Normal Skin: People who have normal skin may be a bit lucky in the moisturizer department as they can choose different moisturizers and use without worrying tha their skin will breakout like crazy the day after.
Acne-Prone Skin: Acne-prone skin is definitely a tough one to take care of as everything should be balanced. Too much oiliness and too much dryness can aggravate your skin condition so go for a moisturizer that gives your skin enough hydration it needs. And please never let your skin dry out, it can worsen your acne and will lead to further breakout.
Sensitive Skin: Always go for creams that are meant for hypersensitive skin. Stay away from oil-based products as well and opt for water-based ones. People who have sensitive skin tends to breakout easily and the best solution for this is to stop skin breakout from happening. Aways clean your face from oil, dirt and makeup before you go to bed.
Combination Skin: Combination skin can be very tricky because different parts of your face can be oily and some may be very dry. You can choose a moisturizer for normal to combination skin but sometimes applying moisturizer to the parts of your face that actually needs it can also be an option. My forehead and my nose tends to be very oily compared to my cheeks and chin. What I do is apply a water based moisturizer on my T-zone and apply a thicker cream on my cheeks and chin.
Spending on your beauty essentials can be a bit of a burden specially for those on a tight budget so getting the most out of your beauty budget is a must for any smart woman! I have picked the 3 best items from Elle’s top 10 beauty must haves.
1. ANTI-AGING MAKE-UP – Elle listed this as a top beauty essential. It’s no wonder major brands have delved heavily into doing research using natural products. Most anti-aging make-up are versatile and works as a foundation with SPF (sometimes it comes with natural botanicals that nourish the skin). Might want to try your hand on some of these items:
The pressed powder from Sisley retails for about $104 while the Chanel liquid foundation goes for about $54. On a really tight budget? The Maybelline Pure Minerals BB cream foundation did wonders for my skin and it only retails for $24.99.
Maybelline Pure Minerals BB Cream
2. FACIAL MOISTURIZER – Never go a day without applying some facial moisturizer. This is why Elle magazine has chosen moisturizers as part of a woman’s beauty regimen. Never mind having no make up on but never live without a moisturizer on. This was my mantra for having supple and healthy looking skin.
Estee Lauder Hydrationist
Loreal Paris Hydrafresh Aqua Essence
Loreal’s hydrafresh retails for about $18 while Estee Lauder’s Hydrationist is at $40. I’ve used both creams and my personal opinion is that Estee Lauder’s hydrationist is great for night time while the hydrafresh from Loreal is a must during the day as it leaves a tingling but fresh sensation on your face.
3. LIP LOCKING GOODNESS - Your lipstick or lip gloss should do more than what it should. It should have the perfect color that moisturizes and protect your perfect mouth. Choose a lipstick or gloss that has the right SPF, contains anti-oxidants and minerals that will keep your lips in perfect condition.
Nars Pure sheer SPF lip treatment retails for $25 a piece while Bobbi Brown’s treatment lip shine goes for pretty much the same at $24. Estee Lauder’s pure color gloss is at $22.50.
Personally, choosing beauty products shouldn’t be about the price but more about the benefits. There are so many beauty products that promise more but cannot deliver while there are those that are under the radar but gives so much more. It is my hope to give you insight on these amazing products so you can choose what works for you.
Alternatively, we also have beauty products that are available at our online store. You can check ‘em out here.
One of the best decisions a woman can make as a preparation for her honeymoon is to get her legs, upper lip, chin, and bikini area waxed. A Brazilian wax, which removes all of the hair down there, may even be the way to go. For those areas that you have to deal with shaving daily, such as your legs and underarms, it’s a real luxury when they remain hair-free for every day of your honeymoon, up to a couple of weeks.
If you’ve never waxed before, it’s important to do a test run at least 12 weeks before your wedding day. That way, if waxing works well for you, the hair has sufficient time to grow back before you get a fresh wax job just prior to the honeymoon.
One of the reasons you’re doing a test wax is to be sure that you don’t have any problems. Though it’s not the norm, you could have an adverse reaction to the wax. Some people have allergies which affect the type of products that are safe to use on their skin. If the wax causes red bumps or other types of skin irritation, you certainly don’t want it to happen on your honeymoon.
Ingrown hairs are sometimes a result of waxing. Some things you can do to prevent this discomfort are to exfoliate a day before waxing and two days after. Moisturize your skin regularly.
A certain amount of redness following getting waxed is normal. Take special notice of how long it takes for redness to disappear and don’t schedule your pre-wedding wax any closer than that amount of time.
If you’re concerned and think that you may have problems with skin irritation, begin waxing no less than 6 months prior to your wedding. Over time, your hair will grow in slower because there’s less hair to grow back. Waxing damages the hair follicles and causes you to grow less hair wherever you wax.
If you’re afraid of the pain of waxing or if you’ve already had some really bad experiences, keep in mind that there are different types of wax. Hard wax causes less pain. Other pain solutions include:
Take an anti-inflammatory one half hour before getting waxed.
Apply a numbing product, such as No Scream Cream.
If you aren’t sure what type of wax job you need for going to the beach or swimming pool, bring your swimming suit to the wax technician and let them advise you on the level of bikini/Brazilian wax that would be best for you.
Thanks to my momma’s influence, I’ve been a person who won’t go outside without makeup since I was a teenager. No makeup is comparable to no pants. What began as a learned habit became a necessity as over the years, my nicely moisturized skin was “kissed” with a few spots that make a true natural look an absolute no-no.
I got a big surprise not so long ago, as a person who always wore full makeup, with at least two eye shadows, eye liner, and the works. A picture in which I looked far more natural than usual was posted on Facebook because it happened to have adorable faces of my children in it, too. Several people at work and online commented that it was the prettiest picture of me.
Have you ever had a light bulb experience? Well, that was definitely an eye opener for me. I realized that my best look may be a more natural one. Makeup still has to be in place, but it can be minimal and beautiful.
The following are a few tips for wearing makeup while still sporting a natural look:
Hair removal is a great place to start. Shape and wax your eyebrows. Do a facial wax if you have a blonde “beard,” even though it’s barely visible. Don’t get caught with a moustache.
Cleanse and moisturize your skin daily. Protect your skin with sunscreen, which many foundations and daily moisturizers contain.
If you don’t have virtually flawless skin, match the color of your foundation to the shade of your neck. Apply foundation lightly. As needed, use concealer or blending techniques to hide flaws. Using a foundation brush can pull off a much better look than using your fingertips.
You may choose to use a powder instead of foundation. Either way, wear powder to set your foundation or provide protection for your moisturized skin. I recommend mineral powder, which evens your skin tone and provides other benefits and nutrients for your skin.
Fill in your eyebrows so that they look smooth and well-shaped while at the same time natural.
Eye liner works for the natural look, as long as you don’t go heavy with the application or reshape your eyes with it.
Wear blush that will give you a natural-looking pinkish hue on the apples of your cheeks. For a sun-kissed look, put a hint of bronzer along your hairline at the forehead and on your cheeks, chin, and the tip of your nose.
Wear a subtle lipstick or a just a gloss, if your lips have natural coloring and don’t give you a washed-out look.
Do something different with your makeup. You never know what you’ll discover about what looks best on you.
BB creams are new to the market in North America, and we have seen nothing but positive reviews. So what is the all the hype about? Where did it come from and how is it so popular?
The BB cream was originated in Germany, where dermatologists used it as a healing power after undergoing laser skin surgery. They used it for the healing and soothing power. After, Korean cosmetic companies got a hold of how great this product was and tweaked it to make their own formulas. Which then lead to the public and famous actresses. BB creams are now available in Korea, South East Asia, Europe, USA and Canada!
BB cream is suited for ALL skin types, including Sensitive and Acne prone! This product is your everyday, all-in-one product! You can say good-bye to your daily moisturizers, concealers, serums and foundations. This baby is going to do all that in just one step! (Hense why it is so darn popular!) BB creams not only provide skincare, but also makeup while improving the skins condition! The added bonus? It even helps even out your skin tone and provide coverage for those dark spots or blemishes!
Product features:
- Contains SPF
- Works like a tinted moisturizer
- Has the same coverage as a foundation but without clogging your pores and giving you the “cakey” look
- Has a natural finish
- Conceals all problems!
- Has healing properties which smooth, soften and even out the skin
- Helps maintain and create youthful skin again
- Anti-wrinkle and skin-lightening benefits
In a nutshell, your BB cream is your all-in-one cream! It is going to act as your foundation, concealer, moisturizer, sunblock and even primer all in one! Think of all the time you can save using a product like this on your busy mornings! What about all the money you can save?
BB creams are now available in all different prices, forms and brands, and available at your local drug or department stores! So… will you be saving time and try a BB cream?
Particularly if you’re a mom, weekday mornings can be incredibly rushed. It helps to get started the night before: Set out head-to-toe clothing for the kids, prepare homemade lunches, set out your own clothes, put gasoline in the car, make sure your keys and kids’ backpacks are where they belong, look at your schedule to see if there are any payment deadlines for bills or doctor appointments for the next day, and chop up the vegetables for the meal you’re preparing in the slow cooker. Then you have children to awaken, breakfast to serve, maybe dogs to walk, and more. Even when you’re good about thinking ahead, it can be tough to find time to put on makeup.
Applying your makeup will be faster and easier if you dedicate one makeup bag for exactly what you use each day. In other words, remove old bottles of mascara, outdated lipstick, and anything else that is either trash or nonessential. That way, everything you need will be quickly and easily at your fingertips.
Makeup routines vary, but even the natural look should involve protecting your skin from both aging and the environment with a moisturizer that includes UV protection. The following guide for quickly applying makeup covers common makeup basics:
Wash your face first thing in the morning and quickly apply your daytime moisturizer so that when it’s time to put on makeup, your canvas is ready.
If you have a wedding coming up or any other special occasion in which you want to look your absolute best in your makeup, there are things you can do to make that happen. No one knows what steps to take better than professional makeup artists, and the following beauty tips are from the pros:
Take excellent care of your skin, which means that you should exfoliate weekly and moisturize daily. Your powder and foundation will both look better on healthy skin, as opposed to flaky, dry skin.
Here’s a tip to help your lips look their luscious best: apply lip balm every night before going to bed.
If you have any problematic blemishes or issues that you deal with regarding your facial skin, visit a dermatologist a few months before the special event you’re preparing for.
Plan to get your eyebrows waxed and professionally shaped 4 or 5 days before the event. If you have this work done any sooner, you may have tender spots or your makeup may not have as smooth an appearance.
Don’t necessarily choose your eye shadow and blush colors to match either your clothes or perhaps the flowers at an event. Your skin tone and overall look should be the foremost consideration when choosing your makeup shades.
Get your nails professionally manicured, and stick with sheer pinks or natural shades that will give your hands a fresh and lovely appearance. If chipping should occur just before or during the event, it won’t be as obvious.
Use an eye shadow primer or base before applying eye shadow, and it will help to prevent your eye shadow from creasing.
Use a makeup primer before applying foundation, and your skin will have a flawless appearance.
One trick to keep your eyes looking perfect is to use an eye liner pencil and then also apply a matching eye shadow liner, to set the color.
Even if your event is during the day, your makeup should be applied with a bit more intensity than usual, as if you were attending a formal black tie affair (which, of course, may be the type of event you’re preparing for, anyway).
If you’re going to be in black and white photographs, be sure to apply a creamy shimmer shadow or a white shadow on the brow bone. In addition, apply a touch of lip gloss.
For perfect lips, first apply lip liner and fill in the entire lip. Then follow up with a layer or two of satiny color. Blot between applications.
Pack an emergency kit to have with you at the special event. Include lipstick, lip gloss, lip liner, tissues for tears, blotting papers, and fragrance.
You’ve worked hard all week, and now it’s time to let down your hair. Why not spice up your weekend with a sexy new look? Great beauty ideas can always be found at fashion shows, and these ideas were inspired by a runway show in Milan.
Tone down your makeup for a natural look and add amazing long lashes along with subtle smoky eyes. Rather than heavy eye shadow, apply a touch of midnight, hazelnut, or charcoal shadow and accentuate your peepers with long, full lashes. You can either give false eyelashes a try or use a lash curler and apply extra mascara to your own lashes.
Try something bold and sexy with your hair. Create the sexy messy bedhead look, twist it, and pin it with a sparkly clip or your favorite pretty hair accessory. Research has proven that guys tend to love the messy look. Just spritz your fresh-out-of-bed hair with shine spray, twist, and clip. You know you’ve been dying to wear that hair clip, anyway.
If what you really have in mind is looking sexy and inviting for your weekend plans, here’s an idea that’s a huge trend right now. Add a dewy, natural look to your face with shimmer moisturizer under your foundation. Go natural with your eyes, except for a single coat of mascara, and then apply a lip color of bold pink.
Do any of these romantic looks work for you? If not, what’s your favorite way to add sex appeal to the weekend?
Being beautiful is about being confident about yourself and what you do to maintain it. A lot of us often apply what is “in” and “trendy” at the moment and forget that the basics are very important in our beauty regimen. Nowadays, products have been sprouting up like mushrooms and everyone’s claiming to be the best beauty product there is in the market. No question about the products being effective, but, do you use it and apply as it should be? Here are common mistakes people do when doing daily activities with regards to beauty.
1. Applying conditioner from roots to tips. I know a lot of us are guilty with this mistake. People are applying conditioner just like they do in shampooing, worse, they rub it in the scalp. Here’s the sitch, when you make this mistake, your hair will turn out limp and will be prone to being oily. So the right way to apply conditioner in your hair is by appling it from ear length up to the roots. Why? Because the hair near your scalp is new, healthy hair and the hair problems are often at the tips of it. So the next time you lather some conditioner, be sure to apply it the right way!
2. Applying foundation right after putting on moisturizer. I never thought that this would be a mistake. As a lover of moisturizers, I can’t get enough of it. Laura Geller, a make-up artist from New York stated “This can result in blotchiness and ultimately limit the amount of coverage your foundation can offer throughout the day.” So the next time you put on moisturizer, wait at least a minute or until the moisturizer is completely dry, but if you’re really on the go, then blot some tissue or a clean face towel and apply foundation. Now you can say buh-bye to blotchiness and patches of uneven foundation!
3. Dabbing and Spraying of Perfume on your clothes. Now, I never really understand how perfume works until I’ve read an article that said that perfumes were made to be sprayed and dabbed on skin as the smell will be in its maximum strength when it touches the heat of your body. So before putting on your clothes, spray or dab it behind your ears, collarbone, knees and wrists. Keep in mind though that rubbing both your wrists after spraying on a perfume will breakdown its structure. What a way to start your day by feeling fresh and full of fragrance.
Wedding-ready hands are hands that are at their beautiful best, ready to be a focal point. In reality, your hands are always making a statement about your grooming habits. The better your hands look, the more well-groomed your overall appearance will be. And while a bride showcases her hands for ring and bouquet photos, your hands are on display when you brush your hair from your face, point at something on a page for someone else’s benefit, and anytime you eat.
Here are some tips for keeping your hands looking camera-ready:
Don’t abuse your fingernails. Don’t bite them or use them to pry things open. Their purpose is to protect the ends of your fingers, not to be used as tools.
Manicure your hands weekly, whether professionally or at home. Keep handy a bottle of the polish you’re wearing so that you can easily repair chips in your polish. Never get caught with chipped fingernail polish.
Always wear a primer or base coat. This will protect your nails from being stained by the shades of nail polish you wear, and it will also help with the smooth application of your polish.
Moisturize your hands and cuticles with a rich, effective hand cream at least three times per day. If you wash your hands frequently, choose a lotion containing argan oil or shea butter, since these moisturizers last through several washings.
Taking vitamin B or biotin supplements can improve your nail health and should be added to your daily routine, particularly if you have peeling or weak nails. These supplements will improve the hardness, sheen, and elasticity of your nails.
Exfoliate your hands every week, to remove dead skin cells.
Rather than exposing your hands to harsh cleaning supplies and dish washing soap, wear rubber gloves.
Protect your hands from exposure to the sun, which can cause you to have sun spots and wrinkles. If you already have dark spots, use lotion that also contains components to bleach or lighten your skin.
Always wear gloves in cold temperatures.
Give your hands tender loving care. Protect them from getting scraped and bruised. For instance, if you enjoy gardening, always wear gardening gloves.
Bonus Tip: For hands that look their absolute best, wax the hair off of your fingers.
