How To Properly Remove Your Make-up

Removing your make-up at the end of everyday is necessary to keep your skin from getting clogged pores, acne, and dirt built up on your face. Using just soap and water is not going to cut it. Soap is too harsh for your face. It can cause dryness and irritation to your skin. The skin on your face is more sensitive then the skin on the rest of your body to products. Follow these tips and combined with the right products you will have make-up easily removed along with fresh, clean skin.

Removing Eye Make-up

Removing eye make-up is one of the easier processes. If your make-up is not water proof, then use a mild eye make-up remover on a damp cotton round. Gently press the pads on each eye for 10 seconds before wiping. Do not rub your eyes. Rubbing causes redness and irritation. Gently wipe your eyes, starting from the inside corner and gently wiping across the eye. Run cotton rounds under warm water, squeeze out excess water and repeat until all make-up has been removed. 

For heavy or water proof make-up use an oil based eye make-up remover. Hold on your eyes for 15-20 seconds and begin removing, but do not scrub. The oil will loosen up and help cut threw the make-up without damaging the skin.

After removing the make-up, add a little bit of remover and water to a q-tip. This will allow you to remove the remaining make-up residue from the lash line. Gently wipe the top lash line from the inner corner out and then repeat on the bottom lash line. You can also wipe it up your lashes like mascara. 

Lips & Face

Removing make-up from your lips and face is done just how you would wash your face everyday. Start by damping your face with water. Add a quarter to half dollar sized amount of cleanser to your hand and rub together. Make sure it lathers really well, if it doesn't just add a bit more water. Cleanse your face with your hands In circular motions starting at your forehead and working your way down. Be sure to get your nose and lips. Cleanse your face like this for 5 minutes then rinse. Repeat the cleansing process for a 2nd time. Be sure to use warm water because it allows the cleanser to get deep into the pores to remove the dirt and oils. Rinse. Towel dry your face. If there is no excess make-up then spray 2-3 sprays of a toner made for your skin type into your hands and pat onto your face. Apply a pea sized amount of moisturizer on your hands, rub together and pat onto your face. Your cleansing is now complete.

If you are not sure about which products you should use or what skin type you are, seek help from a professional. You should get monthly facials, to help remove excess dirt, and to remove the dead skin. The esthetician will direct you as to which type of facial best suits your skin. So remember to wash your face every morning and night, as well as to get monthly facials.

-aphrodite 

Mascara Mistakes & Eyelash Tinting

The majority of women wear mascara on a daily basis, and always wonder why sometimes they can't seem to get it right. There are some things you might not know about mascara and it can be causing problems. Here are some tips to get better looking lashes with and without mascara.

Mistake 1: To many coats. Mascara is only made to do 2 coats at most. If you apply more coats, the mascara will dry as you applying it and will cause your lashes to stick together. To keep  this from happening make sure you buy a new tube of mascara every three months. If mascara gets to old it may not apply as nicely as it used to, so you will feel like you need more coats. Be sure to not apply mascara over mascara from the previous day as well. It will cause clumping.

Mistake 2: Pumping the wand. When you go to apply mascara, you have been known to pump the wand a few times if you are getting low. Do not pump the wand! It causes air bubbles in the mascara, which causes it to clump. Instead, twist the wand in the tube as you pull it out, and wipe the excess mascara off at the top as it comes out. It will prevent excess mascara from getting on your lashes.

Mistake 3: Keeping mascara too long. Mascara does not necessarily have an expiration date, but you should change your mascara about every three months. Mascara harbors germs and bacteria that can cause itching of the eyes, redness and even pink eye. If you can't remember how long you have had the mascara for, its safer to just throw it away and buy a new one.

Mistake 4: Improper application. Applying mascara properly is the key to great looking eyes and make-up. You can have the best eye shadow and it can be ruined by having bad mascara. Be sure when applying that you go all the way to the root. Start at the root and wiggle the wand back and forth, then bring it up in a smooth motion to the ends of your lashes. It will make your lashes appear longer, and your eyes brighter.

A great way to avoid all of these problems and have great looking lashes at all time is by getting your eyelashes tinted. It is a $35 service that gives you dark, longer looking lashes for 4-6 weeks. Eyelash tint is an all natural vegetable dye that is applied to the upper and lower lashes starting at the root and going to the ends. It is left on for 10 minutes, the excess is removed. You will no longer have to take the time to remove or apply mascara.


~aphrodite

Anti-Aging Make-up Tricks

No matter how much you try, your skin and body ages every year. As you get older, your lips, lashes and eyebrows naturally get lighter, which causes a contrast in the colors of your skin. By adding dark colors on your eyes and lips, it can create more of a contrast which will make you look even older. Here are some simple make-up tricks to make you look younger.

Start with a creamy foundation, that matches your skin tone. You can use your lower cheeks to determine a color, and do not use your neck because it tends to be lighter from the lack of sunlight. Apply a small amount to your entire face making sure you cover your forehead, nose and chin, while blending it down onto your neck. Use a damp sponge to blend and remove any lines from the product. 

Use eyeliner. As your lashes begin to lighten, it makes it harder to see them and determine where your lash line is. If you have lighter skin, use a brown pencil, and a black pencil if you have darker skin. Using a pencil gives you more control and allows for a more natural look. Apply the liner to the top only, so it does not give the effect of dragging eyes. On your lids, use a medium brown shadow in the crease of your eye lid, and add a lighter color like champagne to your lid, up to the brown. Be sure to blend the colors so it is smooth. To finish off the look apply black mascara to the top lashes. This look will give you brighter looking eyes, and will minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Blush. To give your skin back its youthful glow, apply blush on the highest point of your cheek bones and blend towards the hairline. Your skin sags as we age, so you want to apply it in a way that it directs you away from the problem areas. Instead of using a powder blush, use a cream. It will give a glow to your skin and will last for the whole day.  If you wish to add bronzer, use it lightly. Apply a c shape from your forehead to your temples to under your cheekbones. This technique will enhance your skin structure and make your skin look lighter. 

Defining your eyebrows. Your eyebrows tend to thin on the ends and fade out as you age. Your eyebrows should be natural looking and not take over your face. Use a medium brown pencil or one that matches the color of your eyebrow hair. Use the pencil to apply short strokes to any thin spots, and be sure your eyebrows come to the outer corners of your eye. You can use the pencil to create an arch to your brows as well.

Lips. Your lip color will lighten over time and your lips will also get smaller. To give them a fuller look, be sure to use lip liner first. Lip liner will keep your lipstick from running and give your lips a more defined look. Use a color that closely matches the middle of your lips. Use a more natural looking lipstick, like a medium pink. You can exfoliate your lips before applying lip liner to make them look more plumped as well.

Sticking to more natural colors when you are older will compliment your skin more than doing a dramatic eye and lip. Try these tricks on your next make-up application and you will have people guessing your actual age. 

~aphrodite

Beauty Rules That Should Be Broken

Some beauty rules can stand the test of time, but some do not always work. They are made to be broken or changed over time. Here are some of the beauty rules that should not be followed.

1. Blue eye shadow.
Blue eye shadow gives most women an 80's flash back, and they try to avoid it at all costs. Blue eye shadow when properly done can look great on any skin tone. If you have fair skin, pastel blue with a hint of gray will look great. On medium skin tones, go for a medium shade of blue, with a hint of glitter or shimmer to add that little extra touch. For dark skin tones, you can do rich, vibrant blues that really make a statement against dark skin. You can also do your shadow to go with your outfit. If you are wearing pastel blue, go for a darker blue on the eyes. If you are wearing a darker blue, go for a lighter blue on the eyes for an added contrast.

  The DO                                         

The DON'T

2. Bronzer is for summer only.
Bronzer is great to add a little more color to your skin especially in the summer when your skin is sun kissed. There is nothing wrong with wearing bronzer all year around. Keep it looking natural by using a bigger brush, and less of the bronzer. Apply on the bridge of your nose and cheek bones, then continue on to the ears and neck. Use mattes in the for a deeper color, and a shimmer in the duller months so your skin reflects more lights.

    The DO                                  
     The DON'T


3. Don't combine smokey eyes and bold lips.
Doing a smokey eye with a bold lip can be a big don't, unless done with the proper colors. First use a neutral color for the smokey eye, then add a deeper color for a less dramatic look. Avoid using black because it can over power your look. The best combinations for eyes and lips start  with a gray shadow. If you want a red lip, add berry, bronze or copper on your eyes to keep a warm feel. For a pink lip, use a darker blue shadow. And for a coral lip, pair it with an emerald green shadow. You will make a statement, and look classy for a night out.
             The DO                               
     The DON'T
                                                                                                

4. Match your foundation to your jawline.
Matching your foundation to your jawline is never a good idea. Your jawline is curved, so using it to match a foundation to causes foundation colors to be too dark. You want your foundation to match your skin tone so it doesn't look like you have make-up on. Use your chest to match the foundation to. Your chest and face get the same amount of sunlight,so the color won't be too dark or too light. Test out different brands and shades to find out which matches your skin tone and looks great.

 The DO                            
    The DON'T

5. Oils are bad for your skin.
Oily skin is caused by the skins over production of oil, so you tend to use products that dry the skin out. By using products that dry the skin out, your causing your skin to produce more oil. Use water and natural plant oil based products lightly on your skin. The water will keep your skin hydrated, while the plant oil will give your skin extra nutrients it is missing.

6. Blunt cuts are the only cuts you can do to add volume to fine hair.
If you have fine hair, getting a blunt haircut usually makes your hair denser. It is not the only cut that can give you added volume. If you get a haircut with shorter layers it will help to add volume. The shorter layers boost up the hair giving the illusion that you have fuller, thicker, healthier hair.


7.Only tweeze or wax underneath the brows.
To create an arch and give lift to your eyebrows, you remove hair from underneath the brow. By only doing the underneath, your brows look messy, and un-kept. To have your brows looking great, wax or tweeze the stray hairs on the top and bottoms of the eyebrows. Also be sure to get rid of any excess hair in between the brows as well. See a licensed professional so you can make sure that your eyebrows look neat and polished.

  The DO                                              
The DON'T



8. The brow diagram.
The eyebrow diagram was made to tell people who to perfectly shape there eyebrows, the problem is that not everyone's face is the same size with the same dimensions. You should start your eyebrows at the bridge of your nose, any farther apart and there would be a large gap between your eyebrows. The eyebrows arch should begin about 2/3's of the way into the brow. The end of your eyebrows should be at the same height as the start of your eyebrows. If you make them lower, your eyes will look droopy.

  The DO                                              
   The DON'T



9. You can use eye shadow to fill in your brows.
An eyebrow pencil or powder is used to fill in gaps on eyebrows or to make them appear fuller. Eye shadow is made so it is loose, and it is not water proof. Putting it on your brows can cause it to unevenly wear off. Instead, use an eyebrow pencil or brow powder to fill in your brows. Be sure to match the color up to the color of your eyebrows for a natural look, that will last all day long.

10. Glitter polish is for young girls only.
Glitter polish is a common thing worn by young girls, but it can be for any age. Glitter polish is currently in style, and can be changed to fit your style. If you don't want to go too overboard, use a more neutral color and a light glitter on top. Or you can do an accent nail on each hand with the full nail covered in glitter, and the rest of your nails in the color of your choice. If you are really into the glitter, you can have it on every nail. You can also do glitter in shellac.

    

11. Cutting your cuticles. Do or Don't?
Cutting your cuticles has been a big topic on whether you should or shouldn't for quite some time. If you are giving yourself a manicure, I would recommend that you don't. If you are getting a professional manicure than it is a do. Cutting the live skin around your nails is never a good thing. It can cause bleeding and pain. To properly take care of your cuticles, first apply oil or a cuticle remover to them. Then gently push the cuticle off of the nail. The majority of the dead skin should come off but some may still be on. Any access can be gently cut with nippers.

      The DO                                
    The DON'T




12. Only condition the ends of your hair and not the roots.
The rule says that if you condition your scalp, it will make your hair oilier. This is FALSE! By not conditioning your scalp, it leads to unhealthy hair. Healthy hair starts at the scalp. Your scalp needs nutrients from the conditioner to help the hair grow healthy, strong and to keep the scalp from being dry, flaky, and itchy. Be sure to continue taking good care of your hair by using heat protectors before styling, and weekly treatments if your color, curl or straighten your hair frequently. Go to a salon every 4-6 weeks to get regular trims as well.


This should help you take good care of yourself and keep you up on some of the biggest trends of the summer. Some rules are made to be broken and this were some of them. Try out a new trend and follow these tips for great hair, make-up, nails and eyebrows.

~aphrodite

Eyelash & Eyebrow Tint

Say good bye to raccoon eyes, and hello to never running mascara! Eyelash and brow tint is an all natural vegetable dye for your lashes that gives the look of mascara without the running and smearing. It gives the look of darker and fuller brows as well. The color will last up to 6 weeks.

To apply the tint, your eyelashes and eyebrows are gently cleansed with soap and water. If you have make-up on a gentle make-up remover will be used. Then you tell the consultant how dark you would like to be. Most people do the blackest black on there lashes, and the color of your brows depends on how dark or light your hair and skin are. They will mix the dyes, and apply Vaseline around the area. And cotton pads under your eyes to prevent staining. Then the dye will be applied on the bottom lashes first. You must keep your eyes wide open. Then the consultant will have you close your eyes and apply the dye to the top lashes. The longer the dye sits on the darker your lashes will be. The max is 10 minutes. Then they will apply the dye onto your eyebrows, and let sit for a max of 7 minutes. You do not want your eyebrows to become too dark. To remove, they will get a damp cotton round or pad and remove in a gentle downward motion. After all the dye has been removed, they will clean up any extra vaseline with a wash cloth. You will then be on your way with beautiful looking lashes or brows. The whole process takes 15-20 mins.

This is a quick and easy service, that will have your lashes looking dark, and appear longer. It costs $35 for lashes and $30 for eyebrows, but the results are worth the cost. Come get your lashes or eyebrows tinted today.

~aphrodite

4 Ways To Glam Up Your Eye Make-up

Eye make-up is one of the easiest things to change up, and make a statement with. There are countless different colors you can use and different techniques to apply them. Spring is almost here, so it is time to change up your eyes. Here are the four hot trends for spring.

  1. Cat Eyes.  The cat eye trend has been around since the 50's. It is making a come back in a dramatic and casual way. Angelina Jolie has the less dramatic version of the cat eye. To do a cat eye, use a hand held mirror under your chin so you look down. Put a neutral eye shadow on your lids. Pull your eye taunt and apply from the inner to outer corners of your lid using a brush and black powder. Lightly flick up at the ends. Go over with a liquid eyeliner. Go over more times to increase the thickness and to make it more dramatic like Amy Winehouse. Either way, it is a quick and easy way to update your eyeliner.

2. Lashes. Fake lashes or eyelash extensions are great for any day and any occasion. You see them used on the runway and for photo shoots, but they can be done in a less dramatic fashion, and give you the appearance of naturally fuller, longer lashes. The most common and easiest form are band lashes. To apply, add a coat of mascara to your normal lashes. Trim the false lashes to fit onto your own. Apply a thin layer of lash glue. Let it sit for about 10 seconds. Attach to your lashes using tweezers, and push them up so they are attached at the base of your lashes. These will give you the look of longer fuller lashes, but you may be able to tell they are fake.  You can also use individual lashes. When applying individual lashes, start with longer lashes on the outer edge and work to small lashes on the inner portion of your lid. It will make them look much more natural. Apply a small amount of glue, and stick them to your natural lashes at the base, using tweezers. Move the lash so it is in place, and make sure it is fully secured. They usually last 2-3 days.

3.Blue Shadow. When most people think of blue eye shadow, they think of bright blue 80's shadow, and it scares them. Blue shadow can be much more toned down, and elegant. If you are going for a smokey eye look, mix dark blue on the crease of your eye lid, and apply a dark grey on the eyelid. Use a white or light colored shadow to highlight underneath your brows. You can also do blue shadow like an eye liner. Pick the blue you want to use and do a thin line at your lashes on the top lid and underneath on your lower lid. 

4. Copper & Metallic. Copper and metallic are extremely in and can work with any skin tone. To make this look succeed, the key is in a smooth application. Apply the color in a smooth motion, and use a brush to apply a lighter form of the color you used underneath your eyebrow and right above the crease of your eye to highlight the color.. Apply a thin line underneath the bottom lashes to complete the look.

Try one of these spring eye trends, for a night out or even just for a daily look. You will see that it will make your eyes really pop, and dress up any outfit.

~aphrodite