How to Apply Bridal Makeup - Indian Bridal Makeup Tips

In makeup , bright and neon colors must be avoided... they simply scream out of photos, but do not go to the opposite side. Every woman whether in india or elsewhere, therefore, must have knowledge of bridal makeup and of things required for indian bridal makeup, because beauty clinics are not available in small towns or villages.

The bright day of your wedding it is not proper to use gray. All the effort put in to making your skin look radiant will go to the trashcan because gray makes skin look ashy. The best bet for your makeup in the big day is to choose a neutral or true color.

Bridal Makeup Tips and Advice

Use a professional makeup artist if possible. Have a pre-wedding consultation so your makeup artist already knows what you want

Have your makeup done as close to the ceremony as possible

Have facial two weeks prior to your wedding. If you've not had facials in the past we would recommend you start this process 3-4 months prior to your wedding.

Use a primer before applying your foundation. This will make your foundation last longer. It is also a good idea to use an eye primer to eliminate shadow creasing

Make certain your foundation is an exact match to your skin tone

Use powdered rice papers to eliminate any shine

Use a light to medium lipstick that is long wearing. If you will be having black and white photos then add a layer of lip gloss

Start applying your favorite lipstick shade. To last for all day, use lip pencil and then go for filling in with lipstick. Add some gloss to your lips for a great impact. Long lasting lipstick will stand you in good stead.

When applying your makeup wear a button shirt that can be easily removed when its time to dress.

Place a towel over your head prior to slipping into your gown to avoid getting makeup on your gown.

If you've had your hair professionally done and you will be removing your veil, then have the stylist show your mom or bridesmaids how to fix your style.

A week before your wedding rehearse your makeup - practice, practice, and practice some more, until you perfect the look you want for your wedding day.

Choose a hairstyle that will suit your face shape. Round faces will look good on high 'up dos' and sleek long styles while long faces suit styles that have width and volume.

If your wearing sandals then about a month before your wedding start your foot treatment so your feet look as good as the rest of you.

Do not do your own makeup. Have a professional makeup artist or a friend do it. Chances are you've got a bit of the jitters with all the excitement which could result in you having difficulties doing your own makeup

Eyebrow Filling

Eyebrow pencils with a smooth, light texture and soft, dry finish are good for filling in eyebrows and give them a natural look too, while defining their shape. Begin application in the center of the brow and work outward toward the brow tip then back toward the beginning of the brow.

Use short, light strokes between the brow hairs, and apply a bit more pressure (for stronger color) when defining the underside of the brow. Use a clean toothbrush (or a brow brush, which is similar but more expensive) to soften the color and groom the brow. Alternately, you may apply a bit of hairspray to the toothbrush, and comb this through the brow for hold and control.

Keep in mind that most brow pencils deposit stronger color than a powder, so take care to use a light touch. If you apply too much color, soften the effect with a Q-Tip that has been dipped in makeup remover. Do not apply eyebrow pencil too close to the inner brow (near the nose).

Adding more than a bit of color here tends to create a too-strong or angry-looking brow. A combination approach , using a pencil with powder, can give you the control and delineation of a pencil, and the softer, shaded look of a powder. You can try shaping the brow with the powder first and then finish the detail work with the pencil or brow gel. This is especially helpful if you have bald spots in your eyebrow or need to slightly extend the end of your brows so they frame your eyes better.

Eyebrow Filling

Useful Tips on Eyebrow Filling :

A thicker brow with a sharp eyebrow pencil using light, feathery strokes, adding color to thinner areas.

As much as possible, work only with the hair that is there. The idea is to shade rather than draw on eyebrows.

Brush the brow up with a toothbrush.

Apply the color by filling in the shape of the brow between the hairs where needed.

Fill in only at the front or underneath the brow, or through the brow itself.

Groom your brows with a clean mascara brush or similar tool. Move loose hairs into place and blend color for a more natural appearance.

When you are finished with the filling process, with the help of upward strokes, brush the brows back into the place. Prefer using an eyebrow brush for this purpose as this will help soften and shade the eyebrow pencil coloring to make it look more natural.

To see the natural line of the eyebrow and where it needs to be filled, comb your brow with the help of an eyebrow brush or a toothbrush in the direction in which it grows.

Eyebrow Brush

Eyebrows can give expression to the face and highlight the eyes, too. The slanted shape is ideal for applying color to the vacant spaces in the eye brow thus creating the illusion of small, slanting eyebrow hairs in between existing ones. Great for giving control to wild eyebrows, it adds a final touch of grooming to a finished look.

Eyebrow brushes are similar to tiny toothbrushes. This eyebrow makeup brush is used to smooth the tiny hairs into shape. This is especially useful before and after plucking to confirm the desired shape. This type of makeup brush has an angled head and can be used to apply a small amount of shadow through the brow hairs too.

For a very dark blush, scrape it up into a fine powder and put it in any container with a lid on it. Mix some powder (anything that best suits you) in it until it is as light as you want it . Brushed upwards, brows look striking in photographs.

Origins make a fabulous eyebrow brush, in a dark green lacquer. Brow Scissors and Brush provide the first steps in total brow grooming. Scissors feature sharp, straight blades that cut right to their safety point with large finger holes for added control.

Blades are specially designed to keep hair from slipping. Brow Brush shapes brows after trimming. The eyebrow should never weigh heavily on the eye, but should arch over it in a gentle curve. The most natural line is the one parallel to the line of your upper eyelid.

Eyebrow Arching

Eyebrow Arching is used for a perfect brow arch and shaped look eybrow. Arching your eyebrows can be done through threading.

Eyebrow arching is now becoming very popular because it is more precise and produces a beautiful uniform shape. All this and it is more gentle than tweezing or waxing. The most prominent features on your face are the eyebrows.

The properly shaped brows do the same for your eyes as the right frame for a beautiful picture. Since our faces differ from one side to the other, a simple way to make sure both sides are balanced before beginning on the other brow is to place the pencil on the outer point of one brow to the inner point of the same brow and the inner point of the opposite brow.

The first step to tweezing is thinning the eyebrow, then slowly begin to define the arch. The arch of the eyebrow should reach the highest point above the middle of your iris. Thin the brow from that point out. The brows are the frame of your eyes.

Eyebrows, the most prominent parts of your face, are arched using different eyebrow arching techniques. The first spot on your face that people look to is the area of the eyes. Using a brow pencil or flat shadow, color in your brows using a color that is a shade darker than your hair color if you have light hair or a shade lighter if you have dark hair. The crest of the arch should always be above the eye socket and just outside of where the pupil is.

The eyebrow itself starts inside the eye socket and continues upward toward the arch. Hold the pencil to the same edge of the nose and connect it with the outer corner of the corresponding eye. If you continue that line, you will see where the brow will end.

Tweeze away any hairs that do not fall into those lines. To see where the brow should begin, using your pencil place it at the edge of your nose and connect this point to the corresponding inside corner of your eye. The line it makes is where the brow should begin.

Eyebrow shaping is no simple task though. Pluck too much and you end up with a perpetual look of surprise or worse, like you have no eyebrows at all. Pluck too little, and you go for paint on eyebrow look. Here are a few tips to make sure your eyebrows come out the perfect shape.

1.Never pluck above the eyebrow. Bleach unruly upper hairs instead.

2. Brush the brows upward before plucking so that you have a clear idea of the lower eyebrow line.

3. Always pluck eyebrow hairs in the direction that the hair grows. This way is less painful and the hairs will regrow flat.

4. Tweeze one hair at a time, starting at the inside (near the nose) and working your way out.

5. Don't over pluck. Take one row of hairs off at a time and examine the eyebrows before deciding if another row needs to come off.

Follow these few simple tips for the eyebrows that will make you stand out.

Skin Cleansing

Cleansing is a very vital part of beauty and skin care. We are living in a very polluted environment, today. The dust, grime and impurities in the atmosphere play havoc with the skin. It is, therefore, extremely important to clean the skin, every night. An oily skin requires more cleaning than a dry skin because the open pores, on the oily skin become clogged with dirt and oil. If you do' not want to use the branded products available in the market, do the cleaning with home-based products. Take 2-teaspoons of cold milk, apply it on the face and wipe away with a moist cotton wool. For oily skin, add a little water to the milk. Follow it up with a toner.

Ordinary soap is often dismissed as useless and harmful by many people. This is absolutely untrue. The purpose of any cleansing operation (a term favoured by some skin-care people for aprocess mostof us know as washing) is to remove dirt and grease. Ordinary soaps do this effectively - and sometimes even too thoroughly. Soap's contain fats which work very effectively as cleansers of grease and grime. Soaps will also remove some cosmetics , but most of the heavily pigmented cosmetics and the water-proof eye make-upproducts are not easily removed with soaps - forthese,a cosmetic cleanser is usually required.

You must always rinse the skin thoroughly with water after using soaps. Soap,if allowed to remain on the skin, attracts dirt; it can also cause irritation of the skin. In hard water areas, soap residue if left on the skin can combine with the calcium and magnesium salts in the water to form a scum, which is really very diffIcult to remove. There are several alternatives to soap and water cleansing. Cleansers can be in the form of creams, milks, lotions, gels and liquids. All are, a mixture of oil, wax and water which have been formulated to suit different skin types. A cotton-pad dipped in fresh milk available at home, is an equally effective cleanser.

Cleansing the face 4-5 times a day,is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 5-7 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.

With the cleanser in your hand, let your fingers glide over your skin, or use light patting movements with the pads of your fingers. Up-wards and out wards movements have frequently been suggested as the right way to apply all kinds of creams to the face - this is thought to prevent or delay the eventual loss of muscle tone and the resultant sagging of the skin.Leave the cleanser on for a minute or two so as to loosen the din and make-up. Then gently remove it either with cotton wool or with tissue paper, again using upward and outward movements. Wipe over the face again with a damp cotton wool ball, and if it does not come away clean, repeat the cleansing process. Finally rinse with water.

Mechanical cleansing of your skin: A recent concept in skin cleansing is epidermabrasion-this is, literally, mechanically rubbing off the dead cells from the skin surface. Various substances are available - among the most familiar are a variety of granules (sand, sawdust, silica and pumice) and slowly soluble abrasive materials (like sodium tetraborate decahydrate). These granules can also be incorporated into soaps and creams and form the basis of some of the peeling face-masks available in the market. Other materials for epidermabrasion are sand-paper, hemp cloth, cellulose of the luffa plant, sea-sponges and man-made sponges of cellulose and polyurethane. Woven webs can alsobe used for epidermabrasion, the best known being the ubiquitous wash cloth, which provides a very delicate level of epidermabrasion. The most recent development in epidermabrasion technology is the use of non-woven polyester webs. Most skins tolerate this treatment well, though it should definitely be avoided on the very dry skins.

Skin Cleansing Tips

Cleansing removes the dirt, oil, makeup and dead cells that have accumulated on your skin during the day (but again, don't be overanxious- removing all the oil that protects the skin from losing needed moisture will only dry it out). It is so easy to do-you don't need a formula, or special circumstances or a lot of time.

Cleansing your body is something you do regularly each time you use soap in a shower or a bath. Cleansing your facial skin is at least as important, if not more so, and as easy.Cleansing your skin can also treat your skin, if done with the appropriate cleanser in the right manner.

Since most of us have so-called combination skin, the best cleanser to use is one that is water soluble and nondrying, a smooth cream that can be used with your hands, a face buff or a facial brush (you can buy a facial vibrator with attachments that are made for scrubbing and cleansing as well as increasing the circulation in your face). Such a cleanser will remove the dirt and dead cells without drying out the skin. If you prefer a cleansing soap, be sure it is not alkaline (which will dry you out).

For particularly dry skin, you can use a cleansing lotion or cleansing milk-but I wouldn't use soap; it might further dehydrate your skin. If you have very oily skin, you know that it can get dirty easily because dirt and makeup stick to it like glue. Be sure you use a cleansing milk that will remove the dirt but will not add any oil to your skin.

How to cleanse your skin

The night time routine when you remove your makeup is the beginning of any skin-cleansing program. For some people, their makeup remover is a cleanser, although they still use a separate one to remove eye makeup. For others, a cleanser can be used in addition to a makeup remover.

First, be sure to wash your hands. Then use a gentle, nondrying makeup remover. Spread it on your face and neck, and stroke it with your fingertips or a face buff. Be sure to use a circular motion and alwaysmove upward (gravitywill pull your skindown soon enough). Then rinse off with warm water or a damp washcloth. (If you are going to take a shower, you can cleanse your face there either with a nonalkaline soap or with your cleanser.) If you do this simple cleansing every night, your skin will be able to breathe while you sleep. In the morning, chances are all you will need to do is use an astringent on your face to remove any traces of overnight secretion from your oil glands, and then apply your moisturizer and your makeup.

There are a couple of handy and effective cleansing tools on the market now. One is a rough towel that is used to cleanse and rub the skin on your body. It is a terrific skin reviver and helps remove dead cells. The loofah, a hard, spongelike "tool," is also effective in ridding your skin of the top layer of dead cells. For the face, there is a gentle face buff which helps in cleansing the pores and also in taking off dead cells. You can also buy a brush specifically designed to be used for cleansing facial skin.

When using any of these "tools," be sure to rub gently, yet firmly, particularly on your face. You may need some practice to get this balance down, because it is important to stimulate your skin but not to stretch or damage it.

Beauty Masks

There is too much emphasis on the cosmetics that are based on chemical preparations. They have caused more harm than benefit and the world is slowly awakening to the beauty masks. These substitutes have been around for ages; in fact, Indian women have been using herbal products for many hundred years. It is only now that the western world has woken up to the efficacy of these products. The products that are given here are easily available in the kitchen and the results are for yours to see. There are no harmful effects and the results can be stupendous. Some are:

For a very tanned skin, mix the juice of a lemon with sugar, add a little glycerine and scrub gently in circular movements.This will not only get rid of the tan but also soften the skin.

To prevent the effects of sunburn , mix l-teaspoon potato iuice with l-leaspoon lemon iuice ond leave it on lor 15 minutes.Wash after some time. Repeat for a few days to get rid of the tan.

For soft palms, apply a mixture of sugar and olive oil and rub for a while before washing it off.

Homemade Heena Masks

Mix one cup of henna with one cup of tea. To this paste add an egg and a tablespoon of castor oil. This helps the paste to stick nicely to the hair. You may also add a spoon of coffee powder and a spoon of amla powder for better effect. Keep the paste in an iron vessel overnight. Apply to the hair, in the morning. Keep it on the hair for about 2- 3 hours for a nice tint. Wash off with cold water.

Homemade Hair Conditioner

To make a hair conditioner, you will need 2-tablespoons of lanolin, 3-tablespoons of castor oil, 1.5 tablespoon of coconut oil, 1-tablespoon of vegetable lard, 1/2 cup water, 1- teaspoon vinegar, 1-teaspoon glycerine and l-teaspoon shampoo. Melt the oils and lanolin in a pan and heat water in another pan over a water bath. Add water quickly to the oils, beating continuously until they are thoroughly blended. These ingredients are sufficient for making a large pot of a very nutritious hair conditioning cream. To use this cream, apply 2-tablespoon of it to your hair and steam it. If you add an egg to this cream, it will restore the driest of the hair to a peak condition.

Total Beauty Solutions - Beauty Tips

To keep your body skin soft and healthy, you need to give it attentive care. If you have dry skin-or any skin type during winter time-practice the following routine: Bathe only once a day and limit showers-and baths to five minutes. Use lukewarm water and minimize the amount of soap you' apply. Concentrate the lather under the arms and in the groin area.

Don't forget to wash the soles of your feet, between the toes, and your ears. If you have sensitive skin, avoid cleansers with fragrances and skip the loofah or any other abrasive sponge. Keep a pumice stone handy and use on the feet daily or weekly depending on the condition of your- feet. When you come out of the bath or shower, only pat your skin dry.

In summer time-or if you have oily to normal body skin-feel free to take lengthier showers or increase the temperature. You can also shower or bathe two times a day. Loofah sponges are acceptable for exfoliation, but be careful not to make the skin raw or irritated. If you are a plus-size woman, don't forget to lift your breasts and any abdominal folds and wash underneath. Also, lift each arm to wash armpits and one leg to cleanse the groin area.

If you have darkened areas on your neck and under the arms (acanthosis nigricans), dark elbows or knees, or small rough bumps on the arms and legs (keratosis pilaris), do not attempt to scrub the problem away. You'll only irritate the skin. If, however, you notice peeling skin on your towel, you may need to exfoliate manually (using a loofa) or chemically (using exfoliating acids). The following cleansers for the body offer a variety of options for- women in color: Olay or Dove Bar soap, Avon's Bath Gels, Olay Cleanser for Dry Skin, and Dove Cleanser.

Some Beauty Makeup Tips

If you want to look well groomed but not heavily made-up, ensure that you have no harsh make-up lines round the eyes. The secret as always is to blend thoroughly.

For blondes and those with fair hair , brown mascara is a more natural-looking option than black and if more definition is required a brown/black variety is suitable.

If you want to wear a really pale shade ofeye shadow , try adding definition to the eyes with a pencil and mascara to avoid the chance of looking washed out

If you don't want to wear any make-up, try sweeping a large brush loaded with bronzing powder over your skin to create a healthy-looking golden finish.

Choosing Skin Care Products and Beauty Products Tips

Many beauty creams and skin care lotions on the market are now made with nourishing elements, leaving out the harmful products that in the past were plentiful. But nevertheless it is important to familiarize yourself with the ingredients so that you know what to look for and what to avoid.

In choosing a cream, you must make it a habit to read the label - it tells the whole story. The ingredients are listed in the order of highest contents first, and least amount last. Thus, if you see a jar that lists collagen among the first three ingredients-grab it! If it hasa fragrance first and collagen last, or if lanolin and mineral oil are first-put it back.

Things to look for at the top of the list on a label are any moisturizing ingredients, like water and aloe juice, collagen and elastin (natural proteins that keep the skin resilient), and sodium PCA (anatural moisturizer also found in the skin) - the so-called active ingredients. You don't want to use products with a high content of mineral oil or lanolin because these oils stay on top of the skin; they don't nourish it, they asphyxiate it, preventing your skin from absorbing moisture from the air.

Another hint: Don't be put off by long names like propylparaben or methylparaben, preservatives that are in most creams to keep them from spoiling. If your creams don't have these additives, buy them in small jars and tubes, because their shelf life is short, and you don't want to have to throwaway a half-full container.