History and Origins of Perfume, Fragrance and Cologne.

When the Emperor Napoleon of France was about to return from battle, he sent a message to Josephine. “Am returning in three days. Don’t wash.” While modern-day noses may not agree with Napoleon’s sentiments, there is some evidence that lovers are attracted by each others’ natural smell above and beyond the scents of soap, perfume, fragrance, cologne and chewing gum. That we are influenced by naturally-emitted scents called pheromones, so subtle and yet so powerful that we can be drawn to or repelled by people for reasons we don’t even understand. (History doesn’t record whether or not Josephine obeyed Napoleon’s order.) 

Olfactory research has shown that certain odors can prevent shoplifting, inspire confidences and make us hungry even when our stomachs are full. The perception of fragrance is embedded in the portion of our brains where emotions arise, making smells from childhood immediate memory triggers, and creating a strong emotional pull towards or away from smells depending on the positive or negative associations of the memories they are attached to.

Choosing a perfume is like choosing a lover: you don’t rush; you learn everything you can; you take your own feelings seriously. With an eye to these requirements, the aim of this article is to teach you about the types of fragrance, the fragrance families, the right ways to wear perfume, and how to shop for the perfect perfume.

smoky Eye Makeup Tips and Techniques: Application by Steps

Smoky eye makeup is a hot trend in the cosmetics world, with ladies using it not only for formal evening events but also for dramatic and sexy day wear style. While you can certainly visit a department store makeup counter like Sephora, you can use less expensive brands of makeup, like Cover Girl, to get the same smokey results. If you don’t know how to properly apply smoky eyeshadow, you could end up looking like you have a black eye. To get perfect technique and application, use these smoky eye makeup beauty tips to help you create a smoldering look. 

Step 1: Preparing The Eye Area for Shadows
Before you start with the steps of smoky eye makeup application, you must prepare the eye area. Apply a thin layer of foundation across the eyelids. Then use a good concealer to cover any dark circles which may be showing under your eye or in the corners of your eye. Always use a concealer that is a shade lighter than your natural skin color. You’ll want to be sure you have great base coverage because you will only want the smoky look on the lid, not under your eye.

Step 2: Choose Your Eye Makeup Colors and Begin
Depending on your eye color, hair color and skin tone, you can try using brown, grey, black, dark plum or navy for this task. Stick with one color group for this task. Blue eyed beauties can use any of these, but fair skinned gals might want to steer clear of black unless they want an extremely dramatic emo look. Green eyed girls will look best with brown, grey or black. Browned eyed ladies should stick with brown, black, dark plum or navy. Pick an eyeliner color to match. Using eyeshadow brushes start the color process by sweeping the lid with a neutral flesh-colored mineral shadow. You can use a sparkly shadow if you’d like more flair.

Step 3: First Layer Of Eyeliner
Start in the inside corner of your lash line and start by lining the upper lashes with your dark eyeliner choice. As you go from the inner corner to the outer area, make the line gradually get thicker. You can get an even more dramatic look by drawing on the inner rims of the eyes as well. Use a cotton swab stick to help you blend the color. Next, be sure to line the lower lash line, either one third of the way across or all the way from the inner corner to the outer area. You can try both to see which one you like best. You may want to use an eyeliner pencil for this task, unless you are experienced with liquid eyeliner as liquid eyeliner is very difficult to use.

Step 4: Start Shading With Eyeshadow
Start by applying a dark sweep of color to the outer corner of your eyelid, up to the crease. Blend it well and gradually add more color until you get your desired look. You can do this by lightly adding more layers of the eye shadow and blending upward as you go. The color should fade evenly, from your lash line to the crease.

Step 5: More Eyeliner
Next, do another line of eyeliner on the top eye lid line and smudge it with your cotton swab. This will add further drama to your look. Be sure to use the cotton swab to blend the shadow so there aren’t even layer lines noticeable. Also, you use easily use it to clean up any stray shadow. For stray marks you may need to dip a clean cotton swab tip into foundation or base powder and use it on the marks.

Step 6: Finish Up Your Smokey Eye With Mascara
To finish your smoky eye look, the last step is to apply several layers of mascara. Choose a dark mascara in navy or black to this look. Apply one layer of volumizing mascara, then a second. Be sure to add the second coat before the first coat dries completely, so you’ll avoid clumping.

Use Eye Makeup to Make Small Eyes Appear Larger

Chances are if you’re like most other women, you’ve always wanted larger eyes. While we can’t change our genetic make up, the good news is we can create the illusion of larger eyes with eye makeup tricks and tips. In fact, if you’ve ever noticed a celebrity photographed without makeup you most likely have noticed how much smaller their eyes look than their photos where they are all dressed up and made over for most red carpet events. 

To make your eyes appear larger use these eye makeup tips!

• One of the easiest secrets to utilizing eye makeup routine to correctly make your eyes look larger is to curl your eyelashes. It’s important you curl your lashes BEFORE you apply the mascara! If you forget to do it before applying your dark mascara, be sure to wait until the mascara has dried completely and then go ahead and curl them. If you find throughout the day your lashes aren’t as curled as they were in the morning when you first applied your makeup, you can always re-curl them later in the day since your mascara will be very dry by then.
• Many women think they don’t need mascara on their bottom eye lashes. However, most makeup experts believe adding mascara to the lower lashes can help to enlarge their appearance. The trick is to know how much to use on those bottom lashes! Start by applying the mascara to the top lashes. Then, with whatever is left on your brush (without redipping it into the mascara formula), apply it to the lower lashes. Hold your brush vertically and sweep it back and forth over the lower lashes to get the right look.
• If you want to go for a dramatic dark night time effect, you may want to try your hand at false lashes. Most celebrities do use false lashes for big events. If you know how to do the lash application properly, they can be beautiful and natural. Many larger department stores can help you learn how to apply lashes at one of their cosmetics and beauty products counters but they are also available at drugstores. Be sure to practice before your big event. You can also remember to use scissors to trim them (before applying them) if they are too long.
• Another technique to use involves the creamy white eye liner pencil. This can help you get a doe-eyed style that will brighten and widen your eye appearance. To get this look, simply line the lower lids with the creamy white eye pencil. You can find great liners from Sephora, Loreal or Estee Lauder. To further brighten your eye area, use this soft color also on the inside corner of both the upper and lower lids.
• If you don’t like the idea of the white shade of liner, you can also use a platinum highlighter to open up the eye area. Simply apply your shadow as usual and then use the highlighter on small dots along your browbone. Blend it in with the shadow in that area, apply it to the inner corners of the eyes and enjoy your new look.
• For larger appearing eyes, you must also pay attention to your brows. Be sure you manicure them well. It’s a great idea to visit a professional to get your brows waxed, tweezed or threaded. A pro can help you shape them properly. In between pro visits you can maintain them by tweezing. If you have a slight arch to your brows, you will find your eyes look larger.

How To Apply Cat Eye or Winged Eyeliner Eye Makeup

While Angelina Jolie is well known for her famous for her style, fashion sense and bold cat eye makeup, you can have the same look using inexpensive cosmetics from drugstore brands like Cover Girl and Loreal. The cat eye makeup look has been around for hundreds of years, with Angelina Jolie obviously not being the first to rock this look. In fact, Cleopatra was well known for her cat eye makeup and was likely the first documented female who sported this fun and sexy eye makeup trend. 

Beauty and Makeup Tools You Will Need for the Cat Eye Look

• Liquid (harder to do) or Pencil (easier to do) Eyeliner
• Magnifying Mirror
• Eye Primer
• Eye lash Curler
• Mascara
• False Eyelashes (optional)
• A Steady Hand!

How to Apply Liner & Mascara for the Cat Eye Vintage Look

1. Decide the type of eyeliner you want to use. Cat eye makeup starts with a major choice. You must decide if you want to take on this task of trying to apply cat eye makeup liner with a liquid liner or a pencil liner. If you’re new to applying liner, pencil liner is much more forgiving. But, liquid can give you bolder results. To figure out which works best for you, it’s a great idea to try out both. You can also find liquid pen liner which is kind of the best of both worlds offering easy application and bold color! When choosing the liquid pen, be sure you find the shortest pen tip available because it will give you the most control possible. You can choose any dark color but black is obviously the most common choice for this task.
   
2. Prime Your Eyelid for Makeup Application. Before you start with the liner however, you must prime your eyelid area. Most people choose not to use bold shadow when they are doing cat eye makeup. So, go for a neutral highlighting shadow and sweep it over your entire eyelid before you start with the eyeliner. A shimmery shadow can help you get the sexy look you’re looking for.
   
3. Use a magnifing mirror to make eyeliner application easier. After you gather your eyeliner, simply set up a hands-free mirror. If you have a magnified mirror, you’ll have better vision throughout the process. After all, when you apply liner you’ll want to be able to clearly see what you’re doing!
   
4. Start drawing a line with eyeliner as close to your lash line as possible. Starting with the inner corner of the eye, touch the pen lightly to the lashline and drag it toward the outer corner of the eye. The main point here is to draw the line as close to the lash line as you possibly can. A thin line to start is fine. You can always go back and fatten it up to get better results and shape.
   
5. As you get to the end of your lash line, you can slightly turn the line upward toward your temple. The length of the shade line is up to you but you can always shorten it if you overdo it by dipping a Q-tip in makeup remover and erasing the edge of the line. The placement of the winged tip is more crucial to the beauty results than the length.
   
6. Curl lashes or apply false lashes, then follow up with mascara. After you have the eyeliner perfectly applied, it’s time to work on your lashes. For the most dramatic look, false eyelashes are a great option. However, you can learn to do use your own lashes for this as well. If you don’t want to try false lashes, simply start by using an eyelash curler on your lashes. Hold it in place for ten seconds and then immediately apply bold black mascara to the lashes. Allow them to dry and do the same for the other eye. Then add another coat of bold black mascara to finish them off.
   

French Manicure Instructions: How To Guide for a Natural Look Without Going to the Nail Salon

The French manicure is often considered the most elegant thing you can do with your fingernails, since it combines perfect polish with a natural look that looks smooth and classy. If you're going for a job interview or just want perfect hands to show off a new ring, the French manicure is ideal. The French manicure can easily be done at home, with some patience and the right tools. 

Tips for Beginning any Salon Quality Manicure at Home

Any manicure starts with scrubbing your hands, filing your nails and caring for your cuticles. Use a diamond file instead of the cheaper metal ones: it's about a dollar more expensive, but it files much quicker and smoother. For a classic French manicure, your nails shouldn't be dragon-lady long, but should have a smooth, oval shape that's slightly elongated to make the most of the white nail tips. You're going to need:
 

Instruction Guide to a French Manicure

A base coat in a subtle, neutral color like pale peach, nearly-not-there pink, or beige. The contrast comes with the white nail tips, which point up the hint of color in the base coat.

1. White polish for the tips.
2. Nail tip guide strips
3. A clear top coat.

After filing your nails and tending to your cuticles by softening them and pushing them back away from the half-moons, paint your entire nail with the base coat color and let it dry. If you have chronic problems with getting the nails on your second hand painted cleanly, you may want to start by putting a little petroleum jelly on the skin of your fingers around the nail. The petroleum jelly keeps the polish from sticking to your skin if you should slip up while painting, making for easy clean-up and a neater look overall.
 

Using French Manicure Stencil or Template Products

Once the base coat of polish is completely dry—never try to rush this step—put the nail tip guides on your fingernails. Apply the strip guide to the area where your actual finger ends. The white tip of your nail shouldn't comprise more than 20% of the overall fingernail when you're done. Make sure to place the guide strips on each finger so that the tips of your nails are the same length for each.

Once the guides are in place, you can brush white polish onto your fingernails. This is a time for especial care, so that you stay with the guides and get no white polish on the lower part of the nail. Don't remove the guides until the white polish is completely dry, or you'll ruin the tips.

Once the white tips are dry, remove the guides. If they leave any sticky residue behind, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to take it off. Don't forget and use nail polish remover or you'll ruin your whole manicure!

Professional Salon Finish to Any Mani or Pedi

Finish your French manicure by painting the entire nail with the clear top coat of polish. This does two things: it helps your manicure stay fresh longer by protecting it, and it gives a shiny and unified gloss to each nail.

You can buy a manicure in a kit, great for the new DIY nail maven, because they come with designs, color options, style ideas, instructions and all the products you need for a manicure or pedicure. You can try the new manicure polish pen, buy fun stencils and templates or go for a natural look with a brand like Sephora, Opi or Sally Hansen. For professional looking fingers and toes, you don't need a history of salon work: you can get everything you need online or from your local drugstore. And for a quick version of the French look, you can buy a nail whitening pencil. Slide it under the edge of your nail to white the tip, et viola—instant (not as elegant, but very nice) manicure!

Steps to Create the Perfect at Home French Manicure

• Clean and push back cuticles (no cuticle cutting please!).
• File names into a rounded, slightly enlongated shape.
• Base coat nails is a subdued, natural color like pale peach. Let dry completely.
• Apply the french nail tip guides from nail bed to where you actually finger ends. Leave no more than 20% of your nail showing. Tips of all nails should be the same,
• Polish nauls with guides in place and take special care not get white polish under the guides.
• Let nails dry completely, then carefully remove guides.
• Polish a final coat of clear top coat to protect all the work you just did.
• If this sounds like too much work, do it with a friend or visit your local nail salon for a relaxing manicure. French manicures normally cost between $20-$35.

Cure a Common Ingrown Toenail With a Foot Bath Home Remedy

Although most foot care experts say that clipping toe nails straight across helps prevent in grown toenails, you may still fall victim to one anyway: it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it can happen to anyone. Shoes that don’t fit right can cause an ingrown nail, as can just being on your feet or walking a lot. If a nail is becoming ingrown, you’ll first notice that it’s feeling tender where the nail is pushing into the side of your skin. You may find yourself favoring that foot, or pressing your toe against the inside of your shoes. 

If you don’t catch it soon enough, the toe will become inflamed where the nail is digging into the soft skin of your toe. People who ignore their ingrown toenails end up having surgery, because things can get infected pretty fast. I saw a picture of a neglected toenail once, and I’ll never get the image out of my head.

If you think you’re getting an ingrown toenail, soak your foot in hot water, and even add some lavender or tea tree oil to help soften the skin further. After you’ve given it a good soak, say twenty or thirty minutes, see if you can pull the embedded nail up on the corner, lifting it away from the skin. You can use a nail file for this delicate operation, just barely, slowly sliding it under the edge of the nail. Be careful that your hand doesn’t slip –the pain will be enormous. (I probably don’t have to tell you to be gentle –the agony in your toe will make you ever so careful!)

--Editor's Note --------------------------------------------------------------

Step into a Relaxing Foot Bath to Steam Your Ingrown Toenail Away

Did you know that the common household $35 footbath could be the relaxing end to your ingrown toenail woes? Don't fret over visiting the doctor to remove your ingrown toenail before you try to this common home remedy. Try a little self indulgence. See some inexpensive foot bath styles that are readily available.

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Sometimes it takes more than one soaking to get the nail soft enough to lift from the skin. Especially if you have thin, sharp nails, they are more likely to bite into the sides of the toe. If you don’t succeed the first time, dry off your poor foot, dab on lavender or tea tree oil (they both have antiseptic and antibiotic properties) or some Neosporin, and try again tomorrow. In the mean time, stay off your foot as much as possible, and when you put your shoes on in the morning, first wrap your toe with a thick, soft bandage to cushion it.

A newly ingrown toenail will usually concede de-feet (har-har) after three or four days of gently soaking and cautious prying. Once the nail lifts past the skin, trim the nail with a small pair of scissors, and if your toe’s not too sore, file it smooth. Now you will have a tender, pink channel in your toe where the nail once pressed. Keep it bandaged and clean. To prevent infection, apply antibiotics after bathing until your toe doesn’t hurt anymore.

If the toenail is stubborn and you can’t get it out after several tries, hobble off to the doctor, who will put it to rights for you.

Ingrown toenails are like ear infections: some people go their whole lives without having a single toenail upset, and others are plagued by then. Once you get one, it’s more likely to recur, so make sure you treat your feet nicely, buy good shoes that fit right, and pay attention to any toe pain that arises.

I like to read the old books on how to be beautiful, and one important adage is to buy the most expensive shoes you can afford, even if your feet are strange sizes and your shoes have to be custom-made. It makes sense, considering the importance of foot health to daily life. Bad shoes can add corns and bunions even to young feet, and they affect your posture and back health. Not sexy topics, but prevention is everything when it comes to caring for your ten dancing toes!

Stop a Nail Biting Habit with Proper Natural Nail Care

the first thing we can all do in having good-looking hands is to keep them
clean by washing regularly. It’s amazing how many people (guys especially, but some women and girls too) walk around with grubby non manicured finger nails. Get a nail brush and put it by the sink, so it’s convenient whenever you wash your hands. An added plus of a nail brushing your fingers is the way it feels: those soft bristles and the luxurious soapy lather take your hands on a daily very mini spa vacation. Always follow up with a nice hand cream or lotion to keep your hands moisturized 

Stop nail biting. Break your toddler or child's habit early.

Beautiful hands and nail care start with basics, and not having raggy, bleeding cuticles is a primary step in having presentable hands. Granted, one of the hardest habits to break is to stop fingernail biting, but it’s also one of the more disfiguring things that can happen to a hand. We all know someone who bites their nails to the quick, then starts on those ragged cuticles. Nail-biting usually starts in early childhood as a toddler with some people never outgrowing it, while others only revert to nail-biting in times of stress.

A finger nail biting cure that helped remedy 18 year old girl's problem from when she was a child.

I know a New York woman who stopped biting her nails when she was eighteen, because she wanted to be a flight attendant, and she had read in one of those “How to Be a Flight Attendant” guides, that bitten nails would keep her from being accepted into “Smile School”. (It was a long time ago, when airlines also had age limitations for stewardesses.) I admired her greatly as she stopped through sheer willpower.

At first, she went retro and wore gloves a lot. She also started carrying a nail file in her purse so that when a nail got split or roughened, she could take care of it on the spot. She wore gloves because taking off a glove to bite a nail is a great way to make yourself pause and consider, and then stop the behavior before it starts. She never did become a flight attendant, but she did have her hands photographed for a newspaper ad for the Chicago manicure and nail salon that she frequented and once more a few years later for a Los Angeles nail care and manicure salon.

Nail care and nail biting products

There are some products on the market to stop nail-biting, super-hot or bitter things to paint on your nails. I've heard some nail-biters say that the nasty taste didn't stop them, but they must work for some people.

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Attention Nail Bitters - Where to Seek Help

I am not a nail biter myself, but I have had several visitors point us at this website that specializes in products to stop nail biting. Find more information and helpful products to help you stop this unconscious bad habit, check out this nail biting help resource.

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Finally, for nail-biters and non-nail-biters alike, hand cream right before bed is a great way to keep your skin smooth. When things are looking rough (or if you’re a biter who’s trying to quit), you can get some wonderfully thin cotton gloves, slather on a hand cream like Sephora’s Bliss Glamour Glove Gel and glove up until morning. The cotton will keep the hand cream off the pillows and on your hands where it belongs. And for a real spa-treatment, get some little cotton socks and give your feet the same experience.

Nail polish shows off those fingers.

And for a little something extra try a nice bright nail polish for your next manicure. OPI nail products give a great professional finish that looks like you went to a manicure salon or spa. But buyer beware of the "fake" acrylic manicure. Your own natural nails are better than using fake "glue on" nails. If your manicurist doesn't properly clean tier tools, acrylic nail application can cause the dreaded nail fungus that has to be specially treated for months at a time. My advice save the acrylic french manicure for a special event or occasion like attending the Boston symphony in a black sleek gown.

Healthy Pregnancy Information on Proper Beauty Care, Exercise & Nutrition

Women are having babies later in life, and many women are into their forties before the biological time bomb goes off, leaving them thinking, "Omigad: I've just got to have a baby RIGHT NOW". The sudden baby urge is a phenomenon that has never been explained satisfactorily, and now, with women starting high-powered careers in their twenties, and realizing fifteen years down the road that, in the struggle of getting that MBA they forgot to do things about getting pregnant, it isn't so much explored as it is attacked with calendars, hormones, thermometers and implantations. 

It's safer than ever before to have a late-life child, but Down syndrome and other birth defects do become more likely, and complications that result in injury to the mother are more likely too. The fact is, our bodies are vastly different at forty-something than they are at twenty-something; less resilient, longer to heal. Modern medical care makes it possible for preemies of under one pound to grow into healthy adults, and with today's understanding of the importance of planning, nutrition, and supplements such as folic acid, older moms experience much less risk than they did even ten years ago.

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

With Today’s Maternity Clothing Your Don’t Have to Give Up Being Fashionable

Designers are finally getting it: pregnant women won't wear iron-on baby ducks, appliquéd flowers or embroidered tops that say "Baby" on them. In fact, most expecting mothers work outside the home, and would prefer clothing that fits a professional image.

We want maternity wear that's comfortable, that takes into account the fact that pregnancy causes waistlines to widen and ankles to swell. Having a pretty wardrobe while you're expecting does more than keep people at work from staring at your navel: it's also a source of comfort and pleasure at a time when both are at a premium.

Modern women and busy working moms have a say about what they will and won't wear, and smart designers understand that maternity clothing should be comfortable, attractive and stylish. The new maternity clothes look great and contain your expanding pregnant body with a minimum of fuss. Don't settle for "cute" clothes in ruffled gingham, pink or blue.

Check out one of the internet’s best maternity clothing stores that carries the latest fashions and career appropriate clothes.

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If you're pregnant and in your late thirties to early forties, you probably have inner and outer resources than younger women. You've probably planned your pregnancy, painted the nursery and are emotionally ready for motherhood. You may even have money saved for your child's education. So, with all your ducks in a tidy row, it may seem even more unfair that morning sickness, fatigue, bloating and blotchy skin are dancing attendance on your upcoming blessed event.

It may not be a surprise to you that many of the things you should be doing to stay healthy during pregnancy are also the things that will keep you looking your best, even in those early, wretched and retching, weeks. Read on for before, during and after beauty tips for pregnant ladies and brand-new moms.

1. I know you think you should be and could be Superwoman. You could try, but you'll probably just wear yourself out, and frankly, they don't give awards for Superwomen. If you can afford it, cut back on the work hours, take every sick day, holiday and personal day off, and don't even think about taking a shorter-than-usual maternity leave.

2. Rest. Step away from the computer, put your feet up, close your eyes, read a book, listen to music. Sleep doesn't count as rest, by the way: your normal nighttime sleep is also still required. Rest in between meetings at work, take naps on weekends, and avoid social events you don't really want to attend anyway by saying quietly (and with just a hint of gravity), "Oh, I'd love to, but I can't. I have to rest."

3. To assist you in resting, consider having groceries or dry cleaning delivered, go out for a meal once in awhile instead of cooking at home, and enlist the aid of those who live with you in things like doing the dishes, putting stuff away, or cleaning the tub. You might feel guilty before the baby comes, but once that wee creature arrives, you'll kick yourself for not having pre-trained your family to help.

4. When you aren't resting, exercise. Take walks, go swimming or take water aerobics, do whatever activities your ob-gyn says is okay for your particular stage of gestated bliss. Exercise is great for the skin, perks up the mental attitude, keeps the kilos down, and promotes your baby's health too.

5. Obviously, you won't smoke, take dope, use over-the-counter medications, or drink alcohol. Pay attention to your caffeine intake, too (remember, what Mommy does, Baby does too). Also, watch the sugar. Diabetes occurs more frequently in older pregnant women, and watching your diet can help keep your blood sugar under control.

6. Undereye circles sometimes come along with morning sickness because you get dehydrated, and it shows up in the thinning skin under the eyes. Drink plenty of water throughout your pregnancy.

7. Buy the prettiest maternity clothes you can find. Subsiding into sweats for months on end will compound any feelings of unattractiveness you may experience. Your body will certainly grow rounder--even around the ankles--but that's no reason to give up on fashion. Fashion loves you, and will always take you back.

8. Your skin color may change during pregnancy, and you may need to buy different shades of makeup. Some lucky women look fabulous between months four and eight: their skin glows, their eyes sparkle. If you are one of these women, count your blessings. If you're one of the other 90%, treat yourself to an occasional facial.

9. Some women get acne from the drastic hormonal surges of pregnancy. Check with your doctor before using anything remotely medicinal: your skin may absorb chemicals that aren't good for the baby. The acne is temporary, and will disappear once your body's hormone levels have evened out.

10. During your pregnancy and after the baby comes, accept help when it's offered. Lots of new moms feel that they should be able to do everything themselves, but in fact, it takes a village to keep Baby's laundry done. Line up a reliable sitter before the birth, so that as soon as you can, you can go out for dinner or a movie without worrying. Let friends cook you dinner, and coerce family members into chores. Fatherly creatures should also be pressed into service when it comes to hourly chores such as feeding, changing or holding Baby.Training your partner in baby-tending does more than get you some extra sleep: it helps Dad and Baby bond.

Clean Your Jewelry: DIY at Home or Take to a Professional Jeweler for a Steam Cleaning?

Clean your jewelry at home every three months and take your treasured pieces to a professional jeweler's once a year for an in-store cleaning and visual inspection. Many jewelry stores will clean your jewelry for free while you wait on the premises, probably because it's a great way to let people browse for new jewels while their old ones are being bathed. 

DIY Home Jewelry Cleaning Products

No everyone has enough jewelry to warrant buying an ionic or ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine: in fact, some jewelers say that these at-home versions of professional cleaners can cause gemstones to crack or become discolored. Money saving tips for jewelry cleaning include the fact that you can clean your jewelry safely and effectively without buying machines or expensive cleaners, and that it's better to clean as gently as possible with common household products. Don't ever steam clean your jewelry: hard stones don't need it, and soft ones will be damaged by it.

Caring for different types of gemstones and precious metals

In general the harder the stone, the less likely that it will be injured by attempts at cleaning. Metals are also forgiving: for silver jewelry, use an ordinary silver polish you can buy at the grocery store and follow the instructions. Wipe polish onto the piece, rub it, wipe it off and buff the silver to a shine. If you have silver jewelry with stones, they are most likely semi-precious or soft gems like turquoise, opal, pearl, lapis or coral. These softer stones can be injured by abrasion, heat or chemicals. In fact, they can absorb perfumes, so it's better to apply your perfume first and then put on your jewelry to prevent it from being stained by perfume oils. To clean these soft stones, just wipe them with a soft piece of leather called a chamois or chamois cloth. You can find them in automotive sections of the hardware store: car lover like to buff their chrome with them. Make sure and get a chamois that hasn't been treated with anything else: sometimes they are impregnated with metal polish that can ruin your semi-precious gems.

Before cleaning jewelry set with gems or semi-precious stones, make sure the stones are still solidly set. Over time, prong and bezel settings can loosen, and stones can fall out. Shake or tap your jewelry near your ear and listen for a rattle, which would tell you it's loose. If it rattles in its setting, don't clean it: you risk losing the stone. Put the piece in a ziplock bag and take it directly to your jeweler to have it reset and cleaned.

Home remedy for bring back the sparkle

Harder stones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires can be cleaned with a weak solution of ammonia (1 part) and water (10 parts). In fact, many of the commercial jewelry cleaners you see in stores are just ammonia and water with a little scent and coloring added. Plain household ammonia, diluted with water works equally well and only costs a few cents. Dip a soft toothbrush in the solution and scrub the stone with the liquid, making sure to get underneath the stone wherever possible, since that's where the majority of dirt, soap residue and skin oils can accumulate. Rinse it off and dry it with the tip of a soft cloth.

Cleaning tarnished jewelry items

Gold, white gold and sterling or tarnished solid silver jewelry can be cleaned with old-fashioned toothpaste. Don't use gels, and avoid the tartar-control and anti-plaque pastes: look for something like the old versions of Crest, Pepsodent or Colgate; simple, white pastes with no added silica that could scratch your jewelry. Load up an old toothbrush with toothpaste, and rub it on the jewelry, making sure to get in all the crevices. Rinse it with tap water and dry with a soft cloth.

When cleaning rings, make sure to do the underside of the ring as well as the part that shows. Necklaces and earrings need gentle treatment, as they may be made of delicate wire or chains that could easily be broken by rough handling.

Pearls and opals require special storage. These stones need moisture, so they need to be placed in containers where air can freely move. If pearls or opals are deprived of a natural amount of humidity, they dry out, lose their iridescence and eventually crack.

Ask the Jeweler for Recommendation and Tips

If you're nervous about DIY home remedies or homemade recipes, you can buy jewelry cleaning kits containing supplies of chamois cloth, a cleaner, a brush and sets of instructions for the care of your jewelry. Make sure to buy your kit from a reputable company, and be wary if it contains harsh chemicals or rough abrasives. Remember, professional jewelers recommend highly diluted ammonia, basic toothpaste and soft cleaning cloths: you don't need anything more.

Beauty Tips For Teens: Skin, Hair and Style

Let's face it. Being a teenager means being self-conscious, pretty much all the time. and, if you're a teenage girl, especially one whose skin, complexion or overall appearance is not "picture perfect" that can make the whole experience even worse. (This of course, can apply to any girl, depending on her frame of mind). Fortunately, here are some beauty tips that can come to the rescue for your face and skin type, so you can meet the world refreshed and ready, as well as some make-up and safety tips for when you're going out and having fun. All this said, always remember that true self improvement comes from within, and that while looking good on the outside, in terms of being presentable and attractive, are always find a strive for, but never define who you are. 

Facial Skin Care Tip

Some people can confuse the physical transformation that comes with putting makeup on, with a sort of personal transformation, but again this is not the truth.  When you feel beautiful inside, you will be more attractive to others on the outside. Makeup will not do it.

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Get Clearer Skin By Using the Right Skin Care Products for Acne Prone Skin

If you're struggling with serious acne, get serious about your skin care strategy. Ordinary skin care products contain hydrogen peroxide, alcohols and plenty of fragrances (such as camphor or eucalyptus) that can irritate skin without putting a stop to bad breakouts. Acne can do more than impact your social life: it impacts self confidence. Bad acne can also lead to scarring (but if you already have acne scars, take heart; you can have them erased by laser resurfacing).

For real acne-prone skin care, use a product that's dermatologist created and tested; serious skin care for solving big problems like acne. The local drugstore's toner or acne fighter lotion probably contains alcohol, added fragrance and color and all sorts of things that will irritate skin without truly treating it. Fortunately, there are some real acne medicines that work

Check our favorite skin care product for acne prone skin. This skin care line comes highly recommended by make-up artists, beauty professionals and our very own visitors.

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From a practical physical standpoint, it is a good idea to remember that your skin needs to breathe. It is important to keep your skin as natural as possible- so try and keep makeup is minimal as is necessary and keep going, "all-out" for special occasions like parties.

Mirrors with good high quality lighting are great for examining your skin – although the first time you take a really good close look it can be a loud and shocking personal alarm to take some fast action, if you’ve neglected your skin. Beauty tip no 1 is to take a close look at it at home and ensure before you do that you’ve done a good job of makeup removal. This can especially be true in the summer, when the excess heat can cause problems faster, if you've left  any makeup on your face for an extended period of time.

If your face is usually dry: Before you shower, apply a rich moisturizing mask or thick layer of moisturizer. The moist heat helps the mask plump up fine lines and creases temporarily. Apply a heavy layer of petroleum jelly to lips. At the end of the shower, use a warm damp washcloth to gently massage off both treatments, and then use a naturally made loofah to bring out a natural, healthy glow.

If your skin is naturally oily: Use toner before and after you get out of the shower, before, to clean off any oil that has risen to the surface during sleep, and again when you get out to take off any oil that has surfaced from the heat of the water.

If you have combination skin, only apply toner masks to the "T" area on your face, you could cause your cheeks to redden from applying toner there.
Dab yellow or skin-tone concealer on blue under eye circles. Stay away from lighter skin tone or white cover-ups. You can get free samples to try out in the privacy of your own home and samples are available for all skin tones.

Hair Care Tip

Dwayne, the African-American Culture contributing hair care expert, shares a secret beauty tip on how to prevent hair breakage while you sleep for all hair types, not just black women. Spilt ends have a tendency to get caught on the cotton and your tossing and turning will actually pull the caught pieces out of your head. So little by little, if you were wearing a cotton scarf  to protect your hair while you sleep, you may actually be making it worse! It is highly recommended that you either wrap your hair up in silk or satin scarves at night or sleep on silk or satin pillows.

Indian Ethnics.com, has some good Indian (and non Indian as well) beauty tips on make up and skin care for teens. Here's the secret: If you are getting ready for a night on the town, choose a foundation closest to your natural skin tone, and foundation that is to be sure to blend it past your jaw line and across your neck (so it doesn't look as though you're wearing a mask). When it comes to eye shadow, choose a color slightly darker than your eyes.

Beauty Accessory Ideas

As far as accessories, a hot gift idea for a teen with a low-budget can be decorative jewelry, that doesn't necessarily have to come from Tiffany's.  There are plenty of places online where you can shop for attractive and very reasonably priced items. Believe it or not, the way you move can actually be one of the most attractive or off-putting features you have. When you can move more gracefully and assuredly, that puts out an air of confidence which will make a difference to matter what it is you are or are wearing.  Consider taking a dance lesson, enrolling in some sort of after school sport like gymnastics where you can learn more control over your balance and agility. You may think, what does this have to do with looking good when I'm going out to a party- but once you've got grace and agility in what is referred to as your "muscle memory", it will make a difference in all areas of your life.

And lastly, I always think, especially if going out at night, that taking the time to buy pepper spray, even if it's a teeny little canister that goes on a keychain can be one of the best "accessories" you can own for your own and your loved one's peace of mind. It's probably one of those things you'll never need to use that you'll always be happy you have.

Beauty Tips On Age Appropriate Styles For Women In Their 30’s

if you are in your thirties already or if you’ll soon be celebrating your 30th birthday, chances are you feel as if life is passing by quickly. You can probably look back ten years to when you were 20 years old, wonder where the time has gone and likely giggle at your hair style and skin care routine. You likely were like most other 20-somethings and wore way too much make up, thought very little about wrinkles, sun damage or sagging skin and did almost nothing to preserve your young skin. 

Best Things About Skin When You Turn 30 & Leaving the 20s
You may not be very excited about turning thirty but there are several things to look forward to in terms of skin and beauty. In fact, most of the time the issue of youth acne leaves your worries when you are in your thirtys. On another note, as you mature and leave the days of late nights and very little sleep behind you, bags under your eyes might be long over as well. Women in their 30s are often much more conscious about staying hydrated and often worry less as they learn about their meaning of life in the world and the lack of stress and extra hydration often shows positively in their skin.

Although you are far from “old”, there are a few things you should know as you enter your next decade of life. Just as you would no longer feel comfortable wearing skimpy shorts after the age of 35, you should also be thoughtful about your makeup as you age. Your facial skin is changing, just as the rest of your body is.

Skin Care: Women In Their 30’s
By the time you’re in your 30’s, chances are you are starting to show some of the signs of sun damage on your face. You may notice fine lines or dark spots as your face is becoming thinner and more delicate. If you don’t take any other advice, remember that using anti-aging products and a daily eye cream is important for you to prevent further damage to your skin. Since the eye area is the most common place women in their 30’s start to see signs of aging, be sure to focus a great deal of preventative attention there. Otherwise, you may find yourself in a wrinkle crisis by the time you celebrate your 40th birthday.

Age Appropriate Makeup and Cosmetics for the Thirties
When choosing makeup products, it’s important to think about finding products to know only get the look you want but also to protect and nourish your skin. Find a foundation with a built in SPF so you can be sure your face is automatically protected from sun damage every single day. Also be sure to put sunscreen of some sort on your neck and hands.

As you age your skin might lose its glow and radiance so look for an illuminating foundation to give yourself a natural glow. You can also find illuminating highlighting powder or concealer for extra effects. Simply sweep the illuminating powder on your forehead and on the apples of your cheeks. Words of wisdom: Don’t overdo it with the illuminating powder. If you go overboard you’ll find yourself looking as if you stepped into a pile of fairy dust. Always apply the illuminator before your blush.

Blush should be understated when you’re in your 30’s. A cream blush might help if your skin is becoming a bit drier. Keep blush on the apples of your cheeks to give you a youthful glow much like you might naturally get after you’ve gone for a short run.

When it comes to lipstick in your 30’s, you’re not likely having any type of fine line problems around your mouth at this point in time. However, you may start noticing your lips are getting less plump and much thinner. If this is an issue for you, look for lipstick and liner that contain natural “plumping” capabilities. Almost every brand has a lipstick of this kind and they can help you get your full lips back. The recommended colors for lips in your 30’s are lighter and more polished. Look for a softer nude color or barely-there glosses to keep your look modern and chic.

For a daytime eye makeup look, be sure to stick with neutral colors. Unless you are ready to take a real risk, don’t try out bold neon colors or eye shadow trends you’ve seen. Remember, while it’s good to use frosty shadow for highlighting, if you use too much of it you may end up highlighting any fine lines you have around your eyes. So, keep frosted eye shadow to a minimum and use it only for highlighting. As a mature woman, also be sure your eyebrows are always perfectly plucked or waxed with a professionally designed arch.

Beauty in Your Forties: Makeup, Skin and Style Tips For Women In Their 40’s

So, you’re partying days of your 20’s are over, your stressful days of your 30’s are fading and you feel like you finally know exactly who you are. But, as you look in the mirror you may worry and start to have trouble recognizing the woman starting back at you. As you are leaving 30s behind, instead of going forward with fear be sure to embrace your new age with an updated skin care and makeup outlook. The best things about your 40s is the fact you can still have fun without worrying about every little “crisis” life throws your way. So, embrace your new life joys and age! 

Age Appropriate Makeup Advice: Women In Their Early To Late Forties

Maybe you spent too much time in the sun when you were younger or maybe you just didn’t think about skin care before now, but chances are you are now noticing the sun damage and signs of aging from your past. You might have blotchiness, red spots and fine lines appearing. As you’re aging and turning fourty years old, your skin is changing too. It’s losing collagen and elasticity so it will retain much less moisture. This ultimately means you’ll not only start noticing more wrinkles but also lose some of your natural glow. You need to continue to preserve, maintain and repair your skin.

Skin Care: Women In Their 40’s

By your 40th birthday, you should already be in a great skin care and beauty routine. However, it needs to change a bit as you enter this new decade of life and celebrate. Things you should know already about skin care should only be modified a bit. Start using a creamy cleanser both day and night (skip the gel) and follow with a broad-spectrum moisturizer with SPF 15 or 20. Find a moisturizer with at least two kinds of antioxidants such as green tea, soy or lycopene. Different antioxidants target different things in the skin. You can also find a formula with peptides to help collagen strength. If you have dry skin problems, try something with shea butter, petrolatum or hyaluronic acid. Always use a nighttime treatment to help reduce brown spots, soften your lines and thicken your epidermis (prescription retinoid is recommended). Words of wisdom: if the prescription retinoid bothers your skin, try it every other night.

Age Appropriate Makeup and Cosmetics: Women In Their 40’s

Much like your hair has changed over the years to fit your age and style, so should your make up style. While facts may tell you that you should go with the “mom makeup” you may find yourself curious with thoughts about new makeup trends. As long as the trends don’t involve neon colored eye shadow or glitter, go for them!

When choosing a foundation in your 40s, think about spending a little more to get one with a built in SPF 15 or 20 and peptides. This will help you get the coverage you need and build in extra skin care benefits at the same time. Always opt to use a concealer to help cover up that redness and blotchiness you’re likely seeing from past sun damage. Apply the foundation first and then the concealer, blending both together to get a seamless look. Dealing with a foundation and concealer from the same brand can be helpful, as blending two brands together can bring great difficulty if you want natural results.

Keep the blush light and focused on the apples of your cheeks, looking for natural glowing colors to help you gain back some of the natural glow time is taking away from your skin.

Instead of using heavy lipstick and liner, think about getting a tinted gloss or cream lipstick that will allow you to have a youthful look on your lips. When doing this, try to stay away from dark colors and opt for melon colors, pink colors, peach colors or chic nude colors.

Eye shadow colors of brown, gray, silver or purple are often great for those in their 40’s. Be sure not to overdo it with the eyeshadow and unless you don’t have very many eye area wrinkles be sure to steer clear of frosty formulas and only use them for highlighting purposes. Also, remember to keep your eyebrows perfectly plucked or waxed and use a soft eyebrow powder to fill in any sparse areas instead of a heavy eyebrow pencil.

Beauty Tips for Women in Their Fifties: Makeup, Skin and Style for the 50's

Dealing with venturing into the land over the hill and leaving 40s is both emotionally and physically difficult. Many things in life start changing from your physical heath to your social calendar. However, as you enter your 50s it’s important to also think about your skin care routine and how it should be changing right along with your body and skin. Long gone are the days where you worried about acne or preventing wrinkles and here are the days where you need to manage your wrinkles. From age spots to crows feet, there are makeup options and beauty tips you can use to your ultimate advantage. 

Celebrate Your Skin As You Pass Your 50th Birthday

As you age, chances are you are wearing less and less makeup and worrying less and less about your hair. This means you’ll be spending less money on your beauty routine. Of course, it also means you’ll need to make every single product you use count, since you’re using much fewer.

Age Appropriate Makeup Styles: Things You Should Know About Turning 50

Your skin is starting to soften more than ever before in your life which can be a great thing if it maintains its elasticity. If you’ve been diligent about your skin care routine up until this point, you may find yourself with well hydrated skin and only be worried about age spots or fine lines. If you’ve not treated your skin well you may be in the middle of a wrinkle crisis. Don’t worry, there are many products that can help you find your “best face”.

Skin Care: Women In Their Early To Late Fifties

Just because you’re celebrating another decade of life, don’t think you can skimp out on skin care. It’s important you continue to actively prevent sun damage and stop the progression of skin damage already done. At this age, your cell turnover is much slower so you may have dryness in your skin. Your pores might be more visible on your nose and cheeks, as well. You may have spider veins or age spots.
For skin care, concentrate on a morning and night non-soap cleanser like Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser or Estee Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser. Then ensure you use a peptide and antioxidant rich moisturizer while your face is still damp. Moisturizers that come in serum form are often easier for your skin to absorb than are creams or lotions. Always be sure you also use another moisturizer that has SPF of at least 15, meaning you might need more than one daily moisturizer to get the entire job done. For additional skin care assistance, use a nighttime treatment while your skin is resting.

Best Cosmetics Application and Products for Women In Their 50's

When it comes to makeup in your 50’s the idea of less is more is vital. Although your spirit may be full of fun and joys, there is no reason for you to overdo it with makeup. If you do, you might end up looking like a clown. This is not the time in your life to try new make up trends. Look for lighter foundations that will not cake up in any lines or wrinkles you have on your skin. Cream foundations are often good for combination skin but if you are experiencing dry skin (as is fairly normal during this age group), be sure to think about a liquid foundation or a moisturizer foundation. To cover up dark spots or splotches, look for a light weight concealer, as well. Be sure to apply your concealer after you apply your foundation and blend the two together well.

To keep yourself looking glowing and youthful, consider a cream blush you apply only to the apples of your cheeks. This will give you a healthy glow without overdoing it. Light pinks are great choices for color or any color your skin turns after taking a brisk walk in the cold.

You may be starting to worry about your eyebrows at this point in your life, as many women start to see them thinning out a bit. Words of wisdom: Refrain from applying thick eye brow pencil to your eyebrows. Instead, try a more natural looking eyebrow powder to fill in the sparse areas.

Keep your eyes and eye shadow simple and natural. While colors like brown might have worked well on you in the past, they can often make you look tired as you age. So, think about trying lighter eye shadow colors of pink, lilac or plum and see what works best for your skin color and hair color. In addition, skip the brown mascara and go for a darker color like black or navy to draw more attention to your lashes and less to your possible fine lines around your eye.

Your lips when you’re 50 are likely thin and you may have lines surrounding them that can make it difficult to keep lipstick where you want it to be. To avoid lipstick running into these lip creases, be sure to use a lip liner before applying lipstick. You can also think about switching to a creamy version or gloss version of your favorite lipstick color. Forgo the matte formulas because they will only add years to your face.

Common Canker Sores: Causes, Cures and Prevention of Mouth Ulcers

Do you have a painful canker sore? If you do, you might be wondering where it came from, why it happened and how you can treat it? Sometimes referred to as fever blisters, canker sores can be embarrassing and painful to deal with. By definition, a canker sore is a painful, open sore in the mouth area. They are typically white or yellow and are surround by red. While canker sores are only mouth ulcers and aren’t cancerous, they can cause great discomfort. Many doctors will refer to them as an Aphthous ulcer. 

Symptoms Of Canker Sores

The first symptom many people experience is a tingling or burning sensation. Later, symptoms can include a pain and a red bump that it’s either white or yellow in color. Most often, canker sores are less than 1 cm and some can turn up as a grouping of bumps instead of a single sore. Occasionally, they can be accompanied by fever, malaise or swollen lymph nodes.

Causes Of Canker Sores

Canker sores occur more often in women than in men and often start appearing between the ages of 10 to 40. They can appear as a lesion on the insides of the cheeks, lips, tongue, soft palate or gum base.

While there is not one sole reason canker sore appear, there are many things experts know can trigger them. Stress, dietary changes or deficiencies, menstruation, hormonal changes, allergies to foods and viral infections can all trigger a canker sore. In addition, they can occur after someone has dental work done or after a biting of the tongue or cheek. Some experts believe canker sores run in families and could even be hereditary.

Cures And Treatment For Canker Sores

There is no sure-fire cure for canker sores. Most often, a canker sore will heal completely in 1 to 3 weeks, with the pain decreasing in 10 days or less. Most people choose not to treat a canker sore, as they will go away without treatment. However, if you do have one, be sure to steer clear of hot or spicy foods because they can cause you more pain.

If you do want to seek treatment or find a natural oral remedy, you can try to gargle with an over-the-counter mouth wash or rinse with warm salt water. Some people choose to use cold Milk of Magnesia and dab it throughout the day onto the lining of the infected area. For addition home treatment, you can choose to mix half Milk of Magnesia and half liquid Benadryl allergy medication together, swish it in your mouth for 1 minute and then spit it out. It will help heal the mucosa areas. Some doctors will prescribe tetracycline medications, but they can lead to thrush or yeast infections.

How To Prevent Canker Sores

While it’s easy to diagnosis a canker sore yourself, at home, it can be tricky to figure out how to prevent them. Most of the time basic hygiene practices like brushing your teeth and flossing can help. However, if you are prone to bothersome canker sores, you should avoid using toothpaste or mouthwash with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), should avoid chewing gum or using tobacco, should avoid citrus fruits and should not take Iron supplements (unless your doctor prescribes them).

White Teeth: How to Keep Teeth Looking Whiter and Whitening Options

White teeth are one of the best accessories a gal can wear! Whether you choose to whiten your teeth at home products or get professional dentist whitening treatments, getting a bright smile can make the world of difference in your overall appearance. Instead of spending hours and hours at the dental office each month to get the look you want, you can use these tips to help you learn how to keep your teeth their whitest. 

Get Dental Office Or Salon Treatments
The best way to start off your teeth whitening venture is to get a professional whitening treatment at your dental office or medical salon. Treatments you’ll find at these locations are safe and very effective. While the professional teeth whitening procedures can be expensive, they are a great way to start off, as they will give you the most dramatic results. Just be sure to tell the doctor if you have any veneers, as the doc will want to bleach your other teeth to make your veneer shade or you’ll look unusual.

Avoid Staining Foods And Drinks
It’s very common for people to get yellow tinted teeth because of the foods and drinks they love. If you drink a lot of coffee, dark wine or dark colas, your teeth will suffer. One way to somewhat bypass this problem is to always use a straw when drinking dark beverages. By using a straw you can often limit the contact between the drink and your teeth. In addition, if you smoke you’ll notice your teeth getting yellow as well.

Brush Or Rinse Often
Good oral hygiene is essential to keeping your teeth white and clean. Be sure you brush and floss at least twice daily to remove plaque on the enamel of each tooth.

At Home Touch Ups
Even if you get professional whitening treatments, you can start to notice new stain marks within one month or less. So, it’s important to use at-home touch up treatments in between professional treatments. If you smoke or drink dark beverages, you’ll need to touch up more often, with weekly touchups being necessary. Crest makes excellent products for home use, including their famous strips. These strips and other products won’t bleach the teeth as much as a professional treatment but will use peroxide and baking soda to whiten teeth safely. You can also find whitening trays, but they can be very messy and can cause your teeth to become sensitive to cold or hot foods and drinks.

Choosing Lipstick Colors Wisely
If you want your teeth to look whiter, the color of your lipstick can make a difference. Believe it or not, if you wear orangey lipsticks or colors with yellow undertones, your teeth will not look very white. In contrast, if you wear purples, plums or other blue undertoned colors, your teeth will look much whiter!

Much like a spray tan, white teeth can make you look younger, slimmer and simply gorgeous! So, be sure you are not only taking care of your teeth in terms of oral hygiene but are also ensuring they are as white as they can be. You’ll feel more confident with whiter teeth and your smile will get you more attention in your love life, in your career and within your friendships. After all, everyone wants a movie star smile and you can have one with just a few easy steps!

Makeup tips - How to apply makeup tutorial

How To Get Rid of Dry, Cracked Heels

 

 

Dry, cracked feet are never sexy. While this tends to be a summer hazard, it can happen all year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step process I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time. You can skip parts of this process if you choose. If you continue to wear the foot mask every night for a week, your problems should be solved
.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

Soak feet for 5-10 minutes in a warm foot bath made with 1 cup milk and 5 cups warm water.
Create a homemade foot scrub by putting 4 tablespoons salt or sugar in 1/2 cup oil. Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil or even vegetable oil works well.
Massage the homemade foot scrub in a circular motion into bottoms of feet.
Scrub bottoms of feet with the pumice stone. Rinse and dry feet.
Before you go to bed that night, try this tip from beauty guru Paula Begoun: rub a Stridex pad over dry areas of feet. Stridex, a product found in the acne section of any drugstore, contains  percent salicylic acid so it's a great exfoliant for the feet.
Apply moisturizer thickly on feet (do not wash off Stridex). A super-rich moisturizer like cocoa butter, Eucerin (my favorite) or even Vaseline works best.

For even better results, apply a thin layer of Keralyt Gel, an OTC salicylic acid, on your feet along with a dollop of Vaseline.

Pull on socks and keep them on throughout the night for at least 4 hours.

What You Need

1 cup milk
Sugar or salt (either will work)
Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil
Pumice stone
Stridex, found in the acne section of any drugstore
Thick moisturizer or a salicylic acid cream
Socks

How to Properly Apply Mascara

Ace your mascara application with a 3-step process: 

1. Step 1: Wiggle the wand left to right at the base of lashes. It's the mascara placed near the roots -- not the tips -- that gives the illusion of length.
2. Step 2: Pull the wand up and through lashes, wiggling as you go. The wiggling part is key because it separates lashes.
3. Step 3: In this final step (which I always skip), close the eye and place the mascara wand on top of lashes at the base and pull through to remove any clumps.

Pick the Best Mascara for You

When picking a mascara, you should consider the formula you want (lengthening, thickening, waterproof or non-clumping). Learn more about your options in How to Pick the Right Mascara Formula.

You should also consider price. You can get a good basic drugstore mascara or spend more money on a luxurious mascara. I find the fancier mascaras go on with less clumping and last longer, but it's likely no one would be able to tell if you were wearing a drugstore brand or a department store brand. See Should you splurge on mascara, or save?.

I prefer Lancome mascaras and I always use waterproof mascara in summer time or when skiing. Check out my list of the best mascaras on the market for your perfect fit.

Most drugstores and department stores have excellent return policies so if you try a mascara and hate it you can return it. Never try mascara on at a department store, there's too much risk for infection. Instead, check out the store's return policy and take a few home to try. Also, don't get suckered into a full-makeover at the cosmetics counter (see How They Trick You at the Cosmetics Counter).

How to Keep Lashes From Clumping

For some, lash combs are simply too fussy. But for some makeup artists, they're a great invention and keep lashes glob-free and perfectly separated. To use a lash comb, first apply mascara at the lash base, then wiggle the lash comb through to the tips of your lashes.

Not into the lash comb? Get rid of clumbs without them by removing excess mascara from the wand. Wipe wand on tissue, this eliminates blobs BEFORE you start.

Another great way to get rid of clumps is to sweep a clean, fresh mascara wand through lashes when they're wet. Either buy new ones or recycle old ones. Buy clean mascara wands online (they're called "spoolies" or at Sephora.

Recycle an old mascara wand if you don't want to bother with spoolies. When you finish a mascara, clean the wand in a cap-full of eye makeup remover, then wash with soap and dry. Keep it clean by washing it whenever you wash your makeup tools.

Don't Be Afraid to Mix Mascaras

A trick makeup artists use to make lashes pop is apply one coat of lengthening mascara, followed by one coat of thickening mascara. Remove excess product with a clean spoolie wand (see above).

Try a Colored Mascara

Basic mascara rules are simple: Black works for everyone but can be harsh on light-skinned blondes. Blondes should opt for brown/black by day and reserve black for night. Burgundy or plum colors make blue eyes pop, as do blue mascaras. Purple mascara looks great on brown eyes.

Use an Eyelash Curler

Curling lashes gives eyes the appearance of being wider and brighter. Shoot warm air from your blowdryer on the mascara curler for 3-5 seconds to warm it up before curling lashes. Touch it first to make sure it's not too hot. It's a myth that you have to curl lashes before you apply mascara. You can curl lashes after mascara application, just make sure the mascara is dry first. Shu Uemura eyelash curlers are super popular.

Zig-zag the Mascara Wand

Zig-zagging the wand back and forth during application helps cut down clumps.

Apply to Top Lashes Only

Many makeup artists recommend applying mascara only to the top lashes (I abide by this rule). If you want to make eyes appear wider, apply mascara to the bottom lashes but make sure you give lashes a light touch. Not great at getting those bottom lashes? Try putting a tissue under them before application.

Use a Mascara Primer

Primers coat lashes and separate them before you apply mascara. Makeup artists swear by mascara primer. I tried it and like it, but because it's an added step, I usually use primer only on special occasion when I spend more time on my makeup. My hands-down favorite is Lancome's Cils Booster XL.

What it Means to "Apply a 2nd Coat" of Mascara

I was always confused by magazine's directives to coat eyelashes with "no more than 3 coats of mascara." It seems magazines have been giving these directions since I was a pre-teen and likely before. What they mean is to apply the coats of mascara all at once before the first coat dries. Once the first coat dries, you'll get clumps if you attempt another swipe at the lashes.

Thou Shalt Not Pump Wand In & Out of Tube

This only introduces air into the tube, which will cause your mascara to dry out sooner than it should.

Bend the Wand

A top makeup artist once gave his secret to his steady hand: he always bends his wand at a right angle.

Wait to Blink & Doublecheck Once Dry

Since I have long lashes, I try to wait 5 seconds before blinking after I apply mascara or I end up with mascara dots all along my lid. I also doublecheck my lids before I step out because chances are good, I've got those dots going on and it's embarrassing to find out hours later that you've done a poor makeup job on yourself when you're a beauty editor by trade.