Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty. Show all posts

Feb 11, 2009

How to Get Pretty Lips


Every woman wants full lips such as those like Angelina Jolie but if you are not born with it, do not despair. There are ways for us to achieve pretty lips with a bit of daily care and lip makeup.

The daily lip care is essential as it sets the foundation for beautiful kissable lips.
To get smooth lips, check out the following steps

1) Always drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated. This will also help to reduce chapped lips.
2) Scrub your lips gently to remove dry skin for smooth application of lipstick
3) Use a lip balm to moisturize your chapped lips as and when necessary. Buy those with at least SPF15 in them to prevent lip burn.
4) When buying a lipstick, get those with moisturizing ingredients.
5) Apply moisturizer to your lips as a skincare treatment.

Once you have included the above steps in your daily routine, we can now move on to using the techniques to get those pretty lips.

Tip 1
Choosing the right lipstick color is very important. It is definitely not one color for all in the case of lipstick. You will not want to apply a lip color which makes your lips overexposed. If you have fair complexion, natural colors or light shimmer glosses will be a great pick.

Tip 2
If you want fuller lips, dab your lip gloss in the center of your lips. This will give the illusion of fuller lips.

Tip 3
If you feel that your lips are too large, use dark matte colors and avoid lip gloss or shimmer colors to downplay the size of your lips.

With the above few suggestions, you are now on your way to kissable lips!

Click Makeup Celebrity for a wide range of Japanese lipsticks.

Author operates an online store at http://www.makeupcelebrity.com which brings best Japanese comestics and skincare to the world.

Why is Brazilian Hair Straightening So Popular? Is it Just a Fad?


Why obsesses over what goes on in the present? Why mold yourself to every time a new fad happens to come your way? Surely your life has many more pressing needs that demand your attention. Your personal vanity cannot interfere with each and every one of these demands. If that is the case however, you need to seriously reprioritize. Fashion changes every week, if not every day. Who's to say the toil you put yourself through, the money you spend and the time you invest in a certain look, may be out of style a day later. What it all boils down to then, is what you view your own self as in relation to world around you. The only statement you can ever truly make is a statement of originality. Indeed originality is the very spawning pool for all fashion and trends at any point in time the world over.

Is It Truly Worth The Risk?

Even if you are in complete coherence with the world around you, and feel you must conform to all manner of fashion, is it worth the risk? Would that need for conformity be as pressing if there were potential risks involved? In the case of the Brazilian hair straightening techniques and their variations including the Brazilian Keratin Technique, there are signs that these risks exist. Your hair is not only subject to the singing of a hot iron, there is also the application of a sizable dose of protein based solutions that have known carcinogenic ingredients. The existence of carcinogenic elements immediately makes this procedure hazardous for some including hypochondriacs. There are also studies that have shown the chemicals in these solutions and the subsequent hair care products associated with their upkeep as being harmful for pregnant women and their children.

Originality; the Ethos of Your Persona

If you are severely affected by the trends you see around you then you may find all this talk of originally all too irrelevant. If you are in the business of fashion you may reject the notion all together. But think about it for a moment. Your originality is the hallmark of your entire persona. It is of course, an amalgam of many things, not just the way you look. It is perhaps therefore as important to maintain the integrity of your appearance, as it is to maintain the integrity of your character

Beauty is Never Absolute

There is no absolute in beauty. Why change the natural look in you? For it is what makes you unique to all other people. Each individual is different and unique in their own way. That is what makes human beings such beautiful creatures. We are not creatures whose beauty can be judged in absolutes. We are a species that is seen in relation to one another. We are a sea of faces; each with a façade as unique and special as the story behind them. Why bury your uniqueness under layers of mundane pretence.

I have been in the hair care business for over 10 years. For more information about Brazilian Straightening Treatments visit my website or talk to your local hair care professional.

Feb 10, 2009

What Would a Fashion Model's Diet Plan be



Have you ever wondered how the so-called super models manage to get in such good shape and stay trim, even after having a family?

Fashion models depend on their slim figures for their livelihood, so it's imperative that they always look good. Don't worry, I'm not suggesting that you should embark on a diet of leaves and nuts. I'm not an advocate of the size zero, but I'm sure you'll find it interesting to know what sort of diet a fashion model would choose.

The Fashion Models Diet Plan

A favourite way for models to look good is to "Cleanse" or "Fast". This is not a complete starvation diet, as it will include the intake of soups and fruit juices over a 3 to7 day period. It is more of a detox routine and is gernerally only carried out once or twice a year.

The benefits of this detox is to obviously rid the body of harmful toxins, such as preservatives and food additives together with inhaled smoke and fumes. It also gives the colon a chance to rid the digestive system of any fecal build up. The results can be dramatic as the liver and kidneys are able to repair and replace damaged cells instead of continuing to rid the body of toxins.

A typical "Cleanse" diet might consist of a combination of fresh carrots, celery, beet, spinach, apple, coconut, broth and juices. Citrus and tomato juices are too acidic to drink while fasting so these should be avoided. It's important to drink plenty of water during the detox and avoid consuming any unnecessary medications or supplements.

The advantages of a detox are weight loss, reduced body odour, shinier finger nails, stronger hair, reduced cellulite, a glowing complexion and more beautiful eyes.

After the detox, the typical fashion model will then begin her normal eating habits, which to some people may appear to be a "real" diet. However, it will simply be a healthy balanced diet, which might typically consist of the following:

---Breakfast (9am)
One boiled egg with a slice of wholewheat bread
A bowl of cereal with skimmed milk
Black coffee
Total 369 calories

---Lunch (12.30pm)
Turkey salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Cup of tea with skimmed milk
Total 320 calories

---Early Evening Snack (4.30pm)
Low fat Jell-O pudding
Total 100 calories

---Dinner (8pm)
Lean Cuisine chicken a l'orange with rice
2 slices of low fat cheddar cheese with wholewheat crackers
Total 448 calories

The total calorie intake for a typical day is 1237. The aim of the diet is to keep the daily calorie count below 1500.

This is a typical example of a fashion model's diet, which will also involve some form of aerobic exercises 3 times a week.

So, as you can see it's not at all what you might have originally thought. It's just a sensible eating plan and a sensible exercise routine. However, if even this diet seems a little too much to stomach, you could try a natural herbal diet remedy.

Here are the top 5 tips that fashion models highly recommend for staying in trim.

1. Decrease your alcohol consumption. Alcohol suppresses the body's ability to burn fat.

2. Eat more Black Pepper, Ginger, Chile Peppers. Spicy food helps speed up the body's metabolism.

3. Increase your muscle mass. Muscle burns fat, so adding 5lbs of muscle will help you burn another 250 calories a day.

3. Increase your vitamin B and Calcium intake. The B-Vitamins give you more energy and increase your metabolism.

4. Drink More Water. A healthy, well-hydrated body is important to flush out toxins and aid in metabolising fats

5. Increase your intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Omega 3 fatty acids can help to balance blood sugar levels and control appetite.

Feb 9, 2009

Perfumes and Fragrances


Mankind has been using perfume for quite a long time. Some people say it was first discovered in ancient Egypt and used by different civilizations such as ancient Chinese, Hindus, Israelites, Carthaginians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans and finally reintroduced hundreds of years later in France. Ever since, French perfume has become famous worldwide and today sets the standard for excellence.

The word perfume comes from Latin, meaning �through smoke�. Perfume came into being in the early days, through the burning of incense and aromatic herbs. Ever since, it has influenced mankind up to a point to become a product of desire.

For those purchasing perfumes, it is wise to become familiarized with basic fragrance groups which will help to find the perfect perfume one might be looking for.

The citrus fragrance category derives from different fruits such as lime, lemon, tangerine, mandarin and others, creating a sort of refreshing aroma. Mostly used during the summer. Appropriate for office wear, day or evening wear.

The floral fragrance category derives from large varieties of flowers such as vanilla, jasmine, roses and others. It is the most popular and used fragrance group. The scent of romance and starry nights.

The oriental fragrance category derives from mixtures of spices, resins, amber, balsams and other exotic essences, creating a warm and exotic feeling. Widely used during the winter season in the evening.

The chypre fragrance category derives from different wood-moss mixes, providing earthly aromas such as oak moss and other types of wood. Chypre fragrances smell slightly dry, not very sweet. Chypre perfumes are rich and tenacious, usually for those who tend to prefer slightly out of the norm fragrances.

The green fragrance category derives from scents of pine, leaves, herbs, juniper and others, providing a sharp outdoor scent. Good day wear and occasional evening wear in warmer weather.

The Fougere category of perfume scents derives from bergamot, oakmoss and geranium, and is mostly used my men. It has a classy style. Great fragrance choice for distinguished gentlemen.

These diversified fragrances will evoke different feelings and people just seem to enjoy that very much. Now that the basic fragrance groups have been explained, it�s up to one to make the best of his next perfume purchase and make use of the perfume fragrance that best suits his lifestyle.

However, while purchasing perfumes one should bewared that famous brand name perfumes are fairly expensive. If one is looking for genuine perfumes, he must be willing to spend fairly amount of money. However evoking memories of romantic moments thru fragrances may just be priceless and the expensive perfume price may just become fair.

Roberto Sedycias
IT Consultant

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author�s name and all the URL�s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Articles section of page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/perfume-fragrancia.php


Roberto Sedycias has a bachelor degree in Business Administration and over 20 years experience in systems analysis and computer programming. Currently working as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

Rules for Spring Beauty


There's a new sophistication in spring makeup this year. It is neither softly feminine nor is it hard edged. There's a flash of metal but it is offset by pale softness. Make-up is minimalist this season that hints at purity, but it is far from perfect.

FRESH SKIN

Give your skin the perfect finish and ditch the bronzer for once. Spring clean your skin and give it a dewy freshness with a mist of sheer foundation to conceal the flaws. Prep your face with a makeup primer. Dust your face lightly with translucent powder to get a clean finish. Dab a little shimmer cream on the high points in your face to reflect light for a dewy look.

OLD BROWS

Thin, over-tweezed, brows are passe. During the fashion weeks, international makeup artists worked on thick, well defined, arched brows to frame the face. Well-defined brows add character to the look. Get yours done to match the shape of your face. The winged look and the arched shape are the popular choice for the make-up artists this season. They claim that thicker brows add glamour to the otherwise low-key make-up of the season.

FULL LASHES

Recreate wide-eyed innocence with some fake lashes. You can go a little overboard with it without feeling guilty. Instead of attaching the whole lash strip, makeup artists cut little lash clusters and glued them in between the real lashes at equal distance. Then piled on mascara to set the eye look. They enhanced the look with a dash of beige or gold eye shadow. If you are not ready to go for falsies, then use a double dose of lengthening and volumising mascara. Use a lash primer before you apply the mascara to build the volume. Go easy on the eye shadow though.

ELEGANT EYES

Metals are hot for spring eye make-up. It adds that edge to the spring's soft makeup. In almost all the major international shows, whether it was Chanel, Prada or Donna Karan, models sported variations of gold and silver shadows. Wear yours as a layer over a beige, khaki or brown shade to create an intense look. Ditch the black eyeliner this season. Focus on using dark colours like, silver grey, midnight blue or chocolate brown as a liner. In case you cannot live without the staple black eyeliner, then use it to draw a thin line to rim your upper and lower lash lines without extending it at the corner to highlight the eyes. To get a soft, spring maiden look, use a peach, pink or lilac shade on your lid close to the lash line, then blend in silver or gold shadow till the crease.

CORAL CHEEKS

A dash of peach, coral or subtle red blush on your cheekbones is the way to enhance spring's fresh face trend. Makeup artists put the coral and red blush where bronzers used to sit last season. To get your blush right, start with a peach blush from the lower apple of your cheeks going up to the temple. Then blend in an intense coral or red colour half way from the cheekbones till the hairline to create a subtly graded look. Pick a blush with a pearly accent to it rather than one that gives a matte effect.

LUSCIOUS LIPS

Neutral and pink lips are back again this season but with a little twist. Instead of hi gloss, the texture is sheer or creamy matte. When choosing a nude shade, go for the ones that have a warm undertone with a hint of gold or terracotta. To get a healthy look, try a peach lipstick or a beige pink gloss. If the rest of your face is muted, then give your lips a full dose of colour with a bright pink lip colour, be it rose, pink or fuchsia. For a more glam night out, pick a bright coral; it is the new red for the season and complements skin tone beautifully. To get a soft matte finish, use a lip pencil dipped in lip balm to fill in your mouth. Or use a gloss and gently blot away the shine. No harsh lip line if you want to look hip.

HIP HAIR

Like rest of the look, hair this season is fuss free and off your face. Low buns, high ponytails, pulled-back braids, loose waves and headbands define tress trend for spring. Slick back your hair and twist it around to form a low bun at the nape. Pull out a few strands to soften the hairstyle. To add glamour to this style, simply make a side part and then pull back the hair into a low chignon. Pull up your hair into a really high ponytail and wrap the base with hair to give a sophisticated look. To dress it up, use a wide silk or organza ribbon to tie up a large bow around the ponytail. A headband is no longer a schoolgirl hair accessory. It adds femininity to adult hair dos as well. Ornate or stretchy bands are a fashionable way to keep hair off your face.

Papaya � A Natural Choice for a Facial Mask




Papaya is a natural for incorporating into your skin care regime. The fruit offers anti-oxidants and are rich in essential enzymes. Papaya has both preventative and restorative properties when used in skin care. Papaya�s powerful fruit enzymes are know to aid and accelerate healing in skin disorders such as acne. In addition, the fruit enzymes are a gently exfoliation to the skin.

The yellow fruit is usually available all year long, however is more easily found in the super markets between April and October. Papaya offers extensive benefits in skin care therapy. When applied to the face, it reduces wrinkles, nourishes the skin with Vitamin A which accelerates the formation of new skin cells, and exfoliates the skin. In addition, it is loaded with Vitamin C, which is an anti-oxidant. The beta-carotene in this fruit protects the skin and promotes elasticity.

Papaya is used is many skin care products today and provides a �natural� face lift and rejuvenation bring a wonderful and natural glow to the skin. It is commonly seen in toners, moisturizers, and facial peels. In addition, it is gently enough for all skin types.

An occasional facial peel is a great way to loosen dead skin cells, which improve the texture of the skin while restoring elasticity. In addition, peels reduce pore size, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and helps with blotchiness and stimulate collage production.

To effectively use this recipe, cleanse face and steam to open pores. The skin will be moist and receptive to the peel.

Papaya Peel

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh pineapple
Half-a-cup fresh papaya

1 tablespoon honey

Puree fruit together. Add honey and mix into a smooth paste.

Pineapple and papaya contain natural enzymes and alpha-hydroxy acids that remove dead skin cells while the honey moisturizes the skin. Leave mask on 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse completely.

For more wonderful skin care recipes and products, visit http://completeskincaretherapy.com

Feb 3, 2009

Facial Cleansing for Specific Skin Types


Cleansing is a vital step in your skin care regime. Proper cleansing with products specific for your skin type will improve your overall appearance. Daily cleansing is important to remove dirt and bacteria, sweat, air pollution, excess oils and in addition cleansing exfoliates the skin surface to promote circulation.

Proper cleansing starts with clean hands. This prevents the transfer of bacteria to your face. Apply your cleansing cream at the forehead and then sweep the cleanser over the face, lips, and neck. Massage the cleanser into your skin in a gentle circular motion. Eye make up can be removed with specially formulated eye creams, as some facial cleansers are not suited to be applied to the eye area. Thoroughly rinse your face with cool or tepid water (not to hot or to cold). Extreme hot or cold water can cause flushing and break sensitive capillaries in the skin. Hot water will open the pores and expose these pores to environmental pollution and dirt.

The best cleanser is those that clean the skin without stripping them of the natural fatty oils that protect and waterproof the skin. Removing excess oils in the skin can be accomplished without harsh soaps and strong cleansing creams that dry out the skin. This drying affect leaves the skin exposed to bacteria, cellular damage, and prone to fine lines and wrinkles due to lack of moisture.

Below are easy recipes for various skin types:

Normal Skin
No matter what skin type, choose mild liquid or soap gels for cleansing your face. Soaps made for bath, body and hands tend to be drying no matter what skin type and should be avoided on the face and neck. When buying store bought cleansing creams look for avocado, coconut, or wheat germ. These natural ingredients are suitable for normal skin types. In addition, below is a facial cleanser for normal skin types:

Gentle Facial Cleanser

1/2 cup oatmeal or cornmeal plain yogurt (add enough yogurt to form a paste)
Mix ingredients to form a paste. With your fingertips and in an upward circular motion, gently massage the paste into your skin. Rinse with warm water and then apply a toner and moisturizer.

Dry skin
First, stay away from hot water when cleansing the face and neck. The hot water opens the pores and extracts the natural moisture quickly. Your cleansing creams should contain non-detergent ingredients that will rinse off easily. When selecting your cleansing cream look for products that contain natural ingredients such as almond, olive or jojoba oils. Below is an easy cleansing recipe for dry skin types:

Honey Cleanser (For Dry Skin)
*Castile soap
1 Teaspoon Honey

Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add honey. Mix honey and soap into a lather, wash face.

*Castile soap is made from vegetable oil as opposed to animal fat like other soaps. Oils used in castile soap include olive, coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba

Oily skin
Avoid wax-based cleansers, as they are prone to clog pores. An easy recipe for oily skin is as follows:

3 tablespoons oatmeal 2 teaspoons witch hazel a few drops of water

Dampen oatmeal with few drops of water then add the witch hazel. Apply to your face with an upward and outward circular motion. Rinse with lots of warm water. This recipe is good for all kinds of skin. If you have dry skin add a little oil such as olive oil.

Combination skin
Use a foaming face wash in the morning to keep oily areas at bay. Your evening skin care regime you should use a cream cleanser to soothe the dry areas. The oatmeal recipe above is suited for all skin types and would be useful for combination skin types.

Sensitive skin
Cleanse with gentle, milky, water-soluble lotions and tepid water. Avoid gels or soaps that contain drying alcohol, preservatives, or strong-acting acids. Avoid exfoliating scrubs or astringents, which can cause inflammation.

1 cup dried chamomile
4 tablespoons honey
1 cup milk
8 teaspoons wheat germ

Steep chamomile in milk for a few hours. Strain, keeping liquid. Add honey and wheat germ to liquid mixture. Blend well. Place in a bottle. Refrigerate any used portions. Keeps up to a week.

The ingredients in this recipe add a variety of benefits to your skin. The Chamomile is one of the most used herbs in the cosmetic industry. It is used in soaps and cleansing creams to soothe and soften the skin. The milk a natural alpha hydroxyl acid that helps the skin exfoliates and removes dead skin cells off the surface of the skin. It is very hydrating and soothing to the complexion. The wheat germ contains vitamin E and B, which makes this ingredient nourishing and very soothing. In addition, the granular texture gently sloughs off dead skin cells, which makes it a perfect ingredient for sensitive skin.

Why You Should Switch To Mineral Makeup

Many women who enjoy wearing makeup do so for many reasons. Sometimes it is to cover up blemishes and imperfections of the skin. Sometimes it is just to highlight facial features to add a touch more beauty. However, the problem is that many types of makeup are really horrible and harsh to facial skin, actually causing damage with prolonged use. Unfortunately, a lot of women find a makeup that they like and they wouldn?t change it for the world ? even if it is causing damage to their skin. Thankfully, there is a form of makeup that every woman should try. It is called mineral makeup. There are several brands available, but one of the really great brands out there is called Jane Iredale.What Makes Mineral Makeup Different From Other Types Of Makeup?You probably hear this in every single makeup advertisement, but mineral makeup is truly unique. You will hardly believe the difference that mineral makeup makes to your skin. First of all, mineral makeup is non-comedogenic. In terms of skin care products, it means that it will not block your pores. This is important because makeup which blocks the pores can cause skin blemishes when it gets trapped beneath the skin. Non-comedogenic makeup is great for acne-prone skin because it reduces the chances of getting acne. Secondly, mineral makeup, such as the products available from Jane Iredale, is all natural and hypo-allergenic. That means even women who have super-sensitive skin can wear mineral makeup. Third, mineral makeup gives complete coverage for all kinds of skin imperfections. Even women with rosacea can use mineral makeup and it will completely cover the redness and even out the skin tone. Another reason that women should try mineral makeup is because it is long-lasting and rarely needs touch-ups throughout the day. This means that you can actually save money with mineral makeup because over time you will use less, and it will last much longer than other types of makeup.Mineral Makeup Is Actually Good For Your SkinWhile so many people forget to use sunscreen on a daily basis to protect the skin and prevent pre-mature aging, if you switch to mineral makeup, this will no longer be a problem. Mineral makeup has built in sun protection ? up to an SPF 20. This means that your face is protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Mineral makeup is so good for your skin, that it comes highly recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists worldwide. The mineral makeup forms a breathable barrier that actually protects the skin from environmental pollutants that can cause free radical damage. Some professionals even say that mineral makeup is so good for your skin that you can actually sleep in it with no worries. If you haven?t already given mineral makeup a try, or if you are in the market for mineral makeup, it is definitely worth it to make the switch. Mineral makeup products, such as those available from Jane Iredale, are available from skincare professionals. Once you try mineral makeup, you will never want to use any other kind of makeup!

Feb 1, 2009

How to Apply Smoky Eye Makeup


Smoky eye makeup is almost a common sight at night parties or glam events or even dates. This is because the smoky eye look gives a dramatic yet alluring look for the evening.

For those ladies who often use fake eyelashes, the smoky eye look is a must as it helps to camouflage the stick on part of the fake eyelashes. Below are some simple steps to create a perfect smoky eye look.

Step 1

Always apply an eyeshadow base over the entire eyelid to the brow bone. This is to set the foundation for your eye makeup and helps to ensure that your eye makeup stays intact throughout the day.

Step 2

Brush the darker eyeshadow color from your eyelid to midway upwards. Remember to blend the colors nicely. The darker the color, the more dramatic and smokier the effect is.

Step 3

Use a thin line brush to brush on the darkest color onto the entire eyelid area.

Ensure that the colors are blended nicely. They should look gradual instead of abrupt.

Step 4

Apply a liquid eyeliner closely to your lash area and also to the bottom eye line. For the bottom eyeline, start from the end of your eye corners and move it inwards. Draw up to 1/3 length.

Step 5

You may choose to smudge the eyeliner with an eye brush a bit to enhance the eye effect.

Step 6

Curl your eyelashes and coat volumizing mascara onto them. If you want to be more eye-catching, put on your fake eyelashes instead. Remember to curl both your real lashes and your fake lashes before you stick your fake lashes on.

Step 7

Keep the rest of your makeup simple. Do not overdo your cheeks and your lips. The focus should only be on your eyes.

Makeup Celebrity carries a wide range of Japanese eyeshadows and eyeliners.

Author operates an online store at http://www.makeupcelebrity.com which brings best Japanese comestics and skincare to the world.