5 tips for healthy skin !

Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

• Use sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
• Seek shade: Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
• Wear protective clothing: Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

• Limit bath time: Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
• Avoid strong soaps: Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
• Shave carefully: To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
• Pat dry: After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
• Moisturize dry skin: If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

How to Do Your Makeup Flawlessly

Have you ever wondered how to get that perfect look with makeup? Knowing a few tricks can really help !

1. Use good face cleaners

Wash your face. Washing your face will make your skin look perfectly clean. This cleans your face well and gets rid of dead skin, blackheads, oil, and dirt. Make sure you don't clean your face with aggressive cleaners or soaps. Use a cleanser that is complementary for your skin, for advice go to your dermatologist or ask for advice in a store where they sell beauty supplies.

2. Find a good moisturizer

Apply a moisturizer. Pick a moisturizer that fits with your skin type:

• Dry/sensitive skin: choose a thicker cream/ointment that locks moisture in.
• Normal skin: choose cream moisturizers that are hydrating.
• Oily/young skin: choose a water based lotion.

3. Use a good primer, any brand will do

Add a foundation primer. Foundation primers are used to set make up (foundation) so that it lasts longer.You can find several in drug stores or specialized beauty stores.

4. Choose your foundation

If you already have flawless skin (no freckles, blemishes, discoloration, or uneven tone) you should use a tinted moisturizer. This will add a bit of color without looking cake-like. If you want to cover a bit more, use a foundation.This is one product that you should splurge on. To get the right shade apply some near your cheek in natural daylight and make sure to test a bunch of them to find the right one for you. Ask one of the professionals in the store to help you find the right color.

• Apply the foundation. To get your skin dewy and radiant use an illuminator. Just mix a pea-sized amount of illuminator with your foundation and you'll get glowing skin. Apply the foundation with a foundation brush if you have one or use your fingers. Some people like using brushes, but you may prefer fingers because it's easier, just remember to wash your hands before. Put a bit of foundation on the back of your hand, dab a bit of foundation onto your fingers and smooth it onto your face. Make sure to get your jawline, ears and around your eyes. Remember: foundation is meant to even out your skin tone. Don't use it to add color or completely cover blemishes.

5. Buy a good concealer

Search for a concealer close to your skin tone, making sure you don't choose one that is too dark or too light. If you can't tell, ask for advice to ensure you get the right color.

• Apply the concealer on any zits or redness on your skin , use a small brush to stipple it on and dab it with your fingers to blend it in.
• Conceal any dark circles under your eye by applying the concealer in a triangle shape. Blend the outer corners of the triangle with your fingers. Don't forget to conceal the inner corners of your eyes as they are generally darker than the rest of your eyes.

6. Set the concealer with setting powder

Choose a loose (mineral) powder and dab it on the concealed parts of your face with a stippling brush.

7. Apply a bronzer and/or blush

Choose a bronzer that isn't too dark for your skin color otherwise you will end up looking like a clown. Use an angled, hard brush or a stippling brush to apply the bronzer, work in a cross on your face (forehead, nose and cheeks). To make your face look slimmer apply the bronzer right under the apples on your cheeks, to find the apples smile and apply the bronzer in the hollow of your cheeks.

• Find a blush that suits your skin tone and apply it on the apples of your cheeks.
• To prevent your face becoming shiny you can use oil blotting sheets. You can find them in any drug store or store where they sell beauty products. They're cheap, reduce shine, and don't disturb makeup. Bring these along with you.

8. Apply eye makeup

To make your eye shadow last, apply an eye shadow primer first. For natural eye looks choose a natural color.

• Curl your lashes. Curl your eyes for about 15 seconds on each side.
• Apply a bit of Vaseline to your eyelashes. This will nourish and moisturize them, making them appear longer and more voluminous.
• Use an eyelash extender. The fibers from this connect and make lashes much longer.
• Apply a waterproof mascara. Wait for each coat to dry before applying another to avoid clumps.
• Apply eyeliner. Liquid or pencil, top or bottom, eyeliner can be applied in many ways and looks good in different ways depending on the eye shape, color, and size. You'll really just have to experiment with this.
• Color your brows if they aren't even with a eyebrow powder, choose a color that is close to your eyebrow color. Apply a brow gel to keep your eyebrows in place.

9. Moisturize your lips by applying chapstick

Use a lip primer to fill up any creases and apply a lip liner, followed by applying a lipstick in the same color as the lip liner and finish with a gloss if necessarily.

The Best Pants for Holiday Outfits

There are a few clothing items every woman must own, and black pants are definitely one of them. From the office to dinner parties, dark trousers are your secret weapon to looking polished for any occasion.

 For a Dinner Out

This daring dinner look will have heads turning at the restaurant. A bold orange top makes a statement, but the beaded neckline tastefully draws attention. Add a touch of sparkle with a clutch and pumps and you’ll be one sophisticated lady.

For a Work Event

Your wardrobe should match your stellar work ethic. Impress your superiors and set an example for your co-workers with this classy combo. The long, flowy blouse is balanced out by the structured jacket, and the red kitten heels add a fun and professional pop of color. 

 

For a Family Party

Stay comfy yet cool at your next family gathering with this exciting ensemble. A bright cardigan livens up the black pants while killer accessories seriously up the ante. Even the in-laws will approve this look!

For a Lunch Date

A soft sweater and simple accessories make for a dainty daytime look. This casual outfit will have you sitting pretty and comfortably at your lunch date.