Top Makeup tips

Top Makeup tips

Whether it is a range of colours in your eyeshadow palette, lipsticks, lipgloss, brush, among others, every makeup tool can be used in varied ways and multiple areas on your face. It is smart, practical and economical to use the same product in different ways. Depending on how you use them, you can create wonderful effects and make the most of your features, just like magic. You might be an experienced makeup artist or a beginner using makeup on yourself, you can always learn tips and hacks to make get the effects you want.

Your primer must complement your foundation

Face primers are designed to keep your base in place, make your skin naturally glow and keep your foundation matte. To make make the most of its effect, your primer and foundation should share the same base. Otherwise, they will repel each other and it will make it hard for you to blend them together.

Make Crow's Feet Disappear

Primer can also help minimize the effect of age on the face, particularly the infamous crow's feet. Just dab a little amount of primer around your eyes and it will make those crow's feet less visible.

Right Application For Right Coverage

When you put your foundation on, you have to use the right method to get the effect you want. F you want sheer coverage, you are better off using your fingers to apply foundation. If you prefer full coverage, use a foundation brush instead.

Eye makeup

Use a plastic spoon to apply mascara on your bottom lashes to avoid getting any on the skin under your eyes. This method can also help you to achieve a much thicker coat.

Using a scotch tape eye stencil to guide you when you apply eyeliner and eyeshadow, particularly if the style you are going for is difficult like "cat eye". This method is also helpful to accomplish an identical look on both eyes.

If you suffer from eye bags, the best way to conceal them is by highlighting the crease and then applying a darker shade to the actual puffy area. To help you bring out your eyes, use highlights. To create this effect, use lighter colours, such as whites, creams and pearls, and apply them to the inner corners, the middle of the eye, and just under your brow bone. The best way to do it is by applying your lightest colours first and then you can start with the darker shades. You can also use a highlighter to give you an instant eye lift. Just draw an arch right above the brow and then blend with your finger. This will make your arch look raised.

Be mindful of your eye shape when you use the colour, shade and style of your eye makeup. Sample as many as you can and when you find the right ones, use them to accentuate the shape of your eyes. If you want to make your eyes look bigger, you might want to get a nude pencil. If you line your waterline with a nude pencil, it will create the illusion that your eyes are bigger than they actually are.

If you want to go for a more natural look, opt for tightlining, which consists in applying your inner liner in between your lashes. This gives the illusion that you are not wearing any makeup while it adds a little bit of colour and definition to your eyes by making the base of your lashes thicker, and therefore, it stands out more.

Lips

Use a small toothbrush to exfoliate your lips; this process will remove flakey skin that is usually made more obvious by lipstick. You can make your own lip exfoliator by mixing sugar, honey and coconut oil and apply to your lips before scrubbing.

If you want to make your lips look larger, opt for outlining your lips just outside of your natural line.

To make your lipstick last longer, hold a tissue over your lips after putting your lipstick on and then apply power over the tissue. This method will create a matte look that will last longer. Alternatively, you can opt for brands that offer 24-hour-long-lasting lipsticks.

What makeup to choose depending on the season

What makeup to choose depending on the season

Although colours and styles can vary from one person to the other, there are certain guidelines that are recommended to follow in terms of makeup to make the most of the current season. While you might have already picked the colours and makeup stye in general that best suits, it is advisable to change and try new colours as time passes; remember that your skin will not always be the same and some makeup is more appropriate to certain age groups. Therefore, it is important to update foundation, concealer and colour palette throughout the years.

Winter

If you live in the Northern hemisphere, winter is festive season where bright colours like red are king, so you might want to consider indulging in richer, deeper colours, such as wine, chestnut and dark violets. The same applies if you live in the Southern hemisphere, as your skin is paler during the winter season and the colours of the clothes are lighter, so it becomes rather favourable to make your face look radiant and vibrant with colours full of life.

Don't forget, however, that you most balance this look out. If you choose rich shades for the eyes, opt for a lighter lipstick. Medium to dark jewel tone colours are a great choice for lips, but you need to try different shades to find the one that suits you best. If you have small lips, you might be better off choosing medium berry shades, while darker shades, such as crimson, are more suitable for full lips.

Winter is also the best time of year to wear a bold and sexy red lip shade. You just need to sample different shades to find that is right for you. Try as many as you can as there is an endless array of shades. Just remember that red lipstick has been around for way too long. It is the classic and most feminine lipstick colour out there, so the choices are infinite. Red is also a colour that can be used for many occasions, Whether you are wearing a fancy dress or rocking a black leather jacket, red lipstick can be the final touch of your look.

During the day, you might want to opt for lighter colours, go easy on makeup and wear the classic neutral eye look with a deep brown liner. In the evening, opt for a classic look and use a deep chocolate red paired with a bright gold shadow with a hint of shimmer.

Don't forget to moisturise your lips during this season, as lips teng get chapped with the cold and wind. This helps to make your lips look glossy which is a good look for the season. To boost this effect, apply a shimmery gloss over any darker shade to boost the glam festive look.

This time of year is also good for deep chestnut brownie tones on your eyes, which match really well with any berry or jewel-tone lipsticks. To help brighten up your face, choose charcoal grey and metallic earth shades. When you go out at night, however, you might want to choose darker eye shades.

Spring

When the flowers bloom, it's time for you to renew yourself and create a fresh look with light colours. Choose a champagne pink colour or any other neutral eye shade to get a fresh look. If you would rather opt for a whimsical spring look, you might want to try earth-toned shadows aimed at creating a soft smokey eye and pair with a peachy-pink or nude colour with a hint of pink. Whether you have blue eyes or brown, earth tone shadows are perfect for all eye colours. Use a soft rose colour blush for the cheeks to complete this look and it goes particularly well with light pastel eyeshadow.

Summer

Use of makeup decreases during the hot months as your skin will probably enjoy a nice complexion thanks to UVB rays. Although this tanned look might make you look healthier, you might want to take the necessary precautions as any darkening in the skin is an indication of damage. Make sure you wear sunscreen and protect your skin with the an appropriate foundation.

During summertime, opt for bronzers that give the skin vitality and a healthy glow without the harmful UV effects. Apply powder bronzer with a large dome brush with light strokes to the areas of the face that normally get the most sun exposure, namely the outer cheek area, temples and lower jaw line.

Fall

Emerald green and burgundy eyeshadow are the colours that will best suit you during this season, which is all about warmth and depth of colour. In the daytime, mix these shadows with lighter liquid eyeliners - metallic gold and wine would go really well paired with these shadows. Dark brown/black or true blackliner looks will be best paired with warm eyeshadows shades when you apply your makeup in the evening.

Face masks

Face masks

Whether you need to moisturise your skin, prevent wrinkles, treat acne, lighten spots or remove impurities, there's a facial mask for every beauty concern. Depending on the mask you choose, you'll be able to hydrate your skin, remove excess oils and help improve the appearance of your pores. They are also the best way to help put out impurities. All you need to do is to slap one face mask on for 10 minutes, and you'll instantly feel your skin tightened and toned. After only 10 minutes of having a face mask on, you'll feel instantly pampered; it leaves you with a sense of well-being similar to the one you get after having a massage.

While most skin care regimens require a daily routine, a face mask has visible effects even if you use them only once a week; you can use it more, however, if your skin condition requires it. Contrary to popular beliefs, face masks are not only designed for women, but they men should also make the most of their benefits.

Congested skin

If you suffer from congested skin, and therefore you have clogged pores, a lack of radiance and an uneven skin surface, you should look for masks containing AHAs like glycolic acid and BHAs such as salicylic acid. These two help resurface the skin and clear out pores, so they have the same effect as a manual exfoliation.

Blemished skin

Meanwhile, the answer to blemished skin is clay as it cleans pores, draws out excess oil and brightens up the skin. Masking with a product that contains Bentonite clay helps to remove dirt and minimize excess oils. Clay is also perfect to remove the build-up of dead skin cells that accumulate on our skin. When your pores get clogged with impurities, this contaminant gets pushed down into the pore and there is where bacteria can develop. When that bacteria grows, it leads to blemix, a flurry of breakouts and even giant pimples. That is why you need regular face masks to keep your skin surface clean and your pores unclogged.

Stressed skin

If you suffer from stressed or reddened skin - either due to rosacea, windburn or the aftermath of a skin procedure - you should look for a mask that can soothe your skin, such as oils and fragrance-free easily absorbed formulas. Leave them on overnight for best results.

Ageing skin

If you are suffering from the effects of age and your skin is showing signs of fatigue and a loss of that youthful plumpness, you might want to opt for a rich, hydrating mask that will instantly moisturise your skin. Plant oils and emollients will do the trick.

Dull skin

If your skin is looking dull and lacklustre, get a mask filled with plant enzymes, natural actives and hydration boosters. The same rule applies to dry skin; look for nourishing ingredients such as honey, fatty acids and plant oils and butters.

Masks with tingly mint in the formulation can help stimulate blood circulation and achieve glowing skin. Besides, when your mask dries on your skin and begins to harden, plus the process of removing it causes an expansion in the blood vessels in your skin. This leads to an improvement in skin tone. This process will lead to softer-feeling and smoother-looking skin; besides, it will become apparent that your skin is glowing and you will look more refreshed.

Relaxation

Another reason to apply a face mask is that they can be very relaxing. Whether they are infused with aromas like roses or mint or are fresh and cool to the touch, a face mask can be rather therapeutic. You can create a whole experience out of it with a bit of ambien - like a bath or some candles. It will be an exhilarating sensory experience that will make you feel more relaxed.

Deep cleansing

Only a mask can deeply clean your skin by removing oil, makeup and impurities from the surface of the skin. You can only draw out impurities that dwell beneath the top layers of the epidermis by using a mask. Thanks to masks' detoxifying effects, you can quickly see the results on your skin.

Masks help your overall treatment

Using masks helps all of your other skin care products - such as lotions, serums and nighttime products - work better and be absorbed by your skin quicker and deeper. If you use masks regularly, then your toning, hydrating, and protecting products will all have better results and at a faster pace.

Health benefits of a massage

Health benefits of a massage

Even though most people turn to massages to relax and pamper themselves, getting the right can also have surprising health benefits. In fact, massage therapy as a method to improve health is becoming more and more popular. What once was an alternative approach is now becoming much more mainstream.

Massage therapy is based on hands-on techniques designed to increase circulation, relieve tension, reduce stress, relieve anxiety, improve sleep, and promote relaxation from head to toe, among other benefits. If you are tense, need to unwind, have an injury or have extensive muscle/nerve tissue damage, massage therapy might be the right approach for you. Here are some of the benefits of a massage:

It is relaxing

This is the most obvious benefit, but it's still important nonetheless as stress can be very bad for your body and mind. When you are tense or under stress, your body produces unhealthy levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. An excess of this hormone in the body can lead to weight gain, sleeplessness, digestive problems, and headaches. Massage therapy works lowering cortisol levels in the body. Thanks to the therapeutic benefits of a massage, after only one session, the body enters recovery mode. This form of therapy is also known for sparking feelings of relaxation, improved mood, while reducing stress levels.

It reverses the effects of sitting down for too long

According to Aaron Tanasin, a massage practitioner and owner at Paleolife Massage Therapy in Canada, "Most individuals are dealing with some kind of postural stress. More often than not [that stress] tends to manifest in the shoulders and neck."

Desk workers are more prone to suffer from more advanced forms of postural stress, which manifests itself as pain or weakness in the low back and glutes. These symptoms tend to signify prolonged periods of sitting. Massage, however, can counteract the effects of sitting for too long.

It relieves muscle pain

Massage therapy promotes muscle relaxation by targeting the source of the body's pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles and, thus, the whole body. Massage also boosts circulation to the affected or injured muscles, which in turn increases nutrients and oxygen to the damaged tissues. This stimulation of the affected areas reduces effiness stiffness and edema (swelling) in the muscles and joints, at the same time it increases flexibility to help reduce pain.

According to Tanson, massages can help assuage the pain and uneasiness that comes from sore muscles. According to Tanson, "massage increases and improves circulation. Just like rubbing your elbow when you knock it on a table helps to relieve the pain." Further studies have proved that massage therapy can be very effective to treat chronic back pain.

This form of therapy also releases endorphins, which in turn boost the dopamine and serotonin levels in the body. These hormones benefit the body physically as well as emotionally, hence promoting healing, pain management, and feelings of euphoria; they also work calming the nerves.

It can be used to treat anxiety and depression

Massage therapy can help reduce stress levels, help to treat anxiety and depression, and ultimately, over time it can boost energy levels, reduce pain, and stimulate individuals on physical as well as emotional levels. Research has shown that consistent massage sessions can reduce trigger sources for anxiety, hostility, tension, and depression.

Human touch, in a context that is safe, friendly and professional, can be incredibly therapeutic and relaxing," says Tanason.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, patients who were depressed and anxious were much more relaxed and happy after a massage.

It improves sleep patterns

A massage is good to get a restful sleep. "Massage promotes relaxation and sleep in those undergoing chemo or radiation therapy," stated Lisa Marie de Miranda, registered massage therapist and kinesiologist at Paleolife Massage Therapy.

It boosts immunity

According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, massage can boost patients' white blood cell count, which is vital for a strong immune system.

It relieves headaches

Rather than relying on pills, next time you get a headache or if you suffer from migraines, it might be worth it to get a massage. "Massage decreases frequency and severity of tension headaches," says de Miranda.

According to a study from Granada University in Spain, patients with chronic tension headaches perceived changes only after one session of massage therapy.

It Can Help Lower Blood Pressure

Regular massage therapy sessions can have the surprising effect of reducing blood pressure levels, according to recent research. Further studies have shown that a consistent massage program can both systolic (upper number) and diastolic (lower number) blood pressure. In turn, lower blood pressure levels can help to prevent a heart attack, stroke, and/or kidney failure, as well as many other health issues.