Make Up Tips

Make up tips

Women can use make up to enhance their looks. Make up is a tool that can make one feel more confident and project a more sophisticated appearance.  Make up is an art and there are many make up tips available to help one look her best. Knowing the different make- up, experimenting and using them frequently will lead to acquiring the skills on how to use them well in the long run and create better results.

The following is a step- by- step make up tip guide:

Choose the right shade for your face

Firstly, apply a base and a sunscreen for protection against the damages of the sun. Choosing the right colour of foundation is very important. Some women use the wrong shades and it can look very disastrous when your face appears too pink, too white or too dark when the rest of your skin tone looks beige or different from the neck down. Hence, always test the colour on your hands or better chin to ensure the colours match those of your facial skin tone. This is a key make up tip which should never be compromised.

Depending on your preference, you can always choose either loose powder or pressed powder afterwards. Treat your face like a canvass, using the right shades and colours will turn it into a beautiful face to look and admire.

Conceal blemishes

Concealers are one of the best make up ever invented. One of the best make up tips, is to use it underneath your eyes to conceal dark circles. You can also use a little of it to hide marks, blemishes or spots. If your nose slightly flat, you can also put it on the bridge of your nose to highlight it, giving the illusion of a bridge. Always use your fingers to dab and blend them well, so it does not look patchy.

Shade and shape your eyebrows by using a stencil

Draw and shade your eye brow. Again, use a shade nearest to your eyebrow or hair colour, not too dark or too light. The natural look is always best. Follow the arch of your eyebrow and shade it. If you have trouble drawing the arch, stencils for eyebrows are easily accessible and you can simply buy and use it.

Match eye shadows to your outfit and eyes shape

Depending on how adventurous you are, you can try experimenting with different colours of eye shadows. The shape and size of your eyes will also determine which colours are more suitable for you. If you have small and droopy eyes, it is not advisable to choose black or go for smokey looks as it may make eyes look even smaller. One of the make up tips, is to use shimmering shades like silver or white on the double eyelids to help to open the eyes and make them look bigger. Dabbing a little white colour near the tear duct and blending them will create light and make eyes look more alive too. Line the upper lids to complete the eye make up.

Use eye make up base if you want your eye shadows to last longer, example when you have a date or need to attend a party at night after work. Just touch up or re- apply slightly darker shades before heading for your date or the party.

Use a piece of card when applying mascara

People say that eyes are windows to your soul. Indeed eyes speak volumes, and hence eyes make up are viewed as one of the most important. However, eye make up are not complete if you neglect your eye lashes. Curl your lashes and use mascara to open up your eyes and add “soul” to them. By enhancing your lashes, attention will be drawn towards your eyes. A make up tip is to use a piece of paper or card and place it on your eyelid area when applying mascara. This prevents the mascara from smudging onto your eyelids. Be sure to use smudge proof mascara for best results.

Treat your lips as a piece of canvass

Red lipsticks not only make your teeth appear whiter, they also tend to brighten up a face. Neutral or pink shades soften the face. Dark purple makes one look vampish while orking executives usually opt for brownish or earthly tones for a more professional image. Young girls use gloss for a natural, dewy effect. Different colours give the wearer a different mood, so choose your lipsticks colour to determine the image you want to project.

A make up tip is to treat the lips as a piece of canvass. You do not have to just slap one colour on the lips. Instead, you can add depth by using a brush and applying lighter colour in the centre of the lips while lining the lips with slightly darker colour. Blend it afterwards to soften and smoothen out the contrast. This is just like painting an art piece, adding light and creating the illusion of dimension on the lips.

If you are having smokey looks for your eyes, it is best to use nude lip colour so that it does not draw attention away from your eyes, which are supposed to be the focus of attention.

Use rouge to accentuate cheek bones

Rouge can help to accentuate your cheek bones. Bronze tones are more suitable for tanned skin while a pink and orange tone add healthy glow to a face. Always blend well so it does not look patchy.

Don’t neglect the hair

Don’t neglect the hair as it forms part of the overall look and contributes to a major part of a first impression. It is equally important to have a good hairstyle which complements your image. Your hair can either enhance or spoil your overall look if it is not done right. The length and colour of the hair play key roles in making you appear younger, trendier, sporty or spunky. That is the reason why a major make- over always involves a hair do.

The above are some make up tips which can help a woman gain more insight on how to use make- up effectively. Knowing more make up tips and applying them into your make up regime, can help you gain more confidence as well as project a more beautiful you.

Good Skin

Good skin

Skin is the largest part of our organs.  It breathes through pores and absorbs good or bad things which we apply on it. Everyone desires to have good skin. Good skin is something that we have to constantly work on, and cannot be taken for granted. The reason is because everyone age and we lose their skin elasticity during our late twenties.

Hereditary Factors

Most of the time, a person’s skin is hereditary just like his or her genes. It is always beneficial to recognize the root of a problem and then find a solution or preventive measure. So, if your family has a history of not so good skin like acne prone skin or eczema, you should prepare what you can do to combat it before puberty (in the case of acne prone skin) or help your children be better prepared for it.

Acquiring adequate knowledge on how to maintain good skin and actively making every determined effort to achieve it, will ensure a higher success rate.

Recognize your skin type & using the right products

Recognize your skin type is one of the ways to start.  Is your skin type oily, dry or a combination or sensitive? Is it prone to break- outs? Is it having fine lines or developing wrinkles?

Using the right or suitable products for your skin will reap results that will be beneficial for your skin. Read the labels, get word- of- mouth feedback from regular users whom you can trust. It does not have to expensive, just effective. There are a lot of natural home remedies that have been passed down from generations that are still being circulated and used today that still gives women glowing good skin.

Getting started on a good skincare regime

Besides the basic 3 steps- wash, tone and moisturise, do remember to exfoliate weekly to achieve good skin. Dead skin produces a layer of flake and if not rid of, may not get the nutrients or moisturisers not being able to penetrate into the skin. On a worst case scenario, dirt starts accumulating and clogs the pores, causing breakouts due to lack of care.

Use a masque every week after exfoliating. Depending on your needs, if your skin is dry, use a hydrating masque. This will improve your skin condition to a certain extent.

Make sure you apply sunscreen before you step out of the house in the day time, so as to prevent sun damages and pigmentation.

Always cleanse your make up thoroughly before you go to bed regardless of how tired you are.

Remember to use appropriate anti- wrinkle cream on wrinkle prone areas like corners of eyes, laugh lines, forehead and also the neck. Do it diligently every night and your efforts will pay off in time to come.

Diet for good skin

As the saying goes “You are what you eat”. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits which are rich in fibre and in Vitamin C. They are good source of foods to lay a strong foundation for good skin. Drink lots of water as it flashes out toxin from the body.

Avoid having too much caffeinated drink like coffee and soda, alcohol consumption and fried food which are not only bad for the body but skin as well.

Besides Vitamin C, Vitamin B has a pivotal role in maintaining good and healthy skin. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin deficiency can result in brown pigmentation. These ugly spots will usually disappear if vitamin B2 is administered generously over a period of six months. Riboflavin facilitates the use of oxygen to the tissues of the skin, nails, and hair.  Nuts, cheese, milk and lean meat are sources of riboflavin, but it is also found in green leafy vegetables, fish, whole grains and yogurt. Vitamin B6 deficiency on the other hand can result in eczema. Vitamin B6 is available in eggs, chicken, carrots, fish, liver, peas and walnuts. So, it is good to consume food rich in Vitamin B.

Stress

Learn to relax and set time aside to unwind with friends or love ones. Stress is one of the underlying causes of not being able to have good skin. Many experienced irritability and have breakouts as a result. Their skin suffers and shows even though some of them do not speak out about or show their stress outwardly.

Lifestyle habits

Some of the habits you adopted like smoking and staying up late nights partying or working will affect your chances of having beautiful good skin.

Sleep is rest for the body as well as your skin. Even machines will break down if not been given sufficient rest or over- worked. It is important to embrace a healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise, sufficient sleep and healthy diet to leave your skin glowing and not lackluster or tired.

Pamper yourself and your skin once in a while, soak in a hot bath, go for a spa treatment or opt for a body scrub. These treatments will also do wonders and leave you rejuvenated and your skin radiant.

External Environment

It is important to recognize the conditions of our external environments and react to it effectively.

Change of season will affect the skin hydration level, so it is crucial to apply more moisturizer during the cold, dry winter. Apart from that, working or staying in a dusty environment will also affect skin conditions. If you are going through renovation, wear a mask and remember to cleanse your skin thoroughly daily. Prolonged exposure to sunlight also has a negative impact on skin pigmentation. To maintain good skin and protect skin from the harsh ultra violet rays, it is advisable to apply moisturizer with SPF of 30 and above or wear a hat.

The above are just some tips to be mindful about, in order to have or maintain healthy good skin.

Pampering Treats

Everyone who works hard deserves to go for pampering treats occasionally. It is beneficial to indulge in one of these small pleasures once in a while, to reward yourself for working so hard. Pampering treats do lots of wonders for the body physically and calms the soul as you rejuvenate yourself.

Pampering treats may be in the form of soaking in a luxurious milk bath with rose petals floating and feeling like Queen Cleopatra. This helps your skin to feel smooth and moisturised and you will also feel more mentally and emotionally relaxed after that.

A calming facial which gives you an instant radiance and glow afterwards can also be one of the many pampering treats women adore.  As the dead skin is exfoliated and cells on your face are renewed, you will also tend to feel more confident after the process.

To a lot of people, however, a pampering treat means a wonderful massage.  An effective massage gets rid of stress and aches, aids blood circulation and helps to relax a tensed body and mind. A lymphatic massage helps our body to expel body toxin as well as water retention. Not many people, men or women, would be able to resist a free aromatherapy massage given its extensive benefits and luxurious connotation.  After a good massage pampering treat, one can usually sleep very well as the stress are melt away, muscle  aches are relieved and body feels lighter.

A wonderful manicure, good feet scrub, pedicure and that great foot reflexology may be for some great pampering treats or the best gifts to receive. Those who work manually using their hands and whose feet are tired, would probably loved these treatments more than anything else, as their hands and feet get pampered by the professional manicurist or foot- reflexology masters.

Pampering treats are not just confined to the body. It can also be for the hair in the form of a hair spa, where the head, scalp and hair are focused on. Gently massaging the scalp and head on all focal points, it can be a very relaxing session. Your crowning glory is treated like the most important part of the body as oil are poured and rubbed into it to ensure that it absorbs the nutrients and wrapped up.

Likewise for pampering treats for the eyes, an eye treatment would concentrate on the “window to your soul”.  It promises to improve blood circulation, reduce fine lines, puffiness and revitalise tired eyes. Usually, it comprises of a collagen eye mask and massage.

Whatever pampering treats you opt for, you are discerning in rewarding your body, mind and soul from the pampering treats. Taking care of your body helps slow down the aging process and let it function better as a result. So, find time to reward yourself with a pampering treat this week.

Sense of Humor

One of the best ways to live a better or stress- free life is to have a sense of humor.

Possessing a sense of humor is to be able to see the silver-lining in every dark cloud. It is also often having the capability to provoke laughter in others.

It is important to be able to laugh at one self and not take life too seriously.  Life can be harsh and there will always be people who are critical and judgemental. Though we cannot often control our external environment, we can, however, control our attitude and mindset towards viewing and living our lives, which can then bring about a change and enhance the way we lead our lives. Possessing a sense of humor can help one in many ways, besides living a more fruitful, happier and fulfilling life.

Laughter is known as the best source of medicine and remedy. Medical research has been done on the effects of humor and laughter on our health. The benefits are tremendous and one of them is having a more resilient body. The other benefits include reducing stress, boosting our immune system, lowering blood pressure, increasing tolerance for pain, and hastening our healing process. Our body and mind are connected so our attitude and mindset determines how long we live. That is why people who have a great sense of humor and are positive, usually always make it through a difficult ordeal or medical condition whereas those who are pessimistic or gives up easily barely survive.

Children with a well-developed sense of humor are also found to be happier and more optimistic, have higher self-esteem, and can cope with problems better than those who do not possess this quality. They tend to share humor and are better liked by their friends and peers, are more adaptive to new environment and can handle the adversities of childhood from being teased at or moving to a new school.

When you are optimistic and have a good sense of humor, life will seem more manageable and fun. You will inevitably inject more joy into the lives of those surrounding you including your own. People who have a sense of humor have been known to be popular and charismatic and are often invited to parties. So, one of the benefits of having a sense of humor, would be attracting people like a magnet. Your influence will undeniably be positive and greatly benefit not only yourself but those who work and live with you.

A sense of humor can be cultivated. It’s never too late to start having a good time by sharing some jokes and have a hearty laugh with your colleagues and family. Start experiencing the change physically, emotionally, and socially today!

Vinegar Benefits

Vinegar is a solution derived from the fermentation of a wide range of bases like apple, other fruit juices, wine, beer, barley and rice. The health benefits of vinegar are wide-ranging and date back to ancient times. The ancient Babylonians embraced the benefits of vinegar and inscribed its virtues on stone tablets over 7000 years ago. Even Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used the medical benefits of vinegar for treating his patients in 400 B.C. In the Middle Ages, bands of thieves doused their skin in vinegar in order to protect themselves from germs before robbing dying or the dead.

Here are some of the benefits of vinegar:

1) Kill Bacteria and Cure Athlete’s Foot and Foot Fungus

Vinegar contains agents to help kill bacteria and fungus, so one of the medical benefits of vinegar is that it can help cure athlete’s foot and foot fungus. Soaking your feet in vinegar will change the PH levels in your skin so that fungus cannot grow.

2) Soothe Muscle and Leg Cramps

Another one of the many medical benefits of vinegar is that it can relieve muscle or leg cramps. Muscle cramps are often caused by low potassium levels in our body. Orally taking one teaspoon of vinegar will cause your potassium level to rise and alleviate pain and cramps.

3) Relieve Sunburn Pain

Vinegar can also relieve sunburn pain. You can cool down a painful sunburn by gently apply the vinegar onto the affected area. It is more effective if you do it as soon as you are back from outdoor, before the burning sensation and pain starts.

4) Restore Shiny Hair and Eliminates dandruff

Apple cider vinegar has also been known to many to make hair shiny and healthy. It improves the health of our scalp. Apple cider vinegar not only eliminates dandruff but also slow hair loss. So, it is beneficial to rinse your hair and scalp with a solution of raw apple cider vinegar and water at least once a week.

Now that you are aware of the various medical benefits of vinegar, you will start to look at a bottle of vinegar differently today.

Ginger Remedy

Ginger has many health benefits and is commonly used as a cold remedy. It also boosts the immune system, soothe sore throats, improve digestion and help relieve nausea.

Chinese has long practiced the use of ginger for post natal food for all new mothers after every child birth to get rid of wind and air from their stomach. It is a must for them to have confinement food cooked with ginger for at least 1 month as they believed in the properties of ginger to expel wind and promoting blood circulation.

These are the known health benefits of ginger:

• Improves circulation of blood flow, cleanse the bowels and kidneys
• Relieves bout of flu
• Eases stomach cramps, improves digestion and relieves nausea
• Reduces menstrual cramping and alleviate menstrual discomfort
• Regulate blood sugar
• Boosts the immune system
• Relieve a bloated stomach and get rid of wind

One easy way to reap the health benefits of ginger is drinking ginger tea. A piping hot ginger tea is a healthy drink that will aid digestion, boost your immune system and refresh your soul. Here’s how you can make a cup of ginger tea.

• 6 thin slices raw ginger or 2 teaspoon of freshly squeezed ginger juice
• 1 cup of water
• 2 teaspoon honey or lemon juice or milk (depending on what you like)

Stir the ginger and honey (or lemon juice or milk) into 1 cup of hot water.

Drink up and enjoy the health benefits of ginger tea today.

Note: It is best not to drink on dates as you will expel a lot of gas from your stomach afterwards.

Tea Bags Therapy

We have often heard about the wonderful benefits of tea.

Like- wise, a tea bag, stores all of its amazing properties in a bag. It is rich in vitamin C, tames inflammation and inhibits the growth of cancer cells. It is also well known to reduce cholesterol levels and can help to reduce weight.

Not only that, it is popularly known for its calming properties (especially Chamomile) and being an amazing anti- oxidant. Anti- oxidants are known to slow degenerative diseases by helping to stop free radicals. Free radicals can hurt the body by initiating chain reactions of electron which scavenge and damage the body’s cells. Ranking high in levels of anti-oxidant activity are Polyphenols and flavinoids. Green tea has one of the highest polyphenols in the family of tea.

So, what can a used tea bag too?

There are many usages for a tea bag.

1) It can be used to exfoliate chapped or cracked lips

Gently rub the tea bags over the lips surface. After that, the lips will feel smooth and renewed. You can apply a layer of honey or lip balm over the lips afterwards.

2) Tea bags can also be used to reduce puffy eyes

Place the tea bag on top a thin piece of cotton wool, so it would not stain your skin. Then place the tea bag over your eyes for 5- 10 minutes.  Tannin, which is found in tea, is a natural astringent that constricts blood vessels and pulls the skin taut. It helps to reduce puffiness.

3) Tea bags can also act as a form of cold compress

Just apply it on the cut to stop bleeding.

4) Tea bags can eliminates foot odour

Tannin, which is found in tea bags acts as form of astringent and drying agent. Boil about five tea bags in 1 quart of water for about 10 minutes, then add cold water to make a comfortable soak. Soak your feet for 30 minutes, then dry them and apply food powder. Continue treatment for about a week and you should have no smelly or sweaty feet.

Shallot Remedy for Sore Throat

Shallot belongs to the family of onion. Onion is a major source of both phenols and flavonoids, phytonutrients and shallots was found to have the most phenols. Numerous studies have shown that these protects against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Shallot is a natural, powerful anti- biotic and anti oxidant and is anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium and folic acid. It also contains calcium, iron and has a high protein quality. Sulfur content in shallots also makes skin look younger. Frequent intake of shallots will reap benefit in the long run.

To get rid of sore throat- Peel a piece of raw shallot. Chew it first thing in the morning when you wake up.

Once you swallow, you may experience a tingling sensation at the throat. After a while, you may feel phlegm starting to produce and your throat feeling so pain. Eat another shallot after a few hours and you may be completely well after a day, depending on the severity of your sore throat. If not completely healed, continue the same routine the following day till completely well. Inflammatory should subside shortly afterwards.  Salt water can be used as a form of gurgle too.

Shallot is a natural remedy for sore throat and can be used for people who are opposed to taking anti- biotic or  in the case of pregnant women.

Music Therapy

The roots of music therapy dates back as far as 25,000 years. Music has the ability to calm, cajole and rejuvenate the soul; hence there were serenades and lullabies.  But it is only these recent years that man starts to view music seriously as a form of therapy as they found music to have a profound effect on our psyche and body. They begun to study and document the effects of music in methodology, which leaves the healing power of music no room for doubt. There are serious music therapy courses in the best universities now and a growing field of health care openings for music therapists.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on our body and psyche. Studies has shown that music with a fast and strong beat can stimulate brainwaves and breathing to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, while a slower tempo promotes a more calm and meditative state.

It is an established fact that music helps all living creatures – from plants, animals and infants – to rejuvenate and grow. Music alters mood swings, induces sleep, heals the ailing, and creates the moods. Music therapy is a process in which a trained music therapist uses the magic of music effectively to help clients improve their health be it from the physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetics or the spiritual from.  Those who practice music therapy are using the healing power of music to help cancer patients, migraine patients and children with ADD. Even the hospitals are using music therapy to help reduce depression and for pain management. Holistic spas are also using it widely while providing their massages or spa treatments for their clients, so their clients get more relaxed inevitably.

With all these wonderful benefits that music carries, it’s no surprise that music therapy is gaining popularity. Music therapy is no doubt an important benefit which you can also use for yourself and love ones daily.

Go on a Vacation

Free your mind and go on a much deserved vacation.

Everyone needs a break from their work and daily routine. There are chronic workaholics who do not know how to leave their work and as a result suffered from enormous stress. At the extreme end, some committed suicide and others have their ailments prolonged and suffered as a result of not taking a break to relax.

It is important to recognise that you need a break before your system breaks down, fall sick and feel burn out and worn out mentally and physically. We get to live only once, so do not torture yourself and your love ones by bringing work back, feeling stressed and vexed. It is worst if you vent your frustration at them. Work- life balance is vital so it is best to embrace it well as it will have a lasting impact on you and your love ones.

Plan and go on a vacation, regardless whether it is going to be long or short one, with your love ones or family. Discuss where to go, what to bring and how to spend the days there and bag a totally awesome experience from the vacation. Be spontaneous, have fun and relax. Enjoy the bonding time and discovery of the new place with them. Recharge, revitalise and rejuvenate during the trip. A good vacation develops strong bonding with your love ones and creates pleasant memories for all involved. You also reaped emotional and physical health benefits when you enjoyed a great vacation.