten a tattoo?

Images via Tattoos By Toph

My great wish for all the women of the world is that we carry ourselves with confidence and self love when we're at the pool or the beach. Whatever you've got, wear it like the goddess that you are. But if you're concerned about avoiding humiliation while frolicking half-naked in public, there are a few swimsuit wardrobe malfunctions you should prepare yourself for. Some of these can be avoided, ladies. And some of these others just happen -- but you can still maintain your dignity regardless.

Have you seen Rihanna naked? Unless you are a famous person who previously enjoyed a relationship with the sultry singer, probably not. Can you change that with a glance at one set of racy photos? You totally can. Well, you half can, anyway.

Rihanna, in a move that we can only call classic bad girl RiRi, posed for a provocative photo-shoot for a French magazine. While her upstairs bits and bobs were all nice and covered up, Rihanna's bottom half was on display for the world (and the camera crew) to see.

I don't care who you are: Every person who struts around with just their lower parts exposed looks vaguely goofy. Even RiRi. It just reminds me of a baby who's escaped his diaper -- more comedic than sex-bomb material. "But they've hired a guy to pour water on her," you say. "Surely that makes it sexy." I shake my head and tell you no. That does not make it "sexy." That makes her probably a little chilly.

If anyone could make going bottomless "happen" as a trend, it would be Rihanna. I kind of rolled my eyes when I saw the photos. I mean, come on! What, is going topless not enough?

I can hear her shaking her head at the thought and insisting that baring her breasts was "so 2013." If 2014 is the year we are all expected to take our nude fannies out for a walk, then do not plan on seeing me outdoors much.

Do you think her latest pics look hot or horrible?

Images via Instagram/Instagram