The secret is to choose the best mascara for your needs and then to apply it properly. How hard can it be?
Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.
Three Simple Steps to Perfect Mascara Application:
How to Choose Your Mascara
Mascara is available in many different formulae – some is for lengthening, some is for thickening, some is non-clumping and some mascara is waterproof. Waterproof mascara is a good option, particularly in the summer when you are likely to get hot and sticky.
There are some fabulous colored mascaras around which can add a whole new dimension to the eyes and help them to “pop”. The general rule of thumb for “normal” mascara wear however is:
To Curl or Not to Curl
Some people swear by eyelash curlers and others shy away from them thinking that they look like something from a medieval torture chamber. If you get the hang of curling your eyelashes it can help your eyes to appear brighter and wider. You can use eyelash curlers before or after you’ve applied your mascara, just so long as the mascara is dry.
Only Apply Mascara to Top Lashes
This is good advice, applying mascara to both the top and bottom lashes can leave your eyes looking “cluttered”.
A final word of advice – don’t pump your mascara wand vigorously in and out of the tube – the only thing you’ll achieve is to put more air inside the tube and the mascara will dry out faster.
]]>If you follow these shaving tips not only will your legs be smooth, hairless and gorgeous – they’ll also be free from painful and unsightly nicks and stay that way for longer.
Follow these few tips and your legs will feel smooth, soft and silky. Legs may not stay hairless for as long as they would if you used other methods but shaving is the cheapest, easiest and quickest thing to do.
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Try this once a week, you’ll love it.
Cleanse – this is always the first step. Wash all over your face, ears and neck with a good quality cleanser to rid your skin of the accumulation of dirt and grime – we all get it. Don’t forget to take off your eye make-up with a gentle remover first. You need a clean canvas to get the best results from your DIY facial. Try our Makeup remove pads!!
Exfoliate – dead skin cells can make the complexion look dull and lifeless – bring it to life with a good exfoliater. Use a gentle facial scrub all over the face and neck, rubbing in small circles with your fingers. Focus your efforts on the greasiest parts of your face like your forehead and nose, particularly if you have combination skin. Rinse well after you’ve finished – many exfoliating scrubs can be very drying.
Steam – if someone bought you a facial steamer for Christmas last year then lucky you but if not it’s not the end of the world. You have a couple of options. You can either steam your face using a bowl of boiling water (a little like clearing your head when you have a bad cold) or by using a clean wash cloth dipped into hot water and pressed gently but firmly onto the face two or three times.
Mask – use the face mask of your choice. This will largely depend upon your skin type. If you have oily skin you should choose a face mask which is clay based and if you have naturally dry skin you should choose a hydrating or gel face mask. Apply the mask all over the face and leave it on for between 10 and 20 minutes before rinsing off with clean, warm water. Be careful not to get it close to your eyes. You can even make your own face mask using ordinary household products out of your kitchen cupboards.
Moisturize – once you have washed the mask from your face it’s time to moisturize. Make sure that you apply your favorite moisturizer generously all over your face, ears and neck. If you fancy a cheaper option to the fancy moisturizers at the beauty store then you could always use a little extra virgin coconut oil – it really gets the job done.
If you follow this routine every week it will help to keep your skin soft, beautiful and glowing. Every woman deserves a weekly pamper day to refresh her body and soul. Go on, lock yourself in the bathroom, have some gentle tunes playing outside the door, light a couple of candles and pamper yourself. You’ll feel the benefits for the whole week until it’s pamper day once more.
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Choosing the Right Palette For Your Eyes
I know it might be tempting to buy that fabulous new eye-shadow to match your new party dress but that isn’t really what it’s all about. You must make sure that the eye-shadow you choose is a good match for your actual eye color (which doesn’t change at all).
Eye Shadow Colors
Contrasting eye-shadow colors against your eye color is the best way to make them stand out.
Choosing the right eye-shadow palette for your eyes is the best place to start, but then . . .
Eye Shadow Brushes
First of all, before you go any further – throw out any of those free eye shadow sponges which are supplied with eye shadow palettes. Foam applicators and other freebies are not going to cut it at all. For the best results you need a couple of good quality eye shadow brushes – a medium one will work perfectly for the neutral color and another for the crease. If you really want to push the boat out you can also buy a smaller eye shadow brush for blending and an angled make up brush which can help you to apply eye shadow as eye liner.
Creating The Smokey Eye
This is one eye shadow which will never go out of fashion – well, it hasn’t yet anyhow. In order to achieve the classic smokey eye don’t be tempted to take any eye shadow color above the crease of the eye – you only need to apply the shadow to the lid and just below your lower lash line.
Combining Dazzling Eyes with Luscious Lips
Well, in all honesty, the best way to achieve this is . . . don’t. If you’re in the mood for some super dramatic, luscious red lips then tone down your eye-shadow. Just a little concealer or primer will do the job fine along with a little lightly colored and lightly applied eye shadow.
Want Great Eyes? Then Blend . . .
Blending is the key to great eye-shadows. Whenever you watch a video about how to apply eye shadow you will notice that the key to creating even the most complicated look is all in the blending. Your eye shadow needs to be one continuous blend – that’s the secret to a truly professional finish to your eye makeup.
A little practice goes a long way when it comes to applying eye-shadow. All you have to do is to pick the right colors, apply with the right brushes and become an expert blender.
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All brushes are available for purchase here: http://thesalonoutlet.com/collections/makeup-brushes
]]>Getting your skin into tip top condition is not that difficult to achieve – it’s about finding the right beauty regime and sticking to it. The good thing about great, clear skin is that you don’t have to pile on the foundation or concealer – your natural beauty can shine through. If you regularly cleanse your skin, use a gentle exfoliater and keep it well hydrated you won’t need to hide blemishes and pimples beneath layers of make up . . . and the upside is that the less make up you use the better condition your skin will be so that’s a real win-win situation.
Here are just a few top tips which will help you to get, and to keep your skin in great shape.
Follow these few tips and you’ll soon notice the difference, your skin will be even more fabulous that it was already.
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Some women tend to worry (with good reason) about lifting their arms in public – arm pits can get itchy, sweaty, wet and smelly leaving people to being extremely uncomfortable about raising their arms, even if they don’t support the “European vibe” shaving regularly and are free from hair or stubble. Arm pits certainly are a taboo subject even amongst family and friends – the good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a few things you can do in the shower each morning which will help to keep you fresh and smelling sweet the whole day through.
Follow these three simple steps to fresh, odor free armpits and raise your hands with confidence.
Step 1 – cleanse your arm pits. Take a clean wash cloth and use it to cleanse the arm pits using something gentle like Cetaphil – it only costs around $10 and is well worth the money. What it does is to gently clean the impurities and debris from the skin.
Step 2 – rinse off the cleanser and pat your arm pits dry. It’s surprising how many people neglect to do this – just as it is important to thoroughly dry your feet and in between your toes to prevent them from being smelly, the same goes for the arm pits. If you don’t dry your arm pits the trapped water will soften the skin which can lead to numerous problems.
Step 3 – apply your deodorant, not just inside the actual arm pit itself but also the three inch circle around it. Choose your deodorant carefully as some brands are definitely more effective than others but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a small fortune. Dove Advanced Care deodorant will only set you back a few bucks - $5.99 at the last look – and works great. Apply a thin layer all over and around the arm pit area with gentle strokes and it will help you to keep dry, smell sweet and feel fresh for the whole day.
If you make these simple steps a part of your daily routine in the shower you won’t have to worry about itching, sweating or foul smelling odors any more. There’ll be no need to avoid wearing dark colored shirts, no need to sit with your arms held closely to your sides and no need to worry about embarrassing odors or sweat stains.
Unfortunately there are some people who seem to be oblivious to their own unsavory body odor so if you are unfortunate enough to work with one of these types (as I was a few years ago) it can be a difficult subject to broach. However often we brought up the subject of our favorite deodorants she would remain insistent that she didn’t waste her money because she didn’t need it.
You just can’t help some people can you, but share these quick and easy tips among your friends and colleagues – the biggest secret really is in the drying.
]]>If you take a look online for foundations and concealers you’ll read a lot about undertones – they are what you need to match to your foundation. But what is an undertone? It really isn’t much help telling someone to match their undertone if they don’t know where to start looking for it now is it?
The undertone is the color which lies just beneath the surface of the skin – the tone of the skin changes frequently thanks to exposure to sunshine etc but your undertones always remain the same.
When it comes to foundations the marketing material will often ask you whether you have:
If only life were that simple – many of us fall somewhere between the boundaries and have warm / neutral undertones or cool / neutral undertones. So how do you know what your undertones are and where can you find them? It’s all in the wrist.
Check out the skin on the underside of your wrist and if . . .
If your skin has a pinky, reddish or blue tinge then you have cool undertones. If silver jewelry looks fabulous on you but gold does not then you have cool undertones. If you look at your skin when you’re out in the sun and it has a blue tint then you have cool undertones. – got it?
If your skin doesn’t have pinky, reddish and blue tinges – or yellow, peachy gold tinges then this means that you have neutral undertones, you are somewhere in the middle. If the veins on your wrist are more of a green / blue then you have neutral undertones. If you can wear both silver and gold jewelry and it looks equally fabulous then you have neutral undertones. If your skin appears to be a little green under the sunshine then you have neutral undertones – got it?
If, on the other hand your skin has a yellowy, peach or gold tinge then you have warm undertones. The veins in your wrist will appear olive or green, gold jewelry is more flattering than silver and your skin looks a little yellow under the sun then you definitely have got warm undertones – got it?
Okay, take a look and check out your undertones.
When it comes to choosing the right foundation in a store you should always be sure to have clean, exfoliated and moisturized skin (dirty, sweaty skin will affect the color of the foundation). You should also make sure that you check it out in good lighting and find the best match for not just your face but also your neck.
You are now an expert on undertones!
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Of course, there are some people and color jobs which really do need the professional touch – it can be nigh on impossible to master foils and stripes and is much more difficult than simply covering up the grays or giving a boost to boring brown hair.
If you simply fancy going a couple of shades lighter to your normal hair coloring then there is no reason at all why you can’t do it yourself. There are a few simple rules which you should follow however, to avoid impending disasters.
The color on the box is not trustworthy – hair dyes react differently depending upon the health, texture and starting color of your hair. Instead of simply looking at the picture pay close attention to the description and the shade of the color in the box – look for words like dark, medium, light, ashy, golden etc.
Always do a strand test – if you skip this stage and don’t like the results it can be difficult to change an entire head of hair. A few strands of an unsuitable shade in a strategic location is not the end of the world however.
If the color turns out much darker than you anticipated – or even liked – do not panic. Simply get another bottle of the same hair dye and mix with equal amounts of shampoo, wash your hair leaving the lather on for a few minutes then rinse it off. This should leave your hair just a shade or two lighter.
It’s pretty easy to create your own highlights around your face for that natural, sun kissed look. Buy a bottle of hair dye which is just a couple of shades lighter than your usual and apply it to just a few strands of hair around the face.
It is important to remember that hair dyes have concentrated color so it is important that your hair is in good condition before you use them. The best thing to do is to give your hair an intense conditioning treatment a few days before you intend to color it then every week after you’ve applied the color.
A touch of Vaseline around the hairline will prevent your skin from getting dyed and if you do have any runs of color simply rub a touch of cream cleanser onto the Vaseline and wash it off using a wash cloth or cotton wool pads.
Remember to wear gloves (these are usually provided with the hair dye) and always use an old, dark colored towel which won’t show the stains.
For best results don’t wash your hair until the day after you’ve applied the color to give it time to settle.
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You may be happy to treat yourself to a professional pedicure but if you don’t have the time, the money or the inclination then there is another way. You can give yourself a home pedicure worthy of the professionals by following a few simple steps.
Step 1 – take off your any remnants of nail polish using a well soaked cotton pad (cotton balls can leave fuzzy bits behind). If the polish is being a little stubborn saturate the cotton and leave it pressed on the toe nails for a minute or two.
Step 2 – get out your clippers (much better than nail scissors) and chop your nails off squarely across the top . . . this helps to avoid in-growing toe nails. You can file them into a softer shape using a file in one direction only – emery boards work great.
Step 3 – give your feet a well deserved soaking in a bowl of warm water with your favorite aromatherapy oils or bath salts. If you put a splash of milk in there too it will help to loosen up the dead skin on your feet (a real pro tip that one).
Step 4 – it’s time to tackle the cuticles. Apply a little cuticle remover to each nail and gently massage into the base then take an orangewood stick and gently push around the area where your nail meets your skin. Unless you are extremely confident it’s probably best to leave the cuticle nippers to the professionals.
Step 5 – scrub your feet with some foot scrub and a pumice stone or foot file to remove all off the rough, dead skin and leave them feeling soft and scrumptious. Pay particular attention to the heel sides, balls of your feet and around your toes. Don’t scrub your feet until they turn red or you won’t be able to walk for a week.
Step 6 – massage and moisturize . . . don’t forget to dry your feet thoroughly first of all . . . between your toes and everywhere else. Massage some special foot cream all over your feet and ankles, even up to your calves.
Step 7 – your toes are now ready for your favorite colored polish. Apply a base coat first of all, leave it to dry for a couple of minutes then choose your favorite color, apply a couple of coats of that and finish off with a top coat for added durability. Any tiny mistakes can easily be managed using an orangewood stick with a little cotton and nail polish remover.
Step 8 – you may think that your pedicure is finished . . . and it could be . . . but a squirt of moisturizing oil once the polish has dried can help to set it and give a final bit of moisture to the cuticles.
And that’s all there is to it . . . break out the flip flops and enjoy the summer.
]]>Let’s take a quick look at some of our favorites:
Square Nails – this is the classic shape for a French manicure. Square nails work best on large nail beds, if you try it on shorter nails it can look a little out of proportion, even shorter and wider than the nail beds already are. In order to create the classic square nail shape, file the sides of the nails straight and perpendicular and then file an angle across the end of the nail as required. You don’t want any sharp corners.
Oval Nails – are stylish and elegant and suitable for all sizes and shape of nail bed. Start off by filing the side walls of the nail to a regular length and then shape the end of the nail into a sweeping, smooth oval shape. It is important to have an even angle on each side of the nail.
Square / Oval – aka Squoval Nails – this is another popular shape which works well for the majority of fingers. Start off with the square – remember those straight, perpendicular and even side walls then file the corners of the nails into an oval shape. Keeping the side supports can help your nails to remain strong so don’t get too carried away with the filing.
Round Nails – this is a rather conservative choice popular with men who like to keep their hands well manicured . . . it works well for women too. The shape flatters even comparatively wide nail beds, actually helping to create the illusion that the nail beds are a little slimmer. Start off with the straight side walls and then swoop into a full, circular shape. Round nails are pretty similar to oval nails . . . but shorter.
Pointed / Almond Nails – this is the most popular choice for anyone who is interested in nail art and fashionable designs. Pointed, almond shaped nails are also a popular choice among celebrities (people who have other people to do daily chores for them without having to risk breaking a perfectly shaped and manicured nail). The look can also help to create the illusion of length for short, stubby or chubby fingers. Simply file the side walls tapering to a tip for the desired length.
So which is the best for your fingers?
Follow these basic rules – wide nail beds are perfect for the square / oval . . . aka squoval look whereas square shapes help to strengthen and widen naturally narrow nails. If you work with your hands and need to keep your nails relatively short then opt for the rounded nails – this is particularly good for girls who spend hours on the keyboard every day.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with nail shapes – a subtle change can make the world of difference.
Checkout our mobile nail salon workstation, provide service and come to your clients.
]]>Moisturizing is the key to many things . . . including dark under eye circles. Use a thick moisturizing cream at night and a lighter one during the day time. This day cream will allow any correctors and concealer you use to blend seamlessly and effortlessly and create a better finish. Don’t forget to moisturize . . . and then a bit more!
Use a corrector – any woman who suffers from these dark under-eye circles will probably realize that concealer alone is not sufficient to do the job which is why you may need to invest a little cash into a specially formulated under-eye corrector. These help to counteract the blue / purple shades which become more natural looking peachy, pinky shades. There are some fabulous correctors available on line which don’t cost the earth and do a fabulous job. Don’t worry too much about matching your skin tone – once you’ve covered the dark under-eye circles you can work on blending to a smooth, flawless complexion using a concealer and foundation.
Pat the corrector onto the dark circles gently with the pad of the middle finger, painting the concealer as close to your eye lashes as you can manage.
Concealer time – as soon as you have correctly applied the corrector it is time to turn your attention to your chosen concealer. Choose a concealer which is yellow based, dot it beneath your eyes and pat the product onto your skin. Choose a concealer which is one or two shades lighter than your normal skin tone – it really depends upon how dark the circles are beneath your eyes. If you have very dark under-eye circles go for two shades lighter but be sure to blend it in well so that you don’t end up looking “raccoonesque”.
Foundation – wow, are we only just getting to the foundation? People who are lucky enough not to suffer from dark under eye circles can skip all of the above and head straight here. Remember that you only need to apply foundation to the parts of the face which need them . . . it is not compulsory to slap it on all over.
Set your make-up – a powder which is yellow based can be used to successful set your make-up into place, although anyone with an incredibly pale skin should probably opt for white powder in order to set the scene.
If you still aren’t happy and don’t feel confident that you can successfully conceal dark under-eye circles then perhaps you should speak to a medical professional about laser treatment. These can be used to thicken skin which in turn makes the veins less visible (the root problem).
Make sure that you get sufficient sleep every night to help keep your eyes looking bright and clear.
]]>You don’t have to be some sort of masochist to proceed happily towards your next bikini wax – there are a few things you can do which can significantly reduce the amount of pain or even discomfort you feel. It doesn’t matter whether you have a professional waxing or decide to go it alone at home – these tricks can seriously help you.
Book your bikini wax immediately following your period – this is when you have a higher pain threshold and are less likely to turn on the water works.
Take it slowly – a Brazilian is probably not a good idea for your first waxing experience. Start with the basic and take it from there. You can get braver as you become more experienced.
Exfoliate the day before – take a warm shower and exfoliate before your planned waxing session. This will remove a layer of dead skin and make it easier to grip on to the shortest of hairs.
Choose your wax carefully – soft wax is more painful than hard wax so don’t be afraid to ask the question of your chosen spa. If there is a choice go for the hard stuff.
Relax and let go of your inhibitions – you may feel a little self conscious wearing nothing more than a paper thong in front of a complete stranger but relax . . . they’ve certainly seen it all before. Don’t forget to breathe too, the more relaxed you feel the less painful it will be.
Just at the moment when the wax is going to be ripped from your privates – turn your head to the side and cough. It may sound strange but it does help to distract you from the pain. Try it, every little helps you know.
Take some pain relief medication – popping an over the counter pain killer an hour before your appointment can help to dull the pain of your bikini waxing.
It really is important to try to sit back and relax as much as possible. Don’t hold your breath, just as breathing correctly can help with the pain of child birth it can also help with the pain of bikini waxing. Inhale as the wax goes on and then exhale when the esthetician yanks it off again. It really can help.
A bikini waxing treatment can help you to feel confident on the beach the whole summer long so don’t let the potential pain put you off. Follow a few of these simple tips and it will be a much more bearable experience.
]]>Admit it, every lady has a supply of makeup she’s keeping for a special occasion or that “just in case” moment, that she used once (four or five years ago at 1970’s party) and might want to use again in the future . . . you never know when the look will be mainstream again.
The problem is that make-up and other beauty products do not last forever, they all have a shelf life and should be replaced periodically to make sure that they won’t cause a nasty rash, itch or infection.
I’ve put together a string of “when it’s time to change your make-up” estimates but estimates is the key word here – although some experts say that using mascara which is past its sell by date can make you blind I’ve never yet come across anyone who has . . . or who knows of anyone else who has been blinded by their aging mascara.
Concealers – have a shelf life of around 12 months, but if you’re anything like me your concealer won’t get the chance to last half of that time.
Face Powder – will last for a couple of years although if you don’t keep your sponges nice and clean it will go hard much sooner than that and quickly become impossible to use.
Cleansers – whether you prefer to use cream cleansers or gel cleansers the shelf life is the same – about one year.
Eye Liner Pencils – can last for 3 years so that’s good news. Keep your pencils nicely sharpened and set the color with a touch of eye shadow powder so that it will last the whole day – crikey I’ve slipped into something completely different. Back to the shelf life . . .
Eyeshadows – will also last for around 3 years so you really can hold on to that dodgy glittery blue eye shadow from the “Back to the 1970’s” party, at least for a while.
Sponges – should be washed every week and still replaced every month. Using an old, dirty sponge is much worse than using make-up which is just a little past its “best before date”.
Foundation – there are two basic types of foundation, one is water based which will last up to a year and one is oil based which will last longer, maybe a year and a half. Many people have difficulty in finding the right foundation for their skin which is naturally darker in summer and lighter in the winter – so buy two! Oil based foundations need to be shaken before use to mix in the oils.
Lipstick – will apparently last anywhere between a year and four although I reckon my old Aunt Mary used the same lipstick for around 40 years – twice a year at Christmas and Easter. Lipstick will last longer if it is stored in the fridge and if it does start to smell rancid throw it away and treat yourself to a new one.
Mascara – is the major culprit with the shortest shelf life and should be replaced around every four months, forget what I said earlier about not going blind . . . is it really worth the risk?
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You really don’t need to spend all of your hard earned cash on a weekly professional manicure to make a great impression; you can do it at home yourself. Here’s how:
And that’s all there is to it . . . .
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Beautifully polished nails can really make the difference between someone looking good and looking great but it isn’t always problem free. There are a couple of potential pitfalls surrounding nail polish:
The occasional spill is inevitable but the irreparable damage it causes is certainly not. There are ways of removing these spillages and stains if you act fast . . . the longer you leave them to dry the more potential trouble you’re in.
Removing Nail Polish Stains from Fabrics
This is not only one of the most common problems but also one of the trickiest. Nail polish removers may interact with some fabric dyes so it’s always best to try a spot test first before you pour the remains of the bottle over your new dress. If you do decide to go with the traditional nail polish remover on your fabric then be sure to stick it in the washing machine as soon as you can afterwards. If you don’t have any nail polish remover you could always try hair spray as an alternative but let’s face it – most people who like to polish their nails are never very far away from a bottle of remover.
Removing Nail Polish Stains from Wood
Don’t be tempted to use the nail polish remover because you might just make matters even worse. Don’t worry; there is another way – spray the nail polish liberally with hair spray, leave it for a few seconds then wipe it clean. You may need to “rinse and repeat” the process but hey, that’s better than stains all over your wooden furniture isn’t it?
Removing Nail Polish Stains from Carpet
The best method depends upon the color of your carpet. If you’ve got light colored or white carpets try a remover which is non-acetone, if the carpet is dark colored you may need to take extra care of the dye – hair spray might do the trick, another alternative is alcohol (not wine, not beer, just plain old alcohol) but be careful not to rub the stain, instead just blot with paper towels or a sponge. Keep on blotting until you’ve got every last bit, it could take some time but it’ll definitely be worth it in the end and much easier than finding the money for a new stain free carpet.
]]>You really can “pose yourself thinner” if you just know a few tricks of the trade. Try this next time you’re at a family wedding and didn’t quite manage to lose the ten pounds you’d hoped.
Other celebrity “secrets” include using fake tan and wearing outfits of single colors – black, white, red, blue . . . the choice is yours but do avoid pink unless you are a four year old wannabe Disney Princess. Using a single color can elongate the figure making you look sleeker and slimmer.
]]>Protect & Perfect - Protection & Perfection Serum – Boots. It’s like a moisturizer and then some – if your skin has gone way beyond the point of no return and a moisturizer alone simply won’t hack it anymore then this is the answer. At little more than $20 it can help to revitalize your complexion leaving it radiant, soft and oh so smooth. It can even help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles over a prolonged period of time. Use it religiously for four weeks and see the difference.
Burt’s Bees – fed up of greasy hand cream? Got dry, chapped lips and skin? Look no further than this fabulous, affordable replenishing lotion. At less than $15 per tube it can help to keep your skin hydrated all day long and into the night, use it on your hands for a silky softness without the grease.
Cococare Coco Butter – 100% Cocoa butter. These fabulous sticks cost less than two dollars, every girl should have one with her at all times and say goodbye to dry lips, knuckles, cuticles and elbows – in fact say goodbye to dry and hello to soft and smooth.
Essie Cuticle Oil – what can you do about untidy, ragged cuticles? That’s easy; nourish them with this fabulous cuticle oil which leaves cuticles soft and nails shiny and healthy. It smells good too and at less than $9 there really are no excuses not to have it.
Crème of Nature Leave in Conditioner for Strength and Shine is just over $5 but really does go the whole hog taming the frizz and conditioning the dry, split ends.
With these and plenty more bargains to be found in the drug store there’s no excuse not to look radiant whatever the time of year.
Let’s take a look at how to achieve a beautiful graded finish on your nails – just bare nails without false parts built up or added to them – this fabulous technique looks more like a stain than polish but is very attractive and incredibly easy to do with just a little know how.
The only things you’ll need are three or four bottles of nail polish, all in the same tone starting off very light and gradually getting darker. You’ll also need a clear polish for the top coat, a make-up sponge (one of the triangular ones work best), a piece of paper, cup of water, paint brush and some nail polish remover for touching up.
Get all your polish bottles ready for action with lids unscrewed and . . . . action!
Dampen the triangular make up sponge (not wet, just damp) and put one line of your darker shade at the edge of the sponge (on the wedge), then using the next darkest color draw a line next to it, then the next color until you’ve got a stripe of the colors going from dark to light. You’ve got to work quickly so that the polish doesn’t start to dry out.
Dab the sponge onto your paper so that you can see all of the colors together, not blended just together, then dab the sponge a little on the paper to gently blend the colors.
The next thing you do is to line up the sponge with the tip of your nail and press the polish onto your nail, keep pressing firmly on the spot and don’t worry about making any mess, you can soon clean it up later. Don’t worry about getting anything exact, that’s not the way this works.
Go through the process for each of your nails – you probably won’t need to reapply the polish every time but maybe for every two or three nails. Clean up your cuticles with your paint brush and nail polish remover then, once your nail polish has completed dried apply a clear top coat which will not only provide a nice varnish but also enhance the blending.
You can do this with any colors you like – just make sure that they all blend together nicely. Have fun!
]]>Okay, this may sound like a delicious dessert or a fabulous healthy breakfast but we’re not going to eat it, we’re going to spread it on our face . . . .
You’ll need a couple of ripe bananas, a couple of tablespoons of ground almonds, a peach, a couple of tablespoons of honey and some oatmeal (finely ground). Blend the fruit with the honey, mix into the ground almonds and oatmeal until you’ve formed a paste. Gently put the paste onto your dry skin, leave it for about ten minutes and use warm water to rinse it off. You’ll be delighted with the results.
The winter isn’t only unkind to our faces and other exposed skin; it also wreaks havoc with our feet. Feet which have been permanently hidden away under layers of socks and strapped into boots for months need a little tender loving care before they are ready to greet the world in sandals and flip-flops. Here’s a treat for your feet . . .
You’ll need a cinnamon stick, a tablespoon of glycerin, 2 tablespoons of fine sea salt, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a few clove buds and about 5 tablespoons of bentonite clay. Crumble up the cinnamon stick and mix with the cloves, pour on some boiling water and leave it to steep for half an hour or so then remove the cinnamon and clove using a sieve. Mix around 6 tablespoons of the infused water with the olive oil, glycerin and clay to form a paste, add your sea salt and a little more glycerin it the mixture is too dry. Put it on your feet, wrap your feet in plastic bags for extra effect and leave for around ten minutes.
This is a kind of mixture between the two – again you’ll need a ripe banana, ground almonds, a tablespoon of bentonite clay, and half tablespoon of glycerin. You’ll also need a slice of lemon, half tablespoon of almond oil, and one tablespoon of oats. Infuse the lemon slice in boiling water for around half an hour then mix this infusion with the oats – let it rest for five minutes or so before mixing in the other ingredients to a nice paste. Use this hand mask just before bed, leave for ten minutes and rinse it off. Apply your favorite hand lotion in the morning and you’re hands will feel smooth, soft and oh so silky.
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Here’s what you’ll need:
• 3 or 4 kohl pencils in gradually darkening shades. The darkest of the shades will create the cat’s eye “flick” at the end so make sure it’s good and bold. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the colors but it does work best if they are at least a little coordinated!
• One angled eyeliner brush – the thinner the brush you choose the more control and precision you’ll have.
And here’s what you do;
• Using your lightest shade draw a line across a third of your eye lid starting from the inner corner
• For the middle third of your eye lid use the medium shade – something vibrant and exciting
• Finish off this line with the darkest kohl pencil not forgetting the characteristic flick at the end
• Now gently blend the three shades using your angled eyeliner brush. Be careful not to overdo it or it will all end up being the same color.
And that’s really all there is to it. Have fun with it and be ready to turn some heads with your dazzling cat’s eyes.
There’s nothing quite so beautiful, sexy or alluring as cats eyes – the eyes are the window to the soul and nothing is ever more inspired than the gorgeous eyes from our feline friends.
All you’ll need is a black liquid liner with a very fine brush. You’ll also need a black kajal liner with good intense color.
1. Draw parallel lines, start with a short line which points from the end of your eyebrow to the outer end of your eyelashes. Draw a similar (but much shorter) parallel line from the inner corner of the eye down towards the bridge of your nose. This line should measure around a quarter of the length of the original, outer line.
2. Next draw an inverted “V” shape on the outer edge of the line then a line connecting it to your lashes – use the black kajal liner to carefully fill in this space and thicken the lines, remembering to leave a nice sharp point at the end for the flick.
3. Rim your waterline with black and there you are, gorgeous, sultry and sexy with a truly exotic flavor.
Using eyeliner to create wings on the outer edge of the eye is a timeless classic – beautiful, sexy and sophisticated yet relatively simple to achieve.
Liquid liner can be difficult to master but all it takes is a little practice. Just make sure that you have plenty of make-up remover and tissues handy until you’ve got the hang of it.
Maybe these few tips will help to build to give you the confidence to give it a go:
• The thinner the brush the better results you’ll get . . . and the easier it will be.
• Make sure that your brush follows the natural lines of your eye – follow the shape exactly.
• Keep your eyeliner line as close as you possibly can to the line of our eyelashes.
• If you press on too hard you will make the line thicker – a light, gentle stroke will result in a fine line.
• After you have applied your eyeliner try not to blink for at least 15 seconds until it has had time to dry.
]]>Red lipstick can make you feel so glamorous, so fabulous and confident when you choose the right shade and you “wear it well”.
So, which red lipstick should you reach for?
The Fairer Sex with the Fairer Skin – if you are what used to be known as the traditional or “classic beauty” with a complexion of peaches and cream with subtle pink undertones then you should choose coral reds which are not quite so overbearing as the full on bright reds. Matte red lipsticks with an orangey hue can also look good. If, however, your skin has yellowish undertones stick to corals or brick reds for a warmer tone.
Medium Skin Tones with a Hint of Bronze – golden and olive skinned beauties are definitely the lucky ones – they can wear red, red or red. Yep, just about any red will look fabulous. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bright reds, pinkish reds, cranberry reds or any other type of red you can lay your hands on. You’ll look amazing whatever you choose.
Darker Skin Tones – those with a much darker and deeper complexion will often have coolish undertones which puts a whole new prospective onto the red lipstick dilemma. If you choose something which is too bright it can look harsh and unattractive so the best idea is to stick with cool shades and reds with a blue undertone- we’re talking dark cherry tones or figs.
As well as thinking about skin tones you also need to consider your teeth when choosing red lipstick. Some red lipsticks can actually make your teeth appear yellowish while others will accentuate a bright, white smile. Red lipsticks which have blue undertones will help yellowish teeth to appear whiter and brighter whereas the orangey red lipsticks can make teeth appear more yellow than they actually are.
One great tip, instead of trying new lipstick shades on the back of your hand actually test a dab on your lips, that is, after all, where you’ll be wearing it.
]]>A makeup train case can do all of those things and more. It’s somewhere to store your makeup in an organized fashion without it getting mixed and muddled, even in transit. A rolling makeup train case does just that, rolling along easily making it possible to take your entire makeup collection with you wherever you need it. But wait, there’s more . . .
Some makeup train cases can be magically transformed into a makeup stand with mirrors, lights and everything. Okay, maybe it’s not quite “lights, camera, action” – it’s more like “lights, lipstick, action” – but you get the idea. Imagine how easy your life would be with a free standing makeup station which you can take with you wherever you go, some of them even have an added power outlet so that you can plug in your tongs or hairdryer wherever you are and telescopic legs so that you can stabilize your makeup station on uneven ground if necessary.
• Well organized makeup in separate compartments, padded to stop it from rattling around – check!
• Brush pots . . . to keep your brushes in – check!
• Mirror to make sure that you’re putting your lipstick in the right place – check!
• Lights to get the full effect of your work – check!
• Telescopic legs so that your makeup desk can go higher or lower, even on wonky ground – check!
• Easy to wheel around with skater wheels – check!
• Quick and easy to put up, use and take down again – check!
Of course, there are other professional makeup cases too which can do a fabulous job at keeping your makeup organized and easily accessible, even without the added benefit of a portable makeup stand.
Key-locked rolling professional makeup cases have to look stylish – stylists and makeup artists are some of the most stylish people you will ever come across so you’ve got to have something which they’ll feel happy to roll around with – maybe that doesn’t sound quite right but you get the idea!
Makeup artists and stylists have many tools of their trade and just like a motor mechanic needs to take his tools with him wherever he goes, professional makeup cases are the “tool box” of the makeup artist or stylist. So what features come in useful?
• Strength and durability – to protect your makeup and protect your case – check!
• Easily accessible – you’ve got to be able to get to the different sections in your makeup case quickly and easily – check!
• A good strong handle so that you can drag your makeup case wherever you need it – check!
• Smaller, removable compartments which can be lifted out and used as necessary – check!
• Lined and insulated to protect your precious makeup – check!
• Mirror – even if your chosen makeup case doesn’t magically transform into a stand with lights and mirror you’ll need a mirror to be included and transported safely – check!
Professional makeup cases really can make the life of the professional makeup artist, model or stylist much easier – everything you need for your professional life can be safely stored and wheeled around from place to place.
]]>The Salon Outlet was made with a single goal in mind: provide the tools to beautify at a low price. We understand getting the best products in haircare, skincare, and makeup can get pretty pricey, so we kept YOU - the hair stylist, salon owner, makeup artist, beauty school teacher - in mind when it came to the promise to our customers at the Salon Outlet: Professional Touches at an affordable price tag.
Find everything you need for your salon from the comforts of your own home and/or pillow. Happy shopping!
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