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Beauty Heat: 4 Makeup Tips For Getting Sexy

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:31:00 GMT

Love is in the AIR! Can you feel itttttt?

Whether or not you admit to believing in cupid or not, something about Valentine's Day brings out the "sexy" in us. Yes or yes?

I had the pleasure of getting a few of my clients "dolled-up" at NB Studio for their special V-Day date with their partners. They were all giddy - sorta, like that first date feel - which only added to my V-Day "sexy" hypothesis (see above).

Now, I know that V-Day is officially tomorrow and a ton more date nights will be taking place. So, I wanted to know, do you have a "sexy" makeup look that you wear on nights like this?

If you answered NO, I have some juicy makeup tips for you.

If you answered YES, you may find these tips useful for updating one or two of your techniques.

Let's get SEXY!

Glowy Skin - V-Day is the perfect time to wear an illuminating foundation to give you a soft radiant glow on your skin.

Flushed Cheeks - Get a natural-looking flush from within by using a cream blush. for an even more natural flush, apply before you put on your foundation.

Bedroom Eyes - V-Day is THE day to smoke your eyes out. you have my permission to smoke your heart out1 The best eyeshadow colors for smoking are grays, browns, and blues.

Luscious Lips - Two words - GO BOLD. Two more words - GO MATTE. Bold matte lip colors are the ultimate staple in "sexy" makeup. My preference is red lips but feel free to use whatever color you wish. WARNING - stay away from a brown matte lipstick - this can be ugly.

None of these makeup tips will be as effective without turning the "sexy" on from within. So, TURN IT UP!

Have a fabulous V-Day!

Remember that you can always use these tips when you want to turn up your Beauty Heat.

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Beauty Reboot

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:38:00 GMT

Everything in life has to be revamped at some point. This includes your Beauty (and everything related to it. Nothing is out of bounds here.

When was the last time that you actually looked through all of your makeup products? Are you mindlessly putting on the same lipstick from 1989? Your Beauty should NEVER be on cruise control. EVER.

While we are still in the spirit of the "new year", I thought it would be a great time to encourage you to initiate a Beauty Reboot. Keep in mind that a reboot does not mean dump everything and start from scratch - so don't ignore me just yet. Thanks.

I will guide you through each category of beauty products so that your stash is updated, clean and organized. You will definitely have a clue once you implement - so here goes!

a. Face cream – 2 years

b. Eye cream- 6-8 months

c. Lipstick – 12-18 months

d. Eye shadow – 2 years

e. Liquid & cream foundation – 2 years

f. Concealer – 2 years

g. Powder – 2 years

h. Mascara - 6 months

i. Powder/Cream blush – 2 years

From now on, simply write the date of purchase on the bottom of all of your beauty products so that you can calculate its exact life span.

It's not too late start fresh.

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Wipe Away The Day

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:39:00 GMT

"For Pete's sake, Why the HELL do you look like LAST WEEK?"

This just may be what your spouse, kids, or coworkers may be thinking about you. The thought of this being real should make you cringe. You know why? Because you are totally losing at your beauty - which to me is just plain sad and to you this should be your worst nightmare. This had to be said.

Every single night, one of your priorities should be to clean your face...and I mean really CLEAN it.

First things first, show some darn gratitude to your face for even surviving another day of being totally exposed to dirt, grime, pollutants, toxins, bacteria, second-hand smoke, your filthy cellphone, and gnarly hands (this list goes on trust me).

Second thing. Take time to truly access your day so that you can make the best decision and plan your course of action for the level of cleaning your face needs. Example: Did you spend most of the day in NYC getting around town y the rat-infested underground subways? OR Did you spend a quiet day at the park reading and catching up on your emails?

See the difference?

Third thing. Get to work! After you made your final assessment on the level of cleaning your face needs --> take action!

Level 1 (Basic Cleaning) - cleanser, toner, moisturizer

Level 2 - detoxing mask, cleanser, toner, moisturizer

Level 3 - detoxing mask, exfoliator (scrub), cleanser, toner, moisturizer

Level 4 - detoxing mask, cleanser, toner, moisturizer, vitamin c serum

Level 5 (Hardcore!) - steam face with hot towel, cleanser, toner,, moisturizer, vitamin c serum

Yes, this is serious business.

But the thing is, I care about your beauty and I need you to meet me half-way so that you never have to look old and dusty again.

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9 Big Beauty Sins

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:39:00 GMT

Forgive me Beauty Gods, for I have sinned once again. I know I keep promising to take care of my beauty as it is indeed fleeing, but somehow I just can never get it right or even make time to figure it out. I am pleading with you to erase any effect that my actions may cause. I really want to look 40 when I'm 60 (I really, really do!). Just please, forgive me one more time and from this day forward I will take charge of my beauty.

Is this you?

Let me tell you a secret. The real fountain of youth is taking care of your beauty Right Now. There is no 2nd chance. If you are guilty of being lazy about taking care of your beauty because you have decided that your genes will help you out or you will just buy that $500 cream from the Miracle Beauty Doctors, then good luck! You need it.

Are you guilty of any of these Beauty Sins? Don't worry, you don't have to admit it publicly, just vow to stop committing these beauty transgressions immediately.

Beauty Sin #1: Going to sleep with makeup on.

Beauty Sin #2: Not moisturizing 2x daily.

Beauty Sin #3: Applying dirty makeup with dirty brushes.

Beauty Sin #4: Smoking. Direct second-hand smoke in your pores and blood stream (yuck!)

Beauty Sin #5: Wearing ungroomed eyebrows

Beauty Sin #6: Cleaning your face sparingly (whenever you get around to it!)

Beauty Sin #7: Placing filthy items on your face (cellphone, hands, etc)

Beauty Sin #8: Sleeping on dirty pillow cases.

Beauty Sin #9: Flaunting chapped, peeling lips (not cute!)

All is forgiven. Just please stop.

I'm just here to save your beauty by doing whatever it takes.

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Lipstick VS Lip Stain VS Lip Gloss

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:40:00 GMT

You now what really irks me sometimes? When people attempt to put me in a permanent box that you can never get out of. I'm talking about the lipstick box, the lip stain box, and the lip gloss box. It's almost like being sentenced to jail because you can never switch it up. Do you even know what i am talking about? Or is this another weird scenario that only happens to me?

Well, whatever the case may be, I pledge to you that I will never sentence you to any of the said boxes.

For those of you women who are lucky to be totally FREE of the lip *stuff* chaos, but are curious to know the real deal, today is your lucky day. The million $$ question will be answered right here, right now, just for you.

What is the difference between Lipstick, Lip Stain, and Lip Gloss?

What is Lipstick?

Lipstick has been around for a long time: it is speculated that the Egyptians are the earliest known people to use it. Lipsticks contain waxes, oils, pigments and emollients. There are many lipsticks on the market that contain collagen, sunscreen, moisturizer, and vitamin E which provides lips an extra bonus by moisturizing and protecting them from the environment. There is a variety lipstick finishes on the market including frosted, matte, cream and shimmer.

What is Lip Stain?

Lip stain is designed to saturate the lip with long-lasting color. Once it dries on the lip, it won’t smear, stain, transfer, or wear unevenly. Lip stain is a great way to keep lips pretty for hours without the upkeep of reapplications. Lip stains come in a variety of shades. It is always wise to test the color before buying. Lip stains come in a variety of application formulas, including brush-on, marker tip, gel pump, cream or pot. Lip stain works with any make-up style as it can be used with either a natural and dramatic makeup application.

What is Lip Gloss?

Lip gloss is mainly used to give lips a shiny brilliance and sometimes a hint of color. You can wear it by itself or as a top layer over lip balm, lipstick or lip stain. Lip gloss can be clear, translucent or come in a range of colors. Also, there are many options to have a lip gloss with a special finish, such as glitter, frosty, metallic and more. Some lip gloss contains sun protection and moisturizer. You can even have flavored lip gloss!

Bonus Tips for Lips:

Exfoliate –
Exfoliate your lips daily to get rid of dead skin that hinders a smooth lip color product application. You can buy are lip exfoliators in some stores, but a simple method is to brush your lips gently with your toothbrush every time you brush your teeth.

Hydrate –
Lip products are best applied when the lips are soft and moist. It is best to use a lip balm about five minutes before you apply a lip color product. The lip color product will go on smoothly and evenly in this way.

Cheers to happy lips!

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10 Commandments of Lipstick

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:40:00 GMT

Lipstick is its own cult. You either wear lipstick or you don't. It's that simple. There are women though, who want to wear lipstick but don't because they are not sure what they are doing.

On the flip side, there are women who are proud members of the lipstick club and wear it all wrong.

Today we will set the record straight on lipstick.

Lipstick Commandment 1 - Have Smooth Lips: Do not be in the habit of applying lipstick over busted (chapped, dry, scaly, ugly) lips. Keep your lips exfoliated so that you have a smooth surface to apply your lipstick to.

Lipstick Commandment 2 - Apply Lip Balm First: Always pre-moisturize your lips with lip balm before applying lipstick. This applies even when you wear a 'moisturizing' lipstick.

Lipstick Commandment 3 - Use Lip Liner Before + After: Liner gives you a great guide on 'where' to properly place lipstick on your lips. Use liner again after you've applied lipstick to make sure that the lipstick is within the line.

Lipstick Commandment 4 - Clean Up With Concealer: Sometimes we can't help getting lipstick out of bounds when we apply. Don't fret. Just use concealer to clean up the mess.

Lipstick Commandment 5 - Sanitize Your Lipstick: Lipsticks can harbor a ton of bacteria worsen issues such as cold sores. Ewww. Sanitize your lipstick at least 1x per week by spraying 70%+ on it. Don't worry - the alcohol won't destroy it.

Lipstick Commandment 6 - Apply from the Middle to the Outward corners: Self-explanatory I think.

Lipstick Commandment 7 - Make your Lipstick Last with Sealant: A lot of lipsticks today are made to last a very long time. However, not all of them achieve this. To guarantee your lip color lasting use a lip sealant to hold the color in.

Lipstick Commandment 8 - Pick the Right Lipstick Color: Light Skin Tones - beige, pale, pink, bright red; Medium Skin Tones - brown, orange, rose, warm red; Dark Skin Tones - plum, deep red, chocolate

Lipstick Commandment 9 - Change your Lipstick Color: Never wear the EXACT color for years upon years. Switch it up and make sure it suits the season and occasion.

Lipstick Commandment 10 - Choose the Perfect Type of Lipstick: a) Matte Lipstick gives a bold, strong statement and is great for nighttime makeup. b) Sheer Lipstick gives a touch of color and can be worn anytime. It is also great for dry lips because it is moisturizing. c) Cream Lipstick gives a rich color like matte lipstick bu with little shine. It can be worn in the day or night. d) Shimmer Lipstick gives a bold, sparkly/shimmer and is great for parties and festive occasions at nighttime.

Obey the Lipstick Rules or be Judged by the Lipstick Gods.

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Beauty Extremes Any Girl Should Try Out

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:41:00 GMT

We have all seen a woman or two who was wearing 'outrageous' makeup and perhaps thought that "Wow, good for her, she is bold, I could never do that." Well, why not? You've mastered your signature beauty style by now so dipping your left pinky toe into the wild side will not hurt a bit.

I urge you to get of your beauty norm for just one day at least.

Here are 3 Beauty Extremes that I encourage you to try out soon.

1. Violent Lips. This is such a cool concept especially because you will not be really harmed. Violent lips is a temporary lip tattoo of eye-catching bold lip patterns. So outrageous! I love it. Also, they last up to 8 hours.

Check out these Violent Lips examples:

2. Funky Eyelashes. Gone are the days of wearing eyelashes to give your natural lashes a fuller look and/or increase their length. There has been what I call an eyelash evolution. Get with it! You can now wear statement-making lashes that will surely have folks staring at you (in a good way).

3. Bright Lips. I have to confess to you that I am a bit scared to try this trend. I am afraid that my big lips will look crazy with a bright color plastered on it. But, i will get over this fear asap! The new trend of non-traditional lip colors (think blue, yellow, green) is taking over. I love that so many women are embracing this trend and you should too if you haven't already. make the town talk about your gorgeous bright lips.

My last 2¢ before I stop talking is this - DO NOT try all 3 of these Beauty Extremes at once. The aim is to step out of your beauty norm. Not to look crazy.

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Guest Beauty Blog: Beauty Tips You've Never Heard

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:55:00 GMT

Guest Author: Leslie Barrie

Your morning beauty regime takes you exactly 12 minutes. First comes the face wash, then the astringent, followed by the moisturizer. And the list goes on. It's become such a chore, but wasn't there a time when this routine was fun? Well, we decided to take you back to the days when applying makeup was a treat by giving you some innovative beauty tips and tricks to spice up your routine.

To get this insider information, we contacted Carmindy, resident make-up artist on TLC's "What Not to Wear," and author of The 5 Minute Face. Here are her 10 beauty tips to leave you feeling fresh and fabulous.

Beauty Tip # 1 - Make perfume last.

A few spritzes of perfume in the morning will not carry you through the day, no matter how expensive your bottle may be. To make your scent last, try this beauty tip: put an unscented moisturizer on first and then spray on your perfume a few seconds later. "There's so much alcohol in perfume," Carmindy explains, "that if you spray it on dry skin, a lot of times it evaporates so quickly. But if you have moisturizer on your skin it adheres much better."

Beauty Tip # 2 - Lip gloss without the goop.

Instead of directly putting the tube of gloss to your lips, Carmindy recommends adding an extra step to ensure less stickiness. "I like to put lip gloss on my fingertips first and then just pat it onto the flesh of my lips. And this way you'll get a little bit of glow, but it won't be too goopy." Also, try a moisturizing lipstick or a lip stain first before you add the gloss to make sure the color stays put.

Beauty Tip # 3 - A sweet scrub.

"The best exfoliate in the world is regular white table sugar." If every scrub out there contains some form of sugar, like "Almond Sugar Scrub" or "Brown Sugar Scrub," why not just use what's in your kitchen cupboard? "What happens is that the small crystals dissipate in water so they don't tear your skin." And, if you have sensitive skin, don't fret. "It even works better because with other products you might not like a fragrance or a lot of ingredients," states Carmindy. When you're in the shower, all you have to do is lather your face up like normal and then get a handful of sugar and scrub your face. And if you run out you'll be able to ask your cute neighbor for a spot of sugar!

Beauty Tip # 4 Ditch your spot concealer.

Instead of fumbling around your makeup bag for multiple concealers in the morning, just stick to one, advises Carmindy. The reason why? Because you can actually use the foundation stuck to the top of the cap of your liquid all-over concealer as your spot-treatment. "It oxidizes there so it becomes a little bit thicker." Plus, she says, "It's the same shade as your foundation, so it will instantly erase your blemish." To apply, just take a small tip concealer brush and dip into the cap of your foundation, or the nozzle if you use a spray. Then brush it on the spots and you're ready to go. Now it will be a good thing when your foundation lid gets cakey.

Beauty Tip # 5 - Recycle: Good for the earth, good for your lips.

What are you supposed to do when your four best lipsticks are almost gone and your finger is tired from scraping out the remnants below? Carmindy suggests combining the half-used sticks into your own lip pallet. "Go to the drug store and purchase a plastic pill box and dig out the lipstick that's left in the tubes. Then put each color into a different little section of the pill box." You can mix and match the colors or even put Vaseline in one of the sections to make your own lip gloss.

Beauty Tip # 6 Celebrity-size lips.

To get fuller lips people often outline them with a pencil, but most of the time it looks noticeable and unsophisticated (especially when the lipstick comes off and you're left with just that awful line). To get invisible enhancement, Carmindy recommends you take a Q-tip and dip it in a little bit of white shimmer eye shadow and lightly trace the outside of your lips. "What will happen is that the shimmer will capture the light and make your lips seem larger." You won't be able to see it, but the slight glimmer will do the trick. Great if you don't have any collagen handy.

Beauty Tip # 7 - Bronzed but not dirty.

Dusting bronzer all over your face can make you look like you've been rolling around in the sand box all day or have picked up a part time job as a chimney sweep. Carmindy prefers a spray bronzer to get the appearance of a fresh summer tan. "I like to spray a sponge and then what I do is just push it onto the skin--on the temples and then right underneath the cheekbones because this is kind of where the sun would kiss your face. And if you like powder bronzer you can apply it in the same places too."

Beauty Tip # 8 - Brow breakthrough.

If you've been awarded barely there eyebrow DNA, you've probably tried everything to make them visible--and figured out that most of the time these products end up rubbing off by the end of the day. If you still want eyebrows at five p.m., Carmindy advises buying waterproof liquid eyeliner that matches your hair color like black, brown or taupe. Then, she says, "You can take an angled brush and feather the liquid eyeliner on to your eyebrows and it will stay put all day long. It looks more natural than a pencil and stays longer." It's a win-win.

Now if you're like me and are on the opposite end of the brow spectrum you might need some help keeping your out-of-control brows in check. To do this, "Take a spooly brush or an old tooth brush, put a little hair gel on there and just brush it onto your eyebrows to have them stay put."

Beauty Tip # 9 - Not your average smoky eye.

"What I like to do is take a color like a navy blue or a sparkling kind of burgundy purple and just line the inside rim and right along the upper and lower lash line and then smudge it with a Q-tip. That way, there's no eye shadow pushing the eye back, but you still have the smoky effect because they're lined with color. If you have deep-set eyes, Carmindy advises you to avoid putting dark shadow on your eyelids because it will make them seem even more pushed back. "There are so many ways to do a smoky eye, but people always think there's only one way to do it."

Beauty Tip # 10 - Save time and eye shadow

Running late in the morning? The best thing you can put on is white shimmering highlight powder. "If you highlight three key places you set of the planes of your face--you don't even need eye shadow," says Carmindy. These key spots are underneath the eyebrow, on the inside corner of the eye and on top of the cheekbone. "It brings sparkle to the eye; it lifts up the lid and draws attention to the top of the cheekbone." Now all you need is a big cup of coffee to actually feel as awake as you look.

Who says your beauty routine has to be boring--especially now that you can take a box of sugar with you in the shower or turn a pill box into a personalized lip pallet. With these beauty tips You just might have to rethink your 12 minute routine after all.

With the help of TLC's resident make-up artist Carmindy, Savvy Miss author Leslie Barrie compiles a list of less-known but great beauty secrets that leave you feeling lush and fabulous.

Your morning beauty regime takes you exactly 12 minutes. First comes the face wash, then the astringent, followed by the moisturizer. And the list goes on. Its become such a chore, but wasnt there a time when this routine was fun? Well, we decided to take you back to the days when applying makeup was a treat by giving you some innovative beauty tips and tricks to spice up your routine.

This article was originally published on http://www.savvymiss.com, a free website community dedicated to connecting, empowering and informing women everywhere. http://www.SavvyMiss.com features articles on dating, love, careers, fashion, health, beauty and important societal issues. Members also use message boards and blogs to build relationships with other members.

6 Wacky Beauty Tricks That Work

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:55:00 GMT

I love when I get a chance to work with other makeup artists because then I know that I will learn a few new cool beauty tips. Over the years, my arsenal of wacky beauty tips have grown quite a bit. I never realize now weird I my beauty methods have become until a client questions my bizarre beauty tactics. The point is they work!

Wacky Beauty Trick 1: Use a paper clip to apply lash glue -

Just unwind the paper clip until it is as straight as possible. Use the tip to dip in your lash glue then apply to lashes. Perfect application.

Wacky Beauty Trick 2: Apply visine to get the red out -

If you developed a super red pimple and you need to tone it down asap - use visine. Visine for red eyes will work its magic on your red blemish to make it appear as even-toned as possible.

Wacky Beauty Trick 3: Clean up lipstick with concealer -

It takes skill to put on lipstick perfectly. But until you master this, use concealer to clean up the lipstick that is out of line. Nobody has to know that you suck at putting on lipstick.

Wacky Beauty Trick 4: Green Tea bags for under-eye bags -

You stayed up too late and now you have those hideous under-eye bags. Now what? place a damp green tea bag under each eye to reduce puffiness. The caffeine and antioxidants in the green tea will reduce the swelling.

Wacky Beauty Trick 5: Heal + Restore with Egg Whites -

Got stress? Guess what, I can tell by the look of your dull skin. Restore the freshness of your skin by using raw egg whites. plaster it all over your face and you will look brand new again! Egg whites tighten pores and remove dead skin cells.

Wacky Beauty Trick 6: Get Matte Lips On the Spot -

If you want to wear matte lipstick but you are stuck because you don't have any, here is a trick! Use a translucent powder over your normal lipstick and it will take out the shine so that it becomes matte. Easy right?

These 'Wacky' beauty tips should make your life a little easier.

What are some of the bizarre makeup tricks that you know?

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17 Bad Skin Habits

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:42:00 GMT

Habits take 21 days to form. So, I am thinking that if you are guilty of any of these Bad Skin Habits below you've been in the habit of doing them for awhile, maybe even most of your life. Now it's time that you stop. But, the first step in recovery is being aware of the problem.

Are you guilty of any of these?

1. Not moisturizing 2x per day.

2. Touching your face with your hands.

3. Not cleaning your face 2x per day.

4. using too many beauty products.

5. Not cleaning makeup brushes.

6. Binging on alcohol and/or caffeine.

7. Yo-Yo dieting.

8. Popping pimples.

9. Wearing dirty makeup.

10. Smoking cigarettes.

11. Over exfoliating.

12. Not drinking enough water.

13. Sleeping with makeup on.

14. Exercising with makeup on.

15. Unhealthy diet filled with junk food.

16. Too little sleep.

17. Using too many facial expressions.

If you are guilty of any of these, its not too late to get back on the right track. Just make sure you perfect your good habits sooner rather than later.

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Guest Beauty Blog: How to be One of the Most Beautiful Women in the World

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:09:00 GMT

Guest Author: Nikki Hayes

Some say beauty is only skin deep. Some say that everyone is beautiful because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. As women, we are taught the picture of beauty lies in the fashion magazines, on the television screen, on the billboards, and even on the runway. Over the years, I thought of myself as a cute woman, not ugly but not beautiful. Over my wise thirty years, I have come to understand that to be pretty or fine is one thing but beauty is achievable by any woman with the right lifestyle. Beauty is the combination of physical upkeep and inner growth that showcases a beautiful mind, body, and soul. Let me offer you some tips on how to be the most beautiful you that you can be.

#1 Accept that consistency is the key.
Let go of the shortcuts that our society offers to obtain beauty. Come to terms with the fact that we can't jump into a human sized microwave and come out the most beautiful woman that we were created to be. With shortcuts we become our own beautiful reconstruction instead of the God-given beauty that we were born with. Life is a process and so is the beauty of life.

#2 Become best friends with the idea of discipline.
The highest paid athletes are the ones who put blood, sweat, and tears into their repetitions. They practice. Practice some more and practice some more. The greatest musicians eat, sleep, and practice what they love. These are not special people that have special traits of discipline. These are people that decide to be the best by finding what works for them and then doing it over and over until it becomes them. Without the practice of discipline a beautiful and healthy body is unlikely. Without the disciplines of daily upkeep and maintenance of our bodies and our minds, we never achieve that place that we dream of. The results we seek showcase themselves after consistent application. Beautiful skin, hair, bodies, and attitudes are merely the results of continuous care and action.

#3 Be patient as you find what works for you.
Some people meditate and pray early in the morning and some late at night. Some women continue on the search for that perfect skin care solution, makeup line, and hair care regiment until they find what works for them. Some give up and some give up before they start. There are so many options because there are so many different people in the world with all types of personalities, skin, hair, and nail textures, and body compositions. You must accept this and keep searching until you find what is for you. It took me thirty years to find the best way for my hair, skin, and nails to be beautiful. I kid you not. Now, with consistency I am pleased with my appearance and walk with an attitude of uniqueness because I found what works for me.

#4 Don't reinvent the wheel but make it your own.
To each their own. That's what I was taught. Through my younger years, I frustrated myself to no resolve by trying to be someone else. Then on the other extreme when I decided to embrace my individuality I tried to change the basics. Either way my only result was frustration and poor results. We all have to apply the basics of health in our minds, bodies, and souls. It's inevitable. We all have to eat. We all have to exercise. We all have to consistently maintain an upkeep schedule. We all have to take control of our thoughts and emotions daily. We are different yet the same. We put on our pantyhose the same way. We just choose to wear them with different ensembles. Maintaining your beauty requires your own routine that must involve the basics.

#5 Learn to give yourself a break!
First, how can any woman be beautiful when she's stressed out all the time? People not only see beauty but they hear it in your speech and in your walk. They see it in your interaction with others. It's not just how you look but so much more than that. So, give yourself a break and just be. Keep applying the principles and keep embarking upon your purpose in life. The combination of both will reflect your inner beauty which will catapult your motivation to maintain your outer beauty. They all work together. What woman is more beautiful than the one who has a wonderful balance of her total being's togetherness? Each puzzle piece is needed to complete the beautiful picture.

About Nikki Hayes: Nikki Cates Hayes is the CEO of Manage Ur LIfe and a Mompreneur raising four daughters with her husband in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a teen mother who has created an empowering business model off of her experiences and wisdom in life management, personal growth, self awareness, and the achievement of happiness as a young woman, wife, mother, and female business owner. She is also the owner of a Virtual Assisting and Lifestyle Management service that seeks to assist women in taking control of their lives and careers. To learn more about Nikki Cates Hayes and Manage UR Life visit her on the Web at [http://www.manageurlifeonline.com/].

10 Commandments of Blush

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:42:00 GMT

I admit that I am a HUGE fan of blush! It's an absolute must have in my beauty stash. But, here's my problem. *sigh*

Women who wear blush ALL WRONG. Blush should not be obviously seen on your face. In other words, you should not look like a 'Punching Judy Doll.' With that said, I present to you the 10 Commandments of Blush.

Commandment 1: Wear your perfect formula of blush -

Cream Blush - for normal to dry skin

Powder Blush - for normal to oil skin

Gel Blush - for oily skin

Commandment 2: Don't go overboard -

Blush is made to add a natural flush to your cheeks. It is not made to add a heavily pigmented dab of color to your face. Keep it cute.

Commandment 3: Coordinate Blush with Lip Color -

They do not have to match exactly but they should complement each other.

Commandment 4: Use a translucent powder before blush placement -

For a uniformed and even lush application, make sure to use translucent powder before applying your blush.

Commandment 5: Use the right blush brush -

Angled Blush Brush for exact placement.

Contoured Blush Brush for a sculpted placement.

Round Blush Brush for even application on your cheek apples.

Commandment 6: Have 2 blush shades on hand -

Lighter shade for spring/summer

Darker shade for fall/winter

Commandment 7: Proper placement -

Find the apple of your cheek by smiling and then use a figure 8 motion over your apples to apply the blush.

Commandment 8: Pick the correct color -

Light skin tones - pink and coral family of colors

Medium skin tones - copper and rose family of colors

Dark skin tones - plum and red family of colors

Commandment 9: Buy the right blush -

Pinch your cheeks and look for a shade that matches that color OR try the inside of your wrist to find your natural flush.

Commandment 10: Prevent fading -

If you need your blush to last a very long time (hello brides-to-be?) then you need to layer your blush. Here's the formula: cream blush + translucent powder + powder blush

Now that everything has been laid out on the table. Let's cure the world of the 'punching judy doll' look before its too late.

PUNCHING JUDY DOLL REFERENCE BELOW:

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4 Ways to Look Younger Now

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:43:00 GMT

As I often say from time to time, we cannot STOP aging but we can damn sure SLOW it down. You want to look younger? I sure do! My goal is to always to always look younger than I really am. This is a normal goal to have right?

1. Match makeup and hairstyle -

If any of these two look out-dated so will you. The kicker is when you look out-dated, you also look old. Simple concept.

2. Exfoliate -

Its a must do. You need to get rid of dead skin cells and reveal fresh skin.Do exfoliate 1x per week unless you really want to wear fish scales on your face.

3. Facial Exercise -

Its the same concept for why you work out the rest of your body. Get in the habit of working your facial muscles to prevent sagging.

4. Sleep -

If you dare to experiment on how you will look with little to no sleep as a daily ritual, I would love to see you in a few years. There is NO WAY around it. Get 7-9 hours per night. OR settle for being mistaken for your grandmother.

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Guest Beauty Blog: The Pursuit of Beauty

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:26:00 GMT

Guest Author: Sharmain Jeremy

During my commute to Manhattan on the Express Bus one morning, I had the company and pleasure of reading the March issue of Allure magazine. I began by reading the Letter from the Editor Linda Wells and stumped upon this striking catch phrase, the "pursuit of beauty". Linda explains this phenomenon to be much like the pursuit of the American Dream. It is "a right to determine and improve our essential selves, psychologically and physically...that transcends gender, class, race, age and sexual orientation." I thought to myself, "this is so true!" What person today does not want to be and feel beautiful? There is no doubt, that we as human beings are acutely sensitive to our physical appearances and will do anything to gain or to maintain our personal beauty. Our insatiable need for all things "beauty" proves that we are all in full pursuit and unapologetically so.

According to dictionary.com beauty is "the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or gives deep satisfaction to the mind." This emotional bond to pleasure explains why beauty plays such a significant part in our lives. We can't help ourselves in the presence of things or persons that call to our sensibilities. Physical beauty, though a matter of taste and opinion is also characterized by society's views. In most cultures, the existence of symmetry or balance is a determining factor of beauty because it suggests the absence of "flaws" or "defects". Facial balance, complexion, body shape and size, as well as youthfulness are all standardizations of beauty. The characterization of beauty however, cannot be understood without also realizing that beauty has another side to it - One that is not so physical, but rather metaphysical (a more intangible element ). We cannot necessarily see or touch it, yet its presence is undeniable. With that being said, we cannot exclude psychological factors such as personality, intelligence, politeness, elegance or charisma as determining factors in recognizing beauty.

As I researched more into this beauty craze, I stumbled upon some very interesting findings. To my surprise, (ok maybe not so surprised) researchers have found that possessing physical attractiveness can be quite influential in a persons life. Someone who is considered to be beautiful is likely to get higher grades, receive better care from their doctors, receive lighter prison sentences and earn more money. As if we don't have enough problems in the world today, now we know that uncontrollable factors like our God-given beauty or "lack thereof", is just another social barrier to add to our list. Whether we acknowledge it or not, and whether we do this consciously or unconsciously, this type of "lookism" has plagued our society for years and can shed some light on the depth of shallowness that exists in our world today.

This daunting truth certainly affects how we perceive ourselves as well as others. The images we see on tv also determine what we consider to be beautiful and is the driving force towards this search for perfection. We spend thousands of dollars and insurmountable time shopping online or at the malls, purchasing all sorts of beauty products, making nail, hair, facial and botox appointments, reading fashion magazines and taking particular note of what our favorite celebrities are wearing, doing and using to stay slim, youthful and yes, beautiful.

Let's not forget, that there was once a time when we were all mystified by the beautiful models and celebrities, who flawlessly walked the red carpets and flanked the covers of magazines effortlessly, or at least so it seemed. We dreamed about being them and looking like them, thinking they were born perfectly that way. Thanks to our growing obsession with celebrity-life, the shameless and countless invasions of privacy through reality tv, the social networks and the "tell-all" craze, we now not only have the information and the knowledge but also access to the once "top secret" sometimes extreme, physical enhancers.

Don't get me wrong, the "pursuit of beauty" doesn't have to mean a trip to a plastic surgeon, nor is it an elusive commodity accessible to only to the rich and famous. We can all be physically beautiful! The multi-billion dollar beauty industry has made sure to fulfill our every beauty need by bombarding us with a plethora of products and services geared towards making us feel and look younger and more beautiful.The opportunities and resources available to us are endless in this department. We have products that make us look younger, products that make our skin smoother, products that make our stomachs flat, products that make our lips plumper, products that give us fuller hair, products that make our lashes longer and thicker, stylists, eyebrow threaders, makeup artists, fashion trends that change every season, adornments like earrings, necklaces, tattoos, hats etc we all use these things to enhance our personal beauty and attractiveness in some way.

The truth is however, our pursuit of beauty is not just about exploiting our "sexual capital". It's not just the physical aspect of beauty that enamors us. We are in search of a combination between the seen and the unseen - The physical (outer) and the psychological (inner) because they both thrive off each other. I like many, believe that true beauty comes from within. Inner beauty in my definition, is that undeniable, profound light that shines from you and onto the world. It is your aura, your spirit, the stamp you leave behind after someone meets you for the first time. My father likes to refer to this intangible, spiritual side of our human nature as the "inner man" or "woman". Though this "inside beauty" may come easier to some than others, it is the beginning stages to fulfilling this intrinsic desire for physical satisfaction or happiness.

If psychologically we can find the power and confidence to see ourselves as beautiful no matter what, then the world would have no choice but to view us that way. Any physical imperfections that we may think we possess can disappear. Possessing internal beauty is the foundation of the pursuit of beauty. After all, we know that with age physical beauty disappears and there are many uncontrollable forces that can easily take away or lessen our physical beauty, like a severe accident or disease for example. Inner beauty comes from a deeper place. It oozes from your heart and soul and serves as a complimentary component to physical beauty.

So why this urgency to want to be beautiful? What lies beneath this so-called pursuit? What is it that moves us into the hunt for near perfection? The truth is, the pursuit of beauty is in fact the pursuit of happiness - they are one in the same. Though Linda refers to this pursuit as being "distinctly American", to me, it is more so, undeniably human. Whether it is a physical or psychological improvement to ourselves, we are all in search for this completeness. It is a calling to being someone bigger and better than we've ever been. It's about walking out your door everyday feeling like a ray of sunshine, confident with every step you take. It is a goal, a standard to set, that once achieved, is rewarded with a lifetime of confidence, self assurance, pride, grace, poise and enthusiasm for life.

We therefore cannot deny that we are in a new era, where beauty and the acquisition of it, is no longer an enigmatic, perplexing phenomenon, but rather an expression of one's pride and self esteem. Beauty has now become a lifestyle, and we have learned that physical beauty cannot stand on its own, we can only enhance it. It is only when there is complete synergy between the physical (outer beauty) and the psychological (inner beauty) working in complete balance with each other like yin and yang, can we safely say we've achieved our goal in this pursuit of beauty and ultimately happiness.

Inspired by Editor's Note of March Issue of Allure magazine- "The Pursuit of Beauty" by Linda Wells

Beyond Moisturizer (Help Your Skin Survive Winter)

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:44:00 GMT

Winter time is brutal on your beauty. Your face is exposed to extreme temperatures and can't help but to be DRY! Can I get a hand clap? Or an Amen? Ok, maybe not.

Fear not! We can all make it to spring with our beautiful faces still in tact.

Here's how.

1. Coconut Water. Start drinking up. Coconut water is a super hydrator that also has high amounts of magnesium + potassium + electrolytes. It also flushes out toxins and gives you a healthy glow from within.

2. Raw Shea Butter. Add to your nighttime skincare routine asap. Raw shea butter is naturally rich in Vitamins A, E, & F which add in revitalizing your skin AND seeking moisture.

3. Limit Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption. Diuretics dry out your skin. Both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics and this is why you should monitor how much you consume. Face it, you don't need help drying out your skin at this time of year.

4. Drink Water. It's the original hydrator. Nothing else compares except for coconut water 9see #1). Drink 8-10 glasses everyday. Now is the time to follow this rule in these cold temps unless you want to look like Mrs. Raisin. Up to you.

5. Do Not Use Hot Water. Hot water strips moisture from your skin so avoid using it at all cost. I know its tempting to do because it feels so good in the winter. get in the habit of using lukewarm water when cleaning your skin. Its especially important in the winter unless 'ashy' is your look.

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