How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

When’s the last time you brushed your teeth? Now think about when the last time was when you cleaned your makeup brushes. Cleaning our makeup brushes after use probably isn’t on the top of every woman’s “must do” list. As a matter of fact, a lot of women allow their makeup brushes to get to the point where they clean them only when the makeup is caked on (FYI: this is far past the point of when the brushes should have been cleaned!).

Makeup brushes contain bacteria which, if not cleaned, will only continue to build and build to the point where you may be doing a lot of damage to your skin. It’s essential that makeup brushes are cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis; otherwise you may be faced with a lot of skin and health issues.
To properly disinfect and clean your makeup brushes, you will need a few things:

• Antibacterial soap (this is a must!)
• A small dish or a bowl
• A couple of hand towels

You can also choose to purchase more “professional” cleansing products, such as 99% alcohol, a professional brush cleaner or a disinfectant, but these are not necessary.

Step 1: Make sure that the water that you have running is warm. Wet your brush while making sure that you are keeping the bristles pointing downwards. This will help keep water out of the handle and the glue which is essential as water causes for the brushes to break down and need to be replaced more frequently.

Step 2: Take some anti-bacterial soap and squirt some into your hand. Take your brush with the other hand, and then move the bristles of the brush around in a swirling motion. Using your fingers, massage the soap into the bristles from tip to tip.

Step 3: Now it’s time to rinse! Turn on the warm water and then gently squeeze out the soap from the hairs at the top of the brush to the very tip. If you notice that your brush is still releasing makeup residue, repeat step 2 until the water rinses clean. Pat your brushes dry with a towel.

Step 4: To really clean your brushes well, take any of the optional products mentioned above and pour it into a dish. Dip the tips of the bristles into the cleaning product so that the product reaches half way up the bristles. Do not dip all the way up to the top of the brush as the hairs will naturally move the product upwards. Swirl the brush on a small towel, and then dip the brush once again into the disinfectant.

Step 5: Once finished, take care to reshape the bristles into place and lay the brushes out on a clean towel. Wait until they are fully dry before you pack them into your makeup kit once again.

Beauty Weapon : Vaseline

What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is a product that was created in the late 19th century by a chemist named Robert Cheesebrough. Throughout the course of his work, he observed that the factory workers were using the rod wax to moisturize their skin and discovered that the wax also helped speed up the healing time of any skin cuts and wounds. He took this knowledge and made up several different batches or “lines” of products that contained the key ingredient, petroleum jelly, and put them in vases. This is where the “vase” in “Vaseline” originates from.

To Improve your Smile
Did you know that you can brighten your smile with just a touch of Vaseline? Take a small amount on your finger and then rub it all over your front teeth and gums to really make your teeth glisten. When you’re watching a beauty pageant on TV, notice their gleaming smile – that’s all thanks to Vaseline!

To Soften your Feet
If you have rough and calloused feet, you can use Vaseline to help soften them up. Soak your feet in a warm tub of water for up to 15 minutes, and then rub the rough areas of skin with a pumice stone. When you are finished exfoliating the skin, take some Vaseline and rub it into those areas. Throw on a thick pair of socks and go to bed. When you wake up the next morning, you will notice a considerable difference in the softness of your feet!

To Moisturize your Lips
The simplest lip gloss product that you can ever find is Vaseline. Taking a bit of Vaseline on your finger and then rubbing it into your lip will not only hydrate your lips, but it will give them that wet, kissable shine. You can apply Vaseline right overtop of any lipstick you may be wearing, too.

To Style Dry Hair
Have dry hair? Then pick up a jar of Vaseline. Dab a very small amount of Vaseline onto your fingers and style your hair as you usually would (do use it sparingly as Vaseline can quickly make your hair go from healthy looking and shiny to greasy and oily in seconds). The Vaseline will hold your style and your hair will feel and look better too!

To Tame your Brows
Did you know that Vaseline can be used as a great product to hold your eyebrows in place? Take a tiny little bit of the product and then apply it to your eyebrow area with either an eyebrow brush or with your fingertip.

To Remove your Eye Makeup
Yes, Vaseline can also remove your eye makeup if you are ever in a pinch. Put a small amount of Vaseline on a cloth or a towel, and then rub it gently over top of your eye area. You should notice that all eye makeup has been removed, including your waterproof mascara!

Nail Polish Thinner – Make Your Own Thinner And Use That Old Polish!

Clumpy, glompy, thick nail polish… let’s face it, we have all let a bottle of nail polish sit there for so long that it moves “past its prime” and becomes seemingly unusable. Maybe you grew tired of the color, or perhaps it went out of season and you had to wait until the next year to use it again. Regardless of how it’s happened, just how on earth are you supposed to apply this thick, goopy mess to your fingernails?
That’s when a nail polish thinner comes in handy. The good news is that you do not need to rush out to the store to actually buy a nail polish thinner. You can actually make your very own nail polish thinner with a little bit of orange oil and a bit of solvent.
1. Begin to selecting a solvent you will use for your homemade nail polish thinner. Some of the more popular choices out there include shellite or even good old acetone that you can find in most nail polish removers.

2. Once you have chosen the solvent you would like to use, it is time to add the orange oil to the mix. The orange oil is essential as it will help maintain the consistency of the nail polish. It both keeps the nail polish smooth and it will help conceal that otherwise unpleasant scent of the solvent. You will want to be sure that the orange oil and the solvent are blended in equal parts.
3. Now add a small amount of this nail polish thinner to the actual nail polish. Start with just a few drops, screw the cap back on to the nail polish and give the bottle a good shake. Continue with this process until the nail polish has reached the consistency you like. You may need to check the consistency over the course of an hour, removing the brush or applicator every 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the consistency stays the same. If the nail polish thickens, add a couple more drops of the nail polish thinner to the nail polish.
4. Here comes the true test: applying the nail polish to your finger nails. Test the nail polish out on just one finger nail. Apply one coat, allow it to try, and apply another. If the nail polish appears the way that you would like it to, then you have successfully recovered and saved your favorite nail polish!
Once you have given your thick, otherwise unusable nail polish some nail thinner “CPR”, be sure to discard of any unused nail polish thinner just to be safe. Nail polish thinner, whether store bought or homemade, is extremely flammable so it is important to keep it in a cool, dry place after being used.

What Is Thermage?

If you have been seeking out alternatives to make your skin younger in appearance, then you may have heard about Thermage. But what exactly is Thermage?

Thermage is a new way to tight up your skin and make it appear more youthful. This process uses what is called RF technology, also known as radiofrequency technology, to safely heat up all of the different layers of your skin – from the top layers (the epidermis and the dermis) to the deep underlying tissues (the fatty layer, also known s the subcutaneous tissue). The process is also effective in keeping the top layer at a cooler temperature so that it does not burn or scar.
So why does heating up the skin work to prevent the signs of aging? The heating of the skin helps not only tighten up the collagen that you already have preset, but it helps form new collagen. This collagen will eliminate wrinkles and sagging skin.
While a lot of other beauty treatments require frequent treatments to both obtain and sustain the effects, with Thermage you only need one treatment. It is also completely non-invasive, meaning that you won’t need to take weeks off of work to recover, and there is very little to no downtime required afterwards.
As with any type of treatment that you consider, it’s important to think about just how safe a procedure is. Thermage is still a relatively new type of treatment that you can elect to have as it has been around for less than 10 years. But the good news is that since 2002, over half a million Thermage treatments have been performed in well over 80 countries. They have created over 50 patents for advanced technology, and Thermage is backed by the most clinical evidence in the aesthetic non-invasive industry. And here’s the reassurance that you are probably looking for: yes, it is FDA approved to help remove wrinkles and lift and improve your eyelids.
That being said, it’s important to discuss Thermage with your physician prior to having any treatments. A lot of physicians offer Thermage treatments, so your very own may be able to do this for you. Once you find a Thermage physician, it’s important to go in for a consultation and discuss your concerns and the final effects you would like to end up with after undergoing the treatment. The Thermage physician will be able to them allay any fears and answer any questions you may have during the consultation, and then book that appointment to having younger, healthier looking skin!

How To Get Rid Of Dandruff – Naturally!

 The dreaded white flakes. For anyone who has dandruff, you probably share the very same sentiment. The white flakes are not only a reminder that you have a dry and itchy scalp, but they are also incredibly embarrassing and certainly go noticed by those that we meet on a daily basis.
When ever there is dry skin of any sort, there is an underlying health issue that needs to be looked after in order to then cure the dandruff itself. Rather than run out and grab a basic dandruff shampoo, try these natural remedies for dandruff and see if these put a stop to those white flakes.


Check Out your Diet
When ever there is any sort of ailment, the first thing that you should always look at is your diet. What did you eat today? What sort of nutritional benefit did it have? Did you meet your daily requirement for vitamins and minerals from what you ate today or not? Do you take a daily multivitamin? These are the things that you must consider, as a lot of health issues begin with what we do or don’t eat on a daily basis.
A balanced diet should be full of fresh fruits and vegetables. To combat dandruff, having an adequate intake of iron on a daily basis is especially essential. Make sure that you also drink those 8 cups of water a day to keep yourself hydrated (drink more than this if you drink any caffeinated or alcoholic beverages).

The Cider Vinegar Trick
Forget those anti-dandruff shampoos. Before you use those, and while taking care to improve your diet, purchase some cider vinegar to wash your hair. Wet down your entire head and then apply the cider vinegar to your hair. Wrap your hair up in a towel and leave the cider vinegar in for up to forty minutes. Do this twice a week and you will see that within a week or two your dandruff will completely disappear.

Another Vinegar Trick
This one involves just some basic white vinegar and some water. Take two teaspoons of vinegar and combine it with six teaspoons of water. Apply this mixture directly to your scalp and leave it on overnight while you sleep. Rinse it out the next morning as usual. Try to use this process every day for 3 months, and you should then see that your white flakes are completely gone.

Thyme-based Remedy
For this simple home remedy, combine two cups of water with five tablespoons of thyme. Boil the two together on the stove, and then let it cool. Once it’s cooled down, massage the mix into your scalp and leave it overnight. As with the previous treatment, continue with this process for at least 3 months and you will see those flakes completely disappear!

Fenugreek Seed Solution
For this dandruff solution, all you have to do is get some fenugreek seeds and then leave them in water and allow them to soak overnight. In the morning, crush the seeds until you have formed a paste. Apply the paste all over your scalp and leave it on there for at least 20 minutes. Once that time has elapsed, rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Health And Beauty Benefits Of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey isn’t just any honey that you can find lining the shelves of your grocery story. Manuka honey has been renowned for its beauty and medicinal properties for centuries, though in this day in age we tend to rely more on treatments and creams that are stuffed full of lab-created chemicals that often do more damage to our skin than good.
Manuka honey has been known to cure several heath and beauty issues, such as:

• Dermatitis
• Staph infections
• Inflammation
• Wounds

Any where that bacteria, fungi or protozoa may be causing an issue for you, manuka honey can cure it. Why? This nectar is loaded with antibacterial properties. Unlike the normal table honey that you can find in stores, manuka honey is far higher in both UMF and MGO ratings. These ratings help determine the intensity and the strength of any particular nectar on the market. UMF, which stands for Unique Manuka Factor, helps estimate the non-hydrogen peroxide antibacterial properties of any nectar. The MGO, also known as methylglyoxal, refers to a procedure that is used to help and determine just how efficient the nectar is, and how concentrated it is as well.
Some of the more medical ways which manuka honey can help you include:

• Treating a cold and a sore throat
• Heals any skin boils, wounds and ulcers
• Heals stomach ulcers
• Burns and pressure sores are soothed and cured
• Treating MSRA and any other infections

But not only is manuka honey fantastic for our health; it is also fantastic for our skin! Applying manuka honey to the skin’s surface will most definitely help improve the quality of your skin, and provide the following benefits:
Your skin will become more nourished and hydrated.
It helps produce collagen, a key factor in keeping our skin elastic and youthful in appearance.
It contains anti-aging properties that help smooth out those fine lines that we develop over time, making them far less noticeable.
It will fight off free radicals (these are responsible for a number of health issues, such as cancer, and they accelerate the aging process).
It will help treat any skin that has been damaged, including underlying skin cells that other skin products cannot reach.
It will help anyone who has acne, blemishes, eczema, or psoriasis.
You will be left with a beautiful, glowing complexion.
Though you may not be able to find manuka honey in your grocery store, you can definitely find it in natural health food stores. Some supermarkets that are more geared towards natural health and organic products also often carry manuka honey. If all else fails, your best resource is searching for it online. Manuka honey may have been under everyone’s radar for a while now, but it’s making a comeback in a big way as scientists discover all the more how beneficial it is to not only our health, but our beauty.

How To Fix Your Bad Breath - Tips

There are a number of reasons why we suffer from bad breath. More often than not it is due to improper oral hygiene. If you are not brushing your teeth twice a day and for at least two minutes per brush, this may very well be the reason for your stinky breath.
If you have been brushing your teeth, it’s time to break out that dental floss and get out any food that has become trapped between your teeth. Not taking care of your teeth and gums regularly can also cause a number of gum diseases, most of which can cause bacteria to harbor in the gums and cause bad breath.
Foods are definitely also to blame for bad breath. We all know that garlic and onions are often a cause for horrible breath, though usually brushing your teeth afterwards or chewing a piece of gum will take care of that odor.
Alcoholic products and tobacco also are prime candidates for causing bad breath, so you may want to withhold enjoying either of these while on that next hot date.
Sleep is also a common cause for bad breath, which has caused for the term “morning breath” to come about. The flow of our saliva decreases significantly during our sleep, so the bacteria are not being flushed out. It then has a nice warm and relatively dry environment to grow in, which results in bad breath.
Lastly, chronic diseases or illnesses can easily be the cause of bad breath. If you happen to have diabetes, a liver or kidney disorder, or cancer, bad breath is a likely side effect.
How to put a Stop to Bad Breath
The easiest way to put a stop to having bad breath is to completely avoid any foods that you know will cause you to have bad breath. Skip on the onions and the garlic during your next meal if you can help it.

TIP: The old wives tale about eating parsley to help cleanse your pallet and your breath after a meal rings true. If you have parsley as a garnish, take advantage of it and pop a sprig or two into your mouth!

The next easiest way to put a stop to you bad breath woes is to dust off your tooth brush and start brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. This is essential to removing the plaque, tartar, bacteria, ad food particles that can be causing your bad breath. While you are brushing your teeth, make sure that you also rush your tongue and the insides of your cheek.
Drinking tea and drinking a lot of water will also work wonders in helping control any bad breath. Staying as hydrated as possible will help prevent your mouth from drying out, and tea contains polyphenol, a compound that actually slows the growth of that bad breath bacteria.

Steps To Having Perfect And Polished Eyebrows

Eyebrows say a lot about how well we take care of ourselves. Eyebrows are also one of the first features that people notice on our face since they act as the frame to all of our facial features. Despite being of such importance, eyebrows are unfortunately the area where we either take too much or too little care.
Unruly eyebrows with stray hairs are by no means attractive, but neither are over-plucked eyebrows that have obviously been drawn in with a harsh eyebrow pencil. It can be hard to learn just how to pluck your eyebrows, especially if yours seem to have zero shape to them when they are in their natural state, but do not give up hope! It is possible for you to have perfect and polished eyebrows.

TIP: An easy way to get those beautiful eyebrows again is to visit a beautician and have them lay down the groundwork. Once the beautician gives your eyebrows some shape and definition, you are only responsible for the upkeep. You will be able to easily spot the unruly hairs and pluck them as soon as possible.

To give yourself perfect brows, all you need is:

• Clean and sharp eyebrow tweezers
• Sharp scissors
• A mirror
• Eyebrow brush
• Brow makeup

If you are sensitive to pain, then you can run an astringent over your eyebrow area to help numb the area. It also helps if you pluck your eyebrows after being in a hot, humid climate, such as after a bath.
To help find the shape of your eyebrows, take you finger or an eyebrow brush and brush the eyebrows upwards. You will start to notice that there is a thicker part of the hair surrounded by more sparsely covered hairs below that. Start off by removing these hairs in the sparsely covered area, taking care to pluck them in the same direction as the growth of the hair (this helps prevent hair breakage). Continue to brush the eyebrow upwards so that you can spot all of the unnecessary hairs and remove them. You never want to pluck on top of the eyebrow unless absolutely necessary.
Once you have the shape, if you happen to have longer or shaggier eyebrows, brush the eyebrows upwards once again and with a very steady hand, take a pair of small, sharp scissors and snip the length of the eyebrow hair off. Smooth your eyebrow back down to observe the shape. Snip off any other longer hairs as necessary.
To give your eyebrows some definition, use some eyebrow makeup and a stiff angled brush. You can use a powder makeup, or you can take an eyebrow pencil and brush the bristles of the angled brush over the pencil and use this for makeup. Now take the brush and apply the makeup over your eyebrows, taking care to create shape with the brush as you move along. When you have completed this, take the brush and brush some eyebrow powder over the eyebrows. This will help define the shape all the more and set the eyebrow makeup color. If you are worried about your eyebrows keeping shape during the day, apply a very small amount of hair spray to your eyebrow area by dabbing it on with your index finger.

How To Choose The Right Perfume For You

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the number of different fragrances that you can find in the department stores and drugstores across this country? Trying to choose the “right” fragrance for you can be both mind and nose-boggling, and no matter how hard we may try to test every single fragrance out there, it’s unlikely that anyone has that kind of time.
This article will hopefully help you narrow down your fragrance selection by offering tips on what not to choose and tips on what to choose.

Fragrance DON’Ts
Never EVER buy any perfume without applying it to your skin and smelling it from the back of your wrist. How a perfume may smell on a small piece of card may be very different from how it will actually smell on your skin. Testing it on your skin will also allow for you to see how the scent may change over time, as well as test just how long the perfume will last.
Never apply any sort of perfume or cologne on any pearls or any pieces of costume jewelry. The alcohol that is in the perfumes can easily strip these pieces from any color or coating that may be present.
Never spray too much. Though you may think that you need 4 sprays, chances are that you only need 1 or 2 short, quick spritzes on select areas of your body to give yourself that sweet yet discreet flowery scent.
Don’t try on any perfumes on skin that may have lotions, deodorants or a deodorant soap preset. This can distort the smell of the perfume, usually for the worse.
Don’t just choose the new or trendiest perfume that hits the market. These are not suitable or everyone, so choose wisely.

Fragrance DO’s
Make sure that the fragrance that you choose is one that will suit you. Always try the perfume on you skin to make sure that the fragrance works well with your own body chemistry.
Word has it that trying on perfumes in the afternoon is the best time to try them, as this is apparently when our sense of smell has reached its peak.
If you have dry skin, make sure you apply the perfume more frequently than if you have oily skin. Oily skin can hold the fragrance better and for longer, while dry skin cannot.
Change up your perfume from time to time! You don’t always have to wear the same old staple fragrance. For example, you may choose to wear a stronger scent in the winter time if you live in cold temperatures as the cold can reduce the power of the scent.
Apply any perfume to your body after your body has dried completely after a bath or a shower. Our pores are most open after we have been exposed to heat, so the perfume will best be soaked up by our skin at this time.
Perfume should always be applied to the pulse points in order to have the maximum effect. Our pulse points are behind the knees, ears, toes, thighs, cleavage, temples, wrists, and eve between the ankles.

Originally posted at Healthbeautyspot

How Do I Curl My Hair?

There are a lot of different methods to choose from when it comes to curling your hair: hot curling irons, straightening irons, classic rollers, foam rollers, bobby pins, braids – or even wrapping your hair around your finger! No matter what the method is that you choose, there are some essential things that you need to know in order to give yourself that perfect curl that will last throughout the entire day.
Use Heat
Heat is absolutely essential when it comes to having those day-long curls that you have always wanted. Heat will help break down any hydrogen bonds that may be in your hair after it has been wetted down, which means that it will be more open to having its shape changed (i.e. from straight to curly).
If you choose not to use heat, then you will need to pre-plan your curls hours in advance, and even then you may still have a harder time having the curl last throughout the entire day.
Give it Time
Be patient and give your hair some time when you are trying to set the curls. The hydrogen bonds that were mentioned above form and shape to your hair as it dries and cools. Pulling your hair out of any sort of curling device prior to it being completely dry and cooled off means that you risk having little to no curl left in your hair.
Make sure that your hair is both 100% dry and 100% cooled off before you go ahead and take your hair out of any sort of heated curling device. It’s also a good idea to use some sort of product that will help hold the curl, such as hairspray.
Prevent Moisture Damage
It’s important to use products that will protect your hair from rain or humidity. Using any sort of light gel or a pomade product and scrunching it onto your curls is the best way to both support the curl in your hair, and to keep it 100% waterproof. Less wetness means a longer lasting curl, so definitely do choose to use products that will support you curl best.
Use Pin Curls on Damaged Hair
A lot of styling these tools insist on using heat over 400*F on our hair to help mold and force it into the shape that we want. One of the best and most effective ways to curl our hair is to use a pin curl. Pin curls have been around for well over 100 years, but have become unpopular as they will take a bit of time to do.
If you do want to try using a pin curl in your hair, or if your hair is so notably damaged that using a heated device will further damage it, start off by diving your hair up into 8 sections. Dampen your hair to the point where it is wet, but not dripping wet, and then apply gel to the first section of hair. Twist the curl tightly, bringing the end right up to the top of your head, and then place two bobby pins in the curl to hold it to your hair. Hairspray it and leave the pins in until your hair is dry (this should take approximately 20 minutes).