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Pedicure procedure— Post Pedicure Maintenance Tips

2011-09-25T02:38:00.000-07:00

To keep up with feet softening treatments, you can generously moisturize your feet at night before going to bed with a moisturizer that contains one or more of the emollients we detailed above. Then put on a thick pair of cotton socks to ensure that most of moisturizer is absorbed into the skin instead of being rubbed off on your sheets. These emollients work best over time through repeat exposure!

You can also reapply some top coat every few days to keep it intact over the polish color and to renew the shine making your nails look fresh all over again.

Foot soaking isn’t something restricted to a pedicure. Doing regular foot soaks can be beneficial.

You have now been enlightened on how to do a pedicure in the comfort of your own home. Now, go forth into the world, showing off the beauty of your feet!

Pedicure procedure— Apply Nail Polish

2011-09-25T02:36:00.000-07:00

Dry your feet thoroughly and ensure your nail plates are free from any oil or residue moisturizer. If they do have some moisturizer or other chemicals left on them, dab a piece of cotton (or cotton cloth) in some polish remover and run it over your nails. Any residue material will seriously affect the base and top coats/polish ability to adhere.

Now get your base coat, nail polish and top coat ready (or clear nail polish/enamel). If you have allergies to certain types you should use either formaldehyde free nail polish or water based polishes. I always recommend using a base coat as it protects your nail plate from the yellowing, staining effect of deeper shades, especially red. The base coat also provides a nice, smooth surface for your polish to be applied to. The top coat will add a gloss shine and protective cover to your nails, much like as in automobiles.

Try to master the art of how to apply nail polish . After applying the polish, you can use a pair of disposable pedicure slippers or disposable pedicure sandals to maneuver around in. These are great because if you do happen to get polish on them, it doesn’t matter because you’ll toss them any way.

Pedicure procedure— Moisturize (Foot massage)

2011-09-25T02:35:00.000-07:00

Retrieve your moisturizer of choice and massage a generous portion into your feet. Rub deeply to be sure the ingredients are absorbed into the skin. Pay special attention to rough, tough patches. Include the ankles and lower legs as well, keeping this skin soft is a must for beautiful legs and feet. If you want to get your feet softer (or any skin), the following are some natural ingredients that do just that, so be on the lookout for them in your creams. Ingredients that soften the skin are called emollients.

Shea Butter

Grape Seed Oil

Cocoa Butter

Aloe

Avocado

Jojoba oil

Vitamin A,C & E (although chemicals are sometimes used to add these)

For dry, cracked feet read our page on Dry Feet. If you are giving someone else a pedicure, you could insert a foot massage here.

If the weather is cold, slipping on a nice, warm pair of pedicure socks before you paint your nails might be a good idea right now since the next step is, you guessed it, nail polish application.

Pedicure procedure—Exfoliation

2011-09-25T02:32:00.000-07:00

Precautions: Be very careful with anything that has a blade!

If you are environmentally conscious, some big brand body scrubs contain tiny particles of a substance called polyethylene. Many marine animals die from ingesting too much of these particles as it clogs their digestive tracts.

Tips:

You can make your own foot scrubs from home ingredients. A few ideas are:

Milk, Baking Soda and Salt

Epsom Salt, (Opened)Peppermint tea bag, Vitamin E Oil

Mix them to a creamy paste

You have a few options of things to use to mechanically exfoliate your feet. The usual choices being foot files, loofah sponges and pumice stones. They all work well. Loofahs usually can't handle really tough skin though. The Ped egg, a new device, may also work well for you.

You can also add a chemical exfoliant, i.e. foot scrub cream to aid in the exfoliation process. As suggested above, these can be homemade or store bought. These scrub creams have tiny abrasive particles in them to aid in the exfoliation which can be applied to the foot directly and/or to the instrument you are using.

Be sure to scrub the heel and balls of the feet, sides of your heels and around your toes; basically anywhere there is rough, hard skin.

The key again is to be firm but gentle. You are trying to grind away slowly, layer by layer to expose the younger, softer skin below. Aim to smooth instead of removing, this should keep you on track because it is very possible to rub too hard and damage your feet.

Don’t try to get your feet super smooth in one sitting. It will most likely take a few pedicure/exfoliation sessions to get your feet as smooth as want them to be. Be patient. If you see a bright red color emerging, it’s time to stop and remember that certain areas of your feet are a bit tougher for a reason.

Pedicure procedure-- Scrub/Clean your nails and Feet

2011-09-25T02:29:00.000-07:00

Old (or new) toothbrushes can substitute for nail brushes. Just keep in mind some are harder than others. If your skin is more delicate, go for soft to medium bristles. The stiff/hard bristles may scrape your feet.

A cotton wrapped orangewood stick is an excellent, safe way to for clean underneath nails

After the foot soak, any dirt under the nails and other places should have loosened up. Wrap the tip of your cuticle stick or pusher with cotton to gently and carefully remove any dirt you see underneath your nails. Many leave this step out of their how to do a pedicure guides, but cleanliness must be addressed as it is very important.

Get your nail brush and scrub your nails and feet. Underneath nails is an excellent place for bacteria to hide. Be sure to scrub underneath the free edge, the nail plate and around the nail fold. Also scrub your soles, paying special attention to your heels, in between your toes and the tops and sides of your feet.

This part may get very ticklish. If you can’t stand the scrubbing with the brush because you are too ticklish, use a bath towel instead.

Pedicure procedure--Cuticle Treatment

2011-09-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

Precautions: Be careful not to cut or scrape “live” flesh, instead of your cuticle.

Tip:

A cotton wrapped orangewood stick is an excellent cuticle pusher.

Wooden (eg. orangewood) and plastic cuticle sticks are less abrasive than metal ones

If you are comfortable using them, liquid cuticle removers may be used, but they are dangerous if you use them incorrectly. Want to know how? Confused over where the cuticle actually is? Read “Cuticles and Removers“.

I recommend after soaking, using a cuticle stick or cuticle pusher to push back the cuticle towards the nail fold. You have to look closely to see where it begins. Usually after soaking (and bathing) excess cells begin to flake up at the edge of where your cuticle starts. As you push back firmly but gently towards the nail fold, more “dead cells” will begin to flake up. This is the excess cuticle skin that we will clip or scrape away.

If you don’t have cuticle nippers you can use your cuticle pusher/stick to scrape the excess off of the nail plate. This all becomes easy because you soaked first. This keeps you from painting over excess cuticle skin that will most likely just flake up in a little while ruining your new coat of polish. It also helps eliminate the white, flaky excess cuticle cells that accumulate on your nails, improving their appearance when unpolished.

Pedicure Procedures --Foot Soak

2011-09-25T02:22:00.000-07:00

Precautions: Any unit that circulates water can be a breeding ground for very dangerous bacteria. Bacteria that can lead to amputation or even death! Be sure whenever you use one, or any pedicure vessel for that matter, that it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to avoid pedicure infections.

If you have any open sores on your feet or legs, don’t soak. Soaking may help dangerous germs get to the wound. Consult your physician first, especially if you are a diabetic, elderly or HIV positive.

Tips:

Add about a quarter cup of milk to the foot soak. The lactic acid helps to cleanse, soften and deodorize the feet. It also helps loosen dead skin cells.

Always use heated water. As hot as you can bear. It soothes and softens much better.

You can add marbles to the bottom of the foot basin to rub your feet over while soaking.

Essential oils can be added to aid in relaxation.

Epsom salt is anti-inflammatory, will help you relax, soothes muscle pain and improves rough patches of skin - it’s also an emollient and exfoliator.

Epsom salt will also help stop that wrinkling effect when you soak your feet for long periods.

Use Epsom Salt in your foot soak!

Pedicure foot spas (foot baths), pedicure tubs and pedicures bowls are not all necessary, but if you already have one you can make use of some of the features if you want. Click the links to find out more about them.

Fill your chosen vessel with water so that you at least cover the tops of your feet. Try to cover as much as possible even past your ankles if you can. The Epsom salt will soothe those areas too. You’ll want to use about a ½ cup to a cup and soak for about 10 minutes (30 minutes is great!).

There is no real strict time or dosage limit on this, just put enough for it be effective (about a ½ cup for a medium to large container). Of course if you are using an extremely large vessel, adjust your dosage accordingly. Using too much won’t hurt, neither will soaking too long (unless you're pregnant). So judge it by how much product you have (and how long you want your supply to last) and how much time you have to spare.

Essential oils add to the relaxation effect more so due to their aroma. Lavender and Jasmine oil aromas have been said, by experts, to increase feelings of relaxation and may even help you achieve a better, more restorative slumber when present during sleep. Lemon oil aroma in addition to helping with relaxation has been said to enhance one’s overall mood. Give them a try in your foot soaks.

Pedicure Procedures --Groom your nails

2011-09-25T02:15:00.000-07:00

Precautions: Be careful with anything that has a sharp edge and comes close to your skin. Oh yeah, if you start seeing blood(or feeling pain) – STOP!!

Tips:

Use an emery board as your pedicure nail file instead of metal files that are notorious for ripping nails, unless you’re a pro.

With emery boards, the finer grade side is for smoothing around the edges of the nail while the rougher, coarser side is for shaping and shortening.

Use a safety nail clipper

The object of grooming your nails is to get them to the desired length while reducing the chances of getting foot problems like infamous ingrown toenails. To avoid ingrown toenails, make sure you cut your nails straight across and above the skin so that the nail corners are visible. Cutting too short is like begging your nail to grow into your skin. Once clipped, try to achieve a soft, rounded square shape by filing. With filing though, try to stroke in only one direction. Slightly round the corners but don’t take them lower than the middle portion of nail.

Pedicure Procedures --Remove Polish

2011-09-25T02:11:00.000-07:00

Precautions: The chemicals used in nail polish remover are very harsh and will dry out your cuticles and nail bed, making your nails white, dry and brittle. Try to limit prolonged exposure to these areas and to your skin in general. Yeah, I know its hard keeping the polish remover off of your cuticles and other exposed skin, but it really is bad for them so do your best. Read our article on Acetone, Ethyl Acetate and Acetonitrile to find out more.

Tips:

Use a remover with moisturizers and vitamins. They will leave these behind after the harsh chemicals have evaporated.

When possible use non-acetone/alcohol removers to limit the drying out effect. They aren’t as effective though and may not be able to take off darker colored polishes as well.

Use a lint-free cotton cloth to avoid those fuzzies left behind by cotton balls.

Get your material of choice saturated with polish remover and rub over each toenail. For hard to remove spots, soak the material, press and hold firmly for a few seconds over these areas then wipe away. Repeat until all the trouble spots are removed, making sure to re-soak with remover before each press-and-hold sequence. This ensures a fresh batch of remover to dissolve the hardened polish. Noticed stains or yellowing on your nails? Read this page on how to remove nail stains.

Needed Pedicure Supplies

2011-09-25T02:05:00.001-07:00

Nail Polish Remover

Cotton

Nail file or Emery Board

Epsom Salt (at least a ½ cup)

Cuticle Stick or Pusher (cuticle pushers and sticks can be wooden, plastic or metal)

Foot soak tub (Foot bath, pedicure tub, pedicure bowl, pedicure foot spa or some other large vessel)

Towels

Nail Brush (old or new toothbrushes can work or a bath towel if you’re ticklish)

Mechanical Exfoliant (Loofah Sponge, Pumice Stone, Foot File or even a Ped Egg)

Chemical Exfoliant (Foot scrub cream of your choice)

Foot Moisturizer, with emollients

Base Coat, Top Coat (clear nail polish can be substituted, and in many cases base coat can substitute for top coat and vice versa)

Nail Polish (color of your choice)

Pedicure

2011-09-25T01:52:00.000-07:00

A pedicure is a set of procedures that are performed on the feet to treat or prevent negative health conditions and to enhance their overall appearance.

I will be posting more in details about pedicure steps and procedures. Keep following this blog.

Yoga for Hair growth

2011-08-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

If you were wondering till now that can you follow yoga for hair loss, reduce hair fall and improve hair growth, let me tell you Yoga does wonders to curb hair loss (read baldness) and improve hair growth.

Good hair makes you look wonderful, isn’t it so everyone aspires to have healthy and good hair. But in the modern world, people are finding it difficult to maintain their hair as stress, bad eating habits, pollution etc are taking a toll on their hair. Lets have a look at the common reasons for hair loss:

Stress
Hormonal disorders
Thyroid disease
Auto-immune disorders
Poor health
Poor nutrition
Diseases
Medical treatments
Hair treatments

According to me the most common reason for hair loss today is the stress and bad eating habits. I know its easy to say that one should stop taking stress but you gotta find out ways to reduce stress and secondly on should increase the intake of nutritious food which contains vitamins and protein. One of the best ways to reduce stress for me has been regular yoga and pranayama. And, when your stress levels are low, your overall health will be good and so would be your hair. The many types of pranayama that are helpful for your hair are Anulomvilom, Bhastrika, Bahya, Kapalbhati and Udgeeth pranayama.

Here are a few Yoga poses to counter hair loss and increase hair growth:
1. Downward facing dog pose
2. Standing forward bend pose
3. Shoulder stand pose
4. Headstand pose
5. Camel pose
Nail rubbing: Nail rubbing is an effective way to cure hair fall and increase hair growth. Nail rubbing came into popularity when Baba Ramdev talked about its benefits and also shown the fantastic results.
Nail rubbing is very simple, just fold your fingers of both the hands and place the finger nails against each other. Simply rub the nails against each other. It is advised to do nail rubbing for five to seven minutes twice a day. Nail rubbing can be done while standing or sitting as well. Baba Ramdev recommends doing nail rubbing just before sleeping and also do it in a way that sounds come from nail rubbing.
All in all if you are regular at pranayama and the above mentioned yoga poses, I am sure you would see some improvement in your hair growth.

Ramdev Yoga for Hair Growth

2011-08-15T03:44:00.000-07:00

To begin a practice of Ramdev yoga for hair growth, you must remember to be patient and entirely devoted to the practice of anywhere from 3 to 9 months in order to assess accurate results. The various breath types and uses are of primary concern for beginners. Remember that your stomach should be empty when practicing yoga. Before breakfast is a great time for this practice since the stomach is light and empty.

Bhastrika Breath

To perform the Bhastrika breathing, take deep breaths and be sure to completely push the air out of your lungs and diaphragm. You should repeat this breathing technique for at least 2 minutes and not more than 5 minutes. Bhastrika breathing benefits your heart, lungs, nervous system and respiration. To perform the Bhastrika breathing, take deep breaths and be sure to completely push the air out of your lungs and diaphragm. You should repeat this breathing technique for at least 2 minutes and not more than 5 minutes. Bhastrika breathing benefits your heart, lungs, nervous system and respiration. Your lungs are strengthened and general health is improved because the heart and head receive adequate supplies of oxygenated blood.

KapalBhati Breath

KapalBhati Breath is often referred to as a sneeze-like breath. It is fast without being forceful. In a comfortable seated position, you tuck the chin gently toward the chest and push air in and out of the nostrils at a quickened pace. In the beginning, this technique should be tried for no more than 1 minute or 30 breaths. You can increase when you are ready, to a maximum of 15 minutes. KapalBhati breathing is said to assist with weight loss at each exhalation. Additionally, the benefits of this technique include lowering cholesterol, concentration, snoring, diabetes and constipation.

Anulom Vilom Breath

Anulom Vilom Breath involves a specific technique that is a bit more challenging to practice because it is contrary to our natural breathing pattern. By using the left thumb, you should cover the left nostril and proceed with inhalation using the left nostril only. Then, using the index finger on the left hand, exhale using the right nostril only. It is suggested that this technique be repeated for 15 to 30 minutes. These breaths should be deep and slow. The benefits of this type of Ramdev yoga are said to affect the heart, bent ligaments, cartilage and several disorders from high blood pressure to depression.

Bhramari Breath

The word Bhramari comes from the Sanskrit name bhramar, which refers to the humming bee. Hence, the bhramari breath produces a humming-like sound. This sound tends to calm the mind, tensions, anger, anxiety and even insomnia. Beginners can start this technique by inhaling through both nostrils, and then start creating the humming sound on the exhale.

Try inhaling for 4 seconds followed by an exhale of 6 seconds through both nostrils; this can be continued for about 5 minutes. Once you have mastered the humming sound on the exhalation, try adding the hum on the inhale as well. Creating the hum while inhaling is more challenging but certainly possible with practice.

Tips

Ramdev yoga techniques may be very new to your body and elicit startling responses at first. Pay attention to your body's cues while practicing. it is normal to feel a coolness or tingling sensation in the throat. However, the proportion of the breathing should never be forced. If you feel dizzy, discontinue the practice and return to a normal, relaxed breathing pattern.

tips for Soft Lips

2011-08-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

Ways To Get Soft Lips

Healthy, soft, and plump lips are obtained by maintaining and increasing the moisture content. The best way to ensure your lips are well hydrated is to ensure high intake of water on a daily basis (minimum of 8 glasses or 64 ounces).
Avoid the urge to lick your lips when they are dry as saliva acts only as a temporary moisturizing solution but eventually causes more harm as it causes dryness.
Products, which include ingredients such as cocoa butter or Shea butter and vitamin E, are good sources of moisture.
Exfoliating is very important in getting better results as dead cells are removed and the skin is clean and ready for moisturizing. You get lip-exfoliating products such as Body Shop’s Lip Scuff, which also have moisturizing compositions.
Exfoliation can also be done naturally by using a soft toothbrush (different from the one you use for your teeth) to gently, scrub your lips in circular movements. Another method is by first moistening your lips and then applying sugar or salt using your finger and moving lightly in small rotations. A word of caution is not to use salt if you have cuts or wounds.
There are many cosmetics such as lip balms (e.g. Carmex and Burt's Bees - Beeswax Lip Balm), chap sticks (e.g. Alba) or lip creams that are available to help you get soft lips. Here too it is important you apply these products by either using your finger, or gently dabbing in circular motions to get a good outcome.
Margarine (butter) and honey (only pure honey) are good products for moisturizing too. Take a small amount of butter or honey and apply it gently with your finger in tiny rotations. Leave it on for one or two minutes and wipe it clean with a soft towel or tissue. You could repeat this if required.
Butter gives your lips that sheen and lush texture while honey adds to the plumpness of your lips. You can also use coconut juice, rose milk, olive oil, or baby oil in a similar fashion to get radiant and healthy lips.
At night, before you sleep apply two layers of crème or petroleum jelly such as Vaseline. Gently massage a layer in rotating motions and then apply a thicker layer on top. The second layer will be absorbed during the night and will help increase moisture content.
It is important to note that products over a year old, cheap products or sharing of products may pass on bacteria to your lips, which may be harmful.

Remove Lip Wrinkles Naturally

2011-08-13T23:06:00.000-07:00

Lip wrinkles are considered to be amongst the first signs of aging to mark an appearance on your face. However, there can be other reasons accounting for your lip wrinkles, apart from age. For instance, smoking is considered to be a major reason for the appearance of lip wrinkles, as the skin of those who smoke ages faster than that of non-smokers. Lack of proper hydration and exposure to sunlight can also cause fine lines, in the form of wrinkles, on the lips. As with all health and skin conditions, prevention is far better than cure in the case of lips wrinkles as well. However, if your lips have already started showing wrinkles and you want to get rid of them naturally, read the following lines and explore some remedies for the same.

Natural Remedies For Removing Lip Wrinkles

Method 1

Requirements

Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser
Soft Cloth
Vitamin E Oil
Rich Moisturizer
Lip Balm with Sunscreen
Water

Instructions

It is important to remove the dead skin from your lips, as from the other parts of the body. So, go ahead and wash your lips using the exfoliating cleanser. However, do not put too much pressure, as it can result in chapped lips. Exfoliation will immediately make your lip wrinkles appear shallow.
Rub Vitamin E oil on the wrinkled area of your skin. Also, apply the oil to the area around your lips. Vitamin E is very effective in making the wrinkled area smooth once again.
Use a rich moisturizer to moisturize your lips. Follow it up with a sunscreen lip balm. This will help to hydrate the skin cells, make your lips plump and also erase the lip wrinkles in no time at all. Moisturizing also protects your skin from environmental damage.

Method 2

Requirements

Papaya
Honey
Toothbrush
Natural Oils (coconut/vitamin E/jojoba oil)
Cinnamon
Lip Balm with Sunscreen

Instructions

Mix mashed papaya and a small amount of honey to make a lip paste. Papayas are great in making the lips plumper. They will temporarily fill the wrinkles by bringing the blood to the surface of your lips. Apply the paste on your lips and allow it to dry. Rinse it off with water.
Brush your lips gently with a soft toothbrush, to increase blood circulation and remove the dead skin cells.
Mix a pinch of cinnamon into natural oils and apply it on your lips. This works well to hydrate your lips and keeps them wrinkle free as well. Cinnamon also increases blood circulation.
Apply a lip balm on your lips, the one that contains suncreen as well.

Additional Tips

Take care to drink plenty of water. Have at least 8-10 glasses of water in a day. It not only hydrates your skin, but also keeps your lips in a good shape. Plenty of water will help you avoid and even eliminate lip wrinkles fast.
Whenever you venture outside or into strong sunlight, make sure that you leave the house only after applying a lip balm with sunscreen in it. It will help to preventlip sunburn, age spots, skin and wrinkles.

Upper Lip Hair Removal

2011-08-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

For women, having hair on the upper lip is not considered as a sexy attribute. Moreover, it is quite embarrassing as it looks very odd and bothers a lot. To make matters worse, girls with black hair on their upper lip sometimes end up looking like adolescent boys. Upper lip hair can result in a lost sense of self-confidence and self-worth in many girls. If you are also harassed by the hairline on your upper lip region, here is a relief. There are a number of methods available for getting rid of hair on the upper lip. While methods like electrolysis are permanent and costly, threading, waxing, and shaving are faster and less expensive ways to get rid of the unwanted hair. Before going for any method, it is important for you to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each. At the end, select the one that suits the cost, sensitivity of skin and time involved. Given here are some remedies for removing upper lip hair.

Remedies For Removing Upper Lip Hair

Tweezers

For those few noticeable hair on the upper lip, tweezing is the best way to pinch them out. This turns out to be the most inexpensive method to get rid of that unsightly lip hair. Since the area being treated is small, a simple tool like tweezers is enough to do the job. Though you might feel minor tingling initially, the pain will subside after a few minutes.

Threading

Threading is the most widely used method for removing upper lip hair. Though this option is a little painful, but it helps in getting rid of the tiniest and finest hair from the root. Once done, the hair is only visible after 15 days. Hence, threading is quite convenient and affordable.

Shaving

Shaving is another quick way to remove hair from the upper lip. While shaving, ensure that the razor is sharp to avoid any nicks or cuts of the skin. Shaving can cause razor burns and minor skin irritation, which can be reduced by applying aloe vera lotion to the area, after the entire process. But, the results of shaving lasts only for 5 to 7 days after which it has to be repeated again.

Waxing

Yet another method for getting rid of upper lip hair, waxing provides a long-lasting result with hair growing back after 20 to 25 days. Waxing is done using one of the different waxes available in the market like hot wax, cold wax, sugar wax, etc. A small amount of wax is applied to the upper lip area with a spatula. The region is then covered with a cotton cloth or cotton strip. The strip is pressed gently and pulled off at once. Though waxing can be quite painful, it gives you a hair-free and smooth looking skin thereafter.

Cream Depilatories

Cream depilatories are another way to remove the unwanted hair on your upper lip. The cream is first applied to the area and left for 10 to 15 minutes, giving you a bit of chemical burn feeling. Then the depilatories are used to rinse away the mush to give you a soft, smooth skin. Most depilatories come with an astringent or lotion-type product that is applied after hair removal to avoid skin irritation. Since this method removes hair only from the surface of the skin, the clear skin lasts only for 3 to 5 days.

Electrolysis

In case you are looking for a solution to get rid of the upper lip hair permanently, the above methods are not of use to you. Though they are very effective, you need to spend money and time again and again. It is here that electrolysis comes to your rescue, to remove hair permanently. The method destroys hair follicles using low voltage electricity. However, this permanent method requires you to pay a lot. When going for electrolysis, get it done by an experienced practitioner or a cosmetologist, as it can damage the skin and leave scars behind when done incorrectly.

Lip Exercises

2011-08-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Perfectly shaped and voluptuous lips are the desire of every girl. After all, plump lips and sexy pout like those of Angelina Jolie or Aishwarya Rai are sought after by women of all ages. However, the question is, how many minutes do you spend on perfecting your lips? Most of us give utmost attention to face, body, hands and feet every day, without caring about the lips. Though surgical solutions, such as botox and collagen injections assure us attractive and sexy lips, remember these solutions come tagged along with a number of side effects. Did you know that with a little planning and working out on your lips, you can provide the right texture and perfect shape to your lips as well. You can improve the tone of your lips and enlarge them by following some simple lip exercises given below. Go ahead and get those beautiful, succulent and plump lips in no time.

Exercises For Fuller Lips

Sit upright and place your lips and teeth together. Without opening your lips, smile as broad as you can and count till 15 before you relax. Pucker your lips to a pointed kiss. Repeat 10 times.
Sit straight and press your lips together. Lift your pressed lips towards your nose as close as you can. Retain the position while counting till 5. Relax and repeat 10 times.
Position your lips into a puckered kiss and retain the position for a while. Relax and pull your lips inside your mouth to get enclosed within the teeth. Hold the position counting till 10. Repeat the entire exercise 5 times.
Gently press your lips together and bring the corners of the mouth together inside your mouth as close as possible with your mouth muscles. Hold your lips in this position for 5 counts and relax. Repeat 5 times.
Sit casually with your lips slightly open. Pucker the lips outwards and pull the tops puckered lip towards the nose as close as possible. Hold the position for 10 counts and relax. Repeat the exercise 5 times.
Press your lips in over your teeth, as if you are preventing yourself from screaming. Using your index fingers, pull up the corners of the lips as you would, while indicating someone to smile. Keep this position for 5 seconds. Relax and repeat 10 times.

Open your mouth and stretch your lips out in front. Tightly close your lips and relax the face muscles. While keeping your mouth closed, move your lips to the right and then to the left. Thereafter, make a small eight with your lips. Repeat this sequence 5 times.
Stretch your lips out and breath out sharply, as your would to blow out a candle. Gently relax your lips and repeat 5 times.
Take a deep breath and puff up your cheeks. Then roll up your lips into a tube. Gradually, breathe out the air by pushing the air out with two-three blows.
Close your lips and curl them. Then, curl the lower lip over the lower jaw and open your mouth wide open, while moving the jaw up and down at the same time. Perform this exercise for 10 to 15 minutes per day.

How To Apply Lipstick That Lasts

2011-08-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

You apply lipstick every morning and head out to work. However, within an hour after applying lipstick you notice that your lips look like they could do with more lipstick! How does this happen? You’re clueless! Don’t worry yourself sick. There really is a path to get you out of your predicaments. As far as lipstick goes, it’s all about applying it a certain way. You can use the best lipstick, but if you’re not going to follow the right steps, you’re going to mostly have lips that always look like they could do with some color. Some people have the habit of just dabbing on some lipstick and rushing out to wherever. This is the biggest sin against the art of applying lipstick. Lipstick by itself has this tendency to come off easily and not applying it ‘systematically’ will only ruin the purpose of applying lipstick. Read on to know more on applying lipstick that lasts.

Applying Lipstick That Lasts

Finish applying makeup all over the face before starting off with your lipstick. This is as good as the basic and most important rule of applying lipstick that lasts. Applying lipstick before you’re done with the rest of your face may cause the lipstick to smudge or look untidy. This is exactly why most women apply lipstick only after they’re done with the rest of the face. Some women even apply lipstick right before they step out. This is done to show off lips that look as fresh as flowers.
Zero in on a lipstick color or shade of lipstick that complements your overall look and skin tone. Basically, use a lipstick that goes well with your makeup and the color of your skin. Choosing a lipstick shade that complements the natural color of your lips is the way to go. Satin and glossy finish lipsticks are best for glamorous evenings or night outs. Matte lipsticks give you that muted finish to throw filtered rays of light on your workday or regular makeup.
The best way to have your lipstick last for long is by treating your lips with moisture. Start off the process by applying a small amount of petroleum jelly or lip balm. This helps give your lips much needed moisture and will also help lipstick last longer.
You will need a lip liner for this step. Take the lip liner and draw a thin line around the edge of your lips. The line should be only one shade darker than your lipstick. Any darker and your lips will literally look like they have been drawn onto your face. Start at the centre of the upper lip and draw away from the starting point. Focus more within the edges of the lips to stress less on thicker lips and focus more on the outer edges to highlight thinner lips. Subtlety and a steady hand is what are important here.
Proceed to apply your chosen shade of lipstick from the tube. You can also use a small and effective lipstick brush. Apply the lipstick within the outlines of your lips. Make sure that you apply the lipstick evenly and try not to stray away from the edges of your lips. You will need a steady hand for this step too.
If at all there is any excess color on your lips, you can always blot out the same to get to a look of perfection

Homemade Lip Balm

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To make your own lip balm you need beeswax. There are different varieties beeswax, choose filtered beeswax because pure beeswax that it's 100% beeswax has been processed to get rid of any impurities such as dirt or pollen.

Jojoba Lip Balm
Take 2 teaspoons of beeswax and add 2 ¼ tsp of jojoba oil in a small container. Melt the ingredients together in a low flame and stir. Remove it from heat and add few drops (6 to 7) of grapefruit essential oil. While hot take the mixture into a suitable container and let it cool.

Lemon Lip Balm
Take a teaspoon of beeswax and melt it. Then add a teaspoon of petrolatum jelly and 4 to 5 drops of lemon oil. Remove it from heat and while hot take the mixture into a suitable container and let it cool.

Coconut Lip Balm
Take 2 teaspoons of beeswax and add 2 ¼ tsp of jojoba oil in a small container. Melt the ingredients together in a low flame and stir. Remove it from heat and add few drops (6 to 7) of coconut oil. While hot take the mixture into a suitable container and let it cool.

Honey Lip Balm
Take a tablespoon of petroleum jelly and 1/3 teaspoon of honey and melt together. Mix well, remove it from heat and while hot pour the mixture into a suitable container and let it cool.

Homemade Lip Gloss

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Lip-gloss can be described by glossy, vibrant and silky words. Today, lipstick has turned into lip gloss and has been widely used among all. A young girl uses lip-gloss for looking attractive or for a kiss. One can simply make lip gloss at home, making it at home can be exciting, flavorsome and fun.

1. Homemade Lip Gloss Recipes:

You will need:

10 to 12 fresh cranberries
One full tablespoon of almond oil
One full teaspoon of honey

Method:

To begin with, put all ingredients in a bowl and put it in a microwave for some minutes. Following this mix and crush all cranberries. And then strain by seine for removing the entire pieces of fruit. It is now ready to use and one ought to put it into a little airtight container.

2. Chocolate Lip Gloss

You will need:

Take 4-5 chips of Chocolate
About 3 full tablespoon of cocoa butter
One capsule of Vitamin E

Method:

Put the entire ingredients in a big boiler and melt them very well. Following this, blend it by using a spoon. One can make use of this homemade lip-gloss on lips. Pour it into a small bottle and keep in a cool place for making the chocolate lip gloss solid.

3. Honey Citrus Lip Gloss

You will need:

2 teaspoon of beeswax
1 full teaspoon of honey
Minimum 8 teaspoon of sweet almond oil
One capsule of vitamin E
Microwave with safe container
5 drops of essential oil or lime or citrus
Balm container or cosmetic with lid

Method

Take microwave safe container and put beeswax and sweet almond oil in it for melting them for not many minutes. Take out the mixture of beeswax and almond oil from the microwave and after that pierce the capsule of vitamin E by means of a knife and put it into the mixture. And then add the honey in it and leave for few minutes. It is now ready to make use of and one can keep it store by using a small balm container.

3. Homemade Vanilla Lip Gloss

You will need:

1 teaspoon of aloe Vera gel
Half teaspoon of Vanilla
One teaspoon of Petroleum jelly
One and half teaspoons of coconut oil

Method:

Take the above ingredients into a big boiler and warmth them well. Leave it for cooling for one to two hours. At this moment, one can use this lip-gloss and transfer into an airtight jar.

4. Fruity Lip Gloss

You will need:

One full tablespoon of powder drinks mix with fruit flavor
Two tablespoons of solid shortening
About 35 mm film container

Method:

Take drink mix and shortening and place them into a big bowler, after that put it into a microwave on high for about half minute. Pour this mixture into a film container and store up it into a refrigerator for making this lip gloss solid.

Remedies for Dark Lips

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Why lips turn dark?

Smoking.
Intake of excess of Alcohol and caffeine.
Cosmetics products of cheap bands.
Heavy application of lip sticks, lip liners.
Dryness.

Remedies for Dark Lips

Massage your lips smoothly with a good lip balm every nighttime.
Drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
Use lip balm to protect them against sun rays. Follow this every day.
Use concealer on your gloomy lips before wearing your lipstick.
Take in a healthy and balanced diet.
Avoid Smoking, excess of Alcohol and caffeine.
Apply Vaseline or Ghee, this keeps lips moisturized. Apply lemon juice to your lips everyday that helps to lighten up to an extent.

Tips for Beautiful Lips

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Drink atleast 8 glass of water everyday, this makes a lot of difference to your lips.
Use lip balm especially to protect them from sun rays, to prevent moisture loss. Lip balms contain petroleum jelly that prevents moisture loss.
While you brush your teeth, gently move in circular motion with the brush on your lips this removes dead cells.
Eat healthy food that contains vitamins A, B and C.
Avoid Smoking, excess of Alcohol and caffeine.
Avoid cosmetics that are allergenic to your skin.
Black lips usually show one's careless lifestyle in spite of having been blessed with a perfect skin and figure. Having naturally shadowy colored lips from birth is totally fine.

Why lips turn dry?

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Inadequate water intake to keep your skin hydrated.
Smoking.
Continuous exposure to sun, dust partials can also cause dryness.
Licking your lips often can cause dry lips.
Deficiency of vitamins A, B and C.
Intake of excess of Alcohol and caffeine removes moisture and causes dryness.
Some times cosmetics also contribute to dry lips.

All About Lip Care

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Normally make-up to the lips is given huge importance than lip care. This is not the correct attitude because lips need a little care as their protecting layer (the skin of lips is too thin) is extremely thin and like other parts they do not contain sweat glands and not many oil glands thus they are prone to dryness. Cracked dry lips are painful, can develop infections and are not good to look at.

Face Mask Tips :

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1. TOMATO MASK: For oily skin, mash up a ripe tomato and wait on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with hot (not so hot) water.

2. BANANA MASH: Mash up a very ripe banana. Add just as much as necessary honey to make a soft pulp. Apply over face and your hair. This is such a great firming mask that aging movie stars have been identified to put it in the cups of their bras to make their breasts "perky." (Just check that you don't use too much honey and you use a sturdy bra.)

3. HONEY MASK: Apply uncontaminated honey (straight from the bottle) to your face and your neckline. Allow it to locate until dry (about 15 minutes). Rinse with very temperate hot water.

4. APPLE MASK: Peel two apples and make a paste with adding one table spoon of honey now Apply it on the face and Wash out after 20 minutes with cold water.

5. SCRUB FOR OILY SKIN: This scrub help you to get rid of your dirt and the superficial dead skin. This scrub should be used more than oncein a week. Never try this scrub on dry skin. Take two teaspoon of fine bran with a quarter of dried yeast and one teaspoon of lemon juice along with a table spoon of water. Gently massage the thick paste so formed in the skin, specially on and around the nose and chin area. Don't apply around the eyes. Wash it after 1-2 minutes using warm water.

6. FOR BLACK SPOT:

1. Make a mixture with mehndi and oil and apply on the face.

2. Make a paste of 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and glycerin and apply it on the spots on your face.

3. Make a mixture of turmeric and curry leaves and apply on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.

4. Grind dried basil leaf, neem and mint (100 gm each). Add some turmeric powder and rose water to make it in a paste form and apply it on the spots.

5. Grind betel leaf and add a little coconut oil and apply it on the spots.

6.Soak a chappathi in milk overnight . Make it into a paste and apply it on black heads. continue for several days.

7. Make a paste of saffron and add some honey now apply it on the face to remove your black spots.

8. For removeing black spots... apply a paste of turmeric and basil.

9. To remove wrinkles on the face, apply a mixture of sandalwood powder, rosewater and glycerin. After some time Wash it with cold water.