How to Clean Your Skin and Remove Makeup with Natural Oils

I think we have all heard the myths that you need to remove oil from your face in order to have clean, radiant, youthful looking skin. I, myself, have always thought that using a strong facial cleanser and toner would make my skin breakout free and easy to maintain. However, it seemed like finding the right face wash is a lot harder than it seems, especially when you want to try everything new that hits the market.

After using everything the beauty counter offered and having nothing work the way the label read, I decided to go a more natural route using oils to cleanse and moisturize my face.

It seems pretty silly doesn't it? I never thought I would be rubbing my entire face and neck with a combination of several natural oils and having it actually work better than any over the counter cleanser has before. To say that I was skeptical seems an understatement, but after finding out that using natural oil is actually pretty beneficial and can remove dirt and makeup more easily than commercial soaps, I thought I would give it a try. Plus, a lot of the facial cleansers I have had artificial ingredients in them that I wasn't so sure was good to be putting on my face in the first place.

There are many variations, but the one I used and that worked well for my combination skin was pretty simple and inexpensive. I think it's a great jumping off point. As you continue using this method, you can easily add more oils to suit your needs, but here is the simplest way to get started.

First you need good cleansing oil. My choice was castor oil. You can find this in any drugstore.

Second is to find a good moisturizing oil. I decided to use "sweet oil". Again, you can find this at any health or drug store. Another good oil is olive oil or grape seed oil. Jojoba oil is also very nice and is the closest to your skins natural oil, but I also found this to be the most expensive and harder to find.

There are many different brands of oils, so it's really up to you to decide which ones and how much to spend. I recommend getting something that isn't too expensive, but also not skimping and buying the cheapest ones. I paid about $4 for each oil.

The process is pretty easy. You need to only apply a few drops of each oil in your hand and then apply to your face and rub in. There is no need to take off your makeup. The oils do a fantastic job of removing even the most stubborn of eye makeup, including most mascara. Let it sit in for a few moments and then rub off with a warm washcloth. This step takes a little patience and time, as you will need to re-moisten the cloth and let the warm water melt off the remaining oil several times to ensure you remove your cleansing oil mixture.

I thought for sure that I was going to feel like an oil slick after using this, but I didn't. I did break out with some bumps after using this, but be aware that this is your skin purging away all the trapped dirt and unless it becomes irritating and you suspect a negative reaction, this should only last a few days.

If you feel the need for a separate moisturizer, you can simply add a drop or two of your moisturizing oil to a clean cotton ball or pad and rub it over your face for added softness and moisture.

Voila: a simple, natural cleanser that is easy on the pocket book as well as your skin.

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Remove Eye Makeup and Keep Your Lashes

Eyelashes are meant to flutter, not fall out but when you take your makeup off every day, you could lose a few. As we get older, we naturally shed lashes and daily tugging on these fine hairs can make matters worse. Are you tired of seeing eyelashes on your cotton ball or tissue whenever you remove your makeup? You can remove eye makeup and keep your lashes in just a few simple steps. It all starts with the right products and techniques.

How to Remove Makeup Safely

1. Purchase an oil-free, gentle eye makeup remover. You'll also need cotton pads, not the cotton balls. Take off your eye makeup before cleansing the rest of your face. Some people use disposable eye makeup wipes but some of these can be rough on your eyes. 
2. Squirt eye makeup remover onto the cotton pad. Press the pad onto your closed eye. Leave it in place for ten to fifteen seconds, give the product enough time to break down your mascara.
3. Swipe away the makeup brushing the pad from the inside to the outside of the eye. Repeat the process for both sides of the eye. Follow up the makeup removal with a face wash using a cleanser that is safe for your eyes.

Tips for Safe Eye Makeup Removal-Without Losing Lashes

• Steer clear of waterproof mascara. If lash loss is a concern for you, you don't need to use this kind of eye makeup. As a matter of fact, conditioning mascara would be perfect.
• Curl your lashes before you apply mascara. Don't curl them after you have applied makeup or right after you remove it.
• Care for your eye skin with moisturizing eye creams.
• See your doctor about help for sparse lashes.

If you want to preserve your lashes, you have to take your time removing old makeup. Do replace your mascara monthly or every two months to prevent excessive drying on your lashes. With some care, you can reverse the appearance of sparse lashes. 

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Tips on Conquering the Latest Manicure Craze: Nail Stickers

Do you want to dress up your fingernails for a special holiday or event? Maybe you just want to show your support for your favorite football, baseball, or football team. One way you can do all of this and show your unique creativity is through nail stickers. Yet, they aren't always easy to apply. To master this new art form, try these tips:

Step One

Begin with by prepping your nails. They must be clean and they must be dry. This is the only way that the stickers will stick properly.

Step Two

You must decide on how you want to arrange these stickers onto your nails. Do you want to apply them onto every nail? Do you want to apply them onto every other nail or do you just want to apply a sticker onto one nail of each hand? The choice is yours. There is no right or wrong way in which you have to apply these stickers.

Step Three 

Pick the sticker or stickers that will fit the corresponding fingernail or fingernails. The sticker should be larger than your nail. Cut away the excess from the sides with nail scissors. The top of the sticker should be rounded to match your own nail.

Step Four

Apply a base coat to your fingernail. This base coat will act will adhesive for the sticker.

Step Five 

Warm the sticker or stickers. This is done by rubbing each sticker gently between your fingers. This will also help make the stickers more flexible, which will make them easier to handle.

Step Six 

Begin applying the sticker/stickers to the nail before the base coat completely dries. You should begin applying the sticker at the base of the fingernail and stretch it over the entire nail. Seal the sticker down in the middle with your finger. If any wrinkles begin to form, flatten them out immediately with an orange stick. You should do the same with any bubbles that may form.

Step Seven 

If the sticker is longer than your fingernail, you will need to remove this excess. This can be done with a nail file. Simply saw the file from side to side. This will tear away any of the excess length away from the sticker.

Step Eight 

You can add a top clear coat over the fingernail, if you wish. It will help lock the sticker to the nail, which will help keep it from peeling as quick. Plus, it will help make the sticker shine more.

Nail stickers can be purchased at most department stores, drug stores, and beauty stores. They can also be found in the sports departments in the logo of many sporting teams.

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Ways You're Sabotating Your Skin

Unfortunately, there are common bad skin habits males and females adopt that dry out their epidermis or infuse this outer layer of cells with more oil. As a consequence, the person increases his or her chance of acne and discoloration. Discover what they are and steer away from these behaviors. Get the skin you deserve.

Ways you're sabotaging your skin:

• Excessive exfoliation. The idea of removing dead cells sounds good. Right? Unfortunately, if you exfoliate too much (more than once a week), you strip your skin of precious oils. The result - you develop dry, flaky red skin prone to oiliness. Your skin is raw and as a result more apt to burn from the sun.

• Doing a 'bare-bones' diet. Bare-bones diets exclude a food group or require you starve yourself. By following them, you deplete your body of nutrients, the ones necessary to support supple, glowing skin. This truth is why you some weight conscious people with stick thin bodies sport pock-marked, bumpy faces.

• Obsessive compulsions. How many times a day do your touch your face? When you get a pimple, do you 'pop' or 'pick' at it? These obsessive compulsions add more dirt/germs to your skin (touching) and causes scarring (pop/pick). Find something else to do with your hands that's productive and doesn't involve your face.

• Not properly removing makeup. As the day goes on, most makeup deteriorates through absorption or wear and tear. If you don't remove your makeup properly, the residue layers your skin with more oil. This promotes breakouts. For this reason, you should always properly remove your makeup before going to bed at night or after twenty-four hours of continuous use. 

• Skimping on sleep. You've probably already know the pitfalls of not getting enough sleep. Yet, you still only get around 5 to 6 hours of sleep a night. Unfortunately, this is the quickest path towards dull, drab skin. Your body needs sleep to rejuvenate itself and there are no shortcuts. You have to plan for 8 hours of sleep, daily, in order to put your best face forward.

In conclusion, these above ways you're sabotaging your skin can be reversed. This year, set a goal to start new habits that improve your skin. Let bad skin habits that do the opposite go.

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Eye Brightening Tricks

Makeup can brighten your eyes beautifully--if you know how to use the products. With a few tools like white eyeliner and an angled eyeshadow brush, you can add illumination to dark areas of your eyes for instant brightening. It's important to go light on the illumination though. If you get too heavy handed with the products you could end up looking like "real life" Barbie. Apply these eye brightening tricks by your skin tone then apply more tips for a gorgeous, wide-eyed look.

Brighten By Skin Tones

Light or Fair Tones: Even if you have fair skin, eye brightening tricks can give you that youthful glow. After you complete your eye makeup application, roll white eyeliner pencil on the water line of your eye. Then use blue, green or purple eyeliner on the lash line of the lower lashes. A single line of black eyeliner on the top lashes will really make this look stand out.

Medium Tones: Sweep iridescent eyeshadow into the inner corners of your eyes using a soft-bristled eye makeup brush or a cotton swab. Apply black eyeliner to the water line and the top lashes.

Dark Tones: Brush on shimmering eyeshadow from the lash to the brow. Metallics like copper and shadows with gold tint really brighten the eyes. Touch the inner corners of the eye with a sand or taupe colored eyeshadow. Use a slanted, angled brush for precise eyeshadow distribution.

Eye Brightening Tricks That Work

• Apply foundation--then use concealer.
• Dab on a creamy blush below the cheekbones.
• Sweep darker shades on the outer corners of the eyes.
• Apply a moisturizing eye cream to your eyes daily.
• Remove redness with eye drops.
• Wear your lashes longer and curl them.

Ditch those under eye circles and bags! Get wider, brighter eyes with these makeup tricks. 

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five easy tips to prevent nails from breaking

Do you yearn for those long, healthy and strong nails? Don’t worry, as we bring to you some of the best methods how to prevent nail breakage and brittle nails.

- Massage your nails with a moisturising lotion to stimulate proper blood flow into them so that they can grow longer and stronger.

- Drink a lot of water to keep your skin overall hydrated and this will also help in preventing dry and damaged nails. 

- Include multivitamins and calcium supplements in your diet daily as it works wonders.

- Make a habit of soaking your nails in olive oil, say for 10-15 minutes a day for a month and notice the difference yourself.

- Don’t bite your nails as it will make your nails weak and eventually lead to breakage.

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Black Hair Care Tips for Braid Styles

Black hair care tips for braid styles:

• Be picky about synthetic hair. Cheap synthetic hair tends to irritate skin. It also dulls quickly. Neither scenarios are conducive to the length of time (at least 30 days) most blacks wear cornrows, micro braids or single braids. So, pay the extra dollars for quality synthetic hair. 

• Request semi-tight braids. Alopecia traction occurs due to excessive pulling of hair, the type linked to braid styles. Avoid falling prey to this condition. Tell your stylist in advance to give you 'semi-tight' cornrows or braids. Your head won't hurt after the braid session and you won't battle against receding edges. 

• Develop a dry wash routine. Cornrows, micro braids and single braids loosen or unravel if drenched with water. For this reason, it's important to clean them using a dry wash method. Here's what I did - dab at least three cotton balls with Witch Hazel; run the cotton balls through your scalp; and, lightly wipe braids with a wash rag dampened with Witch Hazel. This process grabs excess oil and grime.

• Condition your hair daily. Because of its natural curl, black hair tends to be dry. This dryness is compounded by hot or cold weather. Tackle dryness while wearing cornrows, micro braids and single braids through daily hydration. Spray oil onto your hair or dab oil in with a creme condition. 

• Wrap your hair at night. Before going to bed, wrap your head/braids with a silk scarf. This keeps your hair in place and any strays lying flat. Also, you avoid losing any additional oils that give your braids a shiny appearance. 

• Wear braids 1 to 3 months. This period is the length of time most cornrows, micro braids or single braids hold up before needing to be retouched or re-braided again. After 3 months, braid styles start to look ratty, unattractive. 

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