Makeup Tips for a Bride

"A bride should be beautiful and not overdone. It is love that makes her beautiful and not the makeup artist. She's the star and has to look like a dream, her face translucent, soft and glowing. …Never forget that a compact powder and lipstick must always be carried by a relative for a quick touch up."

1. Use a Very light moisturizer to prepare your skin. Choose a concealer of a lighter color shadow areas of the face around the eyes and nose.
2. Then apply and blend all over the face and under the neck an oil free foundation, which will last throughout a long and hot day. Try and choose a tone slightly lighter than your skin tone but never white! Indian skin has a yellow undertone and here we have used a No. 4 concealing matte foundation by Givenchy. Matte foundation is very important if you are being photographed, as you don't want bad details to show through shiny skin. If necessary touch up your face with a concealer to get rid of blemishes.
3. Apply translucent powder with a pinkish undertone and spread evenly all over the face to obtain a matte effect, paying careful attention to the forehead, nose and chin. Check the front and profile of your face, as they are equally important. Always powder your chest area if you wear a d?collet? blouse.
4. The eyes are always very important, as they are a reflection of the soul. They are the focus of the face. Use a brown eye shadow for softness and white makeup to lift. Apply a dark tone at the outer corner of the eyes and blend with white to make grey. White and black make-up is the safest to use, as almost anyone can carry it off. Keep blending and adding color and so as to avoid concentration of any one particular color.
5. Use a thin line of white eyeliner on the eyelid, to highlight the eyes. Finish the line with black eyeliner and add a little black eye shadow under the eye. Then apply black mascara to the lashes. Remove any clumps with Q-tips. Next, brush eyebrows and apply a brown eyebrow pencil for extra definition.
6. Always concentrate on the mouth, before the cheeks to give the intensity of the face. Use a contour lipstick to define the lips in the same harmony as the lipstick. Use a long lasting product and color lip in full. It is always important to have your lipstick match your outfit, so we have used Givenchy's couture lipstick No. 602 Ruby.
7. Apply powder blush in ruby from the cheekbone outwards and under the chin. Add white powder to highlight the top of the cheek. Blend with brush and powder for the final touch including ears. Finally place Tikka on forehead.

With these simple and easy tips you can easily dress up a bride very professionally even at home.

Bridal Makeup & Dressing Tips

Brides should understand the difference between everyday makeup and the type of application that will enhance their beauty in wedding photos. For brides, the choice is simple -- learn the proper techniques from a makeup artist months before the wedding, or simply invest in a professional application on the day of the event.

For Perfect Photos

For perfect photos , apply foundation evenly. Use a long lasting matte finish and end with a dusting of pressed powder. Be sure to keep pressed powder handy for touch up; you don't want a shiny nose or forehead in your pictures! Remember to match powder to your foundation color. Be sure to blend it well along the jaw line.

Avoid heavy eyeliner
It'll only make your eyes look smaller. Pass on false eyelashes, too. They can cast a shadow beneath the eyes. Instead, accent the outer corner of eyes with black or gray eyeliner.

Choose bridal makeup
Choose bridal makeup that's on the understated side. Our best suggestion, select a professional makeup artist with experience in bridal photography. 

Because skin tends to break out
Because skin tends to break out or look flushed after a facial, be sure to schedule your facial at least one week before your wedding. 

To keep your hands soft
To keep your hands soft apply our rich non greasy Hand Crème before going to bed, then put on a pair of white cotton gloves. While you sleep, the gloves will hold in body heat and help the hand crème penetrate. In the morning, you hands will feel softer and smoother. ( This trick works great on feet, too !)

Colours

Light colors such as pastels reflect more light and hence enhance the volume of a person. Advisable for persons on the slimmer side.

Dark colors such as blacks and burgundy, by virtue of reflecting lesser light diminish the volume of the wearer and are advisable for persons on the stouter side.

Short persons should avoid wearing clothes with contrasting colors. Fabrics

Banaras koras, brocades and silks
These fabrics have always been, are and will always be intrinsic to dressing for weddings in Indian culture. They remain a favorite with the designers as they are versatile and lend themselves to unlimited possibilities as far as embroidery is concerned.

Satin 
Satin has a luxurious, rich and glossy feel. It is used as lining of expensive outfits. Satin is a versatile material for embroidery and can carry considerable embroidery weight.

Lycra / Lurex
This fabric hugs the body and provides a close fit. Hence, it is necessary that the wearer has a good figure else it would accentuate features of the body that are not as attractive. Embroidery on lycra / lurex is limited and requires a special technique.

Laces / Nets 
This fabric conveys a fresh, young, pretty, dream-like feel. Delicate embroidery is preferred on lace while net is more versatile and lends itself to a wider range of embroidery.

Dressing for the ceremony

Engagement and Wedding Ceremony 
These being the most auspicious of wedding ceremonies, the clothes worn are almost always traditional, primarily dictated by the background and culture of the person.

Reception 
The clothes designed for the reception tends to be the most elaborate

What is Mehndi ?

The art of Mehendi has existed for centuries. The exact place of its origin is difficult to track because of centuries of people in different cultures moving through the continents and taking their art forms with them and therefore sharing their art with everyone along the way. 
Some historical evidence suggests that Mehndi started in India while others believe it was introduced to India during the twelfth century A.D. I personally feel that it would be hard to argue the fact that it appeared as an art form in Egypt first. 

Proof has been found that henna (MEHNDI) was used to stain the fingers and toes of Pharaohs prior to mummification over 5000 years ago when it was also used as a cosmetic and for it's healing power. The mummification process took 70 days and as the Egyptians were diligent in planning for their deaths and their rebirth in the afterlife, they became quite obsessed with the preservation process.

Bridal Makeup Tips

Makeup is surprisingly often an overlooked item when planning your dream shaadi.  Brides always focus on planning their outfits, jewellery, hair and mehndi but don't realise that, to look amazingly stunning on their wedding day they really need to have good makeup applied by a professional. Bridal make up by its very nature is a unique requirement and your make up regime for the big day needs careful thought and consideration. Our bridal beauty consultant, Lubna Rafiq, of Art Of Beauty shares some of bridal beauty insights with you… My personal approach to make-up for brides is one of corrective, subtle make-up that enhances the bride's best features and makes her look naturally radiant and beautiful on her big day. The first thing people notice when they look at a bride - is how stunning and radiant she looks, not her makeup itself. In fact make - up that is too obvious can look overdone and artificial so understated and sophisticated elegance is the name of the game!

How Do I Get My Eyes Noticed?

Your eyes are the most important feature when you are doing your make-up. Whether they are small, deep-set or large, using these techniques will definitely draw the attention your eyes deserve.

The first step to achieving Dynamic Eyes is to use a highlighter like our Beige Eye-Lite and apply it from the nose, (the thickness of the brush) following up under the eye brow and extend to the hairline. Then using a large brush like our Complexion Brush start from the nose and blend the Eye-Lite upward towards the brows and the hairline.

Creating Bold Cheekbones

The steps to getting well defined cheekbones are very simple. Imagine if you will that there is an imaginary line from the bottom corner of your nose to the area where your ear is attached at the top of the ear. This line defines the top of the area where your blush will be applied. To find the bottom line simply imagine a line from the bottom corner of your mouth to the bottom attachment of your ear. I always tell my customers to use the handle of their contour brush to get an idea where these lines are. Next you will need to locate the starting point. If you can imagine a vertical line from the iris of your eye to where it intersects the lower line, this is the point where you will want to start applying your blush going up towards the ear. This starting point is also the area of your face where your cheeks start to round back towards the side of your head. Use those imaginary lines to guide you where you need to apply your blush, and make sure you blend upwards to give yourself well defined cheekbones. The greatest thing about this tip is since you are using your facial structure for guidelines it will always look right for you.

How Do I Get My Eyes Noticed?

Your eyes are the most important feature when you are doing your make-up. Whether they are small, deep-set or large, using these techniques will definitely draw the attention your eyes deserve.

The first step to achieving Dynamic Eyes is to use a highlighter like our Beige Eye-Lite and apply it from the nose, (the thickness of the brush) following up under the eye brow and extend to the hairline. Then using a large brush like our Complexion Brush start from the nose and blend the Eye-Lite upward towards the brows and the hairline.

Applying Make-up

Always start your make-up with your foundation. This will even out your complexion and give you a good base to start with. Now for the trick. Use a sponge to apply your foundation. This way your foundation will not change colors due to the oils on your fingers, and you will not contaminate your foundation.
Another trick is to use a large complexion brush to smooth out your foundation around the hairline and jaw line. This way you will not have a line of demarcation around the edge of your foundation. Next apply your brow color. Follow up with a brow gel to keep your brows looking nice all day or night.
Apply your highlighter next. The trick here is to use a highlighter like our Beige Eye-lite that is creamy instead of a waxy cover-up. When you are trying to hide lines on the face, using a waxy substance will not move with your face, thus causing creases and other wrinkles to form in the product. Using a creamy highlighter will get into the lines to lighten them and make them less visible. Again use your complexion brush to blend your highlighting after you have applied it. 

Make-up Tips for Older Women

Eventually, the effects of time begin show on our faces. Here are four simple techniques to look your best no matter what age you are.

1. Instead of the traditional lip liner pencil, line your lips with a stiff bristled brush using your blush. This gives your lipstick the staying power that helps prevent any bleeding or feathering of your lip color around your lips.

2. To set your make-up, apply a loose translucent powder with a powder brush in the morning and do not reapply during the day. Excessive powder, especially from a compact, accentuates lines and wrinkles. If you need a touch up for shine, simply use a fluffy brush like our Complexion Brush and smooth it over your face.

3. Lessening the appearance of jowls (the lines from the edge of the nose to the corner of the mouth) is accomplished with Beige Eye-lite. Using a highlighter de-emphasizes the shadow created by the jowl thus making it less noticeable. Check your chart in the Free Facial Chart section of our site for a guide on Beige Eye-lite placement. To lessen the appearance of a saggy neck, use a non-frosted powder slightly darker than your natural skin tone and apply it under your chin. This creates the effect of a shadow, therefore making it less prominent.

4. Forget the myth that you shouldn't wear frosted eye shadow over the age of thirty. Frosted eye shadows, if applied properly, can make you look young. Never use one color on the entire eyelid! Per your Free Facial Chart, use one light color under your brow, one color on your eyelid close to your lashes and one slightly darker shade on the crease if desired. And, most of all... Blend, blend, blend!

Remember that subtlety is the key. Armed with these four techniques, you have the arsenal to take on aging and look your best!

Party Makeup Ideas

Whether you have a dinner, office, or New Year's Eve party to get ready for -- or it's just happy-hour with your coworkers, we've got makeup tips for you! We've asked the experts and they've provided us with everything you need to know to look great this holiday season.

For a Dinner Party

The best way to make lipstick stay put through a meal is to layer your lip products. Lip primers are a good place to start since they prevent feathering and fading. Clinique's All about Lips is a lip primer that comes in a handy pump dispenser and moisturizes in addition to keeping lip color in place. Next, follow these steps:

Preparation Of The Face For Makeup

For the best final result, you must meticulously prepare your face for the actual application of the makeup.

Identify The Structure Of Your Face:

This is very important, so that you can understand the high points and the drawbacks of your face. Then you will be able to emphasize the excellent features of your face and camouflage your handicaps. Faces are of 2 basic shapes:

1. Angular Faces are well delineated, with a strong bone structure and musculature. Angular faces could be trapezoidal, rectangular, square or triangular. 

2. Round Faces, on the other hand, have curved, continuous, gently sloping lines, without any bony projections. Round faces can be oval or the true round form.

Eye Cosmetics And Their Use

Eye Makeup:

Almond shaped eyes are considered to be the ideal. So when making up eyes, one tries with the help of light and dark eye makeup to make the necessary changes to give the eyes an almond appearance.

 

Eye shadow:

Application Technique: 
The following steps are followed in the application of eye shadow shades. 

The Secrets of Concealer

Concealer is the little white lie of the makeup world -- we all use it on occasion, and no one has to feel guilty about this kind of cover-up. But with all the types of concealer available, women often question how and when to use it.

Concealers come in sticks, pots, cremes, and pencils. Any type will do. It's okay to use your fingertips to apply. Just make sure you dab or pat it on -- never wipe or rub. For the most covert application, use a concealer brush. It helps you to be subtle and precise, especially when you're working on small areas like blemishes (yes, we all get them -- pimples, zits, and the occasional Mount Everest). 

Even when you're blemish-free, there are places where concealer works miracles: under the eyes to cover dark circles, on the outer corners of the eyes (where it's often reddish or dark), around the nostrils, and in the dark bluish spots where each eye meets the bridge of the nose (check your face in this place, as most of us get a bit of a dent there). A dot on either side keeps the eyes looking brighter. 

Basically, concealer is a slightly heavier version of foundation. If you're using concealer with foundation, go with a color that's one shade lighter than the foundation. These two products work in tandem to bring your face to one tone.

Apply concealer first, to cover dark spots or blemishes, then go over the concealed areas with foundation. If the spots are still dark, you can go back and apply more concealer on top of the foundation. (When I'm working under the eyes, I sometimes add more concealer over the foundation just to make the eyes pop a bit more.)

If you're using just concealer without foundation over it, make sure the concealer matches your skin tone. This can be tricky, since it's offered in far fewer shades than foundation. If the color's too light, you'll actually draw more attention to the problem you're covering. But if you get a great match, you can get by with spot concealer and nothing else on the face -- even with blemishes. 

Sometimes foundation alone can take the place of concealer; although it's a lighter formula, you can use it in the same areas and it often does the trick. On the other hand, if you're not wearing foundation, just use concealer. 

It's really your choice: foundation alone, concealer alone, or a combination of the two. Another option is tinted moisturizer. If your skin's nearly perfect, it's all you need.

The Key To Flawless Foundation

Types of Foundations

Most of us keep our foundation as close as our ATM card. And just like crisp cash, we tend to "spend" too much of it. That's the most common problem women make -- putting foundation all over their face when that's very rarely needed. When you get the right shade, and you know how and where to use it, you'll find you need very little.

But first -- which form do you choose? There are sticks, liquids, creams, and powders. If you have normal skin, you're fine with anything. Dry skin is best with a cream or liquid -- these glide easily over the skin. Oily skin is best with an oil-free liquid but a powder foundation's even better.

How To Do Your Nails Fast

When you are in a rush, decisions have to be made. Prioritize. Do you shape or polish? Do you quick-dry or go the long, slow route? New formulas allow for snap decisions:

Speed-dry enamels are worthy of their name (you can open mail, search for keys, or put on your tightest long-sleeved shirt within seconds), but there's a downside: "As fast as they dry, that's as fast they chip," insists manicurist Elisa Ferri, so save them for emergencies. Eke a few extra days out of a fast-dry manicure by doing a daily touch-up with a quick-drying coat.

In the other corner, there are strong, chip-resistant formulas - the torttoise of the polish race. To pick up the pace of these tougher enamels, like L'Oreal Shock Proof, carefully submerge freshly painted nails in a bowl of ice-cold water for 30 seconds to harden still-groopy polish.

Light or sheer shades are best for hasty manicures, Ferri says. "You can even get away with just a wide stripe down the center" rather than painstakingly painting the entire nail.

If a manicure is beyond the repair of a topcoat or two, face facts and call in the remover. You can keep single-use packets of nail polish remover (Cutex and Get Fresh make them) on hand so you can strip away color on the run.

When there is no time for polish, just clean underneath the nails, rub on a buffing cream, and shine them with a chamois buffer.

Eye Lining Tricks

Lining your eyes can either make your eyes look gorgeous or tell the world that you haven't quite got the hang of it yet. Here are some quick little tricks to make you look like a pro! Applying Color Below the Lashes

The best tool I have found for applying shadow beneath the lashes is with a sponge applicator. The color sticks to the sponge until it is softly deposited exactly where you want it to be. A brush is about the worst tool you can use for this purpose. No control at all.

How Much To Line

Although some models can line their entire eye, this look is not for everyone. But that doesn't mean that you can't create a look that is close to what you see here. Play around with your liner. Line the upper lid and just the corner of your lower lid. Line the upper lid and leave the lower lid bare. Get into the habit of playing with your makeup. You never know when you will happen upon something absolutely amazing.

Using an Eye Lining Pencil

Don't draw the pencil across your eyelid as this could cause stretching of the skin. Instead, apply the color to the palm of your hand, pick up some of the color with your pinky and apply gently to eyelid.

One Continuous Line?

I would suggest a series of dashes or dots worked into the lash line. It's easier to control and no mistakes to be carefully fixed.

But My Lids are Oily

This is a common problem that causes liner to migrate up into the crease area. To prevent this from happening, choose a product to prep your lid. Not only will this prevent the liner from moving, it will keep your shadow in place at the same time.

How to Curl Your Eye Lashes

Since we can't all be blessed with long lashes, thank goodness mascara can make it look as if we were. Here is a very simple method of applying mascara for every day wear.

Draw wand out of mascara tube and remove the excess on a piece of paper towel or tissue.
Hold wand horizontally and slowly twirl as you move the brush from the roots to the tips.
To set curl, hold wand and lashes together at the tips for a several seconds.
Apply second coat before the first coat has dried to avoid clumping.
Apply mascara carefully to the bottom lashes, holding wand vertically.
While lashes are still wet, comb through the lashes (carefully) with a lash comb to separate each lash.
Tips:

1. Be sure to wash off your mascara each night. Not only will it smear during the night, you won't be able to apply more until your lashes are free from the old mascara.
2. Mascara is a breeding ground for germs. Be sure to replace it every three months.
3. Never pump the wand into the tube. This procedure only adds air to the mascara, drying it out.

Brushing Long Hair Properly

Bend forward, allowing hair to fall. Using only a wooden base natural bristle brush, bring hair from the nape of the neck over the head and down to the ends.

Then, stand straight again with hair falling normally and brush from the underside of the hairline down the strands to the ends.

Now, brush the top layers into place with long, even strokes. After each stroke, smooth hair with hands to reduce static.

Increase the number of strokes weekly, starting with five and increasing by one a week until you find a comfortable routine. If oiliness develops, reduce strokes.

Brush only when dry. Hair is weakest when it is wet and brushing can easily damage it. Even when hair is dry always comb before brushing.

Coloring Your Eyebrows

If, like me, you have eyebrows that are a bit too pale in colour you can easily make them darker.

First get your eyebrows into shape by plucking and brushing. Next, find a powder eyeshadow that matches your colouring and using a brow brush, gently run the colour through your eyebrows.

Don't apply too much, just enough to darken the brows. To keep all the hairs in place, spray a very small amount of hairspray onto the brow brush and sweep that gently through the brows.

I normally use a dark brown colour, as that looks natural with my normal hair colouring. So you may need to experiment a bit to find the correct shade for your eyebrows.

Don't ever use mascara on your eyebrows as it is too thick and will make a mess!

How to apply foundation

There are three basic formulations of foundation: liquid, cream and powder. The formulation you use should depend on a few factors: Do you have a lot of excess shine? Do you have patches of dry, flaky skin? Are there dark circles, blemishes or other areas on the skin you would like to minimize? What texture feels comfortable on your skin?

The right everyday foundation will make your skin look naturally radiant. It should feel comfortable on your skin all day long and not require much maintenance through the day. The current trend in foundation application is to apply only where needed, most likely toward the center of the face, and letting your natural skin shine through wherever possible.

Eye Color Rules

• Keep deeper colors on the lid.

• Use lighter colors on the brow bone.
• For a casual but polished look, sweep one shade from lashes to brow bone.
• Use cream shadows sparingly -- the colors tend to be very vivid.
• Eye gloss is the newest trend. It adds a sheer shine to lids, but don't try it unless you know you can carry it off -- it can look greasy and inappropriate.
• Apply powder eyeliners wet for more intense color.
• White, pink and yellow eyeliner pencils tend to make the eye look open and brighter. Blue counteracts redness, and black will give you a sultry look.
• In order to make eyeliner easy to apply, manufacturers sometimes make it so creamy it doesn't stay put. You can use a matching eye shadow or powder liner to set your eyeliner.

Lipstick Tips

• If you want your lipstick to last, use pencil first as a base. Outline and color in your lips with pencil (nude, if your lipstick .. 
• Store lipstick -- and perfume -- in the refrigerator. It'll last longer. 
• Never use a tester on your lips -- it's unhygienic. Test lipstick on your fingertips  instead of the back of your hand: the color and texture are closer to that of your lips. 
• If you want your lipstick to last, use pencil first as a base. Outline and color in your lips with pencil (nude, if your lipstick shade is light) and slick your lipstick on top. 
• Your lips will also look softer, "smudgier," and less defined if you don't use pencils or lipliners. 
• To avoid lipstick on your teeth, after application, run your index finger through the middle of your lips and pull it back out. The excess will come off on your finger, not your teeth. 
• In a pinch, your lipstick can double as blush. (But never use blush on your lips.) 
• Outline your lips in pencil before you apply lipstick or gloss if you don't want your lipstick to feather. 
•  Women over 50 usually look better with a cream lipstick rather than a matte or gloss. Every bit of moisture helps. 
• If your lipstick shade turns out to be brighter than you thought it would be, color in your lips with a pencil a few shades darker than your lipstick (for instance, brown pencil under dark red lipstick) and layer the lipstick on top. Or coat the lipstick with a darker lip gloss, which will turn down the heat.

Dress Collection

Kurtis Collection

Hand Care - Nails Care

Hand Care
For many people especially housewives and manual workers, the hands are the most overworked and ill-used part of the body. They are exposed to all kinds of wear and tear: to the effects of temperature and climate: to frequent wetting: to the onslaughts of harsh chemicals: and to the risk of minor injury and subsequent infection. Yet the care of the hands is often completely overlooked until, say, the skin becomes rough and cracked or a nail is broken.

Chapped hands 
The repeated use of soap and water damages the top layer of the skin, and can cause excessive scaling, or chapping. When washing hands lukewarm water and the simplest soap should be used. Exposing unprotected hands to bleaches and other kitchen chemicals, and also to shampoos, can aggravate chapping. To protect hands, wear plastic gloves. Cold weather can also cause chapping of the hands. The skin becomes sore and red and may begin to crack. One has to use cold cream at this time.

Eczema 
In some extreme instances, chapping can lead to eczema, or inflammation of the skin. Eczema can also affect people who are allergic to certain materials. As the hands are almost always in contact with some material, the condition can persist. One has to see the doctor in this condition.

Warts 
Children in particular are affected by warts, which develop on the hands or fingers and are contagious. Most warts disappear spontaneously, as immunity develops, though they persist for a year or more. There is no way of preventing them. If they cause concern they should be seen by a doctor, who can destroy them with corrosive or freezing fluids.

Nails and their problems

The main function of the finger nails is to protect the sensitive tips of the fingers and concentrate the sense of touch. On average, a nail grows from its base to its top edge in about six months. If nails are not cut they will become split and broken.

Flaking nails 
The top layers of nails can separate and start to flake off if they are exposed to too much soap and water or detergent. If flaking occurs, wear plastic gloves when washing dishes or clothes, and massage nail cream into the nail base each day.

Brittle nails 
When nails easily crack or break they can be a permanent worry. Weak nails are caused by general ill health or a protein deficiency in the diet. You can increase your nutritional intake by eating more lean meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Brittle nails could also be suffering from extreme dryness and, if this is the case, rub in a nail cream every morning and night and keep the nails fairly short until the condition improves.

Loose nails 
The excessive use of nail hardeners containing formaldehyde can cause the nail plate to separate from the nail bed. The space beneath the nail may then become infected, causing discoloration. Loose nails can also accompany diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.

Hang nails 
If the nails are frequently immersed in water the outer skin layer may split away from the cuticle. The splits, or hang nails, are painful and can become infected. They can be snipped off with sharp nail scissors. To prevent them occurring the skin should be kept flexible by nightly applications of cold creams

Black nails 
A heavy blow on the nail---or jamming it in a door---can cause bleeding under the nail which eventually fall off. New growth will cure the condition. If the injury is very painful the nail may have to be removed surgically.

Nail Biting 
In both adults and children, nail biting is a common habit, sometimes stemming from insecurity, boredom, anxiety or excitement. Excessive nail biting results in very weak nails and in extreme cases, damaged fingers caused by chewing the nail down to the quick---the sensitive skin beneath the nail. The best remedy is often to appeal to the individual's vanity. Failing this, the person concerned must use willpower to conquer the habit.

Care For Your Hands and Feet

Pamper your hands and feet with these simple beauty aids.

The face may be the window to our soul and thus, deserving of all the special care that we lavish on it but our hands do a lot for us and those around us and our feet do the important task of carrying our weight to all places imaginable and sometimes, unimaginable. Considering that, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we don't always give them the kind of care and attention that they deserve. Anyway, it's still not too late to make amends. There are loads of things that you can do to pamper your hands and feet without going to a salon.

Taking care of your hands and nails

As far as your hands are concerned, taking care of your nails are a must. For starters, you can rub petroleum jelly, coconut oil or even castor oil on your nails and then buff with a soft cloth. That should render an amazing shine and look of health to them. Massaging them every two days will help those with soft nails that break easily.

Another way to harden soft nails would be to soak them in warm olive for 20 minutes every second day.

There's stuff you can do even during your regular chores. Making the dough for rotis? Don't just wash off the atta - just mix some milk and a drop or two of lemon and leave it on your hands for a few minutes. The kind of cleansing and softening this can do for your hands can be rather hard to beat by a lot of cosmetics.

To soften coarse and dry hands, mix one tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of sugar and water. Rinse hands after a minute or so. You can also mix 1/3 of a cup of glycerine and 2/3 of a cup of rosewater, mix them well in a bottle by shaking them. Store in a cool place and massage into your hands regularly.

For exfoliation, mix two tablespoons of oil (baby, safflower, vegetable, olive) with three tablespoons of sugar, preferably coarse. Make a paste out of it and gently rub it into your hands. Rinse with warm water.

For cuticle care, you can use a teaspoon of warmed olive oil or two drops of eucalyptus essential oil and a teaspoon of Jojoba oil and push back your cuticles and massage the oil into it.

Besides, always keep a moisturizer handy at work. Using some moisturizer once in a while is a good idea.

Foot care

For starters, while you are doing your washing chores, you can let the soap stay on your foot and brush it off once your chores are over. You could try the milk and atta (whole wheat flour) combination on your feet as well. Believe it or not, toothpaste is known to be great for cleaning and softening the feet. You can round off with a short massage with a cream or a moisturizer.

You can also mix half a bowl of water with half a bowl of lemon juice. Then gently dip paper towels into the mixture and apply to your feet. This should soften, smoothen and even help remove odors from your feet.

You can make your own foot lotion if you don't want to invest in any of the lotions available across the counter. You will require a tablespoon of almond oil, a tablespoon of olive oil, a tablespoon of of wheat germ oil and 12 drops of eucalyptus essential or fragrance oil. Mix all the ingredients well, store in a dark colored bottle and rub into your feet. Store it in a cool place.

Need some exfoliation for the hardened skin on your feet and soles? You could take some warm water; mix one of your favorite shampoos or that which you are trying very hard to finish off. Use a foot file to clean and soften the skin and finish off with a moisturizer. You could also use foot scrubs that are available in the market, for effective exfoliation.

Or else, you could make your own strawberry exfoliant. Mix eight strawberries with two tablespoons of olive oil (or sun flower oil) and a teaspoon of kosher salt. You could also add half a teaspoon of finely chopped almonds if you wish. Make a paste of all the ingredients but be careful not to over blend it. Or else the paste will not be very consistent since strawberries have a lot of water in them anyway. Massage it on to your feet, leave it on for a while and then wash off, preferably with warm water.

Keep Make-up Brush Clean

Beautiful Lips

Some of us have less perfect lips than others. But don't despair! There are plenty of tricks of the trade to help make your lips more balanced and beautiful. Some of the most effective solutions:

• The best lip color fixative? - A thin layer of Chap stick. The formula holds lip color like crazy as it heals and protects.
• Powder lips also give lip color or gloss something to cling to for longer, smoother wear.
• For longer wear, blot lips after applying lipstick to set color and remove excess. Add a thin layer of loose or pressed powder, then apply color again. 
• Turn down too much shine by holding a single-ply tissue to your lips and pressing a little loose powder through it - just enough will sift through the tissue to adhere to color and reduce the shine. 
• Turn up the shine with a thin layer of clear lip gloss over lipstick or alone.
• For high-voltage shine and color, try a lip lacquer over lipstick or alone.
• For fuller, poutier lips, spotlight lip gloss right in the center of your mouth. 
• Keep matte lip color from drying your lips - use a lip primer or lip color fixative before you apply the matte color. 
• For evening special effects, apply a sheer lip-gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip color.

Acne and Skin Conditions

Acne, or the formation of pimples on the skin, is a condition that affects many people the world over. It can start in teen years, or even in middle age. While it appears all to prevalent today, it is not a modern problem.

Numerous recipes were created to cure "spots on the face," including wearing garlic around the neck and standing under a full moon. In Victorian times, corsets were blamed and later chocolate. The worst part of the sometimes-chronic disorder is the lack of reasoning behind why it occurs. We as a modern public have advanced capabilities including DNA testing, yet simple Acne is not understood fully.

Up until the early 1990's, doctors were still casting blame on greasy foods, salt and chocolate as the main cause of breakouts. Parents blamed a child's cleansing habits. What has surfaced, however, is that the true culprits of Acne may differ greatly and many times lack explanation. Hormones, atmospheric conditions, allergies, over production of oil, the list goes on can be some of the contributing factors.


So too can vitamin and mineral deficiencies play a major role, such as in the case of zinc, which aids in the production of new skin tissue. Essential oils, however, can be a supplement to prescribed or daily skin treatments. Retin-A is a popular topical prescription. A derivative of vitamin A, it is basically free from side effects and works quite nicely.

It is costly however. Carrots, which contain a high amount of vitamin A have been traditionally cooked, mashed and applied to the face as a mask to help relieve the immense discomfort Acne can pose. To get an even heightened effect, oil or essential oil of carrot and carrot seed have be used.

Acne Mask

• 1 carrot cooked and mashed 10 drops carrot essential oil 1 capsule vitamin A oil (optional) 1 teaspoon parsley Mash hot carrots and add other ingredients. Let cool slightly and apply to face, staying away from the eye area. Let dry and wash off with warm water.
• Do no more than twice a week. Non-medicated soap is suggested for use twice a day. Why not add a few drops of carrot oil to liquid cleansing products? Healing lavender or purifying tea tree also can work wonders.

The key is to find your specific type of Acne and pick oils that will best fight your battle.

Beautiful Blush

Many women shy away from blush, afraid that they will look harsh and over-done. The correct technique will help you avoid that problem!

The right way to blush: 
Smile or suck in your cheeks to locate the apples of your cheeks. Begin at the center of the apple and apply blush up to the corner of the eye and the temple. Blush should never go below the bottom of your nose, or any closer in than the iris of your eye. Applying blush high on the face makes your eyes sparkle.

After applying blush, blend with a dry makeup sponge. Use the edge of the sponge like an eraser on the outer edges of the applied blush to buff away any lines of demarcation. 

Never apply blush below the cheekbones. This tripe of color only creates an illusion that brings the face down and makes you look older. 
When the seasons change, change your blush! Deeper, rich colors for fall and winter, paler tines for spring and summer.

Note for oily skin: 
Excess oil causes the skin to grab color causing your blush to darken as the day goes on. Avoid this by powdering often, not with blush but with pressed translucent powder.

Get Rid Of Pimples

CLEAN!
Wash your face with a gentle, oil- and fragrance-free cleanser; preferably a nondetergent one labeled pH balanced.

If you have oily skin all over your face, use a cleanser that contains benzoil peroxide or salicylic acid.

Don't scrub - irritated skin swells around the pores, which can cause breakouts. 
Skip toner unless your face is very oily, otherwise it might dry out the skin. 

TREAT!
Apply a topical acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid over your entire face, not just where blemishes have already erupted. At night, use a drying spot-treatment product and dab oil-free moisturizer on dry areas. In the morning, apply an oil-free sunscreen gel over the entire face.

CONCEAL!
Use a small makeup brush to dab concealer or cream foundation (in the exact same shade as your skin) directly onto the blemish. Use a fingertip to wipe away excess concealer around the blemish and, if necessary, apply another coat of concealer. 
If the makeup becomes cakey, carefully wipe it off and start over. gently brush powder (in the exact same shade as your skin) on top of the concealer. 


Tricks Of The Trade:

• If you have oily skin and feel that you need toner, apply it only on the T-zone, and rinse it off afterward (leaving it on can dry the skin). Use a clay mask as often as every three days to absorb excess oil.
• To stop redness and swelling in an emergency situation (job interview, wedding), ask your doctor for a cortisone injection. It calms down a pimple almost instantly.

How To Fight Against Wrinkles

How you choose to treat wrinkles and other signs of aging depends on what stage of your life you're at. In your 20s, when wrinkles are just beginning to appear, sun block is the best course of action.

At that stage, skin can still repair itself, and wearing sunscreen regularly will prevent further damage and help the skin regenerate itself. An alpha-hydroxy acid product is also a good idea, because it will lightly exfoliate the dulling layer of dead skin and give it a smoother, clearer look.

When your 30s start to creep up (with a few more lines and wrinkles in tow), retinol products and prescription retinoids, such as Retin-A or Renova (the more moisturizing form), are the next line of defense.

Both are designed to plump up fine lines and stimulate skin to produce collagen, although Renova is the only product approved by the FDA clinically proven to reduce wrinkles. If your skin is starting to show signs of dryness, moisturizer will hydrate it and make wrinkles look less apparent but won't make them disappear.

When wrinkles become stubborn, usually around your late 30s and early 40s, it's time to see your dermatologist, who can prescribe a skincare regimen to help keep wrinkles at bay.

In addition, she has various chemical peels in her anti-aging arsenal. Peels come in varying strengths, depending on the severity of your wrinkles and age spots. Light, glycolic acid-based peels, done once a month over the course of a few months, will help smooth some of the fine lines (although they won't have much effect on deep wrinkles), fade brown spots, and even out overall skin tone.

TCA (trichloracetic acid) peels are a bit stronger and reserved for deeper wrinkles. They are used at varying concentrations and leave skin red and sensitive for a few days. Phenol peels are used for very severe discoloration as a last resort.

The downsides of phenol peels are that they can leave the skin permanently lighter and involve more risks than more gentle peels. Laser peels are a newer weapon that only require a single treatment but are reserved for very severe wrinkling.

Depending on the type of damage you wish to get rid of, this could be an alternative to a facelift and should be performed only by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has substantial experience using lasers. The additional drawback is the healing process; count on severe redness and peeling for at least a week.

Makeup Dos, Don'ts, and Maybes

Rules to follow -- and some to break.

When we were little girls playing dress up, it was for the sheer joy of it. There was no pressure and no one told us what was right and wrong to wear. Putting on makeup can still feel that way. Every woman arrives at her own look through trial and error. It's a never-ending -- and exciting -- experiment. So the fewer rules there are, the better! 

But aren't there a few makeup rules? Are there any must-have-or-else beauty necessities? There are no rules about what you choose to wear, but there are rules on how to apply it. Here are a few:

Dos Makeup should only go on a freshly washed and moisturized face.

Whatever you're doing, you have to see what you're doing. Have bright, even light in front of your bathroom mirror.

Blend. Blend. And did I mention...blend! You don't want to see where color begins or ends. Whether it's foundation, blush, or eye color: no hard, drawn lines. An exception to this would be eyeliner, but I prefer even that to be smudged.

Don'ts Pink complexions should not wear pinkish foundations. No way. No how. Not ever!

My pet peeve (take it for what it's worth) is wearing dark lip liner and a lighter lip color. This is what I call "the inflatable doll" look. Scary.

Maybes When it comes to color, take direction from you hair, rather than from your eyes or your clothes. Or not!

It used to be a no-no to wear shimmer eye shadows on mature faces (shimmer accentuated the lines). But most shimmer formulas are so refined now, just about anyone can wear them.

Are some looks strictly day or night? Nah. (Besides, when you're coming home from a party at 5 a.m. is it day or is it night? These are the mysteries of life.)

When it comes to eye shadow, stay in the same color family if you're wearing more than one tone. Then again, a color mixed with a neutral looks great -- pink with brown, or blue with brown.

Want to wear only lip color? Great. Only concealer? Fantastic. Eye shadow without mascara? Definitely. Lipstick on your cheeks? Genius. You want chartreuse shadow? And you want it for everyday? Go ahead -- I have a pair of chartreuse lampshades that absolutely make the room!

Rescue Your Troubled Skin

Breakouts
Should a major blemish suddenly appear, call your dermatologist. A cortisone injection will shrink it within 24 hours. Is your doctor AWOL? Arielle Kauvar, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City, recommends Neutrogena's On-the-Spot Acne Patch;  worn overnight, it visibly reduces any redness or swelling.

Under-eye circles
Consult your doctor to determine the best way to lighten them, says Dr. Kauvar. If pigmentation is causing the problem, bleaching creams can help, but even prescription-strength medicines take at least six weeks to work. A quicker fix—but considerably more expensive—is laser treatment; one visit alone can produce a 70 percent improvement, says Dr. Kauvar.

Cold sores
Always have a five-day course of oral antibiotics on hand for this recurring viral condition (pay attention to any localized tingling—a sign that a sore is on the way). Start taking the medication the moment you feel this sensation, and the sore may never emerge, says Kauvar. If it does, dry it out with over-the-counter Domeboro tablets or powder dissolved in water.

Sunburn
Lobster skin? Treat the condition like any acute burn, says Dr. Kauvar: Apply cold compresses, take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce swelling, and smooth on a gentle moisturizer like Lubriderm Skin Therapy Moisturizing Lotion to help prevent peeling.

Sun spots
Fat freckles and beauty marks will fade quickly with in-office chemical peels, says Dr. Kauvar. Any irritation should clear within a week or two. For lighter discoloration, use acid-based toners and moisturizers that gradually lighten skin over several weeks. And always wear sun block. Editor's pick: Peter Thomas Roth's Glycolic Acid 10% Moisturizer.

Skincare Basics

With new creams and ingredients being launched seemingly every day, it's easy to get confused by all the options. And unless you're willing to spend hours on your skin care routine every day by incorporating all of these different lotions, you'll need to pick and choose which basics are right for you. Here, the bare minimum that you need:

• Sunscreen: It's a must, essential for preventing sun damage and lowering your risk of developing skin cancer. Many skin care lines have facial moisturizers with SPF already included; they offer a more luxurious, makeup-friendly texture than traditional sunscreens. If you use only one product, sunscreen should be it. A lotion like Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Lotion with SPF 15 moisturizes, protects with SPF, and smoothes skin with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and vitamin C -- practically the perfect all-purpose face lotion.
• Eye cream: The skin under your eyes is more delicate and dry than the skin on the rest of your face. It's wise to invest in an eye cream, which treats the eye area with more emollient moisturizers. Some eye creams even claim to minimize dark circles and temporarily tighten fine lines. 
• Retinols: If you're concerned with wrinkles and pigmentation spots, a face cream with retinol (a derivative of vitamin A) can help. Use it in place of your daytime, SPF moisturizer after you wash your face at night. 
• Body lotion with alpha-hydroxy acids: A lotion with skin-sloughing AHAs smoothes your whole body, including hands, feet, arms, and legs. For tough dry spots, apply extra lotion before bed and let it soak in while you sleep.

How To Get Gorgeous Skin

1. Don't go to bed with makeup on. Makeup left on overnight seeps into your pores, clogs them, and congests your skin. Make sure that you wash your face twice at the end of the day. Once to get the makeup off. A second time to wash the skin itself.
2. Exfoliate daily. After washing your face at night, be sure to exfoliate. Use a delicate scrub. If you don't have one on hand, a tablespoon of sugar or oatmeal will work just fine.
3. Use facial masks regularly. If possible, everyday is ideal. Again, if you don't have one on hand, make your own. Mashed banana or avocado is good. Plain yogurt also works well.
4. Keep a treatment and moisturizer on your face, day or night. Put your skin first. After you wash it at night, put on some kind of skin treatment, whether it's alpha hydroxyl acids, vitamin A or C, or any kind of special cocktail treatment. Let that sink in, then put a moisturizer over that. In the morning, do the same.
5. Don't use the cheapest or most expensive cosmetics. Mom tells me that moderately priced cosmetics are the best. They get the job done, and the ingredients are usually pretty good. You have to keep trying various brands until you find something that works well for you.
6. Hydrate your face throughout the day. Whether it's a commercial product, or one you make yourself (fill a spray bottle with distilled water, add a few drops of chamomile or rose essential oil, shake it gently before each use, and spray it on) hydrate your face, even over makeup, frequently throughout the day.
7. Treat your face gently. Never pull, tug, or scrub your facial skin. Be very gentle when you clean it, moisturize it or makeup on it. This will lessen the chance that you'll damage your skin and get wrinkles.
8. Keep your face covered when you're in the sun. As beautiful as she is, my mom never lets anyone see her face when she's in the sun. She'll slather on a high factor sunscreen, put on sunglasses, and a wide brimmed hat.
9. Eat fresh foods and drink lots of water. My mom tells me to stay away from "dead food" food that's basically not fresh. She always eat lots of veggies, fruits, nuts, and drinks tons of water.
10. Let go of stress. Stress can show up on your face, no matter how well you take care of your skin. Do something your enjoy everyday, whether it's watching TV or going shopping. Your face reflects what's going on inside of your mind.

Keep Skin Fresh and Healthy

1. Protect yourself from the sun -- use sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 and 2.
2. Don't -- I repeat -- don't smoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs a lot of circulation. Smoking impairs that dramatically. That's why smokers' skin looks dull and gray. Instead of having oxy-generated blood delivered to the surface of the skin, they're getting poisons and oxidants.
3. Get adequate rest and nutrition. 
4.  Protect yourself from stress -- both emotional and environmental stress. 
5.  Wash your face twice a day and put on the proper treatment product. I'm amazed when women tell me they don't wash their face in the morning. A lot of icky stuff collects overnight -- dead skin cells, dirt, and dust!
6. Don't neglect certain areas of the skin. Elbows, heels, neck, and décolletage need moisturizing, and your scalp and the tops of your feet need sun protection.
7. Touch your face less and wash your hands more! Don't get too surgical on yourself. It's very tempting to pick, poke, squeeze, and scratch in front of the mirror. But the more you traumatize the skin, the greater your risk of scarring. Apply treatment products and let them work.
8. Keep your makeup clean. Replace the sponges in your compact on a regular basis. Now and then, toss the whole works and start fresh -- the average shelf life for cosmetics is 6 to 12 months. Don't buy products so expensive that you'll be heartbroken if you have to throw them away.
9. Exercise moderation. More is not always better. Moisturizer, for example, is the most overused product in America. We've been bamboozled by cosmetic companies into thinking every square inch of our body has to be slathered. And it's simply not true. Exfoliators are another thing to be careful with. Used too often, they over acidify and irritate your skin.
10. Beware of counter girls. If it were up to them, you'd be in the bathroom for two and a half hours each morning -- putting 80 layers on your face. Keep your regimen simple. And when you do add a new product, do it gradually so your skin has time to adjust. Each skincare or makeup product has an average of 20 to 40 ingredients -- you're introducing 20 to 40 potential allergens to your face every time you try something new.