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From time to time I've written articles that help get the most out of cosmetics, long lasting lip color, lipstick, lip gloss or skin care. Some contain beauty tips not widely known. Others help you make the correct cosmetic and skin care purchase that's exactly right for you.

I also occasionaly come across articles that I think may be of interest. They are listed on this page. I always appreciate any feedback on anything I write or that I include on this list of "Beauty Resources."

(Please note that the articles and ideas contained herein are the individual author's ideas and suggestions. I do not endorse any product or service and, like anything, be your own judge to determine if the idea would work for you. Do your own research, it's always the best approach to get the desired results.)

So here's a list of "Beauty Resources" for you to look over. Come back often as I will be frequently adding to the list. And don't forget to review the great information on beautiful long lasting lipstick lip colors at Lip Color Selection. Our moisturizing lip gloss should not be missed. Don't miss our section on lip liners, that shows some great ideas on using lip liners to reshape your lips.

COSMETICS (General)

The 5 Most Common Makeup Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)

Colour & Cosmetics

5 Insider Beauty Secrets Other Women Don't Want You To Know!
(Part 1)

Learn About the Latest Trends in Cosmetics Now

What do Lipstick and Milk have in common

Cosmetics (General)

The 5 Most Common Makeup Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)

Author: Allison Saunders
Orange face, white neck. Brown neck, pink face.

We all know someone with no perception of how her make-up really
looks on her own face.

She?s sweet, really sweet. But she?s a joke in your circle of
friends. Oh, no. It isn?t you, is it?

Well, even if you don?t wear ?clown makeup,? chances are you're
making some mistakes with your makeup. Take stock to be sure
that you don't fall into any of the makeup traps below.

Mismatched Foundation

Your foundation should not be a different color from the rest of
your body. Really, it shouldn?t. This is an easy problem to fix.
March yourself down to the make-up counter at your favorite
department store and let the salesperson do her job. It?s her
job, after all. Don?t be intimidated, you don?t need to buy the
whole product line.

Blue Eye shadow

Blue eye shadow works for some people. Little girls in dance
recitals. Guests at 1970s-themed parties. Ethereal looking
supermodels. If you aren't one of the aforementioned people then
don?t wear it.

Enough said.

Dark Circles Under Eyes/Obvious Under Eye Concealer

This is a chicken or egg problem. You?re right, the circles
aren?t great. But neither are orange crescents under your eyes.
Play around with a few shades of concealer to see what really
works best for you.

Different products work differently on different people. Just
because one brand works for your friend, doesn?t mean it?ll be
flattering on you. Make sure you?re getting enough sleep and
talk to your doctor. Sometimes those circles are a sign of
allergies or a vitamin deficiency.

Obvious Lip liner

This is a look. It's just not a flattering one. Lip liner is
intended to add dimension to thin or small lips, to lengthen the
wear of your lip color and to prevent your lipstick from
bleeding onto your face. It is not intended to create a
visible outline.

Inferior products in your dressing area

Most of us are not starlets with dressing rooms and make-up
artists at our disposal. But that doesn't mean we don't deserve
to look like starlets with dressing rooms and make-up artists.

Invest in good lighting around your vanity. Stock it with
quality make-up brushes and limit your make-up collection to
products you'll actually use. That way, your budget can be used
to buy better cosmetics.

You're worth it

Add a couple of extra minutes, a wee bit more effort and a
little money into your daily makeup routine. It?s not vain to
spend a few dollars on or a few minutes at your vanity. Put on
your prettiest smile, bat your beautiful lashes and show the
world that you like who you are.

Put your best face forward... you don't have to hide behind
crow's feet and lip lines...

About the author:
Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the
author of an amazing new course, "Hollywood Makeup Secrets" a
step-by-step simple system for maximizing your inner and outer
beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and
subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting: http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/

Colour & Cosmetics

Author: Jane Thurnell-Read
Many people avoid artificial colours in their foods, but don't
check out the colours in cosmetics and personal care products.
It is only in recent years that cosmetics have started to carry
a full list of ingredients on their packaging.

Making sense of the ingredients can be difficult for the lay
person. This is particularly true for colourings, which often go
under the guise of numbers rather than names.

In many countries colours in cosmetics are listed as colour
index numbers. C.I. numbers are allocated by the Society of
Dyers and Colourists. The scheme covers colours used in food,
personal care products, cosmetics, household products and fabric
dyeing. So, for example you will not normally see 'tartrazine'
listed in your lipstick ingredients, but it may be there listed
as C.I. 19140. Erythrosine will be listed as C.I. 45430, and so
on.

The USA uses a different system: the FD & C colors have been
categorised by the American Food & Drink Administration for use
in foods, drugs and cosmetics. So in this system tartrazine is
FD & C yellow 5, and amaranth is FD & C red 2.

The 'E Number' system is used by the European Community (EC).
This is a system of giving code numbers to food additives, some
of which are also used in cosmetics and personal care products.
This system is also used in some other countries but without the
E prefix, so E102 becomes simply colour '102'.

All this confusion for the average consumer would not be
important, but for the fact that some of these colours are known
to cause problems in susceptible individuals. For example,
tartrazine (also known as FD & C Yellow 5, CI 1914 and EI02) can
cause migraines, itching, rhinitis and agitation in susceptible
individuals. Many individuals avoid its use in food, but do not
realise how extensively it is used in cosmetics, such as
lipstick, and personal care products.

The big worries in terms of colours in cosmetics and personal
care products are lipstick, coloured lip balms, lip gloss and
lip pencils, because anyone who uses these regularly 'eats' a
fair quantity over their life time, but these colours also
appear in skin cream, foundation, mascara and so on too.
(Remember also that these colours can also be in 'natural'
cosmetics and skin care products.)

Another worry is that even the 'experts' cannot agree on an
international 'safe' list of colours, so that a colour may be
allowed in one country, but banned elsewhere. For example,
quinoline yellow is allowed within the European Community and in
some other countries, but is banned in Japan, Norway and the
United States.

As ever, the advice is: keep yourself informed and read the
label. Here is a list of the different names and numbers that
common colourings go under:

Tartrazine: E102 or FD & C Yellow 5 or C.I. 19140 Quinoline
yellow or E104 or C.I. 47005 Sunset yellow or E110 or FD & C
Yellow 6 or C.I. 15985 Amaranth or E123 or FD & C Red 2 or C.I.
16185 Ponceau 4R or E124 or C.I. 16255 Erythrosine or E127 or FD
& C Red 3 or C.I. 45430 Red 2G or E128 or C.I. 18050 Allura red
AC or E129 or FD & C Red 40 or C.I. 16035 Patent blue V or E131
or C.I. 42051 Indigo carmine or E132 or FD & C Blue 2 or C.I.
73015 Brilliant blue FCF or FD & C Blue 1 or C.I. 42090 Fast
green FCF or FD & C Green 3 or C.I. 42053 Green S or E142 or
C.I. 44090

About the author:
Jane Thurnell-Read researches and writes on health and
well-being. Visit her site http://www.healthandgoodness.com

5 Insider Beauty Secrets Other Women Don't Want You To Know! (Part 1)

Author: Beth Scott
Imagine what you would do if you knew miracle working beauty
secrets. And if you had the self confidence that comes with
being beautiful.

Now before you laugh and say you'll never be beautiful, listen
up.

I know where you're coming from! At one time I didn't know any
beauty secrets. Before I learned any beauty secrets I was plain,
even bordering on ugly.

I had acne, chapped lips, weight issues, wardrobe disasters, and
not so white teeth. But thats all become past with the 5 beauty
secrets that have changed my life.

I pulled through all of my beauty nightmares and learned some
valuable beauty secrets as a result.

Now people are always commenting to me on my beauty. Saying I
should be a model, etc.... And guys are no longer even an issue!
I don't have to look for them, they come to me.

It turns out the best beauty secrets are those that are won by
personal knowledge and experience. Not just by reading general
tips in magazines.

So by experimentation over the years and by perseverance, I've
found out what really works and what doesn't.

Beauty Secret 1 Unchap and beautify your lips with this
technique.

For soft, beautifully kissable lips, you need the following: a
washcloth (I'm not kidding either), warm water, and your
favorite brand of lip balm.

First you apply a coat of lip balm. Then wet one corner of the
washcloth, put the warm wet corner of the washcloth between your
lips, press them together and hold for 5 seconds.

Then gently massage any remaining lip balm from lips with the
wet corner of the washcloth, and dry lips with a corner thats
dry.

Apply lip balm again to keep your lips chap free. You may also
apply lipstick or lip gloss on over the layer of lip balm.

I learned this was the best way to keep lips from chapping,
after going through too many winters with dried, and chapped
lips.

Beauty Secret 2 Clear your acne, and get beautiful skin.

For clear glowing skin, a little home remedy does wonders for my
complexion, as it should with yours too.

Steam your face for 20 minutes every night after washing it,
then every other night after steaming your face, massage a half
teaspoon castor oil over face.

Leave it on at night while you sleep and wash off immediately
upon waking.

Steam face for twenty more minutes in the morning after washing.
When you finish steaming your face splash your face with cool
water and dry it.

If your skin starts to show any signs of a pimple forming. Take
one night off from steaming and applying castor oil and apply
Benzoyl Peroxide over face.

Take the next night off also from the steaming, castor oil, and
benzoyl peroxide. Continue facial regimen with steaming and
castor oil the following night.

This beauty secret will moisturize your face at the same time it
will help clear up acne and pimples. But only if you work at it
consistently.

Beauty Secret 3 Good taste in clothes.

When shopping for clothes try to stay away from really big
prints, or weird mixes of colors (eg. green, pink and blue
flowers combined on a white background, for instance).

Clothes like these just scream "I'm color blind!" And if you in
fact, actually are color blind, always shop with a friend who
isn't and has good taste in clothes.

Buy basic colors. Solid reds, pinks, blues, whites, and blacks.
Or things with small tasteful prints and designs.

Then mix and match each basic color with a corresponding one
(blue goes well with white, pink, and sometimes with red, and
different shades of the same color almost always go well
together).

Put these beauty secrets to use, and start seeing the benefits
today. Be sure to read Part 2 of this article, which contains
the last 2 beauty secrets.

In Part 2 I'll teach you the beauty secrets for whitening your
smile without draining your bank account. And how to use clothes
to your advantage by hiding figure flaws and defects.

About the author:
To learn more visit http://workgirl15.beautytips.hop.clickbank.net Where you'll learn hair styling tips, wardrobe secrets, and much much more on whitening your teeth, improving the texture of your skin, and looking your best.

Learn About the Latest Trends in Cosmetics Now

Author: Bridget Allen

The days of bright blue eye shadow and slathered on blush are
gone with the wind! If you are in desperate need of a make up
freshen up, consider these hot trends in cosmetics. These latest
colors, tips, and techniques are just what anyone needs to
update a look or make the change into a new season. Remember
that your cosmetics do have an expiration date, so keep this in
mind when shopping for new make up. With each season, carefully
look through your make up kit and discard any items that are
outdated. This is critical, especially with eye make up that can
expire and potentially cause painful infections. Also, remember
not to share your make up with anyone else to prevent spread of
germs and infection.

Today's latest trends in cosmetics reflect the fashion
trends--shimmer and shine! From super glossy lip gloss to candy
like eye make up with glitter to make your eyes truly pop. This
trend only applies to eyes, lips, and nails, however, since
cream and matte finishes is hot for foundations, powders, and
blush. In addition to shimmer and shine, the color of eye and
lip make up is quite subtle. Gone are the vibrant colors and eye
popping shades of eye shadow. Instead, pale browns, ivories,
grays, tans, and other natural colors are all the rage. Lip
shades are also a bit more subdued, with a nude lip or a sheer
pink gloss being incredibly hot.

Lipstick is out today, with lip gloss taking over the first
place in purses all over the country. These lip glosses are made
in every color under the sun and many mimic the appearance of
lipstick with a much smoother and glossier look. For individuals
looking to care for their lips and enjoy that terrific nude lip
look, consider using a simple hydrating stick. The all natural
brand, Bert's Bees, produces a phenomenal product that can be
applied under a gloss or used by itself.

The days of pressed powder may be numbered; as today's hot
products include cream powders that go on thick but dries sheer
and ultra light. This option is great for individuals who would
like a bit more coverage than pressed powder offers, but do not
want to deal with the mess and hassle of using foundation.
Another popular trend along this line is the cream blush, which
also goes on like a cream but dries a powder. Also, cream
blushes prevent that unnatural coloring that appears on many
women's cheeks.

About the author:
Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry,
Get her free course " Fashionista Essentials" now at
http://www.i-stylish.com

What do Lipstick and Milk have in common?

by: RuthAnn Ahnen

Normally we associate "use by dates" with the something we buy at the grocery store. Like milk for instance. Have you ever wondered if cosmetics should have a "use by" date?

Under current United States law there are no regulations or requirements that compel cosmetic manufacturers to print expiration dates on the labels of cosmetic products. Manufacturers have the responsibility to determine shelf life for products, as part of their responsibility to substantiate product safety. FDA believes that failure to do so may cause a product to be adulterated or misbranded.

Voluntary shelf-life guidelines developed by the cosmetic industry vary, depending on the product and its intended use.

Cosmetics and their longevity - not something you may have pondered over may be somewhat of a mystery. Following are some guidelines you can use to get the most out of your cosmetics and to guard against possible contamination or infection. In addition, the passage of time may cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the cosmetic product.

The shelf life for eye-area cosmetics is more limited than for other products. Because of repeated microbial exposure during use by the consumer and the risk of eye infections, some industry experts recommend replacing mascara 3 months after purchase. If mascara becomes dry, discard it. Do not add water or, even worse, saliva to moisten it, because that will introduce bacteria into the product. If you have an eye infection, consult a physician immediately, stop using all eye-area cosmetics, and discard those you were using when the infection occurred.

Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are certain "all natural" products that may contain plant-derived substances conducive to microbial growth. It also is important for consumers and manufacturers to consider the increased risk of contamination in products that contain non-traditional preservatives or no preservatives at all.

Sharing makeup increases the risk of contamination. "Testers" commonly found at department store cosmetic counters are even more likely to become contaminated than the same products in an individual's home. If you feel you must test a cosmetic before purchasing it, apply it with a new, unused applicator, such as a fresh cotton swab.

As a rule of thumb, cosmetics that are wax-based are less likely to harbor organisms than liquid or oil-based products. Another thing to be careful of is re-infection. If you get an eye infection, throw away any product that has been recently used on the area and likewise for cold sores.

Here are some guidelines on the on the "shelf life" of specific types of make-up.

Lipstick and Lip Gloss: Both have a shelf life of up to two years. As with cream blushers, pigment and oils preserve lipsticks but if you get a cold sore while using one, throw it out immediately - the same goes for gloss. And if you use a lip brush, wash it twice a week with a good brush cleanser.
Foundation: Water-based foundation lasts for up to a year and the more common form of oil-based, up to 18 months. The two different types will be clearly visible on the label.
Highlighter/Concealer: Has a shelf life of one year. Avoid using the concealer directly on the spot, as this can leave bacteria on the product and, when used elsewhere on the face, lead to further outbreaks. Instead use a short, pointed brush to dot the concealer over the spot, and then clean the brush using a good brush cleaner.
Powder: In pressed form, lasts up to 18 months with the loose variety lasting up to one year. Makeup sponges don't need to be thrown out but they do need to be washed every week. Use soapy water and allow them to dry naturally before you place them back in the compact to avoid encouraging bacteria. But once a sponge has lost its original shape, smells off or is shredding at the edges, replace!
Blush: Has a shelf life of one year. Over time, they dry out or get cakey; making them difficult to apply, so toss them! Cream blushers will last longer, as the pigment and oils preserve them.
Eye Shadow: Has a shelf life of one to two years for both powder and cream formulations.
Nail Polish: Lasts for up to a year or two years if stored properly.
Mascara: This is the product that got the short straw in the shelf life stakes - it needs to be replaced after a mere four months. Don't share mascaras with friends - the wand harbors a host of bacteria that are naturally present on our eyelashes but can cause infections to others. If you have a sty or any other kind of eye infections replace your mascara immediately.

You should be aware that expiration dates are simply "rules of thumb," and that a product's safety may expire long before the expiration date if the product has not been properly stored. Cosmetics that have been improperly stored - for example, exposed to high temperatures or sunlight, or opened and examined by consumers prior to final sale - may deteriorate substantially before the expiration date. On the other hand, products stored under ideal conditions may be acceptable long after the expiration date has been reached.

With these guidelines you should get maximum benefits out of your make-up.

_______

Hope you enjoyed the information contained on this page. Start with Long Lasting Lipstick Lip Colors, protect your skin with appropriate sun block and pick cosmetics right for you at the right price. I know you'll get many compliments with the beautiful result.

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