To Eat or not To Eat

The use of MSG is still so widespread that it is quite impossible to determine whether it has been used or not to make the food you are about to eat taste better. True there may be bold signs or claims that menus are stripped of all MSG use but that’s only as far as it goes for as with most people, it is very difficult to determine its use unless you have some specific reaction to the additive we all know as MSG. Even a trip to the local deli might have you grabbing a dose of the stuff and a trip to the nearest fast food for a quick lunch is another sure way to load up. Not many establishments would openly advertise they use it but honesty is still the best policy and that isn’t necessarily good for business in a sense according to them.
Considered safe for use on food as an additive by the USFDA, one of the most stringent government health offices the world over, there are still quite a few exaggerated claims of ill side effects of its use. There may be cases of interaction between existing medical conditions or drugs that can lead to hyper-sensitivity to the stuff but statistics place the numbers at so low levels they do not warrant aggressive barring from use.

Beautiful Eyes, How?

Eye shadows have been used since ancient times to enhance the eyes and to bring focus towards the expressive windows into the soul. For those with ivory complexions, neutral shades as well as blue-greens. reddish-browns and cool purple hues work best highlighting the eyes on an otherwise bright face toning down your skin tone. Beige skin, use taupe, greens, warm brown’s, deep plums and tawnie’s work in the same way. For darker skin tones or bronze skin, use darker and bolder shades avoiding bright ones that would look artificial and unnatural.
Your iris or eye color can also be used to continue the drama of your eyeshadow, taking clue from their eyes. contrast is the key to a good effect allowing you to bring more attention to your face and thus making it as presentable as possible. Application is also key, so keep tab on the many resources on the internet for such steps which would be in the form of video, narratives and many more, for beginners use the video selections which shows the actual process making it easier.

Teen Bias on Acne – Still Out There

We’ve been told again and again, acne is a part of adolescent life and nothing much can be done about it (till maybe someone invents a time machine that would allow you to skip that stage of life). But the world being a very biased and judgmental place, bias towards teens who do have acne and sometimes severe cases are still suffering from taunts and psychological despair that leads them to avoid a healthy and normal life. The human psyche is so fragile that anyhing wrong within is caught on by the body and manifested commensurately, stress leads to depression and more serious illnesses. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder buy true beauty comes from within.

Arometherapy for cellulite

Skin massage has often been touted as a treatment for cellulite, and three essential oils can help the proces: juniper, lavender, and rosemary.
Juniper and rosemary are both diuretic oils that stimulate blood flow, improve circulation, and reduce puffiness, swelling, and water retention. These qualities are important in relation to cellulite when you consider that it is the result of fluid accumulation in the fatty layer of the skin. This happens when there are problems in the microcirculation, and its’ believed to be associated with our hormones – especially estrogen.
Lavender is a beautifully scented oil that is relaxing and great for stress. But it also has benefits for the skin. It is toning, and has a revitalizing effect.
When these three oils are combined with a therapeutic carrier oil, they can be massaged into the skin for a good alternative cellulite remedy.

Purify

Water is the key to beautiful skin. We need to hydrate our body in any way we can. Through moisturizing the outer layer of the skin with the use of many kinds of lotions having different scents and textures. Through spraying hydrating spritzes in the middle of the day or amid a busy task in order to invigorate. By using hydrating pills and drinking extra powerful juices that are more potent than water in terms of rehydrating the body. With the use of moisturizing make-up and eating watery fruits and vegetables. Everything is about hydration actually, so its best if we could keep it up as part of our routine in our daily lives. To be beautiful, keep yourself wet, literally speaking. Do not forget to hydrate your body in any way possible.

Beauty Drink

Today, drinking green tea has become a daily regimen. It is now extensively sold in all grocery chains and other market areas too. But as a matter of fact, the benefits of green tea has been widely acknowledged centuries ago. Aside from it’s a regular drink, you can also find beauty products and vitamins containing green tea because of its affordability. It has natural ingredient that flushes toxins from the body and at the same time improves fat oxidation than other power boosting beverages. Most green tea products are sold as dried leaf tea but there are readily available capsules and liquid preparations in the market.

Cream blush rush

If it’s been a while since you last updated your makeup kit, here’s a good addition to your collection: cream blush. No brushes needed, just a touch on the cheeks using your fingers is enough to give you that natural sun-kissed look. A great thing about cream blush is that it’s handy to bring along for quick touch-ups.
A lot has been said about DuWop Blush Therapy and makes it worth mentioning. It’s in stick form for easy application without any mess. Nearly all the makeup brands have joined the cream blush bandwagon, so there’s a great selection in practically as many shades as powder blush.

Mixing it up

Alright, alright. It was designed with makeup artists in mind. But it's hard not to gush over Ólafur Ómarsson's MixUp, a ceramic palette for mixing makeup color on one's hand. The white plate is attached and secured to the hand using velcro and can be removed and replaced easily. It frees up the artist's hands and provides plenty of room of whatever pigments you need to combine. Think of natural-looking, glowing skin as the finished canvas, masterpieces in their own right. Who wouldn't want that? Now if only we could go to Iceland...

Gifts with an edge

Say your BFF is not exactly the girly girl but you want to give her a beauty product as a gift. Tall order? Not with Urban Decay. These two products need no wrapper and no lengthy apology. Choose of three lip potions and store it in this limited edition silver-plated ring. Poison Ring comes in a gorgeous purple faux snakeskin box lined with black velour. Did we say rocker chick? There is no gift (in the beauty section, at least) quite like it. Commando’s dog tag packaging is for the camouflage-wearing army girl. Inside are two lip glosses, Naked XXX Shine Cooling Lip Gloss and O Ultraglide Lip Gloss, leaving no excuses for dry lips in the battlefield. The adjustable chain makes it good for the bar and the barracks.

Dry Shampoos?

Most dry shampoos that are used for heavily styled hair (washing ruins those expensive curls and styling) come in either spray form (why dry?) that sends it all over the place, on your face, clothes and many other places that it ruins and can affect. So why not go for some really dry shampoo that kinda looks like dried up shoe polish complete with a brush on top so spread the mixture all over your hair. The best thing is that the powder form gets more of the stuff into the roots of your hair follicles rather than everywhere else wasting a lot of the product that should otherwise be on your scalp. It comes in two shades, light and dark. The lighter shade is suited for blond hair and the darker shade is suited for other hair types (dark).
Dry shampoos are great fro absorbing pollutants and other contaminants from your hair, lifting dirt and taking it out of your scalp. The particular brad we found does not contain any additional synthetic compounds that can harm your hair. One of the great and simple green products that is also non-environment impacting. Great fro those out of town trips and it fits easily in your purse for everyday scalp cleansing.

Hip Blue Eyes

Everybody’s wearing them and color is something that can really bring drama to one’s eyes. Blue liners used with black eyeliners to begin the shade shift brings more drama to your eyes and add to that a dramatic set of lashes with mascara and you get very dramatic eyes that can really make you stand out. Using back first makes the blue stand out as if it were floating, giving your eyes with a blue glow you simply can’t get enough of. Want more drama in your eyes, try some of the best products from Sephora with their products from OPI which comes in a mermaid shade collection that is enough to bring the sun and beach into your eyes as if you were made for the surf.
The use of eye liners has been known to enhance the drama of eyes and smudged up as an eye shadow on those lids, they complete the hue trip that makes wonderful eyes lovely and beautiful for a long days working or simply having fun in the sun. Don’t forget your sunblock, the sun is a tad bit harsher these days and best use it according to the instructions. Make-up on your eyes also comes with specific skin protection in terms of sun exposure making your eyes crisp and colorful even with protection from those harmful UV rays.

Lip Balms – With a Twist

Want luscious lips that has the ability to shift colors according to your mood? Then Dior has the answer with their Addict Lip Glow, Lip Balm. It is loaded with mood minerals that change colors according to heat thus your overall mood. The human body is subject to many harmful compounds through make-up and you wouldn’t believe it if we told you your daily regimen would go into the hundreds of compounds form naturally obtained to synthesized chemicals you wouldn’t even consider buying should you know of their existence. Dior and the many other cosmetic manufacturers have re-focused their attempts to come up with quality make-up by turning back to nature, trying to imitate what occurs naturally in the natural world.
Ever wonder where those color shifting ideas come from, get out into the garden and try to spot a butterfly and you’ll get the picture. they’re loaded with tiny scales that shift colors according to the way light hits them, bouncing into several shades that defies explanation. Minerals form deep in the earth also exhibit such qualities ground up into fine powder and mixed up with your favorite make-up brands. Lips that look luscious and bright need little augmentation, just a little splash from nature and you’re on your way to a look changing pout even you will love.

Ice Treatments

I used to do this way back my college years whenever my eyes are swollen. It’s a beauty secret that I would always love to share with everyone since all you need to do is get some ice in your fridge. After a good bath, grab a towel, place some ice on it, and let it stay for a minute in your eyes. Repeat the procedure until you get the desired effect. Yes, the sensation is different but it’s all worth it. And you’ll see the difference too – from puffiness to glamorous. 

Also, I do rub some ice on my face for some pink cheek effect. No more blush on needed. Ready to go.

Eye Bags Problem?

Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Avoid caffeine, alcoholic drinks, and too much salt if you are prone to having puffy eyes or eye bags because they dehydrate your body. Take vitamin C. Always wash your face before going to bed especially if you had put on some make-up. This prevents eye bags, puffiness, and swelling especially when you and/or your eyes are tired.
There are natural treatments for eye bags. Among the natural cures are rosehip tea, cucumbers, potatoes, and lavender. They can reduce the swelling under your eyes or the darkening around them. There are also eye creams available in supermarkets, personal care stores and other shops selling beauty care products.

Lipstick Wise

Like any woman, lipsticks seldom get worn out before you get tired of the shade or the trends make them a thing of the past. If you have several tubes of formerly favorite shades and colors, why not try to make a unique blend by cutting off some stubs (two or more), placing them in a microwave safe container and heating them till they melt. You know those small bottles with metal caps that once contained some face cream, they make good containers for such stuff and apply with a brush or with your fingers. Transfer it while still warm so it pours easy, let cool and use as regular lipstick with a brush or with your fingers. Who knows, you might just get a unique shade you can’t buy from the store.

A nifty tip for lively eyes

What do you do if you had a really wild night partying out in the town and having a little too much to drink and not a lot of sleep? You’ll certainly look like a zombie when you wake up. Is there a way out of this beauty dilemma? Well, if you have a white eyeliner then you have in your hands your savior.
A great beauty tip for those who want to avoid looking like a sleepy mess is using white eyeliner. Trace the inside of the underside of your eye with eyeliner and it will create the illusion of a wider looking eye. No more sleepy look!

Ten-minutes is all you need

A busy schedule is one the most perfect excuses that girls use when they start neglecting themselves. How many times have you heard the line �I have no time�? Countless right? But this shouldn�t be the case. Because believe it or not, all you need to stay pretty is ten minutes tops.
Ready? Here we go:
1. Wash, tone, and moisturize. You�ve heard it time and again, but it�s true. Following this easy, three-step secret can help keep your skin smooth, young, and zit-free. And with spotless skin, what would you need make-up for? If you move quick enough, five minutes is all you need.
2. Hair we go. Your hair is there for a reason and it shouldn�t be ignored. If you think you won�t have time to be bothered with it, then take three minutes to clear the tangles and put it up in a neat pony. Too short? Slather on some gel or wax to keep every strand in place. A messy mop of hair with no sense of direction? Definitely not pretty.
3. Pink is it. You�ve already got perfect skin and your hair�s in place. So all you need to complete the look is to swab a bit of color to your lips and cheeks. A lip and cheek tint would instantly give you a healthy pink glow.

Oil Control Film

Having an oily, shiny face can be very frustrating and can even start pimple breakouts. A beauty essential for those people with oily skin is an oil control/blotting film.
An oil control film is a must-have for people with oily skin, especially when going out. It instantly removes excess oil on the face, giving a fresh and clean feel after. It is easy to use, just pat a sheet/film over the shiny areas of the face to give your skin a beautiful result. Using the film with a light dab will only remove the excess oil/grease on the face without messing the make-up. Another advantage of the oil control film is that it is very convenient, economical and handy which makes it easy to bring along and stuff it anywhere.

Treating hyperpigmentation

If the summer sun is too much for your sunblock, take heart. You can control the brown spots and unevenness of your skin by continuing the use of sunscreen and incorporating DDF’s special line devoted to hyperpigmentation into your regimen. Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula has a number of steps in this solution, starting with the Brightening Cleanser, which helps even out skin tone. The Discoloration Reversal-Pod helps minimize age spots. The Erase Eye Gel helps control dark circles and puffy eyes. Fade Cream 15 has SPF and hydroquinone 2% to protect and lighten skin. Finally, the Intensive Holistic Lightener smooths out skin and helps reduce discolorations.

Getting that Beautiful Skin

Image Source: www.beautiesbeautytips.blogspot.com
To get beautiful skin, you’re spoil for choice in terms of products. But if you want something other than manufactured cosmetics, natural home remedies can work wonders for your complexion. Here are a few of our favorite granny remedies.
Dry skin
Use rosebay willow herb to remove make-up
Throw a bunch of rosebay into a litre of boiling water. Once it’s cold, filter and mix a glass of the remains with 2 tablespoonfuls of fresh milk. Apply with a cotton pad to remove your make-up.
Oily skin
Purify with a mud lemon mask
Mix 2 tablespoonfuls of green mud, the juice of half a lemon, 2 drops of tea bark essential oil and 1 drop of citrus essential oil. Apply, avoiding the eye area, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with tepid water.
Normal skin
Cleanse and refresh with a purifying cucumber mask
Peel and remove the seeds of half a cucumber, and mash. Add 2 tablespoonfuls of crème fraiche and 2 tablespoonfuls of flour. Apply the mask for 10 minutes, avoiding the eye area, and then rinse.

A Beauty Product that works…… Really!

In a first with the cosmetics industry and independent study has found that the product, Boot’s No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum, is really what it claims to be. We call it a first for seldom does the cosmetics industry allow such testing and real-world evaluation of it’s products that are more or less tested within their own laboratories. Dermatologists from the University of Manchester have found that the said product in question, does indeed work as claimed, proof of the much hyped advertising, it works, for real. Not all cosmetics undergo such public a testing due to secretive and cut-throat research into the many beauty products that are worth billions every year.

Beauty Supplements

It’s not enough to be beautiful on the outside. Healthy skin, hair and fingernails also need a little help from the inside. We looked at the labels of two nutritional supplements: Nail, Hair & Skin Connection from Rainbow Light, and Skin, Hair & Nails from Natrol to compare their contents. Both have vitamins A, B6, B12, and C, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, zinc, copper, and methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM). Natrol has Vitamin E, cysteine for elasticity, and glutathione to fight against free radicals, while Rainbow Light is stronger on its B vitamins and mineral-rich botanicals. Both recommend two caps a day. If you’re already taking in supplements, don’t expect a major change.

Oily Skin

When choosing the right kind of moisturizer for your skin you should consider many things before just going and buying any product off the shelves. Remember skin is one of the sensitive parts of our body.
First off, know your skin type. Most of the common problem that every woman has is “oily skin”. Oily skin is best-described as shiny with a dull color to it. It could be because of the hormones, diet or the weather. Women of old age prefer natural treatments. Natural oils such as olive oil are actually good for oily skin types, they help break down the body’s oil and replace it with good oil.
Choosing the right make up also helps prevent oily skin. Don’t go for the brands. Choose the right one for you. Avoid changing products just because you’ve seen it on ads.

A big NO to oily skin

A shiny, oily face is not only unsightly. It can also be the culprit behind your acne attacks. According to studies, the oil on your face does not exact give birth to pimples. But constantly having oily skin can contribute to breakouts if the skin isn�t kept as clean as it should be.
How does acne pop up? Acne is what happens when dirt and oil clog up your pores and breed bacteria inside. It�s the bacteria that cause the ugly swelling and the painful and ugly pus is actually the body�s way of battling with the bacteria. In short, you can be pimple free if you keep your skin clean and oil free.

Some Truths About Acne

Chocolates do not cause acne.
So does dirt.
UV light does not help your acne.
Acne is caused by bacteria. They thrive in glands or pores on the face clogged with oil and dead cells. This is the real cause of acne. Nothing you eat can cause acne, although they may aid in its breakout. The dirt your face gets doesn’t get to the pores and therefore it cannot cause acne. Long exposure to sunlight won’t cure your acne. Well, slight sunburn may cover them, but if you burn your face too much, the irritation may even lead to more acne.

Staying beautiful over the years

Fact is, age plays a significant role when it comes to beauty. The natural aging process involves certain changes in our physique that results to some not so beautiful effects. We’ve heard it all before : wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin.
This is exactly why it’s important to know the right kind of skin care you need to use in reference to your age. Not all products are good for all skin types. And as you mature, there would be things you need to do that you might not have done before.
Don’t have a clue on what to do? Take a look at this article entitled, Beauty by numbers and get pointers on what you should do to take care of your skin whether you’re in your 20′s, 30′s, 30′s or even 50′s.

Skin deep: getting to know Vitamin E

What exactly is Vitamin E and why do most beauty products today have it? According to the experts, Vitamin E is best known for its antioxidant properties. This basically means that it has the ability to help protect vital cell structures by neutralizing molecules called free radicals, which are unstable molecules that come from sources like air pollution and radiation. By nature, free radicals are bad for the body as they can bring about damage and eventually, a multitude of diseases.
And one of the body parts that can be greatly affected by free radicals is the skin. This is why skin care products with Vitamin E are very important in keeping your skin healthy. It helps protect the cells from damage and because it keeps the free radicals at bay, the skin remains healthy.
So if you want to make sure your skin is nourished, load up on almonds, kiwi, and mangoes as these foods are known to have different quantities of Vitamin E. And to make sure you get enough in your system, it�s always a good idea to take supplements to complement your diet.

Your Diet and Acne Breakout

Hiding in your house, too embarrassed to go out, social life is deteriorating – all these just because of your acne. That’s too bad. But you know what; acnes can be controlled and treated. But it would make more sense if you can control their breakout in the first place, right? And it all starts with the food you take. Foods high in fat, oil, sugar, and even carbohydrates can cause the breakout of acnes. But they do not cause the acne themselves. Limit you intake of these kinds of foods. Maintain a healthy diet. Eat more organic food. Junk foods should be avoided if you have acne problems. Also, know the foods which you are allergic to, allergies can also lead to acne breakout. Stay hydrated. Dehydration is bad for your skin. Take vitamin E to keep your skin healthy.