Skincare & Makeup Guide

An Instant Guide For Long And Beautiful Hair

2010-10-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

The most frequently asked question that i get to have is how to keep your hair long & healthy avoiding dryness & dullnes.Well,growing long, beautiful and healthy hair is not an extremely difficult process.It does not matter what type of hair nature have blessed you with, there are certain things you can do to keep it healthy, lustrous, looking its best.
To help your locks look their best, we asked from top experts from around the country for their advice on how to baby your mane every single day. So whether you are concerned with dullness, damage, split ends,frizz or fragility, we have got the answers to ease even the toughest hair-care woes.

Firstly let me tell you,there is no such magic bullet. If you want to go from a short Bob to long flowing locks instantly than you do have some options, but depending on a variety of factors, they could be limited. As far as i can suggest,your best bet for overnight long hair is to consider hair extentions clip on ponytails or long wigs. In general, however, there are more things not to do to grow hair, make quicker progress with the growth, and keep your hair healthy than there are things to do.

To Deal With Dull or Dry Hair:

Many women suffer from having extremely dry hair, which in turn can cause hair damage.Whether it might be the scorching heat of summer or harsh chilly winter, an extreme weather can really take toll on your hair.Although there could be number of reasons for hair damage.Whether your dry locks are caused by weather, heat from curling irons or blow dryers, or lack of natural oils,over shampooing,there are certain ways to remedy dry hair.

Shampooing as mentioned above can certainly clean your hair, but can also strip away essential oils that dry hair needs. Unless, you have an oily scalp, women with dry hair need only shampoo their locks every 2 or 3 days, and less if possible.Avoid over shampooing.
Gels are also good products for smoothing hair, but be careful not to use gels with a high alcohol concentration since alcohol is drying. There are gels made specifically for frizzy hair and these contain low or no alcohol.
Food Therapy is something you must consider,yes even diet can play a part in the dryness of one's hair. consider food high in omega -3 fatty acids, most importantly fish. It is recommended that you eat salmon or some other cold water fish at least twice per week.Do add flaxseed oil to your diet; about two tablespoons a day added to popcorn or potatoes can certainly replenish lost hair and skin oils. Flaxseed has a buttery flavor, try it, it's not that bad.
Conditioners are often the key to eliminating dry hair. One key to conditioning dry hair, always towel dry your hair and get rid of as much moisture and water as possible before conditioning. Never skip conditioning hair that is dry. Another great alternative to traditional conditioners is the use of Mayonese. Mayonnaise makes a great conditioner for dry hair; leave on for 5 minutes to an hour before washing it out. When rinsing conditioners out of the hair, rinse with tepid to cool water, this will help the cuticle close and lock, giving maximum, longer lasting benefits.
Use of hair curlers,iron rods,hair dryers for drying and styling purposes are often a big problem, because when women are usually in a hurry when drying their hair, they often reach for the blow dryer. Make sure when you use a blow dryer or curling iron, keep it on the lowest setting possible. But it is strongly recommended to allow dry hair to dry naturally. And when it comes to styling, try going back in time to those sponge rollers or plastic cylinder rollers from years ago. When using gels or lotions on the hair, consider those made for dry hair with moisturizers. Often times those that have fruit extracts and natural oils like flaxseed and almond oil are great for dry hair.

Try to avoid environmental culprits like sun,winds and water with salt or chlorine,it will help in eliminating dry hair as well. I suggest wear a scarf or hat when you go out in the sun or wind. When swimming, consider using a plastic hair cap or avoid getting the hair wet. If you know you're hair may get wet, do apply olive or almond oil to the hair prior to swimming or going to the beach. And when or if the hair does get wet, always wash afterwards with a specially formulated swimmer's shampoo often found at drug stores.

Regular trims and cuts are extreamly important. Another great option to revitalizing your dry hair is to get regular trims, at least every 6 weeks. Because most often the ends that are the driest looking; it's necessary to have regular haircuts and rid you of those nasty split ends.
Baking soda is an effective way of removing all product build-up from your hair by removing chemicals and washing away water impurities.
Hot oil treatments are strongly recommended for adding oils and moisture to dry hair. You can visit salon for a professional treatment.But here's a great "at home" remedy is the following: Place 1 or 2 drops of safflower oil in your palms and rub them together, scrunch into the hair and leave. Or try this remedy, massage 2 tablespoons of warm olive or almond oil into your hair, wrap your head in a warm damp towel and wait for about 35 minutes and then rinse. Apply hot oil treatments to the hair at least every 2-3 weeks for maximum benefits.
I strongly recommend usage of natural ingredients like apple cider vineger to get rid of dry scalp & dandruff.

Dark circles under the eyes:

2010-08-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

Dark circles appearing under the eye often present an unsightly appearance making people appear tired and older than they may be. These under-eye bags/dark circles are partially due to genetics, under-eye bags can get some relief with remedies from home, a doctor and proper medicines.

Dark circles under or around the eyes can be caused by many different factors.The following are the most common causes of those unattractive dark circles.

1-Sun Exposure

2-Heridity

3-Pregnancy or Menstruation

4-Medications

5-Lack of sleep or Fatigue

6-Age

7-Nutrition

Finding a cure for baggyy eyes or remedies to help reduce the appearance of dark circles under-eyes can sometimes be a challenging issue.Dark circles or bags under the eyes are often caused due to fat accumulation in the area of the eye, and can develop slowly over a matter of years. Not everyone develops them, but once you do, only surgery can reverse the process,though there are some non-surgical options available that can certainly reduce the appearance of baggy eyes.

Dark circles Prevention:

The best defense against under-eye dark circles is prevention.You have to drink plenty of water and get a minimum of 8 hour of sleep each night. Keep stress in check by making sure you have appropriate outlets to help manage both emotional and physical stress.Listed below are some sure ways to get rid of puffy or baggy eyes.

1-Home remedies

Grate a cucumber, squeeze to take out its juice and refrigerate. Make a mixture of lemon juice, lanolin cream and cucumber juice and apply around the eye for 10-15 minutes.Cucumbers contains water in abundance, which is renowned for its healing properties and ability to calm the skin.

Dip a cotton bud in a mixture of potato and cucumber juices. Put the cotton on your eyelids and keep for 20 minutes. Wash your eyes with cold water.

Close your eyes and cover eyelids with slices of raw potato for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water and apply a cream.

Apply a mixture of lemon and tomato juice (equal parts) on the black circles twice a day.

Apply a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice for dark circles under the eyes.

Apply crushed mint around the eye.

Apply almond oil & massage under and around eyes at bed time daily for 2 weeks and get instant results. Almond is known to remove dark circles, and is an excellent skin food.

Remove any applied cream around the eye after 10 min. No cream should be left on the skin around the eyes for long periods.

Rub the area with a powdered Vitamin E capsule and wipe off with a mixture of honey and egg white.

Put hot and cold cotton clothes alternatively under eyes for 15 minutes. Then apply some almond oil on the dark surface before going to bed.

2-Healthy Diet

We know that body responds to the food it is given, and with under-eye bags, a diet rich in salt and less water intake can make the area appear discolored and puffy. Contrary to it,a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial to the eye area, specially kiwis and yogurt in particular are known for their ability eliminate bags due to the high concentration of vitamin C and D.Hence eating a whole-foods, plant-based diet, drinking plenty of water (eight 8-ounce glasses daily), and avoiding alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks also go a long way in preventing bags, dark circles and wrinkles aswell.

3-Sleep

Insufficient sleep does not only disturbs an individual's ability to function, but can also have significant effects on one's appearance, including on under-eye dark circles.Eight hours of sleep is a must for all of us, especially for people having dark circles under their eyes.Getting adequate sleep (generally 7 to 9 hours for adults) is beneficial for under-eye bags. Sleep allows for blood and oxygen to flow through the under-eye area, making the skin look refreshed,young and revitalized.

4-Consult a doctor:

The skin around and under the eyes is very thin and very sensitive to changes in the body, especially changes related to the retention or distribution of water.If symptoms related to baggy eyes are severe, you should notify a doctor immediately.

Some people do go for a surgical procedure to cure their under-eye bags.This procedure, called blepharoplasty, includes a laser-removal of excess skin and fat deposits from the upper and lower eyelids.This type of procedure is recommended for people with severe bags and generally is known for its fast healing and quick results.

A Damn Perfect Party Makeup

2010-08-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Everbody wants to become a highlight of the party.You can grab attention by having perfect party make up that can set eyes on you.Here are some make up tips that will prove to be quite resourceful to any female who want to seek attention from crowd. You can try out the look sported by the flamboyant super models in the fashion shows.Without a proper make up that is going with your attire and the theme of the party, you just cannot grab some eyeballs.

For a glamorous evening look in a jiffy, you can add a few lashes to the outer corners of your eyes. You can use waterproof glue and the eye lash will not come off until you want them to.
Eyes are the cornerstones of such ethereal make up but the experimentation entirely depends upon you. One can go for shimmering metallic silver eye shadow to make heads turn.But, if you like to be subtle, opt for neutral shades like brown,olive green, peach and lilac. Another masterstroke can be highlighting the right corner of the eye with a golden or silver eye pencil. Egyptian make up with smoky eyes is fast catching up with the youth of today that wants to grab the eyeballs at socials dos and get togethers.
Dramatic, over done eyes are the essence of such make up style.Picking the right eyeshadow palettes enhances your assets and your whole face. You are encouraged to experiment and to pick different colors to find out which would suit your taste. Since, the eyes are already quite highlighted in such make up, strongly done lips will create a negative touch. Therefore, nude lips will perfectly complement such make up style.
The black mascara can be a killer addition to the eyes, which can make the eyelashes look stupendous.
Apply the coat of mascara almost three times.
For the lipstick, choose one that enhances your lips and suits your color tone. You can also add some silver or golden flecks to the midpoint of your lip for augmenting the mope. As far as your lips are concerned, you can try mixing a true red lipstick with a gold or silver gloss.
You can also reduce the strength of the red by mixing it with one of your neutral lip colors.
Blush is often the last cosmetic that is used when doing makeup.There are different ways of applying blush for different types of faces.You can highlight the cheekbones by using a slightly darker shade on eyes. You can blend it with the cheek for a more natural look. It is important to choose the right application of blusher since it can make your face look longer or wider. You can put on some shimmer on the highest point of cheekbone. This gives a sexy and cool look.

None of these looks can be started without applying a simple layer of foundation on your face.

A Natural & Appropriate Makeup For Daily Use

2009-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

When selecting your make up, make sure you use proper lighting. For day wear, use natural light or a very white light. And for evening wear, a very slight blue light to apply by would be ideal. Never apply makeup by a yellow light. It will make you add too much make-up and the effect will not be good enough.

Some imporatnt Tips for daywear makeup

- Cleaning - Clean your face from any natural or added oils and creams – this will allow your makeup to stay even, and look natural.

- Foundation– Choose your foundation and compact powder to match your own skin tone. Never choose a shade more than one shade darker or lighter than your own skin tone.

- Base - Apply a foundation first to all parts of your face, blending it over and down your throat. Make sure it is blended well over your skin.

- Eyebrows – Natural eyebrows only need a slight brushing. If added color is needed, use the exact color of your own eyebrow. A soft eyebrow pencil is excellent for adding color that looks natural. If you use a hard lead pencil, it will color your skin, and not the eyebrow hairs. For added shape, use a brush and add color lightly.

- Eye makeup – In the case of eye shadow, choose a color that will enhance your eye color. (If it is for evening-match your clothing) applying eye shadows is an art. Use at least three colors all from the same color group. Start with your eyelid. Apply the lightest color there, medium in eyelid crease the darker color up to meet the eyebrow. Also apply the lighter color to the edges of the darkest color at the edges away from the center. After you have applied all applications, use the tip of your finger and blend it all together slightly.

- Eyeliner – Use a medium brown or black. Use a tube liquid. It applies smoother and more evenly. Apply it to the edge of your eyelid above your eyelashes. Use long strokes to apply and make sure it is very close to your eyelashes. This brings your eyelashes and your eyelid into one. (If evening-you can extend the line at the side as a fuller look). Day wear should stop even at the edge of your eye.

- Eyelashes – Use the browns or blacks. Using mascara with a brush, apply the mascara in full long strokes working upwards. This also will help the eyelashes to curl up instead of straight or down. Allow it to dry for a few seconds and apply again. A third layer may be used. Then, using an eyelash comb, slightly comb your eyelashes to part the hairs individually. Use can also use an eyelash curler to add make your eyes attractive.

- Lips (Lipsticks, glosses and liners) – Choose a colour that will blend well with your blush. Use a shade darker for the liner, fill in with the lipstick and cover with a nice gloss for that wet look. Lips are very easy to do. Never-make un-natural peaks, but to make lips more supple looking; you may apply the colour and liner slightly above your own natural lip line. If you have deep lines in your lips, add more colours then use a lip brush to smooth the lines. This will hide any unwanted lines.

A healthy skin can easily be achieved by a proper diet and adequate skincare. But sometimes it as been observed that in spite of a proper skin care and all the efforts skin shows problems. A healthy and effective skincare for skin problems is part of overall good health.

A proper skin care reduces the skin damage end thus reduces the premature aging of skin. The article summarizes few of the most common types of skin problems observed in women and their precaution to avoid or minimize these problems:

Open and enlarged pores
Oil glands present in the skin sometimes results in excessive oil discharge from the skin resulting in blockage of the pores. These blocked pores lead to elasticity loss of pores which makes the rough and coarse. The best prevention for open pores is to keep the skin oil free.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR COVERING SCARS

There can be many reasons but mainly freckles or dark spots are developed by the repetitive exposure of sunlight to skin. On exposure to sun the pigment present in the inner layer of skin increases causing tanning. In fairer people the pigment gets accommodated in an irregular and patchy form showing in the form of dark spots.

Precautions:
Dont forget to wear a sunscreen before going out in sun.These are few tips to reduce freckles:

- Mix 2 tablespoons of grounded almonds with half a cup of yogurt. Apply once or twice a week.
- Prepare a mixture of half cup of papaya, one tablespoon honey and 3 tablespoon oatmeal. The mixture is quite effective in reducing dark spots /freckles.
- Mix olive oil & honey along with rose water & glycerine,wash off when dried.
- Prepare a mixture of yogurt and a pinch of turmeric. Apply and leave for 5-10 mins. Wash it off with cold water.
- Scrubbing is important to remove dead skin. It is advisable to use a face scrub twice a week. Apply cold milk on dry skin after scrubbing to get desired results

Acne
Acne is the most common skin disease treated by dermotologists. It is a chronic problem that affects over 86% to 87% of adolescents and young adults. One estimate showed that about two-thirds of teenagers with acne wanted to talk to their doctor about their acne, but only one-third actually can.

Kinds of Acne
all acne cases are not the same.Acne can be divided into red bumps and blackheads/whiteheads. Division is important because each type is treated differently. Blackheads and whiteheads, can be more numerous on the face and shoulders than red bumps filled with pus. Good, consistent skin hygiene can help getting rid of them or to improve this condition. That is why knowing more about what is the reason of comedones and how to treat them is a step towards clearer skin.

What is BlackHead:

According to dermatologists, blackheads are the first stage of acne, forming before bacteria invade the pores of our skin, which in turn results in infection and inflammation (otherwise known as the pimple). These lesions typically develop after puberty, when hormones begin surging into the body and skin.Blackheads are mostly referred to as open comedones. These bumps are usually indented and may look like tiny plugs. The confusion over blackheads and whiteheads has to do with the fact that blackheads accompany oily skin where whiteheads could be present on oily or dry skin.

How To Remove BlackHeads:
1.Use a mild deap cleansing scrub or to remove any dead cells and make the pore open & exposed.
2.Pat your face dry.
3.Take steam,Place a slightly warm compress on your face for approximately 7-10 minutes in order to soften the blackhead,so that it'll be easy to remove.
4.Pat your face dry once again.
5.Place a piece of tissue on the tip of each finger to avoid slipping, which could tear the skin and cause further damage.
6.Gently apply even pressure to both sides of the blackhead by pushing down, then up around the blemish. You're trying to apply the pressure from *underneath* the blackhead.
Only attempt this once or twice. If it does not "pop", you may bruise the skin, make the blackhead worse, and could cause scarring.

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