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How do you achieve the perfect brow? For most women it's a daunting task that is best left to the professionals, for fear of making a mess of things. But with a few simple guidelines you can create the perfect brows in the comfort of your own home.
Warning; never ever shave your brows! Not only is the shaved area visible in a day, but you can make mistakes very easily and they are hard to correct. You have two options for removing the hairs. Waxing and tweezing. Personally, I'm not a big fan of waxing the brows as the skin around the eyes is so delicate and every time you stretch the skin by ripping the wax off, you are causing damage.
Having said that, I know a lot of women swear by waxing so it really is a personal preference.
1) Always follow your own natural brow line. The purpose of removing hairs is to shape the brows, not change it. The beginning of the brow should align with your nostrils. An easy way to determine this is; hold a pencil next to your nostril pointing to your forehead. That is where the brow should start. Any hairs in the centre of the brows should be removed. Never over tweeze above the brow. It is OK to remove a few straight hairs but generally above the brow should be left alone.
2) Before you even begin pulling hairs out, decide on the thickness of the brows you want. Remember that pencil thin eyebrows are not a good look. Aim for a shapely, natural look. Grab an eyeliner or if you have dark hairs a lip liner so you can clearly see the colour and draw in the desired shape. This can take a few attempts, but you can always wipe it off with eye makeup remover and start again until you are happy with the shape.
3) Any hairs not covered by the pencil, come out. Go slowly so you don't over tweeze. One hair at a time. Stop regularly and have a look in a large mirror to check your progress. Do one eye roughly then move on to the other. Then compare both eyes to make sure they are even. Keep evening them out one hair at a time, until you are happy with the results.
4) The first time may take a little while to get it right, so allow plenty of time for yourself. Never do it in a rush. Make sure you are in a room that has plenty of natural light. Once you have the desired shape the maintenance of it is very simple. Again, one hair at a time remove the regrowth. After you have done it a few times for yourself, you can have a go at your friends' brows. If you're game.
Yes it's that simple. With the deft stroke of the mascara wand we can turn back the clock. However this little miracle worker of the cosmetic bag comes with a warning Use it incorrectly and you've just added years to your appearance. Here's seven secrets to the correct and age-defying application of mascara.
1) Wipe your mascara wand on a tissue before applying it to your lashes. This gets rid of excess product and alleviates globs and clumps.
2) Never use old, clumpy, dried out mascaras. Make sure you change your mascaras every three months. Never pump your mascara wand in-and-out, as this pumps air into the tube and it not only dries out the mascara but also introduces bacteria into it.
3) Start at the root of the top lashes and shimmy your way to the tips by using small zigzag movements. To apply two coats make sure the first coat is completely dry. Never apply mascara to your bottom lashes directly as this ages you. The transfer from your top lashes when you blink is sufficient.
4) If you have droopy eye lids it's best to apply mascara on the outer corners of your lashes only rather than all the way across. By doing this you create a lighter feel to your lids avoiding the heavy ageing feel.
5) Invest in a good quality eyelash curler. Most people avoid using this because they don't know how to use them. Once you become adept it only takes 10 seconds. Hold your curler from underneath and put your top lashes in between the two rims. Press together for about 10 seconds and remove it by slowly rolling it up. This will give you an instant eye lifting effect. (Avoid metal curlers because these can break your lashes.)
6) Use a mascara primer. Primers coat lashes to give you extra width and length and they also separate them before you apply your mascara. Makeup artists swear by this relatively new invention.
7) Keep your lashes in good condition. Always remove your mascara at the end of the day with a gentle eye makeup remover. Use waterproof mascaras only on special occasions when you know you are going to need the extra staying power, as I believe they can dry out lashes, making them brittle. By perfecting the art of mascara application you can literally transform your look. It instantly defines the face and turns back the clock. No wonder it's what most of us would take with us to a deserted island.
Recently I had the privilege of reviewing the Physiotherm Far Infrared Sauna at Strength2Strength at Robina on the Gold Coast. Let me just start by saying that I hate sweating, but for some unknown reason I like saunas, probably because I know they are good for me.
So when the company offered me 10 sessions to experience this sauna that is taking Europe by storm, I jumped at the chance. What Is a Far Infrared Sauna and how is it different to your regular sauna? Your regular sauna uses very high temperatures to heat the body and this can cause discomfort for a lot of people. Anyone with a heart condition or respiratory problems is unable to use saunas.
Some people just find it too stifling and find it too uncomfortable. The Infrared sauna doesn't rely on high temperatures to heat your body; it only gets up to about 40 - 45C and you can control the temperature to whatever is comfortable for you. Infrared light is part of the Sun's invisible spectrum and is simply a form of energy that is directly transmitted onto objects because of its specific wavelength. It has nothing to do with ultraviolet light which gives you sunburn and damages your skin. The Infrared rays penetrate your skin, giving you that wonderful natural warmth. You can be exposed to Far Infrared heat for hours and it will never cause your skin to burn. Far Infrared heat is completely healthy and safe for all living things. Before I started my first session I was told to drink plenty of water.
My husband was most pleased to hear this as he is always telling me to drink more. So I did my best and drank about 1 � litres by 3 pm and I took a litre with me. What I wasn't prepared for was how much I was sweating. When I first entered the sauna I was surprised at how comfortable the temperature was. The sauna cubicle is dry, there is no steam and it was around 40 degrees. So I settled back for a very relaxing 35 minutes. Within 10 minutes I was literally dripping with sweat, and I was told to keep towelling it off continually.
Sweating is, I was told the best way to detox the body. 'Elimination of toxins such as metabolic by-products from our own cells occurs through breath, urine, stool and sweat. As the skin is the body's largest organ and one designed to aid in cleansing and purifying (like a kidney), sweating plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body.'(www.physiotherm.net)
I don't think I have ever sweated as much in my life. Needless to say I didn't drink enough water, got dehydrated and had the worst headache for the rest of the evening. That soon taught me to drink more water! Apart from the headache what I noticed most was how smooth my skin was all over my body. This was due to the fact that when you sweat the body's capillary network is dilated. Over my 10 sessions I have noticed a definite improvement in my skin's texture, complexion and tone. Beauty therapists often use Infrared therapy in conjunction with more traditional treatments, to enhance the results of facials, body wraps and exfoliation treatments.
The Infrared sauna is excellent for anyone in pain, suffering from insomnia, wanting to de-stress, wanting to lift depression, detoxify, boost circulation, boost the immune system and wanting to control weight. Yes I did say control weigh as the sweat production results in burning calories. (1 gm sweat requires 0.586 kcal) 'A moderately conditioned person can easily sweat off up to 500gms or more in a session. This translates to more than 300kcal - the equivalent to a brisk 30 minute walk. While this weight loss can be regained by re-hydration with water, the calories consumed will not. This is a valuable system for those who don't exercise and those who can not exercise, yet want an effective weight control and fitness program, along with the benefits that regular exercise bring
