Perfecting Your Eyebrows: What You Need to Know

March 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

shaping eyebrowsYour eyebrows are important assets that you should always be taking advantage of. However, to fully get the benefits you need to know how to make your brows look flawless. The good news is that it only takes a little maintenance to keep perfect brows once you have them in the exact shape and style that you want them.

Basic Eyebrow Shaping

If you want the eyebrows of a Hollywood celebrity then you need to know the shaping points. You want your brows to be thickest at the area at the bridge of your nose. You arch should pretty much be midline. From the arch to just past the corner of your outer eye, your brow should be a bit thinner.

Thicker Brows

Super thin brows are no longer in so you want to go a bit thicker. If your brows are naturally sparse, or are sparse from years of overplucking, there are things you can do to fill them in. Taupe colors will work for almost all skin tones and eyebrow colors. You want to apply a pencil, powder or gel and then blend this in well using a brow brush.

Toss the Stencils

You need to take advantage of your unique bone structure. Stencils will turn your brows into something that does not fit your face. You natural brow shape is there and you just need to follow your brow line. You also want to not over pluck your brows. Simply clean up the stray hairs and you will be good to go.

Matching Brows and Hair

Dyeing your hair is easy, but the brows are a little harder. However, you want matching brows and hair or else it can look off. For example, if you have black brows and dye your hair a strawberry blonde, the contrast will be incredibly noticeable. So, after dyeing your hair head to the salon and have a stylist dye your brows to match your hair.

Tweezing 101

You will likely need to pull at least a few stray lashes to keep everything neat. You want a tweezer that has a slanted, pointed tip. This allows you to pluck at an angle so that you can see what you are doing and get those stubborn hairs that are short, but need to be pulled. Be sure to use a full-length mirror too as a small, magnified mirror will not let you see the full picture which could result in plucking way too much.

Go to a Pro First

While most women can easily maintain their eyebrows at home, you may want to get your first shaping done by a professional. They can help you follow your natural brow line and do the initial tweezing to ensure that you do not over-tweeze. After you have your brows done, you will want to look at your brows once a week and clean up new growth. If you ever feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, then just talk to your stylist about when to come in for a follow-up appointment.

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The Truth About Cellulite: What You Need to Know

March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

cellulite issuesCellulite is something most women battle at one point or another, but this does not mean that we have to like it. The lumpy, bumpy look is unflattering and can be a total confidence killer. There are things you need to know about cellulite so that you can either work to avoid it or at least cope when you are living with it.

Not a Health Issue

Some people believe that cellulite indicates a health issue, but you can put your fears to rest. This problem is purely cosmetic and is not a medical condition or illness, so no need to run to the doctor once you start noticing cellulite. The dimpling may be very faint or very noticeable depending on the degree of cellulite. You will notice it most on your buttocks and thighs, but it can also occur on the upper arms, abdomen and breasts.

Cellulite Causes

Being a woman automatically puts you at risk because this happens to women far more often than men. Cellulite occurs when fat deposits sit alongside tough collagen fibers. The fatty areas can grow larger or the fibers can pull tight to cause the deposits of fat to bulge out.

It is also important to point out that you can get cellulite regardless of your weight. You can be of a healthy weight and still develop cellulite. If you have thinner skin it will be more visible.

You also need to look at other risk factors, such as being Caucasian, aging, genetics and pregnancy-related hormonal changes. Genetics is probably the biggest of these and you cannot control this. There are some risk factors that you can control, such as:

  • Eating a ton of carbohydrates
  • Being inactive
  • Yo-yo dieting
  • Increase in your overall body fat
  • Being dehydrated
  • Fluid retention

Tanning and Cellulite

Some people think that tanning can actually hide cellulite, and while it may help to reduce the appearance a bit, the effects of the UV exposure outweigh this. When you are frequently exposing yourself to UV light you are damaging your skin. This damage can make issues like cellulite a lot worse.

Treating Cellulite Through Weight Loss

While dropping those extra pounds may help to reduce your cellulite this is not a guarantee. You should always strive for a healthy weight, but do not expect it to be a fix-all for the dimpling. Some women will notice less cellulite, while for others, losing weight could make it look worse.

Body Wraps

These are often talked about for reducing cellulite. Body wraps are warm and can help to draw excess water from your tissues, but if any improvement in cellulite occurs it will be temporary. You also have to be careful because this can be dehydrating. Your actual body fat will not be reduced at all. If you had a wrap before and knocked off a few inches temporarily, then this could be a good idea for special occasions, but do not expect a miracle with this purported cellulite treatment.

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Nude Makeup Tips: How to Wear the Nude Trend

March 5, 2013 by 1 Comment

using nude makeupNude makeup is trending right now, but it is something that is always in because you cannot go wrong by looking natural. The key is to let your natural beauty shine through while simply accenting it with nude makeup. You will not be adding color, but some dimension to your face. To make this look even better, it is very low maintenance.

Getting the Right Tone

You need to really look at your skin and assess the color. When going for the nude look it is imperative to get a foundation that matches your skin tone exactly. Regardless of your skin tone you want to avoid beige. Go for a true nude that simply helps to even out your skin tone and give you a balanced canvas to work from.

Adding Dimension

This is where choosing the right blush and eyeshadow comes in. A champagne-colored blush with a peachiness in the light is a good choice. This will be neutral, but will give you just enough color to highlight your cheekbones without adding major color.

With your eyeshadow, choose a shimmery champagne color. This will accent your eyes well without adding harsh color. When choosing champagne colors you want to avoid opaque colors because this can be unflattering. You want to avoid this because it can make you look chalky.

Tinted Moisturizer

This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone and if your skin is in good shape you would not even need a foundation. The moisturizer with a little tint would be enough to even out your skin without adding extra makeup to it. If you have regular foundation and regular moisturizer you can mix these together to create a softer, lighter foundation.

Use Primer

You should prime your skin – including your eyelids – so that your much lighter makeup will pop more and give you a nicer glow. This will also help to avoid dark spots and discoloration. Go with a clear primer on your face so that it does not add more color once your foundation it put on. On your eyes you can go with a nude color to help lighten lids in preparation for your eyeshadow.

Lip Color

You do not want your lips to blend in with the rest of your skin, but you do not want a huge pop either. A very light, soft pink that is not shimmery is a good choice. You can also go for a nude, but with pink undertones and a little shimmer. These two options will help to give your lips just a hint of color so that they do not blend into your face.

Highlighting

There are certain areas on your face where you want to add a subtly, shimmery highlight to accent the bone structure of your face. You want to apply this to your cheekbones, brow bone and the center of your nose. Avoid going the full length of your nose and only do the top half to avoid making your nose look larger than it is.

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Getting a Smoother, More Comfortable Shave

February 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

shaving techniques for smooth skinSmooth skin that is silky and free of stubble is what all women aim for. No one wants to feel prickly or have irritated skin because it is annoying and can kill some confidence. There are some things that you can do to ensure you are getting a close shave that reveals nothing, but silky, healthy skin.

How is Your Skin?

Assessing your skin before shaving is very important. If you have razor bumps, excessive dryness or redness then shaving could just make this worse. This does mean that the hair will grow a bit, but it is critical to allow for healing. Once the issues are gone, you can shave without having to worry about worsening your skin.

Take Some Preparation Time

Before you shave take a shower in warm water so that the hairs can soften a bit. This will help to prevent some friction. This also helps to lubricate and hydrate the skin, and skin that is well-hydrated is less likely to become irritated.

Keep it Simple

When you are shaving, you do not want to go over the same area multiple times. The old rule that you should never shave against the growth direction is not true either. You can and will get a much closer shave this way. The key is to go over an area twice max so that the skin does not get traumatized.

Treat Irritated Skin

There are a variety of things you can do to calm irritation. If your skin is really sensitive stick with pure aloe vera. If this still causes discomfort then make an appointment with your dermatologist to get some advice on what you can use. A cool washcloth can help most people with mild irritation. This will provide an immediate soothing of the area.

If you are prone to ingrown hairs, you will want to exfoliate the skin at least once a week and not on a day when you shave. This will help to prevent hair follicles from getting clogged and trapping the hair in them. Benzoyl peroxide can also help with ingrown hairs by preventing inflammation. Before using a topical corticosteroid, consult a doctor. Ingrown hairs will eventually go away on their own as the body works to get them out.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Every single day you should be applying a moisturizer to your skin and this includes the skin under your arms because you shave here too. Now, if you have sensitive skin and lotion burns and stings on freshly-shaved skin, use an in-shower lotion when you skin is still wet or an oil while your skin is still wet. This significantly reduces burning and stinging on freshly-shaved skin and adds a big punch of moisture. Then, apply lotion after about 12 hours when the hair has started to grow more into the follicle. A good rule of thumb is to moisturize day and night, and always moisturize after a bath or shower because your skin is best able to absorb your creams and lotions at this time.

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Six Clothing and Accessory Items You Cannot Travel Without

February 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Travelling clothing tipsTraveling in style can be complicated because you want to pack light, but still want to look your best once you get to your destination. There are a few items that you should bring that can be incorporated into several different outfits so that you can still pack light while staying in style. These are items that also happen to be trending at the moment so it is a win-win.

Sailor Sweater

Nautical looks are very in right now and work whether you are visiting another country or a city a couple of hours away. This can be worn with tailored shorts or a knit sweater and will work perfectly. This means that you can take it with you regardless of the weather. A white and blue stripe works best because it goes with every other color you have.

Skinny Jeans

Go for a pair that is dark blue or black so that they go with everything. With skinny jeans you can wear then with boots, heels or flats and they will be completely stylish. If you are heading to a cold destination, pair these with a slouchy sweater. If you are going somewhere warm, a flowy blouse will work perfectly. You only need to bring one pair and you can usually get away with wearing them twice before you need to wash them, making them perfect for travel.

Blazer

Go for a black or gray blazer and bring it with you. These colors match with everything and a blazer can be worn with a dressy outfit or a casual one. These are nice because they are not very thick, but can still keep you warm in cold destinations or on those cool nights on the beach. You can wear a blazer with a dress, skirt or with a pair of jeans, depending on the occasion.

Shoes

If you are heading somewhere warm, all you need are a pair of dress sandals and a pair of casual sandals. This is plenty to work with all outfits and occasions and there is no need to bring your entire shoe collection. If you are heading for a cold destination, you need a pair of heels and a pair of boots and this is it. This will make it simple, and quick and easy to pack.

Cashmere Wrap

This is the perfect thing to bring regardless of the temperature at your destination. This can protect you from the sun and keep your arms cozy at warm destinations. It can be worn as a thick scarf if you are heading somewhere cold. One that is white is always a good option because it will work with everything you have packed for your trip. If white is not your thing, then choose another neutral color that will match all of the outfits you have packed.

Tote Bag

When you are traveling, you tend to carry more with you, such as cameras, a laptop, a tablet and other gadgets to document your journey. You may also have things like your passport and medical information if you are traveling abroad. A larger tote bag can be used as a purse that carries all of this easily. Be sure to get one that zips up so you do not lose anything.

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Makeup Mistakes that Age You

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

top makeup mistakes women makeAging is something that no woman wants to do. Everyone wants to look youthful for as long as possible. You know that things like smoking and a poor diet can cause aging, but certain makeup mistakes can age you too. It is important to know what these are so that you can easily avoid them and maintain your youthful glow for as long as possible.

You do not Wear Foundation

While you should choose no foundation over one that is bad, but a good foundation can truly work miracles. Foundation can brighten a dull complexion, cover issues like breakouts and discoloration and give you an even, youthful tone. There are foundations out there that also pull double duty and fight things like acne and dryness. You want to choose one that matches your skin tone perfectly and, of course, you will not cake it on, but applying a good foundation the right way can make a world of difference in promoting youthfulness and actually benefiting your skin in the long run.

You Apply Blush Wrong

Your grandmother probably taught you that blush only belongs on the apples of your cheeks, but this old adage is no longer true. You want to run it along your cheekbones to accentuate them and give your face a tighter, younger look. Concentrating it in one area gives off that clown-like look. Blush is not something you wear so that it is noticed. It is something you wear to enhance your natural facial structure. It is critical to choose the right color for your skin tone too. If blush is too dark, it can make your face appear bruised and it drowns out the rest of your look.

Your Lip Liner is Obvious

This was cool back in 1990, but nowadays, less is more. You want your lip liner to actually match your natural lips. It should also be within the lines of your natural lips. This is not a way to make your lips appear plumper or larger. There are other, more subtle, ways to do this. When you find a color that matches your lip color, you do not have to worry about it being obvious between lip gloss or lipstick applications. Look for a creamy pencil for the best results.

Eyeliner on the Lower Lids Only

Eyeliner can work wonders when used correctly, but applying it only to the lower lid is a big rookie mistake. This will drag your face down and make you look older than you are. It also narrows your eyes and takes away from that awake, fresh look that all women want. You want to use a liner on both the top and bottom lids. You also want to keep this close to the lash line and then smudged. This will give you a more natural look and will open up your eyes. You can also choose to only line the top lid to help reduce the risk of that raccoon eye that often occurs whether or not your liner is waterproof.

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Winter Dry Skin: Cold Weather Complexion Protection

February 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment

tips for winter dry skin treatmentsLower temperatures are related to dry, itchy skin. This is almost inevitable for every woman. However, you do not have to deal with the itching, cracking and dryness anymore. There are things that you can do to beat Old Man Winter and maintain your soft, healthy summer skin all year long.

Moisturize a Lot More

If you are moisturizing once per day like most people can get away with in the summer, then you need to step it up. It is not uncommon for a skin care routine to need to change with the seasons. For your face, you want to stay with an oil-free moisturizer, but with the rest of your body an oil-based cream or lotion can work to your benefit in the winter months.

Don’t Skip the Sunscreen

Just because the sun is not noticeably shining does not mean that it is not able to do some damage. Regardless of the season, you need to ensure that your skin is protected from the sun. While you will likely not have to do your entire body as you are probably covered up from the cold, you do need to make sure that any exposed areas, such as your hands and face, are well-protected.

Give Your Hands a Hand

Your hands dry out easier than other areas of your body due to the fact that the skin is thinner on them. When the weather is cold, it makes keeping hands moisturized even more difficult. One good tip is not to expose them. Wear gloves when you are outside to maintain some heat. You should also moisturize frequently. A good rule of thumb is to apply lotion or cream every time after you wash your hands. This will eventually become a habit and you will notice that your hands are far less dry.

Humidify Your Home

The lack of moisture in the air is exactly why your skin dries out in the winter. You cannot control the outside temperature, but you can control the temperature in your home. If you can only do one then put one in your bedroom at night. Your skin is repairing itself as you sleep so having a humidifier in your bedroom will be to your greatest benefit. Be sure to apply lotion or cream before bed and then sleep in a humid room. You will wake up with skin that is softer and healthier than when you went to sleep.

Skip Hot, Long Showers

When it is cold outside it is very tempting to take long showers with the hottest water that you can stand, but this is counterproductive. Hot water actually parches the skin and causes further dryness. You should limit your showers to 15 minutes maximum and then only use lukewarm water. You want the temperature to be comfortable, but as cool as you can comfortably stand it.

Grease Your Feet

Your feet, like your hands, need some extra love in the winter months. A good idea is to use a pair of cotton socks and petroleum jelly at night. This should be done after using a file or pumice stone to help remove calluses and excessive dry skin.

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Common Beauty Mistakes and How to Correct Them

February 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

beauty mistakes women makeThere are some beauty mistakes that almost everyone makes at some point or another. These can actually make looking and feeling your best more difficult. Figuring out what these are and then correcting them will result in your beauty routine becoming a lot easier, as well as a lot more effective for you.

Conditioning All of Your Hair

The roots are healthy, new hair and you really do not need to condition these as they are healthy and have the natural oils from your scalp to protect them. You want to start at your ears when you are applying conditioner. This will help to ensure that your ends get the extra moisture that they need. You will also notice that your hair looks cleaner longer and you have more volume when you adjust how you condition your hair.

Foundation Over Wet Moisturizer

Moisturizer really should be given about five minutes to fully dry before you put on your foundation, but many people do not allow for dry time. If you do not wait for your moisturizer to dry then you will notice that your foundation does not offer the same degree of coverage and your skin can look blotchy. So, let your moisturizer dry and then apply your foundation and you will notice a difference.

Applying Perfume Last

Many people apply perfume after getting dressed and then spray it on their clothes. This is actually a really big mistake because perfume is designed to interact with the skin and not fabric. If you are noticing that your perfume smells differently, it is because it is not meant to mix with fabric. So, to properly apply your favorite fragrance, put it on when you are naked and be sure to dab a little behind each ear and on all of your pulse points. This will give you the longest wear and most natural scent.

You Put Moisturizer On Your Eyes

So, you wake up and notice that your eyes are puffy so you apply some moisturizer to try and counteract this. Well, this is only going to increase puffiness by increasing the fluid level around the eyes. You want to take about 10 minutes and ice this area to draw out the fluid and reduce the puffiness. If you are short on time, take a caffeinated tea bag, get it soaked through the warm water and place this on your eyes for at least five minutes. Caffeine is well-known to kill puffiness.

Showering Until Squeaky Clean

This is a quick way to have really dry skin. Your skin and hair have natural oils that are critical for protecting them and keeping them moisturized. So, use soaps and shampoos that will work with these oils and not just strip them away. You also want to be careful with things like loofahs. You only need to exfoliate twice a week. If your skin is already dry, then only once a week. So, use your hands and skip the fancy brushes and sponges unless you are exfoliating.

You Over-medicate Blemishes

This actually causes skin dryness which will just make blemishes more red and noticeable. Read the directions on your blemish medicine and follow it. Most are applied once or twice a day and no more. So, if it says once, just use it once. If this is not enough to combat your blemishes then it is time to see a dermatologist and not a time to add more and more medication.

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Eyeshadow Colors that Work for All Skin Tones

February 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

popular eyeshadowsPicking out an eyeshadow color can be more difficult than choosing which cheesecake flavor you like best. Not all colors are going to work for you. However, there is good news because some colors will work for all skin tones and hair colors. You will be surprised about how many more colors you can add to your makeup bag. These are colors that can be worn with all seasons, so this will save you time and money too.

Copper

Copper is not only trending right now, but you can wear it and it will always look good. There are varying degrees of color intensity, but all will work. You may want to pair this with a turquoise eyeliner on your upper lid if you are heading out for the night, or use a simple brown liner when you wear copper at the office.

Pink

Everyone can wear pink, but the shade of pink does matter. For example, very light, pastel pinks are not the best for those with darker skin because it looks to pasty. On the other hand, a neon pink can be too overwhelming on someone with very pale skin. Medium pink tones that have a shimmer to them will work for everyone. So, if you want to wear pink and do not want to risk it not looking good on you, you can never go wrong with a medium pink. Top this off with a thin line of jet black eyeliner on your upper lids and you are ready to go.

Gray and Silver

A light, matte gray always looks great on gals with light skin. You want to apply several coats so that it is noticeable because matte grays tend to be really light with only one or two coats. This can be combined with a dark charcoal gray eyeliner on the upper lid. Silver looks great on darker skin tones. You can use a dark, charcoal gray on the upper lid to finish the look.

To turn these into night looks, line your upper and lower eyes in a jet black and add a shimmery black to the crease of your eye and blend the gray and black so that they look seamless. This is a quick and easy way to mimic a smoky eye even if you are like most women and have not perfected the smoky eye that is trending right now.

Purple

Most purples will work for all skin tones. If you have darker skin, you want to use darker or more pigmented purples. If you are pale, then a neon purple may be a bit much. Other than this, purple can work for you. It offers a very seductive look that can be worn for work or when you are heading out on the town. Purple also works well when you are trying to create a smoky eye. You can use black eyeliner on the upper lids for both day and night. Of course, a deeper, more pigmented purple is best for night time. Another big plus for purple is that is makes your eyes pop regardless of color.

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Eat Your Way to Younger Skin

February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

eating for younger skinYou are what you eat. You have surely heard this before and it could not be more true. How you feed your body is directly reflected on the outside. The condition of your skin can be helped or harmed depending on your diet. It is important to know which foods from each food group can help you on your way to glowing, youthful skin.

Vegetables

The two top vegetables for your skin are Romaine lettuce and tomatoes. Yes, tomatoes are technically a fruit, but they are also very closely related to vegetables. Romaine lettuce is number one in terms of these two vegetables. Just six leaves gives you 100 percent of your vitamin A every day. Vitamin A is critical for cell turnover and this is necessary to prevent dull, aging skin. It also contains potassium to help with increasing circulation, oxygen and nutrients in the skin.

Tomatoes have an interesting effect on the skin. This red vegetable actually helps to calm redness on your skin. This can help to defend against issues like rosacea and even sunburn (though this is not an excuse to skip the sunscreen). Tomatoes are also high in antioxidants which help to fend off furrows and fine lines.

Fruits

If you love fresh strawberries then you are in luck. Just a single cup of these sweet, red berries has 130 percent of the vitamin C you need each day. This helps to firm and smooth the skin, as well as increase collagen production to help prevent wrinkles and lines. While research is still pretty new, some promise is shown in strawberries helping to reduce your cancer risk, so if you have sun damage this is good news for you.

Apples come in as a close second for skin-protecting fruits. In the peel of an apple lies quercetin which is an antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from burning when you are exposed to the UVB rays responsible for cancer. So, you still need sunscreen, but an apple a day could help to keep skin cancer away.

Proteins

Soy has fallen under scrutiny recently in terms of how it could affect hormones, but its benefits to the skin remain uncontested. This is known to help with skin firmness and fine wrinkles. You only need to get a little bit each day to reap the benefits.

Eggs are another food that is just being widely accepted again because people feared the yolks for so long. However, you want to eat the entire egg so that you can get the zeaxanthin and lutein. These antioxidants are known to aid in preventing skin cancer, fine lines and brown spots by protecting against the UV damage that causes them. An egg a day also tends to lead to firmer, softer and more hydrated skin.

Fats

You are going to love this because dark chocolate is good for your skin. Some spas actually have chocolate face and body facials due to how well this food helps the skin. Just a little dark chocolate every day can increase circulation and improve your overall complexion. Long-term use results in smoother, softer and more hydrated skin.

Extra-virgin olive oil is another good fat for your skin. The essential fatty acids are known to help in protecting you against UV damage. They can also help in keeping skin supple and hold in moisture.

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