Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: Greg KesslerBy Val Monroe

Q: My biggest makeup problem? How to wear it. I need help!

A: When I asked readers online about makeup, this is how most of you responded. So I e-mailed the terrific makeup artist Matin Maulawizada for an easy routine. You'll need a tinted moisturizer, a cream blush, a neutral eyeshadow base, an eyelash curler, black mascara, and a sheer lipcolor. I'll wait while you get them. You back? Great! Now position yourself in front of a mirror with your tidy stash and follow these directions. It's as easy as 1-2-3 (4-5-6). Let me know how you did.

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1. Smooth on the tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion. Apply it the same way you apply untinted moisturizer; a dime-size amount should be enough to dot on cheeks, chin, and forehead. Then blend it in, being sure to smooth it under your jawline and over your neck. (Try Dr. Dennis Gross All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 15, $44, DGSkincare.com.)

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2. Apply the cream blush. Dab a little on the back of

Photo: ThinkstockBy Kelly Mickle

Don't be surprised if you feel tension taking over as the holidays approach: Nearly half of all women experience increased stress during this season. Luckily, regaining your calm doesn't have to take long. Whether you've got ten minutes or an hour, the right activity is all you need.

10 Minutes: Chew a Stick of Gum

Researchers from Australia and England found that in moments of stress, gum chewers felt less anxious and had 18 percent less cortisol (the stress hormone) in their saliva. "Chewing increases blood flow to the brain--which may make us feel more alert--and it may also distract us from stressors," says study coauthor Andrew Scholey, PhD, director of the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University.

Photo: Thinkstock12 Minutes: Brew Some Black Tea

People who drank four servings of black tea a day for six weeks were able to de-stress faster and had lower levels of cortisol after a stressful event, according to a study from

Photo: Getty ImagesBy Corrie Pikul

The Move: Side Plank Variation

The Pro: Mari Winsor, one of the originators of Pilates-style workouts, has Pilates-ized half of Hollywood.

Core Clients: Winsor says that Miley Cyrus particularly likes this move, and has been known to rope fiancé Liam Hemsworth into doing it with her.

The Steps: 1. Sit on the floor, leaning sideways on your right hip, with your right arm on the mat supporting your body. Your legs should be slightly bent, with the left foot slightly in front of the right.

2. Use your core to lift your body up to a side plank.

3. Extend your left arm over your head.

4. With your abs pulled in tight, lower your hips (but don't let them touch the floor!) and your left arm, then press back up to the side plank.

5. Repeat this same lower and lift 6 to 8 times, then switch sides.


Photo: Getty ImagesThe Move: Plank Push-Ups

The Pro: Teddy Bass, celebrity trainer for over 19 years and creator of the Rock Bottom Body lower-body sculpting program.

Core Client: Christina Applegate

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

Sports-Bar Food

Research shows that high-fat indulgences such as french fries, potato chips and mozzarella sticks can not only throw off the scale, but they can also disrupt sleep cycles.

A better sleep snack: Edamame (boiled soybeans in the pod, served sprinkled with salt) is high in magnesium, which has been shown in some studies to improve the quality of sleep of insomnia patients.

Crudité

Raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots will make you feel full quickly...but will still be moving uncomfortably through your digestive system long after you pull up the covers.

A better sleep snack: Bananas contain sleep-inducing tryptophan and magnesium as well as (bonus!) potassium...which can prevent a middle-of-the-night charley horse.

Cured Meats

Bacon, pepperoni and sausage contain high levels of tyramine, an amino acid that boosts the secretion of the brain stimulant norepinephrine.

A better sleep snack: A turkey sandwich on whole

Photo: ThinkstockBy Amy Shearn

"It's not okay that you're always late."

Things happen. Lives are complex. Of course, your life is particularly so (everyone's is), which is why it's difficult to get to brunch on time (every time), which is not your fault, exactly, because there was nowhere to park, and then before that, there was a line at the drugstore, and before that, there was the argument with your 5-year-old about whether you could take your purse he was using as Lego storage and...she knows. Your friend has too much on her plate too, which is why she would never say anything about your tardiness. But perpetually making her wait sends the message that other things are more important than she is. That, in fact, almost everything is more important than her. No one wants to feel that way. Isn't that part of why we maintain friendships, to matter to someone, to have someone matter to us? Your friend matters to someone. She matters to you. So show your love: Leave 15 minutes earlier.

Photo: ThinkstockAs told to Leigh Newman

One scenario: Due to budget cuts, you may--or may not--be losing your job, and you're not sure if you should take the much-lower-paying job at another company or just stay where you are in case things work out. Another: With the birth of your new baby, you need to move, and you can't make up your mind between the neighborhood with the good public school and the one where the houses are actually in your budget. Yet another: After seven years together, your marriage has turned into a relentless series of bitter arguments, but you're not certain if you should try to reconcile or finally end the relationship.

RELATED: 12 Ways to Unclutter Your Life

All of us have had these kinds of experiences--times when we have to decide something and we just don't know what to do.

The first step is usually to collect information. You have to look at the facts of the situation: What's for and what's against. But even then, you still may not be able to come to a conclusion. For

Photo: ThinkstockBy Taniesha Robinson

Avoid Opening Your Wallet On...

Saturday. Turns out, Americans spend 30 percent more on Saturday than the average weekday, according to a Gallup poll. The bump gets even bigger on weekends after a payday, which suggests this increase isn't just the result of more time to shop. Researchers behind the poll say this "paycheck effect" may be a reflection of consumers' overconfidence when they have more cash on hand.

Carry a Master List

You know the drill: Make a list before hitting the grocery store or department store aisles so you'll be less likely to buy impulsively and more likely to come home with things you actually need.

But, what about those visits that are more spontaneous? When a friend drags you to her favorite outlet or an afternoon stroll ends in a new neighborhood boutique, you'll find a master wish list might save you from yourself.

"I keep a shopping list on my smartphone," says Lauren Lyons Cole, a certified financial

Photo: Kevin CremensBy Suze Orman

You'll find plenty of rich pigments in these gorgeously crafted eyeshadow palettes featuring variations on Pop Art icon Andy Warhol's Flowers and Self-Portrait silk screens. Wet an eyeliner brush, dip it into the periwinkle blue or the vibrant green, and draw a fine line close to your lashes. Or dust your lids with the rose pink or the lavender gray. Who knew being artful was so easy?

Nars Andy Warhol Flower Eyeshadow Palette, $55; Sephora.com. Nars Andy Warhol Self-Portrait Eyeshadow Palette, $55; NarsCosmetics.com












Photo: Kathryn Rathke




If you're among the million Americans who have banished animal products from the kitchen (and maybe the closet), you likely don't want them in your makeup bag or shower, either. But are there animal-derived ingredients in your lip gloss or shampoo? Quite possible, says cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. At least a dozen commonly used cosmetic ingredients have animal origins, including beeswax, lanolin (from sheep), whey proteins (from dairy products), and