03:40:00

DIY Eye Primer

Just like the saying beautiful are at the eyes of the beholder. When we first met a stranger, the very first thing that we will look at is their eyes. Well at least I do stare at people eyes :D Life is perfect when my eye shadow does not smudge all the way to my face. How to prevent that? Well of course with eye primer!

What is eye primer? Eyeshadow primer, how we love you. Not only does it make your eyeshadow go on smooth and vibrant, it also helps it last all day and prevents it from ruining your look by pooling into the creases of your eyes (Gross!).
It’s safe to say that it’s probably the greatest makeup invention of all time. Why? Because eyeshadow primer doesn’t have to be used just on your eyes. It’s actually a multipurpose product that can work wonders when used on other parts of the face. Wanna learn how? Just keep reading.

5 Things No One Tells Your About Makeup Primer

1. Under the eyes.When used underneath the eyes, eyeshadow primer can serve two purposes: it can help prevent your concealer from creasing and make it last longer. Since the technology behind eye primers prevents your eyeshadows from creasing, the same principle applies to the skin underneath your eyes, as well. And since it also allows shadows to stick better, concealer will grab on easier and stay on longer.

2. On your brows.Ever look at yourself at the end of the day and notice that your brow powder has gone patchy or smudged off completely in certain areas? Not to fear. Eyeshadow primer will fix that. Take a small amount (less is more in the case of eye primer) and swipe it through your brows. Let it dry, then apply the brow product of your choice. Boom, perfect looking brows all day.

3. Over pimples.
As if pimples weren’t bad enough, concealer and foundation just never seem to want to stay put on top of them throughout the day. Dabbing a bit of eye primer on top of the problem area before foundation and concealer and then setting with powder to lock it all in will ensure that those spots are hidden until you take your makeup off.

4. On the fine lines around your mouth.As your skin matures, it’s inevitable that fine smile lines will begin to crop up. When you wear foundation, product tends to settle into these areas throughout the day due to oil production and facial movement. Patting a bit of eye primer over these lines before applying foundation will help prevent this from happening.

5. On your lips.By now, there’s a primer for everything, including the lips. But in a pinch, an eye primer will suffice to do the same thing! Make sure your lips are well moisturized and sweep on a tiny bit of eye primer before applying lip liner and lipstick to help prevent the color from bleeding or smudging and to help prolong its wear.

Enough with the function of eye primer. Let's move to how to do it yourself :)

Products Needed:

Foundation or any makeup base which is water based. (Why? I’ll explain)
Aloevera gel (It is my makeup primer. Makes my pores small, skin tighter and gives a great base)
A good facial moisturiser
Vitamin E capsule
Compact powder

Why water based one? I wanted to make sure that the base was itself good to hold an eye shadow. When I experimented with my Lakme foundation and Lakme soufflé, the soufflé held it better and was softer yet controlled oil for loner time. Do the experiment yourself and then choose the base. If you have a makeup primer it is even better.

Homemade Eyeshadow Primer – Preparation:

Take equal amounts of the makeup base and moisturizer in a clean bowl and blend well. The moisturizer should be hydrating.

Now add 1/4th amount of aloe vera gel and beat it. This holds the base well and acts as an oil controller.

Add one vitamin e capsule for making it skin friendly and a great hydrator if you have dry lids. Skip if you have too oily lids.

Scrape compact powder to half the amount of the mixture you have in the previous step. Blend everything well to avoid clumps. This will act like a concealer and provide a smooth base for the shadow.

Store it in an air tight container.

Tada you are done.

This primer prevented my shadows from creasing and practically no fall out. Even the cheapest eye shadows I came up with worked effortlessly. The primer like latches on to the shadow and does not allow it fall at all. And blending it like as good as a painting. I even use this even if I am wearing just a pencil or liner on my lid. it makes them look even better.

The eye looks here are of the Libra look. I made one before using this and the one published was after using the shadow. See for yourself the difference. I used exactly the same shadows. When used without the primer see how only the tint was left. But when used with primer, the shimmer, color and sheen is so beautiful and vivid.

I personally think this is the best homemade eyeshadow primer out there. Do try ladies!

Here I attach together with a video :)

03:16:00

DIY Bronzer

Bronzer is one of the most important element in make up. to contour and to tan your face without having to go outside is the purpose of bronzer.

It never ceases to amaze me how many cosmetics you can make with ingredients from your kitchen.

However, I like my bronzer on the “contour” side. Any chance I get to highlight those fabulous cheekbones, I’ll take. So that’s what the majority of my bronzing powders have done.

(You can also use bronzing powder lightly under your chin to minimize the appearance of any “doubling” and chisel your jaw a bit.)

What I’m getting at is: I needed to find a way to make the bronzer less cinnamon and more shadowy.

However, I did try cinnamon straight as a bronzer on my forehead, nose, and chin, and loved it. For as irritating as cinnamon can be on the skin, I wore it all day yesterday and had no itches or uncomfortable feelings. Just a nice, light smell of cinnamon.

Here are two different ways you can utilize the ingredients in your kitchen as a fantastically natural bronzing powder.

(Can I get a yay!?!?)

Homemade Bronzing/Contour Powder

Ingredients for homemade bronzing/contour powder.

I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t do a lot of measuring when I made this. And I don’t think you should, either.

You know your skin tone better than anyone in the world, so choose your levels of ingredients accordingly.

I’m also not 100% sure the nutmeg was necessary, but I love the smell of nutmeg (and it’s GREAT for keeping away pimples).

And, before we get into the making of this, let’s talk about the application. Use a light hand. The first time I applied this, I did it very thickly – thinking that there’d be little color that stayed on my skin. Big mistake.

You know those war movies where they smudge dirt all over the soldiers faces to make them look more scary, intense, and slightly insane? That’s what this looks like if you don’t go VERY easy with the application. In addition, you might want to smooth it around with your fingers just a touch to even out the application, so you don’t have cocoa smudges anywhere.

Once you get all that done, it looks just like store-bought bronzing powder.

Here’s what you need:

Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Cocoa Powder
Cornstarch or Powdered Sugar
An empty compact or small jar with a lid
Essential oil (lavender, rose, or rosemary would do)

You could do this without the essential oil and just leave it as a very light bronze dusting powder. The oil basically just makes it a little more thick and easy to tamp into an empty compact case. If you choose NOT to use the oil, you don’t need the compact case. Just use a small jar and apply it as you would dry mineral powder.

If you’re going the essential oil route, empty out your compact case and clean it well. Even better than the one pictured here:

Clean, empty compact case.

Now, get all your ingredients together and get ready to mix ’em up. Here’s the approximate levels of what I used in mine:

Customizable Homemade Contour Powder

1 Tbsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tsp cornstarch
15 drops rose otto, lavender, or rosemary essential oil

When you’re adjusting this recipe to your desired darkness, remember: Cinnamon adds glow, cocoa adds depth and darkness, and nutmeg adds a sunkissed brown. Cornstarch spreads it all out and lightens it. Essential oil keeps it together and thickens.

Adjust the levels of ingredients to your liking and mix well in a small bowl, making sure to break up any clumps with your fingers. Place the powder in your clean, empty compact and tamp down well with the back of a spoon.

Apply as you would a contour powder.

Now, the above recipe may be too dark to just use as a light bronzing powder, so if you just want that natural sunkissed look, here’s another option:

Homemade Bronzing Powder

2 Tbsp cinnamon powder
3 tsp cornstarch (adjusted down or up depending on how dark you want the powder)

Mix these ingredients together in a small bowl, adjusting the levels as you’d like. Add a few drops of essential oil (lavender or rose would be best). Mix well. Place into clean, empty compact or small jar with a lid. Apply VERY lightly over your forehead, nose, chin, and apples of your cheeks for that beautiful (and SO natural) glow.

I wanted to give you guys an idea of how it actually works, so I used both things and took a picture.

However, I used FAR more of the contouring powder than I normally would – just so it would show up in the picture. Keep that in mind.

As a bonus, I put together a video by Ela Gale so enjoy ;)

03:01:00

Pale skin no more

Tan skin or caramel skin is a phenomena nowadays. People went all the way to beaches just to get their body soaked in sunshine and "burned" themselves. Well a little bit of colour on your skin won't fade your beauty away but of course it is dangerous to get your body "burn" under direct sunlight.

If you love being tan year-round but weren't lucky enough to be born with a deep, bronzed skin tone, you have probably spent too much time and money trying to achieve that perfect tan.

The sun and tanning beds can cause irreversible damage to your skin and sunless tanning products can have a horrible smell and include toxic chemicals. If you want to save money and avoid commercial sunless tanning products, I suggest you learn how to make your own homemade sunless tanning products.

You can make them at a fraction of the cost of their store-bought counterparts. Plus, you know exactly what is going into them and what you’re putting on your precious skin. There are many different options and variations to sunless tanning lotion recipes. You can pick the one that is right for you (which may simply be the one you already have the ingredients for).

The best part about making your own sunless tanning lotion is that:

You will avoid the weird orange color that sometimes comes from store-bought products.
You can customize the exact color you want by changing the recipe up just a little.
It is less expensive than its store-bought counterpart.
The recipes contain no harsh chemicals.

To get the best results from these homemade self-tanners, make sure to check out my advice on applying sunless tanners.

Cocoa Powder Sunless Tanning Lotion

Recipe for cocoa powder sunless tanning lotion.

This is the simplest sunless tanning lotion to make. It only requires two ingredients; unscented white lotion and 100% pure cocoa powder. You can use any cocoa powder as long as it says 100% pure on the label.

Ingredients:

Unscented white lotion
100% pure cocoa powder

Instructions:

Start out by combining 1/2 cup of unscented white lotion in a bowl with 1/3 cup of pure cocoa powder.
Mix with a fork. Make sure to break up any clumps and blend well.
Adjust the recipe to match your desired color. The lotion will appear darker in the bowl than it will on your skin. Keep adding a little bit of cocoa powder at a time until you reach your desired shade.
Smooth the tanning lotion over your entire body evenly.
Apply daily for a gradual deep tan.

Tips:

Store homemade lotion in a Tupperware container or in an empty jar that once held lotion.
Choose a moisturizing lotion for added benefits.
Exfoliate before application
The lotion will look very dark when you make it, but it does not show up that darkly on your skin. If you’re afraid to make it too dark, just use the standard 1/2 cup lotion and 1/3 cup cocoa and keep adding layers until it is as dark as you want it.
You will be able to see the color as you apply it.

See It in Action

Carrot-Based Homemade Sunless Tanning Oil

Recipe for carrot-based homemade sunless tanning oil.

Sunless tanning oils are even better than lotions in my opinion because there is even less of a chance of streaks. Less oil is needed to cover your entire body than lotion ounce per ounce. It is quick to spray on and rub in after your shower. This recipe makes about one gallon of sunless tanning oil.

Ingredients:

3/4 gallon of water (3 quarts)
1 pound of fresh carrots (unpeeled)
2 cups of brown sugar

Instructions:

Rinse the carrots and cut them into thin slices.
Bring the water to a boil.
Add the sliced carrots and brown sugar.
Reduce heat and simmer for three hours.
Turn off the stove and let the sunless tanning oil cool.
Pour the oil through a strainer to separate the clumps from the liquid.
Pour the self-tanner into a spray bottle. You can get these for a dollar at Dollar Tree.
Apply once every week to maintain color.

Tips:

If you want to get the most bang for your buck, get all of the liquid out of your carrots as you strain them by applying a little pressure.
Make sure there are no pieces of the carrot in your tanning solution, or they will clog your spray bottle, and the oil will not come out properly.

Reference: Donatella von Slutthen at Donatella's Fashion.

Coffee or Tea Homemade Sunless Tanning Lotion

Recipe for coffee or tea sunless tanning lotion.

For this tanning lotion, you can choose to use coffee or tea. It’s common knowledge that these drinks can stain your teeth, leaving an undesired effect; they can also “stain” your skin, leaving you with a beautiful tan color. No matter which one you chose, make sure you use the caffeinated type, not the decaf. The caffeine can actually help firm and tighten the skin to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and even cellulite. This just happens to be my favorite homemade tanning lotion.

Ingredients:

Either coffee grounds or tea bags (caffeinated)
Unscented white lotion

Instructions:

Brew coffee or tea just like you normally would. If using coffee, use enough grounds for an entire pot but only enough water to make one cup. If using tea, use enough tea bags (typically three to four) to make a gallon of tea, but only about one cup of water. This is typically three to four family-sized tea bags.
Mix enough lotion and coffee/tea to get your desired color. The more coffee or tea you add, the darker your tan will develop.
Put the resulting mixture in a spray bottle and apply.

Tips:

Make sure to shake well before each use.
Use weekly or bi-weekly for best results.
I personally prefer using tea bags—there is less of a chance of getting little pieces in the spray, and I don't really like the smell of coffee.
If you would like to, you don't even have to add the lotion; the tea/coffee liquid works just fine on its own.

After only one quick application of the tea tanning lotion to my left leg.

Homemade Outdoor Tanning Oil

If you don't want a sunless tan, you can even make your own outdoor tanning oil. All you need is some olive oil and iodine. Just mix a couple drops of iodine with a cup of olive oil, and you are ready to go. Put it in a spray bottle for easy use, apply, and get your tan on!

02:28:00

Healthy nails is a MUST

There are many causes of brittle nails. Iron and zinc deficiency, use of harsh detergents and chemicals, nail polishes and nail polish removers - they can all make them chip and break.

While cuticles provide some protection from all these agents, that is not enough. Preparing and using regularly nail hardening recipes will greatly enhance their appearance and health. They will make them more pliable and less prone to damage.

All these recipes involve essential oils as they provide the nourishment needed to keep the nails strong.

Hot oil nail treatment

Ingredients

1/4 olive oil
1 capsule of Vitamin E

Preparation

Heat the oil and let it cool down until it is warm to the touch
Add Vitamin E and gently rub the cuticles and nails

Use the excess oil to massage the hands.

Olive oil enhances the strength and flexibility, while Vitamin E oil nourishes the nails.

Nail Hardening Scrub

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of castor oil
1 teaspoon of honey
1/2 cup of shelled walnuts

Preparation

Grind the walnuts until they are in a form of a coarse powder
Add to that olive oil, castor oil and honey so it resembles a thick paste
Rub the hands and nails
Rinse with warm water and pat dry

Use this recipe twice a week to see the results.

All these ingredients combined together do the following:

Castor oil greatly benefits the nails. When olive oil is added, the nails flexibility it enhanced. Walnuts provide friction that removes the dead skin cells and at the same time replenish the skin's moisture.

Honey is a wonderful, natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria. It also has a high concentration of potassium which aids the hand treatment.

One more simple recipe is to dip fingertips in warm milk. Milk is full of calcium and potassium, like honey, which fortifies the nails.

Something a friend of mine told me: tap your fingers on a hard surface. Do not do it vigorously, just enough to get the circulation in the nail bed going. Apparently, it helps.

My recommendation for brittle nails product

I want to share with you a product that has helped my nails tremendously. I first used Nailtiques Protein Formula 2 a couple of years ago after I finally decided to stop biting my nails. It took a week or so to see the improvement because they were so damaged. A coat is applied daily on top of the previous coat. I removed it once a week and repeated the process. You will notice the difference in how hard the nails are, the chipping will be gone and they will feel strong and durable. An added benefit is that nails start growing really fast and continue so even after discontinuing the use. A small bottle lasted me approximately one month and this is with daily use.

This little bottle is a great find and a fantastic product that I highly recommend if your nails are not up to par.

And this time, I prepared two tutorial videos of how to get yourself perfect nails. YAYYYY!!

I would like to give the credit to Kizzy and HannahRoxNail for these two wonderful and magnificent tutorial *applause*

02:06:00

Split end? Frizzy? Dry? NOOOO!!!!

Hair is the second most significant part of our body. Hair occasionally represent as a girl's crown. TBH, if I was having my bad hair day, my entire day will ruin just like that. its either go frizzy, dry or simply crazy. I CAN'T ACCEPT THAT! I love it when my hair goes smooth and silky and of course manageable. Well who doesn't love that isn't it?

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and thought hey, that would make my hair look great? No? Maybe you should! Sometimes a few ingredients from your fridge and cupboard can make your hair look amazing in as little as 20 minutes. Can’t think of what you should mix? This is where I come in. Here are the 8 best homemade hair masks!

1. MILK AND HONEY MASK

Photo Credit: sevenworlds16

This is pretty simple and straightforward. All you have to do is mix up a single teaspoon of honey into one glass of whole milk then massage it into your hair from root to tip. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water and shampoo. Then, avoid bees, and you’ll see some amazing results in your hair.

2. COCONUT CREAM MASK

Photo Credit: cedar_9

This mask is kind of… sticky, sweet and time consuming to say the least. It’s also worth every minute. Take a chunk of coconut cream and warm it up in your hands. When it’s soft and pliable massage it into your hair. Slowly and carefully wrap your hair up into a warm towel and let the mask sit on your hair for one hour. Wash out with a mild shampoo and let your hair dry normally.

3. BANANA AND ALMOND MASK

Photo Credit: @mands

That’s right, bananas and almonds are good for your hair. Here’s what you do. Mash up one banana and add about 3 drops of #almond oil to your gooey concoction. Mix well and massage into your hair. Let it sit for about 25 minutes, rinse and wash your hair and you’re all done, it’s as easy as that!

4. STRAWBERRY MASK

Photo Credit: Ann&Ming

Strawberries, they’re not just for eating anymore! Take a cup of strawberries (the ones that are just a little too mushy to eat work best), one egg yolk, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix all of these up until the strawberries look more like juice than chunks. Work into your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse and wash with a mild shampoo!

5. AVOCADO AND MAYO MASK

Photo Credit: Shutterbug Gal

That’s right ladies, it’s not a myth. Mayo and Avocado really are good for your hair. Here’s what you do: take a full jar of full fat mayonnaise and one half of one very mashed up avocado. Mix well and apply to your hair. Pay very special #attention to those roots and then after 20 minutes rinse your hair in COLD water. You’ll see the difference!

6. OLIVE OIL AND LEMON JUICE

If you have a dry and flaky scalp, this is the mask for you! All you have to do is mix 2 tbsp fresh of lemon juice with 2 tbsp of olive oil and 2 tbsp water. Once this is done massage the mask into your scalp with damp hair. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes and then wash your hair regularly. This treatment can be applied to your hair every other week.

7. HONEY AND OLIVE OIL

Not only is honey delicious, but it can help your dry or sun damaged hair too! All you have to do is massage about a 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. To make this easier to apply you can also add 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the honey. If you feel like your hair is an extreme case trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 tbsp of a protein-rich ingredient, like #avocado or egg yolk. This will help replenish the protein bonds that UV rays attack. This treatment can be applied once a month.

8. EGG AND MILK

Photo via flickr.com

Depending on the length and volume of your hair decide whether you'll need one or two eggs. Then separate the yolk and the whites. Beat the yolks with a cup of milk and two tbsp of olive oil. After this, add a squeeze of lemon and massage into your scalp working from the roots to the ends. Cover your hair with a shower cap to alleviate any dripping and leave it there for at least 15 minutes. When rinsing it out make sure to use cold or lukewarm water to get the best results.

Well ladies, I’ve shown you just about all I can show you. So, next time you stick that head of yours into your refrigerator think about all the things inside that will make your hair #lookfabulous! Any ideas for #hair masks that I haven’t thought of? Any other delicious foods that can go on my head? Tell me all about it!

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DIY Eye Primer

Homemade Eyeshadow Primer – Preparation:

DIY Bronzer

Homemade Bronzing/Contour Powder

Customizable Homemade Contour Powder

Homemade Bronzing Powder

Pale skin no more

Cocoa Powder Sunless Tanning Lotion

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Tips:

See It in Action

Carrot-Based Homemade Sunless Tanning Oil

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Tips:

Coffee or Tea Homemade Sunless Tanning Lotion

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Tips:

Homemade Outdoor Tanning Oil

Healthy nails is a MUST

Split end? Frizzy? Dry? NOOOO!!!!

1. MILK AND HONEY MASK

2. COCONUT CREAM MASK

3. BANANA AND ALMOND MASK

4. STRAWBERRY MASK

5. AVOCADO AND MAYO MASK

6. OLIVE OIL AND LEMON JUICE

7. HONEY AND OLIVE OIL

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