There are a plethora of makeup tips on how to get certain looks. However, sometimes what we are actually looking for is far more practical. Love your look already, but hate having to get up 30 to 90 minutes earlier than you would otherwise need to? You need makeup tips that will save you minutes.

No matter what your look is, you can shave some time off your preparations. All you need to do is pinpoint the acceptable shortcuts. Of course, there are some things that you cannot give up. Letting go of other steps, however, can actually improve your look and your skin.

Here are a few classic makeup tips that will take serious time off of your morning routine:

•    Combine your foundation and your moisturizer
A number of companies now make moisturizers that are creamy enough to double as foundation . Use a thick moisturizer that will support powder and eye shadow. This saves you the time of applying foundation and also keeps good hydration in your morning routine. Many people forego hydration because it takes so long for the lotions to absorb. Thick, non-oily moisturizers absorb quickly and support makeup.

If you feel that you need foundation to even your skin tone, that’s fine. Try a mineral powder over the moisturizer or a combination foundation/moisturizer like Olay’s Definity Color Recapture .

•    Buy sun safe products
Applying sunscreen is responsible but very greasy and time-consuming. Opt for products that have a built-in SPF of 15 or higher. Most foundations have UV protection at this point. Mineral makeup also has a natural SPF of at least 15.

•    Ease up on your eyes
Eyes are the hardest and most time-consuming part of most people’s beauty routines. Go a little lighter. You can make your eyes look luminous in just two easy steps. Let go of the heavy eyeliners for work and daily wear. Stick with just eye shadow and mascara.

At first you may have trouble getting used to your streamlined beauty routine. However, in no time you are going to love your more natural look. Implement these minute-saving makeup tips and start getting a little more beauty sleep!

Makeup Minute-Savers

Bath and Body Works Aquatanica Sea Moisture Gel Souffle (drenching moisturizer to replace foundation)
Olay Definity Color Recapture (combination foundation/moisturizer)
Bare Mineral Makeup Powder Foundation (natural SPF 15)
L’Oreal Holographic Bronze "King’s Ransom" Eye Shadow (perfect for widening,brightening eyes)

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All too often, eye makeup tips put too much focus on glamour . I know, hard to imagine. How could you possibly have too much glamour? However, sometimes when it comes to eye makeup, less is more. You simply cannot go around with that incredibly  detailed “smoky eye” club look when you are at work. At least, you probably shouldn’t.

However, this does not mean that your eye makeup has to be boring. You can get a lot of the same looks for less makeup and make them appropriate for every day. In fact, some of these tactics are downright speedy and could save you some serious time. When I started using this particular tip, I cut my eye makeup application time from 7 minutes to about 45 seconds.

One of the biggest things that people want to accomplish with eye makeup is to accentuate their eyes. The best way to do this with everyday makeup is to make them look bigger. Use these simple eye makeup tips to make your eyes look bigger even if you do not want to look like you are wearing much (or any) makeup.

You will need a light eye shadow like gold, and a darker eye shadow like brown. These should complement your skin tones. They also can be reflective but should not be glittery. Loreal’s now-rare “Wear Infinite” Holographic line is ideal for this look.

1.    Apply the light eye shadow up to your brow. This evens out the skin and makes your eye area look smooth and bright.

2.    Draw a line using the darker eye shadow in the crease of your eye. You will basically make a smudgy semi-circle over your eye using the eye shadow applicator sponge. This darker shade will make your eyes look wider and brighter when your eyes are open.

At this point, you’re done. Enjoy your new, brighter, doe-eyed look. Options to dress this up include using white or pink for the background and violet for the semi circle. You can also apply a slightly darker shade on your lid below the semi-circle. If you want to make this look pop for evening, then try a bright eye liner or thin line of eye shadow along the very top of the lid. These eye makeup tips will cut preparation time and make your eyes look amazing.

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Makeup minerals can be confusing. The past year’s media blitz with mineral makeup has everyone looking for natural mineral remedies. However, not all makeup minerals are good. Some of the most common are at best ineffectual. At worst, they can cause serious difficulties.

Many people want to get the most out of the minerals in their makeup. However, they may not want to switch over to mineral makeup entirely. Maybe they just want earth minerals. Maybe they just want the anti-aging benefits. Or maybe they just want to avoid makeup minerals that can cause problems.

You need to understand the ramifications of the mineral content of your makeup. Below is a brief list of makeup minerals. It will help you view your makeup’s ingredients a little more clearly.

•    Zinc and zinc oxide
These are common in pure mineral makeup products. They are natural sunscreens. They also can smooth out your features and hide wrinkles. In pure forms, they do not irritate skin.

•    Titanium dioxide
This is also common in pure mineral makeups. It smoothes irregularities in complexion. If it is in pure mineral makeup, then it also can alleviate acne and rosacea. However, it can also be mixed with artificial ingredients that may make the end result less hypoallergenic.

•    Mica
Mica is the anti-aging factor in mineral makeup. It reflects light out of wrinkles. It also deflects attention from irregularities. Mica in mineral makeup is ground very fine so that you do not look like you are wearing glitter. You can also find it in many non-mineral makeup anti-aging and camouflaging products.

•    Bismuth
Bismuth is controversial. It is a natural mineral. However, it has to be processed to be used in mineral makeup. You cannot simply grind it into powder. Some people claim that it should not count as a pure earth mineral. It creates a fresh “glow” that many users love. It also can cause itching if you tend to sweat or have sensitive skin.

•    Talc
Talc is a classic makeup mineral. It has played a major role in cosmetics since before written history. However, many people are allergic to talc. Its main role is as a filler. If you use conventional makeup, then you likely use some talc. Pure mineral makeup products often exclude talc even though it is a legitimate makeup mineral because it is a common allergen.

Read Mineral Makeup Reviews here.

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You have to be careful with acne product reviews. After all, the wrong medication could send your breakouts out of control. Evaluate every aspect of a review before you act. You need to know what type of acne the treatment is intended for. You also need to know whether the treatment is preventative or heals existing breakouts. You also need to determine whether you can live with the side effects.

We have compiled this list of acne reviews with this information in mind. Some of these products are great. Some users literally think they are miraculous. Others are just plain stinkers. Check out our acne product reviews to see if your acne treatment made the list.

Stars

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash :
This product is great for any budget. It also can be used with basically any degree of acne. The wash is designed to remove oil. It should be used twice a day. It does tend to leave skin a little dry. However, this was easily corrected with an oil-free moisturizer. Within a week users noticed improvement. This continued over time. However, totally clear skin is not always achievable for everyone by just using the wash. If you have severe acne, though, this will make a noticeable difference. Mild to moderate acne can be cleared with perseverance.

Proactiv :
We put this product in our stars acne product reviews because when it works, it works like a charm. Lots of users swear by Proactive – and we don’t mean the stars in the commercials. However, Proactiv does get very mixed reviews. If you have mild to moderate acne, then it will likely be a lifesaver. However, truly severe acne may not respond as well. Proactiv kills the bacteria in your pores that cause acne. This is pretty effective and relatively fast as long as there are not too many bacteria to handle. This is why sometimes severe acne is too much for this product. Also, you have to keep using this product once your skin is clear or the bacteria will just come back. However, they have a good guarantee, and it is definitely worth a try because if it works, then you will never want to use anything else again.

Stinkers

Clear and Continuous Control Acne Cleanser :
This is a great facial cleanser. I love how it feels cool and tingly when you wash your face. However, it is not a good treatment for acne. While it felt great, it had few to no effects. However, users prone to regular breakouts (not acne) had good luck with this one. It is on our “stinkers” list because it does not live up to the “acne cleanser” part of its name.

Murad Acne Treatments :
Murad is a fantastic cosmetics and beauty product company. However, it seems that they should have steered clear of acne products. Murad’s acne treatment makes the problem worse for the majority of people who use it. They do have a money-back guarantee, but you might have to deal with some pretty serious image issues while you wait for your refund. Use this product sparingly and with care if you decide to give it a try.

Read about more acne treatments .

Check out cosmetic solutions for acne problems .

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It has long been accepted that omega 3 fatty acids are essential for cardiovascular health. More recently there has been a great deal of evidence to indicate that they also play a critical role in memory function. Even more exciting is the potential of these essential nutrients to stave of juvenile diabetes and other auto-immune disorders.

It may not be surprising, then, to discover that this important nutrient also plays a role in the health of your skin. However, in light of all its other abilities, this slightly more “mundane” issue often gets overlooked.

Here are just a few of the things that omega 3 can potentially do for your skin:

•    Reduce acne
The Omega 3 fatty acid compound is an anti-inflammatory. It can help alleviate problems with sensitive skin.

•    Fight psoriasis and eczema
These “incurable” skin conditions have something to do with your immune system. Omega 3 decreases inflammation and can reduce occurrences.

•    Keep skin soft and supple
Omega 3 fatty acids play a role in skin rejuvenation. This means that if you are not getting enough omega 3, you are literally asking for wrinkles. Without this fatty acid, your skin cannot repair and replenish itself as effectively as it should even if you treat it with other beauty products.

You can get omega 3 from a variety of sources. Walnuts are a good snack that is high in omega 3. Eating fatty fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel also can help. However, to get enough omega 3 in your diet, you will need to eat a lot of nuts and tuna. Instead, most people opt for a daily omega 3 supplement.

A good omega 3 supplement will be made from fish oil. Experts agree that this is the best source for omega 3. Look for a supplement that has been molecularly optimized. This will help prevent potential fish oil side effects like fishy body odor and belching.

Omega 3 could be the missing ingredient in your beauty routine. It is not just possible, but probable that you have an omega 3 deficiency if you live in the United States. Fix that issue today by adding omega 3 to your diet and stop asking for wrinkles!

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Vitamin creams are an often overlooked facet of an effective health and beauty routine. These creams can make a major difference in the way that your skin looks. Different vitamins will help with different types of skin issues.

You probably remember to take a general vitamin every day. Applying a vitamin cream to your face or other areas of the body should be no different. Vitamin creams are topical. This means that they are applied to the surface of the skin rather than digested. The results of this application are completely different than if you took the vitamins orally.

There are four major players when it comes to topical vitamins. Nearly all vitamins can benefit your skin. However, these four have key roles in major skincare issues.

Vitamin creams are designed to be applied to problem areas. Depending on your problem, your cream should contain:

•    Vitamin A for tighter skin
Vitamin A also can help skin retain moisture . It improves youthful appearance. Vitamin A is also found in some creams as retinol. It can cause sensitivity to the sun. Use it with care.

•    Vitamin E for scarring
Vitamin E helps heal tears and scars. This makes it a great treatment for deep wrinkles. Many people apply vitamin E oil directly to scars and stretchmarks .

•    Vitamin K for discoloration
If you have problems with rosacea, then vitamin K is a must. It also helps with brown spots from the sun or age. However, some vitamin creams that contain high levels of K can cause breakouts if you do not have this type of skin issue. Monitor your skin carefully to see if you get the results you want.

•    Vitamin C for anti-aging action

Vitamin C is a great healer internally and externally. This means that vitamin C can literally heal up wrinkles and tears in your skin. However, in high concentrations it can blister sensitive skin. Use it carefully and monitor your results.Use it carefully and monitor your results.

You can get accelerated results with topically applied vitamins. When paired with an oral vitamin as well, you will find that the correct form of vitamin cream results in dramatically improved skin.

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When it comes to skin repair creams , you have a lot of options. Many people think of skin repair in different terms. Some think it is the same thing as wrinkle repair. Others think of it more in terms of erasing or lightening scars . Still others want their skin to look tight and full as it did in their youth.

Skin repair cream manufacturers have a lot to deal with. After all, that is a lot of different demands for a single product to meet. However, some companies take advantage of the confusion. They use people’s lack of knowledge about what a skin repair cream should do against them. In short, they use the confusion about skin repair creams to sell cheap products that actually accomplish little or nothing.

Make sure that you understand what you are buying when you buy a skin repair cream. After all, skin repair creams tend to be much pricier than lotions. Make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. Your skin should be literally getting mended!

Here are some things that may help you spot a scam:

•    Skin repair creams should be super moisturizers
This means you need more than water, aloe and glycerin. You need serious moisturizing elements. These can include glycolic acids and herbal components. Fruit, herb and plant extracts are also good signs.

•    Skin repair creams should not just mask the problem
Many skin repair creams contain reflective elements. These make your skin appear to be immediately improved by reflecting light away from irregularities. This is fine, but the repair cream should also contain real mending elements. These might include vitamin A, vitamin C or vitamin E.

•    Any old collagen is not enough
Lots of skin repair creams boast that they contain collagen. However, most forms of collagen cannot be absorbed into the skin. This means that you are basically just smearing fatty oil on your face. Effective skin repair creams will contain peptides to help with collagen and elastin absorption.

There are a lot of good skin repair creams out there. You can find them at any price point. The key to success with a skin repair cream is understanding the ingredients and how they will work for you.

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Lately, all I hear about is Burts Bees . It actually started over a year ago. Everyone had Burts Bees products on their Christmas lists. I did not know what the big deal was, so I bought everyone other types of natural cosmetics that I was more familiar with. Then, I forgot about it.

However, once again Burts Bees are all over the news. People are using the to promote charitable work. Salons are holding drawings for services using this brand. Clearly, I have missed something. I decided it was time to catch up. I set out to learn all the “buzz” I could about Burts Bees products.

Well, it turns out I was really missing out on a lot. The manufacturers of Burts Bees products believe that your personal well being is directly affected by the products that you use each day. They design all of their products with this in mind. This means that using your Burts Bees lipgloss can make you feel good about:

•    Taking good, natural care of your skin
•    Buying environmentally responsible products
•    Purchasing from a producer that always works for “the Greater Good.”

This sounds great, but kind of vague. I had two questions:

1.    How well does it work?
2.    What precisely is “the Greater Good?”

Answer number 1: How well does it work?

Well, the stuff works just great. Any Burts Bees product will make its target smoother, softer and firmer. In fact, their anti-aging kits are phenomenal . I will say though that they seem to focus more on prevention and care than on actual repair. If you already have serious weathering problems with your skin then you might want to stick with the Burts Bees moisturizers and go elsewhere for your hard-core restoration.

Answer number 2: What, precisely, is"The Greater Good?"

In short, Burts Bees’ “Greater Good” is a combination of practices that help consumers, employees and the environment. The company sponsors environmental awareness and aid programs. It works to keep employees happy. It strives to serve consumers and has unparalleled customer service on all counts.

Based on this information, you can see why I’m glad I’m no longer missing out. I love the anti-aging products and the lip balm. The “kits” are incredibly fun and make useful, economical gifts that you know will get used, not re-gifted. I have to say it: Burts Bees Greater Good is definitely good for me.

Thank you for reading at www.BeautyCtr.com !

If you have acne and are concerned about the ramifications of taking prescription medication to treat it, then an acne diet is certainly an appealing idea. After all, who has not heard the saying that chocolate gives you pimples? Just about everyone has. As a result, it does not seem so far-fetched that what you eat could prevent acne instead of cause it.

However, an acne diet can be a hard thing to develop. It is highly personal and based on your body’s unique responses to food. There are guidelines, but your progress will largely be trial and error. Monitor your skin closely. Keep a journal. You might even want to take pictures using a digital camera once or twice a week. If and when your skin clears, stick to the diet that you were using at that time.

Here are some guidelines to get you started on an acne diet:

1.    Increase your protein intake
Some dermatologists believe that protein is associated with clearer skin. This is because protein contains an enzyme that limits the production of oil. Oily skin tends to be more prone to breakouts.

2.    Avoid carbohydrates
You do not need to cut out carbs completely. However, you do need to limit them to about 40 percent of your diet. Carbohydrates contain compounds that stimulate oil production. This is why common knowledge says that junk food leads to acne. In reality, junk food is high in carbs.

3.    Drink green tea
If possible, drink the real stuff. The best type of green tea is the kind that you brew. However, if you can’t stand the stuff, then natural green tea drinks will do. Green tea limits androgen production. Androgen is a hormone that can cause breakouts.

4.    Limit your salt intake
Salt usually contains idodine. This is why table salt is usually called “iodized salt.” For some people with acne, iodine can be a major inflammatory agent.

In addition to watching your diet, you should carefully watch what you put on your face. If you have acne you are probably already more aware than most people of the ingredients in your beauty products. Look for oil-free moisturizers and natural or organic skin care lines . These are the least likely to irritate your skin. If you wear makeup, then consider investing in mineral makeup. Many dermatologists believe that mineral makeup can actually alleviate acne problems and enhance the results of your acne diet.

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Skin repair can mean a lot of things. This is because there are a lot of ways that your skin can get damaged. Each type of damage is different. Often the effectiveness of skin repair depends on choosing the right treatment.

Here are some common types of skin damage:

•    Weathering
•    Wrinkling
•    Scarring
•    Discoloration
•    Breakouts and inflammation

Some of these types of damage can be treated using common treatments. Others need treatments specific to the particular type of damage. For example, the steps that you take to resolve breakouts can actually cause further weathering or future wrinkling if you are not careful. Conversely, the things that may repair wrinkling may also cause breakouts if not used with proper care. Scarring requires unique treatments that are independent from all of these.

One of the most important elements in any skin repair routine is hydration. A good moisturizer will help fill out wrinkles and smooth weathering. Hydration will also help counteract the dryness caused by many acne and pimple treatments. However, you will need to tailor your moisturizer to your needs. If you are prone to breakouts or have discolored skin, then be sure to use an oil-free moisturizer. Anti-aging requires a moisturizer with more than traditional ingredients (water, aloe, glycierin) in order to be effective.

Vitamins play a big role in the lightening of scars. They also contribute to anti-aging regimens, but can complicate breakout issues. Taking vitamins A, C and E in particular will help your skin. If you do not have sensitive skin, then topical applications are good as well. Some of these vitamins can lead to sun sensitivity, so always factor that in before dosing or applying liberally.

When it comes to fixing weathering, skin repair can get complicated. Weathering and scarring can be alleviated by exfoliation. This involves removing dead skin and stimulating new growth. You need a lot of patience for this type of skin repair because it can take time to get results. Never exfoliate more than twice a week or you can give yourself chronic skin problems.

As you can see, skin repair is very diverse. Many of the treatments can be used together. You may need to adjust your personal skin repair routine to compensate for all of the issues you are trying to resolve.

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