Apply eye shadow and liner like a pro

Great eye make-up can look like two mini works of art on your face. Here are some essential eye shadow and liner tips.

• Always prep your eyelid before applying eye shadow — use some foundation or a light concealer, followed by a little powder.

The most important rule of applying eye shadow is to blend, blend, blend!

• Don't overload your brush with shadow — start with a little and build on the colour.


• Confused about eye shadow duos, trios and quads? The lightest colour is for your base — it goes all over the lid, the middle colour is for the inner half of the lid and the darker colour is for the outer half and contour line.


• Still not sure about the colour combos? Go for a simple wash of a very sheer or neutral shade across your lids.


• Never extend eye shadow too far past the inner and outer corners of your eye — this will make your eyes look heavy or overdone.


• For an intense or long-lasting colour, try applying powder shadow over the top of cream.


• Applied too much colour? Gently buff off with cotton wool or tone down with a skin-toned shade.


• Eye shadow can easily be used — wet or dry — as eyeliner. Just use a fine or flat brush to apply along your lash lines.


• Fake-alert: get bright eyes by lining your eyes inner corners (the "V") with a light-coloured, shimmery pencil.


• Lining eyes with a dark liner/shadow will make them appear smaller — be careful if you have small eyes.


• Lining the inner rims of your eyes with a white pencil can help them appear larger.


• Note: Eye make-up is most fun of all. Be bold, daring and experimental — you won't regret it!

Are you using the wrong cleanser?

Great skin is one of your best assets, so it's essential to use the right cleanser for your skin type. Get it wrong and you could cause unnecessary oil slicks, pimples or dry patches. Here's how to identify your skin type and the best way to cleanse:

Normal skin
Normal skin feels smooth, has small pores and an equal balance of oil and water. "Wash with a soap-free cleanser or pH-neutral product," advises Sydney dermatologist Dr Tanya Gilmour. You'll also need two cleansers for different seasons, changing from a gel/foam cleanser to a richer milk cleanser during colder months, the National Skin Institute says.

Dry skin
Characterised by patchy and flaky skin, even if you're face isn't usually dry, it can dehydrate during winter or summer months if you sit in a heated or air-conditioned office. "It's due to heating or air-con in offices and cars — also people don't drink as much water as they should," the National Skin Institute says, explaining why so many of us have dehydrated skin.

Try QV Face Gentle Cleanser ($11.99) for mild cleansing. Because dehydrated skin has more dead skin cells attached to the surface of the skin, scrub them away with a gentle cleanser and exfoliator in one.

Acne-prone skin
"Acne affects a large proportion of the population — even adults," Sydney cosmetic surgeon Dr Fabian Baez says. "It's not just something that affects teenagers." Try cleansing with a medicated clearing gel that sloughs off dead skin and helps reduce oil, which can clog follicles and lead to breakouts, avoiding products with soap or perfume.

Remember that the most effective treatments for acne are prescription-based and can only be prescribed by a dermatologist. If your skin suddenly breaks out, head straight to a skin doctor's clinic.

Ageing skin
Dr Gilmour says you can wipe 20 years off your skin's age with a great skincare regime. "Nothing is more true than the saying 'prevention is better than cure' when it comes to limiting the signs of early aging," she says. "Starting a good skin care regime early is vital to keep yourself looking good as you become older." That means using a cleanser containing anti-ageing ingredients, such as Nu Skin's ageLOC Gentle Cleanse & Tone ($70) and wiping your skin gently with a cotton wool pad.

Sensitive skin
With a tendency to be either oily or dry, sensitive skin is easily disturbed by the use of incorrect skincare products. Choose cleanses containing natural ingredients such, which will condition and smooth. Try Dermalogica's UltraCalming Cleanser ($53) with a complex of red hogweed, oat kernel, ginger, bisabol and essential oils.

Quick beauty tips

Not a morning person? Always dashing out the door to a fabulous party? So busy with work you haven't been able to squeeze in a haircut for the last six months? Make your beauty routine easier with these fast tips:
Dry shampoo
Not a morning person? Always dashing out the door to a fabulous party? So busy with work you haven't been able to squeeze in a haircut for the last six months? Make your beauty routine easier with these fast tips:

Speed it up
Speed up the drying process of your moisturiser/primer before applying foundation by giving your face a cool shot of air from your hairdryer first.

Firm and brown
Want to give your legs a bit of a firm-up and colour? Mix some firming moisturising cream with a liquid body bronzer, and do both in one hit.

Be organised
Organise your make-up so all your staple products (foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer) and shades (blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, gloss) are together. That way you're not hunting around your bathroom cupboards trying to find your make-up must-haves.

Dry shampoo
Dry-hair shampoo is a godsend, really. Not only will it disguise greasy, haven't-had-time-to-wash-it hair, but it gives hair a volume boost, taking it from blah to sexy in seconds.

Go sheer
If you can't live without painted nails, make sheer pink your favourite shade. Chips will be less noticeable, which is great when you're lacking the time to redo your polish.

Quick wash
The thought of skipping a hair wash is too much to bare? Wash the top section (i.e. front layers and fringe) only. Squeaky clean hair on top will disguise manky hair underneath, and it takes less than 10 minutes, even on long, thick hair.

Moisture on the go
Keep a small tube of moisturiser (with an SPF) in your handbag (ditto a nail file). Moisturise hands while on bus/train/in cab. Ignore looks from other passengers. Neat nails and soft hands are worth it!

Quick hair
Hair is limp and lifeless? Create a polished look in seconds by pulling hair back into a tight, low ponytail, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic tie, and fix the end with a bobby pin. Fast, chic hair.

TV and beauty
Get into the habit of pairing up your favourite TV show with an element of your beauty routine. Eg: House = face-mask night; Law & Order SVU = toe-painting night. Do this and you've suddenly freed up a couple of hours each week!

Which hair colour suits you?

Stuck in a colour rut? If you're considering a change, read this first. We spoke with Sydney's top colourists about how to pick the right hue for you.

Blonde:
From icy cool to a warm shade of caramel, blondes can have plenty of fun with colour. The trick to carrying it off, bombshell-style, is to work with a shade that complements your complexion. "If you have slightly golden skin tones stick to honeys, caramels and warmer colours," says Barney Martin from Sydney's Barney Martin Hairdressing. "If you have pinkish skin tones, stick to cooler colours like ice blonde."


Brunette:
"Going brunette is like a holiday for your hair because years of repeated bleaching leave hair porous and sensitised," says Robert Maiolo owner of boutique MC Salon in Darlinghurst. Once you've decided to step over to the dark side, choosing the right shade of brown is crucial if you want to look glowing, not washed-out. "Go for a warm brown if you have reddish skin tone and a cool brown shade if you have yellow-toned skin," advises Robert.

Black:
"Black is not for the fainthearted," says Jacen Ward, national technical director for Toni & Guy. "It makes a strong statement and can look harsh on some people. I think it's also about having the right hair cut with this colour." But, if the urge strikes, Ward says it's best to experiment with this colour while you're young. "Black can work on a variety of skin tones from cool pale skin to warmer tones." Consider the condition of your hair before you go black — porous locks can resist darker shades.


Red:
"Women with more pink undertones can wear cooler, brighter coppers while warmer skin tones work well with more rusty, earthy tones of red," says Ward. Although colour technology has improved in leaps and bounds, red washes out the quickest and can leave hair looking brown and brassy, so make sure you've got a good colour-saving shampoo and conditioner in the shower.

Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

Valentino Spring 2011 Couture

How to Keep a Simple and Effective Skin Care Routine

Good skin is more than just an application upon application of skin care products. Overuse of and a menagerie of skin care products can actually be detrimental to your skin and to your health especially when they are loaded with harmful or otherwise questionable ingredients.

A great complexion and overall great skin, starts with good health which means staying fully hydrated and getting the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals in our diet each day. A balanced diet equals better health and a healthier, glowing complexion. Some basic nutrients the skin needs is pure water, zinc, soy protein, vitamin E, vitamin C, B-complex, carotenoids a flavonoids, and omega 3 fatty acids just to name a few.

In addition to a good diet, your skin also needs cleansing, toning, moisture, and protection. Additionally there may be specific problem areas you will need to address such as blotchiness, acne or breakouts, dry patches, etc.

The basics - cleansing, toning and moisturizing, protection

Cleansing: First and foremost you must understand your skin type when selecting a cleanser. Dry skin should avoid foaming cleansers and use a milk cleanser or lotion, oily skin can get by with a foaming cleanser if not to harsh (drying out oily skin only makes the skin react and produce more oil), combination skin should use a cleanser with a low ph of 7 or less. Consider one of these herbal face washes and get 15% off!

Toning: I have read differing opinions on whether a toner is necessary or not but I am a firm believer of toning. Toning removes the last traces of cleanser, restores ph balance and closes the pores prior to moisturizing. Again, understand your skin type when selecting your toner. A few herbs for each skin type are as follows: Dry skin: elderflower and sandalwood, Oily skin: lemon balm or fennel, witch hazel, Combination Skin: Chamomile. There are numerous herbs when mixed with green tea or distilled water makes a great toner at a fraction of the cost of store bought toners. Get your herbs and essential oils at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Moisturizer: My moisturizer has a double duty, it hydrates and protects because it contains a SPF. No matter what skin type, you skin needs to be hydrated. Dry skin needs hydration and moisture and oily skin still needs hydration. Additionally I always recommend a daytime moisturizer with SPF and a nighttime moisturizer emollient rich.

Special Treatments

Dark circles under eyes consider vitamin E. It is a natural moisturizer and rich in antioxidants. It will moisturize and thicken the skin under the eye area so you don't see the thinness. Massage under eye area before bedtime. Note: vitamin E is most effective in its natural alcohol form rather than its acetate form where it is a less effective antioxidant. Watch for this in the labelling of skin care products. Another note: dark under eye circles can be caused by various reasons such as a Vitamin K deficeincy, genetics, bad lifestyle habits, etc. The recipe above is for thinning of the skin as we age.

Crows' feet: no need for a special product, apply virgin coconut oil with a few drops of vitamin E oil at bedtime. I think you will see visible results in about a week. vitamin e is most effective in its natural alcohol form rather than its acetate form where it is a less effective antioxidant. Watch for this in the labelling of skin care products.

Exfoliate: this treatment is to slough off dead skin and promote circulation and new cell growth. There are a number of home remedies that work such as oatmeal or cornmeal.

Facial masks: masks can do wonders to hydrate the skin. Again understanding your skin type is imperative. For dry skin consider a China/White Clay, for oily skin use fuller's earth or French green clay, sensitive skin yellow kaolin clay and combination skin rose clay. Read about clay masks and get some clay mask recipes.

Above are just a few of the simple home remedies that work and are inexpensive and eco-friendly. Why not give them a try and let me know how they worked for you. Additionally when purchasing skin care products look for natural ingredients.

The Top 6 Calorie-Burning Workouts

While there is no secret formula for losing weight (It all comes down to simple math: You must burn more calories than you consume), there are smarter, faster ways to achieve your goals. The following six workouts are proven to be the most heart-pumping, sweat-producing, and consequently most efficient calorie-burning and weight-loss-inducing exercises out there. Do one, or a combination of many, regularly, and watch the weight fall off.

1. Kickboxing: 800 calories per hour
Kickboxing offers a great full-body workout because it requires you to use every major muscle group and includes interval training. Your heart rate will soar and stabilize several times throughout the class, which is optimal for weight loss. 24 Hour Fitness clubs report that attendees of their Turbo Kick classes can burn up to 800 calories in one hour-long class.


2. Biking: 700 calories per hour
You can burn up to 700 calories at your average cycling class or take to the road on your own to enjoy fresh air to boot! Just make sure you keep a pace of about 14 to 16 miles per hour to reach the 700-calorie goal.


3. Zumba: 500 or more calories per hour
Who knew an hour of dancing could produce such results?! Because this Latin-inspired dance workout uses the principles of interval training and resistance exercise, the workout will boost your metabolism considerably, according to FitnessZumba.com. However, like any fitness regimen, the number of calories burned varies from person to person depending on weight, sex, current fitness level, and how a hard a person works out. Still the massive weight loss and toning benefits of hip-swishing and shimmying make this dance workout one of the most popular today.


4. Jumping Rope: 780 calories per hour
Only got ten minutes? You can still squeeze in cardio with this highly effective activity, which can have you burning 130 calories every ten minutes (or 780 calories per hour). According to MedicineNet.com, you’d have to run an eight-minute mile to burn as many calories as jumping rope for the same amount of time, making it a good choice for someone who is starting a fitness regime and may not have the endurance to maintain a fast running speed for an extended period of time. If you have limited space and time, jumping rope is the most efficient way to see results. In addition, the high-impact nature of this workout means you’ll add bone mass, increasing your bone health, according to 24 Hour Fitness Club's Website and BoneHealth.com, while you lose fat.


5. Aerobic Step Classes: 600 calories per hour
Aerobic step classes are high-intensity and high-impact, meaning you’ll burn fat and calories. The number of calories burned depends on how high the step is, but using just a six-inch platform can allow you to burn up to 600 calories in one hour-long class.


6. Running: 650 calories per hour
According to WebMD's calorie calculator, a 145-pound person who maintains a 10-minute mile for one hour can burn up to 650 calories. However, running consistently for an hour can be challenging if it isn't a part of your current exercise regimen. You can work up to this goal and increase your cardiovascular fitness by adding walking intervals throughout your workout. For instance, run for three minutes and then walk briskly for one minute. This practice will increase your endurance, lower your heart-rate recovery time, and burn fat.