Make yourself beautiful with natural remedies made with simple ingredients you can put together at home.
1. Chamomile, Green, or Black Tea
Chamomile tea, a natural anti-inflammatory, helps ease redness and puffiness around the eyes. Green and black teas contain compounds called tannins, plus caffeine. Tannins have an astringent effect on the skin and shrink swollen tissue, while caffeine constricts blood vessels to reduce swelling.
Steep two chamomile, green, or black tea bags in just-boiled water for three minutes. Remove them from the water and place in the refrigerator until cooled. Place one bag over each eye and relax for 15 minutes.
Plus: DIY Facials
2. Spoons
The cool temperature of chilled metal spoons constricts blood vessels, which helps decrease redness and puffiness in the eye area.
Place four metal spoons in a glass of ice water. When chilled, place one spoon on each eye, following the contour of your eye socket. As the spoons begin to warm, switch them with the spoo...Read More »Summer is in the air and we can't wait to get rid of our pasty winter complexions. For many of us, that means catching some sun (covered in SPF, of course!), but for fair-skinned gals, that could be a problem. If you're not inclined to get a spray tan, we suggest you take some tips from Naomi Watts, who had glowing summer skin at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards this week. Here's how you can create the star's fabulous skin:
How To Create Kate Middleton's Braided Updo
Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images
What You Need:
Foundation or tinted moisturizer
Matte powder
Light blush
Shimmering bronzer
Sheer finishing powder
Blush brushStep 1: Even out your skin tone with foundation or tinted moisturizer using a color that matches your natural tone exactly. Be sure to get it beneath your eyes and chin too.
Step 2: Dust a mineral powder, like MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($29, Maccosmetics.com), all over your face, concentrating on your t-zone and other
...Read More »From advances in SPF to celebrity faux glow secrets, we show you how to get and care for perfect summer skin.
Sunscreen
#1. Sunscreen 101
How much is enough? Choose a formula with no less than SPF 30. Slather one tablespoon over your face and about a shot glass worth of lotion or foam over your body. Reapply every two hours and after swimming.
#2. Ouch! You're Sunburnt. Now What?
The best thing to do is pop an aspirin (to help with inflammation), smooth on aloe vera, and wear loose-fitting cotton clothes and undies. Synthetic fabrics will irritate your burn.
Read More: Cure your nasty sunburn with these at-home remedies!
#3. Drink Smarter Water
Sipping on eight glasses of water a day has a multitude of benefits that include glowing, healthy skin. Kick the benefits up a notch by adding a drop or two of an antioxidant-enriched tonic to fight free radicals and early wrinkles in one go.
#4. Scrub Your Way Smooth
For your silkiest skin ever, try this DIY exfo
...Read More »- By Leanne Beattie, for SparkPeople
Want to enjoy that sun-kissed look without the risks of tanning? Whether you just want to touch up some tan lines or need all over bronzing, the latest generation of self-tanners will have you glowing in a matter of minutes.
The active ingredient in most self-tanners is DHA, a simple sugar that turns golden brown when exposed to certain proteins. When applied to your skin, which contains amino acids (proteins), an interaction takes place-the same type of reaction that turns beer brown during production, for example-that temporarily changes the color of your skin.
DHA in self-tanners is present in concentrations ranging from 2% to 5%. In general, products with higher concentrations are used to tan the body, while the lower concentrations are used in facial products. The higher the concentration of DHA, the darker the results.
Say goodbye to the unnatural orange tones of yesteryear! Today's self-tanning products look more natural than ever. But befo...Read More » By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina
Eye Liner and Mascara: Staying WaterproofSummer Makeup Essentials (iStockphoto)
Dealing with the summer heat can spell disaster for your beauty routine, but there are products that can withstand the humidity and last you throughout the day. Waterproof products tend to last the longest without melting off, so you want to invest in eyeliner and mascara that will last whether you go for a swim or lay out in the sun. My favorite pencil eye liner is Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Pencil. This is the best pencil eye liner on the market, and it lasts the longest without smudging. To ensure that the pencil you use stays within the area you're trying to line, tap a bit of a similarly colored eye shadow with an angler liner brush on top of your pencil. This simple step will set your liner and will keep it from smudging. Liquid liners tend to stay on best, especially waterproof formulas. A great option is MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Liner.
Waterproof mascara is a must in the summer. The heat can make t...Read More »
