I’m not a big fan of cream eyeshadows because they tend to crease on my somewhat oily lids, but I had a couple of eyeshadows that fell down and broke in a thousand pieces so I thought I’d put them to good use and create my own cream eyeshadows with them. Wanna know how I did it? Read on:

What you need

I prefer to use broken eyeshadows that just sit around in my drawers unused, but you can use loose or pressed powder eyeshadows too if you prefer. But if you choose to use a pressed powder shadow, you would also need a spatula or scraper to scrape it out the pan. In addition, you need either a clear gloss, vaseline or a lip balm and something to mix everything with such as a q-tip or a spatula. Oh, and a clean container to mix and store your cream eyeshadow in.

How to create your own cream eyeshadow

First of all, clean the container well with soap and water even if you’ve just bought it. You never know where it’s been and you don’t want to risk anything nasty to end up in your eyes. Once the container is dry, mix the eyeshadow with either a clear gloss, a lip balm or vaseline. How much of them? That depends on your preference. Just keep adding the ingredients until you get your desired consistency. And remember to stir well to get rid of all the lumps. And voilà, your cream eyeshadow is now ready to be used!

Safety tip

Before mixing any loose pigment, clear gloss or lip balm, make sure they are approved for use around the eyes. A quick way to do this is to compare their ingredient lists with those of your eye products. If you find any ingredients in a lip balm for instance that aren’t used in any of your eyeshadows/primers/eyeliners etc, don’t risk it and use something else. This will prevent negative reactions and infections.

Have you ever created your own cream eyeshadows? And what do you do with your broken powder eyeshadows?

I have tried a lot of eye makeup removers throughout the years and most of them either didn’t work, irritated my eyes or were just too expensive. In the end, I got tired of looking for my HG eye makeup remover, especially because I knew there was a very effective and cheap one sitting on my kitchen shelf: olive oil. Olive oil is really effective at removing even stubborn, waterproof makeup, doesn’t irritate eyes and moisturizes skin too! And it is just so inexpensive! The only con? It feels really oily and greasy, which is why I don’t like to use it alone.

So, I just add some water to it to dilute it. I just get an empty bottle or a dispenser and pour in first some olive oil and then some water. How much of each? That depends on your personal preference. Considering that it is the olive oil that removes makeup, it is recommended that you add more oil than water (3/4 olive oil and 1/4 water for instance). However, some people still find this to be too greasy for them and prefer to use more water than oil (3/4 water and 1/4 olive oil). Just experiment until you find the formula that works best for you. Oh, and remember to shake the bottle well before each use to allow the oil and water to mix together.

Have you ever made your own eye makeup remover?

Although homemade remedies and concoctions, from toothpaste for pimples (which is actually a very bad idea) to milk for sunburns, shouldn’t be used as a substitute for properly-formulated products designed to target specific skin concerns, a lot of women would still try them in an attempt to solve their skin woes. While some of these remedies are useless and can harm skin, others are actually effective and great, quick fixes for emergencies. So, what DIY beauty treatments work well?

1. Cucumber and tea bags for puffy eyes

Placing cucumber slices on the eye area is a very old and popular trick and if it’s still so used is because it works. Cucumbers have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat puffy eyes. Tea bags, another popular trick, is effective as well. That’s because tea contains tannin acid that can tighten skin, and caffeine, which shrinks blood vessels. But of course the results are only temporary.

2. Aspirin mask for pimples

Aspiring mask is a very popular homemade treatment for pimples and acne. The active ingredient in aspirin is Acetylsalicylic Acid, which is converted into Salicylic Acid in the intestine. Salicylic Acid has anti-inflammatory and exfoliating properties, making it an effective treatment for blemishes and blackheads. However, when you apply Acetylsalicylic Acid topically on the skin, it doesn’t turn into Salicylic Acid. Yet, because they are both Beta Hydroxy Acids, some of the acid is still delivered into the skin. What does this all mean? It means that although Aspirin is not as effective as a topical treatment containing Salicylic Acid, it will provide some benefits to the skin anyway and may help heal pimples. Just avoid using it if you have sensitive skin as it could be irritating.

3. Milk to soothe skin

According to dermatologist Amy Wechsler, milk “contains proteins (whey and casein), fat, amino acids, lactic acid and vitamins A and D, all of which calm dry, upset skin”. If you have dry, irritated or sunburnt skin, prepare yourself a milk bath. It’s a lovely, luxurious treat that will help to soothe skin. Just remember to apply moisturizer afterwards.

Have you ever tried these homemade beauty fixes?

Source: tatiana nyanko @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatyanah/4348364667/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Hello everyone,

today I’m very excited to bring you a guest post, written by the lovely Aleya,who writes a blog for the LI Beauty School, on homemade masks. These wonderful recipes work well and are easy to make. Enjoy!

HOMEMADE FACE MASKS

One of the best ways to pamper yourself and get beautiful healthy looking skin is to apply a face mask. While many women like to use a readymade mask, more and more women today are making their own at home so that they know exactly what they’re putting on their skin and to save some money. Here are a few of our favorites.

Source: kightp @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kightp/2755877744/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Oatmeal Mask For Oily Skin
Oatmeal is the most versatile ingredient of all of the foods when it comes to making face masks. While there are different versions that you can use to improve any skin type we find that it works exceptionally well on oily skin. All you have to do is ground five tablespoons of it and mix it with lukewarm water to create a paste. Put the paste on your skin using small circular motions and leave it on for your skin for ten minutes. Once the paste has dried and your time is up wash it off with lukewarm water. You can use this mask once a week.

Avocado Mask For Dry Skin
Avocados are packed with nutrients that moisturize the skin which is why it works so well to heal dry or sunburned skin. If you mash up half an avocado and mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil into it you will have the ultimate moisturizing combination. Leave the mixture on for half an hour and be sure to use it within an hour of making it. If you suddenly have something to do and don’t have time to apply it until the next day then throw it in the garbage and make more. This is not something that you want sitting in your fridge.

Source: Sifu Renka @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/2657418810/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Yogurt Oatmeal Face Mask For Sensitive Skin
If your skin is sensitive the last thing that you want to do is use products on it that will stress it out even more. Yogurt and oatmeal are both commonly used to treat extra sensitive skin types such as psoriasis and eczema and can do you a world of good if you have problematic skin. All you have to do is grind up half a cup of oatmeal and mix it with one cup of organic plain yogurt. Leave the mixture on for fifteen minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water. If you simply have sensitive skin you can use this mask weekly but if your skin has a disorder talk to your doctor about whether or not you should use it more often.

Strawberry Face Masks For Normal Skin
Even normal skin needs some attention so that it looks radiant and feels healthy. To make a strawberry mask all you have to do is crush some ripe strawberries so that they get mashed. Once you’re done spread the berries on your skin and wash them off with lukewarm water after fifteen minutes.

It’s important to use all of these face masks within an hour of making them. You don’t want them to sit in the fridge and have bacteria build up in them. Enjoy and stay beautiful.

This post was written by Aleya who writes the blog for LI Beauty School which is a beauty school college and Hair Design Institute which is a hair and makeup school with locations throughout New York and Florida.

When it comes to taking care of our hands, cuticles, the skin immediately around the fingernails, are often neglected. But they too contribute to give hands a beautiful and neat appearance, and, when they are badly damaged, they may put skin at risk of infection. One of the most important things to do to keep your cuticles in great condition, is to use a good moisturizer or cuticle oil. Making your own is really easy. Here’s how:

1. Lemon Cuticle Oil

ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
- 2 drop of an essential oil of your choice (I like to use lavender oil)

Warm the olive oil for a few minutes. It doesn’t have to be hot, just warm. Now, add the essential oils and stir. Store the mixture in a dark, opaque bottle away from light. And whenever you need it, just soak your fingertips in the mixture for several minutes to make your cuticles softer.

2. Jojoba and Almond Cuticle Oil

Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of almond oil
- 2 tablespoon of jojoba oil
- 2 drops of your favourite essential oil (optional)

Mix the ingredients together and apply the mixture to your cuticles. I like to use this one before going to bed and, when I wake up in the mornings, my cuticles are so soft!

3. Simple Cuticle Oil

Ingredients:
- olive oil

Olive oil is a great moisturizer that can be added to other recipes or even used on its own. Just massage it into your nails for a few minutes and it’ll make them softer.

Have you ever made your own cuticle oil?

If you want to wear a zombie, vampire or any other gory mask for Halloween or a fancy dress party, you’ll need to wear some fake blood to make your costume look more realistic. Makeup artists too may be required to use some fake blood in the course of their career. While fake blood can be bought, it may be fun (and cheaper) to make your own. However, this can be tricky because a lot of recipes leave you with a mixture that’s either too bright and fake-looking or too runny and thus very messy to apply. So, I thought I’d share my two favourite fake blood recipes for an easier application and realistically gory results:

1. Flour and red food coloring fake blood recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of flour
- a cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of red food coloring

Pour the water in a pot and add the flour. Stir until the mixture becomes smooth. Now, place it on your range at high heat until it boils. Now, bring the heat down to minimum. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes and then let it cool. Add the red food coloring to the mixture (I use 2 tablespoons but you can add more or less to achieve the color you want).

2. Glycerin and Red Food Dye Fake Blood

Ingredients:
- 60 gr of glycerin
- 60 gr of gelatine
- 2 tablespoons of red food dye
- 55 ml of water

Mix the ingredient together in a bowl or pan. Then, place it on your range until everything’s melted. Add the red floor dye (as much as you need to get the color you want; I use 2 tablespoons). Now, place the mixture in the microwave for a little while, just to make it softer.

Have you ever made fake blood?

Source: elysestoupe

I’m not a big of fan of glitter. Shimmer yes, I adore it, but glitter is a different story. It looks great on some people if done right but personally I don’t like to sparkle that much and I also find glitter hard to control. The only exception is glitter on the nails. I know glitter nail polish is a pain to remove but I love how it looks and it is also fun to make. Here’s how:

Add some glitter to your favourite shades

Sometimes, I like to add a glittery touch to my favourite nail polish shades. I start by applying the polish (you can choose any shade you want, even a transparent one) to my nails and, while it is still wet, I add the glitter with a small brush. I wait for my nails to dry and then I apply a layer of top coat to seal in the glitter and add some shine. And voilà, you’re wearing your own unique glitter polish.

How to make your own glitter nail polish

However, sometimes I buy some polishes that look beautiful in the bottle but are only meh on the nails. I know I’ll never wear them but I don’t wanna throw away a new bottle of good, although boring, polish, so I simply add the glitter inside the bottle to get a cool new shade. For this, you need your nail polish bottle obviously, a stiff piece of paper and tape. Fold the paper into a funnel shape and apply tape to hold it in place. Now you can pour the fine glitter in a little at a time until you get the desired effect. Put the polish brush back in and shake well so that the glitters will distribute evenly and everywhere in the bottle.

What do you think of glitter polish? Love it? Hate it? Have you ever tried making your own?

Tinted brow gels help your brow hair stay in place and enhance your natural color. Most tinted brow gels, though, are quite expensive or too pigmented and make your brows look so unnatural. If you’re on a budget, or don’t use tinted brow gels so often to justify buying one, why not try to make your own? It’s really easy. All you need is a clear mascara and some eyeshadow.

What you need
Get a clear mascara (any will do) and an eyeshadow that matches the color of your brows. For more natural results, it’s best to use matte eyeshadows. Slightly shimmery ones may work too but don’t use anything too frosty. In addition, unless you have red hair, stay clear of eyeshadows with red undertones or you risk having unnaturally-looking brows.

How to make your own tinted brow gel
Now that we have everything, we can start making our own tinted brow gel. Smash the eyeshadow into lots of tiny little pieces (or just use a loose one). Using the wand, add a little eyeshadow at a time into the clear mascara tube (if you only want to make enough for one application you can mix a bit of mascara and eyeshadow on the back of your hand instead) and mix well. Repeat until you get the desired shade and apply it to your brows.

Have you ever made your own brow tinted gel?