From the category archives:

Beauty Tips

Makeup Tips, Tricks and Secrets from America’s most Beautiful Celebrities

Movie stars, TV celebrities, musical divas, heiresses, models and even some socialites all keep pushing the standard for youth and beauty everyday! With perfect unblemished alabaster skin, full luscious lips along with Sun kissed tans and rosy cheeks no wonder these celebs are everyone’s envy. The men can help but swoon over these pictures of ever youthful perfection and we cannot get enough of the confidence they carry themselves with.

Even when most of us have accepted the fact that photo retouching and medical procedures play a huge part in this picture of perfection we cannot help but aspire to look like them every now and again. There are very few of us, that are confident enough in their natural beauty and even the most stunning celebrities have armies of top notch make up artists at their disposal so they never have a bad photo moment.

Realistically we cannot afford to have even one makeup artist dedicated to ourselves leave alone a whole army but there are simple easy tricks and tips to let the makeup artist within you shine. From extremely kissable lips to come hither eyes and gorgeous gams a.k.a. the whole package can be you too with these maestro makeup tips. Once you incorporate the routine into your life you will not only get compliments but will surely look like a star on a moonlit night, no photo retouching required!

“I don’t think makeup is rocket science or a cure for cancer.”
Cindy Crawford

Before we start with the make up tips there is one important thing that all celebrities endorse and take great care of; body’s largest organ – skin. It is important to take care of your skin because if you have good skin it makes your life that much easier. Just follow a few simple rules to take care of your skin better:

Drink your 8 glasses of water a day.

Clean off your make-up before you hit the pillows! Preferably with a ph-balanced cleanser or wipes so that the chemical are not corrosive to the delicate facial skin.

Eat fruits or vegetables everyday that provide you with the essential Vitamin C. Tomato juice is the favorite way for celebs to keep their skins youthful because it does not only provide revitalizing vitamin C but also protects you skin from sun damage and fine wrinkles.

NEVER, forget your sun-screen when going out the house. Nothing is more damaging to skin then direct sunlight, wrinkles and age spots are only some of the gifts you will get when you do not protect yourself from the Sun.

Moisturize your skin every day, do not take your moisturizing lightly or else you will pay as time goes by.

Whenever you can spare time and resources, get or give yourself a facial. It just gives your skin a polish and glow of health and pampering.

Now that we have a serene foundation, we can move on to putting some flawless makeup.

“I have very talented people dress me and put my makeup on, stuff like that. But I do love that look, and I think it’s maybe because I grew up on that old glamour.”
Charlize Theron

Understanding your Facial Angles:

Everyone has a different face shape and these unique shapes require attention to different areas, there can be nothing worse then putting on makeup that does not address the angles or shape of your face e.g. Keira Knightly and Jennifer Lopez require different makeup application even if they are going for the same look. There are different kinds of face shapes and angles like an Oval face, a Heart shaped face, a Square-ish face and a Round face.

To get the best look possible for you, you will need to know what your face shape is. To get a good idea, if you already do not, just pull your hair back in a tight ponytail and look in the mirror straight on and you should be able to tell what shape is your face. As the theory goes all makeup you do should be aimed at making your face look oval, it is considered the natural norm by the makeup industry specialists and it works on all face shapes.

When putting on your foundation just put a slightly darker shade on extremes of your face to bring it in and make it look more like an oval face. For a heart-shaped face darker foundation should be applied to the temples to even them out. A square face is becoming the new avante garde standard for beauty and instead of putting dark foundation at the jaw to bring it in, make the eyes really dramatic to balance out the face and look stunning.

Lips and Rouge:
Before you put on any lipstick on you will need to make those lips naturally enhanced through some killer celeb tips. Getting a lip exfoliation, routine is easy and it gets your young and tasty looking lips with just some colorless gloss. Just scrub your lips with a gentle mixture of granulated sugar and baking power, you can use any kind of sugar to rub out the dry skin except from powdered or icing sugar.

If you want naturally defined lips with shape you have to wax out the mustache ladies, even if the hair is bleached. This is give your lips instant shape. Another famed way of faking definition in lips is through lip liner. The only problem is you need to have a steady hand and the definition will only so long as the lip liner does; whereas, if you wax your upper lip and put on some glossy lipstick you will have the definition without the hassle.

If you have a protruding chin it is a good idea to dab some powder base just under your lower lip, this will even out the face and make your lips appear more pout-y. As for lipstick, choose a color according to your skin tone rather then your clothes. A neutral gloss is the celebrity way of keeping young. As a rule, makeup artists enhance only one feature of the face the eyes or the lips, doing both gives a cheap and confused impression. So, either go all out with the lips and put on a loud color or go for dramatic eyes; not both.

Eyes do the Talking:
Dressing up the eyes, often considered soul’s windows is much easier than you might think. Without putting much pressure the makeup of the eyes can make or break your whole effort so you need to be careful when deciding on what look to go with.

The easiest way to give your eyes an instant pick up is by applying some reflective eye shadow across the tear duct and below the eye. Under eyes are the most sensitive part of skin on out bodies, it can tell people a lot about your bad nocturnal habits and much more. There is salvation to looking young and fresh and it involves dabbing the under eye area with the reflective shadow that contrasts slightly the color of the under eye bags.

Mascara is the best thing to ever happen to women and their eye-lashes, it is as important to eye makeup as butter is to a good cake. Just apply at the base and brush towards the tips for curly lashes that frame your windows of the soul to perfection. As an insider tip, do not leave mascara on for too long it can make your lashes fall out.
The color of the eye shadow you put on and the way you put it on depends on the kind of look you are going for. Based on the style of make you have in mind you can choose to go with (a popular choice these days) or without eyeliner. As a rule of thumb the crease of the eyelid will receive the darkest shade you intend to put on and the parts near the brow benefit most from a the reflective eye shade you put under the eyes because this is where the light hits the eye, lifting it.

Color Choices and Skin Tones:
Foundation should be as close to your natural skin tone as a layer of skin itself but human skin is translucent which makes it change color in different light and that is troublesome. A good rule of thumb, by the pros, is to select a shade darker than the color of your skin. That way you eliminate the chance of looking blotchy transferring from indoors to out.

As for the material of the base or foundation, it is advised to not use oil based heavy foundation for long periods of time. There are other flawless and healthier options like using a tinted moisturizer, or using a water based foundation or using the very popular mineral based foundations. Because of the heavy light set up on most photo shoots and sets celebrities tend to use oil based foundation but are careful of taking it off as soon as they can to not suffocate the skin. Concealer and compact powder are essentials for a smart girl’s handbag.

Using these few simple techniques you can look as good as the most beautiful of celebrities and boost your self esteem from all the positive attention you receive. Go on, be gorgeous!

*** Brought to you by Letitflow.com, a blog about luxurious lifestyles, fine travel, fine food, travel and culture.

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Get Ready To Look Fab – Five Skin Care Tips To Prepare You For A Beautiful Night Out

There’s no point in using beautiful cosmetics if your skin is tired and rough. To achieve a flawless make-up look, your skin should be in optimum shape first. Avoid nasty foundation clumping and shine (the bad kind) with a few easy pre-application tips.

1. The Baking Paper Test.

Your age, skin type, beauty regime and body clock can all affect where and how much oil comes to your skin’s surface. Before you start applying your make-up, try this handy tip for testing your skin’s trouble zones. Cut several small squares of baking paper (also known as grease proof paper). Press squares firmly to your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. If the squares come away clean, you should have no problems with clumping foundation. If they come away oily, you will need to take steps to fix that before you start applying your make-up.

2. Oil Ain’t So Slick!

Your grandmother may tell you to use plenty of soap and warm water. This is the last thing you should do as your body will rush more oil to the surface to replace anything you wash away. Instead, wash your face with a good quality, alcohol free cleanser and then use a cotton bud dabbed with a light diaper cream. This is not the thick white gunk used to keep baby bottoms dry, it’s a cream cleanser used to remove oily deposits after a nappy change. Ask for it at your local baby, pharmacy or grocery store as it is a wonderful moisturizer and is specifically designed to remove stubborn oil without drying the skin. Take a few squares of baking paper in your purse when going out and dab your trouble areas throughout the day or night to keep oil under control without ruining your look.

3. Bags Are For Over The Shoulder, Not Under The Eyes!

OK, this genius little tip may make you cringe at first but it is the greatest secret weapon of make up artists everywhere. Get great results and the hardest thing about it is, asking your local pharmacist for – ready – hemorrhoid cream. Hemorrhoid cream is designed to sooth delicate skin while tightening it up. You will probably feel and see a difference immediately. But, the eye area skin is extremely delicate so this one is only for special occasions and only after seeking advice from your preferred medical professional.

4. The Real Secret To Younger Looking Skin (Part 1)

For all the claims about younger looking skin made by cosmetic companies, there are actually skin creams that are medically proven to improve the appearance of skin. These have been developed in labs by pharmaceutical companies, not cosmetic companies. They have been proven beyond a doubt to improve the appearance of damaged skin. How do you know if an anti-aging product REALLY REALLY works? You need a prescription from your doctor or dermatologist to get it. Usually these products are used to treat skin disorders or burns but some pharmaceutical companies are now creating versions that simply help skin repair itself from damage caused by aging and sun damage. These products are available on prescription at your doctor’s discretion in many countries.

5. The Real Secret To Younger Looking Skin (Part 2)

In a study done by a large, non-commercial British Broadcaster, skin biopsies were taken from volunteers using different methods of skin care. No brand names were given (prices however, were), and as the broadcaster does not accept advertisements, the trial was shown to be impartial. A few of the very very expensive creams contained active ingredients that improved skin quality moderately however, there was one active ingredient that stood out and out performed every other cream by a long, long way. The best news is, it’s cheap, easy to get hold of and it becomes even more effective when taken orally – it’s good old, garden variety vitamin C. It would seem that an apple a day keeps the doctor away but an orange a day keeps the surgeon away!

Following a few easy methods, you can provide your cosmetics the perfect canvas to create a perfect work of art for your next big night out or day at the office.

***About the Author: Dana Flannery’s work with brides, both young and older has given her many insights into looking your best for big occasions. See more about Dana’s beautiful brides at Brisbane Civil Celebrant.

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Necessary Brushes For The Average Makeup Wearer – A Basic Guide

I can’t even begin to tell you how many different makeup brushes I’ve accumulated over the years, ranging from drugstore brands to high-end products, most of which I don’t really use.

Makeup artists are perhaps the only people that need tons of makeup brushes. They need to be able to do all these fancy and elaborate looks, but someone like you and me, now we don’t need more than a few basic brushes.

Here’s the list of makeup brushes that the average makeup wearer must have:

1. Foundation Brush (or Sponges)

Honestly, I don’t like using foundation brushes, I have like four of them (all from brush sets), and I prefer to use sponges or my fingers. But if you’re inexperienced or you simply want a fast, even and flawless application, then a foundation brush is a great brush to have.

2. Concealer Brush

You can always use your fingers to apply concealer, but a concealer brush gives a more precise application and it’s perfect for under eye concealing or spot touch ups.

3. Blush Brush

I can’t find a reason why not to have a blush brush. A lot of powder blushes don’t come with a blush brush and when they do they’re often too small and useless.

So for a natural, flawless application, it’s definitely worth investing in a good blush brush.

4. Bronzer Brush

You can use your blush brush to apply bronzer, but just like every powdered makeup, it tends to stay in the brush. So unless you’re okay with constantly deep cleaning your blush brush to remove all of the powder left by your blushes and bronzers, then I suggest you get a brush to use only for your bronzers.

When I used to apply my bronzer with my blush brush, I was never satisfied with the results that I got. The shade of my blush was always mixed with my bronzer and I just didn’t like how it looked.

I started using separate brushes for my bronzer and blush and I couldn’t be more convinced that one brush strictly for bronzers is the way to go. The shades are truer to their intended colors and I don’t have to deep clean my brushes as often.

5. Eyeshadow Brushes

No makeup wearer should be without a medium size eyeshadow brush. It’s a great brush to use when applying eyeshadow to your eyelid and the tip of the brush can be used to sweep shadow along the crease.

You will want to have a few of these brushes: the more the better. For starters, at least two is perfectly fine. Use one for light shades and a second one for darker eyeshadow shades.

6. Lash & Brow Groomer

This brush is perfect for shaping the brows, separating lashes, and removing any clumps of mascara or debris from your lashes. This is the easiest and least expensive brush.

7. Large Powder Brush

If you wear makeup at all, I recommend you get this one because it’s the only way you can get a light and even powder application. It’s VERY important to evenly distribute powder, because it’s the one makeup product that will help set your makeup, remove any shine from your face and create a smooth base for all of your other makeup.

8. Lip Brush

This brush is used for blending lip liner, lip colors and for lipstick application. Your lip brush should have a cap or be retractable so you can take it with you for touch ups.

You can also use Q-tips to apply your lipsticks and glosses but keep in mind that your lip makeup might not look as good.

**Brush sets:
Brush sets are a good alternative to accumulate your basic makeup brushes, just purchase one with the brushes that YOU need and you’ll be ready to work on your makeup.