False Eyelashes - “How to Apply”

False Eyelashes - “How to Apply”

Nothing can make your look more dramatic and expressive than beautiful long full eyelashes. But even with the best mascara, only a few of us can achieve that result. Luckily, we always can rely on our little beauty secret - false eyelashes

Now, if you already have a set of false eye lashes or you are considering to try one - the most important thing is that you do it right. So, let’s watch and learn from the fabulous Tricia Sawyer - one of the most famous Hollywood make-up artists.

Get Rid of Adult Acne

Get Rid of Adult Acne

Adult acne is definitely an unpleasant thing to have, especially if you are a woman and care about how you look. If you are well above the teen age and suddenly start developing blackheads and blemishes on your face, which do not want to go away no matter how careful you are about your personal hygiene, read the following facts on what causes adult acne and what you can do to get rid of it.

What makes more than 60 millions of adults in the States (the vast majority of whom are women!) develop middle-age acne, while it is still a rare condition in more traditional societies? The answer is definitely in our industrial lifestyle, bad dietary preferences, and extreme environmental pollution. The basic causes are the following:

1. Bad diet is number one cause of adult-onset acne. Bad diet, which robs us of essential nutrients and disrupts both digestive ecology and healthy hormonal balance, usually consists of the following:

- overconsumption (more than 100 grams a day) of carbohydrates, especially in the form of processed breads, pastas, sugar, sweets, soda pop, etc., which stimulates insulin production and severely worsens an acne condition;

- giving preference to newfangled vegetable oils, margarines, and trans fats in processed foods, instead of eating traditional animal fats with antimicrobial and hormone-stabilizing properties (coconut and marine oils, natural butter, cultured cream, etc.);

- eating non-organic meats and dairy products, which contain a big amount of residual hormones and other medication that are fed to the cattle on a regular basis. Consumption of such impure products is especially dangerous for women, because female hormones are very sensitive and can easily get out of balance due to foreign synthetic medication in the food. In time, this bad diet manifests as PMS, pregnancy complications, pathological menopause, and adult acne;

- eating mostly “dead”, cooked and processed, foods, which do not provide friendly bacteria for the digestive tract. It’s interesting to note that women who regularly eat natural yogurt, home-made pickles and unpasteurized sauerkraut, rarely suffer from adult acne.

2. Hormones, which, again, easily get out of balance due to inappropriate food, stress, hormone-containing medication, birth-control pills, and changes brought by the monthly cycle, menopause and pregnancy.

3. Genes. Hereditary element can worsen adult acne, especially in severe cases of so-called “scarring acne”.

4. Synthetic face-care products and makeup, which clog the pores and disrupt the acid-alkaline balance of the face skin. Needless to say that, if you want to have a clean skin, you always should opt for natural and preferably home-made creams and other beauty products for your face.
What are the solutions?

Change your diet, switch to natural face-care products, and be patient - your body will need some time to restore the balance and cure your skin. A great natural approach to treating adult acne is described here.

However, if you want immediate results, you can try some of numerous acne medications (which usually just mask the symptoms and which I therefore do not recommend).

5 Practical Tips on Dry Skin Care

5 Practical Tips on Dry Skin Care

1. Dry skin is usually sensitive and, since winter tends to worsen the condition, it requires thorough care. The best approach to managing dry skin is to avoid using commercial creams and lotions that contain mineral oils and other petroleum products. Creams and other skin-care products that are based on natural hypoallergenic ingredients are the best.


Every morning after showering, pat your entire body with virgin coconut oil, cocoa butter, or shea butter. They contain naturally occurring nourishing ingredients, such as essential oils, skin-friendly Vitamins A, C, D and E, and protein. Natural creams and lotions are extremely beneficial for dry skin - they heal, deeply moisturize, and protect skin from aging.

2. If your face skin is dry, try not to wash it with tap water since it often contains chlorine, fluoride, and other undesirable chemicals. Instead, use cold mineral water or ice made with it, or, better, clean your face with an alcohol-free cleaning lotion, toner, or cosmetic milk, made of natural ingredients. They gently refresh dry skin without causing irritation, while respecting its balance of moisture. Toners and milks effectively remove daily impurities and makeup, purify and refine pores, and leave dry skin feeling clean, soft, and hydrated.






3. If your skin is dry and irritates easily, try to cut back on the amount of time you bathe or shower - some dermatologists even suggest spending no more than three minutes a day in water! Use the mildest soap available and do not overdo it - use soap every other day only. Scrubbing is usually not recommended for dry skin. Instead, once a week use a mild oatmeal soap, which will gently exfoliate your skin without causing irritation. After bathing or showering, do not rub your skin with a towel, instead, softly pat it dry. Apply a natural oil or butter when the skin is still moist, and pay the most attention to your lower legs where skin tends to be the driest.

4. If your skin or scalp develop dry, irritated, itchy spots, do your best to avoid scratching. Apply shea butter or coconut oil several times a day and try to prevent water from splashing on irritated areas. Dry skin is also prone to eczema and other uncomfortable skin conditions. A good preventive measure is to augment your diet with essential oils contained in raw organic butter, cod liver oil, Omega-3 eggs, coconut oil, and fresh cold-water fish.


5. In cold and dry winter months, consider investing in a humidifier and placing it in your bedroom or other apartment area where you spend a significant amount of time. The additional moisture in the air will help your skin condition improve almost immediately.

5 Tips for Whiter Teeth

5 Tips for Whiter Teeth

1. Certain drinks, like caffeine, soda pop, black tea, red wine, or candy, as well as smoking, dull the gleam of teeth. If you cannot deny yourself a pleasure of sipping a cup of strong coffee in the morning or a glass of red wine in the evening, or if you are having a puff every now and then, you need to take care of your teeth more carefully.Be sure to brush them thoroughly every time after you have drunk wine or tea, have eaten a candy, or smoked a cigarette. Whitening toothpastes, which contain polishing agents, can be helpful to a degree to remove stains from the surface of teeth, especially if they are used on a regular basis.

2. Aging and some prescription drugs, such as tetracycline antibiotics, can dull the color of your teeth. There is really not much you can do about it yourself, but modern dentistry can certainly make wonders!

3. To get back the sparkle of your teeth, ask a dentist to recommend you the best over-the-counter whitening product that would suit the needs of your teeth. Remember that yellowish teeth, which have changed colour because of beverages or smoking, usually lighten well, but if your teeth have a brownish or greyish tint from taking antibiotics in a young age, commercial whiteners may not help.The most popular and budget-friendly teeth whiteners, whichusually contain hydrogen peroxide, include:

- a dental tray together with a gel kit, which visibly lightens teeth in about a fortnight period;- whitening strips, which are effective for whitening front teeth; and

- paint-on gels

- a bit messy, but all teeth can be covered.

4. A more expensive but also more effective way to lighten teeth is to use a custom-made tray, manufactured by your dentist just for you. Such trays contain carbamide peroxide solution and fluoride, which work more gently and lighten teeth faster. A disadvantage of this method is that it can increase teeth’s sensitivity. The cost can vary from $300 and up to $450.

5. If all the above methods of teeth whitening are not effective, or if you want to have even whiter teeth, consider bonding (a resin put over teeth) or porcelain veneers, which are manufactured in a dentist laboratory. The cost is more substantial - up to $300 for bonding and up to $1,500 for porcelain veneers (per tooth). A big advantage of these two methods is that you can choose sparklingly white “new teeth” which will last you for the rest of your life!

5 Quick Steps to Soothe Chapped Lips

5 Quick Steps to Soothe Chapped Lips

It is always better to prevent than to cure. Chapped lips can be caused by a number of factors, and many of them, such as being for a long time in a dry and cold environment, eating very salty dishes, or kissing outside in a windy weather ;) , can be avoided or at least minimized. Other causes of getting chapped lips may be due to the thyroid hormone imbalances or Bvitaminsdeficiency, which can be cured by a long-term adherence to a healthy, natural diet.

Chapped lips can also be triggered by your hypersensitivity to a new lipstick, in which case throw it into the garbage and never buy any product of the same brand again. No matter what the cause is, if you have already developed chapped lips, use the following tips to cure them as quickly as possible:

1. Our grandmothers used goose or duck fat to facilitate the healing of chapped lips. Those are truly wonderful remedies, so next time when you are making a roast duck with apples, do not discard the fat, but keep it in the fridge as a traditional medicine. If you do not have any, do not despair - coconut oil, or olive oil, or shea butter, will work great, as well. Apply frequently until your lips heal.

2. Do not use any gel, balm, or lipstick that contain alcohol or petroleum products - they for sure will worsen the condition and will make your chapped lips feel even dryer and more painful. Use only natural remedies. A good rule is to put on your lips only edible ingredients (this rule also works well for any other body care products, because the skin rapidly absorbs all contents of lotions and creams, both good and bad ). In other words, if you cannot eat it - do not put it either on your lips or on your skin!

3. Abstain from eating any hot, spicy, or salty foods for as long as your lips are still dry, cracked, and painful.

4. Avoid going outside if the weather is dry and windy. If you must, use a generous amount of natural oil to protect your lips from unfriendly environment.

5. Be patient. It may take up to a week for your lips to heal completely. In the meanwhile, be sweet and compassionate to yourself and make your boyfriend prepare a comforting dessert with a delicious and relaxing warm drink. Indulge in pampering your taste buds and forget for awhile about your chapped lips! :)

Skin Care Tips According to Your Skin Type

Skin Care Tips According to Your Skin Type

In the previous article, we learned about five different skin types, namely, normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive and a necessity of a proper skin care that would be adjusted for your particular skin type.

Today, read our skin care recommendations that are designed to guide you through a wide sea of various beauty tips and products towards finding what you really need in order to keep your skin smooth, young, and gorgeous.

1. Normal skin, although being the least problematic type, still requires cleaning, nourishing, and moisturizing. In the morning, refresh your skin with rose water or an alcohol-free astringent tonic and moisturize it with a mild, non-greasy cream, preferably made from natural ingredients without petroleum by-products. Use a good quality make-up, but do not overindulge. Before bed, gently wash your face with a mild soap, such as goat milk soap, and put on a bit of an oil-based nourishing cream, paying particular attention to the areas around your eyes. After about 15 minutes, gently pat your skin dry with a napkin. Once a week, use an egg yolk mask, or any other natural and non-drying mask to feed and rejuvenate your face skin. Do not forget to take care about your body, as well. Every day after showering, use a mild moisturizing lotion to keep your body skin supple and healthy.

2. Dry skin requires a more thorough care, since it is prone to flaking, irritating, and fast aging. If your skin is dry, you should use only natural and rich skin-care products, such as undiluted shea butter, extra-virgin coconut oil, or home-made herbal oils. Apply them twice a day and allow some time for your skin to absorb nourishing and moisturizing ingredients from the oil before putting a hypoallergenic make-up on. Try not to use tap water but, instead, clean your facial skin with mild cleansing milks or herbal infusions. With good care, dry skin will always look healthy and smooth.

3. Oily skin requires the opposite approach - instead of putting an emphasis on nourishing, you should focus on removing excess oil from it, hydrating, cleaning enlarged pores, and preventing or treating acne. Wash your skin about 2-3 times a day, but use a mild soap only once a day, because otherwise oil glands will be stimulated to produce even more sebum. Use only non-greasy moisturisers and tone your face often with alcohol-free herbal tonics or ice cubes, which will restore the health and balance of your skin. The best masks for oily skin are those featuring drying and hydrating ingredients, for example, clay, papaya, or yogurt. Apply once a week and make sure to rinse your face thoroughly with cool water after about 20 minutes. In case of acne, remove sugar and other carbohydrates from your diet and make sure not to eat any processed foods.

4. Combination skin may be complicated to manage, because it has both oily and dry areas each requiring different care. The trick is to use oily skin tips for the facial areas of oily skin (usually, on the forehead and nose) and to apply dry skin tips to the areas of dry skin (around the eyes and on the cheeks).

5. Sensitive skin is always very dry and irritated - this is why you should take a very thorough care of it using the above tips for dry skin. Additional hints: watch what you eat and make sure to consume a fair amount of essential fatty acids, organic protein, yogurt, and lacto-fermented fruits and vegetables. Remember that women who eat a vegetarian, or even worse so, a vegan, diet, usually develop very dry, wrinkled, and irritated skin.

What Skin Type Do You Have?

What Skin Type Do You Have?

Knowing your skin type is absolutely necessary in order to make a right decision about a proper skin care or treatment, which is suitable for your particular skin needs. The initial quality, or type, of your skin is genetically determined - meaning that you are born with it. However, the health and beauty of your skin later in life largely depends on what you eat and how you take care of yourself. A popular Russian saying states that, after the age of 30, a woman looks the way she deserves… To always look great, the first step is to determine your skin type so that you can match it with the best recommended methods to improve your look and slow the aging process.

Generally, we can single out five basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive, with each having particular characteristics and requiring specific care and/or treatment. To determine your type, use a simple test with a clean facial tissue (or paper) to wipe your face in the morning, when you have just woken up:

1. If you skin belongs to a normal type, the tissue will not reveal any traces of oil. Your skin should feel vibrant, elastic, and supple. Normal skin is the least problematic type. It looks clean and smooth and has a good circulation and healthy complexion. Even with a minimum care, it will look good well into your advanced age.

2. If your skin is dry, the paper will be clean, too, but your face skin will feel flaky, dry, and tight after you have wiped it. Dry skin can easily develop a sallow tone, wrinkles, and fine pores, and it is very prone to aging and irritating. It might still look great on a young person, but, to keep it healthy, you should apply thorough care and use regular treatment with natural masks and moisturisers.

3. If you have oily skin, the paper will have spots of facial oil on it, corresponding to the areas of your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Oily skin is problematic - it usually looks greasy, thick, coarse, and shiny, has enlarged pores, and tends to break into acne. A good thing, though, is that oily skin is not prone much to aging and wrinkling. Careful cleaning, minimizing of carbohydrate consumption, and avoiding rich creams can be helpful in improving the quality of oily skin.

4. If you skin is combination, like that of most women, the tissue will have traces of oil coming from your nose and forehead, but will be clean in the areas that touched your cheeks. Combination skin has patches of both dry and oily skin, and it requires different types of care in relation to particular facial areas. Dry zones, which are usually located on the cheeks and around the eyes, should be treated with rich creams and moisturizers, while oily areas, usually on the forehead and nose, will benefit from frequent and thorough cleaning.

5. Sensitive skin is usually very dry, tends to feel tight, and becomes inflamed and irritated easily. Typically, sensitive skin develops reddish and scaly areas, can be itchy and tingly, and is prone to breaking into spots. It is the most problematic and fragile type of skin, which needs a very special type of care.

5 Home-Made Face Masks for Winter Skin Care

.5 Home-Made Face Masks for Winter Skin Care

Application of masks is one of the most ancient forms of beauty treatment all around the world. In old times, women of nobility used to apply many exotic substances on their face skin in order to keep it smooth, silky and beautiful and protect from aging and elements. In the North, traditional societies used animal and fish fats to shield their skin from cold and dry winter air.

Today, natural face masks are still popular among many women, especially those who avoid using toxic commercial products and prefer to nourish, cleanse, heal, and protect their skin with unadulterated, home-made remedies. Read here more about our specially selected winter masks for busy modern women!

1. A cultured milk mask is a simple and effective cure for tired skin. Just apply a bit of natural yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, or kefir on your face avoiding areas around the eyes. Relax for 10-15 minutes and rinse your face with cool water. This mask softens, rejuvenates, and restores a natural pH balance of your skin, thus, protecting it from negative influences of winter air.

2. An egg white mask is good for oily skin with large pores. Smooth a beaten egg yolk all over your face, let rest for half-an-hour, and rinse with water. This mask will refresh and tighten your oily skin and will make it look much healthier than before. In the winter, it will create a natural barrier to protect your skin from harsh winds and frost.

3. An avocado mask is perfect for dry skin that may become very irritated in the winter. It is easy to make: mash the flesh of avocado with a fork, add a touch of extra-virgin olive oil, and apply this smooth, fragrant mixture onto your face. This nourishing mask will supply your skin with a whole range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and softening agents to fight winter dryness.

4. An oatmeal mask is a great remedy for skin beaten by a cold wind. To make it, mix together in equal proportions raw oatmeal flakes, egg yolk, and honey. Keep the mask on your face for about 20 minutes, wash with lukewarm water, and pat dry. After the application, your facial skin should feel very soft, refreshed, and healed.

5. If you have combination skin suffering from winter elements, try a softening banana mask. Mix mashed banana with fresh sweet cream and apply this wonderful mask all over your face for 30 minutes. It will smooth, soften, moisturize and nourish your skin whenever necessary and will make you forget about the cold, harsh, and nasty winter outside!

PS: The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.

For dry skin, try these -

an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey
sour cream
plain olive oil
avocado

For oily skin, try these -

* dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk,

wait until foamy,

then apply (best done in the bath tub)

* puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste

* cucumber (it will whiten your skin)

* beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads)* carrots.

Most Fabulous Perfumes for Winter

Most Fabulous Perfumes for Winter

What smells so good this season? Is it your mom’s pumpkin pie? The gingerbread cookies? Or is it…you? Get a whiff of these 7 most fabulous perfumes for winter, and you could be the one smelling delectable this season.

1. Vera Wang Princess

Embellish yourself in royalty with Vera Wang Princess. It’s an intriguing blend of floral, fruit, musk, vanilla, pink frosting, and a hint of dark chocolate…an enchanting potion for any princess. Go ahead, girls. Pay homage to your bod. Mist yourself with Vera Wang Princess…your Prince Charming is waiting.

2. Estee Lauder Dazzling Gold

No, we’re not talking jewelry either. This exquisite perfume has a floral scent that will awaken your senses in the midst of the cold season. Don’t be shy- dazzle in dawn or dusk with Estee Lauder Dazzling Gold.

3. Sensi (for women) by Giorgio Armani

This enticing fragrance is perfect for any time of year. It’s a light, crisp scent with an oriental touch. It’s enough to make any woman feel sensual.

4. Philosophy Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace, how sweet the scent. It’s still sweet and feminine, but only stronger due to its higher concentration than the original. Whether it’s the classic version or this upgraded version, you’ll smell graciously amazing.

5. Black Cashmere by Donna Karan

Clothe yourself this fall and winter with Black Cashmere by Donna Karan. It’s an exotic, sophisticated perfume that’s formulated with rare spices. It’s not too strong, and it’s suitable for the season… so indulge in this scent.

6. Lauren by Ralph Lauren

This elegant, woody fragrance is fitting for fall and winter. It’s a classic, timeless scent that never goes out of style. It even makes a great gift for Mom.

7. In Control Curious by Britney Spears

Be in control of your senses with In Control Curious by Britney Spears. It’s curiously sweet with a mysterious blend of black vanilla bean, sugared Sandalwood, and even crème brulee (just to name a few). It will make you smell deliciously sexy.

A holiday feast doesn’t have to be the only thing that smells delicious this year. Take your pick- try at least one of these fabulous fragrances.

5 Best Foundations for Winter Time

5 Best Foundations for Winter time

To achieve a flawless complexion (or at least closer to one), its imperative you start with a good base. Take a look at these five stellar foundations and you’ll be one step closer to beautiful-looking skin.

5. Benefit Cosmetics Play Sticks

Not everyone likes applying makeup, but Benefit came up with a playful way to use foundation. Play Sticks is so easy to use, a three-year old could apply it on you. You simply doodle in any shape and blend for a smooth finish. You’re never too old to play.

4. Borghese Hydro Mineral Natural Finish Makeup

Canvas your skin with this foundation that comes in a shampoo-esque bottle. Don’t let that throw you off, because this formula actually hydrates your face, leaving a natural, sheer finish.

3. Clinique Perfectly Real Makeup

We probably can all agree we’d love a foundation that feels like, well, nothing. This exceptional formula by Clinique delivers just that, and has excellent concealing properties. We think that’s perfectly a wise choice.

2. Youngblood Pressed Mineral Foundation

Youngblood Pressed Mineral Foundation is beneficial for your skin due to its unique combination of minerals and rice powder. It’s light-weight, yet offers superior coverage even for scars and other imperfections. It’s complimentary to any skin type.

1. Estee Lauder Ideal Matte Refinishing Makeup SPF 8

This makeup from Estee Lauder is mousse-textured that provides medium coverage. It’s made with Aeropowder Technology which will make pores and lines look less apparent. This type of foundation is ideal for women with combination to oily skin.

Women who struggle with acne or other skin problems tend to shy away from foundation, fearing it will only worsen their condition. Fear not, my friends. When choosing a quality, oil-free foundation (like the ones we’ve recommended), it can only help you by making your skin’s flaws appear less noticeable. So consider making foundation your friend, not foe.

Beauty Tips

ALL WOMEN'S TALK

5 Minute Make Up Lesson

Part I

In this video Tyra shows how to easily and quickly apply your foundation, concealer, powder and blush to achieve a perfect skin tone.

Part II

In this part Tyra shows how to beautifully highlight your eyes, and how to give your lips a seductive look in just no time.

When your make up is done, the last thing to do is to put on some stunning clothes that make you look slimmer and even more beautiful.

Beauty Care: Fresh n Cool Beauty Tips

Beauty Care: Fresh n Cool Beauty tips

Great Lips
Want sexy lips in just a few seconds? Wet a tea bag and press it against your lips for thirty seconds. The tannin acid in the tea helps to repair damaged skin cells and softens rough lips. See the difference. Put a sexy lipper, and there you are! All ready for your man!

For Perfect Skin

Make your own orange yogurt mask, by mixing a 1 tablespoon plain yogurt with the juice of 1/4 of an orange. Apply the mixture smoothly onto your face. It will have a relaxing and a cooling effect. Leave on for five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you. The yogurt will cleanse and nourish, while the orange is full of vitamin C.

Ginger Lip Balm

1 tablespoon almond oil 1 tablespoon jojoba oil 2 teaspoons cocoa butter 2 teaspoon beeswax 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil 4 drops of ginger extract (food grade) Gently heat the first four ingredients in a double boiler or heat bath until the wax and cocoa butter are melted. Stir in the vitamin E oil and ginger extract, continuing to stir until almost cool. Pour into a small lip balm container. Apply with a clean lip brush, Q-tip or cosmetic spatuala.

8 Steps to a Fabulous Facial

For deep-down cleansing and a definite improvement in skin-tone, try an at-home facial. Just once a month, will make a noticeable difference to your complexion. Follow these steps to re-create the benefits of the beauty salon in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

1. Smooth your skin with cleansing cream. Leave on for 1-2 minutes to give it time to dissolve grime, oils and stale makeups. Then gently smooth away with cottonwool.

2. Dampen your skin with warm water. Then, gently massage with a blob of facial scrub, avoiding the delicate eye area. This will loosen dead surface skin cells, and leave your skin softer and smoother. It will also prepare your complexion for the beneficial treatments to come. Rinse away with warm water.

3. Take steam for around 5 minutes, to allow the steam to warm and soften your skin. If you have any blackheads, you can try to gently remove them with tissue-covered fingers after this treatment. If you have sensitive skin, or are prone to broken veins, you should avoid this step.

4. Smooth on a face mask. Choose a clay-based one if you have oily skin, or a moisturizing one if you have dry or normal skin. Leave on for 10 minutes, or for as long as specified by the instructions on the product.

5. Rinse away the face mask with warm water. Finish off with a few splashes of cool water to close your pores and freshen your skin, then pat dry with a towel.

6. Soak a cottonwool pad with a skin toner lotion, and smooth over oily areas, such as the nose, chin and forehead.

7. Dot your skin with moisturizer and smooth in. Take the opportunity to massage your skin, as this encourages a brighter complexion and can help reduce puffiness. 8. Smooth your under-eye areas with a soothing eye cream to reduce fine lines and wrinkles., and make the skin ultra-soft.

Apple Zinger Facial Mask

The apple zinger facial mask works wonder for an oily or acne prone skin. Ingredients: 1 medium size apple, grated fine 5 tbs. honey Mix the grated apple and honey well. Smooth over skin and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. You'll see the difference. Do it at least twice a week.

Homemade Ancient Egyptian Scent

1. Prepare chips of fragrant wood (and leave them to macerate) in wine.

2. Strain through a sieve.

3. Melt a quantity of fat in a vessel. Add sweet herbs (and the liquid of the wood chips).

Keep a (slow but) steady heat and stir continuously. Cool, skim off the fat and set aside.

4. Grind herbs and spices carefully.

5. Mix herbs and spices with the fat and shape into little cakes (Leave covered overnight).

6. Place the cakes in a broad pot, (Pour water over and) boil gently, stirring all the time.

7. (Leave to cool and skim off the scented fat). Store in earthenware pots.

Soothing Summer Body Spray

1 tablespoon witch hazel1 teaspoon lemon essential/fragrance oil1 teaspoon cucumber essential/fragrance oil1 cup waterDirections:For a refreshing cool feeling, make an after shower spray by combining all the ingredients. Place in a pump spray bottle.*Note: Dont use if you have sensitive skin, the lemon may irritate it.

Combat Acne

Here are a few tips, which could help you to combat the acne problem in just a while. To stop redness and swelling in an emergency situation , ask your doctor for a cortisone injection. It calms down a pimple almost instantly. If you can't get to your dermatologist, temporarily reduce redness and swelling by dabbing on a drop of cartisone cream or Preparation H.

Puffy Eyes

I hope you people are liking these beauty tips. There are many more to come. I will add new beauty tips almost on the daily basis. So, just stay around :) Getting back to puffy eyes... To reduce puffy eyes, dip two metal spoons into a glass of iced water. Lay a small piece of thin cotton material over each eye, then place a spoon over this and leave for several minutes. To relax tired, aching eyes, place either a piece of cucumber over each, or a cold, wet teabag, for 10 minutes or so. For deep-set eyes, use lots of mascara and, to make the eyes look larger, apply blue eye liner along the inside lower lid.

Dry cracked lips and cold sore lip balm

1 oz. Emu Oil 1 oz. Almond Oil 1 oz. Avocado Oil 1/2 oz. Beeswax 1 tsp. Aloe Vera Liquid 6 drops Lavender Essential Oil 3 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil 3 drops Lime or Sweet Orange Essential Oil Heat oils and beeswax in a double boiler until beeswax has melted. Let cool slightly. Stir in aloe vera, lavender, tea tree, and lime (or sweet orange) essentialoils. Pour into lip balm container As with any of these recipes, if it comes out too soft, add a little more beeswax; if it is too hard, add a drop or 2 more oil. They are really hard to mess up.. so have some fun!

EXFOLIATE to let your skin breathe... natural way

Here's a natural way to exfoliate. Wet your face and apply a couple of tablespoons of sea salt, then gently massage with a wet washcloth or fingers. Sea salt removes dry, flaky and dead skin. Focus on the T-zone and cheeks, but avoid the eye area. After one or two minutes, rinse with cold water to tighten the pores. It is important to do this regularly, or face creams will not penetrate. You can do this maximum once per week.

Fresh Face

All you need are eight to nine whole strawberries and three tablespoons of honey to get the glow. Mash the strawberries into a pulp and add honey. Mix the two well. Don't blend it or it will get runny. Wash your face with a mild cleanser and apply the mixture directly to the skin and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

A Fresh Start: Our 10 Beauty Tips for the New Year

A Fresh Start: Our 10 Beauty Tips for the New Year

Out with the old, in with the do: Our countdown of style changes will have you looking great in ’08

10 Change Your Part:

The middle part is back in a big way, whether you wear your hair in layers like Beyoncé or channel Halle’s blunt cut. Think of it as your ten-second shortcut to effortless sex appeal. Keep it chic with a shine spray ike Dr. Miracle’s Healing Oil Sheen Spray ($8, Sally Beauty stores).

Update Your Bob

It’s a surefire way to freshen flat, lifeless hair. The perfect length for a fab bob? Top stylists say anything shoulder length and above. If you’re too scissor shy to go short, opt for a good trim. Just an inch will give your style more mileage.

8 Rock the Latest Accessories

Whether you pin up your hair with a beautiful comb or pull it back under a colorful headband, nothing adds instant attitude like the right accent piece. We love this Swarovski hair clip and Miu Miu and Swarovski headbands.

Out with the old, in with the do: Our countdown of style changes will have you looking great in ’08

Do It Up Right

From the red carpet to the silver screen, celebrities are wearing upswept looks that are sexy and sophisticated, not stiff (read: no more slick-and-set gel styles).

Ready for top billing? Pull hair up or tie it back, letting strands fall naturally into place. A wide-tooth comb and a light holding spray like S-Factor Vivacious Hair Spray ($26, beauty salons nationwide) are the only supporting cast this production needs.

Create–or Update–Bangs

The best ones slim the face and soften features.

For a fresher look, cut or grow your bangs to just above your lashes. And try a different shape: side sweeps work best for rounder faces like Queen Latifah’s; straight or asymmetrical bangs look great on oval faces like Rihanna’s. Keep yours looking fabulous, not frizzy, with Luster’s Renutrients Replenishing Style Créme (about $6, drugstores).

Add ExtensionsOur favorite new hair accessory?

Clip-on hair extensions, like Euronext 100% Premium Remy Human Hair Clip-in Extensions ($70, Sally Beauty stores). They make it easy to achieve a fabulous style, as well as add thickness and volume to your look. Even better: Clip-on extensions don’t require as much time—or money—as a full weave.

Do It Up Right

From the red carpet to the silver screen, celebrities are wearing upswept looks that are sexy and sophisticated, not stiff (read: no more slick-and-set gel styles). Ready for top billing? Pull hair up or tie it back, letting strands fall naturally into place. A wide-tooth comb and a light holding spray like S-Factor Vivacious Hair Spray ($26, beauty salons nationwide) are the only supporting cast this production needs. 6 Create–or Update–BangsThe best ones slim the face and soften features. For a fresher look, cut or grow your bangs to just above your lashes. And try a different shape: side sweeps work best for rounder faces like Queen Latifah’s; straight or asymmetrical bangs look great on oval faces like Rihanna’s. Keep yours looking fabulous, not frizzy, with Luster’s Renutrients Replenishing Style Créme (about $6, drugstores).

Add Extensions

Our favorite new hair accessory? Clip-on hair extensions, like Euronext 100% Premium Remy Human Hair Clip-in Extensions ($70, Sally Beauty stores). They make it easy to achieve a fabulous style, as well as add thickness and volume to your look. Even better: Clip-on extensions don’t require as much time—or money—as a full weave.

Take a short cut

Short can be chic: Think Kelis or Keyshia Cole. If you’re a girl on the move who likes to just shake it and go, a close crop is the look for you. Keep it funky with a sculpting wax like Pantene Pro-V Texturize! ($4, drugstores nationwide), and don’t forget to keep sides and back smooth and sleek with an Umberto Beverly Hills boar and nylon brush ($13, Target stores.)

Out with the old, in with the do: Our countdown of style changes will have you looking great in ’08

Go Back to Your Roots

If you’re considering growing out your relaxer and going natural, there’s no time like the present to make the transition. To help with those in-between stages, use a curling cream like Kinky-Curly Curling Custard ($25, kinky-curly.com). They’re great for smoothing down new growth, defining waves or curls, and adding moisture.

Play With Texture

Curls and waves add volume and body. Here are a few stylists’ tricks from our photo shoot: For natural hair, two-strand twist or plait wet or dry hair, then pin-curl to set at night; release in the morning for beautiful waves. If your hair is relaxed, reach for hot rollers—the pros’ go-to gadget. Try using the Profiles Spa 20 Piece Tourmaline Hairsetter Rollers ($50, sallybeauty.com) instead of a curling iron to achieve lush, romantic curls. For extra volume, set hair at the crown.

Pump Up Your Color

Make a statement in the season’s hottest hues. Deep, warm colors like reds and dark browns always look best against winter’s frigid backdrop. If you are a dye-hard blond, try getting lowlights— a method of streaking hair with darker shades to give lighter colors added dimension. Can’t get to the salon? Color at home with Dark and Lovely Fade-Resistant Rich Conditioning Color in Soft Amber ($5, drugstores). Are you planning to use one of our hair tips or one of your own in 2008?

BEAUTY tips to stay Fresh

BEAUTY tips to stay Fresh

Just a couple of beauty tips to keep makeup fresh and hair looking great.

If your eyemakeup creases while you are out, just use your finger tip and tap, not push or smudge, tap eye shadow with finger tip.

This will redistribute eye makeup and rid of crease.Need volume in hair in a hurry, but no comb. Put head upside down and with your fingers rough up your scalp.

Then place head upright and use two fingers like a comb and "tease" your hair . Hair in between two fingers and run up and down near root area to create lift.Place your hair carefully with your hands and voila...volume. Exfoliate your skin with nature.....crush some almond nuts in food processor or blender. Place into mesh bag or cheesecloth bag. Wet face then use round circles onto your face to exfoliate.

If you mix crushed almonds with plain yogurt you make a paste to apply to your face. Almond oils are extremely healthy for your skin and the yogurt will help tighten skin. Sounds good enough to eat!!Have a very wonderful day everybodyEllencurly