Beautiful skin belongs to those who understand the principles of natural skin care. There are some very definite steps to take to obtain a clear, smooth complexion. The first and most important step to take is to learn and implement an effective facial cleansing routine. Do not skimp on cost in this area. Purchase the highest quality facial cleanser you can afford to buy and keep plenty on hand. The soap we use for general bathing is just too harsh to be used on the face without causing damage.

Here is the procedure for a gentle yet thorough facial cleansing:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with regular soap and rinse thoroughly.
2. Splash your face with very warm water to open your pores.
3. Apply your chosen facial cleanser with your fingers and gently massage your face, spreading the cleanser over the entire surface. The key here is to be gentle. The facial cleanser is designed to do the job well and there is no need to rub and scrub. In fact, rubbing and scrubbing will only damage the skin.
4. Splash water of the same temperature from step 2 onto your face to rinse off the cleanser.
5. Splash cold water on your face to close the pores.
6. Let your face air dry – do not use a towel to dry off.

This facial cleansing should be done at least twice a day, right before makeup application and always right before retiring for the night.

The second step to beautiful skin is to wear makeup every day. But not just any makeup, as some contain harsh chemicals that can dry out or otherwise damage your skin. Choose the highest quality natural makeup your budget will allow. The sun protection factor (SPF) of the foundation should be at least 15 – 20. I recommend mineral powders over any type of liquid cosmetics due to their higher percentage of natural ingredients and ease in application and removal. It is important to learn how to put on makeup properly so that your skin is well protected from the elements.

Here are the steps for properly applying makeup to enhance the health of your facial skin:

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly first, following the facial cleansing steps listed earlier in this article.
2. Immediately after your skin has completely air-dried from the facial cleansing, apply a high quality facial cream to soften up your skin. Apply gently – do not rub the face. If you find yourself rubbing your skin to help the cream be absorbed by your skin, then you have bought an inferior facial cream.
3. Follow the makeup manufacturer instructions for applying the foundation. In the case of powdered mineral foundation you will be using a brush to apply the foundation, such as a kabuki brush.
4. Next comes any concealer you feel you might need, followed by lip color, eye shadow, eyeliner and blush. The important principle to follow is less is more – the less makeup you add on top of your foundation, the healthier your skin will be. Apply as little as possible to achieve the look you desire. Never rub the face during application of makeup. If using the recommended mineral makeup, use good quality mineral powder application brushes.

The third step to acquiring beautiful skin is to make a weekly facial mask a part of your routine. If you have the funds, reserve a weekly hour at a local day spa and let the professionals give your face the attention it deserves. If that is not in your budget, search in books or magazines or online for recipes for facial cleansing masks and prepare them yourself. Why not invite your close friends over for a spa day at your house and share the fun!

The remaining steps to achieving beautiful skin are the standard points of advice you have been hearing your whole life: eat healthy food, get plenty of exercise and get enough sleep.

Follow these simple steps to beautiful skin and soon your friends will be asking you to share your personal beauty secrets!

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2. Cosmetic Tattooing Books

I’ve never had a tattoo myself so if you find yourself with this dilemma I can’t say I totally understand your predicament but I could bask in the glory of not being silly enough to get a tattoo in the first place. I won’t however as I have been very close to getting one myself in the past and if I’m honest I must admit that there is a possibility that I will get one in the future.

What I will do though is take my time and decide over a prolonged period what design I want to get and where I want to get it on my body. I certainly won’t be getting one when I’m drunk; I imagine this is the reason that so many people end up looking for something like Wrecking Balm tattoo removal cream in the first place.

Unfortunately I can’t offer you any advice about whether this product works as intended but its might be worth checking out I suppose if you are desperate. My guess is that its going to be pretty ineffective but you never know, the Internet is full of surprises.

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Combating Winter Frump

I often see elegant women who in summer dress in sexy little pumps or sandals and suddenly winter arrives and they switch to sports shoes and heavy pant suits and long drab coats.

I ask myself, why must winter equal FRUMP?

I’ve never really understood why cold weather has to stop women from being feminine, and thankfully there are many shoe and boot designers who agree. Ladies wedge shoes needn’t be just summer fun that’s over when the leaves start to change colors. Sexy sandals can be replace with closed brown wedge shoes for everyday and the office and gold wedge shoes that have just a little peep toe for holiday wearing, even after a snowfall.

Platform wedge shoes may not be possible if the streets are icy and slippery, but the newest suede wedge shoes and boots that have come out for this winter season can be worn on almost any surface because designers are incorporating rubber soles onto many higher heeled creations to make them more practical.

Cheap Wedge Shoes that aren’t Dreary

If you need some cheap wedge shoes that are sexy and still useful there are a number of online alternatives. Here are just a few:

• Xhilaration Faith Strappy Wedge Boots in tan color which have been inspired by mukluk boots and has crisscross straps going up the main boot shaft and a stylish wedge heel, all made of faux microsuede that’s super soft and water-resistant.
• There’s a round-toe stretch wedge boot by Victoria Secret that’s a real deal at just $79.becasue it incorporated Victoria Secret sexy with practical warmth and comfort. I just love all Victoria Secret shoes…you just can’t go wrong!
• Rafe New York black leather Serena slim wedge boots for about $300 from Bluefly
• Women’s Pull-on Boots from Zappos start at about $120.and includes shipping. This particular boot has a hidden wedge so if you’re short you’ll look tall without looking like you’re trying.

• Matiko Women’s Viv Leather-wrapped wedge boots for just $90 from Overstock and it comes in black, brown and gray.
• For a name brand shoe that goes all the way up to your knee it’s the Stuart Weitzman OTK Wedge Boot for $598.available through Neiman Marcus. It comes in black suede and has a 3 inch covered wedge heel.
• Mia Gelato Sueded Wedge Boots from Piperlime for $130.00 are a round toe 4 inch covered wedge heel made totally of Microfiber.
• Can’t go wrong with a pair of UGG Australia Elsey Lace-Up Wedge Boot styles from Nordstrom for just under $300. Their quality is well known and this lace-up boot is no exception with super soft suede and a sturdy wedge heel, with a plush sheepskin lining. It comes in black and espresso.
• Another name o remember for wedges is Moschino. They have a line called Cheap & Chic Wedge Ankle Boots that are for sale through Piperlime, an although they are said to be cheap, that is a relative thing, because they start at about $600. Just remember that Moschino is a high-end designer name brand shoe and will give you years and years of quality footwear.

Cheap wedge shoes and boots that are not waterproof or made of leather will last only a year and sometimes not even that. An investment in a quality pair of winter boots could see you through many seasons if you select a pair that’s reasonably priced.

Keep Frump at bay by wearing heels, selecting fluid style coats that have shape, especially at the waist, and adding some long scarves that have color.

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I also recommend reading or looking at certain makeup and beauty books that do not deal with tattooing but have pictures of eyebrows and faces that might aid in giving you some ideas on how to shape your brow if you are about to undergo an eyebrow tattoo. Please take a look through this list and make of the books you think will be helpful to your specific cosmetic tattoo needs.

I Love My Permanent Makeup by Debbie McClellan – In this book the author addresses 65 common questions about permanent makeup. It has international testimonials from women who have had positive cosmetic tattooing experiences and shows how tattoo eyebrows have been beneficial to real women.

101 Questions & Answers On Permanent Makeup for the Technician by Debbie McClellan – It is unfortunate that this book seems to be only available in a Spanish Edition (which is great for me since I’m Spanish) but may not help you too much. (If you don’t read Spanish, then skip to the next review: Permanent Makeup and Reconstructive Tattooing by Eleonora Habnit). Debbie McClellan, in her book on permanent makeup discusses 101 questions that are often asked by professional aestheticians and cosmetic tattooing technicians. Although it is directed to the professionals in the cosmetic tattoo industry, the information is also useful for patients to be part of the eyebrow tattoo color selection and for them to be able to understand how skin undertones affect the tattoo pigment chosen. It is also good for anyone contemplating having an eyebrow tattoo to thoroughly understand what a professional does and how equipment is selected and what problems must be overcome and many of the details that will decide how good your eyebrow tattoo will turn out. She discusses other procedures such as eyeliner and lip liner and filling in entire lips. It is a comprehensive guide for professionals and a great read for anyone who has an interest in permanent makeup techniques.

Permanent Makeup and Reconstructive Tattooing by Eleonora Habnit – The author of this book, Elenor Habnit, goes through a list of reasons why cosmetic attooing may be right or wrong for you. Permanent makeup procedures like the eyebrow tattoo, lip tattoo and eyeliner procedures are suggested for very specific types of women. She discusses the benefits of concealing scars using permanent tattooing and how to compliment the work of plastic surgery with a little permanent cosmetic help. She discusses eyebrow tattoo cost, professional associations and certification, pigment color selection and many other topics useful to permanent makeup practitioners, cosmetic surgeons, tattoo artists, and women everywhere who are considering permanent cosmetic tattooing.

Milady’s Aesthetician Series: Permanent Makeup, Tips and Techniques by Pamela Hill – Some of this books technical equipment related information is outdated but her suggestions for techniques and how to maximize the benefits of micropigmentation tattooing for cosmetic enhancements are still pertinent. This book is for first time eyebrow tattooing or permanent makeup patients. Her book is illustrated.

Beautiful Brows: The Ultimate Guide to Styling, Shaping, and Maintaining Your Eyebrows by Nancy Parker and Nancy Kalish – In this book you will find nothing about permanent makeup, yet it is a complete guide for deciding what shape and style of eyebrow will be best with your face and this will translate into the best eyebrow tattoo you can receive. Designed as a guide for plucking brows, it is useful as a resource for discussing with your cosmetic tattoo professional the best eyebrows that will become your permanent look. It is well laid out and easy to understand and has pictures to guide your eyebrow selection. It is an eyebrow styling encyclopedia and an invaluable tool.

How to Create the Perfect Eyebrow by Victoria Bush – It goes without saying how these 13 chapters on how to create the perfect eyebrow can help anyone who is contemplating permanent makeup specifically eyebrow tattoo procedures. Since you must know what shape of brow to get from a cosmetic tattooing expert, it’s good to have a reference point before an eyebrow micropigmentation tattoo is on your face. This book can help you decide on tattoo shapes for your brow. She offers real life case studies for eyebrow design in practice.

Makeup Makeovers: Expert Secrets for Stunning Transformations by Robert Jones – This book should be part of every woman’s library who is interested in beauty and enhancing her look. This book is not for or about glamorous stars but real women, since the author believes every woman can be beautiful. Permanent makeup and eyebrow tattoos are the basis of your look and this book will take you one step beyond to compliment cosmetic tattooing treatments with suggestions on how to enhance your skin and eyes and your own inner beauty after tattooed eyebrows and all cosmetic procedures are done.

Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery by Arthur W. Perry MD – Dr. Arthur W. Perry discusses benefits and risks if you are considering any kind of cosmetic surgery or skin-care procedures including tattoo removal. He does not specialize in permanent makeup tattooing, makeup tattoo micropigmentation or specific eyebrow tattooing yet he discusses it briefly and offers suggestions for scar removal and illness related cosmetic treatments. His book is comprehensive and invaluable for anyone who is about to have facial enhancement of any kind.

Aesthetics and Cosmetic Surgery for Darker Skin Types by Pearl E Grimes – This book is devoted to those who will undergo micropigmentation and permanent tattooing procedures or tattoo removal or alter skin discoloration through tattooing methods and who have darker skin pigmentation. It has more than 350 color illustrations.

The Eyebrow by Robyn Cosio – New York makeup artist Robyn Cosio has written a great entertaining and informative eyebrow book. This book will provide many ideas for designs and eyebrow shapes for anyone contemplating redesigning their brows with eyebrow cosmetic tattooing procedures.
Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority by Melissa Schweiger – this is a great picture book to help you select the right shape for eyebrow tattoo. It’s juts for inspiration.

Eye Candy: 55 Easy Makeup Looks for Glam Lids and Luscious Lashes by Linda Mason – Professional makeup artist Linda mason offers eyebrow shapes in the 55 full color illustrated looks. Although dedicated to young styles, there are some images that deserve a peek especially if you search for information to inspire an eyebrow tattoo procedure.

Make-Up : Fresh Ideas for Fantastic Looks by Bernadine Bibiano for The Body Shop – I love the Body Shop, but am not necessarily endorsing it by recommending this book because the book is about real people and real faces from all ethnicities and stands on its own as a manual for beauty. These international brows may be the inspiration you need to decide on the shape for your eyebrow tattoo. And don’t forget to pick up a little tee tree oil or some spritzer for after your permanent makeup procedures.

Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women by Taylor Chang-Babaian with a foreward by Yoko Ono — 100 color photographs of Asian women to inspire eyebrow tattoos. I believe it is essential for international women who seek eyebrow and makeup tips prior to micropigmentation or tattoo eyebrows enhancement see real pictures of Asian brows to know what’s possible.

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro by Bobbi Brown – Bobbi Brown is a beauty icon. Read her books before or after your eyebrow tattoo. Bobbi Brown just knows how to make women look good.

Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin – if you’re looking for a little celebrity eyebrow inspiration to decide on your brow shape before permanent make up eyebrow tattoo procedures, then you have to look through this book. Cher, Tina Turner, Vanessa Williams, Julia Roberts, Isabella Rosselini, Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman and others should offer enough ideas to have running to get an eyebrow tattoo tomorrow!

Beautifeye: State-of-the-Art Methods to Enhance and Rejuvenate the Eyes, Brow & Face by Dr. Stephen Bosniak – Eye and cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Stephen Bosniak, discusses brow lifts, Botox, semi-permanent makeup, micropigmentation options, eyebrow tattoos and permanent makeup solutions and has lots of illustrations.

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