18 February, 2010

Mustard oil

So, a few weeks ago i bought mustard oil. I didn't use it yet because i didn't know what to do with it. So i did some research. I found out that mustard oil is a source of vitamin A, vitamin E, iron, calcium, protein, omega-3, omega-6 and antioxidants. All this will be great for your skin. It is also excillent dor massaging. It is good for the heart and has many other benefits.

Some other benefits are:
- It can be used as an antibacterial oil
- Stimulates circulation
- It warms your body up in the winter because it promotes sweating if you massage your body with it.
- Helps to detoxify human body
- Makes your immune system strong
- Good for treating cold
- It can be used to slow down the ageing process
- It helps to reduce hairloss and promotes hair growth if you massage it on the scalp
- It will remove the tan of a sunburn and limits the itching and redness

The only thing is that this thing smells like crap!

Love,

16 February, 2010

The little black dress

Everybody knows the little black dress. The fashion must have for every woman. The LBD was introduced in 1920 by nobody else than Coco Chanel. They are simple but chic, classic, timeless and till today a favorite. You can wear it to work and to a party with a few accessoires added.

The LBD comes in many styles, designs and shape. They can be simple, strapless, one shoulder, tight ect. For everyone there is a dress. You can wear it simple or dress it up with a jackes, high heels, a clutch and some great earrings. You can do whatever you want with your hair aslong it's not messy and uncombed. A LBD is always a good alternative if you don't know what to wear. You will look great!

Love,

15 February, 2010

How to hide imperfections

Everyone wants a flawless complexion. But not everyone's skin is able to achive that look without make-up. The industry has some products that makes the flawless complexion even closer. Concealers are the best to hide your imperfections. The first thing is to find the right texture and shade. Here are some tips.

Get the perfect shade.
One of the biggest mistakes is to use a concealer that is too light or too dark. By using this you let your imperfection stand out and it won't look coverd. Most specialist recommend to mix two shades together. The light one should be used to cover gloomy spots and highlight the areas like the bridge of the nose, chin and the corner of the eyes. The darker one should be used to cover blemishes and dark spots. You should choose a concealer that match the color of the spot you want the conceal. Usually there are three colors of concealer. A yellow toned is used for dark spots, dark circles and reddish spots. A lavender colot neutralize yellowish skindiscoloration and dark circles. A gren one neutralizes red colored blemishes and pimples.

Pimples and darkspots.
Pimples are a little bit hard to conceal because tend to be discolorated then the surrounded skin. To avoid irritation you need to maintain a healthy compleixion and clean hands. High coverage concealer cover pimpels well.

Dark circles.
Don't use the high coverage concealer that you would on your pimple on your eyes because these might be too harsh. The concealer you should be using should be lightweight, a bit creamy and hydrating. If you have dark circles with an green tint use a concealer in a pink shade. For a blue tint use a peachy shade.

The tools and application.
Apply a make-up base or primer to make shure it settle and that it will last all day. Always apply a concealer before the foundation if you do this your foundation don't have much to cover up. And also don't forget to wash your brush after you cover up a blemish because if you don't wash it you give the bacteria oppertunity to grow and cause more pimples or infection.
Pimple: Apply concealer with a flat stiff brush. Begin by getting a small amout on your brush and apply it with short strokes or a dabbing motion. Get a little bit on the outside of the pimple to blend in.
Dark spots: Apply concealer with a flat stiff brush in short strokes. Use your fingers to blend in with the surrounded skin.
Dark circles: Apply the concealer under both eyes and I personally like to use my finges because the heat of your fingers will give it the best results. When you apply the concealer start from the inside of the eye out. By getting the inside of the eye your eyes look more you can also do this below your eyebrows awake. Set it with a light powder.

Love,

13 February, 2010

How to switch to natural skincare

Many of us use chemical product, some use natural products and some are waiting to switch. The reason why many people wanna use natural products is that is many chemical products have some dangerous risks. And with natural skin care you limit the side-effect. The most of the products contain carbon ingredient, wich you also can find in the human body. That's why it is safer.

Here are some guidelines.
- Research first. That a product is labeled as natural doesn't mean that all the ingredients are natural. A company can label it natural if it has only one natural ingredient.
- Start by using ingredients out of your refrigerator. You can easily make a moisturizer, scrub, ect. by just using yogurt, oatmeal, eggs, honey and more. Easy to find and affordable.
- Find the ingredients that works the best for your skin type and issues. If you have an oily skin you need more astringent ingredients like citrus. A sensitive skin needs more soothing products like olive oil. Or ask for samples in an natural skin care store.
- Make a natural face routine with cleaning, toning, moisturizer, exfoliator and mask.
- Make your own ingredients by using skin care recipes.
 
Love,

08 February, 2010

Best mascara application

Who doesn't love mascara? Mascara is the best and most simple way to make your eyes pop.
You will need:
- A good mascara
- Eyelash curler
- Q-tips
- Eyelash comb
- Concealer or remover

Step 1. Take your mascara off if you have any.
Step 2. Take your eyelash curler and start curling from the roots, move the curler a little bit p and curl again. Repeat this on the other eye also.
Step 3. Roll your mascara on a tissue to remove the amount that's too much.
Step 4. Make a zig-zag motion from the roots to the end. Don't forget to get the lashes on the inner/outer corner too. Yo can easely get those by holiding your brush vertically.
Step 5. Reapply mascara while it's still wet. After each coat you can chose to use an eyelash comb. Repeat this 2-3 times and let it dry.
Step 6. If you like you can put one coat on your lower lasher. Don't do this if you want your eyes to look bigger
Step 7. If you got any mascara on your lid you can put a little bit of eyeremover or concealor on the Q-tip and remove it.

If you haven't find a good mascara yet.So here's a little guide:
- Long brushes with short bristles makes your lashes longer
- A thick brush will make your lashes thicker
- Short brush with longer bristles are used for volume
- A curved brush gives you curved lashes

PS. never put water into the mascara bottle if it becomes dry and flaky. By doing this you give the bacteria oppertunity to grow and they will give you an eye infection.
 
Love,

07 February, 2010

2010 Hair trends

2010 just started but with a lot of new hair styles! From sweet and innocent to heavy. Below some hairstyles for spring 2010.
Braided and Plaited hair.
Seen on Alexander Wang, Prada's, Miu Miu and Missoni 2010 Spring runway and on street style pictures. You can rock the long side braid or the fish plait. It looks great if yo have bangs!
 
Waved hair.
Get your flow on and create beautiful waves. Suits any hair colour and hair that's below shoulder lenght.
 
 
'70 inspired
You can wear two styles: The straight and the flowy. The straight hair should not be too straight but should be voluminous. It fit's all occasions. The flowy hair has natural looking waves with a middle or side part.
 
Slicked hair
The slicked hair can be styled on three different ways. One is that the hair is slicked back with gel and combed with the fingers or wide thooth comb. The second one is that you only slick the side back and your side swept bang or lock gives it the maximum effect. The last one is that you have a side part and slick both sides into a ponytail or so.
 
The Chignon.
This is an elegant low bun or twist that's done at the nape. Great for day and night. You can compare this to a low messy bun.
 
The top knot
The sleek top knots sits right on top of the head. These styles works best on straight hair. Slick all the hair to the top and twist yor hair arond. You also have the messy top knot. Just put the hair up and randomly put/swirl the hair for a nonchalance look.

04 February, 2010

Natural skin care options

Using natural products cleanse skin can be beneficial. Natural products contain ingredients that treat the skin without the harsh chemicals that strip the skin leaving it dry and tight.

Photobucket

Cleanser
Removing dirt and make-up is important because it can clog your skin. You should cleanse your skin twie a day with a mild cleanser.
- Black soap is a natural souce of vitamin A&E and Iron. It contains water, bark of the shea butter tree and leaves, plantain plant and the pods of the coco plant. Also shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and kernel oil. Some people believe it cures acne and remoce blemishes. It's very nice an foamy. Be carefull to not buy fake african black soap. This soap is dyed black.
- Oatmeal nourish the skin and. Mix 3tsp oatmeal, 2tsp witch hazel with a few drops of water
- With OCM you combinate two oils (Almond oil-Jojoba oil-Castor oil or any essential oil). With this method you massage a small amout of oil into the skin for a few minutes. Wrimg out a washcloth in hot water and put it over you face to steam it. Wipe away the oil and repeat 2-3 times. Your skin will feel smooth, soft and clean.

Tone
A toner rehydrates, cools, nourishes and refreshes your skin. It remove any dirt that the cleanser couldn't get. For toning you can use: apple cider vinegar, witch hazel, rose water, lemon juice, cucumber juice, tomato juice. If you have a sensitive skin you want to mix the toner with water.

Moisurizer
The skin is daily exposed to the wind, heat, cold and sun. That's why a moisturizer is very important. It rehydrate en replenish your skin. If you have dry skin then a you should use rich oils such as sesame or olive oil. For normal to oily skin you shoul use light oils such as jojoba, grapeseed or avocado.
- Avocado oil is a very effective moisturizer, it's an anti-oxidant and destroys free radicals
- Macadamia oil is the best for repairing skin damages.
- Vitamin E oil helps to reduce the free growth of radicals. It reduces wrinkles, fine line, age spots ect.
- Aloe vera, has many vitamins. It's a healing plant that is used to treat sunburns, minor burn, scrapes ect.
- 4 oz shea butter with 4 oz Jojoba oil. Is really great for keeping your skin moisturized

Exfoliate
Exfoliating helps remove dead skincells. Use a mild exfoliator that won't damage the new skin
- Brown sugar with honey. Use three parts brown sugar and one part honey
- 2 tsp coarse sea salt with one tsp of any oil or honey.
- Baking soda. Is a gentle skin exfoliator and skin softner. Apply a quater size amout of baking soda and a little bit of water to turn it into a paste
- Avocado scrub. Mix an avocado with a little milk.
- Oatmeal with water

Masks
Facial masks are beneficial for the skin. It 'feeds' the skin and put back the moisture. You have to make the mask like a thick paste and let it sit for atleast 10 minutes
For acne-prone skin:
- Aspirin mask. Four or five aspirin pills with one tablespoon of lukewarm water
- Baking soda with water

For dry skin:
- Avocado with honey and almond oil. Mash up the avocado and add a little bit of almond oil and honey.
- 1 tsp Milk, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp aloe Vera gel and 2 drops of an essential oil.

For oily skin:
- 1 Banana, 1 tsp Honey, an orange or lemon
- Oatmeal, water and honey.

So, skin care is important but it doesn't need to be expensive. It may take a while to find the products that works best for you but when you take good care of your skin it will look healthy and pretty.

Love,