How to Be a Perfect Girl Part 1

Part 1: Looking Perfect

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   Clean up. Practicing good hygiene gives you a clean canvas for looking pretty and appealing every day. Try putting these steps into your routine:
   

   • Shower at least once a day. You don't have to wash your hair once a day (more on that later), but you should clean your body that often. Already had your daily shower, but you got sweaty working out/walking home/going to your job? Shower again.
   • Wash your hair at least every other day. How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type. If it tends to be coarse and dry, you can probably get away with washing every other day (and it will actually look better than it would if you washed every day). If it's thin and silky, though, you might want to stick to washing every day.
   • Brush, floss and use mouthwash. Do all three twice a day, and you'll have a clean mouth.
   • Deodorize. Put a deodorant (or combination deodorant-antiperspirant) under your armpits as soon as you get up in the morning, and reapply as necessary.
   • Take care of your nails. Treat yourself to a mini mani-pedi at least once a week when you get out of the shower. Clean under all 20 fingernails and toenails, and trim them down. For extra fun, throw on a coat of nail polish.
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   Take care of your skin. If your skin is glowing and clear, you won't need much makeup to look stunning — which is handy on days when you're in a hurry.
   

   • Cleanse. Use a cleanser that's appropriate for your skin type twice a day.
   • Tone (optional). If you tend to have oily skin, you can use a toner to remove excess oil after washing. Start out only using it at night, and ramp up to twice a day if you need more help.
   • Moisturize. Apply lotion to your skin twice a day, before putting on makeup. If you tend to have oily skin, choose something light or gel-based; if you're dry, you'll need a heavier cream.
   • Stay clear of acne. You can use treatments containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to combat pimples on your own. If that's not working, consider seeing a dermatologist. What ever you do, do not try to pop zits! That can scar your face and lead to more zits! And when you do pop or poke them they get red! Makeup can work to cover them up in case of acne emergency.
   • Protect your skin from sun damage. If you're going to be outside for more than 15 minutes, put some sunscreen on any exposed skin. (You'll be thankful in 30 years, when your tanned friends have wrinkles but your skin is still supple and firm.)
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   Get rid of stray hairs. How you choose to manage body and facial hair is up to you, but most girls in Western culture remove any facial hair other than eyebrows. Consider these options for managing growth:
   

   • Plucking. This is the best and most common way to groom your eyebrows on your own. If you're not sure where to pluck, consider having your brows professionally shaped the first time. After that, you can do maintenance on your own by simply removing the small regrowth.
   • Shaving. Shaving is the cheapest and most common way of removing armpit and leg hair. Make sure your razor is sharp, and spread either shaving cream or hair conditioner over the area you're shaving — not only will it help you keep track of your progress, it helps you avoid cuts.
   • Waxing. Waxing yourself can lead to disaster, but visiting a professional can be an efficient way to manage hair growth if you have the money. Make sure the esthetician you choose follows strict health and safety standards.
4. 
   Style your hair. The hairstyle that looks best on you depends on a lot of factors — such as the shape of your face or the texture of your hair — but you can do some basic maintenance without going overboard.
   

   • Keep your hair brushed or combed, trim split ends every 6 to 8 weeks, and try not to go overboard on styling products such as gel and hairspray.
   • Check out How to Do Simple and Cute Hairstyles for some more specific ideas.
5. 
   Apply makeup . Not everyone chooses to wear makeup, but it can be used to enhance your natural beauty. Here are some basic guidelines:
   

   • Wear a foundation that's as light as possible. Foundation should cover imperfections without completely hiding your skin. Start with a sheer powder and, if that's not working, move up to a matte liquid.
   • Lighten under-eye circles. If you tend to get dark purple marks under your eyes (whether it's because of allergies or sleep deprivation), you can apply concealer to make the skin look lighter.
   • Apply eye makeup. You can go small and stick to some light eyeshadow, or go all-out with eyeshadow, liner and mascara.
   • Use blush to make your cheeks glow. Pick a shade that's close to what your cheeks look like when you blush naturally, and use a light hand — a little goes a long way here.
   • Wear lipstick or lip gloss. For everyday wear, choose a color that's only a shade or two darker than your natural lip. For special occasions, try something that's close to the color of the inside of your lips.
6. 
   Smell amazing. Being generally clean will already help you smell good, but you can take it a step further. Use scented soaps and moisturizers, and try a few spritzes of perfume in the morning.
   

   • Figure out what works on you. Something that smells great on your friend might not work on your skin — everyone's chemistry is slightly different.
   • Get samples. Some websites will sell small perfume samples at a discounted price, or you can go to a department store and spray samples on pieces of paper. Try a few to figure out what you like.
7. 
   Dress well. Dress yourself so that you look attractive and put-together without being immodest. Here are a few ideas to consider when you're building a wardrobe:
   

   • Buy a few classic pieces. Straight-leg jeans, white button-up shirts, a good sweater, and a nice pair of boots are all basic pieces that can go with a lot of different outfits.
   • Don't be a slave to trends. Fads come and go, so resist the urge to buy something outrageous just because it's "in" right now. Odds are, it'll be out before you get your money's worth from it.
   • Don't overdo the accessories. Follow the old adage: Remove one item before you leave the house.
   • Make sure you always have clean laundry. Your outfit might be full of great pieces, but it'll fall flat if your clothes are dirty. Set up a laundry schedule so that you're never scrambling for clean clothes in the morning.