Every woman deserves to feel beautiful, but when lack of sleep, stress, poor diet, lack of hydration, and harsh weather put a damper on your au natural complexion, makeup can be your secret weapon. Here are nine step-by-step tips from the makeup experts for every essential product in your makeup bag: 1. Start with a fresh canvas That’s right, clean skin makes all the difference and it’s the perfect place to start. Before you apply a dab of powder or foundation, wash your face and neck with a cleaning cleanser, and pat dry with a soft, clean towel. Tone using a facial toner to suit your skin type by gently cleaning excess makeup and dirt with a cotton pad. Then moisturize before reaching for any product. 2. Primer Next up is primer, an underrated liquid product that can smooth and even out your skin, and help large pores virtually disappear. Apply a drop of primer using your fingers to your forehead, nose, chin, and cheeks, then cover evenly by blending downward, using a makeup sponge. 3. Concealer Depending on where you need it most (I’m looking at you dark undereye circles), apply a dab of concealer under the eyes and blend outward being conscious of blending in well into the cheekbones.

As women, there are many secrets we know, but don’t always share with the rest of our gender. For instance, how in the heck does a lady still to look so refreshed when she hits the snooze alarm a zillion times? Or how does one avoid getting mascara smudges all over your eyelids on only 3-hours of sleep? Thankfully, the ladies who already know these life changing makeup hacks are willing to share their wisdom: Fix a foundation faux pas We’ve all had a too dark foundation mishap that leaves skin looking muddy and blotchy instead of smooth and even. However, the good news is that you can take that darker foundation shade from summer to winter by diluting it with a dab of moisturizer to help lighten things up. All natural lip plumper We all could use fuller, more supple lips for kissing. Get a natural plumping effect, combine a touch of peppermint oil into your lip gloss. The perfect pout is possible Almost every woman yearns for the perfect Cupid’s bow, yet so many of us end up looking clownish when applying lip color. To create the perfect pout, apply lip liner in an “X” at the Cupid’s bow, the sweep and blend it with the same shade of lipstick.

Most of us are well aware of how to take a shower. However, there’s actually more to taking a shower then cranking up the water and stepping under the spray—wash, rinse, repeat, and towel dry. In fact, many of us are guilty of the following in-shower and post-bathing mistakes that can actually damage our skin. Immerse yourself in these common showering mistakes: Face cleansing in the shower Sure, it’s convenient to wash my face in the shower. For this exact reason, I keep my face wash within reaching distance so I can suds up and cleanse my face and neck mid shower. That way I can use a toner and facial moisturizer right away post-shower for best absorption. But little did I know, I’m probably not thoroughly cleaning my face if I’m doing it with lathered hair in the shower. Doing so leaves soap residue on my face and leaves me open to blackheads and acne. Now I use my face wash right after my shower instead so I’m ensured a clean and cleansed canvas. Temperature control Stepping into a steaming, hot shower is a welcome respite after a long day at work, particularly during the colder months. However, before you melt all your stress away under a super hot stream, keep in mind that too hot, too long bathing rituals can strip the natural, protective oils from your skin, leading to skin itch, scaly patches, and even exacerbating eczema symptoms.

When it comes to shaving, guys have it pretty easy. They tend to focus on removing hair on the face and neck, and maybe if they’re feeling adventurous they may shave their chests or their heads. Many ladies on the other hand, succumb to the social pressure of attaining a virtually hairless, smooth body. That means removing hair from not only the legs and armpits, but also several other unmentionable and dangerous (to put a razor blade close to) areas of the body. The pressure to maintain this smooth visage also means shaving unsightly hairs on a daily basis. Listen up ladies, before you grab a hold of that razor, here are a handful of hair removal hacks to ensure a smooth shave every time: 1. Invest in razors with moisture strips You’ve seen them at the drugstore; those razor blades with the little pink, yellow, and green strip attached. It’s time to make the transition to razors with moisturizing strips build right in. Sure, they may cost a few dollars more, but that aloe or jojoba strip is meant to help the blade glide effortless over your skin, removing unwanted hair while protecting your precious skin from razor burn and nics.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve put a dress back in my closet because I didn’t have the right bra to wear with it. After all, who wants to wear a sexy backless dress with a bra strap showing? Or, gasp, what’s worse than a strapless dress when you only own bras with straps? Like seasonal clothing, ladies need more than one style of bra to flatter different outfits, not to mention multiple bras that flatter your specific body type. Luckily, there are several bra styles to choose from. From bralettes to strapless bras and stick on bras, let’s browse the most popular bra styles to suit any outfit or occasion: 1. Bralette I love the bralette. While it doesn’t fully support every breast size, those with need for less support will love the minimization of the bralette. It contains no pads, cups, or wires, and can be described by many as the “house bra” as it’s ideal for movie nights and comfortable nights in. I wear this comfortable, slip on style with tank tops and summer dresses. 2. Strapless bra The strapless bra can be a godsend for some and a nightmare for others, depending on your body shape.