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When was the last time you woke up feeling refreshed...you awoke without the alarm clock and you're ready to hit the ground running...Can't remember? You're not alone.Due to the pressures and hectic pace of modern life few of us get a really satisfying and revitalizing nights sleep. Yet it's not a coincidence that it is called a "beauty sleep".
Research shows that if you don't get enough sleep it affects your irritability, you become foggy and edgy. Your body aches and you feel drained. You become clumsy and your ability to deal with stress is reduced. Not getting enough sleep affects your immune system and may even make you fat. All these symptoms will show on your skin, as your skin is a mirror of what is going on inside yourself. Not only that but it's been shown that it is during sleep that our skin repairs and regenerates itself the fastest. Are these enough reasons to send ourselves to bed? If so try these tips to get a quality beauty sleep!
1) Avoid caffeine from midafternoon. It's been shown that caffeine affects your sleep whether you are aware of it or not. Instead replace it with a warm milky drink as this helps to reduce anxiety and help promote sleep.
2) Never eat just before bedtime. Give yourself at least two hours to digest your food and avoid snacking especially on sweets, as these will definitely keep you awake.
3) Have a lovely warm bath. Not only will this help you to relax by slowing your mind down but also raises your body temperature and your natural sleep preparation will kick in.
4) Make your bedroom your haven. Oprah is a big believer in this. And she is right. Ban the television and newspapers from the bedroom and never ever have work related items in there. Choose a colour that you find calming and have a few items in that colour around you. Eg: Sheets, cushions, lampshades, paintings and pyjamas.
5) Make sure you have plenty of fresh air in your bedroom and cut out bright lights either with a heavy curtain or a sleeping mask. Ensure your bedroom is quiet.
6) Clear your mind from stress and worry. Experiment with what works for you. I clear my mind by imagining a blind being pulled down over my thoughts until all I see is black. Some nights it takes a few goes but it always works. Others imagine a blank white canvas. And others count sheep. Whatever works for you.
If you keep thinking about the tasks ahead of you the following day, write yourself a 'To-Do List' and keep it by your bed. So if you wake up and think of something else, you can jot it down and go back to sleep. Sometimes it's not until we sleep well again that we appreciate the benefits of a good night's rest. The benefits will not only be noticed by you but others will see the difference too. After all don't we all deserve our "Beauty Sleep"?
How many of you shy away from using a blusher, simply because you are unsure how to apply it? At the cosmetics counter that is the most common comment we get from ladies. Yet blushers have the ability to brighten and revitalise your complexion in a stroke of a brush. Applied correctly blush can take ten years off your age and make you look glowing with health.
So, how do you apply it correctly?
It all depends on the shape of your face�
1) If you have a rounded face with full cheeks, it is best to apply blush to the cheekbones. If you have developed hollows or have sunkenness under the cheekbones it is best to concentrate on the apple of the cheeks. To find the apple of your cheek just smile. The rounded fatty area is the apple.
2) I can not over emphasize the need to be light handed. You can always build on the colour, but it's hard to remove colour.
3) Start by dipping your brush into the colour then tapping the brush against a hard surface to remove excess colour. This ensures you don't start with a great big dab of colour in the middle of your cheek.
4) Use light rounded brush strokes to blend the colour. And don't forget; blend, blend, blend, outwards towards your ears.
5) Blush should be the finishing touch to any makeup. This way you can judge by the rest of your makeup how much blush you need. Don't overdo the colour.
6) The best way to pick your blush colour is by the other colours you are wearing. Especially your lipstick. If you are wearing a pink lipstick you should wear a pink blush. Therefore it is important to have a few different colours of blush.
7) If you are using a cream blush, the same rules apply. Start lightly and blend well. If you are still unsure of blush application, don't be afraid to go to your nearest department store's cosmetics counter. The girls there will be more than happy to take you through step by step and show you the best technique for your face. It might take you a little while to get it right but it is well worth the effort
Our largest organ yet one we rarely give any thought to or know much about. Yet skin should be our most prized asset. Not only does it cover our bodies but also it is the canvas that we present to the world. Therefore we are all interested to some extent in how to keep it in the best state we can. However our skin's needs change with age, health problems, smoking, stress, sun exposure, hormonal changes and even with the change of seasons.
Consequently, it is very important to understand our skin and identify our skin type in order to meet its changing needs. For some women this is easy, they are reasonably aware of their skin type; for other women it's a complete mystery. What's more, we don't always fit neatly into the categories. Because our skin is a living organism it is always changing and responding to either internal or external changes. Skin types are divided into five categories. These descriptions are a guide only and not set in stone. Just as everyone is unique so is your skin.
NORMAL SKIN: Has an even tone and smooth texture. The pores are generally not visible but occasional breakouts may be experienced as well as some blackheads. There are no flaky patches and no oily areas.
SENSITIVE SKIN: Has a delicate appearance and is commonly dry. Pores are invisible and red spots are common. Skin is easily irritated by water, detergents, cosmetics and even temperature changes, amongst other things. Exposure to these things can result in redness, a rash, itching, stinging, or burning. Sensitive skin has a tendency to develop swollen or broken capillaries as well as allergies. It also sunburns easily.
DRY SKIN: Has a fine texture and is transparent looking. It feels tight and drawn without moisturizer and tends to have fine lines around the eyes and mouth. Dry skin is caused by a lack of natural moisturizers within our skin or by damage to the protective film that prevents moisture loss from within our skin. This can be exaggerated by wind, sun, air-conditioning and the change of seasons, all of which cause the skin to feel taut, flake and chap.
OILY SKIN: Has an overproduction of oil which results in frequent spots, blemishes and blackheads. Pores are generally large and the skin's texture is thicker and coarser then the other skin types. Skin tends to be shiny but can also dehydrate due to harsh cleansing.
COMBINATION SKIN: Almost everyone has, to some extent a combination of these skin types. The nose, chin, and center of the forehead all have more oil glands than the other parts of the face. These areas tend to be oilier and break out more frequently than other areas. Using this guide should make it easier for you to determine your skin type and in turn help choose your cosmetics.
But use this as a guide only. I have dehydrated combination skin and every cosmetics salesperson I talk to tries to sell me gel cleansers for combination skin. Normally I like gel cleansers however sometimes I find these leave my skin too taught and dry. I have found a fantastic cream cleanser for dry skin which works extremely well for me without feeling greasy or oily.
