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Holiday Makeup Tips

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The festive party season is about to begin. Is your makeup ready? Make it special by adding a few special items to your makeup collection. Start with some radiant bronzer, --not too dark though. You want just enough to give a boost to dull wintertime complexions, but not so much that you are trying to look like you have a summertime tan.

Next, treat yourself to a new fragrance. This can be for you, or just for your house! Get some holiday incense or spritzer. Choose scents that remind you of the holidays like pine, nutmeg, oranges, or cloves. If you treat yourself to a fragrance, splurge on a perfume that is sophisticated and not to sweet.

Finally, get in the spirit. If you’re going to paint the town red, start with your lips. If your normally wear the same lip color day after day (a bad habit that I am into myself), then it’s time to brighten things up. Normally I wear a dark pink shade of lip color for my daily color. Recently I attended an event where I wore a black dress and carried a red feather boa. I had bright red lipstick to match. When I saw photos of myself in that bright red lipstick, I was stunned at how radiant I looked! I am planning to wear it more during the holiday season.

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Beautiful Braces Beauty Tips

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
If you’re a teen on your way to a beautiful smile, you may have to put up with braces for a few years. You can still have a beautiful smile in the mean time. These days it seems everyone has braces, so it’s not quite the social negative that it used to be back in the day. No more “brace face” for today’s teens. Now, teens can even have fashion fun with their braces, by choosing the colors of their bands each time they go in for an adjustment. It’s fun to wear orange or black bands at Halloween, or red and green ones for Christmas time!

Make sure you are taking good care of your teeth and your braces to maintain your smile beauty while you work your way to straighter teeth. For starters, keep them clean! Food particles hanging around in your braces are REALLY unattractive. Even food as seemingly innocent as rice can be one of the worst things to stick and hang around your otherwise pristine smile! Carry a little brush with you at school to touch up your smile after lunch. Keep your orthodontist appointments, or reschedule them so you can minimize the duration of your treatment which will no doubt be long enough already. Most of all, don’t be afraid to smile, even with your braces!

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Sunglasses will Preserve your Beauty!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunglasses will help you in many ways, besides the obvious of just looking good in your shades!

It’s not a good idea to apply sunscreen on your eyelids or very close to your eyes since it can cause irritation in your eyes themselves. So, you need some way to protect this very delicate skin. Eye shadow can help to block some UV rays, but in direct sunlight, you really need much more than that.

Proper UV sunglasses will actually shield the skin around your eyes from UV radiation, which is what causes most sun damage in the first place. Even more importantly, sun glasses will help prevent you from squinting in bright outdoor light which is what can give you those age-telling “crow’s feet”. Continued squinting causes more wrinkles than almost anything next to smoking, or sun damage.

Not only will sun glasses help preserve the skin around your eyes, but you can certainly take that fashion step that makes you look good wearing them!

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Choosing the Right Makeup Brushes

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sometimes when applying makeup, we aren’t getting the look that we want. You need a variety of makeup brushes that will help you achieve your goal. There are fluff brushes, angled brushes, shadow brushes and even bronzer or blush brushes. Be sure to tap off any excess makeup before applying it to your skin, when using just about any brush.

Brushes with natural horsehair or other natural hair instead of artificial bristles tend to hold onto the hairs better and shed less. The tips should be soft and very flexible.

Brushes are a good investment because you will use them for many years if you take care of them and keep them clean. They will be worth their weight in gold and you will more than get your money’s worth.

A local beauty supply store, or even the grocery store may have brushes that will suit your needs.

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Speed Beauty

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Suppose you have been at the beach all day basking in the sun and sand. You have a hot date but are late getting back to your hotel because of traffic problems or you just couldn’t find your car! Now you have less than 15 minutes to change clothes and make yourself presentable, otherwise you will be late and lose your dinner reservation. There is not really time to shower. What do you do?!

Believe it or not, there is time for a quick presto change-o rinse in the shower before you throw on your clothes, although probably not enough time to actually wash your hair, unless you have a wash-n-go style that you can default to. If you do, then go for it, otherwise, give your body a quick rinse so you’ll feel fresh.

What makeup items are critical?

The answer is: Eyeliner, mascara and powder!

That powder will soak up all the oil and sunscreen to give your skin that fresh matte look. This is definitely easier to do in the summer when you may have a little more color on your skin. Reapply your mascara and eyeliner, then you can freshen your lipstick in the car on the way to the restaurant, because like most beauty conscious babes, you probably keep lipstick in your purse.

Now you’re ready to go! Enjoy your dinner date!

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Adjust Your Beauty Attitude

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
True beauty comes from within. It really does. Look deep inside yourself and work on your inner beauty. Start by thinking about your attitude. How do you look outward? Do you have a positive outlook? A positive attitude will radiate positively . Make the most of who you are, and be happy with yourself.

Make sure that in addition to feeding your body with healthy food that you also feed your mind. Learn as much as you can, whenever you can. Take up a hobby or find something that interests you, that you enjoy doing, and strive to do it to the best of your ability. Never stop pushing to improve yourself.

Your inner beauty will reflect outwardly in an infectious way, and make you more attractive to others. People are naturally drawn toward positive happy people. Be one yourself and see how attractive you really are!

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Let Your Nails Breathe!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Do you wear polish on your fingernails and toenails all the time? When you are changing your polish, have you ever noticed that your nails are turning yellow? Or that they may even be getting brittle and cracked? Even if you are careful and wear a clear base coat to protect your nails, they still may be becoming discolored and suffering the effects of constant polish.

Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to just let your nails go bare. No polish at all. Let them breathe. Remove all the polish. File them and buff them, and apply some lotion. Rub it into the nails and cuticles to soften them. Then go a week or two with no polish at all. Wear sandals and open toed shoes as often as you can, or just go barefoot around the house or at the pool.

Let those nails breathe some fresh air and catch their breath!

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Beautiful Bare Naked Nails

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Even if you don’t regularly wear nail polish you can keep your hands and nails looking beautiful.

When you shower you should push back your cuticles while they are soft. Keep them healthy looking and clean for starters.

Don’t bite your nails! Keep your nails clean and file down rough edges. Keep a nail file hand so that you are not tempted to pick at them when you get chip or a crack. Absolutely do not pick at your cuticles – use a nail trimmer! Picking at your cuticles will cause them to tear and can lead to infection and swelling on your cuticles.

It’s best to try to keep your nails all similar in length, rather than having some of them longer than others. Sometimes a coat of clear polish will make them shiny and doesn’t need nearly the same upkeep that painting your nails with colored polish requires.

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Girl Scout Beauty Tips

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On a recent trip with a group Girl Scouts, I found that even younger girls (middle school age) have some beauty tips they are happy to share. Here is a list of suggestions that they gave me:

  • Less is more! (regarding makeup)
  • Chapstick is the greatest thing since Girl Scout Cookies.
  • Get in the habit of wearing sunscreen from an early age to keep your skin looking young when you become an adult
  • Exercise and eat right and you won’t need makeup!
  • A Girl Scout bandana is a perfect solution for bed head
  • Get your beauty sleep!
  • Grooming is very important – brush your hair! Don’t let tangles build up. Keep it in a pony tail if you are active
  • Personal hygiene – brush your teeth for a pretty smile and avoid dragon breath!
  • Get your hair trimmed regularly to cut off split ends and keep your hair healthy
  • Eat fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Wash your face every evening and in the morning with a mild soap
  • Use acne medications like Clearasil, Proactive, or Stridex
Most of all, love yourself and let your inner beauty shine through!

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Tips for Luscious Lips

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
A friend of mine swears by her lip liner, and finishes it off with a tinted gloss. In her opinion a matte lipstick just makes her lips look old. A shimmery glossy look makes her feel kissably irresistible.

She prefers the “Makeup for Ever Professional” lip pencil instead of the twist up type ever sharp pencils which tend to dry out in the tube and don’t last. Then she applies a lipstick from Merle Norman followed by a moist lip color on top which has a shimmery gloss – Merle Norman “Moist Lip Color”. Her favorite color is “sugar coated”. The lip-gloss will wear off over time, and must be reapplied as the day goes on.

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Makeup Tips for Contact Lens Wearers

Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Choose contact lens-friendly makeup, especially mascara. Some mascara has small fibers in it to make lashes longer, but they can really irritate your lenses. Generally waterproof mascara is difficult to use with contacts as well.

Begin your makeup routine by putting in your contacts first, and then applying makeup. This will keep you from accidentally messing up all your makeup, and it will also allow you to see better while you are doing it!

Always remove your contacts first, before removing your makeup at the end of the day. This will keep your lenses clean and your eyes comfortable while you are washing your eyes with a gentle cleanser or makeup removing pads.

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Beauty Tips for Facial Hair

Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Facial hair… I’m not talking about eyebrows, or those of us who have an unfortunate mustache that we have to wrestle with. I’m talking about that baby peach fuzz that is all over your face, and most of your body for that matter. On some women, that peach fuzz gets to be quite thick! It’s really distracting and makes it hard to get your foundation on smooth.

Believe it or not, some women choose to remove that hair. They use a facial hair remover, or even shave it. The thickest areas for this hair are on the lower cheek especially near and along the jaw. I have found that shaving looks ok, but it grows back stubbly and no one wants a rough face. Just trimming this fuzz with some tiny grooming scissors is an acceptable alternative. It won’t remove all the hair, but it will get it to an acceptable level where it isn’t so distracting.

If the idea of this is giving you the heebie jeebies, then just remember that this is no worse than having to trim a projecting nose hair, or an eyebrow hair that is growing wildly out of control. If you have never experienced a wild hair like this, just give yourself time. You probably just aren’t old enough yet. Those hairs tend to get wilder as we get older.

The expensive option, of course, is electrolysis if you can afford it. It will probably take more than one treatment to get the results you want.

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Beauty Tips for your Body

Wednesday, July 8, 2009
It’s amazing how many women don’t get any real exercise. The excuses are endless – it’s hard, don’t have time, it hurts my knees, I don’t have enough energy, I can’t afford a gym membership, yadda yadda yadda! Excuses!

I finally got back to a regular exercise routine after a hiatus of a couple of years. I have lost six pounds and hit has made a tremendous difference in my overall appearance. You wouldn’t think six pounds could make such a big difference, but it does. It’s more than the weight though. I am more toned all over.

At first it was really hard. The first two weeks I wanted to quit every day. I tried to give myself realistic goals and commit to moderate exercising at least 3 times a week. After three weeks, it began to get easier. I still notice that the first 5-6 minutes of exercising are also hard and I feel tired. But after 10 minutes or so, the endorphins kick in and I could now go on for an hour – and sometimes I do! It’s fantastic.

Just get sweaty. Sweat feels good. The shower you get afterward feels even better. So quit making excuses for yourself and just force yourself to do it. You WON’T regret it at all. Commit to making it part of your regular beauty routine.

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Department Store Makeover

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Those nice ladies at the department store counters can give you a great makeover, but remember that they do work on commission. Their job is to sell you something! I have found that most of them tend to apply way too much product when giving someone a makeover. I'm not sure why they think more is better, but there are ways to get a good makeover and learn some new tips from these ladies.

First, plan ahead. Avoid the busy lunch hours when you will have to wait. Try to get there shortly after the store opens or closer to closing. Do some exfoliating the night before so you can start with clean skin

Choose your artist. Look for a counter that appeals to you and an artist who wears her own makeup in a well applied manner. If she loads it on, and you are a more minimal person, then look for someone else.

Don't be Shy. Speak up and tell your artist what kind of work you do and how you normally wear your makeup. You want a realistic application, one that you can actually use.

Know your obligation. Sometimes there is a minimum purchase requirement for a makeover, but most of the time there is no obligation to buy anything. If you really are not interested in their products after trying them, then be honest. Don't get suckered into buying some expensive product just because it comes with a "free gift".

Have the makeup artist write down the products you tried, in case you are interested in coming back and purchasing them later. Have fun and learn some new tips.

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Red Lips for Everyone

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
There really is a red lipstick for every woman. The secret is in the undertones, not in the color itself. For example, a Fire Engine red will look best on skin tones with warm complexions like olive skin. A cherry red will look better on women with cooler skin tones such as fair skin. Dark complexions have more options and can pick just about any color of red.

In general, fair skin looks good in true pinks or nudes. You should avoid brown. Medium complexions should try a more rose shade. You can go toward peach as well, and when you go red, look for more burgundy. Olive skin is flattered most by shades that include a little brown in them. Avoid pinks.

Your lipstick should work with your skin and hair color, not your outfit. Don't match it to your new shirt, or a shade that happens to look great on someone else. It may not work well for you. Top it off with a glossy finish. And remember, if you use a lip liner, it should NEVER be darker than your lipstick. It should match the shade of your mouth.

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Quick Summer Pool Makeup Tips

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
If you’re heading to the pool for an afternoon, you want to look as fabulous as ever, and you don’t want to end up with raccoon eyes as your mascara and other makeup runs down your face from pool water, or just sweat even if you’re not swimming!

Start by keeping makeup at the pool to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean you have to go bare faced. Skip the foundation and the blush. Use a waterproof eye pencil and mascara. Next, use some all day lip color that will not wash off in the water. These all day lip colors are the greatest beauty invention ever, in my book! A beautiful lady never goes anywhere without at LEAST her lipstick! Above all, be sure to put your sunscreen on before you leave the house because even a few minutes of sun exposure on your skin can cause permanent damage that adds up over time. Do not make the common mistake of waiting until you get to the pool to apply your sunscreen.

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No sleep?! Look Fresh anyway!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009
There is no substitute for a good night’s sleep – your beauty rest! But occasionally, circumstances prevent this. There are a few tricks you can use to look refreshed even when you have not had enough sleep the night before. The biggest beauty problem with a lack of rest is the puffiness under your eyes. This is caused by surface capillaries. A common trick is to use Preparation H to shrink those tissues and reduce the puffiness.

You can also use a small amount of white or bright eye shadow in the inner corner of your eye to brighten your eyes and help camouflage the dark circle effect that lack of sleep often brings.

A short power nap during the day, even 15 minutes, can make a big difference in your energy level for the day too. You can't get up with the roosters if you stayed out all night with the owls! But, you can still look fabulous anyway!

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Blushing for Real not TV

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Choosing a blush color can be tricky. You want to pick something that looks natural. Try pinching your cheeks to see what color you really get. Then try to pick a color close to that. If you would never naturally blush in orange or purple, then don't buy it!

It also helps to keep blush make-up color in the same color family as your lipstick, although this doesn't mean the same color (see the remark about purple and orange!). Think about browns, pinks, and red. However, it's much more important that your cheek color compliment your skin tone, than your lipstick color.

The purpose of blush is to add color to your face, not to contour your face and try to reshape it. Reshaping and contouring used to be a popular fad with blush, but now it's just for people who appear on the tv through a camera.

You are a real person, you need your color to look real. Then you can look your best!

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Foundation Tips

Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What do we need to know about foundation? Well, first of all there is no "rule" that you MUST wear foundation at all. You have to evaluate your own look as well as your lifestyle and decide if you need it. Then what? Well, basically there are four types of makeup foundation:

Liquid Foundation - This is the most popular and widely used. It helps even out your skin tone, but if you have problem areas, you will likely need a concealer on those spots first. Liquid foundation comes in water based for oily skin or young acne prone skin, and it comes in an oil base for mature dry skin.

Cream Foundation - This is thicker and more opaque. It gives a much more flawless look and is great for mature aging skin. It can also work as a concealer.

Tinted Moisturizer - This is moisturizer and color in one bottle. It works well if you don't need a whole lot of coverage or if you have a very active lifestyle (meaning lots of exercise, etc.)

Dual Finish Powder Foundation - You can apply this dry like a powder, or use a damp sponge. It works well if you have oily skin and don't want it to appear to shiny.


As you grow older, you might want to re-evaluate your foundation to meet your skin's changing needs. Almost all of these foundation options come with a sunscreen option, which is a fantastic idea. I personally start with a sunscreen, and then use a concealer for my problem areas, and finish off with a light powder on my oily areas.

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Makeup Experiment

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
When you were a young and first trying makeup, you probably tried all kinds of things. I remember getting together with girl friends and giving each other huge "makeovers" and then washing it all off and trying again. You can still do it!

The wonderful thing about makeup is that it isn't permanent like a tattoo, hair cut, or hair color (although even that is un-doable). Give yourself permission to try some new things on yourself. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to wash it off though, and don't do it right before you are about to walk out the door in case it's a disaster. Try some new colors, a new way of applying the makeup, or some new makeup brushes and tools that you have never used.

If you would rather try a vitual makeover first, then by all means. You can see some of my virtual makeover results here!

Go ahead! Experiment. You might find something wonderful to make a part of your regular look.

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The Search for the Perfect Mascara - Part 2

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The perfect mascara will depend on your needs – you might want huge eyelashes; at other times you might want something more subtle; you may also be looking for a waterproof mascara for the holidays. It is important to bear all of these factors in mind during your search, and to know that it is unlikely you will find one magic brush to match all of these needs.

For an everyday mascara to create a tidy, yet subtle effect, I choose Max Factor Masterpiece mascara. It brings perfect definition every time and in truth I was amazed when I first found a mascara with this brush design. I have seen many others since then, but I have stuck to what I know. I also found that Max Factor’s Masterpiece Max was a perfect step-up from their original Masterpiece, to create a thicker look yet still not overdone.

There are, of course, those nights out when I just want my eyes to look as dark and as thick as they possibly can. We all want to make an impact at times, and mascara is a great way to do this. On these occasions I tend to use Benefit’s Bad Gal which does what it says on the tin. It isn’t meant to be nice and subtle – but bold and obvious! As for the waterproof, I have found simple is best – cheap and cheerful classic waterproof mascara from Maybelline was all I needed.

guest post by vgal!

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The Search for the Perfect Mascara

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Most girls consider mascara an integral piece in their makeup bag. It can do so much – on a basic level it lengthens and defines our lashes but it also does that work to make us feel more sexy, beautiful and confident.

When I was younger I often went for the cheapest brand of mascara I could find. This often consisted of mascaras that came free with magazines (until I realized there’s a reason they were free!) or mascaras from makeup boxes I had been given as a gift. The most extravagant mascara I used to own was usually the store brand offering from the local pharmacy.

Back in those days I was fine with what I had. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t too bothered about the quality – it seemed to be more about quantity and making my eyes look as dark as possible. But there comes a day when every girl starts to be able to afford the make-up she really wants, yet finding out what that might be is more of a challenge.

Often, it’s easy to go for the most expensive and well-packaged mascara that just must be able to work miracles for the price they’re charging. Not the case! Of course, price can mean a lot when it comes to looking for makeup, but it isn’t everything. Often brands will bump up the price just because they can put a famous name to the product, but speaking from personal experience this does not always work out for the shopper.


Continue reading next week to see what I chose....

guest post by vgal!

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Eyebrow Shaping Tips

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The worst thing you can do for your eyebrows is go overboard. Over-plucking results in an unnatural look and takes a very long time to grow out. Some people, especially those who have thin eyebrows to begin with, never regrow their over plucking mistakes and end up drawing in their eyebrows for the rest of their lives. NOT a good look when you are older, which you will be someday (hopefully!).

Cleaning up your natural brow is really the only plucking/waxing that should ever be done. You have to work with what you have. Trying to force a new shape onto your eyebrows will not compliment your face.

A huge mistake many beginners make lands them the "tadpole" eyebrow look. This is where they have a big thicker brow towards the nose, and a thin tiny tail following it all the way back. This is overplucked! Another huge mistake is "boomerang" brows. These are pointy at the top instead of nicely arched.

What you should do: Clear up the space between your eyebrows for starters and lose the uni-brow, without putting too much space between them. More space between the brows tends to make the eyes look farther apart which is NOT usually a good thing, unless you have very close eyes to begin with. Then clean up all the stray hairs above and below your natural eyebrow. This will be the best look for you. The underside of the eyebrow usually requires more frequent maintenance than the top. Finally, trim up remaining hairs that are especially long. Come them down and then shorten them with a small pair of eyebrow scissors.

More than anything, you want to appear natural, otherwise it just draws (unwanted) attention to the wrong areas.


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Care of Makeup Brushes

Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Every few months you need to clean your makeup brushes if you use them every day. It's not hard. Just wet them with a little warm water and gently work a drop of mild liquid soap into them. Be careful not to smash the bristles because you can damage them. Expensive cleaning solutions are not really necessary. Rinse and reshape the bristles and gently squeeze out excess water with a towel. Let them air dry with the bristles hanging over the edge of a counter.

Don't ever leave a brush soaking in water which can cause it to rust or come unglued, or give it a permanent bed by resting on it's head. Same goes for storing your brushes normally -- keep the heads up so they don't get smashed. Use your brushes very gently and don't grind them into the products. This will cause them to wear out sooner and become misshapen.

Sponge applicators and powder puffs can also be cleaned with soap and water.

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Blue Eyeshadow - Yay or Nay?

Wednesday, January 7, 2009
I saw a question on Yahoo Answers recently that asked guys if they would date a woman who wore blue eyeshadow. The answers were varied, but most guys really didn't care because all they really wanted was a date. Probably not the best venue for a good opinion.

OK, so ... blue eye shadow.
Point:It can be sexy if it's done right. It looks best on someone with brown eyes. It helps draw attention to the eyes rather than the makeup. That's the whole point of makeup! Think about it. At he grocery store, many fruits are displayed atop complimentary colors. You do not see oranges atop orange display cases, or apples on red ones. Blue eyes do not need blue eyeshadow. It looks best if it's done in combination with some other shades, not just one blue color all on it's own.

Counterpoint: This always seems to be the first color that young pre-teens go for when they are experimenting with makeup for the first time. They don't understand yet that the make up is not supposed to "look" like they are wearing makeup. It is also closely associated with the "trailer park" and in general can be associated with less educated or very young girls. Don't just slap it on there because the blue eyeshadow looks so pretty in the container. It has to go on your face!

Whatever you do, choose your eyeshadow color to enhance your eyes, not to match your dress.

PS. Please check out another website with lots of free makeup: Best Free Stuff Online .com

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Celebrities without makeup

Saturday, December 27, 2008
Here's how they look with and without their makeup. Some of them look pretty scary, although we all have those days and I'm sure the photographers caught them at a bad moment. Some of them look ok. Most of all, they just seem to look like pretty normal people without their makeup. It just goes to show you what a big difference some good makeup can make!

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Beauty Tip: Skip the Tattoo!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Lovely.... (NOT!)

I read some statistics recently that said 36% of Americans age 25-29 are sporting a tattoo of some kind. That's over one third of them! I was astounded to read this. You have to wonder how these folks are all going to look in another 30 years when they are approaching 60 years old with their sagging tattoos that have faded and blurred over the years.

Now, I don't have anything against people who have tattoos. Some of my best friends have them! However, I also have a good friend who works at a beauty spa that makes a lot of money from people who are now regretting their tattoos and having them removed. She uses an expensive laser for this, and it usually takes several treatments at a few hundred dollars a pop.

Save your money and do something good for you that you won't have to undo later at pain and expense. At the time it seems like you are positive you'll be happy with it the rest of your life. I think most brides feel the same way, and yet, half of them end up removing that spouse eventually. I have a feeling many tattoo bearers will be in the same boat at some point.

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White Eyeliner Tip

Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Using a white eyeliner is a nifty trick for when you are tired or looking run down. Use the white liner on the inner side of your lower lid. It brightens your eye and widens it's look. Tyra Banks uses that trick a lot, and shows it in the video I posted last week.

For example, you can get the Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil usually for around $3 or less.

This easy and inexpensive secret really makes your eyes pop!

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Tyra's Makeup Routine

Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Here's a clip from Tyra's tv show where she shows you how to go from fresh washed to fabulous in just minutes using her own personal makeup routine. I love seeing her unmade face at the beginning of this. She's a regular gal!



See Part Two of Tyra's makeup routine here.

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Makeup Tips for Cancer Patients

Monday, November 24, 2008
Most people know about hair loss during chemotherapy, but some do not realize that also includes loss of your eyebrows and eyelashes. There is quite a bit you can do to make yourself look better under those conditions, and when you look better, you'll feel better. In fact, there is an entire website dedicated to just that. It's called, "Look Better Feel Better.org" You can see some before and after makeovers at that link. They have a special program video to give more specific tips on hair and makeup so that it will look natural.

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Shimmer Makeup

Monday, November 17, 2008
Shimmer makeup products are perfect for highlighting specific areas. It will draw attention to the area, so make sure you don't use it on areas that you don't want to glow, like crow's feet, neck waddle, or forehead. Use it high on your cheekbones over blush, on your eyes at the brow bone, or on your shoulders if you are wearing a dress that exposes some skin. It is best used in the evening.

If you use a brush to apply your shimmer, be sure to use some soap and water to give the brush a good cleaning or it will come out on other products. Or, use a dedicated brush just for the shimmer.

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Hair Dryer TIp

Wednesday, November 12, 2008
To find the best hair dryer, try a beauty supply store or a specialty store. You'll find much better hair dryers with higher wattage than are available at discount stores or drug stores where most people buy them. A better hair dryer with at least 1500 watts can save you a lot of time getting your hair dry more quickly and with a better result with more shine. The pros will agree!

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How to Fix Broken Makeup

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The main topic of this website is "free makeup samples", so one of the things I would like to start doing is offering ways to make the makeup and beauty products you already have last longer. A penny saved is a penny earned. It's practically like getting free stuff. Well almost. Anyway...

Let's start with the very frustrating problem of broken makeup, such as eyeshadow, pressed powder, and blush. Don't throw it away -- it can be fixed!

Empty the broken makeup into the corner of a plastic zip bag. Make sure to get all of it out. Then crush it into a fine powder and snip the corner of the bag to pour it back into the pan. You can skip the baggie step if you can crush it all to a powder while still in the makeup container.

Next, take an eyedropper (or a syringe or a small spray bottle) of rubbing alcohol. Add a drop at a time to the broken makeup powder and stir it with a toothpick until it becomes a thick paste. Then tap the container onto the table to level it out. You can also press the paste to get a nice shape again using a coin (or other flat object) wrapped in a paper towel or cloth . The alcohol will evaporate and leave your makeup solid again.

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Beauty Sleep Part 2

Wednesday, October 29, 2008
If you are really interested in getting that beauty sleep then here are a few tips to get you going that will affect the quality of your sleep. To get the best out of your sleep it is important to have a set routine, which means going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time everyday, which also includes on weekends. This means you won’t feel as tired when you do have a late night, and your body will be healthy and refreshed as a result.

On top of a steady routine make sure you get the right amount of sleep. This is something that will vary from person to person, and usually gets less as we get older. On average we need around 7 or 8 hours a night, but try to find the amount that is right for you and stick to that. You might even find sleeping for a lot longer has the opposite effect of leaving you refreshed!

To improve the quality of your sleep you should also avoid snacking before you go to bed, reduce your stress and worry levels by making a note of the things that worry you, and avoid drinking alcohol. By following these steps you will hopefully be on the way to experiencing more quality sleep, and therefore more time for your body to work at making you look beautiful!

guest post by vgal!

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Your Beauty Sleep is Important!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Everyone has heard of the term ‘beauty sleep’ though only a small number of us ever really bother to understand the facts behind the claim. Some people swear by their beauty sleep, but what is the science behind this? The idea is not that you can go to night looking one way and wake up as a much more beautiful person – miracles like that just don’t happen. But it will make you look more healthy and the best you can.

The effects of sleep deprivation are clear to see on anyone’s face: they will appear tired, their skin will be duller, there will be bags under their eyes, and all of these will be easy to see. Not only this, but poor sleep will sometimes affect weight loss, as well as increasing levels of stress. Beauty sleep will make your skin brighter and reduce all of these effects.

So what is the science behind these claims? First, sleep helps our bodies to produce growth hormones and reduce stress hormones, which is essential for fat loss. Stress hormones will often increase our appetite, meaning that if we don’t get the sleep we need to reduce these hormones it is more than likely we will be eating a lot more than usual, as well as affecting our metabolism which helps to burn off fat. Growth hormones are produced while we sleep, though this also depends on the quality of the sleep we are getting. We need a really deep sleep to feel the full benefits, after which these growth hormones will begin to negate the effects of excess stress hormones as well as repairing our bodies.


So how can we get this beauty sleep? Continue reading next week for some more tips on waking up beautiful ..... Beauty Sleep Part 2

guest post by vgal!

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Nail Polish Tip - Clear Top Coat or not?

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
My daughter actually did a science project on this topic last year. She painted her nails with two coats of polish and then added a clear coat to the top. Each day we took pictures and recorded the number of chips in her polish. She did it again without the clear coat. Then she repeated the whole process for a total of three times.

The results were very conclusive -- the manicure with the clear coat lasted almost twice as long as the one without. It also looked shinier and better overall for a longer time period.

So, the results are in -- Take the extra few minutes to put on the top coat of nail polish!

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Makeup Tip: Use a Good Brush!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
If you've ever watched a makeover tv show, or seen some professional makeup artists apply makeup you may have noticed that they do NOT use those little sponge tipped applicators to apply eye-shadow. Why do you suppose that is? Probably because they are worthless. Those spongy applicators don't give you any control, they are barely more than an inch or two long, and they get cakey and clumpy. And yet, we keep using them. Do yourself a favor and go buy a decent set of makeup brushes. Get some of varying brush length and softness. You'll thank me for it.

When using your wonderful makeup brushes, be sure to tap out the excess color before applying it to your skin so you don't have the dust falling all over your cheeks while you are trying to make yourself look fabulous. Put the mascara on last, just for this reason. And remember, you're worth it. ..... You're welcome.

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Beauty Tip: Bad Breath Check

Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Is sweet breath part of your beauty package? You better believe it. A huge source of bad breath comes from not flossing your teeth! You can brush religiously, and scrape that tongue, but if you do not floss then forget it! Food particles stuck in there literally decay for days. You know how rotting food smells. If you don't believe me, and you are not a regular flosser, floss between your teeth and then smell your floss. Eww!!

But what's the best way to give your breath a quick check? Most people try huffing into their cupped hand and sniffing it. That might give you a clue, but not likely. The best way to check for bad breath is to lick the back of your hand and smell it. Don't try this at the dinner table if you're on a date though. Save it for when you are in the bathroom checking various other things like brocolli in your teeth and whether you got your panty lines smoothed out. Make sure you wash your hand too. If your breath is hanus, beg some mints from other gals in the bathroom, or chew on a sprig of parsley to freshen up in an emergency.

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Eyelash Curler Tips

Wednesday, September 17, 2008
When using and eyelash curler, remember to be gentle! Too many girls think that squeezing that thing as tight as they can on their eyelashes will give them a better curl. Patience will give you a good curl, not strength. Squeezing it too tight will only wear out the rubber cushion on the eyelash curler sooner, and will most likely damage some of your eyelashes causing them to fall out prematurely. Your objective is to look like you have more eyelashes, not lose them in the process.

Your eyelashes will curl best before you put the mascara on. If you curl them after the mascara, it can stick to the curler resulting in more lost lashes. It also wears out the pad more quickly. Try several squeezes on the lashes starting closest to the lid and moving out just a tad until you are at the center of the lashes. This can curl them up much more than just one application. Some people like to warm up the lash curler with the hair dryer for a few seconds so it's like a hot curling iron. If you try this, be careful not to burn your eyelid.

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Makeup to Bring Out a Tan

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
If you have a nice summer tan from your last weekend of summer over Labor Day, you should change your eyeshadow to really bring it out. Hopefully you were wearing sunscreen to avoid too much of a tan, but a little bit of color is probably unavoidable, so let's make the most of what you do have.

A dark smokey eyeshadow look is not recommended when you have a nice tan. Instead, try a very bright light shimmery almost whitish color. Cover the whole lid with this. Then try a brownish color just inside the socket crease, and a very thin line of the brown under the eyes. Apply a little of the shimmery color toward the inside of the eyes as well. This will really make your eyes pop.

Peach colors for your cheeks and your lips will go well if you have a summer tan. Try a nice gloss on the lips with a peachy color, and even a little shimmer.

These tips will make your features contrast nicely with your tan. Be sure to double up on the moisturizer since your skin is likely to be try when you have been in the sun.

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How To Apply Sunscreen

Wednesday, September 3, 2008
First, choose a sunscreen based on your needs. Sunscreens are usually labled with an "SPF" number for "sun protection factor". Generally, the higher the number, the more protection it provides. So if you would normally get a sunburn in 10 minutes, an SPF of 10 would allow you to stay in the sun 100 minutes before burning. All SPF's let some sun through though. Some sunscreens are waterproof which will stay on your skin longer if you are swimming or sweating.

Next, apply the sunscreen before you go out. Don't wait until you are out in the sun before you start to apply. By then you will be sweating and it will not stick to your skin as easily. Apply the sunscreen when you are indoors and you skin is still cool and dry. You can do this up to 30 minutes before you go out. Be sure to pay extra attention to areas that are exposed to more sun, such as your nose, ears, and shoulders.

Finally, be sure that you re-apply! Do this at least every 2 hours minimum, or right after you have spend some time in the water. Do this especially between the hours of 10 and 4 pm when the sun is the most harsh. Have a great time outdoors!

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Mascara Tips

Wednesday, August 27, 2008
When applying mascara, try jiggling the brush deep into the lashes before pulling it through. This will help you get more mascara around the lashes with fewer pulls, and will get it on more evenly. You may even be able to use fewer coats if you do it this way.

Another handy makeup tip is to use a water "resistant" mascara if you are facing a situation where water might be involved -- exercise, beach fun, teary weddings, etc. A water resistant product is easier to remove than a water proof mascara and is more likely to be part of a regular routine because of that. Water resistant mascaras tend to stay on better and flake off less throughout the day as well.

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Follow up on Sunscreen

Thursday, August 21, 2008
As a follow up to the previous post, I thought I would recommend a daily sunscreen product that I use. It was recommended to me by my dermatologist. And when I showed it to my friend who works at a medical skin care spa, she said it was an excellent product and called it a "medical grade" sunscreen. The product is Obagi Nu-Derm Sunscreen. It's SPF 35 and is great for daily use!

At first I balked at the price (over $30 for a 3 oz tube), but since my doctor was telling me to use this, I thought I'd give it a try. I have to say that it is worth every penny. It lasts a surprisingly long time, even though I use it every morning, because I use it almost exclusively for my face and neck. It feels light and clean on my skin and not greasy or heavy like most sunscreens we are used to. I have replenished my supply several times and have been using it daily for the last three years.

One notation though, is that it is not waterproof, so I always switch to a waterproof product when I am swimming, or doing some outdoor activity that involves sweating. Those sunscreens are better for all-over body coverage anyway. This one I use just for my face.

I give it two thumbs up. I'd give it three if I had a third.

PS. While I'm touting this product, I also want to give a shout-out to a website I like a lot for Traveling With Kids. Check it out.

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Best Thing for Your Skin Ever

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The best thing you can ever do for your skin is wear sunscreen. Wear it every single day. Don't skip a day ever! It's not just for when you are hanging out at the pool or at the beach. Many people get sun damage even when they are doing normal activities like driving to work. Check your face and see if you have more sun damage on the left side of your face than the right. Many people do especially if they spend a lot of time in their car.

Get a good medical grade sunscreen and wear it every day. Even better would be to get a daily moisturizer that has a sunscreen built into it. Unfortunately for many of us, the sun damage is already done, but you can certainly prevent it from getting any worse, which it definitely will if you don't start taking care of it now.

Good news for younger girls -- if you start now, you'll be much more beautiful at 40 than most other women who are currently that age!

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Smokey Eyes Makeup Tip

Friday, August 15, 2008
I found a great video that demonstrates how to create a smokey eyes effect using three makeup brushes and three eyeshadow colors. Listen carefully to which brush he is using at each step. The "window wiper" application is very effective!

Three brushes: smudge brush, blender brush, flat shadow brush
Three eye shadow colors: Dark, light, and medium tone (use black for the dark)
You will also need an eyeliner pencil.

The only thing I don't recommend is the way the makeup artist is pulling and stretching the model's face to apply the makeup. That kind of treatment to her skin will end up causing more wrinkles in the long run. It's not necessary to do in order to get this effect. Be gentle on your skin, especially around your eyes. Skin is made to stretch, but be reasonable if you want to preserve what youth you have left!

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