10 Reasons to Love Drugstore Beauty Products.

Beauty products can be found almost anywhere these days including department stores, beauty supply stores, drugstores, supermarkets, discount stores, and online. If you have ever bought makeup at a department store or moisturizer from a television infomercial, you know it can be expensive to maintain. Drugstore beauty products are another option, and here are 10 reasons to love them.

1. Save Money

The number one reason to buy drugstore beauty products is to save money. A bottle of foundation can set you back $30 to over $100 at department stores and specialty stores. You can find a bottle of foundation that is often the same quality for $15 or less at a local drugstore. If you buy a lot of makeup frequently throughout the year, that savings will add up quickly.

2. Availability

Is your favorite department store brand only available in one store? Do you have to drive 40 miles to get there and pick up your favorite products? Maybe they run out of stock frequently. Drugstore beauty products are almost always in stock, and most people have a drugstore within 5 miles of their home. You also don’t have to wait for it to arrive in the mail if you order it online or from the television.

3. Testing Products

Some department stores let you test products, but not all of them do. If you’re shopping online, not only can’t you test anything, you can’t even be sure that the shade you see online will look the same in person. In a drugstore, you can test out most products before you buy. If there isn’t a test product available, ask a store associate if you can open one to try it out.

4. Convenience

The Internet has made saving money on products much easier, and it has opened up new markets allowing you to find products that may otherwise not be available to you. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost. You have to wait for the product to come in the mail, and you probably have to pay for shipping. You can buy a product at a drugstore within minutes and you don’t have to wait for shipping. Plus, more products are becoming available in large drugstores such as Walgreens or Rite Aid, including organic, natural products.

5. Variety

Department stores are not known for their variety when it comes to beauty products. They usually carry only one brand associated with the store. At a drugstore, you can find hundreds of different products from dozens of reputable brands for hair products, skin products, and makeup. The larger the drugstore, the more you have to choose from.

6. Coupons and Deals

Sometimes online stores or department stores have sales, but it’s nothing like drugstores. Beauty products have coupons available every week. Hold onto the coupon until a sale comes around and you can save 50% or more off the retail price. ‘Extreme couponers’ have been known to get shampoos, conditioners, and body washes for free or almost for free using coupons and deals.

7. Regular New Products

With dozens of different brands comes dozens of new beauty products every year. Drugstores always want to have the latest products to get you in the store. Beauty product companies almost always have coupons for new products. That means you always have lots of new products to choose from that are inexpensive to try out.

8. Try it before You Buy it

You won’t be able to try shampoo or body wash before you buy it, but you can usually test out foundation, concealer, or other makeup products before you commit to a purchase. Ask a drugstore employee if there are any samples you can try if you don’t see any. They might open up a few and add a ‘sample’ sticker to give you a chance to test.

9. Often the Same as the Expensive Products

Television commercials are always touting their ‘breakthrough’ products that are absolutely better than anything else available. The truth is that many of the products available at department stores are the same as those available in drugstores. In fact, many of the less expensive drugstore brands are better than what’s available at the mall.

10. Make Your Own Choices

Buying makeup can be frustrating when you’re looking for the right shades and colors. Now add a pushy saleslady that is trying to push the most expensive products on you in order to get a commission.  In a drugstore, you can take your time browsing and never have to worry about someone asking you if you need help every 2 minutes.
You might have a department store brand that you swear by, but don’t underestimate drugstore beauty products. They are less expensive to try out and might be even better than what you’re used to. Take a trip to the drugstore and look at the available hair, makeup, and skin products.

10 Instant Ways to Contour Your Face.

Contouring makeup can be difficult. Unless you have naturally chiseled cheekbones and a finely structured jaw, then you may want to “sculpt” your face with makeup. The key is to understand how to play light and shadow off one another. Check out ten different ways to contour your face and pick the ones that work best for you.

1. Primer

A primer is designed to keep other things in place. Primer is a necessity when contouring because you need shadow to stay out of highlight areas and vice versa. A good primer can make the difference between strong contours and a mess of makeup that blends together into one uniform color.

2. Dotting Base Shades

Use your fingers to apply two different base shades over your primer. The first shade, which is one shade lighter than your skin tone, will go in the center of your face. That means you should put a dot on your nose, forehead, and chin. Put one dot on each cheek, at the highest point. Follow up the dots of light shade with a color that is one shade darker than your skin tone. This shade goes around the perimeter of your face (near your hairline, along the base of your jaw, and near your ears) and in the creases where your nose meets your face. Blend the two shades together with a natural bristle brush. This technique works well for foundation shades and can be combined with other techniques, such as highlighting powder.

3. Highlighting Powder

Highlighting powder should be two shades lighter than your foundation. You will want to use this only on the brightest highlight areas of your face (cheekbones mostly). Remember to dab it on. If you do brush, do so with short, gentle, circular strokes to avoid moving your foundation.

4. Glimmer versus Matte

Brighter, glimmering colors work well for light areas. Matte colors work best for the shaded regions of your face. Matte absorbs light, while shimmers reflect it, so use these finishes accordingly. You want a bit of reflection on the highest points of your face, but never on your jawline.

5. Use a Kit

If you are new to contouring, you may want to consider a kit. Kits usually contain the three shades you need to create contour and instructions as to how to use the shades appropriately. Kits may not provide the perfect shades for your skin tone, but they can take a lot of the guess work out of the process for beginners. A kit is a great place to start learning.

6. Use Blush

Blush offers a nice final touch to a contour job by adding a little color to your face. In general, you want to use a slightly pink tone and apply it just a little behind the apples of the cheeks. Make sure the blush has a little bit of glimmer in it. Never use a flat or matte blush, always go for a cream blush.

7. Contour Your Nose

Contouring can be used to make your nose look smaller or larger, though most people opt to minimize the nose. A darker tone on the underside of the tip of your nose will make it appear to protrude less. Darker colors in the midsection where the nose meets the face, can help to smooth the transition from the widest part of the nose, making it appear smaller. Applying highlighter to the bridge of the nose can make it appear thinner.

8. Diagonal Strokes to Thin Your Cheeks

The diagonal application of a shade of foundation that is darker than your skin can be used to thin your cheeks. Start at the center of your cheek and stroke toward your ear using an upward motion. It can help to make a “fish face” while doing this so that you know where to put the color (on the upper side of the depression created). Once the darker color is applied, blend it together with the highlight color to produce smooth transitions.

9. Enlarge Your Eyes

If your eyes appear larger, your face and nose will appear smaller in comparison. To make your eyes look larger, apply mascara to your upper lids, fill in your brows with a pencil, and trace your lower lash line with a pencil that is slightly darker than your skin tone. Trace your upper lash line with a light blue shade. End with a shimmery neutral shade on the center of your lid.

10. Shape Your Eyebrows

The right eyebrow shape can make a huge difference in the appearance of your face. A higher arch will make a round face look thinner and taller. A less prominent arch will help make a tall face look more robust. Pay very close attention to your eyebrows as their shape can drastically alter the appearance of your face.

10 Ways to Get Perfect Skin in 2 Weeks.

Сlear, radiant, soft skin not only looks great, it feels great too. If you want to get healthy, flawless skin, then these ten tips should put you on the right track. Keep in mind that everyone’s skin is a little different, so you may react differently to these treatments.

1. Determine Skin Type

The first step to addressing your skin is to determine whether yours is oily, dry, in between (normal), or a combination of dry and oily. Dry skin usually feels taut and tends to flake. People with dry skin will have small pores (they may not even be visible) and often complain of itchy skin. Oily skin, on the other hand, feels greasy to the touch and tends to be shiny. People with oily skin will have large, visible pores. Normal skin falls in between the extremes of dry and oily, with pores that are moderately sized and often not visible (except after exercise in some cases). Normal skin is supple and smooth. Most people fall into the combination category, with oily skin in the T-zone (nose and forehead) and normal or dry skin elsewhere.

2. Clean, Tone, and Moisturize

When you clean your skin, do so gently using just your fingers and soap or a mild exfoliant. People with dry or oily skin will do well with an exfoliant. After cleaning your skin, pat it dry (never rub it) and apply a toner. Toners help to reduce wrinkles and strengthen skin. Finally, if you have dry skin, apply a moisturizer advertised as “noncomedogenic,” which means it won’t worsen acne. People with oily skin generally don’t need moisturizer, except in dry winter months. As a side note, a few drops of fresh lemon juice make an excellent toner.

3. Wear Sunscreen

The sun is the single biggest threat to your skin. It can worsen acne, accelerate the effects of aging (more wrinkles and spots), and even lead to skin cancer. Wear a sunscreen that blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays and that is rated at least an SPF 15. There are many sunscreens on the market designed to accommodate different skin types, so choose one that is right for you.

4. Always Remove Makeup

Makeup is for covering your skin, not for improving its health. In fact, makeup can damage the health of your skin and the longer you leave it on, the worse its effects can be. You must remove makeup every night, all the way down to clean skin. Makeup that needs special chemicals for removal is probably doing more damage to your skin than makeup that comes off with soap and water.

5. Eat Well

A diet high in fruits and vegetables and with fewer processed grains will provide you with all of the right vitamins and minerals for good skin health. Avoid eating too much sugar, greasy foods, and red meats. Caffeine is okay in moderation, but don’t overdo it. Lycopene, found in tomatoes and watermelon, can reduce redness and fight wrinkles, so eat up.

6. Exercise

Exercise increases the flow of blood to your skin, which helps your body remove waste. It also releases endorphins and reduces levels of hormones known to negatively impact skin structure. Exercise has even been shown to improve acne. As an added bonus, exercise can leave you with a rosy glow that lasts hours after your workout is over.

7. Wash Pillowcases Frequently

Pillowcases are something people tend to forget about. They wash them, but often not regularly. You don’t have to wash all of your bedding every week, but you should wash pillowcases at least that often to reduce bacteria that can cause breakouts. Washing pillowcases weekly will also improve the quality of your sleep, which is another factor in having healthy skin. Be sure to sanitize your phone at the same time. Anything that spends time near your face needs to be as free of bacteria as possible.

8. Consider Retinol

Retinol, or vitamin A, actually helps your skin repair itself faster and speeds the rate at which your skin grows. In other words, retinol causes skin to turn over faster so that you always have fresh, new skin cells on the surface rather than old, dry ones. Retinol also boosts collagen production, which can help to reduce wrinkles. You can see results in as little as two weeks with some products.

9. Avoid Hot Water

Hot water causes your skin to dry out and can even cause mild burn. The result is red, scaly, and even swollen skin that can take as much as two hours to recover. Warm showers are okay, but you don’t want to see steam wafting up around you.

10. Wear Sunglasses

The skin under your eyes is thinner than the skin on almost any other part of your body. As such, this skin is more prone to damage. Wearing sunglasses provides more protection for the skin around your eyes than sunblock ever could. Not only do glasses shield the skin from the sun, they prevent you from squinting in bright light, which also helps to prevent wrinkles.
Caring for your skin is a lifelong process. The tips above are designed to get you up and feeling good in just two weeks, but the best thing you can do for your skin is to take care of it day in and day out. Treat your skin well to keep it looking healthy and beautiful your entire life. What are your secrets to perfect skin?

10 Ways to Appear More Interesting in the Eyes of Others.

If you want to become a more interesting person to others, then it’s time to make some changes. In fact, there are a few ways to appear more interesting in the eyes of others that really work. Sure, the most important person you have to please is you. However, we shouldn’t forget about people around us. Follow these simple, yet effective tips on how to appear more interesting in the eyes of others, and you’ll also find yourself more interesting!

1. Listen to yourself first

One of the most important ways to appear more interesting in the eyes of others is to start to listen to yourself. Turn off the TV, music, your phone, and spend time with yourself. Think about the things that you have created, accomplished and overcome in your life. Think about the most special day in your life, a way you did something you never thought you could. Once you’ve fully embraced yourself, you’ll never again let anyone put you down and make you feel less about yourself.

2. Be a good listener

If you want to become more interesting in the eyes of people around you, you should become a good listener. Ask people questions about subjects that you know matter to them and listen to the stories people have to tell. When you are a good listener, people find you more interesting to spend time with. The more great stories you hear of other people, the more you can empathize and share your own stories.

3. Speak up with expression

The more you contribute to a conversation or a meeting, the more interesting you will come off. If you stay silent, no one will even notice you. Ask questions, make remarks and make sure you do it with expression. Expressive speech is one of the best ways to appear more interesting in the eyes of others. Change your tone and volume if needed, and minimize the number of pauses you make as you speak.

4. Ask yourself tough questions

If someone tells you that you are not interested to be with, don’t hurry to hate them. Ask yourself the hard question of why they say that. Maybe, it’s because they simply want to put you down, or you mention your ex-boyfriend in every other story, or maybe it’s time for you to change something in your life, change your lifestyle. Try going back over the last conversations you have had, and objectively and honestly determine if there were some ways you could have made the conversation more interesting or fun. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

5. Learn something new

Feel like you stuck in a rut? You go to work/college, go to the grocery store, then go home, and you do it all over again the next day. Get out of that rut. Indulge in hobbies, learn something new and expand your horizons. Go ahead and learn a new language to become interesting in the eyes of even more people from different countries. Check out the classes and groups local libraries often have for free. It’s a great opportunity to learn something new and meet more interesting people.

6. Spend more time with friends

Sometimes it’s difficult to put yourself out there to be with someone, especially when you’re feeling down. You will never become more interesting if you always stay at home alone. Join your coworkers for a cocktail after work, even if you don’t drink alcohol, invite your friends to the movie, and go somewhere to have pizza and chat about the movie you watched. The more you spend time with others, the more interesting you become!

7. Take the chance

To feel more interesting sometimes you just have to take one huge step out of your comfort zone. Do you dream of spending a freewheeling weekend in Chicago? Have you always wanted to swim with dolphins? If so, what are you waiting for? Stop saying everyone about your dreams and start making your dreams come true. This way, you will appear more interesting in the eyes of others and you will feel more complete and happy.

8. Go exploring and share your knowledge

Explore opinions, ideas, and places and feel free to share your knowledge with your family, friends and coworkers. Not everyone go exploring and not everyone knows what you know. Share your adventures and people will want to spend more time with you.

9. Be courageous

You need to be brave to have contrary opinions and to take absolutely new paths. If you are not courageous, you won’t be successful in creating a life that’s full of happiness and you won’t appear more interesting in the eyes of others.

10. Work on yourself

Finally, never stop working on yourself. Do things to improve your confidence and boost your energy level. This will help you feel more comfortable in your own skin. A confident person makes everybody around them feel better. And if you don’t moan about your flaws and you show your confidence, people will enjoy being around you.
Many of us are trying to be more interesting but it can be a challenging thing. Follow the aforementioned tips and hopefully you will reach your goal. What do you do to appear more interesting in the eyes of others? Share your tips with us, please.

White Teeth – Good First Impression.

As much as we tell each other that it’s what is on the inside that counts, the hard truth is that your outward appearance is what you will often be judged on. White teeth can play an important part in a good first impression, opening important doors in your life.

It is human nature to analyse visual input and make decisions on character before a single word is spoken. Most people don’t have the money or the desire to undertake painful and expensive surgery. The best way to make a good impression on a first date, job interview or important event is to look the best you can. Proper clothing, grooming and hygiene are important, and a bright smile can be one of the best keys to a positive impression. Knowing your teeth are sparking can also help you exude confidence in any situation.
The first key is examining your habits. Here are some regular every day causes of discoloration and what you can do about them:

Coffee

Coffee – In today’s fast-paced, low-sleep world coffee has become a daily necessity for many busy people. The dark color of coffee will stain any surface, whether it’s a t-shit or your pearly whites. The more you drink the more your teeth will be stained. If you are a frequent coffee drinker, keeping up frequent brushing and good oral hygiene will help slow the staining process.

Cola

Cola – The popularity of Cola is something that helps keep dentists in business. Not only do to the sugars in cola wear away tooth enamel and contribute to cavities, but the dark color makes them another prime culprit in tooth staining, for the same reasons as coffee.

Fruit Juice

Fruit Juice – Any dark fruit juice will stain your teeth, the most obvious one being grape juice. Grape juice is full of anthocyanins, which gives grapes their purple or red colors. Anthocyanins are a great anti-oxidant and a key part of a healthy diet. Unfortunately the pigment also stains teeth. Some fruit juices also have just as much sugar as cola and will wear away tooth enamel.

Alcohol

Alcohol – Many types of alcohol contain dark pigments that will stain your teeth. A prime example is wine. Just like grape juice, red wine is loaded with anthocyanin pigments. Some wine enthusiast suggest rinsing your mouth with water or white wine after drinking red in order to slow the staining process.

Smoking

Smoking – We’ve all heard about the many negative health affects of smoking, such as heart disease and cancer. Smoking is also a big culprit for the discoloration of teeth. Quitting smoking is obviously a good choice, but even after quitting your teeth can still be stained from years of tobacco use.
Today many people are weary of possible side effect caused by harsh chemicals that may be in many commercial teeth whitening products. Here are a few natural remedies and products to consider if you’d like to create a whiter smile:

Baking soda

Baking Soda – A long standing home remedy, baking soda can be used in a variety of ways to whiten teeth. Some people swear by brushing once a week with a paste made of baking soda and water, others sprinkle some onto their regular tooth paste before brushing 2-3 times per week. The web holds a number of other baking soda based whitening formulas for tech savvy searchers. Although baking soda can work, it has to be used frequently, but over use can actually be too abrasive and wear away tooth enamel.

Olive Oil

Olive Oil – One home remedy is to soak a cotton swab or dry cosmetic pad with olive oil. Practitioners recommend you rub all visible teeth with the olive oil for approximately 10 minutes then brush your teeth as you normally would. This method is known for being very low impact and often necessitates you repeat the process several times consecutively. This method can become very time consuming, and may not be the best option if you don’t have up to an hour to spend on teeth whitening at least twice per week.

Peroxide

Peroxide – Peroxide is well known for its bleaching effects. One method often used is to combine two fluid ounces of hydrogen peroxide with three ounces of water and then rinse your mouth with the formula for several minutes the same way you would with mouth wash. It’s important to note that overuse of peroxide can also damage your teeth and that peroxide should never be swallowed as it can make you very ill.

Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser Teeth Whitening – A newer more high tech option available at your dentist’s office. UV lasers are shone through a special machine directly at your teeth and the effects simulate the same effect as tooth bleaching. Although the UV laser treatment does offer immediate results, it can be expensive and can damage teeth just like bleaching if done often. The full health effects of the laser radiation are yet to be fully studied and could potentially be harmful.
Regardless of how you choose to whiten your teeth, it can’t be denied that everyone is attracted to a bright, white smile. When you are looking forward to an important event or meeting, don’t overlook the importance of making sure that your teeth are at their whitest. It could be the key to landing the big job or making a connection with that important someone!

10 Best Ways to Get Rid of Freckles.

Freckles are a very common blemish, particularly for those with light skin. While they can be a sign of sun damage, you are more or less prone to them depending on genetics. These little brown spots can appear anywhere on the body, though hands and face are usually the most affected. You can often get rid of these marks with medical methods, but most people try home remedies first. Here are a few methods you might want to try yourself. But make sure you consult your doctor or dermatologist first.

1. Bleach cream

To get rid of spots and discolored skin, you can use a bleaching cream. There are several available to you, but it is a good idea to test the cream on a hidden area of your body first. Some creams can cause a reaction as they are rather strong. They may also cause your skin to darken instead of lighten, so testing the effects on your own skin is a good idea.

2. Lasers

You can have freckles removed with lasers. This can be fairly quick and is good for those who have large freckles. However, you will need to be sure that none of the spots are cancerous. Skin cancer can be insidious and may be disguised as a simple blemish. Consult your doctor first.

3. Lactic acid

Spread some sour cream over the areas that are affected by freckles and you can gently fade them. It can take a number of treatments, however, so you may want to invest in a few large tubs of sour cream. Alternatively, you can use sour milk.

4. Chemical peels

If you are determined to get rid of your blemishes, you can eliminate them with a chemical peel. Since the peel removes several layers of skin, it can get rid of any irregularities that are on the surface. Home peels are not usually a good idea, as they do not have the right strength to eliminate all blemishes and can be difficult to administer yourself. Your best bet is to see a dermatologist for this type of procedure. It will leave your skin raw for a few days, but it will heal smoothly and usually blemish free.

5. Freezing

You can also freeze your freckles, though this may be best left to a professional. Essentially, you use liquid nitrogen on the spot. This creates a blister, which causes the discolored skin to fall off after a few days. It can be a very harsh treatment, however, so you should never repeat treatments in the same area within a week.

6. Fruit and vegetable facials

Another popular home remedy is to use certain fruits and vegetables on your face. Making your own face mask is easy. Just toss the desired ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth. Spread the mask on your skin and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. Good options include apricots, strawberries and cucumbers. Parsley juice mixed with lemon juice is also a good choice.

7. Lemon juice

The juice of lemons has long been used to create lighter skin. It can actually lighten your freckles naturally. However, the acid in the lemon juice may be irritating to your skin so test it on a small patch before you spread it over your entire face. You can apply just the juice or cut a lemon in half and rub it over the spots.

8. Vitamin C

If you prefer a method of getting rid of freckles that doesn’t involve smearing things on your face, you can take Vitamin C supplements. You can get this from certain foods, as well. Citrus is an excellent source of Vitamin C. It will help protect your skin from forming new freckles by making it more resistant to the sun’s rays. You can also avoid the sun, particularly around midday, when the UV rays are strongest.

9. Eggplant

Slice fresh eggplant and apply to the most affected areas. You can gently massage the eggplant slice into your skin to help release the juices. Leave the slices on your skin for at least ten minutes. If you do this on a daily basis, you will notice a definite reduction in a week or two.

10. Castor oil

Both castor oil and Vitamin E oil can work to remove blemishes. At bedtime, wash your face with soap and water and rinse well. Dry your face with a towel. Apply the chosen oil to your freckles and let it soak in for ten minutes before you head to bed. In the morning, you can wipe the oil away and rinse your face. Don’t apply anything else, for best results. Repeat until your freckles have faded away.
Everyone has a home remedy for eliminating blemishes. You can either treat them yourself or see a dermatologist for a more serious method. While the harsher techniques will work faster, many of the home remedies are also very effective over time.