Lire & STYLE. Have a fitness tip or recipe to share? Contact the editor at lifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca Mid-semester mellow makeovers Five minutes to fabulous Sophie Isbister life & Style Heanckigls Githeotherpez. oes your face look hideous from staying up into the wee hours, bettering yourself intellectually? Do you look sallow and wrinkly from devoting all your free time to your studies? Do people flee from you in the halls, yelling, “Crone! Crone!”? If you answered yes to any of these scenarios, you could specifics here. Whatever you choose, I recommend going to the beauty counter for advice tailored to your skin. The ladies at the store are there for your use, so use them! The ultimate secret to a natural-looking foundation is mineral makeup. It’s a little bit pricier at the store (I gota starter kit of Pir Minerals from Shoppers for $39—1t included a bronzer, blush, foundation, and brush—but I liked the products so much that when I ran out of the tester sizes I upgraded to full sizes, which run about $25 per product), but it’s so worth it. Mineral makeup outperforms than just colour, which is why if you're pressed for time in the morning, you can forgo heavy eyes in favour of some face-magic in the form of well- applied blush and highlighter. Any blush will do when it comes to perking up your face, but highlighter is key. Sephora has a number of great luminizing products available which, when applied to your cheekbones, brow bones, and inner eye (near your tear duct), will make your beautiful features leap out at whomever crosses your path. I like Benefit’s Watt’s Up! ($36), which comes in stick form, or their High Beam IF youre pressed for time in the morning, you can forgo heavy eyes in favour of some face-magic in the torm of well-applied blush and highlighter. probably benefit from a five- minute minimal-makeup, face- freshening makeover! That's a lot of words to simply describe the quick application of a few strategic products that will take your look from blah to bangin’ in less time than it takes to blow-dry your hair. And let’s face it, almost anyone can spare five minutes in the name of beauty. Because having fresh and clear skin is the key to looking well-rested, the first thing you'll need for your five-minute look is a great skincare regimen. Everyone’s skin is different, so I’m not going to get into regular makeup. It looks natural while still providing ample coverage, especially when used with a primer (I splurged on Smashbox’s primer at around $50), but it’s fine without. It’s also free of pore-clogging and breakout-inducing ingredients like oils, waxes, and dyes—great for sensitive skin. After I wash my face, moisturize, and apply primer, I follow up with my mineral foundation. In total, this takes a minute. For eyes, I just do mascara; it’s a very easy and quick way to look polished while still natural. Adding shimmer and dimension to your face will take you further ($32), which is a liquid product. They will both give youa luscious, dewy appearance. I say this makeover takes five minutes because I am assuming you'll work at a glacial pace to begin with. However, while I may have started out spending five minutes on my slacker look, I now barely have time to listen to my power song in its entirety before my makeup is applied and I’m out the door to face another day. purminerals NOW! ST, ART 5: ee chen eT Photo courtesy of www-familylifeinlv.com Demystifying dating Why treating relationships like a Strategy might mean youre doing It wrong Sophie Isbister Life & Style Heanckigle ieheotherpeso he ball is in your court, and you're hoping you make the right move, or it will be game over. Humans like analogies. Especially, it seems, when it comes to dating: there’s your roster (the list of people you plan to call on for dates or booty), your plan of attack (the words you intend to say as soon as 10 you cross the bar to talk to that hottie), and of course, the bases you hope to eventually round with the sweetie of your choice (culminating in a home run‘). We reference popular sports terminology when it comes to dating in part because it impresses a cavalier and fun attitude towards relationships and the seeking of them— topics that many people find challenging or upsetting. After all, many people don’t like being single, and anything that can imbue the courtship process with a bit of joy and familiarity is probably a good thing. But treating dating like a game makes the process complex where it should be simple. Dating should be as easy as saying to a person, “Hey, I want to spend time with you.” Text a person when you want to. If you don’t want to go out witha person anymore, tell them. There is no game involved in dating; no hidden code. And if it feels like there is—if it’s not easy like Sunday morning—then maybe you're focusing your attention on the wrong person. I get it: clear communication is really hard, and almost nobody is able to do it perfectly all the time. It puts you in a vulnerable position to be completely honest about what it is you want and how you feel. Sometimes I would rather set myself on fire than communicate frankly about my feelings; after all, the inner workings of my brain and heart are about the only things that are mine and mine alone. Opening that vault up to someone else is a challenge. At first the bolts and hinges are rusty, but the only way to get the door open smoothly is to practice. You might, at first, feel like a total nerd by communicating plainly with potential mates. You may think you'll seem a bit too eager if you call your beau fewer than three days after your first date, and you might feel like you're over-sharing if you walk up to a person at a party and plainly ask if they’re interested in going out. But the right person will appreciate it. I get frustrated when I see examples of the dating game on popular TV shows. While I love shows like New Girl and How IT Met Your Mother, | think they do modern daters a disservice with any advice that centres on pretending to be something you're not, or hiding your true feelings when happiness could bea simple I-like-you-too away. The truth is that there is no game to dating; the game is an illusion. Dating is just two people having fun. It isn’t rigged in anyone's favour, and there’s no winning strategy other than saccharine-sweet simple platitudes such as “Be yourself.” Dating becomes cryptic and challenging when lies are told, truths are omitted, and desires are left unvoiced. Be real with each other, and, in the immortal words of the Backstreet Boys, “quit playing games with my heart.”