Never use cosmetics that have crossed their expiry dates. Normally, life span of mascaras is about three to four months, foundations and lipsticks last for one year while powder and eye shadows last for about two years. It is also important to wash and clean brushes and sponges regularly. Black mascaras and eyeliners are dramatic and also the least allergenic of all colorants. Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow pencils that are wax based should work for daily use and they can be cleaned off using only water. Light earth tones not only give you a natural look but are less likely to cause skin irritation than the darker colors.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor 15 or higher and ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to avoid harmful effects of UVA rays. Cosmetics with fewer ingredients are much safer, so for daily use, opt for cosmetics that have no more than 10 ingredients. Remember, nail polishes are not for daily use. For a quick pedicure, scrape the dead skin off the soles of your feet after shower using an emery board, rub them over with lotion or olive oil or petroleum jelly and push back the cuticles of your toenails. To maintain them, wear socks all the time. If socks make you feel hot, cut the toe section and ankle section of your socks. You can do a quick manicure in a similar fashion too and maintain them by wearing socks or gloves at night.

• Store lipstick in the fridge, it will last longer.
• While buying lipstick never use the tester on your lips. It is very unhygienic. Apply the tester on fingertips. This is a better option than the back of your hand as it closer than your lips.
• Use your lip liner as a base for your lipstick. This will ensure that lipstick lasts longer. While using light lipstick, use nude liner. Then apply lipstick on top of it.
• Line your lips whenever you use lipstick. Without lipstick your lips will look soft and less defined and your lipstick will appear smudged.
• To keep lipstick off your teeth, once your have applied lipstick, put your index finger into your mouth and pull it out. The extra lipstick will come off on your finger.
• Lipstick can be used as blush, but do not use blush as lipstick.
• Apply lip liner first. If your apply lipstick first and then try to apply lip liner you will not be able to see the natural line of your lips.
• Older women should avoid gloss and matter lipstick and stick to creamy lipstick.
• If you do not like a shade of lipstick, do not throw it out. Just mix it with other shades of lipstick and create your own shade.
• If you have plump lips, apply lip liner just outside your natural lip line.
• To keep gloss on for longer first fill your lips with lip liner and then apply gloss on it. The gloss has something to stick to and therefore lasts longer.
• If your lipstick has broken, the just light a match under the broken part of a while, when the lipstick melts a little then put it back on the base. Then swivel down the lipstick and put it in the fridge, uncovered for about 5 minutes.
• Try and avoid orange and brown shades of lipstick as they make your teeth appear yellow.
• When you are to the last bit of your favorite lipstick scrape out the last bits with an orange stick and mix it with lip-gloss or vaseline and use it.
• To prevent lipstick from sticking to the glass you are drinking from, discreetly lick the edge of the glass before touching your lips to it.

• Use a gel blush or a cream blush instead of powder in a shade of pink and it will look more natural. Gels or creams are more transparent and blend smoothly. Rub them onto your cheekbones and blend upwards towards your eye for a glowing rosy complexion.
• To fix unpolished nails, fail nails into square shape, buff them to give some shine and then apply a clear coat of polish. Then rub a little cuticle oil around the edges of your nails and apply rich moisturizer on your hand. In about 15 minutes your hand will have a polished look.
• The trend now is to have natural looking eyebrows and not thin, arched brows. Use a tinted brow definer or eye shadow to fill your brows if they are scanty.
• Before you sharpen your eyeliner or lip liner keep it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. The pencil will harden a little and will not break when sharpened.
• Women whose eyes are deep-set should use liquid liner instead of pencil eyeliner. Liquid liner does not smudge easily and will not smudge in the crease of the lid in deep-set eyes.
• To prevent mascara flaking off and smudging on your face, apply a thin coat of mascara on your top lashes only. Then brush your lashes with an eyelash brush to prevent clumpy mascara build-up.
• Before curling your eyelashes, heat the eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds. Test to make sure that it is not very hot and then apply it on your eyelashes. The heat will ensure that the curl stays in place on extra long eyelashes.
• Before buying a concealer or foundation, test the color on the inside of your wrist. The skin here is unblemished and will give you an idea on how the color will look on your face.
• To extend the life of your foundation mix a drop of your moisturizer to create a glowing look for your skin.
• Apply foundation after you have done your eye make-up. This way you will be able to fix any mascara or eyeliner smudges.
• To prevent your lips from feeling dry when you apply matte lipstick, apply lip balm on your lips before start your make up. By the time you do your eyes and the rest of the face your lips would have absorbed the balm and will be ready for the matte lipstick.
• To make lipstick last for longer shade your lips with lip liner before you apply lipstick.
• If you have applied nail polish in a sloppy fashion, then just soak your nails once they are dry in warm water for a few minutes and them rub off the extra nail polish with a finger.
• Dark eye shadow can be used as eyeliner as well. Use a very flat brush, wet is and dip it in dark eye shadow. Wriggle the brush into your lash line paying special attention to the space between the lashes and then use the color just above your lash line.

Henna belongs to the privet plant family. Henna has been used for thousands of years for its medicinal properties and cosmetic properties. Henna is used for coloring the hair and conditioning the hair as well. Today henna is used for body art as well. Henna is a Persian word and describes a small flowering shrub (Lawsonia inermis). The plant is found all over the world including Australia, the Mediterranean, Africa and in Southern United States. The variety of henna plant varies from region to region and different plants have different coloring properties and the color of the powder also varies. Henna powder in its pure and natural form is a bright or deep green, khaki or brown. The color produced by pure natural henna ranges from orange to red, to black cherry and near black color. Pure black color is not produced by natural henna powder.

Henna powder is made from the leaves of the henna bushes. When manufactured in large quantities, the leaves are taken to the factory and machine ground. Normally henna powder is made by blending different types of henna leaves from different parts of a country or from different countries. After the leaves are ground the powder is sifted. If the powder is not properly sifted the henna powder will contain pieces of leaf. Finely sifted henna powder is life talc and contains no leaves. Finely sifted henna powder is best for cosmetic use. Henna powder colors the skin, when the dye is released as a result of the henna powder being mixed with water or lemon juice and being applied on the skin.

ehndi body art has been practiced for centuries in the Middle East, India and in some parts of Africa. Though generally mehndi is thought of as a woman’s forte, men in all the countries have practiced it as well. Mehndi is the art of creating designs on the skin using henna paste. These designs can be applied in different parts of the body. Traditionally mehndi is applied on the hands and feet. Today as mehndi has become popular in the West mehndi is applied on the upper arms, back, around the belly button and on the hands and feet.

Initially henna was applied in these countries to cool the body in the hot summers. Dots are applied on the palm of the hands of both men and women to cool the body. As time passed the users of henna began drawing patterns, which over a period of time became intricate designs that are popular today. The different cultures gave rise to different style of mehndi and different methods of application. Intricate and fine line designs were developed in Pakistan and India. Geometric patterns and designs became the specialty of Morocco. In Africa bold geometric shapes and patterns became popular. Mehndi patterns are applied with the help of gold rods, plastic cones, plastic bottles with tips, syringes and toothpicks etc. Today mehndi art has become a means of expression for the Mehndi artists. 

Henna Paste

For henna powder to release the dye you will have to make a paste of the henna powder with water or lemon juice. There are a number of things that can be added to the henna powder to make a paste that will stain your skin or hair the color you desire. Most people follow a trial and error method and finally come up with a recipe that suits their needs. Given below is a basic henna paste recipe, you can try it out and add to it to suit your needs. To make henna paste or mehendi

• 1 cup boiling water
• 2 tablespoons black tea or coffee
• 3 tablespoons of sifted henna powder (make sure you sift the powder before making a paste)
• 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil

Lemon-Sugar Glaze

• Strained juice of ½ lemon
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Boil the water and add the tea or coffee powder and make a decoction. Let this decoction soak for a few hours. Strain the decoction to remove any particles of tea or coffee. Place the henna powder into a plastic or glass bowl and add eucalyptus oil. Now slowly add the tea/coffee decoction a little at a time and stir the mixture. Use the spoon to press the powder and water together. Make a smooth paste of the henna powder. Allow the paste to stand for 6 to 12 hours. The longer you allow the paste to stand the smoother the mixture will become. Now apply this paste in any design you want and wait till the mehndi is dry, but not cracking. Take a cotton ball and dab a little lemon-sugar glaze to keep the henna moist. Keep the henna on for as long as you want.

After you remove the henna paste design from your skin, try not to wet the area for as long as possible. It is best to leave henna overnight. Using lemon-sugar glaze will ensure that the mehndi stays overnight. The less you wash the colored area of your skin the longer the design will last. If the colored skin is constantly touching water then the color will fade quickly. Applying lotions or creams will cause the design to loose color. A henna tattoo cannot be removed; it will have to fade off on its own. The color may last on your skin for two or three weeks or longer.

Henna for Hair

Traditionally henna has been used for coloring hair for centuries in the Middle East and in India. Using henna for the hair is part of the normal beauty regime in these countries. Henna while coloring the hair conditions it as well. Henna is considered a very good natural conditioner for the hair. Henna strengthens the hair. It has anti fungal properties that help in the reduction of dandruff. Once you use henna on your hair it is easier to detangle and your hair is more manageable. Henna is a natural dye and henna dyes your hair a beautiful and natural red.

Henna is natural and therefore does not dye your hair like synthetic dyes. Henna coats the hair with a transparent red coloring. As you repeatedly apply henna on your hair, the color of your hair will get deeper. Henna cannot and does not lighten hair. On dark hair henna provides red and reddish highlights. When henna is applied on black or dark brown hair, the hair will be dyed auburn to burgundy with red highlights that will be visible in the sunlight. Henna will dye blond hair a natural red. Henna on red hair will make the hair a deeper red. Henna will dye white hair a natural red or a deep red. An advantage of using henna is that it is natural and therefore conditions and colors your hair in a natural and safe manner. Another great thing about using henna is that you can make a paste to suit your hair type. Some people who are concerned about their hair becoming dry add special essential oils to their henna paste. People add floral water, eggs and other natural dyes to their pastes in order to create the perfect paste.

Henna for Body Painting

The leaves of the henna plant have been used for centuries, in the Middle East and India, to create beautiful intricate temporary body art. Henna when applied on the surface of the skin, stains the outer skin an orange-brown and this color normally lasts for about a month. The color of the henna will wear off completely over a period of time. Today henna is increasingly being used for body painting. The duration for which the color of henna lasts depends on the skin type and the type of care you take. A body painting can last between four to six weeks. If you use lotions, swim and soak in the bathtub then the color will wear off quickly.

Traditionally henna is applied on the hair, hands and feet. But today modern henna art is done on any non-bending area of the skin. Artists today make henna tattoos on the arms as armbands; intricate henna art is done around the navel as well. Henna tattoos can be made on a person’s back. Henna tattoos or body art is a good option as they are not permanent and you can experiment, especially if you are unsure about how it will look. Using henna for body art is not painful, as it is applied on the surface on the skin and not injected into the skin. Some people have reactions to henna body art. This is normally because of the oils that are added to the henna paste and not to the henna per se. Some people have contact dermatitis that manifests in the form of an itchy rash. If the paste has been applied for a short while then it can be washed off and will leave a very pale stain. But if the henna paste has been worn for a long time or overnight it will take about 4 weeks for the orange-brown color to wash off.

Here are few hand care tips:

• The skin on your hand is thin and delicate; therefore take special care of them.
• Moisturize your hands at least four times a day.
• Use your face exfoliator on your hands once a week.
• Once a week apply your face cream on to your hands before you go to bed.
• For dry hands after washing your hands with soap, wet them again. Pour salt on your hands and then scrub them under water. Dry hands and apply moisturizer on them.
• For greasy hands, after washing your hands rub cornmeal on them.
• Wear rubber gloves while working at home and in the garden.
• Protect and prevent your hands from aging and abuse.
• Protect your hands from the ravages of changing weather.
• Protect your hands while working in the sun.
• The best way to take care of your hands is to protect them on a daily basis.

If we understand the cause of dark circles then we may be able to deal with them and treat them if possible. There are a number reasons for dark circles under the eyes. Given below are some of the common causes for the unsightly dark circles.

• Heredity: Dark circles under the eyes can be an inherited trait. If you have dark circles, then it is likely that other members of your family have dark circles too. The skin under the eye is very thin. When blood flows through veins close to surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. If your skin is transparent then the darker the circles will be. Transparent skin is also a inherited trait.
• Exposure to Sun: Exposure to sun especially during the summer months can make the skin under the eyes look darker. This is true for dark skinned people as well. Suntans are caused by an increase in the natural pigmentation of the skin, as a result of exposure to the sun. This increase in pigmentation is drawn to the surface. This applies to the skin under the eyes as well.
• Allergies and Eczema: Any infection of the eye that leads to itching can contribute to dark circles as rubbing and scratching the eyes darkens the skin. People who suffer from hay fever will notice that dark circles appear when the allergy is at its height. Certain food allergies can cause dark circles too.
• Medication: Any medication that dilates your blood vessels can cause dark circles under the eyes. As the skin under the eye is delicate an increase in blood shows through the skin in the form of dark circles.
• Nutrition: An improper diet, an unbalanced diet or lack of a nutritious diet can cause dark circles under the eye.
• Tiredness and Lack of Sleep: A lack of sleep or excessive tiredness can cause the skin under the eyes to become pale, thus, making the blood flowing under it visible.
• Pregnancy and Menstruation: During pregnancy and menstruation the skin becomes pale and the veins under the skin become visible.
• Age: As you grow older there are greater chances that you will have dark circles and they may become more prominent and permanent. If there are too many folds in the skin under the eyes, it will make the dark circles more prominent.

• Wear your hair below your chin. Side-swept bangs and hair just below the chin will make you look younger.
• The shade of lipstick you use can add or take off years. Do not use lipsticks in shades of brown.
• After you are thirty do not over pluck your eyebrows, as they may not grow back as quickly as they did earlier.
• Get your teeth whitened. Get the stains of coffee, tea or red wine removed and you will look much younger.
• Stand straight and erect. Stand straight and erect. This will make you look a lot thinner and look younger too. This will also increase your confidence as well.
• Get a good night’s sleep. If you do not sleep well your eyes will look puffy and your skin will look shallow and dull and your face will sag.

• Almonds: These nuts are known for their anti-aging properties. They contain a lot of vitamin E and have a high amount of fatty acids that help to keep your skin supple. Almonds also contain antioxidant selenium. Do not too many of them as they will add calories. A handful is enough.
• Protein: To keep nails strong and moisturized by eating plenty of protein. Protein helps in the build up of keratin. Keratin is the substance that makes up nails. Skinless, boneless chicken breast, lean turkey, tuna and beans are rich in proteins.
• Vitamin B: Food that is rich in vitamin B makes your hair shiny. Important sources of this vitamin are eggs, milk, green vegetables and poultry. Silica is important to keep your hair elastic, shiny and healthy. Raw oats, cucumber skin, onions and bean sprouts are rich in this mineral.
• Fish: Eating oily fish like salmon that contain omega-3 fatty acids will help hydrating and nourishing skin.
• Zinc and Calcium: Both these minerals help in eradicating pimples. Zinc is found in oysters, turkey, seafood, eggs and milk. Calcium is no doubt good for your bones, but helps in clearing your skin too. Calcium rich foods like skim milk, low-fat cheese and yogurt. These foods not only remove pimples but reduce wrinkles as well.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C helps in the build up of collagen, which reduces wrinkles. When your skin has more collagen your skin retains its elasticity and wrinkles take longer to form. Kiwi fruit is the best source of vitamin C. Other good sources are oranges, mango, honeydew and papaya.
• Vitamin E: Vitamin E is known to ease the swelling and redness associated with sunburns. Swelling causes the stretching of skin that in turns leads to wrinkle formation. Eat plenty of peaches and blueberries to increase the build up of vitamin E in your body.
• Vitamin C and Iron: Vitamin C and iron together help to reduce the dark circles under your eyes. Eat skinless chicken and red, yellow and orange peppers. These are rich in both and will help in reducing dark circles.
• Water: Drink as much as water as you can. Water removes the toxins from the body and refreshes your skin and makes in glow. Water hydrates your skin and keeps it supple.
• Tomatoes: Tomatoes contains skin-caner-fighting antioxidants: beta-carotene, vitamin C and lycopene. Eat tomatoes in any form and you will ingest these antioxidants. To increase the body’s absorption of lycopene cook tomatoes in a little olive oil.
• Apples and Celery: To remove stain from the enamel of your teeth eat crunchy foods like apples and celery

Here are a few home beauty tips that you can try using things from the kitchen without any extra cost.

• To remove puffiness from the eyelids, massage a drop of very fresh castor oil on to them.
• To cool your eyes, make eye pads using thick slices of cucumber. Another option is to use cotton pads soaked in cold milk. Lie down and place them on your closed eyes and relax for a while.
• Putting a drop of rose water into each eye just before you sleep can also refresh you eyes.
• To prevent your lips from chapping, use hot water fermentation on your lips and then apply a mixture of vaseline and honey. Apply this mixture about three times a week.
• To prevent your lips from drying you can use a ground mixture or rose petals and milk butter.
• To delay age spots on your hand, use a piece of lemon and rub all over your hand, before washing. This will delay onset of age-spots.
• If you have no time to shampoo your hair before going out, then brush 1 tablespoon of talcum powder or corn flour through your hair. Try this out first when you are not in hurry to make sure that it works the way you want.
• To prevent hair loss you should have a biotin rich drink. Blend bananas with honey, yogurt and low fat milk. Drink this for a few weeks.
• While blow drying and setting your hair, blow-dry at hot on the roots of the hair. Roll your hair inwards or outwards at the ends. To improve the setting make sure the ends are evenly rolled in or rolled out. Heat the hair for a second and then let it cool. This process of setting the hair will last longer and make your hair look beautiful.
• To condition your hair, after shampooing your hair take some conditioner on your palm and rub it with both hands. Apply from the hair shaft moving downwards. Do not apply on your scalp. Rinse your hair after 5 minutes.
• To add extra shine and glow to your hair add 2 tablespoons of malt vinegar. Use it as a last rinse and towel dry your hair

Here are a few pointers as to how to choose a perfume: 

• Try the perfume before you buy it.
• Try buying new perfumes. While buying new perfumes limit yourself to three perfumes, as your nose will not be able to differentiate between the perfumes if you try too many.
• The same perfume will smell different on different people because it will react differently to each person’s body.
• Wait for 10 minutes after applying the perfume, it will give you the right smell after it reacts with your skin.

After buying the perfume of your choice your would like to get the most out of the perfume. Here are a few tips on how to get the best out of the perfume:

• Do not expose your perfume to extreme temperature and sunlight. After the perfume bottle is opened the perfume will change and exposure to sunlight will disturb the delicate smell of the perfume. Store it in a cool dark place to keep the fragrance intact.
• Use shower gel, body lotions and body sprays of the same fragrance as your perfume it will last longer if you do this. Use your perfume as a highlight on your pulse points finally.
• Perfumes should be used throughout the day. Even concentrated perfumes do not last for the whole day. You will have to re-apply every 3-4 hours.
• Use a different perfume for the morning and a different one for the night. Choose a perfume according to your mood.