Large Pores Home Remedy

I hate the fact that I have large pores! But I find that Pore Minimizing products available in the market are quite expensive and actually I already put some much stuff in my face...., I didn't want to crowd my face with one more thing. So, I have  been making some researches about how to minimize large pores in a smart, affordable way and found the options below which I have tried myself and found them reasonably good :)

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can slough off dead skin cells from the face, as well as help tighten the pores and make them appear smaller. Baking soda can be used to tighten pores in a few ways: as a toner, as a mask and as an exfoliative scrub.

• To use baking soda as a toner, fill a bowl with warm water and mix in 2 tbsp. baking soda. After washing your face, splash on the baking soda toner. Pat your face dry with a towel.

·     To used baking soda as a pore minimizer mask: After you've washed your face, place 2 tbsp. baking soda in the palm of your hand and add just enough water to form a thick paste. Massage the paste into your face, resisting the urge to scrub, for about  1 minute. Rinse the paste away with cool water

• To use baking soda as an exfoliative scrub, create the same paste you made for the mask, but this time, instead of water, you can add a water-based facial cleanser. Then, gently massage the paste around your face for 30 seconds. Rinse well with warm water. You can use baking soda on your skin once a day.

Egg-White Mask

·     Egg whites have been used for decades by movie stars to encourage a youthful, glowing complexion. Egg white, when used as a facial mask, can tighten the pores and reduce the signs of aging and sallow skin. Beat 2 egg whites in a bowl, then apply them to your face, using your fingers. Let the egg whites completely dry on your face. Rinse the egg whites off with warm water. Your pores will appear tighter and your skin will be firmer. You can use egg whites once a week.

PS: I hope those tips can help you as much as they did to me. I noticed my  pores were smaller almost immediately and after a week of this regime my pores look much more behaved  and less prone to breakouts :)

Reference:  What Really Works on Large Pores?  http://www.ehow.com/way_5318085

Books: The ultimate make-up guide by Rae Morris & Ultimate beauty secrets by Instyle Magazine.

All about Brows

To darken light brows: If you want to have more defined, darker brows, you can brush them up and out with a clean spooly, then use a pointed taupe brow pencil (for fair brows) or a brown one (for darker brows) to draw tiny, feathery strokes on the skin beneath the hairs. Finally, go over brows with an angled brow brush, blending and smoothing out colour across the area.

The right brow shade for your skin and hair colour: 
Brunettes: Your brow should be 2 shades lighter than your hair.

Blond or Red hair: Your brown should be one shade darker than your hair

To Lighten brows: Use an at-home colour kit that is lighter than your hair; you will get a more natural looking result than bleaching. Just don't forget to protect the skin around so it wont get stained. you can dab aquaphor around the brows first to protect the skin.

Hot Nail tip: Metal Nail files can be too harsh for natural nails, so opt for cardboard or crystal files instead 

Foods that combat Dry skin/acne and wrinkles

What you put into your body affects your skin and complexion. If you want to have skin that glows, pay attention to what types of foods you are eating. It takes six weeks for new skin to emerge, so the visible benefits from dietary changes will take just as long. So the time to start is now!

Dry skin?

Many of us have problems with dry skin, which can be itchy and flaky. The best foods for dry skin relief are those that add moisture from the inside out.

The best thing you can do to keep skin from getting dry is to keep hydrated. Eating foods with high water content can help reduce dryness. Foods high in water content, like cucumbers, melon, apples, oranges, pineapple and celery penetrate skin cells and strengthen the cell membrane, which plumps skin cells and helps reduce fine lines.

Foods rich in oil like walnuts, fish and avocados contain essential fatty acids, which improve skin's elasticity and keep cell walls supple, allowing water to better penetrate the skin’s epidermis.

Oily/ acne prone?

While no food prescription will cure acne, a healthy skin diet can reduce it. Foods high in zinc and vitamin A help reduce pore-clogging oil production and swelling associated with blemishes.

Foods high in zinc (like kidney beans) and vitamin A will help reduce pore-clogging oil production and swelling associated with blemishes. Carrots are great for clearing up breakouts. The vitamin A in carrots helps prevent the over-production of cells in the skin's outer layer where dead cells and sebum combine and clog pores.

Foods to avoid include dairy products, particularly milk and products that contain refined sugars such as lollies and fizzy drinks. The natural growth hormones that occur in cow’s milk have been suspected of stimulating the acne process. To avoid cow’s milk try switching to soy milk. While refined sugarsspike blood sugar levels, your body tries to bring these down by producing more insulin and hormones which prompt glands to work overtime, resulting in blocked pores and inflammation.

Wrinkles?

To help maximize your body's wrinkle-fighting abilities, opt for foods which boost collagen production and fight free radicals.

Vitamin C is essential for stimulating the production of collagen. Eat more vitamin C-rich foods, such as strawberries, blueberries, sweet potato, papaya, carrot and kiwifruit. Nuts contain copper, a mineral that boosts collagen production. Snack on a handful of walnuts each day to improve your complexion's texture.

Antioxidants fight free radicals which damage skin cells (such as UV radiation) Damage to our skin cells leads to sagging, rough, wrinkled skin, and an uneven complexion. Antioxidants can help combat the damage by neutralising free radicals and stop them from damaging our skin. Foods that fight free radicals include blueberries, green vegetables, wholegrains, eggs, nuts and green tea. 

Source: Caci medispa website

Myths and truths  about  Nail Polish.

Do your nails even need time to breathe? It is worth to buy that expensive nail polish? Vitamin enriched Base coats really works?  These are just some of the doubts that hover in the minds of women who are trying to found out what is best for their nails. And no wonder: many people still have the habit of doing their nails using products that might  leave their hands and nails looking flawless in the first days, but over time end up with damage and unhealthy nails. In the text below experts reveal all the myths and truths about nails polish and its scenario

1)   Is that true that dark colours can cause yellowish on the nail plate?

There is no relationship between the pigment in the nail polish and the yellowish, "says dermatologist Valcinir Bedin, regional president of the Sao Paulo of the Brazilian Society of Aesthetic Medicine. The colour does not penetrate the nail. If you removed the nail polish and noticed that your  nails are yellow,  "the lacquer  will only change the colour of the nail if it is sick," so, it might be a lack of vitamin or maybe a hidden health problem.

2)   Is that true that our nails need a break to breath?

This is a myth. "The nail is composed of keratin, a tissue whose cells are dead, So, they don’t need to ` breathe` or take a break from nail polish.  Explains Valcinir Bedin.  The opposite happens with the skin cells that need nutrition. But it always good take a look at your nails when removing nail polish  in order to check  if they have any changes in colour or texture/thickness of the nail . be careful with nail polish removers, specialists recommend  using cream cleansers with vitamins in its formulation  and nourishing cuticles oils, to protect and moisturize the cuticles.

3)   Is it true that  dark nail polish helps strengthening  the nail plate?

Another myth. Enamels red, green, black or brown do not strengthen your nails. "No component of enamel penetrates the nail, leaving them stronger or weaker, except in cases of diseases of the nails, such as fungus, ringworm," explains dermatologist Valcinir. What happens is due to its thickness, dark nail polish create a thicker layer on top of the nail making the nail plate slightly more resistant to breakage.

4)    Can hardening base coat be applied daily?  

Myth: There is always a reason behind the nails are fragile and need it to identify the correct treatment. Do not use them indiscriminately. The main causes of weakness of the nails are improper diet, excessive acrylic application to enhance the nails and lack of vitamins. The doctor may recommend products to harden the nails, which usually have formaldehyde or retinoic and glycolic acids. "Be sure to apply those strengthening products only on the nail plate, because in some cases they can cause irritation and allergic reactions if in contact with the skin," explains Valcinir Bedin.

5)   Is that true that adding essential oils to the nail polish is good for the nails?

Myth: The truth is that mixing essential oils or even the argan oil, in nothing will improve or worsen the health of nails. "This sort of mixtures only thins the nail polish, facilitating the application," explains dermatologist Adriano Almeida, professor of postgraduate studies in dermatology Healthy Skin Foundation, Brazil.

6)   Question: Are the expensive nail polish ones, the best because they treat and protect the nails?

 This is a myth. The high prices of some nail enamels have more to do with the label itself than due to its quality.  There are several options that is more affordable and presents a high standard quality. It is worth to pay attention to the presence of allergenic substances such as toluene. More expensive brands usually charge more because of the uniqueness of colour and the thickener agent, which makes the enamel thinner or thicker liquid.

7)   People with sensitive skin should avoid wearing sparkling nail polish?

Truth: The shimmering agents added to this type of  polish are usually  more  aggressive, with substances that cause skin allergies more easily, Another common cause of allergies are derivatives of toluene, a solvent used in nail polishes. Check the presence of this substance in the bottle before you buy the enamel if you have sensitive skin or allergy to nail polishes.

8)   Is it true that mixing glue  to nail enamel can prevent chipping ?

True!  Some say that dripping a drop of potent glue  in the nail polish bottle can prolong the life shelf of the nail polish and makes the nail polish last longer flawless on the nails.  The dermatologist Valcinir Bedin explains that, if applied only to the nail, composed of dead cells, this mixture does not cause harm but, if the mixture runs  to the edges, can damage the cuticle, leaving it dry and causing allergies

9)    Are base coats with vitamins  good for nails?

This kind of product works well for the cuticles but will have no action on the nail. "The nail consists of dead cells, which do not absorb this type of nutrient," says Valcinir Bedin.

10)                Can children wear adult’s nail polish?

Not really . The best age to allow children to use nail polish is when they are past the thumb-sucking stage. Children usually stop sucking their thumbs between the ages of 4 and 5. Nail polish is appropriate for children to wear only if it is designed for children (toluene and Dibutyl Phthalate free)  and if  applied under adult supervision. However, if applied an ordinary nail polish, parents should be aware that some nail polishes have dangerous chemicals like toluene, a solvent to create a smooth polish. This chemical can cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches. The ideal nail polish for children would be those made of minerals, such as mica and iron oxide, in a water solvent for sparkle. These natural ingredients are healthier for children to wear.




Source: Beautiful with brains/CareFare.com/ig.com.br

SKIN COLOUR: WHAT COLOURS BEST SUITS YOUR SKIN COLOUR?

The analysis  of the skin tone is a recent gun to image consultants and personal stylists. Knowing the ideal colour chart for every skin tone facilitates the combination of looks, the choice of buying tons of makeup and accessories.

Our skin has a tint base, which either blue (cold) or gold (warm), an intensity that goes from light to dark. 

There are five classifications:

SPRING

Skins of this group belong to the category of warm colour, the tint base is a golden-yellow. People with this classification have light skin tone that may vary from light peach, yellow or beige.

Suggestion of colours that best suits Spring: peach, beige, golden yellow, golden brown, avocado green and coral.

AUTUMN

Another warm-based skin colour, This skin type is usually gold, but with a predominance of red. People who belong to this group have blue or green eyes, golden, tan or medium peach skin colour, and can have freckles.

Best colours: antique gold, leaf green, dark orange and dark brown, yellow-based red.

WINTER

Winter colours are cold-based.  They are characterized by gray-green and bright-blue. Many Asians  and Saudi Arabia people  have this skin type.

Best colours: black, navy blue, brown, gray and bluish green.

SUMMER

Cool-based skin colour. Sweet and delicate, characterized by pink, the blue and brown based pink. People Nordic countries and northern Europe are mostly likely to be  summer type.

Best colours: sky blue, lilac, lavender, greyish  and off-white, light pink, mauve, lemon.

BLACK PEOPLE

The black skins are of a very large range. They range from the lightest, which are gray, to even the darkest blue. Therefore, they are also classified in cold and warm based sknin colours.

Best colours: black, navy and gold.

PS: If you change your hair colour dramatically it can change the colour that best suits you too. please note as well that these days we have a large range of colour shades, so, trying on is still the best way to found out if whether a colour suits you or not. 

Learn how to keep your cuticles looking healthy and beautiful

Remove the cuticles in the name of beauty may have adverse consequences. Cuts and cracks on and around the cuticles are filled with bacteria . Many skincare experts are convinced that trimming cuticles, increases the chances of inflammation or infection of the fingers. To maintain your cuticles beautiful, you have to moisturise them at least once a day with proper cuticle care products such as cuticle oil or cuticle cream.
Do not bite your nails or the skin around the nail. Furthermore, protect your hands from damage when performing manual tasks by wearing gloves and avoid using your nails as tools to start or poke objects. Moreover, it is very important to avoid getting to much contact with cleaning products,, such as dishwashing detergents and other household cleaning products,"If you are having a professional manicure, be attentive to how the professional care for your nails and cuticles. Many nails techs get very excited when trimming the cuticles and attack the excesses of hard skin with sharp cuticle nippers. Ideally, skin protection (hypochinium) should never been trimmed or cut but hydrated yet.
Just cut the cuticles even in case of ingrown nails that can cause a more serious inflammation of the finger. For beautiful hands and healthy cuticles, see this step by step:
1 - exfoliate your nails carefully, massaging them in a circular motion, so those silly dead cells can be detached. After this procedure, the fingers will become hydrated and no handing nails (the skin around the nails) will turned up.
2 - Try buffing and polishing your nails. They get smooth and it helps the nail polish adhesion too. Buffing removes lumps and bumps, polishes and shine nails. This can be indicated for man manicure as well, who like to keep their nails looking healthy and groomed.
3 - Push the cuticles without cutting them. Use a cuticle softener and a wood spatula. Avoid metal sharp or pointed cuticle pushers which can pierce or cut the cuticle;
4 - The last step is to rub them with a cuticle cream or oil for nails and cuticles.

References: minhavida.com.br / beauty and EZ Flow training program

Hair care tips to keep your hair  frizz free!

Every now and then people ask me what do I use on my hair that it looks so smooth  and shiny. So, this week I decided to post some of my tips and tricks .

Have a look at these hair care tips

 **Do weekly hair hydration. Frizzy hair is also caused by dehydrated hair. Good hydration helps keep the hairs on the line.

My trick to get the most of your hair mask or conditioner is using aloe vera leaves mixed with the hair cream. All you have to do is remove the  jelly part of the Aloe Vera leaves and mix it with your conditioner or hair mask. Leave it on for 20 minutes then wash it as usual, with shampoo and conditioner.

**using a conditioner after shampooing your hair is very important because  conditioners  close the cuticle of the strands. Before applying conditioner, squeeze out excess water with a towel and then apply the product, from the middle to the ends and leave it for 5 minutes, while you wait to rinse the conditioner off, make the most of your time in the shower and do some hand massage on your legs in a upwards motion, from knees to thighs, it will  help to stimulate circulation. This will help to improve the appearance of cellulite on your thighs. How about?

**Avoid rubbing your hair in a towel. Wipe gently with a cotton towel or if you prefer, you can remove excess water from the tips with paper towels.

**Avoid using metal or plastic comb. Static electricity occurs because of friction with the hair that those objects can cause. A good option is to use wooden combs, as the material eliminates electricity.

**Use a leave-in product afterwards. Products with  argan oil helps keeping the strands shiny and smooth.

Hot tip: To keep the strands beautiful, frizz-free and natural effect,  after washing  your hair, apply a leave-in serum, from middle length to tip, and  wrap it into a bun, then   blow dry it with hot air and then with cold air. This thermal shock that the hair suffers from the blow dryer helps preventing frizz appear. Unpin and rake your fingers through for a glamorous `do. 

Green Tea  and its benefits to our beauty

If the economic crisis also has affected you, but you do not want to give up on your beauty treatments, then perhaps now is the right time for you  to try these home made beauty treatments that we always heard about but we never tried because we not sure if it works or not. Well, this article is about the benefits of the green tea for our beauty.


 you may have heard of the therapeutic properties of green tea, acts as a great antioxidant, activates the immune system, lowers cholesterol levels, prevent cancer and many other benefits.

But what many people do not know is that green tea also has cosmetic properties, which bring many benefits to our beauty. Given the potential benefits, the beauty industry has launched body soaps, shampoos, creams and moisturisers  with green tea as a active ingredient.

The substances found in green tea helps fight against the bacteria that cause acne and reduces inflammation. It also good for dry skin, itching and some types of allergies. For example, for those who have oily hair, just make a infusion with green tea and use as a final rinse after washing your hair. 

Check those recipes I collect from trustful sources 

Astringent Toner Green Tea

Place 100 grams of green tea leaf in 1/2 L of water and let stand for one hour.
remove the leaves from infusion and apply liquid made from the green tea to your face with cotton in a circular motion. avoid contact with eyes.

  Compress for Dark Circles
Soak 100 grams of green tea in a pint of boiling water.
Smother for five minutes, let cool and then refrigerate.
Dip two cotton with iced tea and put them on the eyes. Must act for 15 minutes.

  Facial Mask for Oily Skin
A spoonful of green tea (can be tear the sachet bag to get the juice after preparing)
One tablespoon of honey
Mix the juice of green tea with honey (if you want you can use a  blender).
Apply on the clean and dry  face a with gentle massage. Let stand for 20 minutesand remove with cold water.

Rejuvenating Mask 

Mix  a cup of coffee, green tea;
Some grapes
A small piece of ginger;
A tablespoon of green clay;
A tablespoon of honey;
A tablespoon of plain yogurt;
mix  in a blender.
apply on clean face and leave it  for an hour.
Remove with cool water.

These are some tips for you to try and check how green tea may be beneficial for your  beauty too! Enjoy

Sources: 101 tips for health and beauty / healing by mother nature/www.herbarium.net

Pop up your eyes this season! How to make small eyes look bigger

We  always see those  beautiful eye make-ups  from celebrities and supermodels and it seems that their eyes are popping up right from the  magazines or  TV. God knows how much we desire to have that amazing look too. Unfortunately we are just mere mortals, and we can’t afford a makeup artist every time we going out. My eyes are very boring and I just can’t accept that. So, I decide to make some researches about how myself can  make my small and boring eyes look bigger. It worked very well for me so, I decide to share with my readers J

Well, first of all apply an eyeshadow primer  (if you don’t have oily T-zone like me, you can apply councelar or foundation instead) apply it on your lids then wait about 1 minute to start apply eyeshadow.

      1)      Trace lines (so as not to weight down the lids) of black liner along the lashes, flicking out the top line

     2)      To contour and add depth, sweep a dark shade along the creases and along the upper lashes.

     3)      Rub a shimmery beige shadow close to your lashes, then into the inner corners and below the brow bone for dimension.

     4)      Use a nude liner on the rim of your lower lashes to reflect the whites of the eyes and enlarge them

5) Curl your  lashes, then apply mascara. For an even bigger and more dramatic eyes, apply some fake lashes in the end of your eye makeup

China Glaze Magnetix

China Glaze, which makes nail lacquers sold at salons and professional beauty supply stores nationwide, has announced the launch of its limited edition Magnetix nail lacquer collection. Infused with iron powders that move when exposed to a magnet, China Glaze Magnetix uses magnetic force to create three different designs — starburst, repeating arrows or diagonal lines.

Available at brazilian nails too :)

OBS: The manufacture claims that you can use it at home,yes you can after practising a lot.  It sounds easy to apply but actually requires a little bit of technical skills to apply it properly.

Airbrushed designer nail tips!

For those fashionable girls who like to match their bags with their nails or just for bring some 
fashion to the nails too!!
I have done these Louis Vitton nails tips yesterday for a client of mine and I absolutely love them.
Note: Her  cuticles  need some moisturizer but nothing that a good cuticle cream  with AHA in it can`t fix after a couple of  weeks of application!

Blush it babe!!

Blush! In the fashion world, blush  has its ups and downs. But do you really know why we need blush for? Well, yes one of its main utilities is  to bring the glow back to our completion and helping us look healthy and happy but it is unfair to say that these are the only functions of the blush….

Moreover, if applied properly, the blush can create many effects  like  giving shape to our face and define the contour of it,  can make it more round or more thin, depending how you apply it. Also  working along with the powder and using techniques of light and shadow the blush can  highlight or hide details on your face.

The good news is that now, with so much technology available for us, we have so many option to choose from!

the types of blush available on the market these days can hydrate, protect against the sun (contain sunscreen)  and come in various textures and consistencies to suit different skin types. 

Powder, cream, gel ... your choice!

The most popular choice of course is the  powder blush. But the good brands offer versions in cream, stick, even in mousse and gel.

Check this out!
Powder: it is the best known. Should be applied with a soft brush,  spread the product on the cheeks. Just remember to move the brush in the back of your hand before application to remove the excess blush.
Cream: a consistency similar to cream shadows is also very easy to apply with a foundationbrush or even  with your fingers. Translucent and natural appearance, is perfect for day-to-day.
In pearls:  They are small spheres that usually are help to give a tan effect to the skin. It is very easy to use:  You can rub the little spheres direct to your face or use a soft blush brush to do so. 
Gel: usually in the form of a stick, just apply directly onto  the skin and use your fingers to spread. Just be quick because  gel dries very fast, and that requires some practice to get the desired effect.
In mousse: aerated and velvety consistency, should be applied as a cream.
liquid:  despite being one of the easiest to apply, it is also requiring more care, because it dries quickly and can stain the skin. The packaging is similar to the nail polish  (some imported brands have packages like "gloss"). Just apply the brush onto the face and spread quickly with your fingers. It is the most translucent of all , So  the colour intensity can be obtained through several layers.

To choose your favourite, you should try on your skin !

Mixed and oily skins should use powder blush. Dry skin should opt for the creamy ones. Normal skin types use all types!

How to apply blush and what colour to use according to your skin tone and your face shape

Round shape: Apply the blush from temples toward the mouth.  Make spiral movements from bottom to top. The idea is to make the face appears longer to bring balance to the face.

Square shape: Apply the blush from temples toward the mouth and then from mouth towards temples. Does not brush close to the nose; apply lightly to not get too heavy makeup.

Heart/ inverted triangle shape: Being a face with many angles, the application is made from the temples towards the nose, with a line as straight and horizontal.

Oblong shape: To make a narrow face appear wider and more proportionate, start applying blush from the outward edges of the face working it inward toward the nose, but stopping at the outer edge of each eyeball. Using your finger, draw an imaginary line from the outer edge of the eyeball down to the cheek bone.
Do not work the cheek colour too far inward, otherwise it will accent the narrowness of the face rather than giving it a more proportionate illusion

Triangle: As a contrast to the Inverted Triangle, the Triangle face shape is characterized by a wider jaw are and a narrower forehead. Apply blush from the apple (ball) of your cheekbones in a V shape towards your temples. This will “thin out” the overall width of this area and make the entire face seem a bit more evenly proportioned. 

Oval shape: The oval face has harmonic overtones; the application should be made ​​exactly on the cheek bones and in a circular motion

The best colous to mach your Skin Colour

Fair/white Skin:  best match: Peach, rose or dark rose,  medium bronze and bronze
Yellow skin: Best colours are pink, peach, light bronze

Olive and tanned skin: Best colours: dark rose, bronze and medium bronze and watermelon.
Black Skin: Best matchs: Orange, pink, and red plum colours

References: http://www.beauty-and-the-bath.com  

www.ig.com.br

http://www.greatestlook.com