Monday, January 16, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thursday, December 29, 2011
How To Do The Basic At-Home Facial
There’s nothing better than getting a professional facial, but they can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin.
And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites and oatmeal, but you will save money if you do your own mask. I list a bunch of organic, natural Homemade Face Mask Recipes for every skin type. But if you don't want to whip up your own, you can buy a great mask at health food stores or even your local drugstore.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 25-30 minutes
Here's How:
1. Cleanse the skin
You’ll want to wash the face, neck and ears with a good facial cleanser to remove any grime or dirt. I recommend some great options in my list of the best cleansers.
Don't forget to remove makeup with a makeup remover. My hands-down favorite is Clinique, but Neutrogena's eye makeup remover is a great drugstore option.
2. Exfoliate
Using your fingers, rub a gentle exfoliating facial scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be "greasy." Rinse your face well since exfoliating scrubs tend to be drying.
See my list of the best scrubs or make your own using white sugar mixed in with extra virgin coconut oil.
3. Steam
There are several ways to steam your face. You can fill your sink with warm water, dip a washcloth in and press to your face repeating 2-3 times or you can take it further by boiling water over the stove, then turning off the stove and putting your head over the water with a towel over your head, letting the steam seep into pores for a good 5 minutes. My favorite steam trick is to actually use my clothing steamer. I turn it on, put a towel over my head and put my face a good foot above the steamer. Works like a charm. But be careful: Do not burn yourself.
4. The mask
For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask.
Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. You can even make your own face mask.
Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. You can even make your own face mask.
5. Moisturize
Smooth on a soothing, basic moisturizer over your face and neck. See my list of the best facial moisturizers.
Tip: Stay away from strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids. These will over-exfoliate your skin.
What You Need
· Gentle cleanser
· Exfoliating scrub
· Warm water & a washcloth
· Clay-based or cream facial mask (based on skin type)
· Basic moisturizer
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
How to Do a Manicure in 5 Easy Steps
A beautifully manicured hand used to be the province of women with enough money to spend on a professional manicure on a weekly basis. Not anymore. With more women working as professionals and executives, a manicure is no longer considered a luxury, but rather an important part of daily grooming.
If you want to keep your nails looking professionally manicured, but don't want the weekly hassle and expense of salon manicures, you need to learn tips and tricks of simple home manicures. You can give and get perfect manicures at home with just a few easy techniques.
Cleaning
Before beginning your manicure, wash your hands thoroughly with a scrub brush, making sure you get under the nails. Clean the tops of the nail as well. Let them dry completely. Use polish remover and a cotton ball to remove all traces of any old polish completely. Once your nails are completely clean and bare, look at them carefully just to make sure there are no signs of injury or damage to the nails or the cuticles. Applying polish to damaged nails could invite infection.
Before beginning your manicure, wash your hands thoroughly with a scrub brush, making sure you get under the nails. Clean the tops of the nail as well. Let them dry completely. Use polish remover and a cotton ball to remove all traces of any old polish completely. Once your nails are completely clean and bare, look at them carefully just to make sure there are no signs of injury or damage to the nails or the cuticles. Applying polish to damaged nails could invite infection.
Shaping
Next, use an emery board to file and shape the nail on each finger. Start with your little finger, and use short strokes to file from the outside edge of the nail toward the center in the same direction. File with two or three short strokes and then one longer smooth stroke. If you file your nail this way, you will avoid any splitting. The single longer stroke blends and smoothes the edge of the nail so it is uniform.
Next, use an emery board to file and shape the nail on each finger. Start with your little finger, and use short strokes to file from the outside edge of the nail toward the center in the same direction. File with two or three short strokes and then one longer smooth stroke. If you file your nail this way, you will avoid any splitting. The single longer stroke blends and smoothes the edge of the nail so it is uniform.
Nails grow in a variety of shapes and sizes, but there are four basic shapes: pointed, oval, round and square. Typically, the squarer the nail is, the stronger it will be. You should consider what you do with your hands when deciding how to shape them with your manicure.
Treating Your Cuticles
Apply cuticle remover, and let it sit for a minute or so. Ideally, you should soak your hand in a solution of antibacterial soap and water for a few minutes. Dry your hand, and then carefully push back the cuticle with an orangewood stick that is wrapped in cotton. Be gentle so you don't tear the cuticle; it hurts and it isn't pretty. Repeat with the other hand. Treat yourself after this part by giving each finger and hand a quick massage
Apply cuticle remover, and let it sit for a minute or so. Ideally, you should soak your hand in a solution of antibacterial soap and water for a few minutes. Dry your hand, and then carefully push back the cuticle with an orangewood stick that is wrapped in cotton. Be gentle so you don't tear the cuticle; it hurts and it isn't pretty. Repeat with the other hand. Treat yourself after this part by giving each finger and hand a quick massage
.
Polishing Your Nails
Start with a base coat first. It will protect the fingernail, and it will help your color go on smoothly and last longer. Start with the little finger on each hand. Use light strokes, starting at the bottom and gliding upward. You should use three strokes on each finger. Polish the middle of the nail first and then either side. As you stroke on the polish, try to get the same amount of polish on the brush each time so the nail polish goes on smoothly.
Start with a base coat first. It will protect the fingernail, and it will help your color go on smoothly and last longer. Start with the little finger on each hand. Use light strokes, starting at the bottom and gliding upward. You should use three strokes on each finger. Polish the middle of the nail first and then either side. As you stroke on the polish, try to get the same amount of polish on the brush each time so the nail polish goes on smoothly.
Use two coats of polish, but be sure to let it dry completely in between. Wrap an orange stick in cotton that has been dampened with nail polish remover to clean up any stray drips or slips. Finally, apply your top coat. Try not to skip the top coat unless you are in a real hurry, as it will help the rest of your polish last.
Dry Your Nails
If necessary, use a quick-dry product. These little beauties come in a spray, a pump or a polish, so choose your favorite but use one. A quick-dry product will dry your polish in a snap, protecting the surface from bumps or smears. If you have ever worn nail polish, you know the frustration of smeared polish that never even got a chance to dry.
If necessary, use a quick-dry product. These little beauties come in a spray, a pump or a polish, so choose your favorite but use one. A quick-dry product will dry your polish in a snap, protecting the surface from bumps or smears. If you have ever worn nail polish, you know the frustration of smeared polish that never even got a chance to dry.
Manicure Maintenance
When you are all done and your nail polish has dried, clean your tools, such as your nail clippers, with a disinfectant. Don't share your manicure tools with anyone else to avoid infection.
When you are all done and your nail polish has dried, clean your tools, such as your nail clippers, with a disinfectant. Don't share your manicure tools with anyone else to avoid infection.
To make your manicure last, try to wear gloves when performing any activity that will require wear and tear on your nails, such as washing the dishes. Also make sure to use hand cream and moisturize your cuticles.
Don't worry if your first home manicure doesn't look salon-perfect. This art is easily mastered. Many women perform their own manicures and never tell a soul. If you schedule your home manicure as a relaxing gift to yourself, you will soon find out how soothing a ritual doing your nails can become. If you follow this step-by-step guide and practice just a bit, your nails will never give away your secrets to a perfect home manicure.
20 Beauty Secrets Every Teen Should Know
1. Skip the foundation If you have acne the first thing you want to do is slather on the thick foundation. Don't. Foundation is for women over 35. Not only will it cover up your natural beauty, but foundation on a teenager looks anything but natural. Instead, cover up blemishes with concealer, then follow with a powder or tinted mosturizer. Tinted moisturizers tend to be lighter than heavy foundations.
2. You pat concealer in, you never rub it in We know this from watching the Tyra Banks show. When applying concealer, put a bit on the pad of your middle finger and pat it in. Never rub. Got acne? Pat the concealer on top of it.
3. Play up your lips or your eyes, never both If you are wearing heavy eye makeup, go for nude lips with just a bit of gloss. Prefer the drama of dark lipstick? Keep face light (stay away from heavy blush) and wear only mascara on your eyes and a light eyeshadow. Don't heavily line your eyes. Play up both and you'll look like a clown. And never, ever line lips in a darker color than your gloss or lipstick.
4. Less is more Ever notice how some of your friends look best with no makeup at all? No matter your age, too much makeup makes you look worse. If you wear foundation, powder, blush, liner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip liner and gloss on an everyday basis, then you're overdoing it. Tone it down: All you really need is a great mascara, concealer for blemishes and gloss. Add a pop of blush in winter.
5. Natural hair is always hot If you have super dark hair, lighten your look by going a shade darker or getting lighter highlights. Blonde? Try highlights, especially framing the face. We see too many teens lightening their hair several shades and the look can be super-tacky, not super-fabulous. The trick is to let people assume you were born with sun-kissed hair, not that you gave yourself a bad dye job from a bottle.
2. You pat concealer in, you never rub it in We know this from watching the Tyra Banks show. When applying concealer, put a bit on the pad of your middle finger and pat it in. Never rub. Got acne? Pat the concealer on top of it.
3. Play up your lips or your eyes, never both If you are wearing heavy eye makeup, go for nude lips with just a bit of gloss. Prefer the drama of dark lipstick? Keep face light (stay away from heavy blush) and wear only mascara on your eyes and a light eyeshadow. Don't heavily line your eyes. Play up both and you'll look like a clown. And never, ever line lips in a darker color than your gloss or lipstick.
4. Less is more Ever notice how some of your friends look best with no makeup at all? No matter your age, too much makeup makes you look worse. If you wear foundation, powder, blush, liner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip liner and gloss on an everyday basis, then you're overdoing it. Tone it down: All you really need is a great mascara, concealer for blemishes and gloss. Add a pop of blush in winter.
5. Natural hair is always hot If you have super dark hair, lighten your look by going a shade darker or getting lighter highlights. Blonde? Try highlights, especially framing the face. We see too many teens lightening their hair several shades and the look can be super-tacky, not super-fabulous. The trick is to let people assume you were born with sun-kissed hair, not that you gave yourself a bad dye job from a bottle.
6. Vaseline is your best friend Vaseline is a great, cheap eye makeup remover. It's also great for fixing chapped, scaly lips. Slather on a bunch of Vaseline, then use a toothbrush to massage lips. Wipe the excess off on a tissue. Your lips will be smooth and soft.
7. You can never go wrong with layers Long layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach sexy. Just make sure you don't get too many layers cut in. Too many short layers is dated.
8. Acne? Get thee to a dermatologist, stat Biggest mistake people with acne make? Not going to a dermatologist. Forget those $150 jeans you covet. Getting rid of those pimples will be the best investment you'll ever make. And the only guaranteed way to do it is with a dermatologist.
9. Spend money on key beauty products Not sure what to splurge on and what to save on? I give you the scoop in this article. See if you should splurge or save on cleansers, mascara, concealer and more.
10. Buying foundation or lipstick? Test it first There are some beauty products you simply must try out at a department store or Sephora before you buy. These include: Foundation, lipstick, blush and powder.
7. You can never go wrong with layers Long layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach sexy. Just make sure you don't get too many layers cut in. Too many short layers is dated.
8. Acne? Get thee to a dermatologist, stat Biggest mistake people with acne make? Not going to a dermatologist. Forget those $150 jeans you covet. Getting rid of those pimples will be the best investment you'll ever make. And the only guaranteed way to do it is with a dermatologist.
9. Spend money on key beauty products Not sure what to splurge on and what to save on? I give you the scoop in this article. See if you should splurge or save on cleansers, mascara, concealer and more.
10. Buying foundation or lipstick? Test it first There are some beauty products you simply must try out at a department store or Sephora before you buy. These include: Foundation, lipstick, blush and powder.
Buy these products in a grocery store and you'll be lucky if you picked the right color for your skin tone. What you can get away with without testing: Mascara, eye liner, most basic eye shadows and lip gloss.
11. When can you skip sunscreen ? Never Here's a trick we wish we knew: The first beauty product you should apply every day is sunscreen, even if it's cloudy or rainy outside. Why? Good habits start young and if you use sunscreen now, you'll have gorgeous skin when you're 50, 60, 70. Remember, the sun's UV rays can penetrate clouds and car windows.
11. When can you skip sunscreen ? Never Here's a trick we wish we knew: The first beauty product you should apply every day is sunscreen, even if it's cloudy or rainy outside. Why? Good habits start young and if you use sunscreen now, you'll have gorgeous skin when you're 50, 60, 70. Remember, the sun's UV rays can penetrate clouds and car windows.
12. Wrapping hair around the barrel creates waves There's nothing cooler than long, layered waves. To get them, wind hair AROUND the barrel of a large curling iron. Reverse direction for each 2-inch section (wind up for one, down for another).
13. Self-tanner will always stink Unfortunately, even the best ones smell. Your best bet is to apply self-tanner a good 24 hours before an important event and take a shower (don't loofah) to wash off any smell. For really big events like a dance or wedding, consider a professional spray tan. These are pricey and don't last long, so make sure to do it a day before the big event.
14. Don't let nails go Not into manicures and pedicures? No worries. Just make sure to keep nails clean and the same length. If you do want to paint them, don't keep the polish on until half of it's chipped away. Also, there's nothing worse than too-long toenails. Keep nails clipped between pedicures! People tend to judge others by the care they put into their hands and feet.
13. Self-tanner will always stink Unfortunately, even the best ones smell. Your best bet is to apply self-tanner a good 24 hours before an important event and take a shower (don't loofah) to wash off any smell. For really big events like a dance or wedding, consider a professional spray tan. These are pricey and don't last long, so make sure to do it a day before the big event.
14. Don't let nails go Not into manicures and pedicures? No worries. Just make sure to keep nails clean and the same length. If you do want to paint them, don't keep the polish on until half of it's chipped away. Also, there's nothing worse than too-long toenails. Keep nails clipped between pedicures! People tend to judge others by the care they put into their hands and feet.
15. Don't line the inside of your eyes It will make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, line just at the lash line. Also, an obvious line doesn't look natural. Smudge the line just a bit.
16. Oily hair? Invest in a dry shampoo If you have blonde hair, sprinkling a bit of baby powder on your roots and at your crown will soak up excess oils. If you have brown hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo for your hair color.
16. Oily hair? Invest in a dry shampoo If you have blonde hair, sprinkling a bit of baby powder on your roots and at your crown will soak up excess oils. If you have brown hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo for your hair color.
17. Shave legs at the end of the shower Cut down on nicks and cuts by making shaving the very last step in your shower or bathing ritual.
18. Know your best feature and play it up What feature do people comment on most? Play it up. If you're told you have Angelina Jolie lips, make sure to wear gloss and play with bold lipstick colors. If it's your eye color people love, find eyeshadow colors that complement them and make sure to wear mascara. Also, know what color shirts look best on you and go shopping.
19. Scrubs are great for dry skin If you have dry, itchy skin in winter, invest in a scrub and handmitts and scrub away in the bathtub. Make sure to slather on a thick moisturizer afterward. For dry, callousy feet, buy a pumice stone. They work better than any of the other wimpy options on the market.
18. Know your best feature and play it up What feature do people comment on most? Play it up. If you're told you have Angelina Jolie lips, make sure to wear gloss and play with bold lipstick colors. If it's your eye color people love, find eyeshadow colors that complement them and make sure to wear mascara. Also, know what color shirts look best on you and go shopping.
19. Scrubs are great for dry skin If you have dry, itchy skin in winter, invest in a scrub and handmitts and scrub away in the bathtub. Make sure to slather on a thick moisturizer afterward. For dry, callousy feet, buy a pumice stone. They work better than any of the other wimpy options on the market.
20. Remember: Beauty is mostly internal Think about a girl you know who's overweight yet all the guys love her. Why? Because she's confident. If you aren't wearing makeup and your toes haven't been repainted in weeks, if you're happy and smiling you will still be 10 times prettier than the mopey cheerleader sitting next to you in class. Trust us (wink).
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