Make up

32 Makeup Tips That Nobody Told You About

6:06:00 PM Unknown 0 Comments




With a few tips and tricks, you don’t have to be a professional to have fabulous looking makeup. It has taken me years to learn my face shape, what colors flatter me, how much to apply, and how to apply it so that it looks beautiful and natural. But, I think I’ve finally perfected my morning routine!
You don’t have to spend hours doing it, either. Once you have the know-how, you’ll see just how much makeup can accentuate your best features and hide those that aren’t as favorable. Here are a few makeup tips and tricks that you’ll wish you had known a long, long time ago!
1. Repurposed Plastic Spoon
Use a plastic spoon to easily apply mascara on your bottom lashes without getting any on the skin under your eyes. It also helps you to accomplish a much thicker coat. Or, if you find your under eyes to be a complete mess after applying eyeshadow and mascara, try these shadow shields!


2. Blush For Your Face Type


In order to apply blush where it will be most flattering on you, first determine your face shape. Blush not only adds color, but also contours and defines your cheek bones. The way you apply your blush can accentuate your best features and also soften those that are perhaps too prominent.


3. Scotch Tape Eye Stencil

This unconventional beauty aid will help guide you when applying eye liner and shadows, especially if you’re going for a more daring look such as the “cat eye”. It will also help you achieve an even and balanced look for both eyes. 



4. Disguising Under Eye Bags

Most of us tend to just sweep a layer of concealer to the entire under eye area, but to really conceal bags, it’s best to highlight the crease and then apply a darker shade to the actual puffy area.



5. Eye Highlights

The placement of highlights is very important when trying to create naturally beautiful eye makeup. Your lighter colors (whites, creams, and pearls) should be applied to the inner corners, the middle of the eye, and just under your brow bone. Apply your lightest colors first, and then move on to your darker shades.



6. How To Fix Clumpy Mascara

Let’s face it, this happens to every tube of mascara over time. The problem is it dries out and then starts to form unattractive lumps. To help prevent this, don’t pump your mascara trying to get more on your wand; you’re basically pumping air into the tube causing it to dry out even faster.
Although mascara should be replaced every 3 to 4 months, I used to replace mine much sooner just because it dries out so fast and creates undesirable results. But, there’s an easy fix for that! Add a drop or two of Visine (or any brand of eye drops) into the tube, and then rub the wand around inside. The Visine softens the mascara liquid, making it apply as if it were a brand new tube!


7. Lipstick Ready

Use a baby toothbrush to exfoliate your lips. To really get the job done, you can make a homemade lip exfoliate with sugar, honey and coconut oil, or easier but not as effective, cover your lips in lip balm or petroleum jelly before scrubbing.



8. Make The Best Of Your Eye Shape

As important as your color choices are, the placement of your shadows and liners is just as critical; you can create just about any illusion that you want. With careful placement, you can make your eyes appear wider, closer set, more prominent, deeper set, etc. Determine what shape of eyes you have, and then accentuate them accordingly.


9. Make Eyes Appear Bigger

If you don’t already own a nude pencil, invest in one now just for this simple trick! Instead of lining your water line with dark eyeliner, use a nude pencil to create the illusion of a bigger eye. If you squint your eyes a little at this picture comparison, you’ll see what a difference it really makes. A white liner also works well if you are really fair-skinned.



10. Tightlining

What is tightlining? It’s a way of applying your liner right in between your lashes. This is a great way to appear as though you’re not wearing any makeup at all, yet adding a little bit of color and definition to your eyes, and making the base of your lashes appear thicker.



11. Make Eyeshadows Pop

Have you ever purchased a vibrant color of shadow that once applied appears rather dull? The key to making those colors pop is a white base. Use a white eyeliner and cover your entire lid before applying the color of your choice.




12. The False Eyelash Look

False lashes can be a pain, not to mention time consuming! Here are a few ways to get the look without the hassle:
1. After curling your lashes, apply a thin layer of powder before applying your mascara. I just sweep a small blending brush across my compact and apply it to the top and bottom of my eyelashes. I’ve also heard that some people use baby powder, although I think they both have virtually the same effect; creating a base that makes them appear much fuller.
2. Apply two coats of mascara to the bottom and TOP side of your lashes, but wait 3-5 minutes in between each coat, otherwise they tend to get clumpy (not cute).
3. When applying your mascara, you don’t want to just move your mascara wand from the base of your lashes up. Make sure you are moving the mascara wand back and forth while going up. The left and right motion will make sure every lash is covered entirely, all the way to the tip.
4. Almost done! Now, check your lashes for any gaps. Use the tip of your wand to apply another coat of mascara to individual lashes where they look sparse. Even better, use a fine tipped liquid eyeliner to fine tune and fill in any gaps.



13. Lash Curling Secret

Get the most out of your lash curler by pinching at the very base of  your lashes, and then lifting the curler up into an inverted position. This creates double the curl and lasts much longer!



14. Heat Your Lash Curler

Hold a blow dryer up next to your lash curler for about 3-5 seconds. The heat works the same way as it does with your curling iron, giving you those flirty lashes that will last all day.



15. The Perfect Match

This is the one thing that no matter how well it’s applied, if it’s the wrong color, it will look terrible! We all dread that our foundation will give us a ghost face or even worse, that dreaded orange jaw line. Because your neck isn’t exposed to the sun as much as your face, it is much better for matching your true color.



16. Business Card Trick

When applying mascara, hold a business card behind your lashes and apply it in a back and forth motion starting at the roots. You can really put it on this way, coating every lash fast!



17. Secret Eye Lift

Sweep a light pink matte pencil across the entire length of your brow bone to create the illusion of a higher arch, and then blend, blend, blend! It should not be detectable.



18. Proper Contouring

When applied right, contouring can define your cheekbones and jaw line, reduce the look of a double chin, minimize a larger nose, and lift sagging eyes. It’s basically using makeup to highlight and accentuate your features. This is especially important for photos, as the camera tends to pick up shadows and highlights better than the naked eye.
There are actual contouring and highlighting powders made just for this, but you can also use a bronzer or powder that is a few shades darker than your skin, and a foundation that is a few shades lighter for highlighting. For the most part, your t-zone and under eye area is where you want to highlight, and the outer portion of your face, underneath your cheekbones, and your neck is where you want to define with a darker color. Keep in mind, blending is key for a natural look! This may take some practice at first.



19. The Line Saver

I’m always having to check my eyeliner because sometimes it starts to stray from where it was placed, especially in the summer months. Certain eyeliners are more prone to this, especially those that aren’t water proof, but I don’t like using waterproof makeup because it’s so darn hard to get off! I always feel like I’m ripping my lashes off in the removal process. To keep your liner behaving, sweep loose or pressed powder right underneath the eyeliner on your bottom lid. It creates somewhat of a barrier, preventing your eyeliner from traveling downward.



20. The Lip Cheat

As it turns out, we weren’t all blessed with Angelina Jolie’s lush lips. Now, there are a few tricks to making them appear larger (a glossy lip being one), but for a more dramatic effect, don’t be afraid to line your lips just outside of your natural line. When I say just outside of your natural line, I mean slightly. You don’t want to look like a clown by over doing it!



21. Downward Strokes

Although you want to wash your face and apply your moisturizer with upwards strokes to help lessen fine lines and a sagging face, the opposite is true for foundation and powder. Most of us have a little bit of hair on our face, and it tends to grow downwards. If you apply your makeup with upward strokes, it will cause your “peach fuzz” to stick strait up, making it more noticeable.



22. Eyebrows & Face Shape

A lot of us ignore our eyebrows (or have over plucked them into non-existence) not realizing how important they are in defining our face. There isn’t one shape that is the best, it really just depends on your unique facial features and shape. Just like contouring, your eyebrow shape and thickness can help soften your face shape.



23. DIY Tinted Moisturizer

This works just as well as a B&B cream, hiding imperfections with a really natural look; simply mix your favorite facial moisturizer with a little bit of concealer. This way you can customize it with just the right amount of coverage.



24. Instant Eye Lift

This quick and easy illusion will give you an instant eye life. Draw an arch directly above your eyebrow with your favorite highlighter, and blend with your finger. This makes your arch look raised, making the whole eye area look like it has been lifted.


25. Wash & Save Your Wands

Instead of tossing them in the trash when your mascara expires, wash and repurpose those wands! You can use them as an eyebrow brush, even applying a bit of color before sweeping across your brows. Or, spray with hairspray and use them to brush and keep your eyebrows in place.



26. Clump-Free Lashes

It may seem like a waste, but if you want clump-free lashes (so hard to achieve, right?!) , you have to wipe your mascara wand off on a tissue before each application. This way you can apply several coats seamlessly.



27. Blemish Secret

Instead of using that bulky tube of concealer to cover your blemishes, rub a bit of it on an eyeliner brush (or any slender brush) for more precise control. Don’t forget to blend the edges with your finger!




28. Soften The Line

Although I like liquid liner and its ability to really define the eyes, I’m not really a fan of the harshness of it. And, if it’s not applied perfectly, imperfections really stand out. To soften the look, sweep a metallic brown shadow over the liner. This not only diminishes the hard-line, but also helps hide imperfections.



29. Make It Last

Keep those lips kissable by sealing the deal. After your lipstick is applied, hold a tissue over your lips and apply powder over the tissue. This creates a matte look that lasts much longer.



30. False Eyelash 101

If you’ve ever attempted this beauty-aid, you know that it can be quite trying! But, false eye lashes can bring your look from drab to fab in just a few patient minutes, and is definitely worth the time for special occasions. The key is knowing how to apply them from the get-go, otherwise your frustration will prevail.



31. The 3-D Lip Effect

So simple and stunning! Use your finger to stamp a little bit of frosted blush or eye shadow to the center of your bottom and top lip.



32. When To Toss It Out

As much money as we spend on our beauty products, it’s hard to let it go, but at some point your makeup becomes unhealthy for your skin and eyes. This is especially true for anything that gets applied around your eyes, so it’s important to give your makeup drawer a good clean out every once in a while.



























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Love&Sex

10 Ways to Have Peaceful, Loving Relationships

4:59:00 PM Unknown 0 Comments




 “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” ~Dalai Lama

 Though Valentine’s Day is coming up next month, this is not a post about romance. It’s about any relationship—with your brother, your mother, your coworker, or your friend.

 And I admit I am not an expert.

 I’ve made a million and one mistakes in relationships. I’ve expected too much. Or not asked for what I needed in fear of rocking the boat. I’ve been competitive. I’ve been suspicious. I’ve been dependent. I’d like to think what redeems me from all these mistakes is that I’ve also been honest.

 Being self aware, in my opinion, is far more valuable than being perfect—mostly because the former is attainable and helpful, while the latter is neither.

 Relationships are not easy. They mirror everything we feel about ourselves. When you’ve had a bad day, the people around you seem difficult. When you’re not happy with yourself, your relationships seem to be lacking.

 If you’ve ever gotten in a fight only to find yourself wondering what you were really upset about, this post may help you. If you’ve ever been disappointed because someone didn’t meet your expectations, this post may help you, too. Feel walked on and unheard? You guessed it—there’s likely something in here that will help you change that.

 We don’t live in a vacuum. We have thoughts and feelings that can be confusing. Other people do too. And just like in the movie Crash, they don’t always collide smoothly.

 When I apply these ideas, I feel confident, strong, compassionate, and peaceful in my interactions. I hope they can do the same for you.
1. Do what you need to do for you.

 Everyone has personal needs, whether it’s going to the gym after work or taking some alone time on Saturday morning. If someone asks you to do something and your instinct is to honor you own need, do that. I’m not saying you can’t make sacrifices sometimes, but it’s important to make a habit of taking care of yourself. 

 Someone once told me people are like glasses of water. If we don’t do what we have to do to keep our glass full, we’ll need to take it from someone else—which leaves them half full. Fill your own glass so you can feel whole and complete in your relationships.
2. Give people the benefit of the doubt.

 It’s tempting to doubt people—to assume your boyfriend meant to hurt you by not inviting you out with his friends, or your friend meant to make you feel inadequate by flaunting her money. People who care about you want you to feel happy, even if sometimes they get too wrapped up in their own problems to show it well.

 Sometimes they may be hurtful and mean it—let’s not pretend we’re all angels. But that won’t be the norm. It will likely be when they’re hurting and don’t know what to do with it. Odds are they’ll feel bad and apologize later. If you want to get good will, share it by seeing the best in the people you love. When we assume the best, we often inspire it.
3. Look at yourself for the problem first.

 When you feel unhappy with yourself, it’s easy to find something wrong in a relationship. If you blame another person for what you’re feeling, the solution is on them. But this is actually faulty logic. For starters, it gives them all the control. And secondly, it usually doesn’t solve the problem, since you didn’t actually address the root cause.

 Next time you feel the need to blame someone for your feelings—something they did or should have done—ask yourself if there’s something else going on. You may find there’s something underlying: something you did or should have done for you. Take responsibility for the problem and you have power to create a solution.
4. Be mindful of projecting.

 In psychology, projecting refers to denying your own traits and then ascribing them to the outside world or other people. For example, if you’re not a loyal and trusting friend, you may assume your friends are all out to get you. It’s a defense mechanism that allows you to avoid the discomfort of acknowledging your weaknesses. There’s no faster way to put a rift in your relationships.

 This comes back to down to self awareness, and it’s hard work. Acknowledging your flaws isn’t fun, but if you don’t, you’ll continue seeing them in everyone around you. And you’ll continue to hurt. Next time you see something negative in someone else, ask yourself if it’s true for you. It might not be, but if it is, identifying it can help create peace in that relationship.




5. Choose your battles.

 Everyone knows someone who makes everything a fight. If you question them about something, you can expect an argument. If you comment on something they did, you’ll probably get yelled at. Even a compliment could create a confrontation. Some people just like to fight—maybe to channel negativity they’re carrying around about the world or themselves.

 On the one hand, you have to tell people when there’s something bothering you. That’s the only way to address problems. On the other hand, you don’t have to let everything bother you. When I’m not sure if I need to bring something up, I ask myself these few questions:

 Does this happen often and leave me feeling bad?
Does this really matter in the grand scheme of things?
Can I empathize with their feelings instead of dwelling on my insecurity?
6. Confront compassionately and clearly.

 When you attack someone, their natural instinct is to get defensive, which gets you nowhere. You end up having a loud conversation where two people do their best to prove they’re right and the other one is wrong. It’s rarely that black and white. It’s more likely you both have points, but you’re both too stubborn to meet in the middle.

 If you approach someone with compassion, you will open their hearts and minds. Show them you understand where they’re coming from, and they’ll be willing to see your side. That gives you a chance to express yourself and your expectations clearly. And when you let people know what you need at the right time in the right way, they’re more likely to give that to you.
7. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.

 There are all kinds of ways you can feel vulnerable in relationships: When you express your feelings for someone else. When you’re honest about yourself or your past. When you admit you made a mistake. We don’t always do these things because we want to maintain a sense of power.

 Power allows us a superficial sense of control, whereas true, vulnerable being allows us a sense of authenticity. That’s love: being your true self and allowing someone else to do the same without letting fear and judgment tear it down. It’s like Jimi Hendrix said, “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”
8. Think before acting on emotion.

 This one is the hardest for me. As soon as I feel hurt, frustrated, or angry, I want to do something with it—which is always a bad idea. I’ve realized my initial emotional reaction does not always reflect how I really feel about something. Initially, I might feel scared or angry, but once I calm down and think things through, I often realize I overreacted.

 When you feel a strong emotion, try to sit it for a while. Don’t use it or run from it—just feel it. When you learn to observe your feelings before acting on them, you minimize the negativity you create in two ways: you process, analyze, and deal with feelings before putting them on someone else; and you communicate in a way that inspires them to stay open instead of shutting down.
9. Maintain boundaries.

 When people get close, boundaries can get fuzzy. In a relationship without boundaries, you let the other person manipulate you into doing things you don’t want to do. You act out of guilt instead of honoring your needs. You let someone offend you without telling them how you feel about it. The best way to ensure people treat you how you want to be treated is to teach them.

 That means you have to love and respect yourself enough to do that: to acknowledge what you need, and speak up. The only way to truly have loving, peaceful relationships is to start with a loving, peaceful relationship with yourself.
10. Enjoy their company more than their approval.

 When you desperately need someone’s approval, your relationship becomes all about what they do for you—how often they stroke your ego, how well they bring you up when you feel down, how well they mitigate your negative feelings. This is draining for another person, and it creates an unbalanced relationship.

 If you notice yourself dwelling on pleasing someone else or getting their approval, realize you’re creating that need. (Unless you’re in an abusive relationship, in which case I highly recommend getting help.) Instead of focusing on what you can get from that person, focus on enjoying yourselves together. Oftentimes the best thing you can do for yourself and someone else is let go and give yourself permission to smile.

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Love&Sex

5 Ways That Love is Good for Your Health

4:31:00 PM Unknown 0 Comments




Whether you consider Valentine's Day to be "Single People's Awareness Day," another irritating hallmark holiday or just a day to celebrate the people you love, one thing is for sure: Love is good for you.
Love comes in all shapes in sizes – your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband or wife and your best friends and family. Regardless of your impression of Valentine's Day, celebrate this month of love because love makes us happier and healthier.
Read on to learn about the top five ways that love improves your mental and physical health!

1. Love lowers your blood pressure

Love is proven to lower blood pressure and decrease stress levels. A 2007 found that happily married couples had lower blood pressure levels than unmarried people, while unhappily married couples had higher blood pressure than both groups [US Department of Health and Human Services].

This is not exclusive to love between romantic couples – close friendships with loving friends have the same effect! A 2010 study found that people with quality relationships had lower blood pressure than their less social counterparts. In fact, the loneliest people in the study saw a 14.4-point rise in systolic blood pressure when compared to their popular peers [Journal of Psychology and Aging].





2. Love decreases a person's likelihood of being depressed

Being in love is proven to decrease a person's likelihood of being depressed. A recent study found that subjects who were recently married scored an average of 3.42 points lower on the 84-point depression scale than unmarried subjects [Journal of Health and Social Behavior].

Simply living with your significant other can also reduce your risk of mental health issues. A 2005 study of middle aged women discovered that living with a significant other reduces the risk of psychological problems just as much as walking down the aisle.


 

3. Love boosts your body's immunity

Your husband may occasionally give you a cold, but believe it or not, couples in love have less frequent annual visits to the doctor than those without love in their life. A study by Wilkes University found that having sex at least once a week increases your levels of IgA, the antibody that fights illnesses and keeps us healthy [WebMD]. Oxytocin may play a role, too. This important hormone is released when we kiss or touch someone we love, and studies show that it can suppress stress hormones and boost immunity.
Other experts believe that immunity isn't just increased by regular sex but also has to do with the ability to keep people close. Be sure to plan dates with both your friends and significant other.

4. Love leads to a longer life

The National Longitudinal Mortality Study has found that married couples have a longer lifespan than unmarried couples. Married men are also half as likely to suffer from a heart attack, while some studies claim that both married men and women have drastically lower rates of serious diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's and lung disease.



5. Love can keep you in shape

Though it is a hotly debated subject, experts estimate that sex burns 85 or more for every 30 minute steamy session.
And not only that, but reaching orgasm can improve sleep, reduce pain and reduce chances of prostate cancer in men, according to a study by Harvard Medical School [Harvard Medical School]. If that's not an excuse to have some "alone time," with your significant other, I don't know what is.

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