Common Hair and Skin Mistakes
Many of us are not properly caring for our hair and skin simply due to lack of knowledge, which is not your fault. On the other hand, many of us do adverse things to our hair and skin that we are aware of which are simply bad habits! Regardless ladies, if you are guilty of nay these sins, re-adjust your routine and get ready for your best hair and skin yet!
Popping Pimples!
The most popular No-No! It is natural to want acne pimples to go away fast. However, being hasty is counter-productive. Trauma and infection can result form the use of non-sterile tools (i.e. fingernails, safety pins) which slows healing. You can develop scabs, dark marks due to a lot of melanin pigment in your skin and makeup. First and foremost, do not pick or pop! Schedule to see a dermatologist to evaluate your skin. In the meantime, wash your face everyday with an over the counter salicylic acid cleanser followed by a dab of benzoyl peroxide cream to specific pimples which will quickly dry them. To deeply clean pores, use a facial exfoliating scrub every 2-3 days which help to reduce pimples and improve skin surface. For any dark areas that result form the picking, use a Q-tip to directly apply an OTC skin whitener which contains Hydroquinone 1-2%.
Not feeding your hair and skin!
Like plants, hair and skin need to be nourished from within at their root on daily basis but we have not been used to doing this. Traditionally, we have been using the topical approach which can not work within. The phrase, “You are what you eat” is very true.
However, the basic diet alone is simply not what is truly needed to support your hair roots and skin which is why you need to supplement your diet.
Not washing your hair enough!
We many all be guilty of washing our hair every 2 weeks but this is a no-no! Contrary to those believing that when your hair itches, it is growing. This is a myth and actually means that your hair root needs a wash.
Makeup Tips For Asian Women
Finding the right makeup for Asian women begins with choosing the proper foundation. Asian women need foundation with yellow undertones, which can be difficult to find when so many mainstream foundations feature pink undertones. The best bet is to go with a mainstream line like MAC or L’Oreal, which separate their foundations into warm (yellow) or cool (pink) undertones, or try one of the new makeup lines created especially for Asian women, such as Zhen, Thi or EX1.
Makeup Trends For Asian Women
Once you have found the proper foundation, the next trick is enlarging your eyes. First apply a neutral color from the lash line to the brow to even out any discoloration. Then add a second color which matches the first but is slightly darker or deeper, just on the lid. Blend the border area of the two colors and you’ll have a natural but enhanced look. Finish by lightly lining the upper lid on the lash line with a liquid liner or push brush dipped in cream eyeliner or dark eye shadow (if you are using the shadow, wet the brush first). Don’t worry about whether you have a crease or not, as a crease defined with eye shadow is passé these days.
Asian women tend to have sparse eyelashes, so if this is a problem for you, finding a great mascara will be a big help. Mascaras with lengthening fibers in them such as Fiber Xtension by Shu Uemura, Lorac Lotsa Lash or Jane Hi Fiber are among the best kinds of makeup for Asian women.
Valentines Day Makeup Tips
Makeup plays a very important role in how we look. The amount of makeup that you apply and how you apply it can really have a huge effect on your appearance. Like most women, Valentine’s Day is a day that you will want to look your best. Learn here all the Valentine’s Day makeup tips that you should know about.
Make-up Ideas for Valentine’s Day
1. Don’t go too heavy on the eye makeup during the day. At night, going a bit heavier may be okay. However, it is a good idea for you to wear natural shades that complement your eye color. Consider shades of beige, brown, gray and purple. For eyeliner, be sure to consider shades of brown or gray, rather than black for the most natural appearance.
2. Be sure to opt for natural shades of lipstick or Lip-gloss. Although red can be very impressive, it is often a little bit too bold. Besides, you probably won’t want to leave red lipstick marks on your Valentine. It is best to opt for lighter shades of pink, peach and brown of lipstick. Consider a clear or light shade of lip gloss.
3. Add a little bit of mascara or curl your eyelashes, especially if this is not something that you normally do. Drawing more attention to your eyelashes can really help your eyes stand out altogether.
These are just some of the many Valentine’s Day makeup tips that you may want to take into consideration. Although many think that they need to overdo their makeup by applying a whole lot, it is really best to go natural. If you have a valentine, it is likely that he or she would rather see your natural self than your natural self hidden behind tons of makeup.
Makeup Trends for 2008
Makeup trends can be determined, at any given time, by what the celebrities are wearing. If you want to know what the hot makeup trends for 2008 are, then you have come to the right place. We have listed some of the main makeup trends that are going to be seen throughout most of 2008.
Makeup Trends for 2008
Natural Eye Shadow Colors
Natural eye shadow colors will be seen during 2008. This includes beiges, browns, whites and grays. Light shades of plumb purple will also be seen quite a lot. In 2008, you will also notice that the amount of eye shadow that women apply to their eyelids will be reduced, in comparison to recent years. Overall, it’s best to not go heavy on brightly colored eye shadows.
Lighter Shades of Eyeliner
Along with natural eye shadow colors, you will also notice lighter shades of eyeliner. Rather than dark black eyeliner, most women will be wearing lighter shades of gray and brown. You will also find that eyeliner will not be worn heavy this year. Instead, it’s likely that you will only see a very thin line of eyeliner worn on most women throughout the year of 2008.
Natural Shades of Lipstick and Gloss
2008 is going to be a very natural year in terms of makeup. Not only will your eyes look natural, but you will also probably want to stick with natural shades of lipstick and gloss. During 2006 and 2007, red was a very hot color of lipstick. In 2008, we will find that red lipstick will be replaced by shades of pink and peach. Light shades or clear lip gloss will also be very popular during 2008.
Skin Whitening Secrets
Skin whitening is a prime objective of skincare for many women, with hyper pigmentation due to sun damage or hormones now considered as much of an aging factor as wrinkling. Many cosmetics companies claim that their products provide skin whitening or brightening, but there are only a few active ingredients that really are able to fade skin discolorations. The most effective ingredients for skin whitening are hydroquinone, kojic acid, arbutin, and vitamin C. Avoid treatments that contain mercury, because though it’s effective, it’s highly toxic.
Skin Whitening Products
Hydroquinone is the most common skin whitening ingredient used in the U.S. It is available in concentrations of up to 2% in over-the-counter products, and stronger solutions (up to 4%) can be prescribed by a dermatologist. However, hydroquinone is banned in Europe and parts of Asia and Africa due to fear of a cancer risk. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting melanin production and is very effective after 4 weeks of continuous treatment; using hydroquinone products for longer than 3 months is not recommended, however, because overuse can actually cause darkening of the skin.
Kojic acid also inhibits melanin production. Derived from a fungus, it is a more natural skin whitening alternative to hydroquinone. Kojic acid is more effective when combined with glycolic acid, and can be extremely irritating to sensitive skin, so try a small test patch first. People using kojic acid products will usually see results within 8 weeks. Many Japanese skin whitening products use kojic acid as the active ingredient. Recent studies have also called kojic acid’s safety into question, however.
Arbutin is a relatively new skin whitening ingredient that is made from bearberry extract. Since it also has soothing properties, it’s an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin. However, it hasn’t been tested as extensively as the other skin whitening treatments, so its efficacy is as yet unproven.
Vitamin C can also be effective at inhibiting melanin production. However, the tests that show it to be effective have used a concentration of over 5%, which is much more than what is usually used in cosmetic products. Vitamin C is also notoriously unstable, which means that by the time a cosmetic product containing it gets home to you it may have broken down and become useless. For this reason, Vitamin C is a last resort skin whitening treatment for those who can’t use the other topical treatments for one reason or another.
For those for whom topical skin whitening treatments don’t work, laser resurfacing or visible pulsed light treatments, available from a dermatologist’s office, may do the trick. These treatments, which need to be repeated periodically to be effective, cost from $3,000-$5,000 for a set of four treatments. Laser resurfacing and visible pulsed light are not recommended for people with dark skin, as they can leave disfiguring scars.
Whichever active skin whitening treatment you choose, make sure to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 daily. Using skin whitening treatments without sunscreen actually accelerates sun damage and makes it worse.
Waterproof Mascara
Mascara along with lipstick is perhaps among the most loved cosmetics as far as women are concerned. Mascara can make eyelashes look longer and thicker while at the same time making your eyes look fuller and attractive in next to no time. Till the arrival of waterproof mascaras there was the problem of mascara coming off whenever it made contact with water. With waterproof mascara all these problems are a thing of the past. Women can wear waterproof mascara to the beach and pool with the confidence that they will not flake or smudge easily. Waterproof mascaras are also great for the summer and rainy seasons.
How to Apply Waterproof Mascara
Whenever you apply waterproof mascara make sure that the mascara covers your eye lashes from the root to the tip. If you want to apply any other eye-make up you should ensure that you curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before you do so. Shorter mascara brushes are always preferable since they would give you more control which is essential, especially when you are applying mascara at the corner of your eyes.
Choosing Mascara Colors
There is wide variety of colors that you choose from when it comes to waterproof mascaras. A good choice would be the latest colored high impact mascaras which make a bold fashion statement. For a much more natural look you should always match the color of your mascara with that of your hair. For example, blondes would always look good in a browner shade while black would perfectly suit brunettes. The right colored mascara, if applied properly, can make you the cynosure of all eyes, whatever the occasion.
How to Create Smoky Cat Eyes
Smoky cat eyes are the in thing in eye make up. Smoking out your eyes would draw attention to your eyes and make you stand apart in a crowd. Creating smoky cat eyes is also not that difficult a process though it requires some amount of practice and patience. Smokey eye makeup is essentially an eye specific makeup application that highlights the brow bone while darkening the eye lids.
Most of the times creating smoky cat eyes, is all about applying your eyeliner properly. As mentioned earlier it does take some time and practice to get a well-balanced hand for proper application of an eyeliner. If you are beginner then it is always recommended that you start out with an eyeliner pencil and then gradually move on to other eyeliners.
In order to create smoky cat eyes you will need a black eyeliner pencil, dark eye shadow, a black eyeliner brush, an eyebrow pencil and black mascara. Begin with drawling a soft line from the corner of the eyelid towards the end of your eyelash line. After this you will need to use the eye shadow brush in order to apply the dark eye shadow over the smudged eyeliner line that you have already drawn. You can then draw a thick line on your top lid with the help of the brush eyeliner. The line should be preferably thicker at the outer corner of the eye. Using your eyebrow pencil you should now try and make your eyebrow curve more pronounced. You can then apply thin coats of mascara while allowing for the coat to dry in between the applications.
By following these steps you can create that perfect smoky cat eyes look.
Simple Eye Makeup Tricks
Although fashion changes rapidly, some shading tips and tricks can be used to enhance the eyes. For eyes that are close set such as lighter-coloured eye-shadow can be used on the inner portion of the lid towards the nose and darker eye shadow on the outer edge of the lid. Reverse technique should be used to apply eyeshadow for widely space eyes.
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| make your eyes stand out! |
After eyeshadow, the next trick of eye makeup lies in applying eyeliner. Eye liner must be used with care if it is to have the desire result. Use of pencil is easier as compared to liquid eyeliner. Liquid eye liner can look harsh if it does not blend properly. Natural looking colors like brown, grey or charcoal are most appropriate for creating smoky eyes. Evening eye-makeup is heavier than that is worn during the day. You can add gold or silver colors for intensity and drama.
Every pair of feminine eyes in the world looks better with a coat of mascara. Mascara instantly ‘opens’ the eyes and adds to feminine allure. Mascara has the power to make lashes look thicker and also add to their length. Apply mascara in several thin coats, separating the lashes as you go along and avoiding unsightly clumps. First coat the top of the upper lashes using neat strokes and then their underside.
Removing makeup is even more important than applying make-up. Never allow yourself to go to sleep without removing the makeup. The eyes and surrounding area are extremely sensitive and any single neglect will show up immediately. Carefully remove all makeup thoroughly with eye makeup remover or pure oil (coconut or almond oil is good).
Foot Pampering Treat
Setting aside time for a regular treatment will help you to care for your feet and keep them healthy all year round. A pamper session once a month will greatly improve their appearance, softens the skin and help boot the circulation. You can also do it to pep up your feet at the start of the summer or before going on holiday.
Foot Pampering Routine
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| Foot Pampering for tired feet |
For this routine you will need a foot scrub, foaming bath gel, a large foot bowl, 1 large and 2 small soft towels, a pumice stone and pedicure tools.
Step 1. Half fill a large bowl with warm water. Place the bowl on a large towel on the floor. Add a little foaming gel and perhaps a couple drops of essential oils. Swish the water around with your hand to create plenty of bubbles and to get release the aroma of essential oil. Now put both feet into the water, then sit back and relax as you soak them for 5 minutes. After that remove your feet from the water bowl and rub on the floor towel to remove excess water.
Step 2. Put a small towel on the right knee and rest the left foot on top. Massage the foot scrub all over the sole, paying extra attention to any rough skin and rub into cuticles. Place your foot in a plastic bag and secure.
Step 3: Repeat the above 2 steps on the right foot. Wait for 10 minutes and them remove the bag from the feet. Dip both feet into the water. This will have cooled down, so it will stimulate the circulation.
Step 4: Remove your feet from the bowl. Place your left foot on the right knee. Take the pumice stone and rub over the sole. Use firm pressure on the heal and ball, and light pressure on the arch. Now rub the pumice stone all over the top of the foot using light pressure. This helps to improve the skin texture and bring nutrient-rich blood to the surface which will help improve the appearance. Repeat on the right foot.
Step 5: Trim the nails straight across and then smooth the edges with an emery board. Use a cotton bud to apply cuticle remover, wait for a few minutes and hen gently push the cuticle back with hoof stick. Soak the feet again and carefully clean under the nail. Now dry the feet and apply base coat, polish and top coat.
Holiday Skin Care Protection
There is no other thing that lifts your sprits like spending time in the sunshine and studies shows that a certain amount of exposure to the sun is actually good for our skin. It is important to take special precautions for our skin against the sun tanning dangers. The best skin secret is to provide your skin the protection it needs, while gradually developing a light attractive color.
The Right Skin Product
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| Protect your skin from sun |
There are huge range of top brands sun creams, lotions and blocks are available. It is important to use the right one for your skin because excessive tanning ages your skin and laos increased the chances of skin cancer. Remember to safely follow our 2-step skin care plan:
Step 1. Know your SPF’s
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The higher the number of of the SPF, the more protection the product will give you from the burning sun rays. For example, an SPF 2 will let you stay out in the sun for twice as long as you usually could before burning, whereas an SPF 8 will let you stay out eight times as long.
Step 2. Go by Skin Type
In order to choose an SPF for your skin, you will need to know how vulnerable your skin is to the sun’s UVB rays. Always ensure when traveling that your skin is well protected.
Safe Tan Plan for Holidays
Apply suntan lotion every time before you go into the sun and before you dress to make sure that you don’t miss any areas.
If possible, try to stay out of the sun between 12 noon and 3 p.m. This time sun is at its hottest. Move into the shade or cover up.
If you are playing a lot of sport or swimming, then select a sunscreen with special sports formula or waterproof formulations.
For lips protection from suntan, use a good lip-screen.
If you have sensitive skin type, always choose hypoallergenic products.