My Top 10 Essential Brushes Every Chic Should Own

Hi Beauties,

I know my post is long overdue, am glad I finally did this. You Guys have requested I do a post on makeup brushes and its uses. Here is the list of top 10 makeup brushes every girl should own. Let’s get started with the eye brushes!

EYE BRUSHES

Eye Shader Brush

 This brush is used for packing colour on the lid. You can also use the tip of the brush to smudge colour under the lash line, or to create a defined line in the crease.

CONCEALER

Concealer can brighten a tired face, and can dramatically change your appearance  if used correctly.  It can cover up blemishes and it can totally conceal under-eye circles. In fact, many makeup artist  use concealer  primarily and skip foundation completely.

I discorvered that some of my friends are afraid of concealers because they don't know how to find the right shade or apply it properly. It could be difficult, but once you know the basics and try the application process below, you'll find concealer may be your best beauty purchase to date.

Pick the Right Concealer

There are so many types of concealers in the market, choosing one may be difficult. Keep in mind concealer is not a beauty product to scrimp on 

A basic rule of thumb is to choose a concealer that's yellow-based and a shade or 2 lighter than your skin tone. Don't go too light or you could end up with the dreaded look.

Should You Apply Concealer Before or After Foundation?

This depends on where you're using the concealer. For under-eye circles, apply concealer first, then foundation. For blemishes and pimple coverage, apply foundation first or the concealer will be rubbed away in the foundation application.

How to Apply Concealer

Concealer looks most natural when you work in "sheer layers and build it up gradually.

To properly apply concealer, follow these directions:

1. Apply several dots of concealer under the eyes close to the lashes. Apply a dot to the inside corners of the eyes. You can use your finger or, for best results, try a small-headed brush with firm bristles.
2. Using the pad of your middle finger, tap in the concealer (always tap, never rub). Make sure to blend well. You can also use your index finger. There's no real rule to it, but I find the middle finger tends to be more gentle.
3. Apply concealer on other uneven spots on the face -- including the chin, and around the nose and mouth if need be -- and tap in.
4. Apply another layer if you need more coverage.
5. Dust powder over your face to set your concealer.

How to Disguise Dark Under-eye Circles

It's best not to use your basic concealer to try to disguise dark under-eye circles. Instead, choose an "under-eye concealer" specially formulated to cover up dark spots. These work by brightening the dark areas under the eyes and are not to be used to camouflage redness or blemishes.

How to Cover Up a Pimple

Use a stiff brush with a pointy, fine tip to dab on a concealer that matches your skin tone. It's important to apply only to the red areas, not necessarily to the raised area. Let the concealer dry. Apply a second layer. Set the concealer with a dusting of translucent powder. If you find you overdid the concealer, use a tissue to gently buff the concealer away. If that doesn't work, gently apply makeup remover to the pimple. Then re-cover the pimple with concealer.

How to Disguise Pockmarks and Deep Scars

You can disguise a concave pockmark or scar by using an angled brush dipped in a concealer that's a shade lighter than your skin tone. Fill in the center of the pockmark without going over the edges and then dust skin with translucent powder. If the scar is raised, use a concealer that matches your skin tone and pat the scar with the concealer, setting the concealer with powder.

Enjoy…..

Beauty Tips For Brides To Be

Every bride wants to look their best, but when the wedding count down speeds up, it can be hard not to panic.
You've stressed over the seating plan, argued over the guest list and nearly had a break down over the budget - and now you're supposed to look gorgeous? Hmmmmmm. You may have dark spots,prickly legs,frazzled hair and nerves shot to pieces,but their is a way to transform yourself from washed out weddings. All of these can only happen in just a matter of weeks. If you've only got one month to go ,don't fret ,these bridal beauty tips will have you looking your best on your big day.

Skin Care

For a radiant and glowing skin on the D-day, begin your skin care regimen about six months before the wedding. Visit a dermatologist and get your skin type analysed. According to the result of skin analysis, choose your skin treatment and make up plan. Clean your face with an appropriate skin cleanser every day. To remove makeup, make sure you always use a makeup remover. After bath, use a body moisturizer to smoothen your skin. To tone and exfoliate your back and shoulders, go for back facial. The bride-to-be can enhance her complexion and get a beautiful and glowing face by having steam facial treatment at least once a month .  

You can also take care of your skin at home. Home remedies are 100% natural and you do not need to empty your pocket to get that simmering face. You can read my previous post on  “how to make homemade facial and skin treatment”. Wink**   Fruits are also very important eat a lot of fruits it will help..

Lip Care

Nobody would call a glowing face with chapped lips beautiful. Bride-to-be should stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids as dehydration causes loss of moisture and makes the lips dry. For soft and pouty lips, use a healing ointment on your dry lips. When choosing a lipstick, restrain from wearing dark shimmering colours.  Apply something which goes with your overall make up, skin colour and suits your wedding attire.

Hair Care

Do not rush for hair care one week before the wedding. Start grooming your hair 15 days before the D-day.  To get naturally shinning hair, drink plenty of water and increase the consumption of vitamin rich food. Go for bridal hair spa treatment that provides aroma therapy, hot oil massage, steaming of hair and other hair treatments. Hair spa will help you to rejuvenate dull and lifeless hair. If you are planning to get your hair coloured, watch out for the kind of products the stylist has in the kitty.

Foot and Hand Care

For adding an edge to your beauty, it is essential to clean your toenails and fingernails. Well-shaped and healthy looking nails will enhance your beauty.  Special care needs to be given to your feet if you wish to wear open toed footwear. Before going to bed, soak your feet in warm water for 10 days and use a scrubber to clean the heels. Get a pedicure and manicure treatment done just one week before the wedding. You can also use hand and foot care products at home. Choose any light coloured nail polish that goes with your wedding attire.

Have Fun…

EYEBROWS

Most women, were born with sparse brows or simply went too far with the tweezers and blades, there is a fix to filling in your eyebrows. All it takes is a pencil, powder, and an angled brush or a clean mascara brush or wand.

Pick a Pencil and Powder Shade

Pencils and powders tend to stick to skin, not to hair, so if you don't have a lot of hair you'll want to shade in the skin where hair should grow.

Select a soft pencil (hard pencils tend to be too waxy) which is a shade lighter than your brows and a powder which matches the color of brows. If brows are super fair, choose a pencil that's a shade darker than brows.

Prep the Brows

First, comb out brows with a clean mascara wand. Examine brows for any sparse spots.

Fill in With Pencil

Use the pencil to fill in the sparse spots with short, feathery strokes. Apply in the direction of hair growth. The key here is not really to create a definite line, but to create the appearance of hair. Be careful how you  pencil the entire brow, so it doesn't  result in an unnatural look or an art work.

Your pencil should be super soft so it goes on with little exertion. But if you have a pencil that's too hard, warm the tip up by rubbing it between your fingers.

Follow With Eyeshadow or Brow Powder

Dip an angled brush or a clean mascara wand in eyeshadow. Brush the powder along the brows. It should stick to the pencil, while also acting to blend in the color perfectly. For more staying powder, dampen the brush slightly before dipping it into color.

Two Colors Instead of One?

You can try two colors when filling in brows: A light powder where brows are thickest and a darker shade for the tail ends.

Overplucked?

If you've overplucked (with tweezers), it will take a few months to a couple of years for hair to grow back.

Condition Brows

Conditioning your brows with e.g castor oil is a great way to keep brows healthy and looking great, (that’s if necessary)

The Shape of Brows

Fuller brows are preferable to skinny ones. Have eyebrows shaped by a pro every four weeks. Use a good tweezer or a new blade, to clean up the hairline in between visits.

How To Grow Your Brows

As a Makeup Artist I have discovered that "Eyebrows" are important as they influence the way we look. But due to hormonal imbalance, lack of nutrients and over-plucking among other reasons, it may take six to eight months to get your eyebrows normal growth back.
  
Here are some Tips to help you grow your Brows:  

        Castor or Olive oil:  They have a very unusual chemical composition which is found in lesser       concentrations in other seeds and oils. Gently massage the oil for 2-3 minutes on each eyebrow and leave it for some time. Wash them after 30 minutes with lukewarm water and a gentle facial cleanser. Repeat the process only once a day for consecutive days and stop urgently if any irritation occurs.

   Aloe-vera: If you have thinning eyebrow hair due to overplucking then you should definitely try the sap from aloe vera leaves on them. Crush aloe vera leaves and gently massage the juice over your eyebrows and let it seep in. The modulation effect of aloe vera helps in skin healing and increasing growth furthermore.

     

  Onions: The sulphur in onion juice can help in faster and denser regrowth of eyebrow hair. Grind an onion and rub the juice below eyebrow skin with help of cotton balls. Make sure you do not wash your eyebrows so that you derive its full benefit.

                 

                          Milky way: Milk  products are rich in protein and vitamins. Dip a cotton ball in milk and rub it over the eyebrow area at night. Inherited natural properties of milk provide nourishment to the hair roots and makes them grow faster.

     Please kindly send your feed backs on annavor.touch@gmail.com or fabi_idah@yahoo.com

     Have Fun!!!

                  

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HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE FACIAL AND SKIN TREATMENTS

*Amazing secret anti aging skin care recipes for younger looking skin


Making a facial mask or scrub at home is quite easy and inexpensive. Your kitchen cabinets may have all the ingredients for natural homemade treatments.
Before starting or using any facial treatment, the first thing to do is to steam your face. This opens your pours and acts as a natural cleanser and it’s like having a sauna treatment.
Have this done once a day to lock in facial moisture, keeping your face fresh and healthy
 Make a towel tent over your head         


How to Have Homemade Facial Sauna
• Boil some water. You can add lemon and or mint leaves to the water.
• Pour the water into a large bowl –large enough to cover your face.
• Place your face directly over the steam coming from the bowl.
• Place a towel over your head covering the entire area and making sure no steam gets out.
• Steam your face for five minutes. When done, pat dry your face and apply the treatment you have decided to use. Your face will absorb the necessary treatment quickly and faster.
• Warning: Try not to splash your face with the boiled water.
As one gets older ones face tends to lose its lift and having a face lift can be very expensive and there are always risks and dangers involved. You can make your own natural face lift recipe that can give you immediate results you never imagined.
Here are some homemade natural Skin and Facials you might want to try out
Oatmeal, milk and honey some ingredients for facial and skin treatments

Honey Mask Recipe
• The best facial mask is honey. If you cannot steam your face then, place a cloth in warm water and apply to your face to open the pores.
• Apply the honey on the entire face, and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close the pores.
• Use once a week.

Banana Mask for Wrinkles
• Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy
• Apply on face and leave for 15-20 minutes or more if you are comfortable with it on.
• Rinse with warm water, and then use cold water to close the pores.


Facial Mask• Squeeze half a lemon and mix with one beaten egg white.
• Apply on your face and leave overnight.
• Wash your face with warm water.


Grape Cleanser
• Split 2-3 grapes and
• Rub the flesh over face and neck.
• Rinse with cool water.


Cucumber Face Pack to get Smooth Skin
• Mash 1 whole cucumber, strain the water from it.
• Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and mix well.
• Put in a container; refrigerate and use whenever you want.
• Apply on your face and leave for 10-15 minutes,
• Wash with cold water and feel the smoothness of your skin.
• You can try it on other parts of body as a scrub.


Oatmeal Facial Mask
• Take 2 tsp oatmeal and 1 tsp baking soda. Add water to make paste.
• Apply to face and all over the skin and rub gently.
• Leave on for about 5-10minutes and wash up
Warning: Leave on less time for delicate skin, and make sure there are no ingrown hairs first before applying!


Daily face care tips:
1. Wash face thoroughly in the morning and before bed. Never wear make-up overnight.
2. Wet face with hot water to open pores; use your favorite facial cleanser. Be gentle with your skin, let the cleanser work.
3. Don't rough up your facial skin and don't forget your neck. Rinse with warm water, gradually to tepid, and then a final rinse with cold water to close pores.
4. Use a toner, astringent, if you want, but always moisturise.


Get your friends and you to try any of these and send me feedback.
Your skin will thank you throughout your life if you treat it well every day. You don't need to spend so much money to have great skin. Have fun!

Mascara

As you remove the wand away from your eye lashes, the transformation appears instantly.

Suddenly your lashes look thicker, longer, and darker.

But, this change is not brought on by magic.

Mascara — the cosmetic used to darken and define eye lashes — has been around for thousands of years. It can be traced back to at least 3400—30 BC, when the Egyptians wore kohl, made of ingredients such as soot, copper, lead and burnt almonds, in a circle shape around their eyes.

However, times have changed since Ancient Egyptians used this form of mascara. The mascara formula we are familiar with today came in to existence in 1913 by chemist T.L Williams. He mixed Vaseline petroleum jelly with coal dust to create a lash darkener. The tube mascara and wand applicator that is most commonly used now wasn't invented until the late 1950's.

Applying mascara has become a part of some people's everyday routines. With the aid of mascara, eye lashes can change to brown, black, to even deep emerald green! So, what exactly is in that tube that changes and plumps up lashes so dramatically?

What's in the Tube?
The composition of mascara consists of an emulsion of oils, waxes and water. Mixed in the water are  protein component,  vegetable wax component, and vitamin component. These ingredients could vary depending on what brand you buy.

• FACT 1: To make mascara waterproof, balance the oil and water-soluble ingredients. This gives it a resistance to water, but doesn't make it too difficult to wash off later.

Ever wonder how mascaras can give you that longer, fuller lash look? This is because they contain nylon fibers that cling to lashes like mini extensions.

How Mascara is Made
In the production of mascara, the waxes and emulsifiers are mixed together in one vessel and the water soluble ingredients are mixed in a different vessel. Once the
waxes melt, the pigments — the chemicals that provide colour — are added.

•  FACT 2: Carbon and iron oxides provide black, brown and red colours, while chemicals ultramarine blue provides blue and green shades. Only natural colours and inorganic pigments are used in mascara.

When both the portions are sufficiently heated and mixed, they are combined together to form the final product.  A homogenizer device is used to disperse the pigments in a uniform consistency.

When completely mixed, it's time for the product to be transferred to a filling machine where a set amount is pumped into each bottle. The wand or brush is then inserted into the bottle and a machine caps it shut.

The Science of the Application
There's also a science involved in putting on the perfect amount of mascara. A metering ring is built near the opening of the tube with the purpose to scrape off the excess mascara so the brush has a controlled dosage. This makes it so just the right quantity gets to each tiny hair fiber so you achieve your desired effect every time!

Question: When Should I Throw Out Mascara?

Answer: Mascara is one makeup product in your bag that you want to keep tabs on. It's a breeding ground for bacteria. Most mascaras with a tube & a wand have an antibacterial agent in them that last about 6 weeks making you safe for at least a couple months & likely safe up to 4. You risk eye infection the longer you keep the product. If you notice the smell changes or the texture changes, throw it out. It's not worth it.