Thursday, 18 December 2014

Can Onions Be A Beauty Product

Like them or not, raw onions are beneficial to health, as they contain flavanoids and polyphenols--one of the largest categories of phytonutrients in food. Do you know that we need to consume one big raw onion per day, in order to keep some types of cancer at bay; that would include colorectal, laryngeal and ovarian cancer? In addition, the sulphur compounds in them provide protection for the heart and blood vessels from a fatal heart attack!

From dull hair to age spots and scaly skin, can onions be a Beauty Product? Far from being surprised, I would not hesitate to consider the humble onion... is making its way as one. Why? It is for this reason that it has a lot more of its goodness to offer, than flavouring your soup or curry! Being naturally acidic, you can use them to your advantage in making yourself more attractive... if you were interested and willing to learn how.

Here are some Tips to show you how:-

    For hair that shines - Use them in hair masks as the acidity will close the hair follicles, making your hair look shiny.

    Use them as a hair conditioner - Grind a big onion and use it with equal portion of coconut or olive oil to make a hair rinse. Then leave it on for two hours before washing it off with a shampoo. It will make a glossy conditioner for your crowning glory.

    Counteract hair thinning by using onion & honey - Mix a big raw one grated, with two tablespoon of honey and rub it on your scalp. Leave the mixture overnight, wrapping your head with a towel. Do it twice a week. Ugh! It sounds ridiculous, right? What with the odour and the discomfort that can put you off? But it can help if you were to do it for a few hours in the day, even though you can't do it overnight.

    Taking the sting out of bites - Surprisingly, it does just that! You have to cut a raw big onion into halves. Then rub one half of it on the affected part of the skin with an insect bite. It contains a compound known as quercetin, that inhibits the enzymes which are involved in allergy--thus reducing the effects of insect bites and nettle stings.

    Reduces pigmentation and dark spots - Peels that contain an onion extract will increase cell turnover. Just mix equal of its juice with fresh yoghurt, then massage on to your face and hands for fifteen minutes. Do it on a daily basis to see results appear. It may take some time, but be patient.

    Reduces skin scarring - It can help in healing scars of surgery, so will it help with skin care? Try making a mask with two tablespoon of flour, one and a half tablespoon of onion juice, a teaspoon of milk and a pinch of nutmeg if available. Make them into a paste and apply on the skin for twenty minutes. Remove by dabbing with some milk.

    Remove rough patches on your elbows with an infusion of its peels - Drop an ample amount of the onion peels into a mug of hot water, but not boiling water! Next, dip your elbow in the mug and slosh it around for a few minutes. Repeat this with the other elbow, alternating. For any good effect, you must do it daily.

Now, who says that onion cannot be used as a Beauty Product? Test it, try it and see, if it works for you! As for me, I am in the process of doing it myself and am anxiously waiting to see the results. Check it out, will you?





Skin Care Tips for a Fair Complexion - How To Look After Delicate Skin

If you have very fair skin then you'll know that it is a mixed blessing. While it is undeniably very attractive it is also extremely delicate and therefore needs to be looked after with a great deal of care. Fair skin burns very easily and it also shows the effects of lack of sleep or proper nutrition. The following tips will enable you to take very good care of your skin so that it looks absolutely gorgeous at all times:

- Slather on high quality sunscreen at all times, even if it not very sunny outdoors. In fact, you should also wear a light sunscreen when you are indoors. Apply it at least 20 minutes before you leave your home and be sure to touch it up every few hours or so. Your delicate skin needs protection from the harsh UV rays of the sun which can cause burning.

- If the day is very sunny then you might need additional protection in the form of a hat or a scarf that covers your face.

- Try to use natural products on your skin as far as possible because products with harsh ingredients can cause skin redness and breakouts. For instance, products that contain salicylic acid should ideally be avoided.

- Abrasive products such as facial scrubs should not be used on facial skin on account of the tears they cause to the skin. Use a gentle cleanser instead. Dab your skin dry with a soft towel or tissue afterwards and never make the mistake of rubbing too hard on it.

- Avoid self-medicating any problems of your skin. It is best to ask your dermatologist for medicines to deal with skin problems or else you might have to deal with a severe flare up or scarring.

- Always remove your makeup before you sleep so as to avoid having it caked on your skin. Use a gently cleanser or else you will ruin your skin.

- While a tan will lessen some of the paleness of your skin and make you look very attractive, it is best to avoid a exposing yourself to direct sunlight. Instead, you should use a tanning salon, but sparingly.

- Pamper your skin with a facial treatment occasionally. You could also use home-made face masks to nourish your skin.

It is really very easy to take care of your skin as long as you know what to do. Your beautiful skin can be your most attractive feature if you pamper and protect it well.

Best Short Hairstyles For Women With Round Faces

Although, many women with round faces avoid short hairstyles in order to avoid emphasizing the roundness of their faces, you can have a stunning look when you have the right haircut. To guide you here are some of the best short hairstyles for women:

Cotton candy

It's short on the sides but the top left side is long. To give you an edgy look, the hairstyle comes with a beautiful color and wavy texture. To have this style you need to start by applying a styling product in order to wet your hair.

You should then blow dry the sides of the hair using a styling brush and then add texture to the hair using a styling product. You should then set the style using a hairspray.

While this style is ideal for people with round faces, its looks exquisite on women with hair that is of medium texture and density.

Untucked

You need to avoid tucking your hair behind your ear. This results to having plenty of hair that covers parts of your face thus making your face appear narrower.

You should start by applying a styling product to your wet hair and then blow dry it using a large round brush. You should then use a flat iron and smooth the mid shaft to the ends. To add shine you should apply a serum.

Extreme asymmetric bob

This style is characterized by one side that is a lot shorter than the other. The length of one side causes the eye to look up and down thus giving your face an illusion of length.

You should start by applying a styling product to your wet hair and then blow dry it using a large round brush. You should then smooth the middle to the ends of the hair then apply a serum in order to add shine.

Graduated bob

This is shorter in the back and longer in front. Due to this design, the hair pushes towards your face thus making your round face appear narrower. The style also causes hair to push upward giving it volume.

You should start by applying a styling product to your wet hair and blow-dry it using a large round brush. You should then smooth the middle to the ends of the hair. To add texture you should apply a lightweight product.

Conclusion

These are some of the best short hairstyles for women with round faces. For ideal results you should ensure that the hair is done by a professional.


How to Get Beautiful Lips

The lips form the basic and one of the most important features of the face. The ultimate appeal of the face comes from the lips. Lips need proper care and attention, otherwise they may become dull and dark.

Here are some ways to get the beautiful lips:

Exfoliate:

Most people don't know the reason behind the lips looking dull. It is because of the accumulation of so many dead cells. Simply exfoliate on the surface of the lips weekly, or two to three times in a week. This will enhance the blood flow and help in attaining the natural color of the lips. We can use any kind of oil for this purpose. Now gently massage the lips.

Applying oil on the naval (belly button):

This is the age old and by far the most effective technique. Apply a few drops of oil on the naval and gently massage it before going to sleep. If this step is followed regularly, the effect is seen on the lips very early.

Moisturizing the lips:

Dry lips look very shabby. It is very important to keep the lips hydrated and moisturized. While going out in the sun, we apply some lip cream on it, to prevent it from the scorching heat of the sun.
Use of pomegranate seeds:

Simply crush the seed of the pomegranate and mix it with milk cream. Apply it on the lips on a regular basis. This is by far one of the best homemade remedies available to us. Results will come gradually, if we follow the procedure regularly.

Staying hydrated:

Our body comprises almost 60% of water. In order to have the beautiful pink lips, it is very much important to keep them hydrated. It is always advisable to increase the water intake and include a lot of juices in the diet.

Avoid licking your lips:

Most people have a natural tendency of licking the lips when they feel that their lips are getting dried or chapped. But it is advisable and a better decision to hold the lips back into the mouth because not doing this will only worsen the condition.

Quit smoking:

Smoking is one of the biggest reasons for dark and dull lips. Smoking adversely affects our lips and leave it in a very poor condition.

Use of orange peels:

Orange peels provide a very effective way in the treatment of dark and dull lips. Simply rub the orange peels on the lips for a few minutes. Orange peels consist of juice, which is very good for our lips and help in maintaining the color and beauty of the lips.

Use of carrot juice:

Carrots are a very rich source of vitamins. Their juice is extremely useful. Simply soak some juice on the cotton and apply it on the lips. This vitamin rich juice will provide the essential components needed by the lips to stay nourished.

Use of coconut oil and almond oil:

Mix the two oils in equal proportion in the bowl. Apply the cost of the mixed oil on the lips and gently massage it. Do this procedure before going to the bed.

All the methods discussed above are beneficial in getting the beautiful and pink lips. No matter which procedure, we follow, they are continuous processes. They needed to be repeated at regular intervals to get the best results.




The Potent Benefits of Vegetables for Eyelash Growth

Eyelash enhancement or conditioning has spawned so many products on the market at present. But have you ever revisited your diet or lifestyle choices to check if they are assisting in your lash growth mission? Know, for one, that eyelash growth can naturally happen over time when you consume foods that are rich in nutrients for hair growth and health. Vitamins B, C, and E all increase blood circulation and stimulate hair follicles. Additionally, iron benefits the lash growth process.

Now, step back and see if you are eating enough of these healthful vegetables, which can give you optimal levels of the nutrients mentioned above.

• Spinach - This vegetable is a nutrient powerhouse and lash-friendly in so many ways. It is classified as a dark leafy green, and it provides an abundance of iron, which is critical for hair health. A cup of boiled spinach, for instance, provides 35 percent of your daily recommended amounts of the mineral. Spinach also offers vitamin B12 and B6 for hair health, where one cup gives you 26 and 22 percent of your daily requirements of the said vitamin. Its other offerings include vitamins C and E, antioxidants that assist in iron absorption.

• Carrots - This common cooking superstar contains large amounts of vitamin A and moderate levels of vitamin C. When you eat a half-cup serving of raw carrots, you get more than 200 percent of your daily recommended intake of this the vitamin. As a guide: the brighter the color of the carrot, the higher the nutrient content. Choose from orange, red, or yellow carrots, and juice or cook them if you don't like them eaten raw.

• Winter squash - Varieties of winter squash can encourage eyelash growth, as this vegetable contains amounts of vitamins A, B, C, and E. There is a rich assortment of hair-healthy nutrient sources of winter squash, including varieties like pumpkin, butternut, sweet potatoes, spaghetti, banana, buttercup, Hubbard, delicate, carnival, zucchini, autumn cups, and yams. Incorporate them in your soups, stews, casseroles, or imply consume them as side dishes or in their entirety, such as the flesh, seeds, and root. When cooking, you can bake, boil, grate, or grill squash. Try to replace pumpkin with winter squash in your everyday cooking.

• Dark green vegetables - Both hair-health agents vitamins C and E are found aplenty in dark greens. Your options are almost limitless, which include romaine, red leaf, butter lettuce, dandelion greens, mustard greens, kale, collards, turnip greens, and bok choy. There's also broccoli, watercress, and endive. Make sure to source them from clean, preferably organic sources.

Of course, it takes time to nourish, condition, strengthen, and lengthen your lashes. This is why it's best to combine your dietary efforts with supplementation, where there are eyelash growth products that can combine these nutrients for maximum enhancement with regular use. You can see the effects from a number of weeks of months, with the results varying by individual. Make sure to get the highest quality and purchase only from a reputable brand or manufacturer.



Friday, 24 October 2014

Not Worth the Hype: 8 Products I Regret Buying

1. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
Don't let the YouTube beauty community fool you this is basically a $35 bottle of salty water. Literally salty water. Though I will admit that it does have a really good smell; I wouldn't pay $35 for hair perfume either. From my experience this product weighed my hair down like crazy. It didn't give me messy beachy waves as promised; it actually just made my hair look dirty.

Here is the recipe for a better and CHEAPER sea salt spray created by the blogger Wellness Mama


2. Maybeline Baby Lips  
Really what do these even do? They aren't terribly moisturizing and the colour payoff is either a colour I wouldn't want on my lips like yellow or green or it's pigmentation is extremely poor. All around I just don't see the point...they don't even taste good.




3. The Beauty Blender 
If you haven't heard of this one yet, you must be living under a rock, because for over a year it's been all the hype on YouTube and the beauty blogger community. I just don't really see the point of diluting your foundation with a wet sponge. It's also extremely overpriced in my opinion.
4. Maybelline In The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette 
This is a fairly priced palette if you want a range of natural eyeshadows, however the colours are extremely difficult to blend and the pigmentation is sub par at best. If you really want a nude eyeshadow palette I strongly recommend investing in either the collections by Urban Decay, Smashbox or Nars. 




5. Stila Prime Pot 
I don't know if I got a bad batch of this one because I've heard it's wonderful, but I'm not so convinced. The first time I opened it it was a little dry and was difficult to apply and work with. My eye shadow ended up creasing more than had I just applied it straight on the my eye lids. I'm so over this one and sticking to more liquid formulas like my Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced shadow Insurance.
6. Essie Nail Polish 
Let me get one thing straight the colours are absolutely adorable but.. for the price the quality and quantity are not the best. The bottle isn't big enough for me to pay $14/bottle and it dries out super quickly. Also, the nail polish on the tips of my nails chips in less than a full day of having it on, and that is with and without bottom/top coat. I'm still drawn to the adorable pastels in the collection, but I definitely stick to the cheaper and, in my opinion, nicer Revlon nail polishes for darker colours. 
7. The Rocket Volum' Express 
Okay,  so I have a love hate relation ship with this one. On one hand it is a really good mascara for bottom lashes because of it's short bristles and on the other hand the formula is really sub par and does not in any way give the amazing volume it preaches about. However, its also decent in the fact that it doesn't really cause clumping.. so I guess I don't fully regret buying this one. 

8. Herbal Essences Mousse
I have tried to use this product for years; I've tried it on wet hair, dry hair with or without hot styling tools. I've even used it to try and get overnight sock curls. Nothing worked and it just made my hair crispy and difficult to work with. I also really didn't like the smell of any of them. That's not to say that Herbal Essences does make some of my favourite shampoos so they're not all bad! 
Well that rounds out my list of 8 products I regret buying. If any of these products worked for you feel free to leave me a comment letting me know what you did differently. Also, let me know some of the products you regret buying!


Wednesday, 13 August 2014

My Top 8 Drugstore Makeup Products!

Here are my top 8 picks for drugstore makeup products that won't break the bank!

8. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush 

I know what you're thinking "that's old news" and I completely agree. However, it still makes it on to my top 8 list because it's one of my all time favourite drugstore blushes because it has great colour payoff and lasts quite a bit longer than your average drugstore powder blush. My personal favourite colours are Rose Petal and Fresh Pink! ($7.99)

7. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind: Treatment Concealer 

This product isn't that new but it has definitely made an appearance on the beauty guru scene of YouTube this summer and after trying it out I know why! It's very lightweight but still offers significant coverage for dark circles without creasing or looking cakey at all. It also, apparently, comes in 12 different shades and has the added bonus of acting like a treatment for under eye wrinkles and fine lines; reducing their appearance and preventing them all together! It's never too early to start anti-aging treatments! ($7.99)


6. Revlon Cream Shadow Quads 

I've been using these quads for a little over a year now and I really love them. The quads they offer have a great spread of useful colours and are easy to apply, going on super smoothly. They are also really easy to blend and are one of my go to products when I'm low on time and just need to slap some eye makeup on. The only issues is that they do tend to crease pretty easily so I recommend using an eyelid primer first. My most used quad is called Not Just Nudes. ($9.99)

5. L'ORÉAL True Match Liquid Foundation

I know this is also one of those "been there, done that" products but it's my most recent everyday foundation and I love it. It gives just the right amount of coverage for an everyday look and looks flawless (especially if you apply it with a Beauty Blender)! The only drawback is that the bottle kind of pours out like BBQ Sauce.. you know slowly and then BAM the whole bottle is empty, so you just have to be really careful not to waste too much product that way. ($12.99)

4. N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder 

I think this one is a classic favourite and is often deemed a dupe for Benefit's Hoola Bronzer and I LOVE IT! If you have fair skin like me you can still make this product look seamless and natural. Using the good old E3 technique it's easy to add a little colour to your face but it's also great for contouring around your nose or cheekbones! ($3.15)




3. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer 

This is my absolute favourite concealer (including high end concealers). The coverage is great and lasts a decent amount of time (I never have to reapply). It's easy to apply and works really well for redness and mild acne. It's not my product of choice for under eye circles just because it's really more of a blemish eraser kind of product. It also comes in a ton of different shades for all skin tones! ($7.96)

2. Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara 

This is, in my opinion, the best mascara for bottom lashes because the bristles on the wand are nice and short to avoid getting mascara all over your under eye area and the formula doesn't clump (unless you really over do it). It also elongates and adds volume to your lower lashes making them look perfect! ($5.99) ... this product is however featured in a post of products I regret buying head over here to find out why!

1. KATE super sharp liner: Felt Tip Eyeliner  

I'm not sure if this is considered a drugstore product because I've only ever been able to buy it in drugstores in Japan and in China but it is my favourite drugstore product of all time. It easily surpasses any high-end felt tip liner (including NARS) and I would even say it's better than any liquid liner I've used as well. Because it's felt tip it's super easy to create the perfect line and it goes on nice and black in only one stroke. It also lasts all day and all night! It's pretty hard to come by so I buy it in bulk whenever I get the chance! The good news is you can also buy it on Amazon though it's a little pricey. ($15.40)




Tuesday, 12 August 2014

A Review: Nume Curl Jam



Firstly, I ordered the NuMe Curl Jam Set (original price $250.00) by using a coupon code I got from the YouTuber missglamorazzi (You can find it in this video Here) - Because ain't nobody got two hundred and fifty dollars to spend on hair tools.

It took them a little over two weeks just to ship it. Once I received the shipping confirmation e-mail it took another week to receive it - basically shipping speed was sub par at best.

The actual set:  
The set comes in a wrap type soft case with slots for all the components (SUPER handy for travel) and includes a heat protection glove. For some reason I also received a styling comb, which I tried to use once and found it to be completely pointless, unless there's some magic trick I haven't heard of..
NuMe Styling Comb

Flat Iron - Not going to lie I definitely use this flat iron more often then my (overpriced) CHI flat iron because I absolutely love it! It has yet to damage or burn my hair and the temperature control allows for adjusting the heat settings to your hair type and thickness. I only have to go over strands of hair once and my hair stays entirely straight until I wash it, it doesn't have the greatest performance in humidity but that can easily be fixed with any frizz tamer spray, I recommend this one.

Curling Wand: 
The curling wand comes with three different size barrels:
3/4" - For Taylor Swift type tight curls
1" - Looser, everyday type curls (my personal favourite)
1-1/4" - For loose waves

Overall, this curling wand is great; it definitely allows you to get the most "bang for your buck" because you can create so many diverse looks. As aforementioned the 1" barrel is my favourite and is what I use for my hair most days, sometimes the curls can be a little tight for that effortless look but if you hold off on the hair spray for a couple hours they fall perfectly and I know I always get tons of compliments. The largest barrel does wonders if you're trying to create that VS Angel bombshell hair (This can also be done super quickly!) and the smallest barrel gives pretty tight curls so I don't use it as often as the other two.

In general, I think these are great! Like the flat iron they don't damage or burn your hair at all and you only have to go over your hair once for curls that last at least two days. The only flaws that I've found is that the wand itself (not the barrels) feels a like its made out of pretty cheap plastic and that it doesn't have a temperature gauge; so whether you want it or not it gets hot as eff. That being said if you're new at using a curling wand I definitely recommend using the heat protection glove that comes with the set as I personally have acquired a few battle wounds from sleepy mornings.

You can purchase the NuMe Curl Jam HERE!