I did not know if I would want to spend 50 to 100 dollars for a full set of the bare minerals or bare essentials line.  It seemed kind of silly to spend all that money on your foundation and concealer, when I get my foundation and concealer for fewer than 20 dollars.

With all the new make up products it’s hard to believe that any of them really make a difference.  This mascara will increase the length of your lashes or this bronzer will give you that sun kissed look.  Well I am among the palest of the pale most bronzer just turns me orange whether it’s an organic type mineral cosmetic or not.

Especially when you use something everyday you go through it so fast it seems I could not afford it.   I went to my old stand by Neutrogena make up section and found a perfect little start to wearing mineral products.  It was a little container with a brush attached called Neutrogena mineral sheers foundation.  It was awesome!

I used my daily concealer, and then I layered the mineral sheer foundation over that.  It added a little color to my face and almost made my skin look a little smoother as well.  I was fairly impressed considering it’s a product for under 10 dollars and it lasts for quite a while.  Of course you have to be careful when purchasing the shade, one shade darker and you could tell a big difference.

Overall this mineral sheer foundation gave my skin a little make over.  It is very light and goes on easy.  Be careful when you apply it though; make sure that it doesn’t get on your clothes.  The powder does fly around a little when you apply the foundation, but not too much.  Your new shirt doesn’t need a make over so I recommend putting a towel over your shirt if you would like to keep it in good condition.  I would say I used the product for about six months and was very happy with my purchase.  It was nice for a change to have a product that helped my skin rather than irritate it like most make up.

Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural antibiotic that fights mold, germs, bacteria and viruses.

It can be used on the skin to cure acne or curb eczema or ingest pure organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar in portions of 2 tablespoons to every 8 ounces of water (mixed with brown sugar to offset the taste) to cleanse the organs, reduce blood pressure and stimulate the body’s natural healing process.

We will be talking more about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar in more detail in the weeks to come, so stay tuned to My Cosmetic Review for additional cosmetic, skin care, hair care and health care tips.

Here are a few tips for getting professional salon looking nails without the hefty price.

Ladies, the takeaway here is…

Makeup and Cosmetics – Don’t leave home without it!

First, lets take a look at your diet. This has alot to do with the formation of acne. Carbohydrate foods with a low glycemic index can help stop the formation of acne by up to 50%! Eating right can really help your acne, and keep you from breaking out. However, if acne is already a problem, i have a few home remedies you should definitely look into:

Take unboiled milk and grind nutmeg. Mix together and apply on your acne and leave for one to two hours. This sounds rather unpleasant, but believe me, it clears your acne right up.

Another acne home treatment i would suggest is with cinnamon powder and honey. Make a paste of the two ingredients, and apply to pimples before you go to sleep. Wash it off with warm water the next morning, and continue this routine for two weeks. You will have acne no more.

One more treatment that has worked wonders for me is fresh mint juice or garlic. Either ingredient when applied to pimples clears them up in a matter of hours.

Hopefully this helps and you will have as much luck as i have had!

For starters, sun screen is a no brainer. But its important to try and find one that moisturizes as well. Better yet, choose a daily moisturizer that has a built in sun screen, preferably one with SPF of 15 or higher. Those filter out up to 92% of the harmful UVB rays the sun produces, so you’ll be covered! This will prevent face wrinkle, and uneven burnt skin.

Next, find a protectant for your hair. To keep your haircolor shining and vibrant, you will need one of these. The sun can intensely damage your hair, corrupting its color and texture. Find a conditioner or spray that will limit the amount of sun damage and help keep hair healthy and glowing. If your hair is colored, you especially will need one of these.

Last but not least, purchase a product that will protect your lips. The sun can cause lips to crack and dry, which is uncomfortable as well as unpleasnt. Burts Bees lip balm is highly effective, and will keep lips moist. It also has an SPF of 15, so your lips will not burn or crack. Enjoy the sun, but be sure to take these precautions against it. Happy summer!

With time, your lips lose their natural fullness. LipFusionXL, which you can pick up at your local Sephora or ULTA is a micro injected collagen advanced lip plumping therapy. The difference between this product and other antiaging products is that it takes what you already have and brings it out. With this products formula, the water molecules in your lips increase in size, therefore giving you fuller and more delictable pout. It is no longer necessary to pay large amounts of money to have lip injections. This product will produce very pleasing results, and leave you wanting more. The cost is also very affordable, at a mere fifty dollars. It is definitely worth the money, and lives up to its titles as one of the best and most afforadble lip plumpers on the market.

Another upside is that it does without the harsh tingling that accompanys most lip plumpers. There is no burning, tingle or any other unpleasant feeling, just the subtle shine promising fuller lips. You can apply it at night before bed and wake up with luscious lips, or wear it over a lip gloss or lipstick. Fuller lips will be yours in no time!

I guess it comes down to exactly just how long you use it and what ingredients are in the wrinkle creme you choose. Main ingredients in most products include retinol, copper peptides and tea extracts. If your serious about reducing age lines and getting smoother skin, you need to be sure to choose a product that has a higher concentration of these key ingredients. That way you will be getting more for your money, as well as a higher proximity to a wrinkle free face. The product that i have found to be most effective, as well as not emptying your wallet is Prevara by ENR. Its only 30 dollars, and does a superb job of keeping skin hydrated while diminishing lines and wrinkles.

You can also incorporate simple things into your daily routine that will promote smoother, wrinkle free skin. Sun exposure not only damages your skin, but it ages it as well. Try to limit the amount of time you spend in the sun, and if you are a sun lover, choose products with a sun screen built in! Smoking also promotes premature aging of the skin. Be aware of this as it plays a pretty big role in wrinkles developing at an early age.

The next step is to analyze exactly what your problem is. Are you having serious breakouts, or just a pimple here or there? Certain solutions for acne are designed to treat different problems. You need to pinpoint exactly what your problem is, and find a treatment, something that specifically matches the symptoms you are having. This way, the problem will be taken care of quickly and easily.

Now figure out what method will be easiest. Cream, face wash, facial masks, they have it all. Finding something that fits into your daily schedule will help you keep up with it and you will be more likely to experience maximum results. Life is so hectic and busy, it is often easy to forget or lookover something as simple as washing you face.

Take all these factors into consideration when finding a treatment for your acne. Finding a solution isnt always easy, but by taking the right steps, you will be that much closer to clear skin!

The first step of a skin care regimen is cleansing. It’s important to find a good cleanser that your skin does well with, and stick to it. Once you find something that suits you perfectly, there’s no need to improve. Avoid bar soaps; they can dry out your skin. Really, you should only use soap for the neck on down. Save your face for cleansing moisturizers that are designed to enhance and treat the health of your skin.

Don’t cleanse too often, however. Just washing once at night should be plenty for optimal skin health.

Exfolliating your skin is the next step. Most people skip this step, but if you do it regularly, you will notice a refreshing difference. Scrubs remove the dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. When this layer is removed, your skin is healthy, fresh and vibrant. It can breathe better. Exfolliating once a week with a microdermabrasion will give it a healthy, natural glow year round. You’ll look younger because your skin will actually be made up of younger, fresher skin cells.

Definitely moisturize. Of all the skin care products, moisturizer is the most essential. Your skin’s beauty health depends on it. Even oily skin benefits from moisturizers.

When we take daily care of our skin, our faces will be younger and suppler, more youthful and healthy. Many makeup products are instilled with natural herbs and minerals that treat the health of your skin. It keeps you looking younger and more beautiful, because we know that fresh skin is healthy skin.

It’s good to put a rich cream on your face. This sort of beauty care can help your skin retain moisture during the night, keeping it soft and supple, younger and smoother. A lack of proteins can further dry out your skin and increase its irritability, so it’s important to eat a diet rich in protein.

It’s very important to find out your skin type in order to know what best will work for glossy, smooth skin. If your skin type is oily, for example, you should opt for beauty products that are designed for oily skin. There are also products for dry skin, combination skin or normal skin.

Flawless beauty requires continual skin care. This means continual cleansing, toning and moisturizing, every day with occasional touch-ups throughout the day. Keeping the skin regularly clean is essential, as most blemishes result from dirty pores. It’s good to use a soap free wash or an exfoliator, but don’t use it too often as it can make your skin harsh.

It’s good to wash with cold water several times a day, as long as it’s not too harsh on sensitive skin. This will prevent an excess excretion buildup of oil. It’s especially important to use an exfoliator around the eyes. This may be the most sensitive spot, but it’s the spot that’s most likely to wrinkle.

Take care to treat your skin right. It’s the largest organ of your body and the first step to a beautiful image.

The main reason for my excitement is that I was looking for an “all natural” alternative, and this is the only brand I know that is a 90% natural, 97.4 to be exact.

When I made my first purchase I picked up 2 different shades, not knowing which one would suite my skin tone the best.

Unfortunately when I put it on I was rather disappointed… it is an extremely sheer product that offers no coverage whatsoever. It feels light, but at the same time greasy and wet.

I don’t know anyone who likes their foundation to smear to the touch; it is almost as if it never dries up. I was expecting and actually looking for a light foundation, but this is not the right product for me or my skin type…

Pure Blends is more of a tinted moisturizer than it is a foundation. If you are looking for barely-there, ultra sheer and minimum coverage then you would love this product!

The shades are nice, and varied enough for you to find the right match, and they come pretty small, at 1fl. Oz which isn’t bad if you want to try it out.

What’s great about this foundation is it’s light as a feather. It doesn’t feel chalked on or pasty like many cosmetics do. It feels light and natural, blending in smoothly to the naturalness of my skin. A kabuki brush works best for application, allowing you to get into the cracks and corners of your skin with more precision. When applied, the makeup works well to diminish age lines and face blemishes. Plus, with the naturally healing properties of the makeup that act as a sunscreen, it will protect the youth of your skin longer, not only hiding the lines but actually preventing them from developing with the strains of time.

Afterglow cosmetics also feature a spectacular line of Mineral Eye Shadow in every dashing color of the rainbow. It helps when a girl has a little selection, giving her more variety and creativity, allowing her to choose different moods to go with a particular outfit or an occasion. Whether emerald green or turquoise, there’s a shade to bring out every side of yourself, plenty of variety to suit your mood.

With the Mineral Foundation and the Mineral Eye Shadow, you enjoy not only great skin protection and an enhanced smoothness; you also get eyes that shine and glow for every option in your wardrobe. The two make a good combination, perfect whether you’re going out dancing, have an important business meeting, or just going shopping and want to look good. The choice is yours.

If you visit a beauty parlor frequently, notice the cleanliness of the establishment as well as the tools and products that are used there. Also pay attention to the experience of the beauty technicians as well as the owner. Be sure they work professionally and neatly. They should also be up on all the latest trends in the makeup and fashion industry. It’s important to always stay ahead of the trends.

When purchasing products you’ll use every day, buy cosmetics that are fast and easy to apply. It’s best to choose products that are easy to apply for quick touch-ups. They should be long lasting products so you really get the mileage out of each application. Don’t cake on too much, however. Using the right amount takes a little experience. You don’t want to end up looking like some plastic doll, nor do you want to look unnatural. The best makeup looks like it was always a part of you.

For cosmetics care, it’s always best to use natural tones for eye shadow and blush. A nude lip color is perhaps best for the daytime and professional meetings. Liquid eyeliners work best for defining the eyes. Eyebrow gel can be used to give color to the eyebrows, and eyelashes can be contoured with a brush. The right makeup application depends on the woman. We’re all different, so finding one that suits you just depends on your own taste and style.

When it comes to eye makeup, mascara does magic to your lashes when it’s correctly applied, lightly accentuating the body of your lashes for a beautiful feel. It’s essential that no gobs of stuff be left sticking to the eyelash. You should also keep each eyelash separate from itself, so that you can clearly see each strand separate against the light.

In order to avoid those awful unsightly gobs, always apply the mascara to the base of the lashes with a mascara wand, giving the wand a wiggle after applying to shake off any excess gook. You then carefully brush the mascara with a mascara comb, gently wiping away the excess mascara. Mascara should be wiped off the wand by a tissue so you can always apply a clean wand to your lash.

Keep in mind that mascara can look very ugly if it smudges. Mascara can smudge if the eye cream or concealer that was used is oily and still wet. If you apply a powder to your lower eyelids before applying the mascara, you can avoid smudges. Also, be careful never to blink when applying the mascara, or it will apply to your eyelids instead of your eyelashes.

A second coat can layer on the mascara even thicker, but apply it quickly after the first. If the first dries before a second coat is applied, the mascara will just clump the lashes, looking more like dried up sleep than a beauty product.

Made with 100 percent minerals, Bare Mineral makeup is free from preservatives, talcs fragrances, oils and other skin irritants. It’s made from crushed minerals born from the earth. It’s weightless and free from fillers and binders, perfectly intoned to your body’s composition for enriched and beautiful skin.

The makeup may look like powder, but it feels smoothly cool like silk and applies like a cream. It’s simply elegant on your skin, enriching it with the healing properties of minerals from the earth. It’s good for all ages and skin types. It’s ideal for healing from scarring and other blemishes, rosacea, pigmentation and wrinkles. It’s got a natural SPF 15 broad-spectrum protection from the sun, protecting your skin against unnatural aging as well as skin cancer.

Many women find Bare Mineral cosmetics to give a flawless look that’s natural and sheer, but not overbearing. It blends well with the skin, looking as if it was meant to be there, as if you aren’t wearing any makeup at all but were born with a perfect complexion.

However, colors depend on the woman, so test it out on your face before you buy.

It’s nice to have a completely natural mineral makeup that you know will enhance your skin through natural organics. You can be sure the makeup won’t contain synthetics that can irritate your skin, and you know it wasn’t tested on animals. It’s great to look good, have healthy skin and know that it’s completely natural and great for the environment.

It’s really just a matter of preference and individuality. As women, we’re each unique. We have our own features, colors and highlights that require a customized makeup approach. Of course, we all have our own needs, too, whether it be a certain skin cream that just seems to wash away our wrinkles or a rouge that distracts from a mole. Women are always their own, so it makes sense that every girl find a cosmetic selection that’s perfectly suited to her.

Choose from a wide variety of cosmetics brands that suit not only your color, but also your needs, moods and preferences. No one cosmetic blend is perfect for the entire job; it takes a combination of colors, brands and techniques to bring out our prettiest selves.

You should probably select makeup brands that are natural and ideally organic, especially if you have sensitive or irritated skin. Not all natural cosmetics are actually organic, so it’s helpful to check. Some may contain plants grown with pesticides or other chemicals, which can react harshly with your skin and could lead to health problems including cancer. Organic cosmetics are made without any chemicals or pesticides. Plus, many feature healing botanicals which can actually work to heal and soothe your skin.

Shop around and explore for the perfect cosmetic. It may take some time and experimentation. Read makeup reviews online. Try some out at a department store and see how it makes you feel. Makeup is a matter of individuality and preference. Finding what’s right for you just depends your unique self.

Winter has been on too long, and the excitement of spring is the perfect excuse to get excited about makeup. When the weather is warm and the sun is bright, it’ s more natural to want to go out looking your best, glowing with a shine that’s as happy as spring itself. There’s a hint of love, romance and excitement in the air. What better way to celebrate it than with a cosmetic line designed for spring’s colors in mind? Be bold, sexy and dashing with these new colors of spring.

Start by applying Flirt Cosmetics Dreamy Eyes Eye Shadow in gold envy with an applicator, carefully reaching between the lash line and the brow bone. Then apply Act Natural Light and Sheer Foundation SPF 15 that’s perfectly in your shade across your face. Cheeks can then be tinted with the Big Deal Lip & Cheek Tint for a dewy, springtime look. Squeeze Me Super Shiny Lip Gloss in passion potion will make you simply irresistible.

Spring is a perfect reason to celebrate in cosmetics. Love is in the air, in the flowers and in the sunlight. It’s only natural to celebrate beauty with beauty. Open spring like a potion and step out on the town. You deserve to look bright and dashing, as beautifully striking as the trees and blossoms boldly in bloom like the creation of new love.

It’s completely paraben-free. It’s not made from petroleum or other unnatural chemicals. When you choose organic lipstick, you get nothing but natural ingredients, including beneficially healing herbs and lotions.

You shouldn’t have to sacrifice the health of your lips for beauty. With lipstick made from natural ingredients, you enjoy that same healthy gleam of other lipsticks, but with the ingredients to protect and heal your skin as well as make it beautiful. We all need to be concerned with what we put on our bodies, especially our lips. With organic lipstick, you don’t compromise your health for beauty. In fact, you heal and protect your skin with naturally healing agents, making your lips supple and young for years to come.

Healthy skin is beautiful skin. As we treat our lips with natural products, our skin doesn’t age or dry out as fast. In fact, natural products enhance our lips, making them look younger and suppler through the healing benefits of natural herbs.

Don’t compromise the health of your lips for beauty. When we use lipstick that’s natural, we not only make them look more beautiful, but also protect them against the ravaging effects of aging and the sun. It’s like wearing lip balm that’s also a beautiful cosmetic, the best of both worlds for the healthy, beautiful lips.

Unique bridal shower gifts are a great way to share the excitement of an upcoming wedding. A cosmetic bag is a very popular and versatile gift, perfect for everyone in the bridal party. You can get customized designs so you and your girls will have the only makeup bags like it. It will be a special bond you share for time to come.

Personalized makeup bags are also great as bridesmaids gifts, bridal showers or even baby showers. Any occasion that brings you close together as girls can be made special with unique cosmetic bags.

Often, the inside of the bags will be lined with a water-repellant fiber, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wet or about makeup spillage. Leaks can be easily cleaned with a napkin, as the inside is well-protected and versatile against messes.

There are a wide selection of colors and patterns available, and you can combine styles and blends to create your own unique signature bag. That way no one will have the same makeup bag but you and your best friends. What brings the girls together better than the thrill of cosmetics?

You can also choose from a unique selection of fonts, which you can embroider with initials, your wedding date, or a special insignia between friends.

Bags can be large or small, depending on your budget and how light you want to travel. Larger bags are ideal for more bulkier products, while smaller bags are convenient for small, essential items, the same cosmetics you might carry in a purse or a handbag.

You can even add to the fun by filling the bag with some of your favorite cosmetics, or a few beauty secrets you’d like to share between the girls. You can also pool your bridesmaids for some of their cosmetic tips. What girl doesn’t like talking about makeup? It’s a great icebreaker for a bachelorette party or bridal shower, the perfect way to bring everyone together in the special ties of friendship.

Fortunately, there’s Almay Cosmetics for the hypoallergenic. Made from all natural ingredients that organically treat and enhance the health of your skin, Almay is made for the sensitive in mind. It uses a variety of herbal extracts that medicinally heal your skin. Meadowsweet is used to treat oily skin, while cucumber extracts can naturally moisten dry, patched skin. Other Almay products use grape seed oil that’s also good at returning the skin’s natural health.

New for Almay Cosmetics is their Pure Blends Makeup. It’s 97.4 percent natural, so you know what you are getting is healthy. It’s lightweight and fragrance free, so you don’t get that heavy caked on feel or the unnatural smells that can make you sick by the end of the day. It’s good for evening out the complexion, creating flawless skin that just seems to glimmer naturally in the sunlight. It features an enhancing blend of antioxidant fruit and flower extracts, Lotus, Orchid and Acai that help to nourish and hydrate the skin. It’s a great way to feel natural, feel as if the very flesh of your skin was the petal of a flower itself. It’s also talc and paraben free, so you know it’s natural and perfect for allergic skin. It’s even been dermatologist tested and approved.

Featuring an irresistible line of colors, Almay makeup features every color in the spectrum so you can find that perfect match. Some seasons call for a more relaxed color; while other seasons, winter especially, call for a brighter boldness to keep things interesting. Almay comes in such a wide range you can meet and suit any mood and occasion, even mixing blends to create a customized complexion of your own.

Cosmetics should be good for you, be made of natural ingredients that work to medicinally heal your skin and enhance its pores. Makeup that features unhealthy parabens, oils and preservatives work against your health and make you older than your time. There’s simply no need for that. Using extracts as natural as cucumber, lilies, and aloe, Almay brings nature back to the world of makeup.

Why should you settle for anything less than the natural earth?

For an early taste of spring, check out Chanel Make Up’s upcoming spring collection

If you are anything like me, you are sick of winter right down to that chill in your bones. When you feel gray cold days like a weight, that’s when you need an extra splash of color in your life. In the world of cosmetics, it’s never too early to think about spring. In fact, a bold spring-like color can be the perfect thing to lift you up, the perfect cure for winter’s down and out blues.

The cosmetics industry is always thinking a season ahead. That means its time to get colorful with the brightness of spring. Even if the ground is still frozen, you know that deep down, the earth itself longs to thaw. Those flowers are underneath the earth just waiting to begin life again, and so are we. Our spirits jus need a little lift, an early breath of fresh spring even though April seems so distant.

Chanel Make Up has announced its Spring Make Up collection, which means spring can be that too far around the corner. Their upcoming season features Bohemian chic shades that celebrate earthy tones with all the lush of spring. Combining earthy and bohemian for a hip, sophisticated feel that’s also intensely natural, their spring collection is sure to make you feel fashionable yet classically earthy. The line features deep color shades that are great for night and day that contrast well with their selection of nude and boldly red lips. It’s earthy, yet mysterious, sensual let calmly determined.

For truly lush lips, Chanel Make Up’s Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick comes in six new shades- Fuego (a ocean-coral red), Fiesta (a natural apricot), Euphoria (a sexy pink), Beige Desire (a bold sensation), Rose Rebelle (a more subdued pink), and Gipsy Scarlett (for that wild sense of red). For lips so glossy they’ll shine in the newness of spring, Sher Colour Lipshine SPF 15 comes in a nice copper. For a more subtler glimmer, Glossimer comes in an elegant rosewood.

There’s a practicality to Chanel cosmetics that’s truly classic. The products are slim for very clean lines that create a more refined effect. The colors last long, keeping their bright shine throughout the day, even in the more intense months of May and going into summer. The bright spring colors are the perfect lift for the winter blues. Their earthy nature gives a stylish approach to beauty that’s refined, but organic, pure yet hip and sophisticated.

Check out the new colors from Chanel Cosmetics. They’ll have you thinking spring, even if your wrapped deep down under blankets and it’s still snowing outside.

Curiosity killed the cat. When I first heard of the collaboration between Mac Cosmetics and Hello Kitty, I just had to give it a try.

Combining the stylish youthfulness of the Hello Kitty world with the colorful sophistication of Mac makeup, the Hello Kitty Collection is a high-end line of brightly colored cosmetics that’s more fun to collect than a girl’s night out.

Really, this is a cosmetics line that gets a girl noticed. The Hello Kitty Collection introduces a new blend of youth to the cosmetics world, a fun-seeking spirit that’s carefree and open to possibilities.

This line of Mac Cosmetics features two collections, Hello Kitty Colour Collection and the higher end Hello Kitty Couture. Both bring a hip element of youthful style to the world of makeup, imaginative yet adventurous and creative at the same time.

The Hello Kitty Mild collection features eye shadows, eye liner and lipstick in a more subdued color line that subtly suggests innocence with an openness to fun. It’s a purrfect line for that innocent look that’s so good at being bad.

Every good girl needs her thrill, a dance with temptation that’s innocent and wild at the same time. The subtle colors don’t speak too loudly, but their message is clear. For a mild style that still not afraid to get what it wants, the Hello Kitty Mild collection brings out your subtle side while still maintaining that sense of stylish fun.

Of course, there are nights when subtlety goes right out the window. Sometimes you want to hit the club scene boldly and turn heads. If you like being the burning center of a party, it might be a night that calls for a dash of the Hello Kitty Wild collection, which features brighter colors for when you want to reach out of your skin.

Adored by women throughout the world for its wild sense of style, the Hello Kitty Wild line breaks boldly out of the mold, sleek, luring with a dash of unpredictability.

Just released for this past Valentine’s Day, the Hello Kitty makeup line is so fresh, it’s all the cosmetics world can talk about. Since announcing the partnership last November, Mac has created a stir in the cosmetics industry.

Finally the sophistication of Mac makeup and the stylish fashions of the Hello Kitty world have merged, and the results are rather surprising.

I’ve found the colors enticingly subtle, the sort of tender boldness that’s not too over the top. There’s enough variety in the blends to fit any type of mood, whether calm and subdued or more daring and dashing. It’s a youthful cosmetics line that’s creative and fun, perfect for when you want to get out on the town and just be free.

Like a rose gardener tending to the petals, if we care for our skin everyday, we’ll look and feel younger. The secret nobody tells you is that as you get older, it takes extra care in the treatment of your skin to maintain its youth. We all know older women who look much younger than their age. The secret is the special things we do to take care of our skin, tricks that maintain our beauty despite maturity. Skin beauty tips are like well kept secrets best shared between girls.

Wrinkles happen, but who has to know? By applying highlighter to your creases, your wrinkles virtually disappear with the added color. When it comes to skin beauty, a smooth, unblemished face suggests a feeling of youth. A little covering goes a long way.

Whatever you do, stay away from skin powder. While it may make the skin soft, it also accentuates wrinkles for that old lady look. Skin powder collects in the creases, forming a caked on look that makes the wrinkles more obvious, even deeper and stronger than your natural age suggests.

Use sunscreen every day. Don’t save it for the beach. Even in mild sunlight, the ultraviolet rays build up over time, parching and depleting your skin so it ages faster. Use a dab of sunscreen like you would any other makeup. Not only does it protect your skin against the sun, but many brands contain medicinal ingredients that enhance and treat your skin so it naturally feels younger.

Use a skin mask regularly to firm and tighten your skin with healthy skin tones. It helps your skin reflect natural light, countering shadows for a healthy, shiny look that appears youthful and bright. The mask works to cleanse your pores, giving your skin a clean healthy glimmer of natural beauty.

Use moisturizer regularly. It enhances your skin to make it supple, soft, and full of youth. It’s one way a girl can treat herself special all day long. A simple dab throughout the day not only makes your skin feel fresher, but you’ll feel newer too. A lady has the right to feel like a princess everyday, even in the stress and hustle of the professional world. A dab of skin cream is a simple pleasure, but it’s the little indulgences that bring joy to an otherwise dull routine.

We’re all going to age, but if we pay special attention to the beauty of our skin, we can grow old gracefully. As we get older, we need to take extra care of ourselves, using a variety of cosmetics and skin treatments to enhance and maintain the health and youth of our skin.

Whether you want to keep it natural or  are going for the drama, lashes play a huge role on helping you achieve a sexy put together look. Mascara will help you define the eyes and make them stand out, but only when applied properly, so here are a few tips on how to do it the right way:

First curl your lashes with an eyelash curler, holding it for about 10 seconds. I like to start at the very root of the lashes, then repeat the step in the middle and again closer to the tips. This way you can get a really curvy curl!

Mascara: looking down if possible gently lift the lid and begin applying at the outside of your eye, then move towards the nose

Be sure to apply mascara close to the base of the lashes. This will ensure that the curl stays longer. Try and separate the lashes as you go, you don’t want those ugly clumps!

Make sure you wipe any smudges right away before it dries. But if mascara dries on your skin, use a q-tip to clean it up with a little makeup remover or lotion.

Don’t forget the lower lashes, angling the wand will make it easier to get all of them.

Choose the look you are going for: If you want to go for a more natural look 1 or 2 coats will do. You can skip the lower lashes. If going for a more dramatic look you will need 3 coats for impact.

No time for curling your lashes? skip the eyelash curler and use your fingers to push the lashes upward while the mascara is drying..it works every time!

Night time is when our bodies regenerate and heal, so why not help this natural cycle by doing the right thing?

When wearing makeup, sometimes is necessary to cleanse using a multi-step process. So start with a makeup remover or cream to disolve as much makeup as possible (avoid the eye area)

Be mindful of the skin around your eyes, as it is especially delicate and can be irritated easily. There are makeup removers specially formulated for this area. I use Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup remover. Damp a cotton ball in the product and gently swipe it around your closed eye. This step is particularly helpful if you wear lots of mascara, waterproof eyeliner and even faux lashes.

Apply Cleanser to the entire face. With the cleanser of your choice massage the product into your skin with an upward and circular motion. Don’t forget your neck and chin.

Last rinse your face and eyes with lukewarm water, but never use HOT water!

Gently pat dry and moisturize with a nightcream. My favorite is Positively Ageless Night Cream with Shiitake Mushrooms by Aveeno, which is rich and it absorbs quickly so you don’t get that feeling of been “buttered up”.

I don’t know about you, but when I travel I like to have everything I am going to need available in my carry on.  What I don’t like is to have to check my bag and waste time retrieving it when I arrive to my destionation. But we all know that is going to happen due to the strict security meassures the airports have. Fortunatelly, we don’t have to compromise beauty thanks to all the options available out there, just think smaller!

1_The portable refresher spray: this cooling spritz will refresh you and wake you up, even when you are in desperate need of caffeine. (Dove Go Fresh Body Mist, $3.79 in drug stores)

2_The spill-proof scent: This adorable limited edition ring flips open to reveal a solid dab-on floral fragrance. (Daisy Mark Jacobs Solid Fragrance Ring, $30, Sephora.com)

3_The easy breath freshener: Whip out one of these babies after lunch and everyone will want a packet. They’re tiny, so you can carry enough to share this mint flavored floss. (Crest Glide Deep Clean Floss to Go, $3.99 drugstores)

4_The Get-Glossy Hair Conditioner: Finally-the cult favorite in a travel size. It deep-conditions hair without weighing it down. (Terax Crema Ultra Moisturizing Conditioner, $9, beauty.com)

5_The SPF Foundation: No matter how much you sweat, this pure mineral makeup won’t clog your pores. An extra benefit: The zinc oxide and titanium dioxide it’s made with are natural sunblocks. (Susan Posnik ColorFlo Mineral Foundation, $64, beauty.com)

6_The Mega-Moisturizing Body Wash: These body washes and in-shower moisturizers leave your skin so ridiculously soft, there is no need for body lotion-just sunscreen. (Ted Gibson Body Series Travel Kit. $42, sephora.com)

7_The Serious Style Smoother: Whether you need to tame frizz, glossify your waves or add a few curls, this teeny hot iron can make it happen. (Metropolis Technology L-ion Mini Wireless Iron, $149.95, metropolistechnology.com)

8_The Sun Protector: You’ll breeze through security with these one-ounce tubes of Coola SPF. (Coola SPF 30 Face and Total Body, $1.99 each, coolasuncare.com)

9_The two-in-one Tooth Brightener: This genius double-sided pen by Tarte contains BriteSmile whitening potion on one end and a just-right red lip gloss on the flip side. (Tarte/BriteSmile Enbrightenmint, $26, Sephora.com)

10_The Emergency Makeup Kit: never leave home without this kit of essentials-eye cream, lip shine, lip and cheek tint, and concealer. (Benefit Justine Case, $30, sephora.com)

Variety is important when you are trying to achieve different looks; for example if you want to go with a really dramatic smokey eye a powder eyeshadow works best. But if you are going for a more natural look, a cream shadow will do. Also a mineral powder eyeshadow will give you a more natural look, since they are not as thick and heavy as other powders.

All different brands offer different things. If you look close in the aisles of a drugstore you will notice that some brands are more “daring” while others stay more on the “conservative” side.  I personally like lots of bright colors, shimmery and even glittery shadows, but even I sometimes feel like keeping it on the classier side!

I have been considering switching some of my eyeshadows to mineral  (I only use mineral foundation) but I found that the colors were very basic and just plain boring! Last week I went to a store and I notice a new product line by Almay, called Pure Blends, they also have Almay Pure Blends Foundation to round off the selection.

My first thought was “great, another boring mineral cosmetic line”.  But as I started looking more closely I was taking aback by the colors. I thought they were beautiful, classic and sophisticated.

It comes in 10 shades and the colors are sheer and luminous, and It contains a blend of antioxidand fruit and flower extracts such as Lotus, Orchid and Acai. The box is also cute and it’s made of 58% recycled materials, a nice eco-friendy touch.

It’s also paraben free and it contains no talc, wich is great if you have a tendency to get dry eyelids after using makeup.

It also notice that it stays on nicely for at least 7 hours without reapplying.  I have to say that I am happy with this product, I have it in 2 colors so far and I think I will be buying more in the not so distant future.

Everyone, even the most beautiful supermodel had the occasional bad day, when her eyes look puffy, her skin looks discolored and the breakouts are so obvious!

Fortunately there are several things we can do to improve this look, so follow this easy steps and see yourself in a whole different light:

Add moisture: When the skin is dehydrated it looks older and less alive, so drink plenty of water and use a rich moisturizer to help plump up the skin and make it look softer and smoother.

Avoid full makeup: let you skin breath! avoid applying makeup that day in an attempt to “cover it up”. Just use a bit of concealer and a tinted moisturizer, or mix your regular moisturizer with a bit of self- tanner.

Curl you eyelashes: this will open up the eyes and make you look less tired, but do not apply lots of eye makeup and stay away from dark colors that can close up the eye and make them look more tired. Stick with light shadow on the lids a little mascara.

Fake a bake: to enliven shallow looking skin apply a light coat of self-tanner, gel or bronzer powder.  Follow with pink blush application. This will give you that healthy look of “rosy cheeks”

Add lip gloss: it will revive a dry, tired-looking mouth. Stick with sheer gloss on a shade same as your natural lip color or add a little pink.

If you still feel like you are not at your best use a large pair of sunglasses and a baseball hat, it works! If you don’t believe me pick up a magazine and look at all the celebrities rocking this look.

When talking about skin care our mind automatically thinks about the face, but lets not forget that this organ cover our entire body! So we should think about taking care of all of it..body as well as face.  The needs of our skin change with every season: in the summer we have to protect it with sunscreens and sunblock, fall and spring we should moisturize it and protect it as well.

But there is nothing worst than the cold harsh winters for the health or our skin.  The weather conditions alone play a huge role on the drying and flaking, not to mention the dry heat from air conditioners.  Let’s face it, in this time of the year we are all going to experience dryness, and sometime even itchiness (I know I do) but there are things that can be done to minimize the damage and try to retain moisture as much as possible.

I just live by this two simple steps: exfoliate and moisturize, you can never go wrong! There is a variety of exfoliating scrubs, but I recently discovered one that works either on wet or dry skin: Green Tea Reviltalize Renewing Body Scrub by Elizabeth Arden .  I use it on the shower followed by Neutrogena  Sheer Body Oil, wich helps to retain moisture.

After towel drying I moisturize with my favorite body lotion, but since we all have different skin types and needs I leave the choice up to you.  Keeping our skin soft and fresh takes work, and weather you choose natural skin care products or go with the new market trends, we need all the help we can get!