Must read tips on keeping your hands healthy

Having beautiful, healthy hands and nails is easy, but it requires some thought and effort. Apply these tips and you will enjoy strong, shiny nails in no time.

1. Eat a healthy balanced diet. Don’t deprive yourself of food, because this way you are also depriving your body of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Choose organic products when possible. Eat more raw fruits and veggies, but make sure that you diversify them in order to provide your body with many nutrients, not just the ones found in your favorite fruit or vegetable. An increased intake of vitamins will not only make your nails stronger but will also have a beneficial effect on your skin, hair, immune system and your overall health. You will look and feel better.
2. Drink at least 1.5 liters (6 cups) of water a day. You need this water in order to keep your nails and skin hydrated and youthful. Water is also the enemy of cellulite, so don’t hesitate to take an extra drink. Increase the amount of water you drink in the summer months when the weather is hot.
3. Get more sleep. The term “beauty sleep” is not accidental. Each person needs a different number of hours of sleep. On the average this number is from 6 to 8, but if your body needs more than that don’t hesitate to give it whatever it needs, even if that means you have to sleep for 12 hours a day. Do not withhold sleep from your body on account of feeling lazy. Once your body has caught up on sleep you can go back to sleeping less than that.
4. Use sunscreen during the summer and warm clothes and gloves in the winter to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the weather. The sun is wonderful and good for your health, but you should avoid prolonged exposure especially in the hot summer months, when its UV rays are most harmful.
5. Avoid sharp changes in temperature.
6. Avoid contact with strong domestic cleansers, detergents and other household chemicals. Use protective rubber gloves when doing housework.
7. Before going to bed at night, rub your hands and feet with glycerin lotion, massaging them lightly. You can also use body oil or fingernail gel, rubbing it in the area of the cuticles in order to nourish the skin and stimulate nail growth.
8. Do hand and foot exercises regularly. They will tone your extremities and improve blood circulation in them. If your work involves sitting or repetitive actions (an office job) you have to devote a few minutes each day to exercises. Stretch and loosen your wrists and ankles, then tighten your fingers and toes and release them. Repeat this several times and you will feel fatigue leaving your body right away.

TOP 10 EASY EVERYDAY MAKEUP IDEAS FOR LAZY DAYS

For those of you who love makeup, you know that sometimes all the routine can get tiring, especially on lazy days. That’s why it’s always good to know few makeup styles to keep them for such days.

Every woman has her own makeup style. Some like it bolder, some like it more natural. In this article we prepared ten ideas for everyone’s taste. You will find the no – makeup style to the cat eyes, all made for an everyday look. They’re easy, don’t require too many products and most likely you already have all of them. Check them out and tell us which is your favorite!

1. Peachy Glam

Everyday makeup doesn’t have to be always about nude and natural colors. Sometimes it can mean adding colorslike pink or peach that still can be managed for every day needs, such as this makeup example. It’s really easy to copy this look – just head out to the blog where you can find the video where this gorgeous lady will do step by step tutorial. It’s all about natural peach shimmer mixed with glamorous look! Plus, you don’t need any advanced makeup skills to achieve the look. First step is applying BB cream, liquid foundation, concealer, or any other product that you usually use for your face makeup, then you’ll need to pay more attention for the eye part and last is applying the lipstick.

2. Pop of Pink

If you want to put the focus on your smile, a good way to achieve that is by putting the right color of lipstick that will flatter them. Red lipstick is such a classic, but you can’t always wear it on everyday basis and here pink can help. In a combination with more natural looking eye makeup, it definitely brings out the pop of the color and it draws the attention there. To achieve this look, use a shimmery medium brown eyelid makeup and for the face it depends on you. The blogger has used BB cream, concealer and light bronzer for the pinky cheeks. Last and most important, choose the shade of pink lipstick that you love the most.

3. Everyday Natural Makeup

This makeup tutorial contains only products that aren’t tested on animals, so if you’re also refusing to support the industry that tests on them, then you should definitely check out the products that the blogger is using to achieve her amazing natural look. It is also a great way to use this look if you’re not a fan of putting too much makeup or even if you don’t have any makeup advanced skills. So, all you have to do is to start your regular face makeup routine and by that we mean BB cream or any liquid foundation, concealer, bronzer, lighter eyelid makeup and also a baby pink color of lipstick.

4. Easy Contouring

You know how contouring became such a big deal on social media, so there are many tutorials that can help you to contour and highlight. Of course, this really depends on your bone structure, so contouring can either help you to benefit from the dramatic makeup look, or unfortunately can do the opposite. In that case, you can make a less dramatic look and set things according your needs. This tutorial only uses Lancome, but you can experiment more with the products. Check out the link below the picture to see the how – to tutorial by this amazing blogger.

5. Kim K Nude Makeup

Creating the perfect, nude makeup look is very easy and you can use it everyday because it looks so simple, yet so gorgeous. It gives a little bit to whole face – a light, brown eyelid, a little bit of pink cheeks and a nude – pinkish lip gloss or lipstick. Plus, if you use fake eyelashes it can make your eyes appear bigger and more flattery! So, get those brushes, the nude eye makeup palette, your favorite lip gloss and contour kit and check out the link to see how to achieve the nude makeup look worn by Kim Kardashian. Also, if you would like to try the pushed hair back hairstyle, you can also find the steps within the tutorial.

6. Everyday Cat Eye

Cat Eyes are such a beautiful, dramatic way to put the focus on our eyes. It makes them sexier and more attractive. However, if you use bold cat eyes, most likely it won’t be the everyday makeup look you would like to have in your office or during interviews. That’s why this tutorial can help you have it on everyday basis. The blogger is using a Naked products, but any other similar will do the trick. As the rule goes, if you decide to focus on your eye makeup, then the rest should be balanced, meaning it should look more neutral. That effect you can easily achieve by using nude or similar shade of lipstick or lip gloss.

7. Nude  Shimmery Eye Makeup

If you just really want to focus just on your eye makeup, here’s the tutorial for you. It’s about natural, light brown, shimmery tones that will make your eyes look in the most natural way, but still have some amazing makeup to make them prettier! First you need to prime the eyelid and use champagne – colored eye shadow on the inner corner, while on the outer corner apply pink shimmer eyeshadow. Use the lightest eye shadow that you have for highlighting the brow zone and blend everything together. Last step is applying mascara and white eye pencil. Voila!

8. Audrey Hepburn Makeup

The golden Hollywood age produces do many great looks that is simply impossible not to revive or recreate them. Same goes with makeup – the tutorial shows you how you can put your makeup on the Audrey Hepburn style. This gorgeous actress was famous for her flawless look and the way she had her makeup made her even more unforgettable. Lucky for us, there’s a tutorial that can help us feel as if we’re this actress at least for a day! You will find the tutorial easy, but it will be easier for you if you have any makeup experience.

9. Springtime Makeup

Springtime is over, but no one can stop you from wearing such makeup! This one is a real example at how you can rock your everyday look with an amazing, most natural and easy makeup. So, all you have to do to achieve this wonderful lady’s look is to apply your BB cream or other liquid foundation, apply some concealer to avoid dark eye circles, lines or blemish. After you’re done with that step, it’s time to apply your favorite mascara. Make those lashes long and with volume, that way not only they will look more attractive, but it can make your eyes appear bigger too. Last, put on lipstick or lip gloss in neutral, natural color.

10. Touch of Bronze

Another spring – ready makeup look, but who says we can’t have it in summer to?! For this look, you should do the regular routine. First, apply your foundation, concealer and go – to powder. These steps should make your face look more fresh and all the pimples, blemishes and lines should go away! After that, apply the bronze to highlight your bone structure and then apply shimmery brown or similar to the eyelids. Next and last step is applying your lipstick, which in order to make it more summer-y, make it peach – colored.

TOP 10 WAYS YOU ARE DAMAGING YOUR HAIR

Some people say that life can’t be perfect, but our hair can be. As with everything else in life, neglecting our hair is going to make it so far from being perfect. There are about 120,000-150,000 strands of hair on our head and each of it deserve the same love and care – if you want to have a healthy, pretty hair!

However, our busy lives can stop us from taking care of our hair the right way and let us enter the world of routines where we either overdo some stuff, we don’t them enough or we don’t do them the right way. Did you know that brushing your hair while wet can cause breakage? Or that certain hairstyles can damage it too? Read below to find out more about the ten mistakes that we all make and that prevent us from having the hair from our dreams!

1. You Wash it Every Day

Washing your hair every day strips the sebum and can lead to damaging the scalp’s condition. Besides that, if you wash your hair every day you have noticed for sure that it gets greasier as time passes! That’s why you need to avoid doing this and start washing your hair once or twice in a week. This way you are encouraging the natural hair oils to protect the hair and the scalp, keeping them healthy at the same time.

2. You Use Heat Too Much

It’s all about using heat moderately. If you strengthen or curl your hair every once in a while, it will be fine. But, if you overdo it, the heat can definitely damage your hair permanently. This means that your hair won’t be that silky when you’ll touch it, it won’t grow as fast as you want it to and you might even notice hair breakage. It will take you time until you bring back the healthiness and if you damage it so bad, it’s a question if you can ever get it back as it was. To prevent yourself from experiencing this, make sure to use heat moderately and take good care of it all the time.

3. You Don’t Use Heat Protectant

This is tightly connected to what we have previously just said. When you use heat to style your hair, it’s important to use heat protectant. It protects the hair strand cuticle from the heat, while at the same time it allows it to be shiny and doesn’t let the natural moisture to evaporate in the heat. When choosing a heat protectant, make sure it contains natural oils such as olive oil, coconut oil or argan oil. You can use a store – bought heat protectant or make your own. If you’re more interested into the second option, click the link below the picture to read more about the DIY protectant.

4. You Brush it When It’s Wet

Wet hair is more fragile compared to when it’s dry, so one of the worst things that you can do to your hair is brush it while wet. This way you are encouraging hair breakage to happen by forcing tangles apart. To avoid this, brush your hair before you wash it and also make sure to use a wide-toothed comb to safely apply the conditioner through the hair strands.

5. You’re Using the Wrong Products

What worked for your friend, doesn’t have to mean that it will work for you. First, think about this: when was the last time that you’ve changed your shampoo or conditioner? No matter how good they used to make your hair, if you use the same products for a very long time, it can cause residue to your hair. Also, many shampoos that can be found in every store contain sulfate, the cleansing agent which is not a health threat, but not every hair can tolerate it. So, if you’re experiencing split ends, frizziness and other similar hair conditions, try using a sulfate – free shampoo.

6. You’re Using Too Many Products

Maybe you’re using the right products, but the problem is that you use too many of them. All the shampoos, conditioners, masks, hairsprays, hair serums and other hair products won’t have the positive effect you expect to see, and that’s why you need to stick just to the essential hair care products and make it few. This way, each of it will be able to do the right thing to your hair. Same goes if you don’t use enough hair care products – if your hair is really damaged, then just sticking to your shampoo won’t be the best idea!

7. You Skip Haircuts

We get it – you want a longer hair and you’ll do whatever it takes, but skipping regular haircuts won’t help you in that. Haircuts are important because they prevent the split-ends to go up further of the strand, which will only make your hair appear shorter and messier. This is the part of the hair that is most exposed to any condition we put our hair through, especially when it comes to styling our hair with heat and we need a good old haircut to repair the damage and give shape. We should cut our hair every 8 – 10 weeks, but if we notice split-ends earlier than this, then we should cut it every 6 – 8 weeks.

8. You Use Too Many Chemical Treatments (Too Often)

Not everyone was born with the hair color from their dreams and luckily later in life we are able to have it the way we want. Unfortunately, coloring and bleaching our hair can make it less healthy and even less pretty if we do it very often. Our hair becomes dry, lifeless without shine and is prone to split ends. This happens because the used chemical products contain hydrogen peroxide, that helps breaking down your old hair color pigment and if used too often, it causes great damage. That’s why you need to dye your hair moderately and use masks or other hair care products.

9. You Wear Tight Hairstyles All the Time

There are so many hairstyles to try out, starting from a regular ponytail to messy updos and braids, and truth is – we love them all. But, did you know that constantly having your hair in a certain hairstyle can actually damage it? For example, tight braids can cause split ends, hair weakness and follicle damage, while ponytails can can cause breakage and fraying. Don’t worry – this doesn’t happen if you wear your hair like this often, but instead it takes a long time to happen! On the other hand, if you were looking for a hairstyle inspiration and you like the braid from the picture, check the link below it for instructions!

10. Your Lifestyle in General

Your hair health is going to be affected if you suffer from stress, anorexia nervosa, if you are on a low – calorie diet, you have lower estrogen levels, sever infections and other conditions and diseases. Certain medications can also cause hair damage. Unfortunately, all these can also lead to hair loss! It is also important what kind of food you eat. The hair needs protein for it’s growth, so it’s very important to feed yourself with healthy food. In general – make sure to live the healthiest life possible that will allow your hair to grow healthy, shiny and strong.

What is Stamping Nail Art?

Stamping nail art is a technique used for placing designs on the nails. All of the supplies that are needed are typically purchased in a kit, which contains a stamping device as well as various colored nail polishes. This method of applying nail art can be easily done at home without having to go to a salon. It is a simple process but the nails can still appear to be professionally done. A stamping nail art kit can even be used by children.

In a salon, designs are either air brushed onto the nail or painted on with a brush. This can be expensive, time consuming, and the choice of designs may be limited. Stamping nail art starts with applying a base color on the nail. After this first coat is allowed to dry, a stamping device is then used to pick up a design and stamp it onto the nail. The stamping nail art kit contains discs with a variety of these designs in many colors.

When the stamping nail art design is chosen, it can be applied to the tip of the nail or further down closer to the nail bed. This all depends on the specific design. For example, if the design has a lacy texture, it should be added to the nail tip. Larger printed designs that include roses or hearts should be placed further down on the nail bed. After the stamped design completely dries, it should be covered for protection.

A transparent or clear nail polish is then painted over the design to seal it. This also adds shine to the entire nail. For added protection, a second coat of clear polish can be used, but between every separate step, the nails should be completely dry. Smudging or a blurred design can be a result if nails are not allowed to thoroughly dry in between coats.

After the stamping nail art procedure is complete, other items can be added to the nail for extra decoration. Rhinestones or gems can be placed into a design. Colored stones can be used in the center of a flower or colored gems can be used to color the wings of a butterfly. The gems adhere to the nail by dipping them into a clear polish and placing them on the nail. There is no need to add another coat of transparent polish after adding a gem, but it does help to hold them in place.

Beautybigbang offers nail stamping kit with free shipping worldwide, stamping polish low to $3.59/bottle, stamping plates low to $2.59/pc.

How Do I Choose the Best Beauty Tools?

Prior to purchasing any beauty tool, it is important to determine how often you plan to use the item, as this will typically be the deciding factor in how much money you spend. It is also important to make sure that the item that you choose will be as safe as possible for your body, even if you only intend to use the item occasionally. Reading reviews from several different sources on the types of products that you intend to purchase can also be helpful, and may prevent you from having to spend even more money to replace a faulty beauty tool.

In general, if you plan to use an item every day or even several times a week, you should look at beauty tools as an investment. Typically, higher-end hair styling tools and makeup brushes will last significantly longer than cost-conscious alternatives, often making up for the higher price tag in the end. For example, high quality, well-made makeup brushes will stand up to daily use and excessive washing without shedding or becoming rough, often lasting for years. If, however, you only apply makeup a few times a year, a cheap brush set may be all that you need.

No matter how often you plan to use an item, it is important to ensure that the beauty tools that you choose will cause little to no damage to your skin or body. This is especially true with hot tools such as blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. Cheaper versions that utilize metal or plastic as a heating element can significantly damage your hair, even if you only use the item once a month. When choosing any beauty tool that has the potential to cause damage to your hair or skin, it is important to pick the safest option available. In the case of hair styling tools, ceramic heating elements and plates are ideal, and options can be found in even the lowest price range that, while it may not last as long as a higher-end version, will typically work well and safely for those who only use hot tools occasionally.

As with most products, the marketing used for beauty tools can be misleading. There are, however, several different ways to obtain feedback from people who have tried the item before you buy it. Magazines routinely provide reviews on a multitude of different beauty tools, and can give you a good idea as to what items may be worth researching. It is important to remember, however, that reviews found in these types of publications may not always be completely truthful, although they can provide you with a good starting point. In general, the best places to read reviews are on websites that sell the products and allow customer feedback, beauty blogs that do not receive sponsoring from the product, and forums dedicated to choosing the best beauty tools.

The Secret To A Great Manicure

Ever polish your nails at home and wonder why on earth you did not achieve salon results? Think big picture! Your nails may be the fine art at center focus, but the frame around it is equally important to tie in the perfect look.

Moisturized Skin And Cuticles Are Critical To A Salon Finish. Here Are 5 Tips To Keep Your Hands Moisturized Year Round:

1. Stay hydrated. Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Dehydration will suck the moisture out of your skin, leaving you with dry, rough and itchy skin. Think of your hands like the leaves of a plant – keep the plant watered and the leaves remain green, healthy, smooth and nourished. Don’t water it and watch it wilt, dry up, lose its vitality. Your skin counts on your water intake!

2. Apply quality hand cream and use it daily. We love Organic Olive Essence Hand Cream. Try warming the cream before application. Simply put a bit of hand cream in a microwavable container and heat in the microwave for 10 seconds. This will help open your skin’s pores absorbing even more moisture/hydration from the cream. Have extreme dry skin? Condition while you sleep! Apply warm extreme moisture cream before you sleep and wear fitted, soft, 100% cotton gloves to bed. By morning your hands will be super soft and conditioned.

3. Protect your hands from the elements. Be it cold weather, washing dishes, spot cleaning clothing/wash, or simply being out in the sun – protect your hands by wearing gloves and applying SPF hand cream. The elements will dry out your hands significantly, the chemicals will irritate and dry out your skin – not to mention age you unnecessarily with sun spots.

4. Seasonal smarts. Increase hand cream applications during dry summers and cold winters. Extreme weather conditions are a major contributor to dry and flaky skin. Apply lotion twice daily, once in the morning and once before bedtime. While you sleep, the moisture will soak into your skin and nails without being “stripped” during hand washing sessions, which occur during daytime hours.

5. Moisturize cuticles. Before you moisturize, prep your cuticles. Take a shower or soak your hands in luke warm water for 10-15 minutes. If your cuticles look overgrown or thick, push them back gently with a cuticle tool. Then, choose a cuticle balm or oil, apply and let soak.

Now that your hands and cuticles are moisturized, and wah lah you've achieved a perfect salon finish! Following the easy steps above will not only keep your hands looking young and gorgeous, it will also enhance the look of your manicures all year round.

The Importance Of Managing Your Cuticles

When people think about manicures, they think about beautifully sculpted fingernails, filed to perfection, coated with polish, and topped with shiny clear coat. They may consider exfoliation or paraffin dips. Perhaps even moisturizers. Unfortunately, people forget about the most important part of healthy nails – the cuticles!

So what are cuticles? Cuticles are actually thin pieces of skin that connect your finger to your fingernail. They act like protective barriers for the nail bed while your fingernails are growing, keeping dirt and bacteria from harming your fingernails and preventing infections. The cuticles also cover the cells that actually grow and build your fingernails.

Cuticles are truly the unsung heroes when it comes to maintaining perfect manicures. If you take proper care of your cuticles by keeping them moisturized, pushing them back gently with an orange stick, and never cutting or ripping them, your nails will grow in longer and stronger than ever before.

Keeping the cuticles moisturized and pushed back are just the beginning. Did you know that choosing the wrong nail care products can cause damage to these delicate membranes? Acetone-based nail polish removers and polishes containing formaldehyde are just as bad for your cuticles as they are for your nails!

Fortunately, Ani Michele lacquers are “5 Free of Chemicals”, which means that all of our beautiful nail polishes are free of the five harmful chemicals typically found in your traditional polishes. When your manicure includes Ani Michele lacquer, you can rest assured that your nails will not only look fabulous and glossy. The nails and cuticles will remain healthy and moist because they won’t be covered in damaging and drying chemicals.

It’s simple, really: healthy cuticles look better than unhealthy ones. And healthy cuticles are the perfect accent to your perfect Ani Michele manicure.