Handy Beauty Tips

If you have a bit of shine Starbucks will help!

How many times have you visited Starbucks to purchase your favorite drink and glanced at their logo embossed napkins. Well hopefully as of today you will not only glance at them, you will pick them up in case you need to blot the shine from your face. I have heard that it works better than most blotting papers. So try some today and let us know if it is true what they say.

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Love Your Hands!

We use our hands as a means of expression whether it is to touch someone or to gesture even without thinking. It is only right that one of the most useful parts of our body be taken care of with daily moisturizing. If you happen to run out of moisturizer just remember you can improvise by utilizing products in your home. Check out this great video demonstrating how olive oil can be used as a great moisturizer. Watch!





Home Remedy for Cracked Hands —powered by eHow.com


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Beauty is....

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Eco Friendly Tooth Whitener!

Did you know that there are quite a number of natural ways to whiten your teeth? A great inexpensive teeth whitener can be found in your home just get a mix of lemon juice and some salt solution. This works wonders in whitening your teeth without all the chemicals - isn't that great?


How to:
To whiten with lemon and salt, just stir up a solution of 75 percent lemon juice and 25 percent salt. Mix it together and you have your own natural teeth whitener.


Some Tips to Keep in Mind:

If you are on a low sodium diet be careful not to swallow the solution. If you have sensitive teeth this rinse may be too strong for you.


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How to Fix your Broken Makeup!

Imagine how painful it feels to know that your favorite eye shadow that you just shelled out money for accidentally falls and breaks. Life happens I guess. However there is a remedy for these messy makeup situations, no longer do you have to throw it in the garbage, it can be fixed with just a spoon and some alcohol.


Alcohol

Try to get the highest grade of alcohol 91 -99.9% is good. You are to then slowly start adding the alcohol to the broken cosmetic careful not to overdo it. Once the makeup is all pasty, use your spoon to flatten it out in the container so it has no lumps or bumps. Always remember this fixer upper if you ever encounter a makeup disaster.


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10 Transforming Tricks!

Enjoy !!


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Homemade Brush Cleaner!

This is a great recipe if you love to make your own brush cleaner.It's cheaper to use products you have in your home than purchasing store bought solutions.

1 cup distilled water

1/4 cup alcohol (70% or 90%)

1/2 tablespoon dishwashing liquid (I prefer ones with moisturizer)

1/2 tablespoon shampoo ( I use baby shampoo)

1 tablespoon leave-on conditioner (I actually added a bit more to the solution)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, carefully stirring to avoid forming suds. And then transfer the solution to an atomizer and voila! 

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Supermodel Tid Bits!

Miranda Kerr

Supermodel Beauty Tips

• Super model beauty tips stress on the proper use of foundation. And the secret to it is to find one that is the closest to your natural skin tone. A lighter shade will give you an ashen look while a darker one will make you look painted.
• Use Vaseline Intensive Care lotion for dark under eye circles -( let me know how that works for you)
• Preparation H works great for puffiness around the eyes -( I can vouch for this)
• Super model beauty tips insist on the lip liner to give a definite shape to the lips
• Ever wondered how those reed-thin super models get those awesome cleavages without push-up bras? The secret is tape, pulled tightly around the body just below the chest.
• Super model beauty tips advise on the use of Epsom salts to soften the skin and also as an exfoliating agent. Fine Epsom Salt mixed with your cleanser will wipe away all traces of make-up and when added to your conditioner and warmed, gives that extra bounce and volume to limp hair.

Enjoy bringing out the Supermodel in You!

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Photo Shop Expose`

This insightful video reveals how images are enhanced to appeal to the masses. Most of the images present in magazines, billboards etc are mostly enhanced. Take a quick peek at this vid. Tweet

Making your Mark on Your Brushes!

Putting your own personal signature on your makeup brushes not only jazzes it up it also can prevent your brushes from being mixed up and misplaced in another person's kit. There are many ways you can label your brushes, you can dip the ends in nail polish then sealing it in with a clear nail gloss for a custom look. If you want you can put your initials on the handle as a way of making your own personal statement.


See how your nail polish can come in handy to create your own signature brushes after the break.

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Men Science : Skincare Tip!

Climatic changes calls for an adjustment to skin care especially when it comes to moisturizer. Men are not exempt from this process as they are faced with same issues women face.Can we say "no" to ashy skin! Black men who suffer from dry skin tend to have ashy skin or grey appearance. That is why it is important to moisturize the skin , keeping away from long hot showers which are tempting as the time gets colder. Here  are some tips that will help you say "bye bye" to dry skin and hello to smooth skin.

• Take lukewarm showers as hot showers tends to pull the moisture out of the skin.
•  Wash with a gentle liquid cleanser instead of bar soap.
• Put on an active moisturizer within 5 minutes of stepping out of the shower - this will help to lock moisture in the skin as the pores are open and will promote a smoother appearance.
• Use an oil-free moisturizer that contains nutrients like Aloe, Hyaluronic Acid, Squalene and Vitamins A, D, and E, and don’t forget about the delicate area around your eyes.

Hope these tips will help banish your dry skin.

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DIY Eye Mask

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When you think of an eye mask you automatically think about relaxation and rest.There are many different eye masks on the market, gel based to satin masks. I came up with a very innovative mask which utilizes cucumber and potatoes which help reduce puffiness. For creativity we will use coffee filters as the base to create this wonderful mask.

 after the break find out how to create this eye mask with simple ingredients.

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Keeping it youthful !

Keeping your makeup fresh and youthful can never be a bad thing. A fresh face can never be deemed a thing of the past so it is always great to know how to keep things fresh. Here are a few tips to keeping your look youthful.

• Skip the Powder - Adding powder can make the skin look a bit too matte or dull and can tend to come across as cakey. Instead try using a liquid foundation as it allows the skin to shine through.

• Use Cream a cream blush - Using a cream blush adds a glow to the cheeks and gives a more youthfulness.

• Curl Your lashes - Curling your lashes makes your eyes appear larger and more open, is a great way to make you look younger.

• Wear plumping lip gloss - Having full glossy lips makes them look younger not to mention kissable. Avoid dark glosses as they can tend to make your lips appear smaller.

• Wing your liner - Wearing a winged liner will help you lift and open your eyes especially if you have droopy eyelids.

• Wear light Shimmer Shadow - Applying a light shimmer shadow near the tear ducts of the eye and a hint below the brow will do much to open up the eye and give your eyes a fresh look. Just remember to keep the placement of the shimmer to a minimum only using it at specific areas.

Hope these tips will help to freshen up your look, not to forget to use concealer to cover up dark under eye circles to give you an automatic fresh look.

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Makeup for mature Skin !

As we get more mature our skin changes and the things that once worked or looked awesome 5 years ago is just not cutting it. Adjustments have to be made starting with your skincare to makeup application in order to find that cohesive balance that will show the best of you. Check out how these quick and easy tweaks to your makeup techniques that can make a big difference in how you look and feel.


Check out these tweaks in this great video.

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Red lip Tid Bits!

Wear it with a Liner!
Pair this season's deep lip with a dramatic eye which is all the rage for the fall season.


A Lip Brush is your Friend!
Apply high gloss shades with a firm synthetic lip brush. This allows for greater precision and placement of the product.


The Pro's of Matte Lips!
Matte lips are very low maintenance, unlike their creamier counterparts which require a bit more application. Another plus for matte lips is that it prevents the lipstick from traveling.


Keeping your Color on!
To keep your lipstick on longer try starting out using a lip stain first then apply a clear of tinted cherry gloss. The stain will help ensure that the color stays on longer.
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Dark circles be Gone!

We have at some time or another have had to deal with the issue of dark under eye circles, as a result of sleep deprivation or just plain old being too busy to get enough rest. It's always great to know that we can remedy this problem with our trust makeup. Check out these makeup tips and I hope they will help those "dark" days.


Choosing a concealer:
Choose a color that's a little lighter than your usual shade if your dark circles are deep hollows, and go a little darker than usual if your dark circles are puffy.


Tips

When choosing make up, remember to counter balance the most prominent undertone of your dark circles. A yellow-base concealer corrects most dark circles.

If you use too much concealer to try to hide your dark circles, you'll wind up making them more obvious. So remember to keep a light touch.

Don't use mascara on your bottom lashes, because the flakes of mascara that frequently fall from the bottom lashes will make your dark circles look darker.

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Glitter Pro Tip!

I came across this great tip for all you glitter lovers as to how to clean up those pesky fall outs. Lancome Beauty director Michael Brown suggests that a great way to clean up glitter is to use double side stick tape. Just have some handy to wrap around your fingers and you will be mess free in no time. Tweet

Wing Tips!

This is a great breakdown of doing a wing tipped liner.
1. Use your liquid liner to draw a line just above the lash line as straight as possible,extending it beyond the corner of the eye.
2. You are going to create a line starting from the end of the lower lash line connecting with the upper line.
3. Connect both lines forming a pointy arrow.
4. Next you will finish off the top liner by drawing the line toward the inner corner of the eye.
5. Fill in the line, taking care to not go outside of the line.
6. You are going to line the upper membrane of the eye. You can do this by lifting the upper lids and lining the upper lash line.


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Getting Graphic with Your Eyeliner

It's never too late to indulge in the creative world of eye lining. This season eye liners have broken out of their shell, gone are the discreet liners that have a barely there quality and in with the bold and the outrageous. So now is the time to get graphic with our liners and taking some risks.
If you are bored with the norm try wearing the open edged liner which is more interesting.


How to get it done!
For this kind of look it is best to use a stiff pointed brush which will give you more control and greater precision when drawing the lines. Use this with a liquid liner on both the upper and lower lash line. Extend the lines about a quarter inch from the lash line past the outer corners of the eyes.
Don't be alarmed if it is not perfect, just have a cotton swab dipped in eye makeup remover to clean the edges to finish the look.


Source: Instyle.com
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Eye Liner Options!

Check out these eyeliner options, you maybe a smudge pot lover or liquid liner fan but there is one for everyone!


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Red Carpet Glow Tip!

Photo credit: Patrick Demarchelier

Just like the runways during fashion week that we know forecasts upcoming trends, our eyes always revert to the red carpet and the flawless looking celebs and we desire to know the secrets that lay hidden behind the carpet.
Celebrity Makeup artist Joanna Schilp whose clientele ranges from Eva Longoria to Scarlette Johansonn shares her tips to get that "Scar Jo" Glow!
Achieving the dewy look without looking greasy can be tough so check out these helpful tips to get your glow on!


Tip- Don't Overdo it!

They key to achieving the dewy look is 2 fold: knowing WHAT products to get the look and
knowing WHERE to apply. Women make the mistake of putting luminizing products over their
entire face - this just makes them look greasy. Also, women apply too much shimmer, thinking
that glitter will achieve the result. Think shimmer - NOT glitter. Apply it only to the brow bone,bridge of the nose and cheekbones. If your décolletage is exposed, also put a little there and on
arms. When I do Christina Applegate's makeup, she loves this look. Very fresh faced.


The key to the dewy look has to do with placement of the product, remember less is more!



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Men Science - Shaving Tips!

Proper wet shaving techniques, quality products and post-shaving skin care can help you look and feel your best and help avoid razor burn & razor bumps. To get that smooth finish to your face check out these helpful tips to get your shave on!

1. Your Beard should be wet!

One of the keys to getting a great shave without the razor burns is to have a wet beard. facial hair will absorb around 30% of the moisture which will allow for easier shaving as the hair swells and gets softened by the moisture. A great time to shave is after a shower or if that is not possible rinse with warm water to prep the skin. This is a technique that barbers use, never shave cold or apply products to dry skin as this can lead to razor burns.


after the break check out what to look for in shaving creams!

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Magnetic Makeup Board!

I am always on the lookout for great storage ideas. The makeup magnetic board is a cute way to have your makeup displayed and makes it easier to access. I would suggest to "magnetize" the products that you love to use daily.
Making your very own "magnetic board" is quite simple. All you need to get is an old frame from which you will  take the mirror or artwork out leaving the base.


Magnetic Sheets

You are going to place the sheets in the frame, and you can get creative decorating the sheet adding a bit of color by using colored paper. 

See what other tools are needed next

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Creamy Makeup Tips!

As it gets cooler we have less concerns about our makeup melting but we still can't get enough beauty advice about how to use different textures in makeup. According to Ashunta Sheriff who works with the likes of Alicia Keys and Christina Aguilera shared her tips on how to work with cream based cosmetics. Check out Ms. Sheriff's pointers.

The Eyes
"Layering powder shadow over a cream shadow will give your makeup extra staying power while still appearing natural," she noted. "And creaseless formulas are essential because they don't move as much as the others."

Lip Color
"Always use a lip brush to apply creamy lip colors," she added. "It gives you more precision, it's more hygienic, and it actually saves you money in the long run because your finger picks up twice the amount of product that you really need to use."


Blush
"You can try out some really fun shades of cream blush — Mary Kay has a few great ones coming out this fall — as long as you blend, blend, blend!" said Sheriff. "Blend twice as much as you think you need to and don't rub the color in using circular motions. This will leave you with two red dots on the apples of your cheeks instead of well-sculpted blush".


For your blush application Ms. Sheriff recommends pulling the color over your cheek bones in short streaks with your index finger. This way you can rock your cream blush instead of looking like raggedy Ann.


Source: Marie Claire

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Iman - Investing in Your Skin!

Iman shares her view on skincare check it out!


Let's start with the most important advice, regardless of whether you are black or white: SPF, SPF, SPF. A lot of black women don't think they need SPF. Everybody needs SPF, the sun does not discriminate. The other most important thing is, it's not cosmetics first, it's skincare first. When I was growing up that's what my mother told me. You brush your teeth twice a day, that's how many times you take care of your skin. And it doesn't have to be complicated, when you're young it's as simple as cleansing and moisturizing and as you get older you hydrate and you find what your skin type is because most women buy moisturizers that are not right for their skin—they think it's dry, it's not, they think it's oily, it's not. I know a red lipstick, a burgundy eye shadow, will change you visually in an instant, but skincare is an investment in one's self. And trust me the skin you take care of in your 20s is the one you inherit in your 50s 60s and above. That's an investment in yourself, the rest of the other stuff is visual wow. That's my advice to every woman.


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Models Before and After !

Makeup sure does a body good! This pictorial illustrates the transforming power of makeup. Notice the common factor with all of the models features, they have naturally clear skin. Having clear skin will always be a plus when it comes to enhancing the finish of the makeup application. So have fun transforming yourself today!


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Pearl Trends

The trend of pearl piercings for Spring 2012 might become dominant for the upcoming season. If you love the look but not the idea of piercing your skin ,you could still try this trend by using flat stones and eye lash glue. If you see that the glue is not strong enough you can use a stronger adhesive such as spirit gum which you can pick up at your local party supply store in the Halloween section.


Spirit Gum / Remover

Spirit Gum is relatively cheap and come in a variety of brands. So check it out and if you can't locate the remover you can use 91% alcohol to remove it.
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The Unusual!

Would You Try?

Simple but unusual is the makeup look that either could resemble a tear or heart placed below the eye. If you love to be unique you could give it a try. I suggest using a water proof liner that is like a marker or pen tip to create the shape and then fill in.


NYX Felt Tip Liner

This NYX cosmetics liner is just the thing to use if you wanted to recreate the look above. For only $8 bucks you can get liners whether you fancy black, blue or brown. So get to lining and let me know if you tried out this unusual look.
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Color Combos !

Being aware of what colors work with each other can only enhance your makeup skill and your creativity when applying shadows. Knowing what colors make others pop will help in you in how you want to create a certain look.Take a quick check on the color wheel where to see what colors can be combined to create different variations. Check out the list of how to create your color combos in the outline below and start mixing away.


Color wheel

You can make the following combos using the color wheel as your guide:

1. Colors directly next to each other (i.e. yellow and yellow-orange; yellow and yellow-green; violet and blue-violet, etc.)

2. Colors that form right (90 degree) angles with each other (i.e. yellow and red-orange; blue and violet-red; green and orange, etc.)

3. Colors directly across from each other (i.e. yellow and violet; blue and orange; red and green, etc.)

4. Colors that form a T (i.e. blue, orange, and violet-red; yellow, violet, and red-orange; yellow, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)

5. Colors that form an X (i.e. blue, orange, violet-red, and yellow, violet, blue-green, and red-orange, etc.)

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Legendary beauty - Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe not only was a bombshell she was a great beauty. As a result I decided to explore her beauty secrets to see if we could get insider tips about her beauty and skin care regimen . So here are some tid bits about Ms. Monroe's skin and beauty care.

• Marilyn used to rinse her face 15 times after every wash.
• Olive oil was a substance she used to smear over her face.
• Ice baths was the norm for Marilyn as she used it to keep her skin tight and firm.
• Marilyn was supposed to have practiced  layering Vaseline on her face, and then applying powder.

I hope you enjoyed these tid bits about Marilyn Monroe's skin care regimen. Look out for more on upcoming updates on how Marilyn Monroe created her signature look!

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Embracing Deep lips!

Even though we were loving our fuchsias and bright oranges, it's time to trade them in for deep lips. Not to worry Spring is around the corner but for now it is all about the rich hues of berries and plums this season. I came across this picture and felt that it illustrated that dark lips will work for even the most doubtful. If you want to step out and venture on the "dark" side here are some tips to getting sexy dark lips.

1. It's always great to exfoliate your lips to remove the dead cells so the lipstick application goes on smoothly.
2. Priming your lip with either foundation or a lip primer is great for neutralizing your lip natural lip color. It also helps the lipstick to adhere better to the lip giving it more longevity.
3. For control apply lip color with a lip brush, this will allow for a more detailed application.

So have fun this season experimenting with dark lips!

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DIY - Feather Lashes

If you are curious about how feather lashes are made this ones just for you. I am a big fan of DIY, I think it makes things more fun. To make your own custom lashes this is all you will need:


Feather Lash Recipe

• 1 toothpick
• feathers ( you can get at the craft store)
• nail glue (works the best)
• rhinestones (optional)

To make your lashes all you need is a bit of creativity and good old patience.

After the break check out this great video which will inspire you on your lash making adventure.

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Gothic Chic!

Gothic Chic is blazing this season from the almost bitten lips to the edgy eyes is all the rage . This look is a more modern twist to the Gothic look which is more softer than hard core which makes it more wearable for the season allowing us to place emphasis on the sensuality of our lips. You can feast on the full course of dark eyes and lip or choose the dessert of just a nude eye and charred deep lip.
 If you only have a bold red lip color in your kit you can either mix in a brown toned lip color if you want to test the waters out. To go full force play around with brown and black liners- just a touch! Mix in the colors and slowly build up till you get the deep red your. Always start out light and then add  remember it is easier to add color than to take it out.

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Festive Lashes

As the holidays approach you might endeavor to take step on the bold side by wearing party lashes which can be quite dramatic and festive. This is not a everyday look and I would suggest doing it as the sun sets. There are many different lashes to choose from, if you are into bling you can wear a pair of lashes with attractively placed rhinestones. Or if you are into feathers, select lashes with a small fluff of feathers which though festive will look a bit more wearable.


Rhinestone Lashes

These rhinestone lashes are very classy and not over the top. The same rule applies with fitting and trimming your lashes to fit your eyes.


If you are into feathers check these babies out after the break.

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Rhinestone Application Tips!

Rhinestones are not only worn in your favorite cosmetic jewelry it is sometimes worn on the face. This not a look that is for daily wear but for a statement. You could implement this on a photo shoot or on a music video where you want to achieve a certain effect. To achieve this kind of look it is best to use your eyelash glue to adhere the stones to the face. One of the most durable glues Duo eyelash glue which is surgical grade works well to keep the stones in place. Another helpful tool is the rhinestone picker tool.

This rhinestone picker tool helps to pick up the stones easily and allow for perfect placement on the face. Sometimes those stones can be quite tiny which makes it quite handy. You can get this tool at your local craft store.


after the break see a picture of how JLo utilized rhinestones in one of her videos.

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Universal Blush!

The Nars Taos blush retailing for $27 bucks at your local Sephora or Ulta has been voted by Essence Magazine as the most universal blush that works for women of color. After testing the shade on a wide array of skin tones they concluded that Nars blush in "Taos" flattered the women the best.


after the break check out the results

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The Brow Bone!

The brow bone is located right below your eyebrows and it is the place where you apply the right  neutral tone to make your brows pop. Sometimes we get confused at what colors should be used whether they should be matte or shimmery on the brow bone. Today we will clear the confusion about what is best for the brow bone area.
The trick to applying eyeshadow is to remember that you want to make the crease recede and the brow bone stand out. Most times it is recommended to use a soft neutral matte color for the brow bone. If you are an artist who works on commercial projects you know that shimmer on the brow bone is not acceptable as it is read by the camera as specs of light. 


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Make-Up Atelier Paris !

Check out this Fab tutorial to rev up your engines for Fall!!!

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Streaky Tan Solutions !

As the months get cooler many of us turn to spray tanning to keep that Summer glow in the cooler months. Spray tanning especially if you are a do it yourself kind of girl can be tricky especially if you messed your application which resulted in you looking streaky.
So if you experienced zebra like outcomes with your tan here are a couple of tips that might save the day.


Tip1. To remove streaks
A great way to remove streaks is to  use a lemon wedge or a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide, and gently rub into your skin. 


Tip 2. Cover them Up
Use a liquid compact foundation that is a bit on the heavier side that will give you more coverage. Use a brush and apply it and it should even out your face and eliminate the streaky look. Tweet

Makeup Troubleshooting!

We all have times when we run into problems when applying makeup, either we were a bit heavy handed or went way overboard. Here are a few troubleshooting tips to help you.
Problem: Foundation is too thick.
Solution :  Use a clean makeup sponge that is slightly damp and work your way using downward movements to take off any excess foundation.


Problem : Too much blush!
Solution : Take a clean brush or sponge dipped in loose translucent powder and slowly go over the blush area. This should reduce the pigment of the color as you work the powder over the blush.


Problem: Need to remove red lipstick without the mess!
Solution : Dip a cotton ball into your makeup remover and dab it across your mouth to remove it fast.


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Keeping your Lashes Clean!

A great pair of lashes when applied can transform any face, I believe lashes are a secret weapon that puts a little more umph in our stride. Have you ever came across a favorite pair that cost an arm and a leg but it was worth it, however you know the minute you wear put those babies on you know their next destination is in the garbage.  To get more mileage out of our lashes, you can clean them by using 91% rubbing alcohol.
After removing your lashes place them in a small container of alcohol or eye makeup remover which will help to soak of the mascara and the glue. Then after taking off the remnants of the old lash glue place them back in their original packaging.By placing them in the tray it helps the lashes to retain their shape which is very important. Isn't great we can get more bang for our buck by just doing a little cleaning!

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Easy Clay Mask!

After spending the weekend shooting" how to" videos on facial masks I decided to try out the clay mask recipe to see how it really felt. I must say after mixing in the clay with the apple cider and applying it to my face. it went on cool and then it started to tighten and it felt as if something was pulling on  my skin. This is a normal when using clay masks as it deep cleans the pores.
After leaving it on for 10 minutes I rinsed with warm water which revealed soft and glowing skin. If you are interested here's what you need to have your own clay experience.

This Indian Healing Clay mask which retails for $8.99 for a 1lb at your local health food store works wonders.

This clay facial recipe is quick to whip up, all you have to do is mix equal parts of the clay with the cider vinegar or water and apply it to your face . You can leave it on for 10 -15 minutes then rinse well with warm water. Isn't great that we can have spa recreate spa quality masks at home! 

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