Friday, February 25, 2011

Eye-Shadow: Bases and Brushes



opened-eye_300Eye shadow application can be more fun to apply when you have the correct textures, colors and TOOLS to make it all come together! Think of your shadow as an accessory to do one of two things- either enhance or correct.
Marry your textures when applying…for example, use crème shadow on to top of a clean lid and powdered textures on top of a powdered lid. This way you’ll achieve better payoff when all is said and done!
product_21_laura_mercier_eye_basics_2When using a light, crème corrector- like Laura Mercier Eye Basics- use your fingers to blend on a clean lid.
When using a base shadow use a fuller, softer brush that blends the color all over.  Try Sephora’s Retractable All OverShadow Brush.  The soft hairs lay product evenly all over the eye prevent depositing too much of a light color in one spot and instead create a wash of light to open the eye.
Pro Tip: Press shadow on back of hand first- this will deposit residual product that would otherwise end up sprinkled on your cheek!

Beauty Tips For Glowing Skin


Don’t you just envy those women who’ve radiant complexions?Great skin that’s clear. Totally free of blemishes. Radiant skin that practically glows with well being.
The secret here, is well being.
A healthy diet plan and lifestyle is what you need to get your skin glowing from inside.

Tip #1 Drink Water
Your body is made up of 70% water. Your skin layer needs water to stay hydrated. Water is required to keep your skin soft and supple. Drink at least 10 glasses of water each day to moisturize your skin from within.
Tip #2 Eat Your Veggies.Beauty Tips For Glowing Skin
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. These are filled with vitamins, water, minerals and fiber. Fiber rich foods which are strongly colored are especiallywealthy in antioxidants. These antioxidants guard your skin from damageby the free radicals it encounters everyday. Free radicals are produced naturally during each cell’s living processes. You would also encounter freeradicals via the environment. Pollution and UV rays and cigarette smoke are just some of the other methods you are exposed to totally free radicals.
These free radicals are unstable molecules which steal electrons from other molecules, generating them unstable, setting up a chain reaction. Thesetotally free radicals even harm the cells DNA, which impacts the new cellsthat are produced to replace the old ones. Essentiallyfree radicals speed up the detioriation we usually associate with aging.
Antioxidants neutralize these free radicals, stopping their nonsense once and for all.
So eating much more fruits and veggies lead to a healthier physique and healthier skin, Beauty Tips For Glowing Skinnot just for the nutrients they include, but for the protective effect of the antioxidants too.
Tip #3 Get Enough Sleep Each Evening
Just how much sleep is sufficientTry to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleepeach night. You know the axiom: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man (orwoman) healthy, pleased and smart.
Notice how fresh your skin looks after you’ve had an excellent night’s sleep?
Conversely, notice how haggard you appear whenever you are sleep deprived?
Why is that so?
It is whenever you sleep that your body repairs itself. Whenever you sleep, your physique Beauty Tips For Glowing Skinproduces more new cells to replace the old ones twice as rapidly as when you are awake.
The mesh of collagen and elastin fibers 
form the skin’s underlying structure hold the skin up. When this mesh deteriorates, skin slackens and wrinkles form. Collagen and elastin are produced by the skin cells within the dermis. So insufficient sleep ages your skin within the long run.
Tip #4 Exercise
Notice that rosy glow you get after a run, or an excellent work out?
Blood and oxygen flow to your skin is increased whenever you exercise, nourishing your skin. Your skin is flushed whenever you physical exercise and also the rosy glow lingers after that.
For a double treat, take a brisk walk or run outdoors to get the benefit of fresh air as well.
When you physical exercise, you sweat. Toxins leave your body via sweat also so you get a great detox session.Beauty Tips For Glowing Skin
Exercise assists you relieve tensionStress wreaks havoc on the skin as it constricts blood flow to the skin and makes skin dull and lifeless. Prolonged stress releases cortisol which lowers your immunity, generating you more susceptible to irritants. Just the destressing impact of physical exercise alone is extremely advantageous to your skin’s health.
With physical exercise, you detox and destress your method to much better skin.
Tip #5 Exfoliate

Get rid of the dull, flaky skin cells by exfoliating your skin normal. Use a facial scrub as soon as a week for dry skin or normal skin, and twice a week for oily skin. By removing the dead skin cells, you reveal the younger cells beneath.

Tip #6 
Eliminate Makeup
By no means go to bed although you’re still wearing makeup. Eliminate every final trace Beauty Tips For Glowing Skinof makeup before you hit the sack.
Use a makeup remover, cleanse, tone and moisturize your skin no matterhow tired you are. Otherwise the makeup would clog your pores. You’d alsowish to eliminate makeup to ensure that your skin can breathe easily whileyou sleep.

Tip #7 Moisturize

Your skin needs to remain hydrated in order to stay soft and supple.

Let Your Skin Glow


The sun may be hiding behind the clouds more often here in the Pacific Northwest, but that is no excuse to lose the glow from your cheeks. The transition from fall to winter can wreak havoc on one's complexion with the blustery winds outdoors and cranked artificial heat indoors, but with a few tweaks in your beauty routine it's possible to avoid that dried out, flaky, dull winter skin.
The magic combination for great skin is cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing. I admit I have a horrible habit of not always washing my face before bed, but during the times that I consistently keep it up I notice an incredible difference in my complexion. I am a huge fan of Clean & Clear's Continuous Control Acne Cleanser. It's cheap and it gets the job done. I follow up with Proactiv Solution Repairing Lotion to prevent breakouts.
Twice a week or so, it's good to give your skin a good scrub down with an exfoliating regime. Sloughing off the dead skin cells will leave your skin feeling softer and looking healthier as well as prepping skin to better absorb moisturizer. I am a huge fan of the Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set. My skin went from dull to glowing in only 2 uses.
Once you've exfoliated, the best thing you can do in the winter is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. The products I have been happiest with include the Mary Kay TimeWise Day Solution Sunscreen, TimeWise Night Solution and Clinique's Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief andDramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. These products have helped my skin stay fresh all day even while hitting the slopes on my snowboard with the wind whipping at my face.
If you have some extra money burning a hole in your pocket, I recommend splurging on the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Set. It's a bit spendy but incredibly worth it. My skin never looked so dewey and healthy as when I was able to use this for a week. Another great alternative is just the Caudalie Beauty Elixer To Go. I always have this little guy in my purse and it's an instant refresher while out and about.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

All about Washing Hair Properly


You may or may not know this, but there is a 'right' way to wash your hair. If you have not been washing your hair properly, when you do, you should notice a big difference in the shine, bounce, health and cleanliness of your hair. How to wash your hair properly. Massaging/scrubbing too vigorously and not leaving shampoo on long enough, are the two main mistakes people usually make when washing their hair. The scalp and hair however, were not designed to withstand a consistent stream of hot air more than 40 degrees Celsius. We are talking of course of the humble yet violent blow dryer. When it is dry, apply protective products. These products will keep your hair from burning and drying out. There are also creams that you can apply on your hair so that the thermal device will not stay on your hair longer. Styling the iron on your hair should not be done by using the entire hair at once. But, first divide your hair into small sections and then start section by section.  When you feel like you are becoming one with your shower, believe me, you are not. It only takes five minutes to get the most out of your shower. Next, if you use a scruffy plastic washcloth to shower, you should probably stop.

Instead, use a washcloth that you can easily replace and clean. Finally, after your shower, you need to put baby lotion on your whole body. This increases the overall health of your body's skin and leaves you moist. With the help of a mirror, carefully comb the portion that you have just cut. Hold the hair between your middle and index finger by shaping it like a scissor. To easily achieve this you need to use the nozzle that comes with your hair dryer. The purpose of a nozzle is to concentrate the direction of the airflow while not disturbing the rest of the hair. A healthy hair diet includes fish, eggs, beans, yogurt, calves liver, brewers yeast, and wheat germ. Soy is another good source of protein for the hair. If you are in the habit of coloring your curls, make sure to keep your roots always the same color with the rest. Hair grows fast and the top of your head will soon look like belonging to another person unless you visit your hair salon regularly.

When washing your hair, make sure to use only enough shampoo for your hair. Washing your hair regularly is good but excessive shampooing is bad. Using more shampoo does not equate to cleaner hair. Make sure that you completely rinse, to get all the previous product out (ex: if you had gel or stylist wax in - some of that stuff can be really tough to get out). Application of shampoo: It's better to rub the shampoo on your palms and then apply it on your scalp. You should massage it with your fingertips without applying too much of pressure. Rinsing is a critical part of washing your hair. The best way to do it, according to the professional hairdressers, is to stand under running water. In circumstances such as these a properly maintained healthy diet and rest could help with your hair growth.


Sunday, February 20, 2011

How To Determine Skin Tone


Selecting right colors based on your skin tone can add a much needed zing to your overall appearance and personality. While right cosmetics and clothing bring about a sparkle to your overall being and complexion, a wrong color can leave you dull and ashen, completely washing out your complexion. Hence, it is extremely essential to determine the right skin tone and select your colors accordingly. The skin tones help us to find the right makeup and the most flattering clothes that can complement our color and enhance our overall appearance. Skin tones fall into three different categories - warm, cool and neutral. Read the lines following to find tips for determining your right skin tone. Tips For Determining Your Skin Tone Vein Test Move your wrist towards natural light and look at the veins at the inside of your wrist. If the veins are greenish in color, this indicates that you have yellow undertones and hence, you have a warm skin tone. In case your veins appear bluish, you have blue undertones and your skin tone is cool.
Beauty tips in urdu
Hair removal tips
Lips Care tips
Pony Tail Test Secure all your hair back into a ponytail or use a headband to keep all your hair away from your face. Wash your face thoroughly and place a white towel or cloth around your neck and shoulders. In case your face looks yellow next to the white towel, you have a warm skin tone, but if it reflects a blue color, you have a cool skin tone. Silver/ Gold TestPlace some gold and silver jewelry around your neck or wrist and see the effect it has on your skin. If you look better in silver jewelry, this clearly indicates that you have a cool skin tone. But if you carry off gold jewelry well, you have a warm skin tone. Eye & Hair Color Carefully observe the natural color of your eyes and hair. Usually people with cool skin tones have blue, green or grey eyes with blonde, brown or black hair. Also, cool skin tones have a pink or rosy undertone. People with brown, black or hazel eyes and black, brown blonde, red or strawberry blonde hair have a warm skin tone. Warm skin tones have a golden or apricot undertone. Other Tips
  • After conducting the above tests, if you are unable to determine your skin type, you fall into the category of neutral skin tone. People with neutral skin tones can wear any color, as the tone can lean towards either warm or cool. While such people look nice and comfortable in warm colors, cool colors make them strikingly fabulous. People with cool skin tones look best in jewel and true colors such as black, navy, red, shocking pink, rich raspberries, deep emerald green, royal blue, plums and pure black. They can also opt for icy tones for a lighter color. Colors to be avoided include beige, orange and gold.
  • In case your skin tone is warm, you will look best in earth tones that are crisp or muted. These colors include sage greens, gold, mochas, bronzes, yellow, brown, orange and cream. Try peach and apricot yellow for a softer look.


Saturday, February 12, 2011

Aloe Vera Oil


The use of Aloe Vera oil is not a recent trend, but it has been brought to extensive use since ages and this can be completely attributed to the manifold benefits it provides. There are near about 500 species of Aloe Vera, the botanical name of which is Aloe barbadensis. It belongs to the Liliaceae family and is known by different names such as Aloe vera, Barbados Aloe, Curacao Aloe etc. This herbal plant is often called the 'lily of the desert'. To know about the uses and benefits of Aloe Vera oil, read on…

The name Aloe has been derived from the Arabic word "alloeh" meaning bitter. It is due to the bitter liquid or juice that is found in the leaves. The origin of this plant can be traced back to the times of many ancient civilizations. Aloe Vera plant was originally grown in areas native to South and East Africa, however, in the present era, it is cultivated in almost all the tropical and subtropical regions, including Caribbean and the Latin America.

In 1500 B.C. the Egyptians used Aloe Vera plant for treating several diseases such as infections, burns and so on. Cleopatra made an extensive use of Aloe Vera gel to make her skin soft and glowing. Aloe has been widely used by the ancient Arabs, Greeks, and Spaniards at the time of their hunting expedition, as it helps to reduce the perspiration of the body and also serves as a great body scent. Infact, Spanish missionaries used to always take Aloe along to help the sick people.

The American herbalists realized the immense value of Aloe Vera for medicinal uses during the 18th and 19th centuries. According to some old legends, people were of the belief that Aloe Vera helps to protect the house from the evil eye. It was kept inside the kitchen with the thinking that it would help prevent any kind of mishap during cooking. The parts of the plant that have been finding their way in the making of medicines include leaves, fresh leaf gel and latex.

The oil extracted from Aloe Vera plant is believed to be a great skin rejuvenator. It ensures speedy recovery of wounds and is also quite effective in treating sunburns. In addition, it is very beneficial in curing Arthritis. Aloe Vera is known to possess anti inflammatory properties. It also serves as a wonderful moisturizer. It is able to penetrate quickly and deeply into the skin and therefore is a popular choice amongst the base oils for use in Aromatherapy. For body scars and stretch marks, Aloe Vera oil truly works wonders. Aloe Vera oil provides innumerable health benefits for which it is preferred the most.


Almond Oil

Sweet Almond oil is one of the most popular vegetable oils, which is also used in the form of carrier oil or base oil in Aromatherapy. Texture wise, the oil extracted from the seeds of Almond, is a bit oily. The botanical name of Almond is Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus. Sweet Almond has a very light, sweet and nutty aroma. It is absolutely clear in color with a tinge of yellow. Almond oil is an all purpose base oil, which is easily accessible from any retail store specialized in cosmetics. Read further to know about the uses and health benefits of odorless sweet Almond oil…

Almond oil is widely used in Aromatherapy for giving body massage. The oil is easily absorbable and serves as a great emollient, by lending a soft glowing beautiful touch to the skin. It balances the moisture in the body. In case of loss of moisture, it helps to restore it. It makes a great lubricant, thus aids in combating itching and inflammation. It is an excellent natural moisturizer that is suitable for all skin types. Owing to the multitude of benefits that Almond oil offers, it is increasingly finding its way in the making of soaps, creams and moisturizers.

Almond oil application is the best therapy for conditioning the skin and reviving its natural glow. It is also known to improve the complexion and give a younger look to the person to whom this oil is applied. It helps a great deal in nourishing the skin. Sweet Almond oil application provides an instant relief, in case of muscle pain. It has a high concentration of oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids. Though, it is mostly used for giving a body massage, but, at times, it is used as base oil and mixed with Wheatgerm oil to give it a longer shelf life.