Category — Free Makeup samples

As much as we would all love to look like a cover girl, most of us are rarely thrilled with how we look in pictures. Here are some celebrity hints to help you look great for your next portrait sitting or night out that ends up on Facebook.

If your hair never seems full enough, try adding some extensions to boost the volume. The majority of celebs either have them glued or sewn in.

When applying mascara, apply what is on the wand to a mini-fan brush and then to your eye lashes. This will help you coat each individual lash without any clumps. Always apply a sheer lip balm right before pictures or lick your lips at the very least. The extra shine will help your look.

When posing, stand at an angle to the camera but make sure to turn your face toward your photographer. This will slenderize your body and elongate your neck.

To make your arms look more shapely and present a certain amount of confidence or attitude, place hands on hipbones but not at the waist.

Finally, try to be shot from above. This upper angle will help you avoid that dreaded double-chin and make you appear thinner.

Following these few simple tricks will have you picture perfect for every shot!

You don’t have to invest hundreds of dollars in your makeup stash to create a marvelous everyday look. A few quality tools and products and you’ll be all set to create whatever look you’re in the mood for from natural to glamorous. Start with a clean and neat storage area. This can be a bag, box, drawer, or whatever suits your fancy. The key is to keep it clean and organized and be sure that brushes can lay flat or stand up.

Never store your brushes upside down. This will damage the fibers and make application less accurate. When it comes to supplies, every makeup kit needs to have a large round brush, eye shadow brush, sponge-tip applicator, blending brush, eyelash curler, and cotton swabs. As far as cosmetics go, keeping it simple will make your morning routine much simpler.

Must-have’s in your makeup line include powder foundation, concealer, eyeliner, eye shadow (in 3 complimentary colors), mascara, lip liner, lip gloss/stick/stain, and a natural blush. Of course, mixing it up with some fun bright colors and sparkles and shimmers is always fun!

No makeup kit would be complete without proper removal supplies. Neutrogena carries a variety of lines that are great for most skin types. Keep an eye-makeup remover, cleanser, toner, moisturizer and acne treatment product in your arsenal and be sure to use them daily. Never, never sleep with make up on.

All great skin regimens and makeup routines begin with healthy skin. Keeping these products neat organized and at your fingertips will make your daily routine simple and stress free.

For many of us, dealing with unwanted facial hair seems like a never ending battle. Whether it?s unruly eyebrows, fuzz above your lips, or those stray whiskers on your chin and neck, facial hair is not a good look for any lady. Thankfully there are many, many options for removing that hair and creating a smooth, gorgeous look. Hair can be removed by waxing, threading, tweezing or chemical removers. It is never recommended to shave facial hair because it will come back in darker and thicker.

Having a professional take care of the hair is usually easier, but can get a little pricey for some. There are lots of at-home hair removal options. Nads facial wax strips are easy to use and come with an after-waxing serum to help clean and soothe skin. Not all of us are comfortable ripping wax strips off of our faces though, and more often than not, there is still tweezing to do for a complete job.

Chemical hair removers are easy to use and seem to do a thorough job. Both Nair and Sally Hansen have at-home options that are very inexpensive, but can irritate skin. Olay also now has an at-home hair removal system that doesn’t seem to cause the skin irritations that other products do, but costs a little more.

No matter which product you choose, be sure to do a skin test before applying to your face. Always follow the product instructions and listen to what your skin is telling you. When in doubt, stop using the product and remove with cool water. Good luck with whatever method you choose!

Good cosmetic care prolongs life of your products and improves application, giving you the best results possible. Depending on what line or type of cosmetics you use, some of them should be completely replaced every six months, especially if they are “wet” type products like liquid foundation, lip gloss, or mascara. Mark the date on the bottom of the container to help you remember.

Over time, bacteria builds up in the cosmetics and can lead to acne and skin irritations, plus the makeup itself will start to breakdown and deteriorate. To help cut down on the bacteria growth and keep your cosmetics healthy for your use, be sure to

(1) wash your hands before applying makeup,

(2) tighten lids completely after each use to help preserve the contents, and

(3) don’t share your makeup with anybody, ever. We’re all guilty of doing it, but sharing makeup can lead to the spread of different bacteria and infections.

In addition to keeping your cosmetics clean and well-cared for, it’s also important to look after the tools you are using in your beauty routine. Makeup brushes are a haven for bacteria and build up. Follow these simple steps for good brush care

*Wipe off or shake out brushes after each use. You can use a tissue to wipe the brushes off but be sure that you don?t pull on the bristles.

*Store brushes in a bag or container to prevent dust buildup. Be sure to store them either flat or upright to help keep their shape.

*Wash brushes monthly with warm water and mild shampoo (baby shampoos works well for this). Rinse thoroughly. Reshape and lay flat to dry.

*Clean lipstick brushes after each use

*Don’t share brushes. Just like with cosmetics, this can lead to the spread of bacteria and cause acne.

Whether you are packing for a tropical vacation or gearing up for another hot summer at home, be sure to avoid looking like a hot mess while enjoying the sun and summertime. Warm weather brings out excess oil in our hair and skin as a protection mechanism from the sun and environment. To help alleviate looking like you’ve spritzed with baby oil from head to toe, try some oil-absorbing products while applying less to your look.

Start with an oil-absorbing toner to clean your face and remove hidden oil from pores that the warm weather will draw out. Follow that with an oil-free foundation applied only to the nose area and then blend it out to the cheekbones and lower forehead. Always avoid any foundation or excess lotions along the hairline where you will perspire the most.

Finish the face with an oil-absorbing powder with a minimum SPF of 15. For the eyes, most make-up will melt as the day heats up, so less really is more. Waterproof mascara along the top lashes is usually plenty for an everyday look as is a tinted lip balm containing SPF. Protect your skin and keep the make-up simple to avoid looking like a hot mess whether you’re on the beach or in the backyard.

We are busy ladies who juggle a lot in life?family, careers, school, friends?you name, we can do it. What most of us can’t do is figure out how to have enough time to get ourselves ready in the morning so that we can apply a decent face of makeup.

Getting a great look doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. The five-minute face can be yours and can be fabulous! Start with a multi-purpose product like a tinted BB Cream. It moisturizers, protects, and evens out skin tone all in one simple and quick application.

Next, avoid a lot of paraphernalia. Your fingers are your most useful tools plus they’re easier to clean than expensive makeup brushes when you are on the road. Find products that can go double-duty like a bronzer that can be used as a blush and an eye shadow or a lipstick that can double as rouge. This will also cut down on the items you have to carry for touch-ups.

A chunky eye pencil is a great accessory to any busy lady?s makeup bag. It is soft and full so it can serve as an eyeliner without having to be smudged and can also be used to fill in the lower lid like a shadow.

Your everyday makeup routine doesn’t have to be daunting and should never be a burden.  I usually buy two of my favorite lip color, concealer and eye-liner to carry with me all day for touch ups. Go simple, double-up products, and use those extra minutes of the day to just breathe by yourself!

Want to mix up your look like Katy Perry does? Try adding some bold colors to your hair while brightening up your makeup. Katy’s makeup is rarely overdone but is always pin-up girl perfect.

Using several coats of eyeliner and mascara will create standout eyes. Try pulling up liner at the corners for a semi-cat look or adding a shimmering shadow in neutral colors to the lower lid. Lips should be lined, filled in and topped with a gloss no matter what color you choose.

Katy is never afraid to be bold with lip color, so try some rich plums, show-stopping reds, and very Barbie pinks. To add some color and fun to hair without a long-term commitment, play around with clip-in hair extensions in bright colors like teal and sunset orange. Other non-permanent coloring options include Kevin Murphy?s Color Bug for a temporary rub-in or gel colors by companies like Manic Panic.

Be sure to do a strand test of any rubs, gels or temporary dies to be sure the product will eventually come out and not have to be stripped from the hair. Play around and have fun with a more vivacious look!

Admittedly, not all of us are the girliest of girls, but all of us need some basic beauty products to keep us looking and feeling great. So no matter if you’re are a princess or a tomboy, here are some musts in your beauty supply:

Start with a good exfoliating scrub in the shower for your face and body. There are a lot of great products out there so give some a try and see what you like best.

In the mornings, follow your scrub with a moisturizer of SPF 15 for your face and a hydrating body lotion with antioxidants for the rest of you.

At night, apply an anti-aging product after cleansing. Even the younger of us can start adding extra vitamins and nutrients to our skin. Which ever product you use on your face, apply to your hands before bed too.

To cleanse at night, makeup remover is a must-have for getting all of the mascara off and really clearing those pores of excess dirt and oil from the day.

Dry shampoo is a beauty essential many have never tried. Not only can it be used in a pinch to help remove excess oil from hair and freshen it, it can also be used to help add volume to your luscious locks. Try the got 2B Rockin? It Fresh Dry Shampoo for an inexpensive trial product.

Tweezers are a must because unwanted hair popping up is not attractive and well-framed eyes always look better. Tweezerman slanted tweezers are a great choice! Finish the eye look with a quality eyelash curler and waterproof mascara.

Not matter what makeup look you want, a little mascara and curled lashes improve your appearance.

Finish off your must-try’s with a tinted lip balm. Adding a little shimmer and color to the lips helps complete any look and the balms with vitamins and nutrients provide an extra beauty bonus!

We’ve all seen the celebs who seem to be constantly sporting that straight from the salon hair everyday. How is this possible? Hair looks and feels great when you leave the salon chair, but how do we keep it like that until the next visit?

Here’s how:

1. Start in the shower with your shampoo and conditioner. Using products that are meant to heal and repair hair are great once in a while, but don’t use them everyday. Keep shampoos and conditioners basic and light so that you don?t weigh hair down. This will help maximize your volume later as you style.

2. After towel drying hair, spritz it from the roots to the tips with a volumizer. Also, it can be helpful to reapply a little extra volumizer to individual sections of hair as you blow dry.

3.Section hair off when blow-drying to get the most volume. Start by drying the lower, underneath section first and work your way towards the crown.

4. Finish the look with a shine or sleek product but only use a small amount. Work the product in your hands first to emulsify it, then add it to the ends and work up your hair. Stop before getting too close to the roots.

If you still find that you’re not achieving the volume you really want, consider adding some hair extensions. These come in all hair types and shades now and can add instant volume by either being sewn or glued in. Talk to your stylist if this is an option for you.

The proper tools can make all the difference when going for a specific look, even if the look is just every day gorgeous. Imagine an artist not having the right brushes to complete a masterpiece. Why should you be any different?

Depending on what type of foundation you use, a large, round, sable brush may be necessary. This will keep the application smooth and even.

Eye shadow brushes are great for creams or powders just make sure to clean them between colors or keep more than one around for the different shades you use. Blush should be applied with a flat brush and not the same rounded one used for foundations and bronzers. The will keep the application more localized to the desired area.

No beauty kit is complete without an eyelash curler and tweezers. Popular opinion says that the Tweezerman tweezers are the only way to go to get the most precision. Eyelash curlers can be grabbed at a local drugstore just be sure that the pads are quality to avoid damaging lashes, and that it is cleaned regularly to help avoid clumps and infections.

If you are one of the many who hustles through your morning makeup routine, consider adding Almay Oil-Free Makeup Eraser Sticks to your beauty kit. They are a quick and easy way to eliminate those smudges and bumps that can ruin your look.

For inexpensive tools for your beauty regime, be sure to check out Amazon. They have products from hundreds of suppliers at much cheaper prices than the mall or supply store, even after you pay the shipping.  They are definitely wroth checking out.