To keep your eyes sparkling, here are some simple home recipes described below:

Bring back that sparkle with Apple juice
Apple juice, which is smooth, silky and rich in pectin, can be used to wipe sore eyes. This leaves them sparkling and bright. Always extract juice from freshly cooked apples.

Cucumber and Mint leaves help lighten dark circles
Grate half a cucumber, strain it and keep in the refrigerator to cool. Mix an equal quantity of rose water to it. Take a piece of cotton wool dipped in this lotion and place it on your eyes; this helps lighten the darkened area around your eyes. The juice from the freshly crushed mint leaves also help eradicate dark shadows beneath the eyes.

Say bye bye to wrinkles with almond, apricot and coconut oils
These are good for lubricating the delicate skin around the eyes. Frequent, gentle massages will help arrest and disperse the lines under your eyes. Do not rub sore or tired eyes for not only might you damage them but this will unnecessarily loosen the soft skin around the eyes.

Eye make-up remover
Mix one tablespoon of castor oil with two tablespoon of almond oil to make an excellent eye make-up remover . A drop of perfectly fresh castor oil smeared along the lids will also help reduce swelling, irritation and puffiness of the eyes.

Ease sore puffy eyelids with Potatoes
Grated raw potato can be used to reduce under-eye puffiness. Either strain the juice from a grated potato and apply or lay the grated vegetable on the eye between layers of muslin.

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Many people who wear contact lenses tend to have some difficulty in using eye make-up. Often eyes become sensitive and great care must be taken not to let any foreign bodies from entering your eyes.

Hypoallergenic Products

It’s a good idea to cut down the risk of sensitivity by selecting eye make-up that is hypoallergenic.

Hand creams and Lotions

Don’t use hand creams or lotions before handling contacts. They can leave a film on your lenses.  

Foundation
Choose water-based, hypoallergenic liquid foundations. Cream makeup may leave a film on your lenses.

Soft vs. Hard
If you wear soft lenses put them on before you apply your eye make-up. If your wear hard lenses, insert them after you have finished your make-up.

Eye Shadow
Its best to stick to using cream, pressed powder or automatic eye shadow for shading but if you prefer to use loose powder, mix it with water before brushing onto lids.

Keep Away! 
Keep false eyelash cement, nail polish, nail polish remover, perfume and cologne away from the lenses. They can damage the plastic.

Avoid
Fibreless mascara and the softest pencils are a must, and anyone wearing contact lenses should avoid penciling on the insides of the lids. Avoid lash-extending mascara, which has fibers that can irritate the eyes. Waterproof mascara, which cannot be easily removed with water may stain soft contact lenses.

Hair drying and Hairspray
Blink your eyes frequently while under a hairdryer or blower to keep your eyes from getting too dry. Use hairspray before putting on your contacts. If you use hairspray while you are wearing your contacts, close your eyes while spraying and for a few seconds afterwards.

Removing makeup
Take care while removing makeup to, tissues or dampened cotton wool are essentials for this in order to avoid stray fibers getting in the eye. Remove lenses before removing makeup.

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Do not neglect the shape of your eyebrows. They can tell a great deal about your character and be highly expressive of your moods. The frame of your eyes should be attractively shaped. Eyebrows should be plucked gently from underneath to form a clearly defined arch.

Step by Step guide to Plucking Eyebrow

Natural daylight is best, so sit near a window and use a hand-held magnifying mirror.

Clean the area thoroughly, removing any traces of any cosmetic product with a toner or rosewater, so that the surface isn’t greasy.

Draw in the brow’s natural line with a brow pencil, to act as a guide and prevent over-plucking.

Gently pull the skin of the outer edge of your eyebrows up and out, so that you can see the brow bone and use it as a guide. Brows should extend a bit beyond each corner of your eyes, so don’t pluck too much from either end and don’t pluck more than one hair at a time, or you’ll end up with bald patches.

Pluck stray hairs first, using a sharp tweezer with fine points.

Always tweeze from underneath the brow, never the top, following the natural shape and plucking the hair out in the direction it grows.

Make sure the arch is highest at the center of your eye. Start at the middle of the brows and work towards your ear, then work form the middle towards your nose.

Swipe tweezed brows with a cotton bud dipped in pure tea oil – nature’s perfect antiseptic

Be warned – continual plucking will eventually make the hair grow more and more slowly, until they stop growing altogether. Avoid over zealous plucking, because you’re bound to want to change the shape of your brows at some stage in the future and you may not be able to grow them back.

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Whatever your skin type or age, the vital skin care routine for every face is the same; cleansing, toning, nourishing and moisturizing. These are vital in keeping your skin clean, healthy and in the best condition!

Beast Facial Skin Care Routine

Skin Cleansing

A facial skin  that is not cleaned thoroughly or regularly can never be a healthy skin. When you clean your face, you clean pores in the skin from excess oil, dust and waste matter. For this reason, the importance of a thorough cleaning cannot be over-emphasized.

Skin Toning

A skin-toner or skin freshener, as it is sometimes called, stimulates the blood circulation in the skin, giving life and color. It also contracts the pores in the facial skin, keeping it taut, and helps firm the skin tissues.

Skin Nourishing

Nourishment given to the skin helps it to maintain and restore its natural oils. It also helps to rejuvenate the skin, keeping it smooth and firm. For this reason, it is important to use a nourishing lotion or cream. A vitamin skin cream helps to give skin vitality and strengthen facial muscles.

Skin Moisturizing

Keeping skin smooth and supple means keeping it moist. Skin is moisturized by sealing in water. Moisturizing is vital for the skin. Nothing else you do will count for much if you omit this. A moisturizer does not really penetrate the skin. It acts as a clinging film, preventing moisture from seeping out from inside and, anything else from seeping in from the outside. This is why moisturizing the best time to use a moisturizing lotion or cream is right after a bath or shower when your face skin has taken in water.

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As a general rule, we should never, ever let our skin get too dry. When we get flaky, patchy skin it can lead to dark spots that take forever to go away So ladies, keep your facial skin hydrated and happy using the best moisturizer. Of course, if your cleanser leaves your skin feeling moist and supple, or if you have very oily skin, you can pretty much call it a day after you cleanse. If not, listen up!

First Things First

The skin on your face is delicate – it is not like the skin on your body. So, the way you apply body lotion does not fly when we are talking about moisturizer. I would not go so far as to call it an art, but there is a certain level of technique involved.

1 . Apply moisturizer when your face is still damp from cleansing. This will prevent the water from evaporating.

2. Dab it on with the pads of your fingers.

3. Gently massage in the moisturizer with upward strokes . Do not rub, tug, or pull!

Find the Right Moisturizer for your skin type

Moisturizer for Oily Skin

Unless you are using acne medication that leaves you flaky, you probably do not need moisturizer. In the acne-meds case, use a gel or serum formula only on the dry areas. Or, use a moisturizer containing salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide, all over.

Moisturizer for Dry Skin

If your skin is dry or flaky, go for a rich cream based formula – avoid gels, lotions, serums. Look for ultra-hydrating ingredients like shea or coca butter, avocado oil and lanolin. Keep in mind that even dry skin can break out, so if you are acne-prone, try an oil-free moisturizer.

Moisturizer for Combination Skin

To avoid aggravating both your dry and oily areas, stick to a light skin-balancing lotion or hydrating toner.

Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

Stick to light, oil and fragrance free formulas contaning skin-soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile or vitamin E to calm down an irritated or reactionary complexion.

Moisturizer for Hyper pigmented Skin

Yes, even women of color need SPF. First of all, we do get cancer – not as often as fair-skinned women, but it happens. On an aesthetic level, sun overexposure can give you dark spots, freckles and patches. Prevent this by always wearing an SPF-infused moisturizer. To treat existing spots at bedtime apply a fade cream containing hydroquinone, retinol or glycolic acid over the dark area. If the marks do not fade with over-the counter treatments, consult a dermatologist.

Moisturizer for Normal Skin

Try a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Think of it as the skin-care equivalent of Ashanti: light, complicated, pretty.

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The sooner you figure out which facial cleanser is best for your skin, the faster you will have the soft, supple, young-looking skin you want. With the never-ending assortment of cleansers on the market, choosing the best one is akin to speed-dating. But at least if you go home with the wrong cleanser, you can throw it away! I hope this cleansing guide makes things easier.

Find the Best Facial Cleanser for Skin Type

Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin

How can I make you understand that oily skin is not dirty skin? The two are as mutually exclusive as a trendy restaurant and good service! Women with oily or acne-prone skin are apt to scrub a little too enthusiastically, using harsh soaps. In doing that, they strip the skin of its natural oils, causing the oil glands to panic and overproduce sebum – ultimately leading to  breakouts. Skip the scrubbing and the soap, please! Instead use an oil-free gel or foaming cleanser – either will remove excess oil and dirt without dehydrating your skin.

Still feel oily after cleansing? Clear out your pores further by steaming your face. Follow this simple recipe:

• Bring three cups of water to a boil. Pour into a bowl.
• Add about five drops of your favorite essential oil. For those of you who are late to the aromatherapy party, essential oils are concentrated extracts of plants that come  in a variety of heady, delicious scents. You can buy them at beauty, bath, or health-food stores, and online.
• Drape a towel over your head and the bowl, and let the steam envelop you for five to  ten minutes.
• Rinse your face with cool water.

Facial Cleanser for Dry Skin

To avoid that tight, parched feeling you can get after washing your face, use a rich, cream-based cleanser containing emollients like fatty acids or glycerin. After rinsing, pat dry with a soft washcloth, and leave your skin slightly damp. If your skin is super-dry and flaky, try a tissue-off cleanse – it leaves a thin layer of moisture on the skin.

Cleanser for Combination Skin

Do not err on the side of dry or oily skin – stick to cleansers formulated specifically for the combination skin. These ultra-gentle cleansers will help balance your complexion, perfectly prepping it for your moisturizer.

Cleanser for Sensitive Skin

Go for a thin cleansing lotion that is hypoallergenic, allergy-tested or fragrance free. However, keep in mind that the claim “fragrance free” can be tricky. Just because the cleanser does not have fragrance added to it does not mean that it is without a distinct scent. Try the cleanser only on your neck for a few days. If it irritates your skin, try something even milder. Many pros sing the praises of “all-natural” or “organic” cleansers for sensitive skin – but are they really more gentle on your skin? Here is a mini-guide to the most popular natural ingredients out there:

Moisturizers: Olive oil, shea butter, avocado oil, honey, milk. 
Skin-soothers: Aloe vera, lavender, chamomile, geranium, green tea
 Oil-fighters: Tea tree oil, citrus (lemon, orange, bergamot), ylang-ylang, rosemary.

Cleanser for Normal Skin

The great thing about normal skin is that you don’t need to pick a formula that fixes anything! Go for an SPF-infused cream cleanser or a pack of disposable cleansing cloths for normal skin (so refreshing and great for the gym if you are a no-fuss type). Just make sure your cleanser leaves you feeling supple, not tight.

Cleansers for Hyperpigmented Skin

The best cleansers for you are those that exfoliate, because they slough off the top layer of skin, along with dark marks. Avoid cleansers containing manual exfoliators like micro-beads, salts, ground nuts; and so on they can cause irritation, which leads to more dark spots. Instead, look for those containing glycolic acid, which do the job gently.

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 Ways to Know if you have Sensitive Skin Type 

Does your skin irritate easily?

Is your skin often red or blotchy?

Do you have allergic reactions (stinging, itching, burning, etc.) to certain beauty products?

Do you sunburn easily?

Do you have broken capillaries beneath the surface of your skin?

Sensitive Skin Information

Any skin type can be diagnosed as sensitive, since it’s nothing more than a negative reaction to outside factors, like wind, sun overexposure, allergies to certain products, and overzealous scrubbing (and who isn’t guilty of this from time to time ?). The thing to do is notice how your skin responds to things, and use the gentlest products possible.

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 Ways to Know if you have Combination Skin Type 

Are your cheeks dry, but your T-zone oily or pimple-prone?

Are you oily or pimple-prone along the perimeter of your face, but dry everyplace else?

Do products that help one part of your face hurt another?

Combination Skin Information

Many of us have combination or unbalanced skin, since the T-zone naturally contains more oil  glands than the rest of the face. Also, using the wrong products can result in skin that’s drier in some places and oilier in others. Maybe you should stop using toner  as  harsh astringents can be  very dehydrating. Or switch to a light, oil-free moisturizer to prevent breakouts. It’s all about experimentation.

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 Ways to Know if you have Dry Skin Type 

Does your skin feel itchy or tight, especially after cleansing?

Do you have rough, flaky or red patches?

Did you make it through adolescence with no acne?

Are you sensitive to the sun, wind, and cold?

Does your complexion look dull?

Dry Skin Facts and Information

Dryness occurs when your skin doesn’t produce enough moisture and sebum. This can happen if you live in an arid climate, because the dry air saps the skin of its moisture. You can also experience dryness because of artificial heaters, sun overexposure or chlorine from swimming pools. Dryness can make your skin look great – with fine pores and a clear surface – but it can also be uncomfortable and make your skin rough to the touch.

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Ways to Know if you have Oily Skin Type 

Are you prone to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads? Do you have large pores?

Does your face look shiny when you wake up, especially in the T-zone? The T-zone is the area across the forehead and down the nose, to the chin.

Does your foundation wear off after a couple hours?

Oily Skin Facts and Information

Your skin tends to overproduce sebum, making it feel and appear oily. This is a good thing, actually, because it means your skin is always well moisturized, and you’ll have fewer wrinkles as you age. On the other hand, you’re more prone to breakouts, since sebum has the tendency to mix with dead skin cells in your pores; this clogs them and produces pimples.

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