lovebeauty

Beautiful Hands

2008-10-21T00:54:00.000-07:00

Dry your hands thoroughly after any contact with water.

Warm a cup of whole milk and soak your hands to strengthen nails and hydrate skin. Not only is milk loaded with lactic acid (a natural exfoliant), but it also has a high calcium content to help strengthen fragile nails.

Once a week sleep with rich moisturizer coating your hands. Warm the moisturizer, apply it to your hands, cover them with cotton gloves, and turn in for the night.

Combine one teaspoon olive oil with the contents of one vitamin E capsule and one teaspoon powdered milk. Massage into hands twice a week.

Fill a bowl with warm water, one teaspoon Epsom salts and some playing marbles. Submerge each hand for about 5 minutes, rolling the marbles around. This is great therapy for "keyboard fingers."

Lips beauty

2008-10-21T00:48:00.000-07:00

Highlight your lips with color-rich lipsticks

Lipsticks bring out your smile and can make your lips look totally kissable. No makeup has to power to transform like long lasting lipsticks and most women say they feel naked without it. A necessary part of a polished look and often the last thing a woman will do is apply lipstick before leaving the house. No other cosmetic is easier to apply and lip liners, lip gloss, and lipsticks help make a woman feel sexy and self-assured. If you can color in a coloring book, you can color your lips and with enough practice you won't even need to use a mirror.

Lipsticks are composed of pigment, which determines its color; wax, which gives lipstick its shape and emollients or oils which moisturize and carry the color. The five basic formulas are sheer, shimmer, cream, matte and long-lasting. Flavored lip-gloss and moisturizing glosses are also desirable for a different twist and shiny lips. Lip liners shape your lip and make it easier to apply the lipsticks.

The lips are an extremely vulnerable part of the body, and lipsticks should provide protection. A good lipstick will moisturize the lips and shield them from the sun. These days the most lubricious lipsticks contain moisturizers like Vitamin E, collagen and amino acids and some contain sunscreen for protection. Women over 50 usually look better with a cream lipsticks rather than a matte or gloss and in a pinch your lipsticks can double as a blush. Carry a stash of different lipsticks in daring shades in your purse for different occasions, outfits, and moods.

Beautiful Feet

2008-10-21T00:46:00.001-07:00

Five Tips to Beautiful Feet

1- Soften your skin by filling a basin with warm water and add the juice of a lemon with one cup oatmeal. Soak feet for ten minutes. While soaking, rub the oatmeal all over your feet to exfoliate. Rinse with warm water.

2- Make a highly effective foot tonic by micro waving a cup of milk, one tablespoon dry mint leaves, one teaspoon rosemary & one teaspoon peppermint extract. Apply the mixture to feet with a clean, dry cloth. Brush off residue and wrap feet in plastic wrap. Wait 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

3- Make your pedicure last twice as long by choosing a metallic polish. These polishes contain minerals that adhere to the nail better, and give off a flattering sheen from any foot.

4- Get rid of corns by soaking your feet in warm salt water. Buff the affected area with a coarse emery board, and then apply a pineapple slice for 5 minutes over the corn. The enzymes will help to further dissolve the corn.

5- Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon poppy seeds and 1 teaspoon baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice. Scrub briskly with a vegetable brush, then rinse thoroughly.

Fashion Tips

2008-10-21T00:42:00.000-07:00

Skin jewelry are sensual and feminine. It includes short necklaces, earring, rings and bracelet. Silver and gold jewelry used together looks contemporary. If both metals are mix with pearl it breaks up the overly feminine look.

If you’re going out to a formal dinner, use crystals or rhinestone. It will look perfect for the night. For casual look, you can combine a short choker with long strands. With a turtleneck, dangling earrings looks fabulous but if you are at work never use dangling jewelry. It doesn’t work with an office look. Chokers are nice and elegant but they don’t usually work on short, thick necks. They look good on long faces and neck.

Necklaces length that stops at the breastbone looks good on women with big bust. For tall women, a necklace with thirty-four to thirty-six inches gives them a good balance.
To make the right choice and to assess how all the different length looks on you use a full length mirror.

In buying pearls, to check if it’s genuine, rub a pearl gently across the bottom of your teeth. If the gem feels mildly abrasive like the sand then you can tell that it’s real.

Bracelets are feminine, fun and sexy. Cuff bracelets comes in a same shades and places as beads. Skinny bangles either gold, brass, silver also looks good in great numbers. Chain-link bracelets can look stylish if you mixed them with narrow bangles and ivory beads and wood beads look good with silver and gold.

Earrings are the accessory closest to the face. You need a full length mirror to show whether the proportion is right. Wearing gold or pearl buttons are suitable for daytime use. Dangling earrings are good for evening, weekend or at home look.

If you have oval-shaped face a round medium sized earring like a big circle with pearl in the middle will look good and for women with round face or jaw wide use a flat, slender drops or oval button earring looks best. A pear shape earrings, wider at the bottom will be flattering to triangular face.

If you don't have piercing, wearing a clip earrings is a good option.
Rings comes in different settings. When you are buying a diamond ring, to tell if it’s real or not, look through the back of the cut stone while holding it above newsprint. If you can see even small letter, then it is fake. Real diamonds distort the print. The birthstone rings are considered forever classics. They are good accent to your evening wardrobe.

Simple and slim baguette band, gold cigar bands and insignia rings look good on short fingers.

Jewelry Care and Maintenance

Gold

Mix a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid in a small bowl of warm water.
Immerse for 10 to 15 minutes and then gently clean with a soft bristle brush.
Rinse with lukewarm water, then dry and buff with a soft cloth.
For quick fix, dip in rubbing alcohol. Rinse and then dry.

The best way of storing gold jewelry is by wrapping them individually to avoid scratches.
To maintain the luster, it should be taken off before shower or housework.
Soap makes it dull. Chlorinated water eats up the metal, so avoid wearing them in chlorinated water.

Silver

A commercial cleaner should be used if it’s tarnished. Dipping it with very hot water might help too.
You can use a paste cleaner for jewelry with intricate design and then wipe it with a clean soft cloth.

In storing silver, it should be place in a dry box, keeping it away from light, air and dampness.
You can wrap then in a tarnish preventive bag or cloth.
The best way to prevent tarnishing is using it frequently. Don’t use in chlorinated water.

Diamonds

A mixture of equal part of water and ammonia or rubbing alcohol can be used in cleaning diamonds.

Immerse it for a few minutes and clean it with a soft bristle brush.
To prevent form scratching during storage, wrap them individually.
Bleach, chlorinated water or other household products can damage and discolor the mounting.
It should be taken off before working.

Pearls

After wearing, wipe with a soft water-moistened cloth to remove residue.
If you are wearing them several times a week, once a year moisten a soft clean cloth in a solution of one part mild dishwashing liquid to 20 parts lukewarm water, and rub each pearl individually.

Wipe off with a damp, clean cloth and buff dry. Let the pearls air dry overnight.
In storing it should be stored separately to avoid scratches.
Don’t put them in a plastic bag. Pearls need air to maintain it luster.
Use a chamois clothe, satin bag or wrap in tissue.

Put on pearls after applying cosmetics, perfumes and hair spray.
Using it frequently will maintain the luster of the pearl because natural skin oil can be absorbed.
Gems

Immerse each stones in mixed mild dishwashing liquid and lukewarm water for a few minutes.
Clean with a soft bristle brush and then pat dry with soft clothes.
It should be store separately to avoid scratching.

Don’t expose to saltwater, chlorine, or detergents, which may slowly erode the finish and polish of the gems.

If your gems are set in metal follow the cleaning method recommended for metals.

Facials Tips

2008-10-21T00:36:00.000-07:00

Throughout the seasons, our skin can become dry and dehydrated, and our blood vessels become more visible. A thorough skin cleansing becomes a necessity, and there is nothing more effective than the application of a deep cleansing facial mask. Facial masks are a wonderful way to make your skin glow, even out its tone, and help it appear more youthful. And you can make healthy, all-natural facial masks right at home. Follow our simple Facial Mask Recipes to create this enriching experience for your skin in the comfort of your own home.

What is a Facial Mask?

A facial mask is a simple and effective dermo-cosmetic process which helps maintain youthful skin, while also preventing premature aging. Masks increase blood circulation, the dilation of the pores, and the removal of toxins, which the mask helps eliminate. In general, ingredients are more concentrated than those in lotions or cleansers, so they produce more noticeable benefits in a shorter amount of time.

Benefits of Using Facial Masks

Not only are facial masks wonderful for pampering body and soul, but also these cosmetic preparations applied to the face will tighten, clean and refresh the skin. They are much like "take-home spas," relieving stress, enhancing well-being, and allowing a little bit of pure indulgence in luxury while offering an enhanced sensory experience. The final result is a renewed, rested and youthful appearance.

Think of facial masks as the ultimate nutrient delivery system. Because a mask is much thicker than a moisturizer or topical treatment and because of its extended application time and the inner warmth generated, which opens the pores, passage of nutrients into the skin occurs far more quickly and efficiently. When necessary, masks can also remove excess oil and environmental debris and pollutants much more gently than astringents, toners or scrubs. Although, masks can also help replenish necessary skin oils, especially during the harsh winter months.

How Often Should I Use Facial Masks?

To avoid excessive drying out of the skin, facial masks shouldn't really be used more than once a week, which is the ideal. Think of masks like exercise - you won't get the benefits if you only use them every few months. If you can't manage a mask session that often, though, don't worry. The change of seasons at the end of summer (when skin is often thirsty after sun exposure) and at the end of winter (when skin is flat and dingy) are the two prime times to make an effort. Finish off by using a warm, wet flannel cloth to remove the mask and it will act as a gentle exfoliant, leaving skin instantly brighter and clearer-looking.

What Type Of Mask Should I Use For My Skin Type?

As far as what type of mask to use, if you have oily skin, go for a clay or mud mask to absorb excess oil buildup. If you have dry skin, try a creamy, hydrating mask. If you have sensitive skin, use a light, gel mask. And if you have combination skin, you may need more than one mask to spot-treat different problems, says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in New York and author of Beautiful Skin: Every Woman's Guide to Looking Her Best at Any Age. For example, zap zits along your t-zone with a deep-cleansing mask and keep your cheeks soft with a more moisturizing formula. You'll get the best results if you choose a mask that targets your specific skin type and addresses any problems you have.

How to use facial masks:

1. Wash your face and neck
2. Put some protective cream around your eyes and mouth
3. Put a mask on your face and neck and do not keep it on for longer than 20 minutes
4. Rinse it off with warm boiled water or mineral water
5. Apply a moisturizing cream.

Facial Mask Recipes

As a general rule, cucumber and mint are natural refresheners; oats exfoliate; cream cleanses and softens; lemon juice tones and refreshes. Mix and match these ingredients, add a few other items from your pantry, and voila! You have a great mask that you can make in minutes. See our recipes below for facials that are sure to become staples in your weekly beauty regimen.

Refreshing Masks

Tomato Facial Mask

Terrific for normal skin. Cut a small sized raw tomato into two halves and gently rub both halves on your face in a circular motion. After the tomato face pack has dried, rinse your face completely, tone and moisturize.

Easy Egg White Mask

Improves skin tone. Massage egg white all over your face. After mask has completely dried, rinse your skin thoroughly, tone and moisturize. Leaves your pores feeling taut and refreshed!

Peachy Honey Mask

Works like magic and tastes great! Mash 1 large skinned peach (or nectarine) and 3 tsp. honey together, and add 2 tbsp. yogurt until you have a workable paste. Pat evenly over your face and neck and around your eyes. Lie back and relax for about 10 minutes. Rinse well with warm water, tone and moisturize.

Cool as a Cucumber Facial Mask

This mask is perfect for any skin type; for best results, apply weekly. Place 1 cup oats and 1 tbsp. wheat bran in a blender and grind to a fine powder. Add 2 tbsp. buttermilk, 2 tbsp. whipping cream, 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice, 1 tbsp. plain yogurt, 1 tsp. fresh mint leaves, and 1/2 medium diced cucumber. Blend until consistency is smooth. Apply to freshly cleansed face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, tone and moisturize.

Exfoliating Masks

Exfoliating Oatmeal Mask
Wonderful for sloughing off dried skin! Mix 3/4 cup dry oatmeal with approximately 1/3 cup warm water into a paste and spread on face. Lie down and let it dry. Wash off with warm water, tone, and moisturize.

Nutty Avocado Honey Mask

First mash and mix 1 ripe avocado with 1/2 tsp. honey. Add 1 tsp. almonds to mixture and continue to mash until creamy. Apply mixture to a clean face and relax for 15-20 minutes. Massage gently to exfoliate before rinsing with warm water.

Cornmeal Concoction Face Wash

Mix 1/2 cup cornmeal, 1 egg white, 1 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, and 2 tbsp. milk. Gently massage on face, avoiding eye area, let dry and wash off with warm water.

Hydrating

Egg and Honey Hydrating Mask

This mask is wonderful for refining and smoothing scaly skin. Mix together 1 tbsp. honey, 1 egg yolk, 1/2 tsp. almond oil and 1 tbsp. yogurt. Massage into skin and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse well with cool water, tone, and moisturize.

Banana Facial Pack

Lovely and soothing mask-smells scrumpious! Combine 1 egg yolk, 2 tsp. almond oil, and 1 ripe banana in a bowl and mash into a paste with a fork. Apply to face and neck and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water, pat dry, tone and moisturize.

Moisturizing Beer Mask

Don't take that last sip! In a blender, combine 1 tbsp. beer, 1 heaped tsp. plain yogurt, 1 tsp. olive oil, 1 egg white, 1 tsp. lemon extract, and 1 tsp. almond extract. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Wet face with warm water and apply mixture evenly. Let sit for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water, then splash with cold water. Tone and moisturize.

Oily Skin

Avocado and Mud Mask

To give oily skin the slip, try this sebum-absorbing clay mask. Clay or Fuller's Earth mud is available in powder form at any health food store. Mix 1 tbsp. dry clay with 1 egg yolk, 1/4 of a mashed avocado and enough witch hazel to create a smooth mixture. Apply to face (avoid eye area) and let dry completely. Rinse well with warm water, pat dry, tone and moisturize.

Sebum-Reducing Soy Facial

Excellent for oily or spotty skin. Mix 2 tbsp. of strained soybean curd with 1/2 tsp. of lemon juice in a blender for 30 seconds. Massage paste into the skin and let dry completely. Rinse well with cool water, tone and moisturize.

Eyes Beauty

2008-10-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

Eye shadow That Stays Beauty Tip

Melting eye shadow is a problem for many women, but there is a way to make it "stick" a little longer.

If you use a damp eye shadow brush and apply a layer of face powder to your lids and allow to set, the shadow will stay in place for the day.
Takes an extra second or so but the effort is well worth it.

Beauty Tips For Eyebrows

Your eyebrows add strength and definition to your face. Well groomed eyebrows enhance your beauty.

You should pluck eyebrows before bedtime so any redness will disappear overnight. In shaping your eyebrows use your facial features.

Use a pair of slant edge tweezers which grip hairs easily. Comb hairs one way and then the other to remove loose hairs.

You should pluck hairs between the brows and any stragglers. Never remove the hairs from above your eyebrows.

Pluck each hair individually close to the root. Work in the direction of the growth.
Always avoid over plucking. In defining your eyebrows choose a shade similar to your natural hair colour.

When using a pencil you should apply in small, feathered strokes. Starting at the inner corner work outwards.

Blend the colour with a brush. To tame stray hairs just use hair gel and comb through to neaten.

Skin Care Tips

2008-10-21T00:26:00.000-07:00

Money saver

Hooked on using disposable cleansing cloths or facial wipes for cleaning your face? Since these packages are convenient but costly, take the time to cut each cloth in half when you buy the package. With a little extra effort you gain twice as many cleansing cloths and save some money in the process.

Exfoliate, exfoliate

For a fast, at-home body exfoliation, mix olive oil with sea salt or sugar. Smooth over skin in circular motions all over the body, avoiding the breast area. Rinse off in the shower and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Body brush

Dry brushing your skin before a shower is a great way to stimulate the natural oil glands in your body. Using a natural bristle body brush, start at your feet and lightly your skin in a circular motion. Follow by a warm shower and slather your body with your favorite moisturizer.

Hand moisturizer

For regular, well-moisturized hands, keep hand cream on your desk at work or in the car. Apply the cream throughout the day to rejuvenate your cuticles and keep skin saturated.

Natural cleansers

Dip into your fridge for facial cleansers when your regular cleanser runs out. In a pinch buttermilk, yogurt and even cream are gentle, natural skin cleansers.

Moisturizer alternative

Instead of using a cream moisturizer after you bath or shower, rub almond oil (available at your local health food store) into your skin for a treat. Combined with a few drops of your favorite essential oil (peppermint, lavender or neroli) it will leave your skin smooth and supple.

Make shaving easier

An easy way to avoid razor burn after shaving is to moisturize beforehand. While shaving cream is the most popular method, try prepping your leg with hair conditioner for a few minutes before shaving. It will hold moisture on the leg longer and provide a very smooth shave.

Tired eye solution

Need to get rid of tired or puffy eyes immediately? Keep a spoon in the freezer and apply to eyelids for a few minutes to reduce redness.

Cosmetic Tips

2008-10-21T00:22:00.000-07:00

Make-up timeline

To ensure your eyes stay healthy and free of infection when using make-up, heed the following due-date rules. Throw out your mascara after three months, powder eye shadows every nine to 18 months, and cream eye shadows every six to 12 months. Sharpen your eyeliners often to keep them clean.

Mascara mistakes

To avoid mascara flake-off or smudging on your face, apply a thin cost of mascara to top lashes only. Then run an eyelash brush through lashes to prevent clumpy mascara build-up.

Get a rosy glow

Want your face to radiate a healthy glow? Try using a gel blush or cream (instead of powder) in a rosy shade of pink to create a more natural look. Gels or creams are more transparent and blend smoothly Ã¢â‚¬â€œ rub it on the apples of your cheek and blend up towards the eye for a glowing complexion.

Minute manicure

Need a fast fix for unpolished nails? File nails into a square shape, buff them to create a bit of shine and apply a clear coat of polish. Next rub in cuticle oil around the edges of the nail and moisturize your whole hand. It takes less than 15 minutes and will give your appearance a polished look.

Brow etiquette

The trend in eyebrows for this season is natural looking, not sparse and skinny. Use a tinted brow definer or eye shadow to fill in scanty brows.

Fix tired feet

Pamper your tired feet with a luxurious footbath. Fill a basin with warm water and add a few drops of essential oils. Next place marbles or small stones (found at your local garden centre) into the basin. Run your toes and soles of your feet over the marbles, and relax for 15 minutes.

Eye/lip pencil care

Before sharpening your eyeliner or lip pencil, place them in the freezer for 10 minutes. They will harden slightly and not break when sharpened.

Eyeliner hint

Women with deep-set eyes should use liquid liner instead of regular pencil eyeliner, to prevent smudging in the crease of the lid. Liquid liner does not smudge as easily.

Nail polish know-how

Is your nail polish from last season too thick? Chances are the polish has begun to thicken at the bottom of the bottle. Add a bit of nail polish thinner to the bottle to get the maximum use of your nail polish.

Foundation tester

When picking out a concealer or foundation, always test the colour on the inside of your wrist. The skin there is the most unblemished and will give you a good idea of how it will look on your face. Extend your foundation

Want to extend the life of your foundation and cut down on heavy concealer? Mix a drop of it with your natural moisturizer to create a luminescent look for your skin.

Curl your lashes

Before curling your eyelashes, heat the curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds. Test to make sure it is not too hot, then apply to eyelashes. The heat will lock in the curl on extra long eyelashes.

Foundation secret

Apply foundation to your face after you have done your eye make-up. This helps you to fix any last minute smudging from mascara or eyeliner under the eyes.

Lipstick trick

Love matte lipstick, but feel your dry lips wreck the look? Apply a lip balm to lips before starting your make-up routine. By the time you have done your eyes and rest of the face, your lips will be moisturized and ready for the matte lipstick.

Manicure tip

If you have been sloppy applying nail polish, simply soak nails (when dry) in warm water for a few minutes and then rub off extra nail polish gently with a finger.

Hair Care Tips

2008-10-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

Hair helper

Interested in trying out sculpting mud for your hair? Make sure you use a minimal amount of product to prevent weighing hair down. A good rule of thumb is to put a little bit on your fingertips and apply to the hair from the back of the head forward.

Hair clean-up

An all-natural way to eliminate shampoo build-up and toxins in your hair is with apple cider vinegar. Rinse your hair once a week with one cup of apple-cider vinegar, found in grocery stores or health stores.

Hair styling fact

Hair sets best as it is cooling, not when it is heated up from blow-drying. Whether using hot rollers or a blow dryer, apply hair spray after hair has cooled to maximize the style.

Salon style hair

Want to achieve that salon style blowout at home? Separate your damp hair into several sections and blow-dry one at a time using a round or paddle brush. Taking the time to focus on each section will give you that overall salon look.

Nail Care Tips

2008-10-21T00:08:00.000-07:00

Your nails may be craving something - If your nails are weak, splitting, fragile etc, the problem could be traced back to an inadequate water intake.

Most people don't drink nearly enough water. Drink up!

What to do about brittle nails

The most common nail wreckers are harsh detergents and water, which can stress nail fibers. So be sure to put rubber gloves on while you clean or do dishes.

Also, avoid using perfume lotions that usually contain alcohol if your nails are brittle. It will only make your nails worse.

It may be possible that your calcium intake is low, as well.
How to Give Yourself a Manicure

Whether you prefer your nails to be long or short, they can still look stunning with a little know-how.

Wash and dry your hands.
Using a double-sided emery board, file nails using a gentle stroke. Avoid corners of your nails as this can weaken them.
Begin to shape your nails. The most popular shape to use is oval, but choose what is most suited to your hand and finger shape.
Check to see how well you have done. Run your nails over an old pair of pantyhose. Your nails should not snag the hose.
Apply a softener to your cuticles. Allow to site for a minute or so.
Transfer hands to a bowl of warm water and soak for an additional few minutes.
Gently push back the cuticles. This should not be painful. If hangnails are present, carefully clip them.
Apply hand lotion and begin to massage the palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand. This will help to circulate the blood. Work your way over the remainder of the hand and then repeat giving equal time to the other hand.
Before color is applied to nails, they must be cleaned and the easiest way to do this is with an orange stick that has been wrapped with cotton. Dip into nail polish remover and then rub over the surface of the nail. Check the nail for any creamy residue. When none remains, your nails will be ready for polishing.
Time for color. Pick up a small amount of polish on your brush and paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Your brush should hold just enough color to accomplish this. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done. The nail should be completely colored in three strokes. Allow to set for a minute or so before applying the second coat.
Wait until polish is set (dry to the touch) and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your manicure, it will protect your nails as well.
Sanitize all of your equipment with alcohol and when they are dry, store them away until the next manicure.

Nail Tips:

Nail polish can be stored in the fridge.
If your nail polish is too thick, try thinning with a polish thinner.
To prevent the cap from sticking, coat it with a little Vaseline to prevent this from happening.