Category Archives: Beauty & Health

After being bundled up all winter, it’s time to start showing some skin again. But, before you expose yourself to the summer sun, its essential to strip away the last traces of the winter dullness. Valley has the tips you need to care for your glowing summer skin.

Regular exfoliation is the first step towards healthy summertime skin. During the winter, dead skin cells build up and cause dry and dull looking skin. By exfoliating, you can clear the dry flaky cells and get fresher looking skin. In the shower, scrub it off by applying an exfoliating scrub to a washcloth or loofah and scrub your skin gently in circular motions. Continue reading →

There’s been glitter, neon, polish strips and even magnetic. Nail trends are constantly changing and keeping us on our toes to help hands and feet look their best. One trend, matte finish keeps popping up as an alternative to the flashier nail designs but this time they’re back with a twist: texture.

A matte finish is flat and non-glossy. Shiny black polish will look as smooth and clean as a chalkboard and even glitter polishes can look toned-down. Even though some brands carry specific matte colors, the best bang for your buck can be found in purchasing a matte top coat that can be applied to any nail polish. Valley compiled a few tips to help you nail this trend down: Continue reading →

With summer quickly approaching, crash diets may seem like the perfect way to get your best bikini bod before beach season. As tempting as these may be, however, they actually have many negative effects on your body.

Most of the weight lost during crash diets is usually gained back as soon as the diet is over. In addition to this fast weight gain, your body may go into starvation mode and store everything you eat, causing you to gain even more weight. Luckily, there is an easier way to lose weight and stay healthy, without gaining it all back.

Portion sizes are the key to staying healthy and losing weight. Cathleen Hunt, Childhood Developmental Psychology Professor, encourages us to use children as an example of how much to eat. Continue reading →

Whether you want to call it fake or fraud, it’s never fun being mislead by a health food hoax. We know that promises of low calories, reduced fat and all natural ingredients can confuse even the savviest shopper. At Valley, we understand the importance of eating healthy, so we compiled a list of common healthy foods that aren’t:

Greek Yogurt

It seems that everyone is going Greek these days- when it comes to yogurt, that is. With phrases like “Only natural ingredients” and “Non-fat” scrawled across the top, it’s hard not to think of a Greek yogurt like Chobani as a guilt-free snack. Greek yogurt is often praised for having more protein than regular yogurt, but you have to stick to plain in order for it to be a healthy snack. Although fruit-flavored Chobani may taste delicious, it contains a lot of sugar and should be considered more of a dessert. Continue reading →

The warm spring days are becoming more frequent, and campus has gradually come back to life after a long winter. As summer approaches and your leisure time moves outdoors, your wardrobe is calling for a new spring look and so is your hair. It’s time to get it off your shoulders and put it up! For a relaxed springy look for your locks, why not try Valley’s loose ponytail?

Step 1: Prepare

For a ponytail that holds well, it’s best to have second or third day hair that has some texture. Begin by fixing your hair with the style you’d like to have. Curl it, straighten it or leave it relaxed. It’s up to you to! Continue reading →

To the shock and disappointment of Penn State seniors, graduation is right around the corner. Those people who are waiting until the last possible second to purchase their cap and gown to avoid the sad reality of leaving Happy Valley, are starting to sulk their way to the bookstore for one of their last student purchases. But as the anxiety of being in the real world sets in, one question still remains: how do I wear my hair with this awkward looking cap?

Ponytails should be out of the picture altogether. With the shape of the cap and how it sits on the head, ponytails just don’t do anyone justice. This may come without saying, but sock buns should also be tossed out the window for graduation day. Hats and top knots don’t mix. Continue reading →

With winter finally coming to an end, it’s time to do something about dry, brittle hair. To smoothen and soften dull strands, try an avocado hair mask that you can make yourself! Avocados are rich are in vitamin A and antioxidants, making them a great ingredient for hair products. This hair treatment will leave the driest hair looking healthy.

The Mask:

2 ripe avocados
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of honey
¼ cup of lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Mash avocados in a medium sized bowl.

2. Add honey, olive oil and lemon juice to the avocados.

3. Mix well. The mask should be smooth in consistency.

4. Apply generously to dry hair and wait 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Rinse well and shampoo and condition as usual.

Photo by Shidika Goode

You’ve probably already begun to brighten up your wardrobe for Spring. Now, do the same with your make-up palette! Here are a few of our favorite eye-shadow shades of the season:

Emerald

Go green this spring with Emerald eye shadow. When paired with a dark liquid eyeliner, this rich color creates the perfect smoky eye for a glamorous night out. Emerald, voted Pantone’s 2013 color of the year, will add a pop of color around the eye. Try using Elizabeth Arden’s color eye shadow in shimmering emerald to create this look.

Rose

Check out Sonia Kashuk’s Monochrome Eye Quad in Textured Rose (available at Target for $13.96). This unique quad offers a pretty rose color that comes in different textures — velvety matte, subtle shimmer, metallic sheen and a sparkle shade. The quad gives you the option to choose just how much sparkle and shine you want, making it easy to transition from a day to night look while maintaining a warm rosy glow. Continue reading →