Roxanna Coldiron

Angelina Jolie, Hollywood actress and social activist, recently underwent a double mastectomy to lessen her risk of getting breast cancer. In an op-ed to the New York Times, the actress shares the story of how her mother dealt with cancer and died from after a ten-year battle.

Angelina also discusses the gene BRCA1, which increases one's risk of getting cancer in reproductive organs, like the breasts or the ovaries. According to Angelina's op ed, doctors told her that she has nearly a 90 percent risk of getting breast cancer and a 50 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer.

Well, she wasn't going down without a fight, so Angelina has taken the proactive approach against breast cancer by removing her breasts. "Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize my risk as much as I could," she wrote in the op-ed piece. "I made a decision to have a preventative double mastectomy."

Beauty pageants have long been criticized for encouraging only one kind of beauty. In America, this beauty ideal tends to be tall, slim, blond and busty, much like the Barbie dolls we grew up playing with. According to Jezebel, strict ideas of beauty might not just be an American thing. Dodai Stewart recently reported on the 2013 Miss Korea Pageant and the possibility of a "cosmetic surgery template" when she saw the similarities between all of the contestants (originally pointed out by a Japanese blog and on Reddit). Stewart wrote: 

So you’ve started going out with this wonderful new guy. He’s handsome, he’s sweet, he’s totally Prince Charming (or as much of one as you can expect from a college guy). There’s just one teensy, weensy problem. His ex is all over campus and she’s made it clear that she wants him back. One of the first things you’re inclined to do is to size her up. You might start comparing yourself to her, but that’s the last thing you should do. He’s with you now, right? That means that things didn’t work out with her. If his ex is still hung up on him, she’s probably doing the same thing you are (“What does he see in her? What does she have that I don’t?”) So the first thing you should do is stop comparing yourself to her. 

If you find that you’re constantly running into one of his exes, keeping your cool when she’s obviously still into him can be a big challenge. Well, ladies, don’t worry; we’ve got the scoop on what to do in the most common situations.

She’s in one of your classes

Earth Day should be every day. Did you know that one of the major causes of premature aging  is related to your environment? Pollution harms your body and your skin. So if you want to have beautiful skin (and enjoy being outside), helping the environment is the absolute best way to do it! These skin care lines use natural ingredients and biodegradable packaging, so they're good for your skin and good for the environment:

L'Occitane en Provence

Known for their use of sustainable and organic ingredients, L'Occitane goes a step further by having reusable and refillable packaging. Many of their best products, from hair care to skin care, are available in Eco-Refills. Eco-Refills range in price from $22-$44 and can be purchased from a L'Occitane boutique or online at http://usa.loccitane.com.

Arbonne

This designer skin care and cosmetic company provides products that are vegan-certified and free of harsh, cancer-causing chemicals. If you're looking for organic and healthy beauty products, Arbonne delivers the goods and then some. Arbonne's Green Commitment states the company's promise to strive to always be environmentally friendly and to work toward a greener future. You can order from a representative or online at https://www.arbonne.com/. 

Korres

Headquartered in Greece, Korres uses all-natural ingredients and stays away from harsh chemicals. Production and packaging relies on 100 percent renewable energy with 99 percent of the packaging being recyclable. Korres even works to protect the biggest oak tree forest in Northwestern Greece! Shop online at http://www.korresusa.com/.