Need some beauty tips for beautiful braces?  (for you or that teen girl in your life!)  What color should you get your bands when you go to the orthodontist?  Here’s a great idea — ask the orthodontist technician if she could give you rainbow colored bands for your braces!

Be very specific or bring in a picture because sometimes they do not quite get it right.  One time the tech mixed up the colors and randomly applied them. This wasn’t the rainbow effect we were looking for.  So, be sure to ask that the bands be attached in the correct order of colors, and that the bottom ones match exactly. If you click the photo at the left, you’ll get a larger one that you can print and take with you.

Or bring in a list of colors in this order: Start with Red, orange,  yellow, green, blue, navy blue, and purple.  And if you need more, then maybe black and finally one more red for a bit of color at the end.  Repeat the colors to match on the bottom.  Your friends will LOVE your new rainbow design! Talk about a bright smile!

Some people just seem to have a knack for flawless makeup application. It doesn’t seem to matter where they are or how they apply it, the makeup always looks natural and beautiful. Then there are those of us who could spend hours and hours trying, but never get it quite right. Whether you’re a makeup whiz or a makeup ditz, try some of these foolproof methods for a successful makeup application.

*Start with a smooth and natural canvas by applying a lightweight liquid or mousse foundation, then blend it with a quality brush for a much more natural look. The brush will remove any streaks and help create a smoother finish.

*Always BLEND with a good makeup brush. Whether it is foundation, powder, blush or eye shadow, blend using small circles until you think it’s natural looking and blended. Then blend just a little bit more.

*Without a steady hand, eyeliner can get a bit dangerous. If you want to line the eyes, try using your mascara at the very, very base of the lashes and giving it a little extra wiggle with the application.

*Lips can be lined to help create a shape and look you want, but no one really wants to look like cartoon with the outline of lips. Never use a sharply sharpened liner; always dull the tip for a softer and more natural line. Fill in the outlined area lightly with the same liner, top with a lipstick or gloss, dust with face powder and then apply a second coat of lipstick or gloss for a flawless and stay-put finish.

*Never use your fingers for applying makeup. Those oily digits will break down the makeup faster, smear and smudge without warning, and leave streaks that will take longer to blend. There are a myriad of choices for inexpensive brushes and utensils out there that will make a big difference in your look.

Using a highlighter and a contour can really improve the glow of your skin, but trying a new make-up technique can seem a bit daunting. By placing a highlighter on the highest points of the face (cheekbones, bridge of nose, brow bone, and center of the chin) you can create extra dimensions to the face, which make a natural (non-surgical) lift look. A highlighter should be used in combination with a contour to keep the look natural and add more depth.

A matte bronzer makes a great contour while shimmering eye shadows in whites or creams make great (and inexpensive) highlighters. Using this shimmering shadow in the inner corners of the eye and along the brow bone will open up and brighten eyes. You can even sculpt your look by adding a highlighter down the top, center of your nose and then putting contour on the very tip and along the sides. Be sure to BLEND!! Harsh lines are only meant for the runway and don’t look great on most of us. By highlighting the tops of cheekbones and contouring the more shallow area below, you can create an instant lift for the entire face.

Again, be sure to blend in an upward motion working your way out to the hairline. Of course, highlighters can also be used all over, not just on the face. Try blending some in along the collarbone and down the décolletage to create an all-over glow.

We strive for those perfectly plump eyelashes that we can bat at the next cutie to walk by, but how do we get them? And how in the world are we supposed to sort through the myriad of choices when it comes to quality products? It is completely possible to find quality mascara for a reasonable price at your local drugstore.

Avoid off brands where the price seems to be too good to be true…these will clump and make a mess. Once a brand has been chosen, start thinking about the different formula options and what your personal needs are. Options such as lengthening, thickening, and waterproof are the most popular. For contact lens wearers, waterproof seems to be the best option. If you can forgo the waterproof option, try mixing and matching mascaras. Start with a swipe of lengthening and then top it off with a coat of thickening. Along with formula options, there are now color and shimmer options.

Although a shimmering mascara can be subtle and brighten the eyes, avoid glitter-rich products unless you are in a fashion shoot or off to a Halloween party. Soft blacks, charcoals, and black/browns can work for most people for either day or night. If you’re looking to mix things up, try a color that will make your eyes really stand out like plum for blue eyes and purple for green or brown eyes.

After the product has been selected, proper application is crucial. Use the hairdryer to heat up an eyelash curler for better results. Then use the shimmy method of application. Shimmy the wand from side to side as you slowly drag it the length of the lashes. This will help to separate the lashes and avoid clumps. Most of us can skip applying mascara to the bottom lashes, but if you need the illusion of wider eyes, a light touch of the wand to the bottom lashes is fine.

Brightly colored steaks are all the rage these days.  These are a fun and quirky way to express yourself and the look can often be achieved in a temporary way.  Normally, dark hair has to be bleached first and then colored for the vibrant colors to show.

There are some products on the market now such as Spiker colored gel and various hair sprays that can help you achieve the look without the bleaching.  Obviously, the process and intensity of the color is easier for those with lighter hair, but anyone can achieve the look.  The ‘at-home’ method involves using peroxide or a bleaching kit from the local drug store to strip the color from the hair (unless the hair is already a light blonde).  Any shade of Kool-aid can then be used to dye the hair and create the desired color streak.  There are also dyes at the local beauty supply store that can be used.

For the less adventurous or those who don’t want to make the full commitment, single extensions can be clipped into the hair and come in a rainbow selection of colors.  These extensions can be trimmed to match the hair’s length, but DO NOT use the curling iron on these locks because it isn’t real hair and will melt.  Even with the clipped-in version, the look is fun and cool!

The skin is the largest organ of the body and, according the ancient Chinese, our third lung.  Not only does taking good care of this vital organ make us feel better, but it also increases our natural beauty.  The daily stress of life causes the skin to look older and less vital.  Although reducing stress doesn’t always seem possible, there are steps to take to reduce the impact that stress can cause.  Beautiful skin truly does start from the inside, and by following these suggestions, you can improve the way you look and feel.

*Start by getting enough beauty sleep.  During the restful periods of sleep, the skin has a chance to regenerate collagen, elasticity, and healthy cells.  This is also the time when the body starts to balance the hormones and chemicals from the day.

*Drink plenty of water or eat foods high in water.  Consuming 64 ounces of water a day is the minimum. Increasing that amount by just a glass or two more can help the body to clear out extra toxins that start to build up over time.

*Exercise not only increases overall health, but also improves circulation and helps to detoxify the body.  The increased blood flow helps pump more blood to the skin’s surface while sweating helps to release extra toxins.

Regardless of the routine you follow, remember that true beauty lies within and is greatly accentuated by being comfortable in your own skin.  Being true to yourself, smiling, laughing, and embracing your natural beauty will lead to a more gorgeous you.

Since this is a website about obtaining free makeup samples and free makeup tips, I don’t normally promote products that are expensive unless I really feel strongly about them.  This skin care product is one of those times!

Recently I have been using  SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator at the recommendation of my sister.  And if you can’t trust a sister, then who do you trust!!  It was expensive (it retails around $70 for a small bottle).  I found it at the link above for much less than that.

Anyway, this product is in a small bottle, but you don’t need very much since it is a serum. In fact, some users complain that it makes their skin feel sticky. I think that is because they are using too much of it. The instructions say you only need 4-6 drops for your entire face. If you stick to that, then it really does seem to do a good “retexturing” job.  My skin feels smoother than it has in a long time, and it gets rid of the dryness too.   My regular makeup goes on much smoother too and lasts longer.

I think I am going to get more than my money’s worth from this skin care product. Here’s the link if you want to take a look! SkinCeuticals Retexturing Activator