Have you got the 8 essentials for flawless make up?

Whether you’re a minimalist who rarely wears more than lipstick and powder or a beauty queen who routinely freshens up with a complete collection of cosmetics, flawless makeup takes planning.

The most essential kit to be organised is your home makeup kit. Like your closet, this is where you will go to get ready for any and every occasion. It is therefore really important that you have all the tools you need to do your make up like a pro.

The eight basics include:

1. Brighten your face with concealers and correctors

Correctors brighten the darkest areas under your eyes, allowing concealers to gently lighten and blend into your skin.

This instantly makes your face look brighter and energised.

See the before and after (left side and right side of the face) for an example of how much of a difference concealer and correctors can make.

2. Create a smooth complexion with foundation or tinted moisturiser

Beauty starts with great skin. The right foundation or tinted moisturiser will make you look like you have even toned, great looking skin.

3. Matte your face with powder

A light dusting of powder sets concealer and foundation for hours, keeping your skin fresh and matte.

4. Accentuate your eyes with eye shadow

The key to accentuated eyes is eye shadow that makes your eye colour stand out. It can also be used to transform your eye shape.

Having at least four shades at home enables you to play with a variety of looks, from naturally beautiful eyes to smokey eyes.

5. Enhance your eyes even further with eye liner

Eye liner is the ultimate way to define and enhance the eyes. Framing the eyes, it can help to make them appear larger and really stand out.

Many woman achieve a beautiful, defined look using liner only on the top lash line. For those who use liner on the top and bottom lash lines, it is important to keep the top thicker than the bottom.

6. Make your eyes pop with mascara

Mascara opens up your lashes and creates a greater emphasis on your eyes. Most lashes are transformed with a sweep of mascara and the use of an eyelash curlier.

Black mascara is always our first choice. For women with fair colouring or those who have naturally bond lashes, mascara is a must.

7. Create a healthy look with blush

Pink blush is great for making you look healthy. Other shades of blush can also be used to create the dramatic countering sometimes seen in fashion shows and the theatre.

8. Finish your look with lipstick, gloss or lip pencil

Applying lip colour is one of the simplest of steps and yet it’s the most powerful in giving you that final pop.

The right shade works with the skin tone and complements the natural colour of the lips. You can choose from a wide range of textures such as matte, sheer, shimmery and creamy lipsticks and glosses.

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5 Surprising health benefits of house plants

When you want to recover from an illness, sleep better or boost your productivity, you often turn to medication, vitamin rich supplements and power foods. But did you know that house plants can be just as effective at eliminating toxins and contributing to a healthy lifestyle?

New research conducted by the University of Technology Sydney, shows that indoor plants reduce air pollution, along with a number of modern malaises such as stress, illness and even short attention span.

Here are some ways you can take advantage of potted plants and flowers.

1. Make it your natural cure

Since the era of the ancient Egyptians, the Aloe Vera plant also known as the ‘lily of the desert,’ is frequently cited as a key ingredient in herbal medicines.

Extracts from the plant have many healing benefits, including medicating cuts, soothing burns, alleviate asthma symptoms and even clearing acne!

2. Boost your indoor air quality
Everyday, our household items emit volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene into the air. Sadly, these harmful compounds can come from almost any household items – from furniture and paint to hair products and even nail polish.

NASA conducted a study to determine which plants would best eliminate these harmful toxins, helping to clean the air we breathe. They discovered 27 plants that could help do the trick.

Among the top 3 most effective plants is the Peace Lily (as shown above) and the Snake Plant (as shown below).

The Snake Plant is particularly good as it is one of the few plants that release oxygen into the air at night, making it the perfect plant to have in your bedroom as you sleep.

3. Capture the beauty of natural scents

Air fresheners that are quick to fix bad smells may seem like a gift from the home-cleaning gods, but they really only cover up the scent until its chemicals wear off.

What’s more, according to TIME magazine, many of them contain phthalates – chemicals that have been linked to cancer, decreased testosterone and lowered sperm counts.

Use fragrant plants such as dwarf Citrus Trees to fill your home with a wonderful fresh smell instead of artificial scents. This natural and chemical-free way to freshen your home is also a great way to begin growing your own organic lemons, oranges and limes.

4. Relax and inspire productivity

Studies have shown that having plants in your home, or even in your workplace, have a positive effect on you. Some well-placed greenery will brighten a space, purify the air and infuse natural scents, helping to create a more relaxing and restful ambiance wherever you are.

Place a Bamboo Palm or Weeping Fig on your desk to help you relax and be more productive at work.

5. Enjoy a goodnight’s sleep

Getting the recommended seven to eight hours’ sleep per night can be difficult, especially when your mind is busy process everything that happened that day.

Studies have shown that the vapour from some plants, specifically Lavender and Jasmine can lead to a more restful sleep. The smell from these plants will induce a state of tranquility that will help you prepare for a good night’s sleep.

How to overcome naughty cravings

Have you made a conscious decision to “eat healthier” yet find yourself giving into cravings you so badly want to give up? If so, there is no need to feel guilty. Your journey to a healthier you isn’t over. In fact, lapsing is all part of the journey.

Here are two simple tips to help you get back on track.

1. Write down why you ate the very thing you said you wouldn’t

Did you have a bad day? Was the restaurants menu irresistible? Or did you give in to a craving that you had all day? Whatever the reason, log it and keep a record of it.

For example, just the other day, I went to Waterstone’s to browse some books on nutrition. Inspired to write this article, I popped downstairs to their Costa coffee shop. On automatic, I ordered an old favourite ham and cheese toastie and assured myself it was the best choice. My habit blinded me so much, I didn’t see the healthier and tastier alternatives.

By writing this down, I acknowledged the lapse and identified the cause. The next time I pop into Costa, I know to make a better choice.

2. Find ways to enjoy flushing it out

To recover from a lapse, you firstly need to diagnose how severe your lapse is. Did you slip and have a toastie or have you made one unhealthy choice after the other?

If you made one or two unhealthy choices, you can relax. After all, what harm can one burger really do? The important thing is that you make healthier choices from today onwards. You can start by consuming more water, fruit and vegetables. This is a great way to flush whatever you ate out of your system.

One of the most fun ways to stay on track is to run a bubble bath and place a glass of water, green tea and strawberries by your side. The experience is so nourishing and relaxing, you’ll be excited to continue making healthier choices.

However if you found yourself making lots of unhealthy choices for a period of time, it will take more than an additional glass of water to get back on track. In this case, your body needs a reset. I love resets because it helps to break the cycle before it becomes a downward spiral habit.

You can begin the reset process by putting on your workout gear and doing your favourite exercise. Sweating while you do something you love will remind you how good it feels to be healthy and active.

The next part of the process is to cleanse your body of the toxins and cravings you have eaten over the week.

A fun way to cleanse is to treat yourself to a homemade spa weekend. Gather your friends to a nearby sauna and when you’re done, go home, put on a face mask, drink lots of water and green tea. Fill your weekend meals with lots of greens and extra protein. By the end of the weekend, you will feel so cleansed and energised, you will be inspired to make healthier choices in the week.

I create spa-like evenings once a week and it helps me to remember that being healthy doesn’t have to mean cutting things out of your diet, but rather finding ways to be good to yourself.

NEW MUSIC: Ke$ha – Sleazy

Just hours after revealing her Cannibal album cover and tracklisting, Ke$ha has leaked her new track Sleazy on the internet.

It looks as though it will be the second track to be released from her sophomore album.

The song is slightly different to what I’ve heard her sing before. It has a mix of Gwen Stefani and Beyonce.

Ironically, the urban sounding track was produced by Bangladesh. Bangladesh produced Beyonce’s track Diva.

Get your first listen here:

ALBUM NEWS: Ke$ha Reveals Album Cover + Tracklisting

Ke$ha has revealed the cover and tracklisting of her upcoming album Cannibal.

The LP will hit stores on November 22nd.

Cannibal Tracklisting

1. “Cannibal”
2. “We R Who We R”
3. “Sleazy”
4. “Blow”
5. “The Harold Song”
6. “Crazy Beautiful Life”
7. “Grow A Pear”
8. “CUNext Tuesday”
9. “Animal (Billboard Remix)”

WOMP!: Cher Booed At Tinie Tempah Gig

Tinie Tempah performed at London’s Koko venue lastnight.

A couple of X Factor finalists made a guest appearance.

One of the finalists was Cher Lloyd.

Reports say that the singer was given a frosty reception during her performance. However, One Direction received brilliant feedback from the urban audience.

Twitter fans wrote:

“X Factor crew appeared at Tinie Tempah during poor Bluey’s set. Cher was booed. Hilarious, in front of an ‘urban’ crowd!” – Lisa_shetabi

Meanwhile Siooobhan added: “Ha, ha, I love the fact that Cher is being booed at the Tinie Tempah gig. Considering that’s her ‘scene’ and all.”

Oh boy!

ALBUM NEWS: Black Eyed Peas Reveal Tracklisting

The Black Eyed Peas have revealed the track listing of their upcoming album, The Beginning.

The Beginning

1. The Time (Dirty Bit)
2. Light Up The Night
3. Love You Long Time
4. XOXOXO
5. Someday
6. Whenever
7. Fashion Beats
8. Don’t Stop The Party
9. Do It Like This
10. The Best One Yet (The Boy)
11. Just Can’t Get Enough
12. Play It Loud