Beauty and make-up TIPS & TRICKS

We all struggle with beauty fails - bad skin, acne, dark circles, flakey make-up etc etc etc. But here are some tricks and trips to maintane that Aphrodite beauty of yours ;)

 Back Acne

Make sure hair conditioner isn't leaving an oily residue on your back - a little-known cause of many outbreaks. After rinsing out your conditioner in the shower, put your hair up in a clip and wash your back, shoulders, and upper arms. Also you can use an exfoliating body cloth with a gentle shower gel for this purpose.

Sallow Skin

The best antidote to a tired-out complexion is cream blush. 

To apply, first find the apples of your cheeks by smiling. Then, using a makeup sponge, apply a dab of the blush, blending the color upward toward your temples until the edges are diffused. This results in a natural-looking rosy glow.

Dry Skin  

Many women with the condition resort to thick, chemical-laden creams. But these formulas can irritate and sting.

 Instead try organic virgin coconut oil, an ingredient that prevents water loss and contains fatty acids that are native to human skin, so it goes so far as to help replace skin's lost natural oils.

 

Under-Eye Circles

Massage topical vitamin C into under-eye area. When used in an eye cream, this ingredient has been shown to assist with capillary repair, constricting blood vessels under the eyes to make dark circles appear less noticeable.

When applying it - or any eye cream - use circular motions to stimulate stagnant blood flow that can contribute to darkness. Over time, the area should appear lighter. 

 

 

Thin Lips

Add a bit of cinnamon to your lip balm. Cinnamon's essential oils increase blood flow and imitate the mucosa of the lips to temporarily plump and turn out the lips, which is why the ingredient is used in expensive lip plumpers.

 

Moisturizer That Wont Sink In

Applying flawless makeup is virtually impossible if your cream or moisturizing oil hasn't fully absorbed - but sometimes you just don't have time to wait. To speed up the process, lie on your bed and tilt your head all the way back while you massage the cream into your skin. This increases circulation, which in turn helps absorption.

 

Mask-Like Foundation

Nothing kills skin's natural glow like overdosing on foundation. 

To ensure you don't use more than you need, apply concealer before liquid or powder foundation and you'll find you won't need as much.

Dab on concealer wherever you want coverage, let it settle into skin for a few minutes, then sparingly add a bit of foundation if more is needed.

Flaky Make-up

To avoid flakes, you want to exfoliate often, but gently.

Just one use of a facial scrub can give you instantly smoother skin by removing dry, surface skin cells - but too much exfoliation can create irritation, inflammation, and dryness, negating the positive effects you saw in the first place. Use a mild facial scrub two to three times a week.

Too Much Blush

Going overboard on blush is easy to do - and the results can be aging, not to mention garish. But you don't have to start all over if you've applied too much. Press some loose powder into the cheek with a soft puff, this will dilute and soften the color without removing your foundation.

Sunburned Skin

First, head indoors right away, then, as long as you're not allergic, take two aspirin to reduce inflammation. Next, wrap the area with damp towels cooled in the fridge or cold compresses, which will prevent swelling and reduce blisters.

Dull Skin

To add warmth to skin use bronzer - but not just any formula. Use a multidimensional bronzing powder that has multiple shades in one compact. It will read as more natural than a one-dimensional shade. You can also start with a matte bronzer in key areas, and then use a slightly shimmered bronzer all over the face for extra luminosity.