INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you want to be tough, you first have to start accepting yourself for who you are. If you prefer staying up late to read science-fiction, as opposed to keeping up with the hottest television show, so be it. If a group of people think something’s funny, but you don’t, so what? Pretending to be someone you’re not is an obvious sign of insecurity or weakness. People can easily pick up on it, and you surely won’t look so tough if someone calls you out on it. This goes hand-in-hand with step 1. If you’ve accepted who you are, then you have the groundwork you need to become self-confident. What does this have to do with being a tough girl? Easy. If you’re confident and comfortable in who you are, then you can confidently handle any situation that comes your way. You’ll be confident in your beliefs and the decisions you make. And you won’t be afraid to let others know it. Here are some ways you can improve your self-confidence.  Make a list of things you admire about yourself, your strengths, and achievements on a sheet of paper. Turn a blank sheet of paper horizontally and either fold into thirds or simply draw two vertical lines to create three columns. In each column, write at least five things you like about yourself, at least five things you feel you’re great at, and at least five things you’re proud to have achieved. Do you think you have a great smile? Do you have a knack for making people laugh when they’re feeling down? Are you proud of the evening you spent feeding the homeless? Write down whatever comes to mind. Read over your list often as a reminder of how great you are. Think positively about yourself. Pinpoint a couple qualities about yourself (maybe some that you wrote down in your list) and think about them often. Another tip: take those negative thoughts and reverse them. If you’re thinking, “I hate the way I look,” you could say: “My eyes are really pretty.”  Dress to feel better about yourself. If you feel your wardrobe doesn’t reflect the real you or make you happy, find clothes that do. If you have a favorite top, find more tops with similar qualities. Choose clothing that enhances the physical features you admire. If you have a great pair of legs, put on a pair of shorts or find a dress that lets you show them off. Part Two on how to look like a tough girl will show you how to update your wardrobe to reflect your new tough girl persona. Exercise regularly. Go walking or jogging daily. Take up a sport or participate in a group exercise you might enjoy. While this will help you feel better about yourself, it will also help you feel tougher as your muscles grow. Tough girls could care less what others think of them because they realize one very important thing: what another person thinks has nothing to do with them. Tough girls don’t measure their self-worth by other people’s opinions. Once you let go of the importance of what people think, you gain power in difficult situations, and you become tougher. When you learn not to take things personally, you become better able to deal with rejection and criticism. Most people who don’t feel tough, feel they can’t handle challenging situations. Being tough means you push through those difficult moments. So when faced with a situation where someone confronts you, be cool and calm. Don't let it faze you. Act as if that person is wasting your time. Being tough isn't about looking mean and having bulging biceps, it's about being able to take whatever comes. Cultivate an inner calm that can't be unsettled by other people. You can walk around acting tough all day long, but if you are easily upset, your toughness will be perceived as a façade. If you want to be tough, then you need to surround yourself with tough people who can give you advice and backup if needed. You can learn from these friends by listening to and watching how they hold their ground in tough situations. Intimate relationships are a good place to gauge how tough you are. There’s usually one person in the relationship who takes on the more dominant role. It’s a good idea to make sure the dynamic of your relationship is a healthy one.  Take notice of how you act around your significant other. Do you find yourself mostly doing activities, watching certain movies, or eating meals that appeal only to your sweetheart? If so, you need to toughen up and take a more assertive role as a partner. To be tougher in your relationship, start by speaking up about what you like. If you’d prefer to a nice hearty burger instead of sushi, let your significant other know. If you want to watch a romantic comedy instead of a thriller, suggest watching your preferred movie one night and your significant other’s the next. Healthy relationships have balance. Allow equal time for your significant other and you to explore both of your interests together. If you have a disagreement, don’t think you need to scream and shout just to stand up for what you believe. Let your significant know that you acknowledge his or her feelings or point of view, and then be honest and open about your feelings and needs. State your opinion directly, without being apologetic.

SUMMARY: Be your true self. Improve your self-confidence. Quit worrying about what others think. Don’t take things personally. Learn to control your emotions. Surround yourself with a great group of tough friends. Maintain a healthy relationship with your significant other.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Hormones, particularly testosterone, play a role in the body's oil production and when too much is produced it clogs skin pores and increases the chance of an acne break-out. Consult your family doctor or dermatologist to determine the best treatment for your skin.  Women who go on birth control pills often solve their acne problems.  Though unproven, there is a theory that milk, which contains components related to testosterone, can lead to acne. A good way to keep excess oil from clogging your pores is to wash it away. Washing also gets rid of dirt and bacteria, which can contribute to acne too. Wash twice daily, as well as after excessive sweating (such as if you've been working out). However, don't overdo it, because too much washing will trigger an over-production of oil to combat dry skin. Always use a moisturizer after cleaning and exfoliating your skin. Creams and lotions containing benzoyl peroxide kill bacteria that cause acne. It may be very tempting to pick or squeeze your pimples in efforts to get rid of them quicker, but you're likely to make your face more inflamed, plus you risk permanently scarring your skin or causing infection. Let you dermatologist or experienced esthetician deal with your pimples, as they are the experts. If you have chronic and stubborn acne, your dermatologist may offer you a prescription antibiotic lotion such as clindamycin or erythromycin (or maybe oral antibiotics). Tretinoin (Retin-D) is a medication that helps prevent skin pores from getting clogged, whereas isotretinoin reduces the amount of oil produced.  The best medical treatment for acne is often a combination of topical and oral medicines. Always follow your doctor's directions when taking prescribed medications. Numerous natural herbal remedies exist that may help to combat severe acne such as green tea (anti-inflammatory and astringent), lavender oil, chamomile, tea tree oil (antiseptic), or apple cider vinegar.  Make a honey and oat face mask. Honey is a good antiseptic, whereas oatmeal cleanses, moisturizes, soothes irritation and relieves itchiness. Make a bentonite clay mask, which unclogs pores and relieves itchiness.

SUMMARY:
Keep tabs on your hormones. Keep your skin clean. Try not to pick at your pimples. Consider a prescription medication. Use a natural remedy on your acne.