Break Your Bad Beauty Habits

They may seem harmless, but your bad beauty habits aren’t so beautiful. In fact, they can even be dangerous to your health. Here’s how to stop them in their tracks:
Stop biting your nails
It may seem like an innocent way to unleash your stress, but when you chew on your nails, you run the risk of ingesting the nasty bacteria that linger underneath. (Not to mention the cracked, split nails and painful hangnails you’ll pick up along the way.) Kick the habit by treating yourself to a manicure. If your nails are pristine and polished, you’ll have a harder time taking out your stress on them. Not the polish type of girl? Tuck a travel-size nail file in your purse for on-the-go weak moments. Don’t leave home without sunscreen
Sunscreen and summertime always go hand in hand but the winter months pose similar sun threats. Any sun exposure without adequate protection is a direct cause of premature aging, including increased wrinkles and age spots. Extensive sun damage also increases your chances of developing various skin cancers. To break this unhealthy pattern, make sunscreen a part of your morning routine by using a daily facial moisturizer with an SPF already built in (I like Dove’s Deep Moisture Day Lotion with SPF 15).
Don’t pick at pimples
It may be the most satisfying part of your beauty routine, but popping and prodding your pimples will do you no good. Indulging in this nasty habit can leave you with permanent scars, infection, and in a lot of cases, squeezing a pimple will actually push the bacteria and oil even deeper into the glands. Break the habit by using this DIY spot treatment: crush an ibuprofen and create a thick paste with some water. Apply directly to the pimple, let dry, then wash off for reduced swelling and redness.
Not taking your eye makeup off before bed
You just got home from a night out and the first (and only) thing you want to do is head to bed. But leaving your eye makeup on overnight can cause major eye irritation and inflammation while blocking your skin’s natural ability to repair itself. Other awful side effects include clogged glands, dry skin and eyelashes more prone to falling out. If time is your biggest issue, skip the cleanser and invest in some moist makeup remover wipes, which will take off the day’s grime in seconds.
Touching your face constantly
Touching our face is a beauty crime we’re all guilty of doing. The trouble is that you transfer excess oil and dirt from your fingers to your pores, which can cause breakouts and even worse, infection. This habit is especially hazardous during the cold and flu season, when bacteria and viruses are widespread and likely to be on your hands. It may be tricky to break the pattern, so carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse to disinfect your hands before you primp.

The Top 5 Beauty Products You Need in Your Handbag

Beauty emergencies can happen anywhere. Whether you’re toting the latest Louis Vuitton messenger bag or a basic satchel from H&M, these handbag essentials are every girl’s go-to for beauty gone bad.
Tweezers
Got an errant eyebrow hair? Splinter? Hangnail? Let your tweezers do triple-duty. For a beauty tool that takes up very little room in your purse, these come in handy in many beauty emergencies.
Nail file
Trying to ignore a nail in need of filing is like trying to ignore an arrogant drunk guy at a bar—it doesn’t go away, no matter how much you try to pretend it’s not there. Instead of standing idly by while your nail snags on everything from your clothes to your cocktail napkin, make sure you have a nail file in your handbag—just keep it in a protective case to avoid spreading germs in your purse.
Bandages
Every girl has a love-hate relationship with her favourite high heels: they give you killer legs and a confidence boost, but painful blisters are often part of the deal, too. For a night on the town, practice preventative beauty by applying bandages to blister-prone areas and slipping extras in your clutch for re-application (and for friends). For every day, keep a steady supply in your purse for everything from paper cuts to hangnails.
Oil-absorbing sheets
A long day at the office can mean more than fatigue. Oil build-up over the course of the day is never pretty, especially if you’ve got after-work plans. Keep some oil-absorbing sheets on hand to blot away excess shine, or to prep before re-applying makeup. They’re also an absolute necessity if you have bangs.
Lip balm
Cracked, parched or dry lips need constant lip balm protection, especially in the dry winter months. Keep your pout pretty and lips kiss-ready with a refreshing peppermint balm that soothes and heals while smelling fresh.

Date Night Hair Ideas

Romance is in the hair this Valentine's Day with these 3 soft looks

It may be award season in Hollywood, but you don't need a red carpet to show off celebrity-worthy hair (just a handsome date). Whether you prefer to wear your hair down or swept up, you’ll feel confident and sexy with soft, wavy styles that look effortlessly chic. Here’s how to glam-up your date night look with three Valentine’s Day hair ideas:



Side-Swept Away

Embrace Old Hollywood glamour with side-swept locks. This look is perfect for anyone with long, layered hair. So ditch that flat iron—these are waves that he'll be begging to run his fingers through.

How to: Apply a volumizing mouse to damp hair, and then blow dry. Use a comb to create an exaggerated part (left or right, you pick). Gather your hair to the side it’s parted on. Working in sections, wrap strands of hair around a wide-barrel curling iron, and hold a few seconds to set. Once all sections are curled, lightly mist with hairspray and then gently comb through the curls with your fingers to separate them.

Tie the Knot

A ponytail may pass for work, but nights out with the beau deserve a little more oomph. This red carpet-inspired updo will show off your neck and shoulders—sexy!

How to: This style works best on second-day—not freshly-washed—hair. Create a top and bottom section by separating the hair horizontally from ear to ear. Use a comb to grab sections of the top layer (starting at the hair line and working back). Spritz each piece with hairspray, and then gently tease with a comb. Gather the top layer at the center back of your head and secure in place with a covered elastic band, wrapping the ends around and securing with bobby pins. Take the bottom section of hair and wrap around the elastic to create a bun, again, securing it with bobby pins. Finish with hairspray.

Exotic Curls

Lucky for those with curly tresses, stars like Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts have brought natural-looking curls back to the red carpet. Perfect for a night on the town, this bohemian ‘do looks elegant (but is dead easy).

How to: Apply a volume-building mouse to damp hair. (To separate the curls, divide hair into sections and work the product through.) Turn your head upside down and blow-dry with a diffuser. Use a comb to make a part straight down the middle. Finish with a light mist of hairspray to hold the curls.

Make Your Hair Shine!

Shiny hair is synonymous with health, youth and vitality. (And did we mention it’s incredibly sexy, too?) If you’re friendly with your hairdryer, flat iron or colourist, you may think shiny hair is out of your reach. But follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to luscious, glossy locks, fast!

The Products You Need

Know your hair type: For fine hair, use spray volumizers with shine – you don’t want to weigh down your delicate hair. Gel or cream products work well on normal hair. If your hair is thick or coarse, try a pomade.
Remove build-up: If you have very oily hair, use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week. This is also a good idea if you use more than one product on your hair daily, as product build-up can dull shine. Make your own clarifying shampoo by adding a tablespoon of baking powder to your everyday shampoo.
Add moisture: Leave your conditioner in for at least 30 seconds, even if it is an “instant” conditioner. Use a hair masque or deep conditioning treatment once a week (twice a week if your hair is coloured or permed).
Go easy on the styling products: Using too many styling products can coat your hair and make it look dull. If you can get away with it, try to use just one. Experiment and see if you really need a volumizing spray, styling mousse, hair-straightening gloss and hairspray!
Washing Your Hair

How often to wash your hair: How frequently you need to shampoo depends on your hair type and habits. Very fine hair may need a wash every day, especially if you use more than one styling product, as build-up can reduce shine. However, some hair types benefit from letting the natural oils build up (and also giving strands a break from the blow dryer and flat iron). Experiment to see what suits your hair best.
Be gentle: When you towel-dry your hair, blot it like you’re handling an expensive antique—don’t scrub like you’re towelling off your dog. The key to shiny hair is a smooth cuticle, so don’t rough up your tresses.
Sleep well: Investing in satin pillowcases will decrease the friction of your hair against your pillow and reduce frizz.
Cool down: After blow-drying, switch your hairdryer to the “cool” setting and give your hair a blast of cold air—this seals the cuticle for a smoother, shinier finish.
Check your water: If you have hard water, it can leave your hair rough. Consider purchasing a water softener for your home, or even a filter that fits on top of your shower nozzle.
Brush carefully: Use a natural boar bristle brush for super shine. Boar bristle brushes will smooth your cuticles and evenly distribute your hair’s natural oils.
Heat Styling

Protect your hair: Invest in products with built-in heat protection to help counteract any appliances you use on your hair. Just be careful of product overload.
Go natural: If you’re spending a quiet Saturday at home, let your hair dry naturally. The more you damage your hair with heat, the less it will shine.
Colouring Your Hair

Go dark: Dark hair reflects light much better than lighter shades. But if you combine your blonde hair with dark and light strands (think low lights as well as highlights), you can have as much shine as your brunette sisters.
See At-Home Hair Colouring Tips

Home Remedies for Shiny Hair

Homemade hair rinse: If you’re blonde, add one or two tablespoons of lemon juice to your final rinse. Apple cider vinegar works for brown or red hair.
Homemade hair masque: Mash up a cup of whole strawberries with a spoonful of mayonnaise. Spread this on your hair while it is damp (not soaking wet), and then cover your hair with a shower cap and a warm towel. After a few minutes, gently wash the mixture out.
Watch your diet: A good diet is important for shiny hair. Make sure you get enough protein, and also eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, almonds and avocados.

Red Lipstick Guide

Red lipstick it's the one cosmetic item that many fear, while others embrace. However, this still doesn't stop a good portion of you ladies out there from picking the wrong shade. But whatever your skin tone may be, there is still the perfect shade of red lipstick awaiting you.

The number one rule in finding the right red shade is simply just to try it on. The hand test doesn't work when it comes to red, so pucker up and slap some color on those lips. Always get a second opinion to ensure that you really are choosing the right shade of red. The cosmetics girl at the counter always makes a good friend.

The second way to find that right red lipstick is to find out if you have warm, cool or neutral skin tone. There is a pretty simple test to help determine this. Grab a piece of white paper and hold it against your wrist in natural light.

If your wrist gives of an orange undertone, then you are a warm. Neutral skin tones tend to look olive, yellow or peach while blue and pink undertones means you are a cool.

If you have cool skin tone, try to lean towards pink and plum shades of red as well as darker reds like blackberry.

If you have a warm skin tone, orangey-reds are the way to go with gold tinted undertones. You could also try a nice bright tomato red; it might seem scary but once it is on, you will feel fierce and can rock the perfect red lipstick like no one's business!

There is one more extra little tidbit before I send you one your merry lipped way. Red lipsticks with blue undertones make your teeth look extra white for a picture perfect smile!