Choosing a new hair style

Many women find it difficult to change their hairstyle especially when it concerns cutting it. The attachment to hair has prevented many women from discovering new hairstyles that may actually be better for them. If you are struggling to decide if you should get a haircut, there are tips that can help you to choose the best style for you. With a wide range of styles to choose from, everyone can find the perfect option. Before you rush to chop off your locks, talk to your hairstylist who can help you to make the best decision.

Condition of your hair

The first thing you need to think about is the current condition of your hair. If you have damaged hair, it is in your best interest to get that haircut. Hair that is extremely damaged continues to break when you keep it long. A good cut can prove to be the cure that you need for your damaged hair. If you have healthy hair, you know that you can grow out your hair any time if you feel like you do not like the short do and you should not be afraid of change.

Consider the maintenance

If you do not have much time to do your hair every morning, short hairstyles can be a real blessing. You can find a style that you love that is virtually maintenance free. If time is an issue, choose a style that is not too fancy so that you do not have much trouble styling it. It is important to get professional styling regularly to keep the style looking good.

Your hair texture

It is important to work with the texture of your hair to create the perfect style. Some hair textures work perfectly with curly hairstyles while for others straight hair is a better option. You have to note that using heat styling tools too often can damage your hair. A good stylist will recommend the style that works best with your texture so that you do not have to take too much time and effort styling your hair.

Using hair products

When you choose a new hairstyle, you have to know that you will need to use different hair products to keep the hair manageable. If you want a low maintenance do, it is a good idea to choose a style that will not require too much hair product. Consider your environment when choosing a hairstyle so that you can ensure that you look good at all times.

Consult your hairstylist so that you can choose a haircut that you love and that works well with the shape of your face.

Natural skin care products

We all want to be able to maintain healthy skin, but some of you may be wondering how you can achieve this using DIY natural skin care products? Prior to taking a closer look at the principles of natural skin care products that you can utilize to promote healthy, clear and glowing skin, you need to consider a few of these facts we have outlined below:

1.     A person loses millions of dead cells every single day - approximately 30 thousand to 40 thousands dead skin cells are taken off of your body every 60 seconds. You are likely to shed almost 40 pounds of dead skin over the course of your life.

2.     Your skin makes approximately 15 percent of your whole body weight.

3.     New skin cells are constantly being generated by your body in order to replace the dead cells that you shed off. The top layers of your skin, referred to as epidermis is, in fact, fully replaced once every thirty days.

4.     There are approximately 2.5 million sweat glands present in your skin that secrete two cups of sweat, on average.

There are countless people out there who are led to believe that constant, aggressive scrubbing with a rough towel is ideal for removing toxins and waste materials from their skin. You need to understand that abrasive scrubbing is not going to promote healthy skin in any way. Most of the time, it worsens skin health and tone since it leads to severe damage of multiple structures of your skin layers. Skin is designed to purify itself from the inside out, provided that your lifestyle and diet are health-promoting. Be very gentle with your skin when washing, and pat it dry using a soft towel.

Whether you are looking to ease your wrinkles, get smooth skin, or fight adult acne, here are some chemical-free natural skin care formulas that you easily can add to your skin-care routine:

1. Antioxidant Serums

There are countless options when it comes to serum ingredients. Here is a guide according to your skin type for essential oils or natural alternatives you can brew at home to add to your homemade serum:

Mature Skin: Carrot seed, Jasmine, Lavender, Frankincense, Neroli, Sandalwood, Myrrh, Rose, and Pathouli.

Normal Skin: Ylang Ylang, Rose, Neroli, German Chamomile, Palmarose, Geranium and Lavender.

Sensitive Skin: Yarrow, Neroli, German Chamomile, and Lavender.

Combination Skin: Sandalwood, Lavender, Geranium, and Neroli.

Dry Skin: Neroli, Rose, German Chamomile, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood, Lavender, and Geranium.

DIY Natural Skin Care Antioxidant Serum Recipe:

Make a mixture of green tea by boiling tea leaves in water for some time. Leave it to cool.

Once cooled, add two teaspoons of lemon juice (freshly squeezed) to the tea.

Take a small bowl and add one tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel. Add about 15-20 drops of extra virgin olive oil, and mix it together. Add the content of a Vitamin E-capsule into the mixture. Put in the tea and lemon mixture to the bowl, and stir everything together.

Next, put in five to six drops of essential oil of your choice to the mixture, and muddle up everything. You can keep this serum in a dark bottle in the fridge.

Research has shown that skin absorbs active ingredients excessively between midnight and 5 am in the morning. Therefore, it is advisable to treat your skin to a nightcap of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

2. Blueberry Face Masks

Blueberries can do wonders for your skin. They are not only rich in fiber, but also Vitamin A and C. They are considered as miracle fruits for blemished, acne, uneven skin tone and pimples. They normalize your skin oil level to a large extend, and play a very important role in maintaining healthier, smoother skin. The high vitamin C content of blueberries helps in strengthening your blood vessels, as a result repairing spider veins and broken capillaries below skin surface. Moreover, this incredible fruit prevents skin-aging since they contain plethora of anti-oxidants.

Here are 5 blueberry based recipes you might want to try:

Blueberries and Yogurt

Take some blueberries in a bowl and mash them together till smooth. Add some Greek yogurt and mix it together. [Make sure that you strain yogurt through filter or cheese cloth before adding to the puree.] Spread the mixture onto your face for about 20 minutes, and wash it off using cold water. This mask is known for its properties to slough off damaged skin cells.

Nourishing Blueberry Mask

Take a small cup, and fill one-fourth of it with blueberries. Add a tablespoon of honey and olive oil. Blend everything together until smooth. Apply this mask for 20 minutes and wash off using warm water.

Blueberry and Lemon Mask

This mask is excellent for oily skin. Take a medium-sized bowl and add blueberries, ground almonds, and powdered oats, and lemon juice to it. Mix everything together and apply it all over your face for about 15-20 minutes. Wash the mask off with warm water.

Anti-Aging Skin Blueberry Mask

Mix together in a small bowl:

·         1/4 teaspoon of Aloe Vera

·         1/4 teaspoon of vitamin E

·         1/4 teaspoon of honey

·         1/2 teaspoon of olive oil

·         1/4th cup of blueberries

·         1/4th cup of crushed oats

Apply the mixture to your face for 15-20 minutes. Vitamin E, blueberries, honey and olive oil are all potent, highly effective anti-oxidants. When combined with Vitamin C, these ingredients can work wonders for aging skin. Use the entire mask right away since it loses its effectiveness when stored or refrigerated.

Blueberry and Aloe Mask

This mixture/mask is ideal for treating dark circles.

Mash Aloe Vera and cold blueberries together, and dab the mixture lightly under both eyes. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Then wash it off with lukewarm water.

3. Natural Toners

Toners are supposed to even out your complexion and absorb excess oil from your skin. However, majority of the commercial toners are full of harsh fragrances and chemicals. In addition to being overly expensive, they can be highly damaging for skin cells. Don't forget to use toners after cleansing and before putting on facial masks.

Here are 2 DIY natural toner recipes for you to try:

Rose-water toner:

Mix the following ingredients, and use the mixture as a natural alternative to your regular toner:

·         Rose water - 50gm

·         Alum - Half a tablespoon

·         Glycerin - 100gm

Rose-water toner can be stored in refrigerator for future usage.

Mint Toner:

Take 100 grams of water in a small pot, and add two handfuls of mint. Boil the mixture for some time. Add a tablespoon of this mixture to a cup of distilled water. Put in half teaspoon of alum, and store the mixture in a bottle.

Note: Mint toner is ideal for dry skin!

As you can see from these DIY recipes above it is possible to easily maintain healthy skin using DIY natural skin care products.

How to find right Nail Polish

With all of the options that are available when you go to purchase nail polish, it can be rather confusing how to choose the right ones. The perfect polish can help to change your look in just a few minutes, and it is usually a good idea to pick a polish color according to your skin tone, the season, or the occasion.

Using the contrast between your complexion and the color of the polish you choose will put an elegant emphasis on your overall look in a sensual way. An important thing you can do is coordinate the color with your complexion. The shade of the polish must compliment the color of your skin, instead of pointing it out too boldly.

General Qualities to Look for in a Good Nail Polish

If you want to find a good quality nail polish, there are specific things that you can look for. Price and brand does not necessarily denote a better polish, so look for certain qualities like the following:

• A polish that looks true to its color in the bottle when you put it on your nails.
• A fast drying and fast setting polish.
• Along lasting polish.
• A polish that won't chip or crack.
• Good pigmentation.
• A wide variety of colors to choose from.
• A fair price for what you get.

Nail Polish and Nail Art

You certainly want to find a high quality nail polish when you are interested in doing nail art. This is because you want a polish that will last and that will be thicker than the polishes that are more cheaply made. You'll also want colors with good pigmentation so that your design can really look great. If you are using a lower quality polish when doing any nail art, your results may vary greatly and not come out how you were expecting.

Shopping for Quality Nail Polish

When you want to purchase a quality nail polish, look for ones that have the qualities you are looking for. If you want a longer lasting polish, many times they will advertise right on the bottle that they are. You can also find ones that tell you it is a thicker formula, vibrant colors and also polishes that say they will not chip or crack. You can even find ones that are supposed to promote the growth and health of your nails.

Finding a polish that will meet the needs for quality that you require is not difficult when you know what you are looking for. This will enable you to weed out the ones that are of lesser quality and won't serve the purpose for which you are buying them. With a bit of knowledge and some careful looking when you are out shopping, you will be able to find just what you are looking for.

Brushes for your make up set

You've heard the saying - "A workman is only as good as his tools". The same applies for makeup application. Investing in a set of good quality makeup tools is of great importance. The right applicators not only ensure a flawless look but also the judicious use of cosmetics.

When it comes to makeup brushes, there is no "one-size-fits-all". There are dozens in varying sizes and shapes and made of a variety of materials. Selecting the most essential will be easier if you keep the following tips in mind.

Material

A very important consideration is the hair material. Brushes are made of natural hair (Squirrel, mink, weasel, sable, goat, pony and human hair) and synthetic fibers (plastic and acrylic).

The natural options are pricier especially the ones made with the squirrel, mink, weasel, sable hair fibers. However, they are the most suitable for powder products. Synthetic hair is a cheaper alternative. They are good to apply liquid and cream based cosmetics as they do not soak up excess product.

Shape and Size

Size matters a lot. Your makeup set should house a range of makeup applicators in different sizes - large, medium and small- and shape - flat, rounded and angled. The size and shape largely depend upon its use. Following are the 7 brushes your makeup set cannot do without.

• Foundation: It is a fluffy, flat tipped brush with long bristles. It allows smooth blending and buffing of foundation on the skin. (A tip: When applying foundation remember to blend along the hairline, jaw-line and near the ears.)

• Powder: These are large, soft and fluffy brushes used to loosely dust powder on your face. After dipping the applicator in the powder dish, dust to shake off the excess.

• Concealer: You will need to skillfully hide dark circles or an ugly zit. This is a medium sized, oval brush. It is not very firm.

• Blush: This is a medium sized, soft brush. It is flat with round edges (dome-shaped). In addition to applying blush, it can also be used to apply bronzer.

• Eye shadow: There are three types. The first is a small, flat stiff brush. It allows you to pack eye shadow color all over the eyelid. The second is a small, blunt fluffy brush to build the color across the eyelid. And third a soft bristled brush to blend the color and soften hard edges.

• Eyeliner/Eye shadow: This is a firm angled or pointed brush. It is used to fill in the eyebrow and line the eyes.

• Lip: It could be square, oval or round in shape. It is small and flat with fine bristles.

How to clean the brushes?

Cleaning is also important to keep them brushes germ free and increase their life. Use a cleaner or mild shampoo to wash makeup residues. Place them in an inverted position and allow them to dry thoroughly.