Beauty Makeup Essentials

A life is nurtured in a tiny corner of your tummy… a body is being shaped inside the confined walls of your abdomen. You are asked to be cautious and a lot of do’s and don’ts are suggested to you. You take the advices from those who are experienced…you feel the kick, you feel the pangs and a feeling of joy perfectly blended with fear… you are now the creator!

Every woman’s pregnancy is a different experience. This is how it went for Christine, a new mum.

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We’re all well aware about the problems and symptoms of ‘that time of the month’. But yet, it’s just not easy to get through those days without feeling fat, ugly or just plain uncomfortable. Here’s a quick fix to help you cope with the dreaded PMS, the hassle free way.

1. Water Retention

If you find yourself asking your mate if you look fat, there’s actually a reason for that. And it’s definitely not your imagination. Studies have shown that you can gain weight anywhere between 1 kg to 4 kg before your periods! This happens due to water retention, but it can be overlooked with the assistance of good posture and a straight back. Walking tall and dressing well can actually make you feel and look a lot better during the days when you feel awfully ill-fitted in anything you wear.

2. Food and Bloat

If you feel like you’ve been bloating up, and don’t know what to do, switch to a fruit and veggies diet when you’re having a PMS attack. It can help in reducing your bloat. Especially useful are celery, onion, parsley and garlic, all of which have diuretic properties which can help in flushing liquids out of your system

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These tips are just the basic rules that have to be followed while picking up a good pair of sandals or shoes, but these days there are so many style factors and designs in every shoe, that there’s no easy way to describe which shoe will be the perfect one for your feet. So go ahead and try out a few shoes so you can see for yourself and decide what looks best for your feet.

When You Think You Have Big Feet

If you think you have big feet, the first thing you should know is that your feet probably don’t look as big to others as they do to you. If we were to talk about US sizes, and you wore a size 7, and you’ve always wished you had feet with a size 5, then take a ruler and look at the difference. It’s hardly two thirds of an inch. Now do you really think a man walking across the street is going to find that little difference and raise a hue and cry over it? I think not.

What To Do If Have Really Large Sized Feet?

If your feet are truly bigger than what is considered average, then you might have a problem finding footwear that fit you well. And you might also have a few problems finding your size in that beautiful pair you saw last week.

In these cases, you can go for custom shoe makers who are available in every city. You could even ask your favorite store to help you out, and they could point you to the best in the line. Most of the stores would also be willing to make the same pair you adore in your size if you could convince them. And along with that, there are also several online stores where you can find the perfect pair of shoes or sandals that you’ve been waiting for.

The problem most shoes and sandals is that, even if they do make your feet look shorter, they can make it look a wee bit wider. But there’s not much you can do about that. But here are a few tips that you could use to make your feet look smaller and a lot sexier!

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Now if your nails are somehow less than perfect for any reasons, here are a few quick tips to get them in great condition in almost no time.

HEALTHY HANDS

• Whether you like them loud or if ‘barely-there’ is more your style, your nails need to be in ‘tip’-top condition to look good. Just as your skin gets dull and blemished when neglected, your nails too need attention.
• Drink plenty of water and use a moisturizing lotion regularly so your nails don’t get dehydrated.
• Massage hand lotion into your nails, this stimulates blood flow, bringing the nutrients that help them grow.
• Vitamin A, zinc and calcium will keep nails strong and healthy.

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There’s a right way to apply mascara and there’s a wrong way to apply it. As easy as it may seem to just swipe a brush across your lashes, it can be tricky. Getting those perfect lashes need the perfect application. Here are a few tips that you can use to work your magic with those fluttering lashes.

1. Always apply your mascara from the base, not from the tip, not from the middle, but right from the base. If necessary, you can wipe away the excess mascara to prevent clogging.
2. Let your mascara work its magic for you, by rubbing the wand, first from side to side at the roots, and then rub them outwards so that your lashes fan out a lot more.
3. You may have heard that lash combs aren’t effective, and not very useful. But you definitely need a lash comb to complete the perfect pair of lashes. They can separate the mascara and spread your lashes , and prevent them from looking clumpy.
4. Take your time to apply mascara, and try applying them in layers. Allow the mascara to dry in between applications and reapply them at different parts.

Now that we’re done with a few basic tips about mascara, here are a few great products that you should definitely try out.

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If you still haven’t got the hang of stroking your palms against a smooth cheek each morning, you probably still have a lot to learn, old boy. Take a look at these shaving tips to get the smooth finish.

1. Avoid shaving first thing in the morning. Your face would still be puffy due to the fluids that collect in your face tissues over a night’s sleep, and the perfect shave would be hard to get.
2. Stubble should be wetted with warm or hot water before shaving. This swells the hair shaft allowing the blade to cut the hair, not your skin.
3. Use a sharp blade. A dull blade is responsible for many shaving cuts as it drags over your face and catches your skin along with the hair of your beard.
4. Thoroughly massage shave cream into stubble. A vitamin and Aloe Vera based shave cream will provide a close soothing shave and protect against razor rashes and burns.
5. Rinse the blade often in hot water when shaving and use slow short strokes. Take your time.
6. Shaving with grain means shaving in the direction of how the hair grows on your face. It is always best to shave this way. Shaving against the grain can cause redness, rashes, razor burn and ingrown hairs, which are all painful.
7. Use an exfoliate such as a facial cleanser or scrub to eradicate dead skin cells and open up the pores of the skin to prepare it for a close shave.
8. After shaving, apply an oil-free moisturizer to soothe and protect the face. If you prefer an after-shave, check the label for alcohol. Dryness and stinging sensations are by-products of most after-shave products whose primary ingredient is alcohol. It may feel good at the time, but alcohol based after-shaves are actually irritating to many complexions.

Ever wondered about how you could get those smoky eyes or those glorious lashes on the go? Read these eye pointers to transform your eyes from gump to red carpet attraction in no time.

Mascara Curling

Never apply mascara before using a curler on your eyelashes. You should apply all other eye makeup (liner, shadow, shimmer) first, but keep your lashes clean before you curl them.

Eyeliner Tip

Does your eyeliner make your eyes look smaller? Try using a lighter color (such as brown, taupe or navy) and apply a little at a time. Draw a thin line first and observe the results in the mirror before going back to apply more. If your eyes still appear smaller, try applying liner to the outer two-thirds of the eye only.

Dramatic Lashes

Curling your lashes can make your eyes look bigger and the whites brighter. If you weren’t blessed with long luxurious lashes you can always try applying false eyelashes to achieve a dramatic gorgeous eye. With little practice, you’ll be able to apply them in no time! Remember to carefully remove the lashes at the end of the day and cleanse thoroughly with a bit of shampoo (they’re reusable!).

Tired Looking Eyes

Another late night out? Rise and shine by applying white eye shadow to your inner eye and eyelids. The color will brighten your look, make eyes really pop, and erase and effects from the night before.

Runway Brows

To achieve the latest runway look of well-groomed and defined brows, we recommend you see an esthetician to professionally shape and style your brows. You can then maintain the look at home with tweezing and trimming. If your brows are particularly unruly, a little hair gel (or even clear lip gloss in a pinch) can help smooth them into submission.

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Afraid of stepping out into showers and having your make-up streaked all over your face? If you take care to apply the correct products in the right manner, you can get soaked and still retain a pretty face. Avoid using foundation during the monsoons. Stick to face powder instead - that too, only sufficient to keep the grease off your face. To keep your peepers looking beautiful, use a basic water-resistant eyeliner teamed with transparent mascara that will not streak your face in a downpour. This will give volume and shape to your eyelashes. For your lips, use the long-lasting or non-transfer variety of lip-sticks while avoiding creamy ones. Lighter shades are a smarter choice, as they will not show much in case of a bleed. In addition, avoid using hair sprays or gels during the monsoon and make sure you dry your hair quickly after it gets wet.

Before you slather some new products on your face, take the pains to identify your skin type and then invest five minutes of your day for appreciate care. Follow this simple guide to identify the category your skin falls into and the suitable skincare items that go with it.

Oily Skin: Often marked by large pores around the chin and nose and greasy looking even after just being washed, oily skin is more prone to spots than any other skin type. Use astingent or rose water to wipe off excess oil and a water-based moisturiser to keep it supple.

Combination Skin: Look out for dry cheeks and an oily T-zone i.e. oily skin on the forehead, nose and chin, which might also have large pores. Combination skin calls for a mild cleanser that will do away with the excess oil without affecting the drier part of the face. Create a balance by using an astringent on the oily part and a moisturiser on the dry part of the face.

Sensitive Skin: Sensitive skin often feels itchy at the end of the day and tends to break into a rash easily. People with such skin should avoid using products with fragrant ingredients and must apply only products which are specifically formulated for sensitive skin.

Dry Skin: One will hardly see any spots on dry skin. Such skin feels tight and looks dull and flaky, with hardly any shine. Use a mild cleanser and a rich night cream when caring for dry skin.