Any makeup is incomplete without a little attention to the eyes. A clever eye makeup not only makes you look like a million bucks, but also eliminates problem areas like thin lashes and dark circles. Eyeliners and false eyelashes accentuate the eyes and make it fuller. Big, small, wide, or hooded, these two pieces in your makeup kit can significantly add oodles of glamor to your look.

The one common concern many face is, what goes first – eyelash or the liner. Here are simple and easy-to-follow tips that will help you with this makeup mystery:

Invest in a good quality eyeliner –- liquid or pencil. While the former gives a clean finish, and is perfect if you have steady hands for application; the latter works well for beginners and for those who find it hard to finish with a clean line. Pick from solids or colors like green, blue, brown, silver, and so on depending on the occasion.

The other must-have is a pair of false eyelashes. Many leading brands offer a variety of shapes and colors to choose from, pick one that suits you the best. These eyelashes come with glue or you can scout local stores for ready-to-use variants.

If your false eyelash is wide, cut is slowly, one lash at a time. You can do the same to trim the length of the lashes. This will ensure that the lash looks natural and blended.

Follow it up with a gentle squeeze of glue on to the width of the band behind the eyelash, and spread it evenly. Don’t forget to wipe out the runny glue.

Now, pick the lash with tweezers and place it on your eye’s lash line. Don’t worry if you have not managed to get it right. Do it again, you will get better with practice. Once you have placed it, press and hold it for a few seconds till you’re sure it won’t come off. Use a mascara and comb out the lashes gently. This will blend the natural and false eyelashes and hold them together.

To finish the look, apply a soft coat of eyeliner to fill the gaps between the false lashes. Avoid applying a thick coat as this may reveal the false eyelash band. Draw a line along the outer rim of the eyelid. Try funky eyeliners or a winged eyeliner look to draw attention away from the false lashes.

The results are best when you follow these steps after a basic eye makeup. Now you are set to dazzle with a twinkle in your eyes!

Here are a few do’s and don’ts for making the most out of those peepers. Whenever applying eye shadow, start with a foundation to help keep it in place. You won’t need expensive primers for this, just the regular concealer that you dot on those dark circles can also be dotted above your eye to create a stay-put canvas for color. Once color is applied, BLEND!! Don’t be afraid to blend a little longer than you think is necessary.

Color-blocked eye shadow is not a good look on anyone. Keep colors light at the top and darker on the lid. A touch of white eye shadow (using an eye shadow pencil makes this much easier and keeps the color off the bridge of your nose) will make eyes look brighter and wider. For those of us who are more experienced and may have a few lines that show it, shimmering shadows will highlight those life lines, so be careful. Not all of us care about hiding our wisdom though, so go ahead and give a gold shimmer a try.

Select eye colors that enhance your eye color, but remember that colors like taupe and light lavender can really be worn by the majority. For a more specific to you look, check out a color wheel and choose an eye shadow that falls opposite of your eye color, like purple for green, or gold for blue.  Remember to always have fun with your eye color and mix it up a bit from time to time.

Finding the right make-up combination for your eyes isn’t always the easiest of tasks. Thanks to companies like Almay, choosing the right eye shades and combos is much easier. They offer eye shadows, liners and mascaras created specifically for the different basic eye colors to enhance the eyes and make them really POP! Whether your eyes are brown, green, blue, or hazel, there is a line of products just for you.

Almay Intense iColor

Most eye colors have a couple of choices of color combination. One is usually more for daytime and one is a little bolder for the evenings. You can also mix and match the options of shadows, liners, and mascaras to achieve your own unique look. The eye shadow choices come in sets of three colors that are aligned in the case in the same order that they should be applied to the eye. So the bottom shadow goes on the lid, the middle shadow on the crease, and the top shadow is applied just under the brow.

Once all three colors are applied, blend, blend, blend. You can even use the bottom color to enhance the eye liner under your eyes. No matter what your eye color, check out this product from Almay that makes eyes easy. Almay Intense i-Color Smoky-i Powder Shadow Kit

The first step in mascara application is to make sure there are no clumps on the wand before you even begin applying the product. Use a tissue to remove the excess mascara from the wand if necessary. Never, never pump the wand in and out of the tube.  Adding air to your mascara will cause it to dry out faster and clump easier.

To keep lashed from clumping, use a clean mascara wand after you’ve applied your mascara to take away the excess product and separate the lashes more completely. The best way to do this is to apply the mascara to the front of the lashes with your eyes open, then close your eyes and use the clean wand to go over the back of the lashes. Using a lash comb is also an option for removing clumps. Follow the same procedure, but use a lash comb instead of a clean wand. Always be sure to apply mascara at the base of the lashes first and then pull through to the tips.

Keep the wand going in a side to side motion (the shimmy) as you apply the product. If applying a second coat, which should only be done for special occasions or in the evenings, do it immediately after, the first coat is applied. Going over a dry coat of mascara will lead to more clumps and flaking. No one can carry clumps well, so be sure to take a few extra seconds for the proper, clump-free application.

Creating your own scent can be fun.  Whether you are trying to create a perfume, spritz, or lotion, spend some time exploring the different smells available to you and create something that is uniquely yours.  Everyone has their own preferences.  Smells bring back memories and emotions depending on how you associate them to things in your past.  Start somewhere with a scent that you like or that appeals to you.

If you’re not sure where to start, try sniffing essential oils at your local whole foods store.  If you find a place with a ‘scent bar’ take some note cards and spend some time mixing and matching the different smells that appeal to you.  When exploring scents, there are several categories to know:

Florals are usually the smell of a romantic.  These nodes can range from the delicate scent of violets and roses to the more exotic moonflowers to the more potent musk and sandalwood.

Fougere means ‘fern-like’ and is a popular category for men’s scents.  These smells are usually grassy and crisp, like pine.

Fruity smells create a warmer feeling when they pass the nose.  Citrus is among the lightest of the fruit smells while papaya and passion fruit tend to be stronger.

Orientals are better for evenings and cooler weather.  Scents like amber, clove and cinnamon fall into this category.

Oceanic is light and clean.  These smells include sea breezes and fresh air.

Woodsy (or chypre) is the perfect scent for the outdoorsy.  Patchouli and oakmoss are this category’s most popular.

Once you’ve decided on something you like, adding those oils to an all-natural lotion will create the perfect after-shower moisturizer just for you.

Staying healthy is an essential part to any beauty regimen.  Detoxifying the body can help to improve overall health and well-being.  Of course, avoiding processed foods and living a more natural lifestyle is ideal, but in today’s fast-paced world that is often easier said than done.  To help counter some of the toxins taken in daily through from the environment, try some (or all) of these at-home practices.

1.      Drink plenty of water.  A well-hydrated body is better equipped to eliminate toxins on its own.  Hot water is especially effective because it is more potent and flushes the body’s systems better than cold.  To make sipping on a warm glass of water more appealing, add some lemon juice which also improves the function of the liver, the body’s natural detoxing machine.

2.      Walk briskly 15-20 minutes each day.  By keeping a brisk pace, circulation and sweat increase and the body is more able to cleanse the lymphatic system.  The act of walking also improves colon function by utilizing the lower abdominal muscles.

3.      Try the ancient Ayurvedic practice of dry skin brushing.  By using a natural bristle brush over the entire body (except the face) in long strokes moving toward the heart, toxins are eliminated.  This also removes dead skin cells and debris which encourages the body to release even more toxins.

4.      If sipping hot water isn’t appealing, try enjoying some other detoxifying drinks such as apple and cranberry juice.  Green tea is a natural detoxifier and anti-inflammatory that can be even more effective when flavored with lemon, ginger, or peppermint.

5.      Soak in a nice warm bath that includes either Epsom or seaweed salts.  Both of these will help to pull toxins from the skin and encourage the release of toxins from vital organs.

6.      Practicing yoga daily can also help to release toxins in the body.  A simply version of the Sun Salutation done in the morning and at night will help to increase circulation and massage vital organs that will aid in the detoxifying process.

Beauty treatments and makeup for celebrities may be out of your budget, but it’s still fun to think about what is really out there. With the average cost of spa massages ranging from $85-$140, more people are enjoying these special treatments from time to time.  Day spas and resort spas around the world offer the standard experiences of various massages, body wraps, aromatherapies, and acupressure at fairly reasonable costs.

However, there are some extra-special treatments out there for those who are really looking to indulge.  These treatments range from $500 for a six-hands stone massage in Hawaii to over $5000 for an Evian bath in South Beach that uses rose petals and 1000 bottles of Evian water.

Some of the more popular and luxurious treatments being offered to the rich and famous these days include facials with 24-carat gold dissolved in the mist that is gently massaged until absorbed and massages that use over $1 million dollars worth of diamonds.

If that financial commitment is beyond your wallet, there are some more reasonable alternatives that include beer or wine baths and massages at various breweries and wineries, caviar shampoo treatments, and white chocolate raspberry body wraps.  Whatever your budget, there is an indulgent moment waiting to be enjoyed.

Nothing is quite as frustrating as achieving the perfect look and then watching it fade throughout the day.  From eye liner to lip stick and everything in between seems to fall victim to midday smudging or fading.

If you find that your eyeliner and/or mascara smudges or runs halfway through the day, try reducing the amount of eye cream used in the mornings by half or leave a little space between where the eye cream is applied and where the eye makeup goes.

If your blush seems to disappear throughout the day, put a very thin layer of cream blush under your finishing powder and then top it off with a powder blush.

To keep lips in place and avoid feathering, always start with a lip liner.  Apply lip color, blot, lightly dust with face powder and finish with a gloss to add extra shine and moisture.

Trying these quick and easy tips will help keep that perfectly applied face in place all the live-long day.

Whatever look you are trying to achieve, here are some styling tips to help with the everyday styles that so many of us sport.

*To create an easy, wavy, natural look, gently use your fingers or a pick to untangle wet hair.  Add a small amount of anti-frizz or shine enhancing product and let hair air dry.

*Permed hair often requires a bit of perking up between shampoos or on the mornings when a full-styling session doesn’t fit the time constraints.  Start by lightly misting hair with water and then pushing curls into place with your fingers.  Keeping a spray bottle with water and a few drops of essential oil in your favorite scent will really kick up the overall effect of this quick fix.

*Pomade is the perfect product in a pinch.  It can be used (very sparingly) to remove static, control flyaways, or create a glossy shine to dull hair.  Always start pomade by gently rubbing between palms and applying to ends first.

*Once that beautiful braid is completely, finish the look by applying a little gel or pomade to the little loose hairs around the face and nape of the neck.  After smoothing on a little product, a hairpin can help hold things in place until dry.  These products can also be applied to damp hair before braiding to help keep everything in place.

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!