Woman Beauty Trends: 12/20/09

Trendy Bridal Make Up

In our part of the world New Year is usually associated with weddings and this year is no different. Wedding season is in full swing these days – one hardly sees any vacant marriage hall. It’s that time of the year when designers have no time to take further orders tailors are in demand, when caterers are all booked, and beauticians are all busy decking up those pretty brides. You! got lucky to get hold of renowned beautician Angie Marshall who despite her hectic schedule spared some time to share her expertise with us.”This season bridal makeup is blended and the base is subtle. You can say that the buzz word in bridal makeup today is ‘blending’. Today’s brides are more aware and they want to look naturally beautiful and no one likes to have the ‘plastered’ look. The wedding colour trend for 2008 will bring a fashionable new colour scheme and a monochromatic colour palette for brides to select from,” shares Angie.

According to her, in 2008 brighter and dark shades will be used in makeup. ”Chocolate brown is also a colour which has been, and will continue to be popular next year. Chocolate brown is also a neutral colour which pairs nicely with both yellow and orange.”

”Makeup trends include matte foundation for the face. From dark red to deep browns and pinks, lip colours are vibrant and flashy. This season there is much emphasis on eyes – take your pick of bold red, green, blue and even yellow. You can balance out this look with black eyeliner,” she adds.

As far as hair is concerned she predicts that there will be fusion of colours like blonde with chocolate brown. ”Personally I don’t like flat colours and I like to play with them. Though soft curls are in vogue, women here still go for straight hair.”

To give our readers a fair idea of what brides want to be like and how they should look, Angie has taken gorgeous Rubab as a model bride. ”I have tried to give Rubab a very traditional yet contemporary look. Since she has a flawless skin it was easy for me to do her makeup. As you can see in the pictures I have paid special attention to eyes,” says Angie.

When doing bridal makeup Angie always takes care of bride’s preference. ”We (makeup artists) should keep in mind that it’s her big day and she should be given a free hand. We should not act like dictators. While doing bridal makeup I keep the bride’s fearures and clothes in mind. I believe that bride’s jewellery and makeup should complement each other. If the wedding ‘jora’ is too heavy then the makeup should be subtle and vice versa.”

Angie truly advocates radiant skin. ”You should take care of your skin and should have regular facials for if your skin is good then the makeup looks automatically good on you. Here, brides normally expect beauticians to make them beautiful. Well, we cannot do wonders in one day. If you really want to glow on your big day then you may as well start pampering your skin from now,” advises Angie.

She also shares some useful beauty tips for the brides-to-be. ”In winters we should try to keep our skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Also using an eye cream is a must. And before going to bed never forget to clean your skin with a good cleanser. These are simple things to do but the benefits are long term.”

Keep in mind that if you draw your colour inspiration from nature, and the season you are marrying in, your wedding will be beautiful. Colours drawn from nature are always fashionable, yet timeless. Ultimately, the colour you select for your wedding should be something you are comfortable with. Select colours you will be able to enjoy in your photographs for years to come.

Secret #1: Blending is key

Ok, well I sorta knew this, but I wasn’t sure HOW TO BLEND. You use three different colors: The base, usually a very light taupe, a highlighter for the crease and a main color for the lid, but how to get them to look as if they merge into each other like the colors of a rainbow?

My secret: Start light then go darker. Brush the base color, apply the lid color and THEN apply the highlighter. Also, don’t be too heavy-handed or you’ll have to start over. Extra tip: Practice makes perfect. Play with your makeup a few days before a big event.

Secret #2: Choose shadows that make the color of your eyes pop

Gone are the days when beauty experts advised against blue shadow. Matching the color of your eye with a shadow actually brings the color out (think blue shadow on blue eyes). At the same time, contrasting colors make eyes pop too (think a deep jeweled blue shadow on deep brown eyes).

Secret #3: Never cover your browbone with deep color — unless you’re doing a cover shoot for Vogue

You don’t want the drama too much shadow brings. Apply shadow up to the browbone but don’t apply shadow ON the bone unless it’s a neutral color or a highlighter.

Secret #4: Highlighter can make or break your look

When applying dark shadow to the crease of your eye, be careful to blend only on the outside edge. Get to close to the eye and you’ll cause your eyes to look teeny and beady.

Secret #5: Set shadow with a great base

Primers are super hot right now because they help set makeup that stays for hours. I’ve found the secret to keeping shadow in place for hours is a shadow base. Almost everyone makes them but I swear by MAC Paints.

Secret #6: Shimmer is hot, but plays up wrinkles

Shimmer makes eyes really pop, but it also highlights heavy lids, lines and wrinkles. A great look for shimmer is to create a ‘nude’ lid, but apply a bit of gold shimmer to the browbone. Gorgeous!

Secret #7: Smokey is great, but keep it to the lid

Making up a smokey eye? Keep color to the lid and just under the lower lashline. Don’t extend color above the crease.

Secret #8: How to pair shadow with red lips

Remember the beauty rule ‘Thou Shalt Not Play up the Lips AND the Mouth.’ If you’re going for dramatic red lips (never out of fashion), cover unsightly blue lines on lids with a concealer or shadow primer and then keep eyeshadow light.

Secret #9: Make eyes brighter with white

A dot of white shadow or pencil on the inside of the eye near the tear duct will make eyes look brighter.

Secret #10: Go for color Taupe and lavender look great on all eye colors. Also consider mixing shades if you bought a color that’s just too bold for you. Mixing an electric blue with taupe can turn out the most perfect color

Your bridal makeup will be captured forever in your wedding photos. Therefore, it’s very important to plan your bridal makeup look well in advance.

Here are some wedding day makeup tips that will have you looking picture perfect.

Hire a professional makeup artist. The expense of using a professional is well worth it. On your wedding day, you will be nervous and won’t want to do your makeup yourself. Relying on a friend or family member isn’t the best option. If you can afford it, hire a makeup pro.
Have a pre-wedding consultation a few weeks before you wedding. Most professional makeup artists include one consultation as part of their pricing. Bring a swatch from your wedding dress and pictures of how you will be wearing your hair. Doing so will give the makeup artist an idea of what he or she will be working with on your wedding day.
Apply a primer under your foundation to help your makeup last longer. Also use a primer on your eyelids to prevent eye shadow from creasing or melting.
Use waterproof mascara.
Keep eye makeup natural and light. You don’t want to look like a raccoon in photos.
Fill in your lips with lip pencil before applying lipstick. This will give your lipstick a good base to help the color last.
Place a towel over your head when putting on your gown. This way you can avoid getting cosmetics on your wedding dress.
Have blotting papers or powdered rice papers on hand. These convenient papers can eliminate shine on your wedding day.
Put Vaseline on your front teeth. This trick will stop lipstick from getting on your teeth, which can ruin photo

The use of fragrances is an art that is as old as civilization itself. The secrets of perfumery began its development in ancient Egypt, and it was then enhanced and spread to the world by the Romans and the Arabians.

Why do we, men and women alike, use fragrances? To that question, there are many answers. Some use fragrances as a form of personal _expression, a way of making a statement about his- or herself without saying a word. Others use perfumes to make themselves more attractive and create a more favorable impression on others. Still others use perfumes to enhance their mood and to improve their general well-being.

We all have reasons for using fragrances. But before you head out to buy a bottle of scent, did you know that our bodies have a unique scent signature that makes us take easily to some types of perfumes, but not to others? So, a kind of perfume that is great on, say, your best friend may not work out for you. Our scent signature is the particular chemistry of our body, and our body chemistry is strongly affected by our diet, our lifestyle choices (whether we drink or smoke or exercise regularly), the medication that we take (if we are taking any), and other factors. Our skin type and general coloring also dictates which type of scent will smell good on us. With this in mind, what then is the best way to go about choosing what fragrances will work for us? In selecting a type of perfume, there are three keys that you should remember: theme, notes and concentration.

Theme, also known as accord, is what differentiates one fragrance from another. The theme of a perfume depends on its base, and there are four basic scent bases:

Citrus. Citrus-based perfumes are light and fresh. They are made from citrus fruits like oranges, mandarins, lemons and bergamots.
Floral. Floral scents are based on flowers, either from a single flower or a mix of different kinds. Flowery perfumes are sweet and strong.
Earth. Perfumes with an earth base are made from minerals or from plants other than flowers. Sample earth bases are sandalwood, honey, cinnamon and vanilla. Earth-based scents are simple yet mysterious.
Musk. Musk bases are taken from the odorous sacs of animals, particularly the Asian musk deer and the civet. However, because of ethical issues, perfume companies now create musk scents synthetically. Musk fragrances are heavy and sexy.

The basic concept of any eyeshadow design is to shape and shade in well blended progression of light to dark colors. Keep in mind that light colors will highlight or emphasize shallow areas. In contrast, dark colors will recede or minimize fuller, more prominent areas. Always load your brushes with a small amount of color since it is easier to add more eyeshadow than to remove it.

You can do your eyes first and then apply foundation or concealer to the rest of the face afterwards. This will allow you to remove any eyeshadow which may have flaked onto the area underneath your eyes, avoiding a lot of frustration.

Listed below are instructions on how to apply a 2-, 3-, and 4-color eyeshadow design. Whether you want to use just two or up to four colors (more than four tends to get too complicated and the results tend to be muddy-looking unless blending is extremely precise) this step-by-step guide will help you create a classic look which you can tone down or build upon.

It is best to finish every eye design with eyeliner and mascara.

NOTE: Please refer to the eye illustration on this page for placement of shades.

Two-color design: The goal of this classic, common design is to apply a lighter eyeshadow color to the lid area and a deeper color in the crease slightly blending it upward. Applying the lighter color to the entire lid will make your lid look larger and brighter thus creating a rested appearance. You may also reverse this order, which can be helpful for those with large eyelids or protruding eyes.

Recommended Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow colors to be used as a base color are:

Chiffon
Shell
Cream
Nearly Nude
Beige
Beach

The best colors for use in the crease are:

Beach
Tan
Malt
Nougat
Twilight
Granite
Pale Suede
Smoky Taupe

How-to: Using Paula’s Choice Large Eyeshadow Brush or Shadow Softening Brush apply the lighter color to the base of the lashes and blend all the way up to the brow. Next, use Paula’s Choice Crease Defining Brush or Precision Shadow Brush to apply the second shade in the crease, blending up and out toward the outer corner of the eye along the edge of where the brow bone begins. Keeping the second color in and just slightly above the crease will create a natural highlight under the brow’s arch while shading the outer corner of the eye.

TIP: To find the perfect area to place your brush, look straight ahead into a mirror, find the highest point of your eyebrow, and then follow an imaginary vertical line going down toward the eye’s crease. Set the brush down into the crease precisely on the imaginary line and begin blending in a slightly outward direction that follows the true crease and just above, to where the brow bone begins. Next, move inward (think windshield-wiper motion) in the crease and along the edge of the brow bone. Do not blend all the way into the inner corner of the eye unless your eyes are noticeably wide-set.

Suggestion: For a softer, more diffused effect after crease color is applied, use the Soft Blending Brush without any eyeshadow and blend using soft circular motions along the outer part of the crease.

Three-color design: This design builds on the two-color design detailed above, but adds a third, darker color for shading the outside corner of the eye.
Examples of such colors from the Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow palette include:

Hazelnut
Charcoal Brown
Moonlit
Smoky Taupe
Graphite
Any of Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow Trio also work great for this design.

How-to: Follow the directions and refer to the diagram for the two-color eye design above. Once that is done, use Paula’s Choice Crease Defining Brush, Angled Shadow Brush or Precision Shadow Brush to apply the third shade to the true crease area, so none of the darkest shade is actually on the eyelid or to the back corner of the eye, where some of the color is blended down onto the outer third of the eyelid and also into the crease.

TIP: When applying color in the eye’s crease, be sure to blend out and slightly up rather than following the downward curve of the eye.

Four-color design: This design builds on the two- and three- color designs detailed above, but adds a fourth color for more intense shading. In this design, the third color is typically applied in the crease and slightly onto the back corner of the eye. The fourth (darkest) color is skillfully applied to the back corner. Combined, this look creates shape, shading, and movement.

Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow to consider for the darkest colors include:

Charcoal Brown
Hazelnut
Graphite

How-to: Follow the directions for the three-color eye design described above. The fourth color is best applied with Paula’s Choice Precision Shadow Brush or, for those with large eyelids, Small Eyeshadow Brush. Apply the color using small strokes over the back corner of the eyelid only. This look is easy to get wrong until you’ve had sufficient practice, so do take time to experiment to build confidence in achieving this look. You may wish to use the third color again in the crease, to intensify the effect.

TIP: Every eye design above should be followed by eyeliner and mascara. Paula’s Choice Constant Color Gel Eyeliner is a favorite for its ease of application and long wear. It is best applied along the upper lash line with our Precision Liner Brush or Eyeliner Brush, depending on your preference. Those who prefer lining eyes with powder (great for creating a softer look for the lower lash line) can select the following shades from Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow:

Charcoal Brown
Hazelnut
Graphite
The darkest shade from any Paula’s Choice Soft Matte Eyeshadow Trio

More tips:

Matte powder eyeshadows in an array of neutral tones from light to dark are your best bets for a classic, sophisticated eye design that accents the shape and color of your eyes.
Adding shine is best for the brow bone only, especially if you have wrinkles around the eye or your eyelid skin is less than taut. There are many good powder eyeshadows that impart a soft, subtle shine to highlight this area.
Unless you’re using just one eyeshadow color, use at least two eyeshadow brushes for application.
Prep the eyelid and under-brow area with a matte-finish concealer, foundation, and/or powder before applying eyeshadow. This ensures a smooth, even application and (if you have fair to medium skin) will also neutralize the red and blue coloration of the eyelid.
Tap off any excess eyeshadow from your brush before applying-this will prevent over-application and minimize flaking eyeshadow.
If you really want to make the color of your eyes pop, choose a contrasting color in a soft tone and apply this to the lids. Blue eyes come alive with pale peach or cantaloupe hues, green eyes seem richer with light bronze or caramel tones, hazel eyes become more alluring with chestnut and golden brown shades, and brown eyes are nicely accented by almost all neutral tones.

When applying blush, you want the color to look soft and natural, as if it comes from within. Read below for tips on how to put on make-up.

1. Tap or lightly blow on the applicator brush to remove any excess blush before applying to prevent a harsh and uneven application.
2. Apply your blush on the apple of the cheek and carefully blend towards your natural hairline.
3. If you have two shades, apply the darker one on the apple of the cheek first, then use the lighter shade to highlight. Blend well so there is no visible line between colors.
4. Highlight your temples, forehead and chin.

Tip: To know “where to glow” bend over for 30 seconds, then slowly stand up. Where your cheeks are flushed is where you are meant to blush. Apply your blush there and it will be naturally rosy every time.

Tip: Cheek color should be used to enhance your complexion, not to change your natural skin tone. Use sparingly for daytime, then add more or a deeper shade for a more dramatic nighttime effect. For special occasions, dust a lightly frosted powder over your cheekbones for a subtle but alluring glow.

Tip: Make sure to blend your blush into your foundation well or it will tend to look unnatural and add the appearance of 5 years to your looks.

Applied properly, foundation can make any complexion seem healthy and flawless. The aim is to leave the skin looking as natural and unmade-up as possible. Before you start, think hard about your complexion, as you may not need to apply base over the entire face.

When choosing a foundation, take into consideration your skin type, the amount of coverage you require and the kind of finish you are after. And remember, foundation is one of those products you wear every day, so making the right investment at the beginning will pay off.

The word foundation means exactly that: It is the foundation, the basis, of your makeup routine. If it isn’t right, your whole look may be off. Foundations are either oil or water based. Some skin experts will tell you that if you have oily skin, you should use a water-based foundation, and if you have dry skin, use an oil-based one.

It is important to choose a foundation similar in color to your own skin. This is really easy-it is a matter oftrial and error, and will take at the most an hour of your time in a department store or makeup center. Try one color on the inside of your wrist (never on your face-that is a good way to spread bacteria) and walk around for a few minutes. Now look at the shade again, and then try another one. It is well worth the time to find a foundation that will look good on you.

If you think you will be interested in contouring and or highlighting your features, you need to buy another foundation a shade lighter than the one that matches your skin, and one that is three shades darker than your basic color. Again, a good cosmetician or a salesperson in a cosmetics department can help you choose the colors you will need.

SHOPPING FOR FOUNDATION

To find the perfect foundation for your particular colouring, apply three suitable shades in strips across the cheek and jawbone. You are looking for the one that literally disappears into the skin. Your foundation should blend with the skin tone of the neck and not the face, as this is where it has to work down to. If you can’t find the correct colour, custom-blended foundations are available.

When you try a new shade, check it in natural light. You should always aim to apply your make-up in daylight, so if this is not going to be possible invest in a natural daylight bulb (these can be found in lighting stores and some professional make-up outlets).

When trying a new foundation, always wait fifteen minutes before reaching a decision as the oil on your skin and the air can conspire to darken the shade you have chosen.

FOUNDATION ESSENTIALS

When looking for a new foundation, bear in mind that it should contain a sun protection factor of at least 15 for daily use. This should then be increased in summer, as the sun is responsible for 10 per cent of premature ageing. Antioxidants will also help protect the skin from visible signs of ageing, and light-reflecting pigments will give a flattering finish, taking attention away from any dark circles and sallow-looking areas, while adding instant luminosity.

SKIN TYPES FOR CHOOSING FOUNDATION

If you have sensitive skin, look for formulations which do not contain potential irritants such as fragrance, chemical sunscreens and alpha hydroxyl acids. Mature, dry skins will benefit from rich, creamy foundations which contain emollients to boost the skin’s moisture content and antioxidants to protect from environmental damage.

Oily, problem skins will benefit from oil-free formulations which are enriched with oil absorbers to keep unsightly shine at bay. Normal skins can wear any sort of foundation. In hot, humid weather, every skin type will benefit from an oil-free foundation.

HOW TO APPLY FOUNDATION – EXPERT ADVICE

To apply foundation, start from the centre of the face, dotting on to the cheeks and forehead and blending outwards, first making sure your fingertips or make-up sponges are spotlessly clean. Gently blot the skin with a tissue to remove any excess product or surface oil. Never drag the skin if you are using your fingertips to apply cosmetics.

Smooth foundation over the lips and eyelids to act as a base for lip and eye products. If you’re not very good at blending foundation, try applying it with a make-up sponge. After smoothing on, moisten the fingertips and then work over the neckline to remove any signs of haphazard application.

Hair Care for Curly Hair: Curly hair is prone to dryness therefore you should use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. After washing your hair and towel drying it, apply 4 to 6 drops of silicone-based shine serum and then detangle your hair with your fingers. Allow to air dry.

Hair Care for Wavy Hair: Use shine enhancing shampoo and conditioner. After towel drying, separate the wet stands with a wide tooth comb and use some silicon based shine-enhancing spray from ends to the roots of your hair. Blow dry your hair and direct air down the hair shaft and seal the cuticle.
Hair Care for Straight Hair: Straight hair tends to lie flat against your scalp when it accumulates grease. Use a deep-cleaning shampoo and apply a clarifying gel treatment to the roots once a week to prevent oil buildup. After drying your hair use flatiron for shiny hair.

Hair fiber has no color, bleach any hair and the fiber looks white simply because it reflects light. Hair color is provided by pigments produced by cells called “melanocytes”. The pigments are called “melanin”. Melanin actually means black so strictly speaking we should only use this word when talking about black hair. However, today scientists and dermatologists use the word melanin when talking about any kind of hair pigment blonde, red, brown, or black.

So black hair is the result of a very high production of eumelanin which is very densely packed into the hair fiber. Brown hair comes in various shades and richness of color but basically people with brown hair have a somewhat lower density of eumelanin in their hair fiber. The warmer, richer tones of brown hair are due to a greater presence of red – yellow pheomelanin. So the relative quantities of eumelanin versus pheomelanin in brown hair increase the heterogeneity of brown colored hair. People with blonde have eumelanin in their hair fiber as for black haired people but the eumelanin is present at a very low density. Plain blonde hair is predominantly eumelanin while richer honey blonde hair has relatively more of the yellow red pheomelanin present. Red haired people have a high density of the pheomelanin pigments in their hair fiber. Those who produce virtually no eumelanin have a red to orange color depending on the density of the pigment in the hair fiber. Red haired people who have a greater relative proportion of eumelanin production have a deeper red to red brown color. Gray hair is essentially the result of reduced pigment production. The contrast between the hair with more color and the hair with less color, causes the appearance we call gray hair.

It may sound a bit odd but your hair is a mixture of 3 colors; red yellow, and blue. These are the primary colors. Secondary colors are orange, green, and violet. If you look at the “wheel” a color opposite (directly across) will “negate” that color. This means if your hair is orange color – blue will make it a brown/black color. If you hair has a yellow tone, violet will cancel it out.

One of the most important elements of hair coloring is determining the hairs’ “underlying pigment” (the hairs’ natural color.) When you chose a color in a swatch book, your hair may not come out that color because of the underlying pigment in your hair.

Types of Hair Color

Temporary – Color lasts from one shampoo to the next and is deposited on the outside of the hair shaft.
Semi-Temporary – Color lasts up to 4-6 shampoos. Usually contain no ammonia and does not have a developer.
Demi Permanent – Color usually contains little or no ammonia and utilizes a low peroxide developer (under 10 vol.) the color lasts about 6 weeks and fades gradually back to the natural shade.
Semi-Permanent – Color usually contains some ammonia and uses a developer of 10 to 20 vol.
Permanent – Color formulas change the natural hair color. They require maintenance to new hair growth after 4 to 6 weeks.

Natural Henna Hair Color: The henna plant is native to Asia and the Mediterranean coast of Africa and thrives in warmer climates all over the world. The leaves are harvested, dried, and ground into a fine powder. Henna contains hennotannic acid, a dye that bonds with the collagen in skin cells and keratin of fingernails and hair, leaving behind a coloring.

Natural Indigo Plant: Indigo’s botanical name is Indigofera tinctoria found in India and other sub-tropical countries. A blue dyestuff is obtained from the various species of Indigofera readily soluble in water. It is a very well-known and highly important dye, millions of pounds being exported from India annually.

Hair Color Tips

Wet your hair with bottled spring water before getting in a chlorine pool. It will dilute the harsh chemicals.
Be careful in the sun. Please use hats, scarves or products with sunscreens to help protect against color fade and the drying effects of the sun. Great for the beach, leave-in conditioners generally contain sunscreens to protect against color fade.
Shampoo gently with a shampoo specially created for color-treated hair.
Use color enhancing conditioners as color grows out to help blend root areas.
Don’t brush hair when wet. Comb with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends toward the scalp.
Don’t over dry. When you blow dry, dry the hair until it is almost, but not completely, dry. Leave some moisture in to prevent static.

The chilling cold in the air from the sudden change of seasons can leave your skin chapped and devastatingly dry. Winter atmosphere is notorious for scarcity of humidity, compounded by indoor heating which is winter’s most vicious skin-drying scoundrel.

Winter often spells disaster for your skin. It looks rough and chapped, feels tight and drawn. What should be one of your greatest assets becomes one of your biggest beauty problems. You have to take extra care for your skin during this season and with our tips you will find that having a beautiful skin is not that difficult after all.

Your mission: remove less oil and moisture, and add extra oil and moisture as needed.

Keep your whole body hydrated. Drink approximately 64 ounces or more of water daily. Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you intake; these act as diuretics releasing fluid from the body.

Protect your skin from sun damage. Apply sunblock, preferably SPF 25 or higher, as a part of your daily skin care routine all year long. Remember to apply to all parts of your body that will be exposed during the day: face, arms, neck, etc.

Take warm-not hot showers or baths or at least reduce the amount of time. While this may not seem best during the cold winters it will actually help prevent the amount of natural acid mantel that is stripped off by the hot water which leads to dry skin. A soak in a warm bath amply infused with sweet almond or jojoba oil would be a soothing and skin-nourishing way to end the day.

Ditch your usual soap and use an emollient-rich beauty bar, such as Dove or Oil of Olay. Cleanse gently and don’t soap up dry parts such as legs and arms.

Smooth on body oil or lotion as soon as you get out of the shower, to trap in the shower’s moisture. Apply petroleum jelly on problem areas to seal in moisture and heal very dry skin. This includes your face — petroleum jelly is noncomedogenic (it won’t clog your pores) and very soothing.

The eyes are the window to the soul, and the skin around them is no exception. That is why it is easy to tell a person’s age by how wrinkled or bright the skin around their eyes looks. There are many reasons for wrinkle development – the sun, the wind, and even the cold can all cause wrinkle formation. A person’s genetics also plays a role in how wrinkles form, an anti wrinkle eye cream may be a good option to consider treating the development of lines and wrinkles if it’s too late for you to prevent them completely.

Skin can also be strengthened with natural extracts like algae, which encourage new tissue to grow and revs up the natural skin cells. A product with multiple natural ingredients is a good place to start, and is also a product that will be more gentle on your skin.

The best formulation to look for is the nano-lipid form, which permeates through the skin instead of laying on it, which will do little to achieve the effect you’re looking for. Anti wrinkle eye creams containing CoQ10 help to firm up and regenerate the skin around the eyes by combating free radicals and slowing the oxidation of cells. Skin hydration also helps improve the appearance of wrinkles, and the creams with the best results use plant-based oils such as Babassu oil or orange essential oil to moisturize.

There are some ingredients to stay away from when looking for an anti wrinkle eye cream, however. Your skin can get dried out from Parabens, which can lead to disease. Pores can get clogged from mineral oils, and this can stop your skin from being hydrated and refreshing itself.

Even synthetic fragrances, which are a pleasant-smelling touch but not necessary, have been found to be cancer causing. Be sure to avoid these ingredients, and stick instead to natural ones that haven’t been tested on animals.

You can amp up the results you get by drinking a lot of water, and maintaining a healthy diet and a consistent exercise program. Be sure to invest in a good sunscreen, too. The right one provides protection against all kinds of UV rays and helps reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Large, dark sunglasses can also help reduce crow’s feet, and hey, they look good too!

Do your research into the available products, and make sure what you’re reading is from credible sources, like a dermatologist or medical professional. Compare the ingredients, and be sure to look for CoQ10, or Coenzyme 10, a key antioxidant that helps heal skin tissue and aids with hydration.

Inform yourself before you shop. Pick a product with natural ingredients, one that will support the soft skin around your eyes and refresh your skin. The best anti wrinkle eye cream for you is one that works with your body- not one that harms it.

Lips tend to dry out the fastest at this time of year. Be sure to keep them covered with a good lip balm applied several times during the day. Warm sesame oil will also soothe your lips . Avoid licking your lips and don’t bite the skin on the surface of your lips. The skin will never have a chance to heal if you chew on it. This is a hard habit to break but well worth the effort. Lip balms are now commonly available with an SPF factor as well to protect them from the harmful rays.

If your hair tends to fly, avoid using hair spray, instead put a drop of cream conditioner on your brush before styling your hair

For dry hair follow this treatment once in two weeks: Take two tablespoons of olive oil. Warm it and massage on your head. Cover your hair with poly bag and then cover this bag with a warm towel. This will give steaming effect to the hair. Keep it there for half an hour and then rinse and shampoo.
For massaging your head, take the fingers of hand a bit apart and press the pads of your finger hard on head. Massage gently.
Rinse the conditioner off to avoid stickiness

Cosmetic care for dry hair

The protein conditioner:

Take one tablespoon of castor oil, one tablespoon of almond oil, one tablespoon of glycerine, a teaspoon of cider vinegar and a teaspoon of protein and four drops of sandalwood. Beat this mixture together. Apply it on the head and keep for 20 days minutes. Rinse with clean water

A special massage oil/toner:

Take equal quantities of castor oil and coconut oil, in this add a teaspoon of lavender essential oil. Heat a little and massage gently into the scalp at night. Shampoo your hair in the morning. Do this at least twice a week.

To make hair shine:

Spread a few drops of ylang ylang on the palm of your hand and apply it to freshly washed dry hair. This will give your hair an instant shine and moreover keep your splits away.

Dark spots, and freckles, and skin-damage – oh my! Looking to lighten your complexion? Every shade of skin is beautiful, but as we grow older our skin tone can change. Freckles may appear, dark spots can arise, and skin may not be as light as it once was. So, if you’re still not ready to embrace your dark side, read on for a few natural whitening tips and tricks.

Use Sunblock
One of the easiest ways to stay fair is to use sunblock on a daily basis. Find a moisturizer that includes an SPF of 15 or higher and use it every morning after washing your face. Sunblock not only prevents your skin from getting darker, but also blocks harmful UV rays that can cause cancer and premature aging. Remember your hands when applying sunblock, as they are a prime area for age spots.

Exfoliate
Exfoliating once a week will remove dead skin cells to lighten and brighten your skin. Mix two tablespoons oatmeal and two tablespoons brown sugar with a quarter cup of milk, and stir until a paste forms. Gently scrub your face, rinse, and moisturize.

Make a Mask
A homemade mask is a great way to lighten your skin and a good excuse to kick back on the couch. Try using one once a week. Use one tablespoon of each of the following: sandalwood paste, lemon juice, tomato juice, and cucumber juice. Mix them all together to form a paste. Spread the mixture on your face and wait until it dries. Rinse and moisturize for a natural glow.

Licorice Extract
Licorice extract contains glabridin, a component that acts as a natural skin whitener. Apply a thin layer of the extract morning and evening, after you wash your face and before you moisturize. Licorice extract can be found at any health food store or ordered online. Be sure to store the bottle in a cool, dark place to maintain freshness. Note: test a small amount on the back of your arm before using on your face to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction.

Remember to love your skin no matter what color it is. It’s a part of who you are and that’s what makes you beautiful and unique.

Take a handful each of dried reetha, amla and shikakai. Soak them in one litre water overnight. Next day, simmer the herbs on a low fire till the water reduces by half. Allow the mixture to cool and then strain it with a clean cloth. Use the liquid to wash hair. This quantity should be enough for four to five washes. Refrigerate it. Make small quantities at a time.

Curly hair is every junior high girl’s worst enemy! It seems like no matter what curly hair care products she uses, those curls are out of control! Curly hair, whether it be short curly hair or long, can either be a blessing, or a curse, depending on how it is treated!.
If you have curly hair, you know that there is no point in fighting it! Go with the curl, and learn how to make your naturally curly hair beautiful with these hair tips for curly hair!
Problems For The Curly Haired
The biggest problem with curly hair is frizz. Curly hair that is over worked and over styled will frizz, and lack life. Also, curls can get out of control easily. It is important to use the right curly hair products to control these two problems.
Top Tips For Curly Hair
Rather than fighting with your curly hair, learn how to work with it to make yourself beautiful. With these curly hair tips, you can take care of any style through proper naturally curly hair care.
Choose The Right Products
One of the biggest mistakes that those with naturally curly hair make is not using the right curly hair products. You need to choose conditioners and shampoos that are specially formulated for curly hair. Regular conditioners will weigh down the hair, creating flat, lifeless curls. Regular shampoos often do not contain enough moisture to bring curls to life. There are a variety of curly hair products on the market today, and those with curly hair must use shampoo and conditioner designed for their hair type.

The same is true for moose, gel, or hair spray. Normal hair styling products will weigh down curly hair. This gives your hair a crunchy, fake look. This is not the best style for curly hair. Choose products that will control your curl, while letting your hair breathe and look alive.
Your Comb is Important
When combing curly hair, never comb it when it is dry. This will cause frizz and breakage of the hair. Also, avoid using combs or brushes that are narrow toothed. Instead, use a pick or a comb with wide teeth to brush through your curly hair. You may want to use a sealer before brushing to protect your hair from split ends.

One of the most common reasons for lips to feel dry is when they’re being exposed to extremes of temperature, whether this is hot or cold. The lips may crack and feel very uncomfortable. Using a lip balm regularly throughout the day will help.

Moderate degrees of dehydration will also cause lip dryness. Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol can often be responsible. The solution when this is the case is to remember to drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquid throughout the day. Eight glasses of water each day is the recommended minimum. This needs to be increased during hot weather.

One of the things that many people do when their lips feel dry is to keep licking them in an effort to moisturize the lips. In most cases, however, this doesn’t solve the problem but makes matters worse. So try not to do this.

Eat a well balanced diet, include moderate exercise in your daily routine such as walking, protect your lips from the elements and you will never have another dry lip day.

The day of the wedding is perhaps the most-awaited day in the life of any woman and to look like a fairy queen is the dream of most of the brides. The bridal makeup is not only about makeup for the occasion but also about pre-bridal skin and facial care and treatments. It must be photography friendly too and thus, professional help is often desired to assist brides to look their best on this very special day of their lives. Correct use of colors and expert highlighting and contouring

leave you looking as stunning and dazzling, as you want. Choose cosmetics that are long lasting, can be easily blended and have high pigmentation level for your wedding day and you are free to use shimmer and gloss to make you shine. Cosmetic colors should compliment your wedding attire yet you must also keep in mind that there will be lots of flash photography and blue-toned colors will make you appear darker.

Naturally beautiful is the best look of all times and warm and neutral shades go a long way in helping you to achieve it. Fuschia and blue-red lipsticks may end up giving you a vampy look while frosted and highly reflective lipsticks are too old-fashioned these days. If you really want to shine and exude warmth, use sheer application of luminescent cosmetics instead. Remember, rightly applied concealers and foundations are your best friends on your bridal day. It is always a help to know your face well – your skin type, your facial features, undertone of your coloring and what you want to highlight and what you want to underplay. So determine these things, well before the wedding day. Rehearsals don’t harm you anyway and are very useful in successfully achieving the desired look on the main day.

For weddings in summers, spray your face with sealer after doing makeup so that it lasts longer. For make your lip color last longer, define your lips using the lip liner and then apply the lip color. Tissue off the extra color and reapply it. Seal it too and then add the gloss or shimmer. Be sure to take good care of skin and cleanse, moisturize, tone and protect it months before wedding. Don’t forget to use sunscreens and sun blocks with vitamins and nutrients good for skin too. Coordinate the color of your eyebrows with your hair and use a firm angled bristle brush to comb them properly. Gray ash blondes can use ash brown shade to cover their eyebrows while redheads can use reddish brown shades or orange or gold tones depending upon the undertone of your hair.

The beauty sleep before the wedding is absolutely essential so make sure that you are well rested and well fed on the day of your wedding despite all the excitement, fun and anxiety so that you do not look dull and sick at the time of the occasion. Keep one of your friends nearby with all the little things that you might need for that quick touchup such as powder, hair pins, safety pins, lip color and gloss, paper tissue, Qtips and even a mild pain killer, just in case. Keep a second pair of very comfortable shoes handy so you don’t look as if you are going to try just because your feet are hurting so! It is always better to check what hairstyles suit you well before the wedding, so you don’t mess up on the day of the occasion. Makeovers are thrilling but try them out much before the wedding so that you don’t land up feeling strange and uncomfortable on the big day.

Applying cosmetics on a daily basis may make the women feel more confident but may not be a good idea for sensitive skin. Only quality products should be used for routine use and choosing cosmetics is an important step towards skin care and health. For daily purposes, powder cosmetics are preferable as they keep the shine under control and have lesser preservatives and skin irritants than liquid ones. If liquid foundation is an item you cannot possibly cross out, opt for one with a silicone base as it does not cause acne. The makeup remover to clean out waterproof cosmetics also wipes out the protective layer of sebum from the skin, so use waterproof cosmetics only occasionally.

Never use cosmetics that have crossed their expiry dates. Normally, life span of mascaras is about three to four months, foundations and lipsticks last for one year while powder and eye shadows last for about two years. It is also important to wash and clean brushes and sponges regularly. Black mascaras and eyeliners are dramatic and also the least allergenic of all colorants. Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow pencils that are wax based should work for daily use and they can be cleaned off using only water. Light earth tones not only give you a natural look but are less likely to cause skin irritation than the darker colors.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor 15 or higher and ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to avoid harmful effects of UVA rays. Cosmetics with fewer ingredients are much safer, so for daily use, opt for cosmetics that have no more than 10 ingredients. Remember, nail polishes are not for daily use. For a quick pedicure, scrape the dead skin off the soles of your feet after shower using an emery board, rub them over with lotion or olive oil or petroleum jelly and push back the cuticles of your toenails. To maintain them, wear socks all the time. If socks make you feel hot, cut the toe section and ankle section of your socks. You can do a quick manicure in a similar fashion too and maintain them by wearing socks or gloves at night.

If you do not have a flawless complexion, concealer will be one of the most valuable cosmetics in your quest for beauty perfection. It can be used to disguise broken capillaries, dark circles, pimples and blemishes, and to even out skin tone. For the best all-round coverage, opt for a stick concealer (creamy and liquid concealers can be quite oily and have a tendency to slide on and glide off, creasing on the face, whereas stick formulas will stay put).

A concealer is used to hide undereye circles. Choose a concealer close to the color of your skin; they usually come in three colorslight, medium and dark (whatever color you choose, make sure it is close to your skin color-and don’t get white! That will result in your not only looking like an owl, but will actually accentuate the circles by making them very noticeable). Apply starting at the center of the area and move outward. While the concealer is still damp apply a loose powder on top to set, seal, and dry the concealer. Once these steps are completed you can decide weather of not to use foundation.

There are some concealers with other colors in them, which is useful for certain kinds of dark circles (for example, if you have very dark blue circles under your eyes, get a concealer with a touch of green in it). Whenever I use a concealer I make sure it is about three shades lighter than my regular foundation, because I then blend it with my foundation. Choosing the color of a concealer is personal, as long as you leave out that white.

The easiest concealers to apply are those in a wand because they are so creamy they can be applied smoothly, without stretching or pulling the skin (the skin under your eyes is very sensitive and can be stretched easily). Concealers that come in a small pot require you to dip your finger in them, something that is difficult to do if you have long nails (so use the outside tip of your nail).

The only drawback with them is that they can be more difficult to blend . To overcome this, work the stick up and down the back of your hand. The product will warm up, making it more pliable and so easier to use. Apply it with the fingertips so that It literally melts into the skin. Those with dry skin will need a concealer with emollients to counteract dryness, while those with oily, problem skins will need a concealer which stays put, is oil-free and contains antibacterial ingredients to help treat blemishes and spots.

HOW TO APPLY CONCEALER

To counteract blueness and dark circles under the eyes, go for a concealer with a yellow undertone that is one to two shades lighter than the colour of the skin itself. If concealer is being used to mask pimples, to even out skin tone or to tone down broken capillaries, ensure that the shade you choose has a yellow undertone (pinkish shades will only accentuate redness) and is a good match for the natural colour of your skin. Make-up artists advise testing concealer shades on the inside of the forearm.

CONCEALER APPLICATION

Always apply your concealer on top of foundation and before you add powder. If you try to do things the other way round, you might wipe the concealer off when applying your foundation. To disguise under-eye darkness, gently pat concealer under the eyes using the index finger. Exert only gentle pressure and blend outwards, taking care not to drag the skin.

To conceal bags under the eyes, put concealer on the shadow beneath the bag, not on the bag itself, otherwise you’ll end up highlighting rather than hiding the problem. To cover up broken capillaries or uneven skin tone, you can either massage concealer into the skin or paint it on with a brush and blend with the fingertips. To touch out any blemishes or unsightly-looking spots, paint on concealer with a brush.

Remember to start at the centre of the imperfection and feather outwards.

APPLY CONCEALER – PROBLEM SOLVERS

If your concealer dries and cakes In fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, try using an eye cream under the concealer; make sure you use only a small amount of concealer and opt for one with a matt finish to create the illusion of smooth skin.

To prevent the concealer highlighting a problem you’re trying to hide, apply a light moisturizer as an undercoat. Allow It to soak in and then dab away any excess with a tissue. This will make the skin soft and more even to work on. For extra staying power, once you have applied concealer, especially over pimples, set with a light dusting of sheer powder. If concealed areas dry out and start to flake throughout the day, gently pat on a small amount of moisturizer.

CONCEALERS – COVERING SCARS

Scars or birthmarks can be disguised using heavy-duty concealers. As additional coverage is required, it’s best to buy a preparation from a specialist makeup store, not a general cosmetic counter. Concealers designed for television will give great coverage and are available in water resistant and waterproof formulations to ensure they stay put In a range of different circumstances.

To apply lip liner & lip gloss requires a work of art because you need to know how perfectly the angles of the lips. However, before doing the applications, you need to choose the best colors of lip liner and lip gloss you will be using. You also need to know your purpose of choosing the right colors if it will perfectly pout your lips or what. Further more, before the application of lip liner and lip gloss, you need to determine the best lipstick you will be using that is long lasting, perfect and made with the finest ingredients that will enhance your look as well as the skin of your lips.

Tips to Apply lip liner & lip gloss

Before putting on a lip color on your lips, use a lip liner or pencil as this will help in forming the natural shape of your mouth. Lip liners also helps add to the cleaning definition of your lips as well as the redefining power of your mouth. To apply the lip liner you just have to draw line outside your natural lip line for more fullness and another line on the inside of your natural lip line to make it appear slightly thinner. But if you want to achieve a luscious pout for your lips, add a line on the bottom lip that is two shades lighter than the line of your upper lip.

For a more party look, enhance and soften your upper lip line in a heavy stroke of the lip liner. Afterwards, smudge the end of your pinkie with slight upward stroke. Finally, apply your lipstick on the edge of the original line that you have drawn. For a more freedom on your lip colors, ensure that you have the various colors of your lip liner pencils as one single color of lip liner will not cut it out especially if you want to create an illusion of fullness and heavier for your lips.

Applying lip gloss with essential oils will make your lips look wonderful as well as your feeling. The choices of warm and cool shades for your lip gloss are great for your lipstick as these will make your favorite lipstick color to have that extra layer of light loving color. Plus, you can even wear lip glosses alone if you want a more pretty and natural look. However, in achieving this look, choose the best lip gloss that matches your skin tone.

The eyebrow experts say never, never to pluck your eyebrows from above, but always to pluck from the bottom of the brow.

Eyebrow plucking tips to help you achieve beautiful eyebrows. The perfect eyebrow starts above the inside corner of your eye (over the tear duct), and ends at the outside corner, above your eyelashes. Eyebrow plucking is an art. Plucking can make your eyes look larger and give your face a clean, polished look.

Eyebrow plucking tips to help you achieve beautiful eyebrows. Eyebrow plucking should ideally be timed just before hitting the sack as the sleep time that follows allows any subsequent redness to disappear overnight. Slant edge tweezers, which grip hairs easily, are best for shaping brows while combing hairs one way, then the other, helps remove loose strands. When plucking, pluck the stray hair underneath the eyebrow – not above the eyebrow.

Eyebrow Plucking

Plucking Eyebrow Tips :

Sit near a window to get the best light.

Use a pair of angled eyebrow tweezers to pluck the hairs below the brow; never shape your brow by plucking above it. Pluck only one hair at a time.

A tweezer with a pointed or slanted tip will grip the hairs best.

Be careful to pull the hair, not the skin when tweezing. While its easy to accidentally grab the skin, doing so may result in redness or bleeding. If redness does occur, rinse your face with cold water and apply a cold eye mask to soothe the flushed skin.

Always pluck below the brow line, so the hair coming back will follow the natural arch of your brow.

Wash the area thoroughly so it’s not oily.

Afterwards use a cotton ball or pad soaked in pure tea tree oil or witch hazel to soothe your plucked brows.

There are tweezers on the market that are specially designed for plucking eyebrows. They cost a bit more but make the experience less painful.

Eventually, the effects of time begin show on our faces. Here are four simple techniques to look your best no matter what age you are.

1. Instead of the traditional lip liner pencil, line your lips with a stiff bristled brush using your blush. This gives your lipstick the staying power that helps prevent any bleeding or feathering of your lip color around your lips.

2. To set your make-up, apply a loose translucent powder with a powder brush in the morning and do not reapply during the day. Excessive powder, especially from a compact, accentuates lines and wrinkles. If you need a touch up for shine, simply use a fluffy brush like our Complexion Brush and smooth it over your face.

3. Lessening the appearance of jowls (the lines from the edge of the nose to the corner of the mouth) is accomplished with Beige Eye-lite. Using a highlighter de-emphasizes the shadow created by the jowl thus making it less noticeable. Check your chart in the Free Facial Chart section of our site for a guide on Beige Eye-lite placement. To lessen the appearance of a saggy neck, use a non-frosted powder slightly darker than your natural skin tone and apply it under your chin. This creates the effect of a shadow, therefore making it less prominent.

4. Forget the myth that you shouldn’t wear frosted eye shadow over the age of thirty. Frosted eye shadows, if applied properly, can make you look young. Never use one color on the entire eyelid! Per your Free Facial Chart, use one light color under your brow, one color on your eyelid close to your lashes and one slightly darker shade on the crease if desired. And, most of all… Blend, blend, blend!

Remember that subtlety is the key. Armed with these four techniques, you have the arsenal to take on aging and look your best!

It’s time to toss out your spring and summer makeup and step into fall’s new collection of dazzling colors, shimmery shadows and dramatic looks. It’s a time for renewing your way of thinking and changing your look for the better. So if you’re a drama queen, try subduing your look this fall by going for a simpler, more natural look. If you tend to shy away from dramatic looks, embrace it by adding lots of color to your makeup collection.

GET THE NATURAL LOOK
There is nothing more beautiful than a woman who feels confident enough to wear her makeup in a simple, natural way. You can get this soft, natural look by accentuating your best features and keeping everything clean and simple.

GET THE DRAMATIC LOOK
This is for all of you that shy away from dramatic makeup; it’s time to play it up! Dark, dramatic makeup is reminiscent of the late 1950’s Hollywood celebs and is always a timeless, classic look that is great for the evening.

Makeup can boost up confidence and sense of feel-good factor. People feel more socially inclined after doing makeup and knowing how to do it correctly can transform a recluse into an outgoing person. Indulge yourself with our beauty, body care and makeup tips, do a manicure and chase away the feeling of weariness and rejuvenate yourself to undertake the upcoming challenges of each day. Views on beauty are changing. It is not only about cosmetics but being fit, healthy, relaxed and clean. Even men want to know how to get the closest shave possible and about massage oils that can help them relax after that strenuous workout.

If high-class spas and expensive beauty saloons are out of your reach you can use the makeup tips given here and find more about the aromatherapy, facial treatments, massage tips and homemade recipes that you can prepare at home. Know how to make your eyebrows, eyes and lips look more beautiful, help the bride out with the valuable tips given here, know more about body designing and how to apply makeup in different seasons such as monsoons, winter and summer, in this section.

Use loose powder to set makeup and compact powder for easy touch-ups during the day or night. For excessively oily skin, use Translucent Ultra Matte Powder.

# For warmer climates or in the summer, take special care to set your foundation with a loose powder, as heat tends to create slipping or running of your foundation. This is especially so in the case of cream foundation as they tend to have a higher oil content.
# Set your foundations with a Sacha Cosmetics Loose Powder. Keep your compact powder handy for touch ups during the day. If you ’shine’ a lot you should use an oil absorbent powder such as Sacha’s Ultra Matte Powders in Light, Medium or Dark.

# Dust a light layer of pressed powder over the face. A pressed powder with an SPF 15 that includes the UVA-protecting ingredients avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide is an excellent option to assure all day sun protection.

# Too much color? Most makeup artists dust on a layer of loose powder or pressed powder to take off the edge.

Oily Skin:

The moisturizers for patients with oily skin should be non-comedogenic or oil-free.

Dry Skin:

There are a small percentage of people who actually have dry skin on their face, these people will be dry on the cheeks and jawline. Many of these patients work outside in rough elements, and many of these people are over 50 years of age. For these patients a creamy moisturizer in a lotion or cream is very effective. If they do not have sensitive skin, they can wear whatever products feels good.

The reason for the paucity of dry skin on the face, is that there is an abundance of sebaceous glands on the face to prevent dryness. These are particularly active in young people, in men, and in many normal women. If a person is scaly in the center of the face central forehead, around the nose, and on the central chin, this may be seborrheic dermatitis. The use of a heavy moisturizer in people who have central facial dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) could lead to acne.

Normal – Combination Skin:

Most people have oily skin on the forehead, nose, and chin (called th T-zone), and dryer skin on the cheeks and neck. When the humidity is low, it may be necessary to moisturize the face. The most prudent of patients ,male or female, will select a non-comedogenic moisturizer which contains a minimum SPF of 15 in it for daily use. There are legions of such products reasonably priced, which will prevent cancer and photoaging.

Moisturizers – Body Skin:

Because there are very few sebaceous (oil) glands on the arms and legs, moisturizers are very important. Winter, dry climates, and windy climates are very hard on the skin of the body. Many body lotions incorporate sunblocks for a daily routine. This is very important for sun exposed skin.

Often heavy moisturizers such as petrolatum Aquaphor, Cetaphil cream, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula, and other Jar or tube moisturizers are needed for dry climates. What may be appropriate for facial skin may be too thin for the arms, legs, hands, and feet.

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