Bare Minerals Makeup is gaining more and more popularity with women these days since it is very easy to apply and yields pleasing results. This kind of makeup is all natural being made from minerals taken straight from the earth. These minerals are crushed down into a powder which when applied, creates an excellent all natural coverage. Mineral makeup hides most imperfections and blemishes while at the same time maintaining your natural beauty.

Women are going crazy on this type of makeup because it is made from all natural ingredients. You can expect bare mineral makeup not to contain any of the preservatives, oils, talc, or fragrances found in other types of makeup. There has been a lot of talk and concern about the contents of the makeup women have been using for the past years. Many of them realized that the makeup they are using is not healthy for their skin. If you have been suffering from skin irritations you may want to explore the idea of changing your makeup. Try out the bare minerals makeup first and see if the situation improves.
One of the advantages you can derive from using this type of makeup is that it is very light. Most of the time you won’t even notice that you are indeed wearing makeup due to its lightness. Aside from that, it will not clog up your skin pores thereby reducing the risk of having pimples. Many find pleasure in wearing bare mineral makeup as it perfectly fits today’s trends of going the natural way.

Another interesting fact about the mineral makeup is that, though it looks like a powder and is applied like one, it is actually silky and creamy to feel when you get to apply it on your facial skin. This is the reason why this kind of makeup provides long lasting results and more importantly it’s suitable for all skin types.

In addition, you will be the judge on how much you want to apply on your skin. You can apply it either natural or thin layer makeup. You can also apply as much as you like depending on your preference and the coverage you want to have. So go ahead and try bare minerals makeup just take note though that once you try it, you may never want to go back to your previous product.

Below are a few quick tips on how to care for your hands without breaking the bank.

Hand Care Tips 101

• Remember to put on some rubber gloves whenever you are doing any household work, using chemicals, gardening e.t.c.  When you expose your hands to too much soap, detergents, dirt, chemicals or water, your hands may become wrinkled and very rough.
• Try and moisturize your hands at least 3 to 4 times a day- especially immediately after washing them.  At least make a habit of using a good moisturizer with adequate moisturizing properties before you go to bed every night.  Think of it as remembering to brush your teeth each time before bed!
• Feel free to also use your face exfoliant on your hands or use bath salts.  This helps remove any dead skin cells as it smooths, nourishes and rejuvenates the skin on your hands.  Slather on some moisturizer right after you dry your hands.
• Try regular manicures (homemade/professional), this will keep your hands and nails in tip top condition.
• Drink a lot of water and get the adequate vitamins (especially vitamin A, C, E and B complex)
• Exercising regularly will help with blood flow to all areas of your body, including your hands…Plus you’ll get that healthy glow!
• If you have dry and flaky skin around your nails or hands, just massage a little Vaseline on your hands before bed. Wake up in the morning with baby soft hands!

Want to get softer hands at home, click here

Homemade hand scrub recipe Ingredients

• White Oats- 1 tbsp.
• Honey-1 tsp.
• Water-½ cup
• Milk (refrigerated)-1 tbsp.

Preparing the hand scrub
put your water and oats in a Pyrex glass. Boil the mixture well until the water has evaporated completely (make sure not to burn the oats). ..Take out the boiled oats and put them in a glass bowl.  Add the milk and honey to the boiled oats and make sure to mix well.

Applying the hand scrub

• Clean hands with a mild soap.
• Dry your hands with a soft towel.
• Apply the mixture/hand scrub, evenly, over your hands
• Leave it on for 10 minutes to allow product to work.
• Wash your hands with lukewarm water.
• Dry your hands with a soft towel.
• Massage the moisturizer of your choice into your hands and fingers in a circular motion.

Using this homemade scrub two times a week you will see the best results.  The scrub contains oatmeal and honey, two important ingredients that work in order to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin on your hands.  Use this hand scrub regularly and you’ll see a difference in the appearance, softness and feel of your hands.

Note: Please do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Blemished skin can regain its clarity by using the right method and products.  Blemished skin should be treated with gentle care and harsh products that strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture should be avoided as they can make the situation worse.  Below are a few ways to make sure that you get clear, even blemish free skin using effective and uncomplicated methods:

• Use mild face wash or cleanser whenever you wash your face. Avoid cleansers that lather up too much and may contain ingredients that will over dry and irritate your skin further.
• Follow up your cleansing with a mild toner, this will kill bacteria that stay on skin and causes breakouts.
• Use a mild moisturizer for your skin; wipe off with a wet cotton ball any excess.
• Use an oil free sunscreen on your face, neck and shoulders; protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.
• Avoid over washing your face, this can lead to further irritation.
• Do not pick or squeeze any pimples or blackheads! This will lead to permanent scarring.
• Make sure that you properly exfoliate your skin with a micro bead scrub, avoid other scrubs that don’t read “micro bead”, they can tear & damage your skin.




• A quick homemade tip: Blend and prepare a face mask for blemished or acne prone skin by  using honey, 1tsp tea tree oil, chamomile and kaolin clay, mix together, apply to your face with a cotton ball, keep on your face for 5 minutes, rinse off with lukewarm water.

The skin care routine above is effective in minimizing and eliminating pimples and blackheads as well as allowing your skin a healthy, vibrant glow.

*Note: If you develop allergic reactions to any of the above mentioned ingredients, please stop using them

Of course, there are simple ways to prevent acne as well. Science of course did not stop from knowing the cause; it also developed ways to cure and prevent it.

Let us learn how to prevent acne by simple things you could do at home.

Have your heard that prevention is better than cure? This is true with acne. Prevent acne by keeping your skin clean.

• Wash your face with mild soap or facial wash.

• Avoid harsh chemicals on your face

• Avoid dirt build up, because dirt combined with your sweat or sebum may lead to the development of acne.

• Drink 8 glasses of water a day. It helps hydrate your skin and keeps it young looking.

• Exercise regularly. It will keep your skin healthy.

• Eat a well-balanced diet. It will keep your body healthy and excess sebum production may not be a problem. In return, you prevent acne.

• Do not use dirty towels in your face.

• Avoid rubbing your hair in your face.

There are other ways to prevent acne; most of it does not need you to spend a single cent. All you need it diligently take care of your skin and acne will never come your way.

Prevent acne and you surely will avoid the ill effects of acne on your self confidence.

50% of adult acne sufferers fear facing people. They feel unattractive and they loose opportunities because of their fear. If you start seeing those ugly bumps and you are fearful it may get worse, immediately visit your doctor.

He will analyze your condition and recommend easy treatments.

Treatments available for acne sufferers

If you cannot prevent acne, prevent acne from getting worse.

• Use topical benzoyl peroxide in cream or lotion form. It will dry the acne and help clear the pores. It also kills acne causing bacteria.

• Wash your face with mild facial wash. Do this twice a day and never use facial scrub more than once a week.

• Avoid squeezing, touching or rubbing your acne. Bacteria may spread in your face which may worsen the acne.

• Use antibiotics to clear your acne

If you are not able to prevent acne from getting worse and you experience scarring, prevent lost of self-confidence by undergoing laser acne treatments or laser resurfacing.

Prevent acne by taking care of your skin. If you happen to have genetic characteristic of being prone to acne, prevent acne from getting worse by ensuring that you seek professional help. This will keep you in your toes in combating acne.

What Happens to Skin As We Age?

When the body ages, skin cell turnover also slows down. Such a reduction in fresh cell regeneration, combined with the results of sun exposure, gravity and years of smiling, frowning, chewing and squinting,results in the skin’s elasticity – especially on our faces -  to begin breaking down.

As a result, crow’s feet, age spots, wrinkles and fine lines start to show up-especially on the thin skin areas of our foreheads, around the eyes, mouth, hands and cheeks.

Top 3 Anti Aging Products:

From Most expensive

Affordable

Elite Serum

Price: $99.99 (Full Money Back Guarantee)

Elite Serum™ contains a very effective, highly concentrated dose of pharmaceutical-grade ingredients such as Argireline®, Haloxyl®, Eyeliss™ and Hyaluronic Acid however no prescription is required.

How it Works: “Peptides” are THE MOST IMPORTANT ingredient in wrinkle creams/serums. Most “High End” anti-wrinkle products contain anywhere from 2-5% concentration of peptides (because of  their extraordinary costs). Elite serum’s high concentration of peptides,  makes this product one of the most powerful product on the market.

Revitol

Price $89.95 (21 Day Money Back Guarantee)

One of the most advanced wrinkle solutions to hit the market, Revitol Anti Aging Solution is quoted to be the “most advanced product’ in fighting wrinkles . Revitol  contains a large amount of effective ingredients. As an anti aging product it uses some of the most powerful wrinkle fighting ingredients on the natural skin care market. It’s so effective that many people who have used it have said that both fine lines and deep seated wrinkles are so greatly improved, it’s as if the product  literally turn back the hands of time!

How it Works: Revitol uses powerful anti aging ingredients such as argireline, dermox, SRC, DMAE, hyaluronic acid, and matrixyl.  Revitol is effective against preventing new wrinkles from forming. A great product worth trying!

Prevera

Price $29.99

Prevera’s advanced anti-aging cream puts together wrinkle treatment power as well as moisturizing ingredients all into one treatment. This cream is said to get rid of wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming, while hydrating your skin, within a few short weeks. Best of all for Under $40!

Many consumers have rated Prevera as containing the best value. -With such an affordable price, combined with the amazing results it offers, it is easy to see why. The  ingredients list also explains its beneficial anti aging properties that can hold their own even with other high rage anti aging products that can cost over $200.

How it Works: Noticeable results can be witnessed within a few days. As an anti wrinkle product, Prevera works in order to maintain youthful and supple skin by  continuously repairing and preventing wrinkles. It’s perfect for the woman on a budget!

In order for skin to age well, it’s important to know that how you treat your body overall does have an effect on your skin. It is important to also know that habits such as smoking, heavy drinking, stress and skin care routines ultimately will affect and determine how your skin will look with age.

When not applied correctly, bronzer can be a big makeup mistake! Yikes!

Bronzer is great for your skin, but only if applied correctly. It can give your skin a great sun-kissed glow, -even after you’ve applied sunscreen. Bronzer is also great for waking up tired, pale skin.

Here’s How to Properly Apply Bronzer:

Where Should You Apply Bronzer?

Bronzer looks best when applied lightly to all the spots where the sun naturally shines (the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin)

Don’t Use Too Dark A Shade!

Unless you want the ultimate orange glow of bronzer shame, avoid using a color that will overwhelm your skin tone. Always pick a shade that is no more than two shades darker than your skin.

Match Bronzer Type To Skin Type

Powder bronzer is more suitable for oily to normal skin. Always remember to use a blush brush or bronzer brush to apply bronzer, tap the excess bronzer off the brush before applying…or you risk going overboard with the color.

Gel or cream -based bronzers are more suitable for dry skin.  Always apply such bronzers using a finger or a sponge. Blend well to avoid any lines of demarcation.

Put on A Little Blush

Bronzer by itself can be dull, applying a cream or powder blush to your cheeks can liven up your entire look.

Combine bronzer and blush for gorgeous results! Makeup artist Bobbi Brown agrees that ” bronzer looks best on days you don’t wear a lot of foundation.”

Zits always seem to have the most inconvenient time.  Like the day before you have to serve as maid of honor at a wedding, you might notice a pimple just forming on the tip of your nose.  Or a nasty breakout is likely to happen right before you have to go on that date that you’ve waited ages to be asked to….90%  of the world’s  population has likely experienced some form of zits by the time they are 17-years-old. In order to prevent breakouts, you must it is important to first know what causes it.

Pimples and zits are similar words that used to describe bumps, blackheads or whiteheads that usually appear on your face, neck or back. Pimples and zits can appear alone or in bunches of one or  two.

What’s the Difference between zits and pimples?

The main difference between zits and acne, is that acne usually appears in groups of more than one pimple, and can cover a large portion of your face, whereas zits usually show up as one inflammation or two. Acne is also more extreme and may require further professional treatments to control it and treat it than pimples or zits.

1. Start with a clean, moisturized face

The camera will highlight any patches of dry or oily skin. Apply your makeup primer a few seconds after your lotion has soaked in.

2. Apply a foundation primer

Makeup primer will even out the texture of your skin and help fill in fine lines, acne scars, or pores. Primer Allows the foundation to sit on top of your skin rather than sink in and clog pores. let the primer set for about 25 seconds before you apply any  foundation.

3. Use a non-SPF liquid or creme foundation.

When the camera flash goes off, SPF may give a white cast to your skin. Skip SPF foundation if you are having any pictures taken. Try “camera-friendly” foundations such as : Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, Prescriptives Flawless Skin, and Chanel Teint Innocence.

4. Take extra time blending foundation around the hairline and jawline.

This will eliminate any unattractive line of demarcation that the camera is sure to pick up on.  Even if you aren’t having your picture taken, remember to  always blend foundation well.

5. Avoid  shimmery bronzers and blush.

Many shimmery powders do not fare well on camera. Use a matte bronzer instead, use one that is slightly darker than your skin tone. No one wants to look orange!

6. Use eye shadow base or primer & keep your eye shadow and eyeliner from smudging.

This is especially important if you are going to be shooting pictures outside in the heat or in a heavily lit camera studio. Eyeshadow and eyeliner can melt and smudge, leaving you looking like a raccoon… MAC Paints in a non-shimmery, neutral color like Bare Canvas is an excellent choice.

7. Avoid using pearlescent eye shadows.

Matte eye shadows photographs better on camera. Use shimmer sparingly: Applying a small amount of a champagne-colored eye shadow in the inner corner of each eye will translate into a beautiful glimmer as well as make your eyes look brighter and wider!

8. Keep the eye color shades fairly natural.

You want to enhance your eyes, not just show the color of your eye shadow. Bobbi Brown has matte eye shadows in awesome  neutral shades such as beige, soft brown, soft pink, and peachy colors that help in enhancing your eyes.

9. Use a bit more cheek color than you normally would, but choose a fleshy tone.

The effect you’re going for  is to enhance and brighten your face while balancing out the eyes and lips. Look for neutral and natural  soft pinks and peachy tones.

10. Line your lips with a lip liner that is the same color or abit lighter than your lipstick.

Define your lips, this means avoiding dark lines around a light center (this is the “Oreo Cookie lips”). Pick a lip color that will enhance and not overwhelm your face.  Avoid pale or nude-colored lips instead, choose something soft, bright, and medium in shade and depth.

Using moisturizers with added vitamins will help your skin look and feel healthier, it will also keep your clear skin from becoming (and staying)dry and irritated.

Vitamin A

Dry skin needs vitamin A in order to reduce skin itching and dryness. Vitamin A is also useful in reducing the formation of wrinkles and clogged pores in aging and acne-prone skin.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, chromium, zinc, and selenium are nutritious to your ski and contain anti-acne and mood balancing properties (according to an acne study conducted at the Lasky Skin Clinic in 2008).

Zinc

The National Library of Science acknowledges that zinc may working treating acne based on available scientific evidence. As an antioxidant, Zinc also acts to support the regeneration of healthy skin cells as well as protects the skin from UV radiation, Zinc also helps in speeding up the healing of wounds.

Vitamin B

Inflammation of the skin is one sign of Vitamin B6 deficiency, Vitamin B helps you achieve healthy glowing skin by keeping your skin well moisturized and supple as vitamin B encourages healthy skin cell regeneration and keeps wrinkles and dry skin away.

Vitamins C and E

Vitamins C and E work to protect the body and is well known by dermatologists for its antioxidant properties that are very  important for healthy skin. Vitamin C Beta carotene is stored in the body and is

essential in fighting skin damage from the sun.

Important Note: Multivitamins should not be used as a substitute for healthy foods. Beware that too much intake of any vitamin or mineral can be toxic and extremely dangerous . Always consult with your doctor or other trained medial professionals before taking any dietary supplements.

A Toast to Clear Skin!