UncleSamsModels.com - Advice

Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing Tips:

1. For cleansing the face, it's best to use gentle, non-deodorant soaps like Dove, Ivory or Neutrogena.

2. The best cleansing agents are the ones containing natural citric juices such as lemon and pineapple. Tomato juice is also excellent.

3. Powdered milk contains lactic acid that will not only cleanse your face without drying it out but will also act as an exfoliant because of the granules in the powder. In the morning, mix some powdered milk with enough water to make it into a spreadable paste and apply to your face.

4. The purpose of a toner is to remove residue soap, moisturizer and oil. Generally, the best toners are natural ones. Lemon juice, witch hazel and rose water are excellent choices and are much better than using expensive toners which often contain other chemicals.

5. The best time to moisturize is at night while you sleep. Moisturizers work best when applied to damp skin.

6. For a treat, heat some of your moisturizer for 5-10 seconds in the microwave before you apply it. The heat helps the moisturizer penetrate faster and deeper into your skin for enhanced results.

7. Generally, there is no reason to buy expensive Vitamin A, E and C enhanced moisturizers. It's better to purchase these vitamins at your local pharmacy and to open the capsules and add them to your favorite moisturizer.

Exfoliation:

Almost all skin (except the very dry and delicate), needs a good rub from time to time to get glowing again. Skin should be exfoliated about once a week. If your skin is dry or delicate, choose the finest grains. If you have normal or oily skin, choose medium-grained exfoliants, like an apricot facial scrub. Massage over the face for just a minute or two. To avoid redness or irritation, do not overdo it at any one session.

Some Great Natural Exfoliants:

1. Mix a couple drops of olive oil with a packet of sugar and gently rub into the creases of your face.

2. Add water to a packet of instant oatmeal to create a paste and rub into your face.

3. Sea salt rubbed all over your face and body is extremely invigorating.

Natural Facial Masks:

For thousands of years, masks have been used to clean, firm and reinvigorate the skin. Here are some of our favorite natural facial masks:

For Oily Skin:

1. Perhaps one of the oldest and best masks for oily skin is the clay or mud mask. As unbelievable as this sounds, some fancy spas have for years been using the clay used as kitty litter (yes, kitty litter) for masks. To treat yourself to the very same treatment without the expense, simply purchase some kitty litter but make sure it contains nothing else other than "100% Natural Clay" (no additives, chemicals, etc.) Mix a tablespoon of the dried kitty litter clay with a small amount of water and apply. Leave it on for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. Mash a ripe tomato. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

3. Crush a cucumber into a smooth pulp. Apply and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

4. Mix 2 ounces of Witch Hazel with 10 drops of lemon juice. Apply and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. This mask will not only control oily skin but will also remove surface oil and dirt.

For Dry Skin:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 cup of plain yogurt and 1 tablespoon of grapefruit juice. Apply to face. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. Soak a cosmetic pad in whole milk and gently dab it over your skin. Gently splash with water to rinse. ( Milk contains lactic acid which removes dry skin.)

For Normal Skin:

Mix 2 tablespoons of oatmeal, 2 tablespoons of cornmeal and 2 tablespoons of wheat germ. Take one tablespoon of the mixture and add some water to it to make a paste. Apply it to your face and gently scrub in a circular motion. Rinse in lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer afterwards.

To Reduce Fine Wrinkles:

Mix 1 cup of milk, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of brandy in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Allow it to cool to a warm temperature. Apply to face and let dry. Rinse with warm water.

Firming Masks:

1. Mash a ripe banana and add some honey to it to make a soft pulp. Apply and leave it on for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. Beat one egg white to a froth. Apply and allow it to dry (approximately 10 minutes.) Rinse with cool water.

Honey Mask:

Apply honey from the jar. Leave it on until it dries (approximately 15 minutes.) Rinse with warm water.

Mayonnaise Mask:

Apply whole egg mayonnaise from the jar. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

Peach and Brandy Mask:

Mash a peach and add it to a tablespoon of brandy. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Milk of Magnesia / Pepto Bismol Mask:

Apply either Milk of Magnesia or Pepto Bismol from the bottle with cotton balls. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Bleaching Masks for Knees / Elbows:

1. To bleach skin on the knees and elbows which has become discolored, mix the juice from 3 lemons with 1 cup of powdered milk to make a paste. Apply and leave it on for 20 minutes. Remove with a sponge.

2. Mix the juice from 1 lemon with a packet of sugar. Apply over the discolored areas and leave it on for one minute. Rinse and apply a moisturizer. This will also help smoothen rough skin areas.

The Golden Rules of Makeup:

* * * There are two well known rules followed by all professional makeup artists:

1. Makeup should always look natural. The name of the game in makeup is blend, blend, blend. If makeup looks like it was put on, the game is lost.

2. Makeup colors must match. As an example, don't even ever think about using an earth tone colored lipstick with a pastel colored eyeshadow.

Abide by these two golden rules and you'll always be a winner. * * *

General Makeup Tips:

1. Concealer, foundation and powder help create the illusion of perfect skin. These products give you a smooth, even surface upon which to apply makeup.

2. Concealer helps to hide blemishes and should be applied first and only to problem areas such as acne or dark circles. Using fingertips or a soft flat brush, gently dab concealer on the blemish. Concealer should be applied to a clean, dry face.

3. When buying a concealer, choose a color one shade lighter than your natural tone. To neutralize dark circles around the eyes, use a concealer that has more yellow in it. Blue or green eye shadow added to concealer will neutralize ruddy tones and broken capillaries. Use the residue in the cap of your foundation as the perfect concealer; not only does it match your foundation exactly but it is also slightly dehydrated, making it just the right thickness to conceal.

4. Next, foundation can be applied. Foundation is applied all over the face to make it look uniform and smooth. Foundation is best applied using fingers or a sponge. Using fingers not only provides more control but also the warmth of the fingers allows the foundation to be spread quickly and more evenly. Foundation should first be applied under the eyes where coverage is generally needed most. The foundation should then be blended all over face including the lips, sweeping more heavily over flaws and lighter over better areas to even out the color.

5. Open your mouth when applying foundation to expose the neck area and eliminate an obvious line at the jaw line.

6. The most important factor in choosing foundation is to select one that matches your skin tone. Test the foundation against the skin tone at the edge of your jaw, making certain it is not too light or too dark, and also that the tone (pink or yellow) matches your skin tone. Make sure that your foundation is oil-based for dry skin, oil-free for oily skin, and water-based for combination skin.

7. Blush should be applied after all of your other makeup because it is the final touch and should match the rest of your makeup, not vice versa. Select a blush color that resembles the color of your cheeks after you've exercised (anything darker will look fake.) Many women stay away from blush, scared they will look harsh and overdone. By correctly applying blush, such results can be avoided. Use the following blushing technique: Smile to locate the apples of your cheeks. Begin at the center of the apple and apply blush up to the corner of the eye and temple. Applying blush high on the face makes eyes sparkle. After applying blush, blend with a dry makeup sponge. Use the edge of the sponge like an eraser on the outer edges of the applied blush to buff away any lines of demarcation. When the seasons change, blush color should be changed as well -- deeper, rich colors for fall and winter, paler colors for spring and summer.

8. If you're still scared to use blush, seriously consider using bronzing powder to finish your face. Use it on cheeks, sides of the nose and jaw line to add color to the face.

9. Do not use powder puffs to apply loose powder; use a powder brush. Powder puffs do not remove the excess.

Some Quick Remedies for Pimples:

1. Dip a cotton swab in lemon juice and apply it directly to the pimple before you go to bed. Repeat this every night until it is gone.

2. Applying Visine eye drops to a pimple will reduce the redness and make it easier to conceal with makeup. Apply with a cotton ball for approximately 60 seconds.

3. Holding an ice cube on a blemish for 60 seconds and patting it dry will also make it easier to conceal with makeup.

4. Dabbing a pimple with some toothpaste before you go to sleep can help dry it out. Calamine lotion has the same drying effect.

5. Bring down the swelling of a pimple by combining 1/4 teaspoon table salt with 1/2 cup lukewarm water. Dip a gauze pad into the mixture and then lightly press against the pimple for approximately 60 seconds.

Miscellaneous Skin Tips:

1. Water is probably the most important ingredient in having great looking skin. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.

2. Refresh your face throughout the day by carrying a spritzer bottle filled with chamomile tea. The chamomile will take away puffiness and redness while the water will keep your skin hydrated and your makeup looking fresh.

3. Baby wipes are great for cleansing the face and removing makeup. Most also contain lanolin (a skin softener.) They are gentle to the face and hygienic (use once and throw away.) Purchase the convenient travel pack to freshen up on a moment's notice.

4. Adding 1/2 box of baking soda to a bath will relieve itching skin.

5. To help cracked, sore skin heal, put some oatmeal in your bath water.

6. Fragrances usually come in three strengths: perfume, eau de parfum and cologne. Perfume is the most concentrated and expensive; eau de parfum is weaker than perfume; and cologne is the least concentrated and least expensive. Generally, the greater the concentration, the longer the scent will last on your skin. For example, a little perfume will probably outlast a lot of cologne. The most important thing to remember about using fragrances is this: You never want a room full of people to smell you; only you and a person close enough to whisper in your ear should be aware of your scent. In purchasing a fragrance, you will want to sample it for a few hours before actually buying it. Because fragrances interact with your body's chemistry, they often smell very different on your skin than they do in their containers.

7. Store perfume in the refrigerator. It will last longer.

8. If you're shopping for new cosmetics, ask for a sample first. Try using the product for a few days to make sure you it works for your skin type.

9. Buy trial size bottles of products and experiment until you find the right ones for you.

10. Clean your makeup brushes and applicators often to reduce bacteria and oil.