For those of you keen to know more about makeup brushes how to choose and clean them, it should be remembered that such important weapons in a woman’s cosmetic armoury should be given some tender care and attention.

Makeup brush prices range dramatically from type to type. They go from a few pounds each, to over a hundred pounds. The cheapest are made from synthetic materials, whereas the most expensive are made from animal hair, which comes from a range of furry things, including ponies, squirrels, goats and badgers.

Synthetic brushes might last only a short time, but top quality brushes, if cleaned properly, could last a lifetime.

It all comes down to how you treat your makeup brush. For example, when travelling, it’s a good idea to wrap your brush in a piece of material like a bandana. This will not only protect the bristles, but it will also collect up any stray makeup, avoiding it marking other things nearby.

Now, when it comes to an eyeliner brush, this is often preferable to an eyeliner pencil when it comes highlighting the shape of your eyes. Wet an eyeliner brush and dip it in a little dark eye-shadow, which should work wonders. Go for the best eyeliner brush you can afford.

When it comes to applying eye-shadow, get rid of those cheap applicators and buy a sable eye-shadow brush. And when it comes to applying eye-shadow, animal hair will give you a better finish than synthetic materials.

The same goes for many of the other types of brush, including concealer, eyebrow and lip brushes.

Whatever brush you have, try to give it a clean at least every two weeks, but a weekly going over is best of all.

It’s quite a simple process. First, gather up the brushes you want cleaning and a couple of tea towels. You’ll also need some shampoo. Just wash your brushes as gently as you can in the sink, one at a time, in a little hot water and shampoo. Once washed, dry them gently with the first tea towel, making sure you stroke the bristles back in place, and then lay them out onto the second tea towel to dry overnight.

Look after your makeup brushes, and they will look after you.

Tags: Best Cosmetics, Cosmetics, Make Up, Make up Brushes

When it comes to the vexing question of how to apply, fix and choose lipstick, it needs a little thought.

Before you apply your lipstick, ensure that all your other makeup has been applied.

Now, when it comes to the application, dab a small amount of lip balm, or petroleum jelly to make your lips moist. Start at the centre of the lip and work outwards, making sure you keep to the outer edges to give the impression of full lips, and well within the lip if you want to downplay large lips. You can apply the lipstick straight from the dispenser, or by using a lipstick brush.

Blot any errors, or uneven parts, with a tissue. And remember that it will need reapplying, especially after drinking and eating.

To fix your lipstick, firstly apply a little foundation; this will in-fill in those tiny areas where the lipstick will likely seep. Then apply a light coating of translucent face powder. Next, create an area with a lip liner which will not only define the shape of your lips, but creates a border in which the lipstick should remain. Apply the lipstick within the border and allow it to set for a few minutes, before using a light powder to seal the colour. Re-work as necessary throughout the day, or evening.

Before applying a lipstick, give some consideration as to the colour of the lipstick as compared to your skin tones. Choose colours that match and enhance the natural shade of your lips. If anything, go for a slightly darker tone than your colouring. And bear in mind that glossy finishes are best for the evening, whereas matt finishes are great for during the day.

For a dark skin tone, consider plum and deep red wine shades, as these will compliment such lips. With a lighter skin tone, try light brown beiges, with a hint of orange, or pink. Olive skin is enhanced with brownish reds, raisin shades and light browns.

If you can’t quite find the right shade in the shop, then experiment by mixing a few together and creating the optimum look.

Finally, for that perfect finish, go for a lip liner that is a shade darker then your lipstick.

Tags: Best Cosmetics, Cosmetics, Lipsticks, Make Up

The modern day female is under attack from all directions. The latest, fashionable look is that of the voluptuous and healthy Amazonian woman. Tall, lots of hair, beautiful face, a large chest, narrow waist, full hips and long legs are now de rigeur. And, of course, all topped off with a forever youthful appearance.

Cat walk models might get the fashion work, but when it comes to the high street and the magazines, the ideal woman is young, curvy and sexy.

The problem is, that most women are not born like this. Few women in fact are the ideal shape and most feel they have to do some work to get to the ideal shape. Research has shown that the modern day woman is very unhappy with her shape, pointing out that although individual parts might be okay, the overall effect is not always what they want.

And one of the more harmful consequences of all this body insecurity is that many women are being drawn to cosmetic surgery. In the past, women would work with what they had and enhance, or play down certain of their features with the clever use of cosmetics. But with the pressure being stepped up by the tabloid newspapers, glossy celeb magazines and music videos for women to achieve the idealized shape, surgery is becoming commonplace. Afterall, you can choose your breast size when it comes to surgery, whereas you’d be hard pushed to do the same with the subtle shading offered by cosmetics.

And this situation is worrying a number of pressure groups, who are particularly worried about the bad influence the idealized shape is having upon youngsters who are particular prone, especially during their teenage years, to body insecurity.

So in steps plastic surgery with the answer to all women’s problems, or so the beneficiaries of the vast money spent on such procedures would believe.

Surgery can basically be used to create the ideal shape and that’s why it’s so appealing for many women. Plastic surgery is basically all about remodeling, restoration and repair of body parts. Plastic surgery is especially good at the transfer of tissue.

Plastic surgery can be divided into two areas, cosmetic and reconstructive. And the field of cosmetic surgery is what appeals to women keen on a new look, or enhancing a particular feature. Procedures include breast augmentation, liposuction to remove unwanted fat, or ‘nip and tucks’ to provide a more youthful appearance.

For the record, reconstructive surgery plays a crucial part when it comes to correcting birth defects, or burns damage, or injuries following accidents.

It is said that in the U.S., the home of plastic surgery, that in 2007 nearly 12 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were carried out. And that represents an increase of nearly 500 per cent since figures were first compiled in 1997.

Older people using plastic surgery tend to do so to defy the aging process and help them stand out, whereas younger people use it to actually fit in and become part of the accepted shape.

But the fact that so many younger people are trying out cosmetic surgery, has led to calls that it should be curtailed until the implications of its use are fully understood.

Although the majority of procedures are performed properly with no side effects, there are a number of cases in which there have been horrific examples of things going wrong. Gaping wounds, bodily rejection of implants, tumours and cases of high blood pressure have all been logged against plastic surgery procedures.

And observers feel that people should be fully informed of the risks and possible consequences of the procedures before they pay out the thousands in fees needed to fund plastic surgery.

Social commentators are now saying that women should not listen to those trying to define the ideal form and should have confidence in their own shape, and not to resort to plastic surgery as an easy and quick way to conform.

But whether the knife will eventually be laid to one side, or used more often, remains to be seen.

Tags: Avon and Bodyshop, Best Cosmetics, Cosmetics, Make Up, Plastic Surgery

Fake tans are under attack, but does it come down to snobbery, or the poor bottle tanning solutions and techniques?

Most people like to look brown. The appearance of a deep, glowing tan gives many people confidence and sets them up to deal with the world. It’s also to do with attitudes to wealth. People associate those with a deep tan as people who can afford to regularly go on holiday and are not stuck behind desks, or work in dismal shops and factories. People who look white and sickly, so goes the popular misconception, cannot afford to go on holiday and therefore cannot be wealthy.

Ironically, in Victorian times, a tan was a sign of poverty. Upper class women especially guarded their porcelain looks as a way of proving they did not have to work out in the field and become weathered by the elements.

Things really began to change with the onset of the package holiday when lying on a beach for 14 days and securing the maximum tan, was the ambition of most tourists.

And eventually, for those that didn’t have the time for a holiday, along came the sun bed which offered the chance of a year-long glow. And if you had a year long glow, that suggested that not only could you afford a summer holiday, but you could afford a winter holiday in the Caribbean. Hence, your standing, in your own eyes, went up quite a few notches.

But, along came the horrors of  skin cancer to spoil the party and for a while, the sun tan out of a bottle seemed to be the ideal solution. A very safe way of looking like you’d just stepped off the plane from somewhere hot and exotic.

So how did the fake sun tan become a thing of hatred by the trend setters?

C-List celebrities didn’t help of course, with the tabloids and glossy weeklies showing acres of poorly bronzed has-beens, would-bes and never quite made it. But, what made matters worse, that even some very well known celebrities, even A-Listers, were being accused of being a little too enthusiastic with the bottle.

Jodie Marsh, the reality TV star, has been cruelly labelled the ‘Ronseal-dipped horror’ – comparable to many garden fences – Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson has a day-glow tan that could never be gained in the valleys and Italian designer Valentino is known as the world’s most orange man. Although some might say he has competition for that title from daytime TV star David Dickinson.

And many social observers wonder how Christina Aguilera and Victoria Beckham would look pale.

Then Royal Ascot pronounced that it was becoming a little tired of the Chav look, personified by fake tans, short skins and large, exposed bosoms. It later clarified its remarks by saying that it wasn’t so much the idea of the fake tan that it hated, but the tide mark that many people seemed to create when applying it.

And therein lies the problem with fake tanning. It’s not so much that it comes from a bottle, meaning that you are pretending to be something that you are not (a jet set traveller to hot climates), but that it can be too easily abused. Not only in the strength of the bottled tan, but also in its application.

That’s what offends fashion writers and social commentators. Seeing women and men with obviously too dark a tan, with tide marks and badly applied areas, marks them out as true pretenders and is to many people quite offensive.

So, the moral of the tale is, if you want to look glowing and healthy, be very careful with the type of tanning cream you buy (make it a high quality brand) and also be very careful with how you put it on (avoiding poorly applied areas and marks). Also, build, up your tan in stages. Do not go from lily white to bronze in a matter of minutes. The better the tanning solution, the better coverage you will get over a period of weeks, gradually building up your look to the desired level. It would seem, in the area of fake tans, less is more.

Tags: Beauty, Fake Tanning, Make Up, Tan

Choosing the right makeup for your skin type is a key consideration for any woman and if you get the basics right, then it shouldn’t be a problem.

Firstly, try to find a branded range of make-up that is kind to your skin and not one that causes an irritation. Makeup is a blend of substances and chemicals, so every brand does not suit every woman.

Secondly, always make sure your face is fully clean and fully moisturised before you apply any makeup. A clean and supple skin is the ideal base for all makeup.

Right, for many women, the best place to start is with the concealer, as get this right, and the rest will fall into place.

Concealers should basically not be noticed; that’s there job, to conceal slight skin imperfections and blemishes. When choosing one, see if you can dab a little on the back of your hand and if it will then blend into your natural skin tone, you have got the right one. If it makes your skin look too red, or too yellow, then you should choose another one.

The foundation should match the tone and colour of your concealer. And when you apply it, make sure you do so with an even, light touch, avoiding any build up on certain parts of your skin. If you feel your skin becomes too dry, or indeed, too oily, then the foundation is not right for you. On the contrary, it should give you a fresh-face appearance.

When it comes to the eyes, care should be taken when choosing the right colours.

Women with a dark skin tone are best to avoid eye liners and eye shadows that are very light; likewise, for lighter skin tones, avoid over dark eye makeup. The desired effect, unless you are out to shock, is to use makeup to enhance your natural features and bring them to the fore. Makeup can be dramatic, but it mainly should be subtle. Spend some time on thinking about your facial features, what might need some help, and what might not need any help at all. Eventually you will come up with a colour scheme that will match both your personality and looks.

With mascara, choose one that compliments your hair colour. For blondes and redheads, a brown mascara would be a good idea. With brown, or darker hair, then black mascara would work well.

A good tip when using eye shadow, is to make sure it blends with your complexion by using a shade lighter on the inner half of your upper lid, and the use a darker shade on the outer half.

When painting, or drawing your eyebrows, match that colour with the colour of your mascara, or there will be an odd-looking clash.
Lipsticks are fraught with problems. It is designed to give your lips a fuller and pleasing shape, but again, be subtle with the tones and colours you choose. Too bright a shade, which puts the rest of your face literally in the shade, will make it seem that your lips dominate your face, upsetting your facial balance.
As to lip liner, this should be a subtle shade lighter than your lipstick, as it’s there to enhance, and not to compete.
A lip gloss is there to give your lips an exciting sheen, but don’t let it overwhelm your lips.
So there you are, when it comes to matching makeup with skin colour, a little care and attention will work wonders.

Tags: Best Cosmetics, Cosmetics, Lipsticks, Make Up, Mascara, Skin Colour

When wearing makeup, just what effect do you want to create, Drag Queen, or Diva?

The answer is in your hands, but most women’s makeup will vary from occasion to occasion, and also reflect their moods.

Makeup for going to school for a parents’ evening, will differ from makeup appropriate to going to the office, from a dinner-party, or making a night of it at the local nightclub.

Makeup is mere paint for a blank canvas. You supply the canvas and the makeup companies supply the paint.

So to say there is one look, or type of makeup that’s suits every woman and every situation they might find themselves in, is plain wrong.

The basis of good makeup is subtlety. Okay, a trip to see the Rocky Horror Show, or a hen night out with the girls, might deem necessary a different approach when a slap of ‘war paint’, applied with a trowel across grinning features, might be a good idea.

But, generally, in the eco-conscious beginning of the 21st Century, the trend is to use makeup as a way of enhancing natural beauty, rather than creating a look which relies on multi-layers of paint.

So, when planning a look, it’s always best to start with the idea of playing down the Drag Queen look, and moving towards a woman of beauty and refinement, a Diva in other words.

The trend these days is to play down some of the crucial building blocks and selectively use makeup to highlight key facial features.
It might be that the lips need help, or that vivacious eyes are deserving of some special highlighting. Or maybe the judicious use of some lip gloss will do wonders for a tired face at the end of a day.

Whatever the technique, the days of plastering on the old slap with gay abandon are long gone, banished along with power shoulders and over bouffant hair.

The art today is to take a long and hard look at your face, and talk to someone you trust, and use your makeup sparingly; as a way of bringing out the natural highlights and features, and not as a way of getting ready for the role of the Step Mother in the Christmas pantomime.

Tags: Beauty, Diva, Drag Queen, lipstick, Make Up, Retail, Slap, War Paint

Sourced from http://www.best-cosmetics.co.uk/

Looking and feeling your best starts with the right tools. This article provides an outline on how to build your perfect cosmetic case with all of the best cosmetic products at cheap prices from the Body Shop.

The first step is to take a moment to reflect on your personal beauty style. Do you tend to wear a minimal amount of makeup on the average day and go extravagant for the odd evening out? Are you quick to try new trends and styles, or do have a more classic approach? Here is a quick list that can help you pick the right items:

The makeup that you wear everyday is the first and most important cosmetic case to build. This is a comprehensive list of items, so you may discover that some of them do not suit your personal style – simply cross those items that you do not use on a daily basis from the list. The list has also been organized in order of quality importance. Everyone has a distinct cosmetic budget, but you can get the most out of your budget by knowing where to splurge and where to save. The items at the top of the list are the ones where a higher price tag is a worthwhile investment, while the items towards the bottom are ones where cheap cosmetics will suffice.

• Sunscreen
  Spend as much as you can afford on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher. A quality sunscreen will not only provide sun protection, it will also soothe and moisturize your skin without clogging your pores. Every cosmetic bag needs sunscreen.
• Moisturizer
  A quality moisturizer will protect your skin and keep it looking young. A good moisturizer will also prepare your face for the application of other cosmetic products. The importance of a moisturizer that suits your skin type cannot be over stressed.
• Foundation
  If you choose to use foundation, a quality product that correctly matches your skin tone is essential. Unlike any other makeup product, a poor quality foundation can destroy a woman’s appearance.
• Mascara
  Quality mascara will not clump and will brighten your eyes. This is one makeup product that can have a dramatic affect on your appearance even when used alone.
• Makeup brushes
  The most expensive eye shadow in the world will look poor when applied with a cheap brush, but a cheap eye shadow can look amazing when applied with a quality brush. Splurge on good tools, even if you can only afford one or two basics.
• Bronzer
  Obtaining the sun-kissed look can take practice and a good quality product. For natural daytime wear, select a light powder that is one or two shades darker than your natural colour.
• Concealer
  If you choose to wear concealer everyday, choose a green and a yellow stick that will counteract blotchiness and dark circles. A cheaper concealer can be applied easier when mixed with a light moisturizer.
• Blush
  Many women forgo blush for the daytime, but if you choose to add it to your everyday cosmetic case, be sure to choose one that offers a natural enhancement to your skin tone.
• Eye shadow
  Select a neutral tone that compliments your eye colour. If you are choosing a cheap eye shadow, stay away from colours with reddish tones – cheap versions of these tend to contain ingredients that can irritate the skin.
• Eyeliner
  As long as you stick with a pencil liner in a basic colour, like black or brown, you should be able to purchase a cheaper one without noticing much of a difference.

You can purchase each of these products and more through this site. The best part of online shopping is the easy manner in which you are able to fill your cart and compare products, while managing your budget.

Start with the latest deals from The Body Shop to find cheap cosmetics of the quality that you would expect from the Body Shop.

Tags: Avon, Avon and Bodyshop, Beauty, Bodyshop, Cosmetics, Make Up, Sun Protection

Sourced from www.best-cosmetics.co.uk

We have all been told that sunscreen is necessary – and that skin cancer and other dermatological complications are dangerous side effects of sun exposure. Yet, every summer we continue to be burned. The problem is a lack of education, making it difficult for the average person to understand complicated labels that come on sunscreens.

Here is some information to help save you from the burn . . .

What is SPF?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. This term refers to the sunscreen’s ability to filter UVB rays, which are considered the most dangerous of the sun’s radiation.

Many people have the misconception that a higher SPF means a stronger level of protection. This is false. A higher SPF actually refers to the length of time that the coverage will last – so if you are in the sun for 5 minutes, it does not matter if you wear an SPF 15 or SPF 50, you have the same amount of protection. However, if you are remaining in the sun for a long period, then a higher SPF is best.

What is broad spectrum?

SPF only refers to a sunscreen’s ability to protect against UVB rays. Other rays from the sun also affect our skin. The other type of rays, UVA rays, affect the elastin and can cause premature aging.

Products that are labelled broad spectrum are able to protect against both UVB and UVA rays.

Remember, sunscreen can never provide 100% protection against sun damage. This means that you not rely solely on sunscreen. Instead, consider sunscreen a source of back-up protection for times when you are unable to protect yourself by wearing cover-up clothing or by remaining in the shade.

You can reduce your risk of sun exposure by wearing light fabrics that cover your arms and legs. Also, avoid being outside for long periods while the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

It is also important that you are not fooled by other factors of the weather. Often we associate sunburns with warm weather, and are therefore less likely to wear sunscreen on a windy day, even if the sun is shining brightly. Wind does not change the level of UVB exposure, so wear your cover.

Finally, white surfaces that reflect light are also more efficient at reflecting UVB rays. This is why you are more likely to get a burn when lying on a sandy beach or skiing on snow.

Shop online for cheap sunscreen from Avon.
Avon’s cosmetic line provides some of the best sunscreen and after-sun products, at cheap prices. Avon provides a wide variety of sunscreen and after sun products. Purchase the right one for you online now.

Tags: Avon, Avon and Bodyshop, Bodyshop, Health, Sun Protection, Travel