Accentuate the Positive:

Beautiful features come in all shapes and sizes. Gorgeous eyes, pouty lips, sculpted cheekbones, artfully arched brows, a flawless complexion. You may not have them all – hardly anyone has them ALL. But chances are, you’ve got at least one… one really gorgeous facial asset that’s the envy of your friends. So, are you making the most of what you’ve got?

Lips… full, pouty, inviting lips.

If you’ve got them, you’re blessed. Make them as kissable as possible. Lip balm with sunscreen is a must. On no make-up days and even under your lipstick. Use a lip balm/moisturizer after you remove your lipstick at the end of the day.

Lipstick and liner should be checked and reapplied every few hours to ensure that all eyes are on your best features for the right reasons. Gloss makes those lips even more tempting.

Eyes… the window to the soul.

How about dressing up your baby blues, your doe-eyes or your emerald beauties?

Eye shadow should complement your complexion, not match your sandals. Have a make-up professional sample different colors on you.

Choose a color combination for day and a separate one for nights out on the town. Two or three shadow colors give your eyelids dimension.

Waterproof mascara is great at weddings and graduations, but not for everyday. It dries out your lashes and causes them to fall out. Don’t touch your eyes or rub them.

This causes wrinkles and introduces bacteria. Give some attention to your brows once a week. Always use a makeup remover made for your eyes, wiping gently with a cotton ball.

Cheeks… we all have cheekbones.

Using a good quality, large make-up brush - not the little, cute one that comes with your blusher - is the key to applying blush. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Rest the brush lightly on the “apple” of the cheek and gently sweep the brush back toward the temple.

Voila, gorgeous cheeks.

Beautiful skin… if you’ve got it, flaunt it.

If your skin is clear and even-toned, you already have what the rest of us are trying to achieve with foundation. Consider using a tinted moisturizer instead.

Or, go natural - forget the foundation during daylight hours.

Foundation is made to cover imperfections. Okay, it does help keep your other makeup in place, but if you can get away with not wearing it most of the time, you should. The rest of us aspire to that freedom. Go on and give us some hope.

Your unique features make you who you are. Show off what you’ve got.

Be the most beautiful you.

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Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, "Hollywood Makeup Secrets" a step-by-step simple video system for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting:

http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/dt/s.php?id=9

(c)2005 HollywoodMakeupSecrets.com. All rights reserved. ———————————————————-

Orange face, white neck. Brown neck, pink face. We all know someone with no perception of how her make-up really looks on her own face. She’s sweet, really sweet. But she’s a joke in your circle of friends. Oh, no. It isn’t you, is it?

Well, even if you don’t wear “clown makeup,” chances are you’re making some mistakes with your makeup. Take stock to be sure that you don’t fall into any of the makeup traps below.

Mismatched Foundation

Your foundation should not be a different color from the rest of your body. Really, it shouldn’t. This is an easy problem to fix. March yourself down to the make-up counter at your favorite department store and let the salesperson do her job. It’s her job, after all. Don’t be intimidated, you don’t need to buy the whole product line.

Blue Eye shadow

Blue eye shadow works for some people. Little girls in dance recitals. Guests at 1970s-themed parties. Ethereal looking supermodels. If you aren’t one of the aforementioned people then don’t wear it. Enough said.

Dark Circles Under Eyes/Obvious Under Eye Concealer

This is a chicken or egg problem. You’re right, the circles aren’t great. But neither are orange crescents under your eyes. Play around with a few shades of concealer to see what really works best for you.

Different products work differently on different people. Just because one brand works for your friend, doesn’t mean it’ll be flattering on you. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and talk to your doctor. Sometimes those circles are a sign of allergies or a vitamin deficiency.

Obvious Lip liner

This is a look. It’s just not a flattering one. Lip liner is intended to add dimension to thin or small lips, to lengthen the wear of your lip color and to prevent your lipstick from “bleeding” onto your face. It is not intended to create a visible outline.

Inferior products in your dressing area

Most of us are not starlets with dressing rooms and make-up artists at our disposal. But that doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to look like starlets with dressing rooms and make-up artists. Invest in good lighting around your vanity. Stock it with quality make-up brushes and limit your make-up collection to products you’ll actually use. That way, your budget can be used to buy better cosmetics.

You’re worth it

Add a couple of extra minutes, a wee bit more effort and a little money into your daily makeup routine. It’s not vain to spend a few dollars on or a few minutes at your vanity. Put on your prettiest smile, bat your beautiful lashes and show the world that you like who you are.

Put your best face forward… you don’t have to hide behind crow’s feet and lip lines…

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Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, "Hollywood Makeup Secrets" a step-by-step simple video system for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting:

http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/dt/s.php?id=9

(c)2005 HollywoodMakeupSecrets.com. All rights reserved. ———————————————————-

You own the best makeup money can buy. You thumb through fashion magazines to study the faces of those stick-thin, runway models. You spend two hours each morning putting on your face. And, you still don’t look right. What’s a girl got to do to look good around here?

Lights, camera, action…consider three things:

What’s the lighting in your make-up area? Adjust it, and you may find that you’re better able to cover your flaws and accentuate your attributes.

Picture yourself. Is the look you’re struggling to attain realistic for you? The supermodel-look you’re using to create your own makeup style may not be at all like you.

Look for famous faces with features similar to your own.

What colors and products do your look-alikes use with success Try modeling yourself after realistic ideals.

Are you using the right colors and products?

Learn from the pros…take a lesson.

Spend a half hour with a professional makeup stylist. Visit a department store beauty counter. Ask a well-put together friend for a tutorial. Take notes. Here are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind.

Foundation

Careful selection of color is essential. Remember, what looks good in January, may not in August.

Reevaluate color often.

Apply with sponge or fingertips. Dot foundation in the shape of a ‘T’ from forehead to chin. Then blend outward. Don’t apply pressure to skin. Be sure you don’t leave a ‘defining line’ along your jaw line.

Blend any line with a tissue.

Eyes

Eye shadow is available in complementing multi-tone color combinations.

It’s a good idea to buy these sets, rather than individual colors, if you don’t trust your own beauty know-how.

Swipe applicator across lightest color, tap off excess powder, and sweep across lid to brow bone working from the inside out. Accent with medium tone from middle of lash to outer edge of eyes. For a smoky, night time look, use a third color as an accent. Blend colors with your pinky.

Cheeks

Using a full-sized blush brush, apply blush to brush, tap off the excess, smile and sweep color gently from apple of cheek to temple. Soften color with a tissue, if needed.

Powder

Loose powder sets make-up and extends its wear. Gently dust your made-up face.

Lips Last

Liner and lipstick are your last step. Apply and blot with a tissue.

Less is more…really!

Avoid looking overly made up. Too much make-up can look worse than the flaws it’s intended to hide.

Practice, practice, practice.

Do you remember how much fun it was to play with make-up as a child? Recapture that fun. Play around with different looks.

You don’t know how something will look until you try it. But, save the experiments for a slow day. Your sister’s wedding day is no day for a new you.

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Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, "Hollywood Makeup Secrets" a step-by-step simple video system for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting:

http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/dt/s.php?id=9

(c)2005 HollywoodMakeupSecrets.com. All rights reserved. ———————————————————-

In part 1 we talked about how to apply our foundation and blush to look natural. Now we’ll discuss lipstick and eye make up

So here we go Makeup Tips Part 2 or… "How to apply eye make without looking like you’ve gone 3 rounds with Joe Frazier"

In other words don’t overdo it. Subtle is the word here!

Eyeshadow - There’s a rainbow of colours now available, unlike when I grew up, green and blue were almost all that we could get (boring!) So have fun and experiment, but bear a few tips in mind.

Keep bright colours for evening use only.

Don’t use frosted, glitter or metallic shadows if you’re over about 25! You’ll accentuate any fine lines. There’s also a theory that the small glitter particles can pass through the fine eyelid membranes and lodge in the eye. (I don’t know for sure if this is true, but it’s enough to make your eyes water!)

Use dark colours to shrink and light colours for emphasis.

Blend blend blend blend! between colours. Use a brush or fingers (gently does it)

Use a lighter colour on the inner edge of eyes to "open" and darker colours on the outer edge for a dramatic look.

It’s best to use no more than 2 colours at a time (unless you’re super clever) Make sure to use the same colour tone. Hot colours are bronze, taupe and gold. Sheer colours will look more natural.

*Special tip* - Don’t use an eye shadow that’s the same colour as your eyes. Contrast will bring our your eye colour better. For example if your eyes are blue use a brown or taupe shade. Brown eyes look fabulous with most colours - except brown.

Mascara - If you only do one thing then make it mascara! It has the most impact of all make up.

Start at the root of the lashes and move up. Make sure you include the tiny lashes at the inner corners.

Put an extra coat on the outer corners too. This will make your eyes look "larger".

Wipe brush with a tissue to remove any "blobs".

Don’t use a lash comb afterwards, instead use a clean wand (wash your old one and use that)

If adding a second coat, do it before the first one dries.

Mascara can "go off" quickly. Replace every 4 months to avoid eye infections.

Don’t overdo it. Too much will stick your lashes together and look unnatural.

To widen eyes, use an eyelash curler - before applying mascara.

If your eyelashes are very sparse, try false lashes, these can look great if applied properly!

*Special tip* - If you have small eyes, don’t use mascara on your bottom lashes. This can make your eyes appear smaller.

Eyebrows - Pluck only under your brows to create a good shape. If your brows tend to meet in the middle then you can pluck here too, but be careful. A beautician can wax this area for you the first time so you can maintain it yourself in future.

If you have sparse or light eyebrows use a pencil one shade darker than your brows, but no darker than your hair colour. Blondes are best using a light brown pencil.

If your brows already look good, try adding some shine with a slick of Vaseline or sheer lip gloss.

Use a brush to blend pencil at all times.

*Special tip* - If your eyes are too close together, start your brows more toward the middle of the eye. Try this with a pencil first. Don’t pluck before you’re sure it suits you!

Lipstick - The best thing I can tell you about lipstick is to use a lip brush. Yes it takes a little longer to apply, but you’ll get an even application of colour and stay within the lip line.

Make sure your lips aren’t dry or flaky, use Vaseline or moisturizer before applying lipstick.

If your lips are too thin, draw a line just slightly outside your normal lip line with a lip liner pencil (careful!)

If you want your lips to be the focal point of your face, use a strong colour and use less eye make-up.

For lasting colour that doesn’t come off on your coffee cup (or his cheek!), blot lips and re apply. Blot again.

Use a gloss over your lippie for impact!

Practice makes perfect when applying make up. If you do it often enough, you’ll be able to apply make-up in the dark, without a mirror and with both hands tied behind your back (Just joking but you know what I mean!)

Copyright 2005 Wendy Owen

Like to have better looking skin? http://www.holistic-facial-skin-care.com will give you detailed information on natural skin care and chemical free products. The author, Wendy Owen has had a lifetime interest in general and alternative health and beauty. Sign up for a free book "75 Beauty Tips" and other gifts!

When you’re deciding whether or not to use mineral cosmetics you probably have a lot of questions. After all the hype, you’re left wondering “Are they really that good?” Sure, there are lots of positive things being said about mineral makeup right now, but before you invest in it you should make sure all your questions are answered.

These are common questions people ask before choosing to buying any mineral cosmetic brand.

Is it waterproof?

No, it is not. It is water resistant. This means that mineral cosmetics hold up well in moisture. Whether you get damp from sweating or being in the rain, your mineral makeup should hold up. Simply dab the excess water off, instead of rubbing it off.

Is it hard to remove?

No, it isn’t hard to remove. Using any type of facial cleanser, cold cream, eye makeup remover, etc.- even soap and water- will remove it very effectively.

How can it last all day and still be easy to remove?

The basic properties of mineral makeup (titanium dioxide and iron oxides) have great adhesion properties. This means they bind well to the skin. There are no oils or waxes, which helps them to stay on longer. Finally, each ingredient is water- soluble. This makes them easy to remove, and is why they are not waterproof.

Does it really look natural?

Yes. It won’t leave that tell-tale “mask” on your skin like a liquid foundation. Plus you can easily mix colors to give yourself the best match to your natural skin, which helps it look better.

What makes it matte?

A matte mineral cosmetic will not have any mica in it. Mica adds the sparkle, shimmer, interference, etc. Some micas even give makeup more depth so that it is more compatible to different skintones. Without it, the mineral cosmetic can look really flat, like paint.

Isn’t serecite a mica?

Yes, it is colorless mica. It adds a little more “slip” to the makeup, giving it a silkier feel. It has a very low shimmer to it and it becomes unnoticeable when mixed into the makeup.

Will it clog my pores?

No it won’t. It is considered non-comedogenic and safe for women with sensitive skin. IT is lacking the oils and parabens associated with clogged pores.

Will it affect my acne?

It shouldn’t. Most mineral cosmetic brands are non-acnegenic, which means they won’t irritate acne-prone skin. In fact, many women with acne that use mineral makeup see their faces clear up after using it consistently for awhile. Those that do have trouble can usually attribute it to the “buffing”, cornstarch/rice powder (which is a food product for bacteria), or bismuth oxychloride. Finding a brand free of these ingredients will ensure the best possible chance of not irritating your acne.

Is it ok for oily/dry skin?

It is highly recommended for oily skin because of its intrinsic oil-absorbing properties. It tends to work very well on oily skin. Dry skin can be more problematic because of all those drying ingredients. However, there are formulations out there specifically for dry skin, so those will probably work best.

Which brand is the best?

Choosing a mineral cosmetic company depends on what you are looking for. Many women focus on ingredients, color selection, quantity vs. price and customer service. You know what you want, so the best idea is to base your choice on your priorities.

Are Ebay brands good?

This is a bit tricky. Yes and no. Some are and some aren’t. Unfortunately, many people selling on Ebay under their own brand are simply resellers of someone else’s wholesale brand. It’s called a “private label.” They buy someone else’s products at a reduced price because they’re buying in bulk and put their stickers on it. The problem with this is that they don’t know anything about the ingredients or how to help their customers make an appropriate match. But there are also some reputable sellers on Ebay. Buying off Ebay depends solely on your personal preference.

Now you have the information to decide if mineral makeup is for you and how to pick a brand that will meet your needs.

Lynn Starner is the proprietor of Beauty Bliss Mineral Cosmetics at http://www.beautyblisscosmetics.com as well as http://www.ultimate-skin-care-tips.com

Aaaahhhhh, fuller, younger looking, pouty lips. Full lips are definitely a sign of “youth” but what happens to our lips when we begin to mature? Lips become thinner, less attractive and pretty soon, one just might give up wearing lipstick because the top lip virtually disappears, especially when smiling. When this shrinking act is apparent in the mirror, usually vertical lines begin to invade the lips making a mature women look positively ancient.

Women aren’t the only ones who want softer, fuller lips. Men whose lips are thin and hard may portray a steely attitude in the boardroom; however, men with fuller lips look more attractive, boyish and younger.

Lips are soft tissue and as a man or woman begins to mature, volume dissipates which means tissue shrinks.

There are many modalities for revitalizing soft tissue in lips; the old standby – bovine collagen, Zyderm® and Zyplast® has competition. Restylane®, CosmoDerm® and ComoPlast® (human {cadaver} collagen), Radiance®, Artecoll® and others have entered the market of “fillers”. These new fillers do not require skin testing for allergic reactions and they are all injected. The procedure time varies from 3-10 minutes and some patients relate that these types of injections can be painful. These services can be relatively expensive because they’re not permanent fixes and these injections must be repeated every few months to maintain lip fullness. The most common side effect, as with any injection, is redness, bruising and swelling at the injection site that typically last less than three weeks.

A more permanent lip procedure that is widely used is Gortex. Strips of Gortex (threads of foam-like material) are inserted into the lips; the lips do become somewhat larger after the procedure is completed but some users complain that their lips feel hard, not soft and supple. Some of these implants cannot be removed if a problem arises because the lip tissue grows into and around the implant. Possible complications include infection, migration or extrusion of the implants and lip asymmetry is a concern.

Another somewhat permanent solution is fat injections; a patient’s own fat is removed from usually the tummy or buttocks, washed and then re-injected into the lips. While this is probably a fairly safe modality, the fat tends to reabsorb rather quickly, deflating the lips.

Recently over the counter glosses, lipsticks, and other types of topical preparations have been introduced promising fuller, poutier lips with more definition and volume. Many cosmetic companies have jumped on this bandwagon promising the users that their special ingredients will produce full, luscious lips after a few weeks of use. In fact, there have been over 200 new products introduced to the marketplace in the last two years ranging in price from $6.99 to almost $40. Instead of traffic stopping lips, some of these topical products have produced burns, mouth sores and empty pockets.

Some cosmetic companies do use natural components in their formulas but some of the formulas may be misleading. No product can deliver the look of a collagen injection in a topical. How these products work is through the use of an irritating ingredient such as niacin, cinnamon, caffeine or peppermint; these ingredients may cause some temporary swelling via dilation of the blood vessels along with mild inflammation, giving the illusion of fullness. Some preparations require the user to rub the lips briskly for several minutes and this friction results in some degree of temporary swelling.

Many women and men want fuller lips because poutier lips make them feel sexier and more alluring. Consumers are willing to spend a lot of money to have “the look”; but not everyone agrees that the topicals deliver what they have promised. Dr. Sam Most, Chief of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle asked seven women to use a certain topical whose website says their product increases actual lip volume and contour an average of 40.7 percent; Dr. Most said, “In subjects who used the product as directed over a long term there was no visible change in the lips.”

Is there an actual difference in using topical applications that promise full, pouty lips or is lipstick and a liner enough? Maybe Yoki Ono, a saleswoman at a Madison Avenue designer boutique, quoted in the NY Times, has the answer: “You might as well get some extra-spicy Buffalo wings and eat them.”

Or better yet, save yourself a bundle of cash and brush your lips with a baby’s toothbrush and petroleum jelly for about a minute, your lips will be fuller and soft – guaranteed!

Cynthia is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children’s inheritance.

Cynthia Rowland, http://www.facialmagic.com

Thousands of women crave larger, fuller lips. Everywhere you turn you see models on magazine covers with impossibly full, pouty lips. Were they all really born with naturally fabulous lips, or did they get a little help from a good "cosmeceutical" lip plumper?

What are Cosmeceuticals?

Cosmeceuticals are the marriage of cosmetics and pharmaceutical-type technology. They are the modern marvel of the cosmetics world that allow women to nonsurgically alter their appearance dramatically, and without trauma, needles or scalpels. Examples of cosmeceuticals are as follows:

1.) Advanced lip plumpers that deliver deep hyrdration and plumping agents as microparticles beneath the skin, or transdermally, which plump the lips dramatically and usually can last for hours.

2.) Wrinkle fillers such as the touted "botox alternatives" with the temporary wrinkle filling, or skin plumping ingredient hyaluronic acid.

3.) Acne refining products and antiaging in-home treatments that mimic the effects of in-office treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser therapy.

4.) Breast Enhancing and enlarging supplements, serums and creams which can enhance fullness and size of breasts.

5.) Cellulite or fat reduction creams, gels and serums which claim to help break down cellulite and reduce thigh circumference.

These are just some examples in the realm of natural cosmetic enhancement that fall in the same category as natural lip plumpers and lip enlargement products.

Signs of a Good Lip Plumper

Look for customer reviews on lip plumpers before you invest. Good lip enhancers will usually show some type of a review or maybe even a before and after picture of typical results from product use. If there are not pictures, then you should be able to see some sort of written testimonials. Also, reputation counts for a lot! Word of mouth, no pun intended, lends a lot of credibility to any cosmetic product.

Look for emollient ingredients (moisturizing) and stay away form too many "acids" or alcohols, as they only will result in dried out, parched lips that only stay plumped for about a half hour, and only work by irritating the outer layer of the lip which results in flushing and temporary plumping.

I can think of a few I’ve tried that fit into this category. I won’t mention names, but let’s just say you should stay away from any that are a "lip plumping gel". It’s important the the product uses a creamy base, not a gel base, which will only dry and crack your lips.

My favorite lip plumper is one that actually delivers moisture in a cream base along with microspheres of collagen that are supposed to transdermally absorb into the lips, noticeably plumping and moisturizing your lips for hours at a time. It also gives a slight sheen to your lips that doesn’t feel gooey or tacky.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Fuller, plumper lips can definitely be yours, without surgery or needles. You just have to know which ones work, and with use you will definitely see a noticeable difference in the fullness, moisture, and plumpness of your lips. I know I have my personal favorites, and the reason I like these particular lip enhancing products over others is that they do not dry my lips out at all, yet they plump them. As long as you can find one that does the job without parching your pout, you’ve got a winner!

Visit Natural Lip Enlargement for information on effective natural lip enlargement products. Danna Schneider is the founder of CosmeticsGalore : Lip Fusion Review.

When searching for camouflage makeup, whether it’s for covering up facial scars, or currently exposed acne blemish breakouts, do you ever have the feeling that your foundation concealer is not working like it should?

Chances are the cosmetics that you’re purchasing may be designed for all skin types, and in my opinion, your unique facial tones are different from anyone else’s skin out there, so why would you settle for a product that has one color designed for everybody?

Like many of your individual qualities, such as your eyes, hair, and skin, many cosmetic suppliers put these features in a grouped classification, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the products their offering will be the right ones for your distinctive skins characteristics.

In order to achieve the best results to camouflage skin successfully, you need to find makeup products that have a wide range of shades with many natural colors that will easily blend with your skin. For example, the Dermablend camouflage cosmetics line are specially designed for your individual needs, and they know that there are individuals, such as yourself that have slightly different skin tones and that’s why they offer over 50 different colors!

Camouflage Care Starts With The Correct Application Of Makeup Cosmetics!

Not only is it important to have the right corrective makeup, but also it’s very important that you know the proper techniques on how to apply your select cream or powder, so it will produce your desired results, and provide you the natural look and feel that you expect!

We’re sure you didn’t want to spend all your valuable time and research in finding the right camouflage cosmetic, later realizing the end result is less than you expected due to an improper application technique. The ability to learn how to layer, and properly blend these products will be perfected with practice, and once you achieve the right method you will notice your facial imperfections will be virtually un-noticeable.

To avoid the frustrations and the feeling that you’re buying the wrong camouflage concealer, you need to focus on sourcing the right camouflaging products that are specifically designed for your particular skin conditions. Whether you may have scars, birthmarks, irregular pigmentation of the skin, or are suffering from serious blemishes, we’re happy to say that there are many cosmetics available online that can help with your skincare concerns!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Acne Skin Care Products” available at http://www.1st-in-acne-skin-care-products.com A great source for Acne Treatment Coverup! Find quality acne treatment, and cover-up products for complete camouflage and care of acne blemishes and scars. You can control the look of pimples with proper cover up treatments.

The party’s over and the morning after Christmas brings along the dread of watching your haggard face in the mirror. Hectic partying does that for you — let’s face it. And so we might as well start looking for ways to beat the post party face catastrophe.

WATER YOUR BODY

Your body needs it as much as your plants do! Late nights and alcohol can bring about serious depletion of moisture from your face. Drink as much water as possible throughout the evening. If it is not possible to drink much water during the party, be sure to drink a glass when you come home, before going to bed.

Next morning, over a couple of hours, try to drink a whole bottle (at least 750 ml) of fluids like water, herbal tea (jasmine or chamomile also helps hangovers), lemonade, fresh fruit juices etc. For the rest of the day, keep spritzing your face at regular intervals. You could also go in for a light, fruit-water based moisturizer.

SENSITIVE SKIN

A healthy, glowing skin, if heaped with lots of various makeup ingredients, takes no time to turn into an irritable, sensitive skin. Try to use mild and protective products and don’t punish your face by applying a little bit of everything you can find in your makeup box.

Find ways to maximize your look with minimal cosmetics. Always cleanse, tone and moisturize before you apply your makeup. It keeps makeup from looking chalky and also acts as a protective layer.

C-L-E-A-N-S-E

Remove all traces of makeup from your face as soon as possible. Cleanse well before going to sleep that night and cleanse again in the morning.

Besides water, use good quality makeup removers and make it a must to use a good eye makeup remover for the eyes.

Over cleansing can strip protective oils from your skin and make your skin more sensitive. But since its absolutely essential that you remove your makeup when you return, use a gentle cleanser. A cream-based cleanser is the gentlest.

Don’t forget to tome and moisturize after you have removed your makeup. Massage your skin with an enriching moisturizer for about 5 minutes to stimulate circulation and glow naturally.

EYE CARE

If you are beginning to get dark circles due to lack of sleep and poor circulation, use an eye cream.

A great remedy from the kitchen is to place potato or zucchini slices on your eyelids for about 5 minutes and apply slight pressure. This helps to drain out excess fluid and soothes your eyes.

PUFFY FACE

The best way to deal with a puffy and zitty face is to cool it down. The ‘tried and tested’ used tea bags and cucumber slices work well. Another remedy is using ice cubes of rosewater. Chill a tray before leaving for parties and rub it all over your face in the morning.

You can also grate a cucumber, soak a cotton ball in it and wipe your whole face with it. Fifteen minutes in a steam room or a cold shower also works wonders for a puffy face.

So now there’s nothing to stop you from enjoying your Christmas and New Year Parties and Bashes. Just get equipped to beat the post-party face catastrophe and party hard!

Lata Tokhi is the Founder and Editor of Dot Com Women (http://www.dotcomwomen.com), a premier women’s website and fast-growing online community. For more beauty tips and advice, makeup tricks, interviews with famous Fashion personas, seasonal styles and trends, visit the ‘Beauty & Fashion’ channel at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/beauty

Many people avoid artificial colours in their foods, but don’t check out the colours in cosmetics and personal care products. It is only in recent years that cosmetics have started to carry a full list of ingredients on their packaging.

Making sense of the ingredients can be difficult for the lay person. This is particularly true for colourings, which often go under the guise of numbers rather than names.

In many countries colours in cosmetics are listed as colour index numbers. C.I. numbers are allocated by the Society of Dyers and Colourists. The scheme covers colours used in food, personal care products, cosmetics, household products and fabric dyeing. So, for example you will not normally see ‘tartrazine’ listed in your lipstick ingredients, but it may be there listed as C.I. 19140. Erythrosine will be listed as C.I. 45430, and so on.

The USA uses a different system: the FD & C colors have been categorised by the American Food & Drink Administration for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics. So in this system tartrazine is FD & C yellow 5, and amaranth is FD & C red 2.

The ‘E Number’ system is used by the European Community (EC). This is a system of giving code numbers to food additives, some of which are also used in cosmetics and personal care products. This system is also used in some other countries but without the E prefix, so E102 becomes simply colour ‘102’.

All this confusion for the average consumer would not be important, but for the fact that some of these colours are known to cause problems in susceptible individuals. For example, tartrazine (also known as FD & C Yellow 5, CI 1914 and EI02) can cause migraines, itching, rhinitis and agitation in susceptible individuals. Many individuals avoid its use in food, but do not realise how extensively it is used in cosmetics, such as lipstick, and personal care products.

The big worries in terms of colours in cosmetics and personal care products are lipstick, coloured lip balms, lip gloss and lip pencils, because anyone who uses these regularly ‘eats’ a fair quantity over their life time, but these colours also appear in skin cream, foundation, mascara and so on too. (Remember also that these colours can also be in ‘natural’ cosmetics and skin care products.)

Another worry is that even the ‘experts’ cannot agree on an international ’safe’ list of colours, so that a colour may be allowed in one country, but banned elsewhere. For example, quinoline yellow is allowed within the European Community and in some other countries, but is banned in Japan, Norway and the United States.

As ever, the advice is: keep yourself informed and read the label. Here is a list of the different names and numbers that common colourings go under:

Tartrazine: E102 or FD & C Yellow 5 or C.I. 19140
Quinoline yellow or E104 or C.I. 47005
Sunset yellow or E110 or FD & C Yellow 6 or C.I. 15985
Amaranth or E123 or FD & C Red 2 or C.I. 16185
Ponceau 4R or E124 or C.I. 16255
Erythrosine or E127 or FD & C Red 3 or C.I. 45430
Red 2G or E128 or C.I. 18050
Allura red AC or E129 or FD & C Red 40 or C.I. 16035
Patent blue V or E131 or C.I. 42051
Indigo carmine or E132 or FD & C Blue 2 or C.I. 73015
Brilliant blue FCF or FD & C Blue 1 or C.I. 42090
Fast green FCF or FD & C Green 3 or C.I. 42053
Green S or E142 or C.I. 44090

Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.