10 Shapes for Your Eyeshadow You ever needs

This article is especially for those of you who may feel stuck with your everyday makeup look and desire to branch out, but just can’t seem to figure out the best way to do it. Whether you are new to makeup, or a pro, we hope you find these ten eyeshadow shapes useful!

 Highlights:

Makeup is, after all, just a trick of the light. By highlighting certain areas, you can easily create the illusion of a brighter eye. Using lighter shades in areas to help them stand out, and deeper shades to add depth, pushing them back.
My favorite sweet spots to highlight are the inner corner of the eye, the center of the eyelid, and along the brow bone. Placing highlights in these three areas will help accentuate the eye and overall leave them looking bigger and brighter.

Different Eyeshadow Shapes:

There are countless ways for one to use eyeshadows. By combining different colors, textures, and finishes you can create different eye shapes that will help you switch up your daily routine. Here are a few ideas where to apply the deepest shade.
Bust out the box and experiment with a new eye shape today! If you’re feeling extra daring, throw on a color you wouldn’t normally wear.

 Inner Corner:

Add a darker shadow to the inside of the lid. This is a great placement for those of you with wide set eyes, as it helps reduce the space between your eyes.

 Outer Corner:

Adding dark shades to the outer corner of the lid is flattering to most eye shapes, but particularly for those with close set eyes. Having the darkest part on the far side of the lid helps your eyes appear farther apart.

Both Corners:

This is a great shape for all, as it compliments most eye shapes. By adding the darkest shadow to both the inner and outer corners, while still highlighting in the other areas (as shown) this placement neither makes your eyes look smaller or larger. This shape is also very versatile, as it works well with both neutral or bold, dramatic colors.

Outer Corner, “Cat Shape”:

Pull your eye upwards with this cat eye shape by applying your darkest shadow to the outer corner in a large winged shape.
If your eyelids droop a little (or a lot), this shape will help pull them back up and give them that extra boost they need. This shape is notorious for being on the devious side: the upwards angle of the shadow creates a more mysterious look.

Outer Corner & Crease, Blended Upwards:

The darker shadow is applied to the outer corner and crease, and then blended up towards the brow, where it meets the highlighter and blends together with it.
Again, this is a great shape that is flattering on all eye types. It works especially well for those with hooded eyes. If you have hooded eyes, be sure to extend the shadows upward a little more so the color shows up with an open eye.

Banana:

This technique can make your eyes appear wider and your lid longer. Apply to the outer corner, carrying the dark shadow to just above your inner corner and blend together.

Whole Inner Part:

This shape isn’t for everyone. It’s quite a bit bolder and has the tendency to make some look angry or their eyebrows too heavy. We suggest trying it with lighter colors first to see if it’s a good fit for you.

 Just The Crease:

Apply the dark shadow neatly to the crease. This will help create more depth. If you add a lighter shadow to the lid your eye will appear much larger. This shape is typically known as a “cut crease”.

 Whole Lid:

Apply dark shadow to the entire lid. This can be heavy on the eye, and very bold. Be careful using bright colors with this shape, if you are not looking to draw too much attention to your eyes.

Well, there ya have it, our Top Ten Eyeshadow Shapes! We hope you found some of these shapes useful. Remember: don’t be afraid to try a new look, you might just find one you really love!
All The Best,
The Makeup Geek Team

How To Use A Sock To Get Beautiful Curly Hair Without Heat

If you are a mom on the go with long hair you HAVE TO try this.  It will  knock your socks off and have you wrapping your hair up in them!  This is all about how to make your hair beautiful with no heat and no time.  Curl your hair in your sleep with a sock.


Yup, you heard me right.  Have you heard of this sock bun?  You really can curl your hair in your sleep with a sock.  If you have ever ran out the door in a sweat, with two different earnings in, desperately trying to throw some bobby pins in your hair in hopes that you don’t look like a mess.  You know what I am talking about Mom’s – This is for you.  In my house I get everyone else in the family ready first.  They are all looking adorable for every function  before I have even given a thought to what I am going to do to with my own hair.  Any busy mom knows exactly what I mean.  Whatever time is left is what determines your look for the day (good or bad), right?

I was very skeptical at first. Basically they were saying that you could wrap your hair in a sock overnight and wake up with beautiful curls.  Before I started staying home with my kiddos I was a cosmetologist by trade.  I am forever trying new products and styling techniques, and love all things that have to do with hair. Now that I am a mom of two, my hair is at the bottom of the list of things to worry about.  It’s more about looking presentable than having a great style each day. This blows me away.
Why?
Because:

• It literally takes a minute to do
• NO heat at all – just a soft little sock in your hair
• No product (for me anyway)
• You can sleep in it very comfortably
• It works Marvelously and is simple beautiful

This is the sock bun before and after of my hair. I have long hair with a cut that includes a lot of layering.  I have a natural wave to my hair and would say it curls very easily. From what I have read, this works on hard to curl hair too.  I do not have to use product for this to work in my hair.




Here are the  step by step instructions on how to make this work.
First steal a sock from your husband’s dress sock collection (that is what I did anyway). I chose a longer, thinner dress sock. Cut off the toe of the sock.


Now roll the sock into a ring.  This is now your new favorite hairstyling styling tool, I promise you!  This is all you need to make the curls in the picture above. To do this you start with dry hair.

Put your dry hair into a high ponytail. Get it as high on top of your head as you can. I flip my head over and gather the hair to put into a ponytail.  Secure the hair with a hair tie.

Now spritz just the hair in your ponytail with water.  You do not want it to be  wet.  I would call it slightly damp.  Remember you want it to dry overnight – if it is too wet it will not dry completely.  After you have tried this a few times you will know the perfect dampness for your own hair.



Now grab your rolled up sock and put your ponytail through the hole.  Pull the sock straight up to the tip of your ponytail.  When you pull the sock to the top of your ponytail – slide it back down just a bit.  With the hair that is sticking out spread it all the way around the sock evenly.   After the hair is spread around the sock it should go up and over the sock and then get tucked under the sock.   You should now have all of the ends of your hair neatly underneath the sock ring so you can begin rolling the hair onto the sock.  Start rolling the sock down so your hair is being fed through the hole, then up and around the sock.



Now simply roll all of your hair onto the sock until you reach the base of your ponytail.  Try to keep the ponytail straight up while you roll so that the hair is taught.



When you are finished rolling the hair onto the sock you have a  bun on top of your head.  I’m not going to lie I have dropped off my son at school with the bun in my hair.  There is no need to secure it with anything else.  It will stay put perfectly just the way it is.  Now go to sleep and dream about how beautiful your hair will be when you awake!  In the morning remove the bun and TA-DA!!!  You have a head full of soft pretty curls.



This is my new go-to styling technique. I have been doing this at least four times a week to my hair.   It looks great all down, in a simple ponytail, or half up.  I would do this for a fancy evening out or to curl my hair for an up-do as well.  It gives me such natural looking  perfect curls.  So simple and so beautiful. Anyone can do this.  It is nice to be able to leave the house and not feel like a mess for a change.  This look is quite different from my normal hair in a messy bun because I ran out of time to do anything with it look – and it takes the same amount of time.

How to use natural makeup?

"Organic" and "natural" have become typical terms you find on everything from moisturizers to mascaras. You might be surprised to find out that there are no industry standards or regulations for these terms, and there are plenty of natural and organic ingredients that are not good for your skin. Nevertheless, many consumers are still easily seduced by this deep-rooted marketing trend. We understand how appealing natural and organic ingredients sound, but the reality is that these terms are practically meaningless on a cosmetic label.

What Does "Natural" Mean?

Generally speaking, "natural" ingredients are derived, in whole or in part, from natural sources with no synthetic compounds. Taking it a step further, "organic" ingredients are supposed to contain only plant-sourced ingredients that are cultivated without the use of synthetic chemicals, irradiation, or pesticides. However, given the lack of regulations, it is always a question as to whether or not these products actually are made according to the claims about their formulations. Even more to the point—does any of this actually make them any better for your skin?
The short answer is: There is nothing about natural or organic that reflects the quality of a product when it comes to protecting or making your skin look or act younger, healing your acne or dry skin, controlling your oily skin or rosacea, or addressing other skin-care concerns. So, products labeled organic are not a panacea for your skin—in fact, some organic products may actually hurt your skin.

Busting the Myth that Organic is Better

The terms organic and all-natural are largely responsible for fueling the misconception that all synthetic ingredients are automatically bad and that all organic or natural ingredients are automatically good. Making you afraid of something, whether it is a single ingredient or an entire category of ingredients, is a large part of how natural and organic products are marketed.

• FACT: There is no substantiated, published research anywhere proving that organic ingredients are superior to non-organic or synthetic ingredients. There are good and bad ingredients in each category.

To save money, and to benefit your skin, it's critical for you to see through these kinds of marketing messages, so that you can use the best formulations for your skin type and skin-care concerns. This is especially important because another common problem with natural and organic products is that the formulas often are not as natural or organic as they claim to be.

• FACT: Many organic and natural products include synthetic ingredients, and many are exactly the kinds of ingredients they proclaim they don't include. Even we find that shocking!

Organic also does not mean cleaner or safer. For example, in Europe, the recent June 2011 E. coli outbreak that caused several deaths was from contaminated bean sprouts grown on an "organic" farm—just a case in point that organic does not tell you anything about the safety or cleanliness of a plant.

What "Organic" Really Means

What does the term "organic" mean in the world of cosmetics, especially for skin care? It might surprise you to learn that it really means nothing—nothing at all.

• FACT: As of mid-2012, there are still no FDA-approved standards for labeling cosmetic products as organic; nor is there an agreed-on definition from the cosmetics industry.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and most countries around the world, don't regulate organic claims for personal-care products, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ECOCERT (an international organic certification organization) do have their own systems for approving some standards of organic plant claims. However, there are many random companies throughout the world that develop their own sets of guidelines for organic cosmetics and then charge a fee for their seal of approval. So, basically, if a cosmetics company is willing to pay for the certification, any brand can label their products "organic," without any consequences.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that even though lots of cosmetic products actually do contain organic ingredients, they also may contain synthetic ingredients, so the term "organic" doesn't apply to the entire formula. Similarly, depending on where you shop for organic products, what organic means differs from one store shelf to the next. At this time, U.S.-based supermarket chain Whole Foods is the only retailer that addresses this confusion for the consumer; it enforces its own regulation that personal-care products labeled "organic" must meet the same standards as organic foods.

An Organic Irritant is Still an Irritant

Perhaps more important than the confusing labeling standards is the fact that lots of plant extracts, which indeed are organic, have irritating properties that deplete collagen, cause free-radical damage, and clog pores. Thus, natural and organic products often are filled with irritating, skin-damaging plant extracts and minerals.

• FACT: Such natural ingredients as peppermint, menthol, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary, sandalwood, essential oils, and on and on are routinely included in natural and/or organic products. Research has clearly established these ingredients as irritants, and when the skin is irritated it causes collagen to break down and hurts the skin's ability to heal.

How to Check a Label

The labeling guidelines presented by the USDA (organic products are bound to these standards only if they carry the USDA Organic Seal) are as follows:

• "100% Organic"—The product must contain (excluding water and salt) only organically produced ingredients. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent's name and address.
• "Organic"—The product must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). The remaining product ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances approved on the National List of non-organically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form. Products may display the USDA Organic Seal and must display the certifying agent's name and address.
• "Made with organic ingredients"—The product must contain at least 70% organic ingredients and the label can list up to three of the organic ingredients or "food" groups on the principal display panel. For example, body lotion made with at least 70% organic ingredients (excluding water and salt) and only organic herbs may be labeled either "body lotion made with organic lavender, rosemary, and chamomile," or "body lotion made with organic herbs." These products are not permitted to display the USDA Organic Seal, but they must display the certifying agent's name and address.

These basic USDA guidelines are helpful if "organically grown" is important to you, but there are dozens of other unregulated "Certified Organic" agency seals, and all have varying standards and guidelines for what constitutes organic.

Can Pesticides Get in Your Skin?

Some companies selling organic products claim that other products that do not include organically grown plants contain pesticides and that those pesticides are absorbed into your skin. That is NOT true—it is a complete fabrication and distortion of the facts.

• FACT: After a plant is harvested and processed to be included in a cosmetic product, no pesticides remain—not even a trace. The sterilization and manufacturing processes clean all that stuff away, including any pesticides.

The Bottom Line:

Organic certification has nothing to do with skin care. It has to do only with the source of an ingredient, not the all-important information about the benefit of the ingredient for your skin. Think of it this way: A stamp of approval for a free-range, organically fed cow from the USDA does not tell you how a diet of steak might affect your arteries, heart, or brain. The same is true for skin care—no matter whose name or certification is on the product.

The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here: The same type of in-depth scientific research used to create this article is also used to formulate Paula’s Choice Skincare products. You’ll find products for all skin types and a range of concerns, from acne and sensitive skin to wrinkles, pores, and sun damage. With Paula’s Choice Skincare, you can get (and keep) the best skin of your life!

Acne and Apple Cider

December 2015, Reporting from Acne Awareness Club, All over the world Acne problem has arises very quickly, specially for the teenagers and the age after 40. Over the past few weeks I got a few mail about acne related question and problem, this is why I'm writing this post today. 

Disclaimer: I don't have acne, nor have I ever suffered from much more than the occasional hormonal eruption, but you don't have to take just my word for it.

If that doesn't surprise you, then consider this: Even Dr. Howard Murad, founder of the eponymous skincare line, follows an inclusive health philosophy. "When the body is at optimal health, the skin will follow suit," says Dr. Murad, who recommends full body care—healthy diet, exercise, sleep, stress management and carefully selected topicals—for an acne-free complexion.

One of the most popular Beauty Bets posts of all-time is a recipe from esthetician Sara Mattson for a raw apple cider vinegar concoction known to clear up complexions in a matter of days. ACV promotes alkalinity in the body, which inhibits inflammation, a contributor everything from skin disorders, to cancer, to the common cold.

Try it for yourself:

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR "COCKTAIL"

2 tbsp Braggs apple cider vinegar (raw/organic)

Squeeze of lemon juice

1 tsp honey (optional)

12 oz. water

Combine all ingredients. Sip throughout the day, preferably before meals, or chug the whole thing if you can't stand the taste.

Got a tried-and-true acne solution? We'd love to hear what's worked for you.

Hope this will help you, any questions, you can write down in the comment box.

Awful Underground Pimples? I Found the Perfect Cure

I told you I'd be writing about my skin struggles, and here I am, delivering the goods. While it's slightly (all right fine it's really) embarrassing to be a 28-year-old professional with the same acne woes of a middle schooler, I know you feel my pain—so let's do this, shall we?

Pimples. I get 'em. All different kinds, too, because one skin ailment just wouldn't be enough! And what I've learned over the many, many years trying to attack and prevent and essentially scare them away is that they all respond to different methods of treatment. My medicine cabinet is a veritable chemical lab of ointments and lotions and creams the likes of which would make Walter White giddy with glee.

I should pause here to say I'm not really a Get Thee To A Dermatologist girl. Don't get me wrong, I love the miracles a doctor can work (and before you get all riled up I do get my annual mole check—keep your cool, mom). And some issues just require a professional's help. So I guess what I really mean is I'm not the type to dash off to the derm at the slightest topographical disturbance...because I'd be there once a week.

Instead I'm much more of a Let's See What We Can Find On Our Oddyssean Journey To The Drug Store kind of girl, on a lifelong quest for over-the-counter cures. For the most part I've had good success (Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Treatment Lotion is the fastest fix I've ever found for the more typical spots, including prescription stuff), but the Holy Grail has always eluded me.

You know what I'm talking about. Something that will treat the scariest monster of skin care. The dreaded beast that shows up whenever it pleases and lingers for weeks. The deep, painful, underground spot that is: cystic acne.

In a completely unscientific survey of people I know, it seems everyone has encountered one of these at some point. (Even the people with annoyingly blemish-free skin.) For women, cystic acne is often hormonal, focused on the lower half of the face, and just generally awful.

My usual method of coping with one of these underground spots is as follows:

• an immediate emotional crisis upon feeling the initial soreness of a forming spot
• excessive use of concealer to trick myself into forgetting it's there
• about a week of "being strong" and "not bothering it" while I slather it with anything and everything in my arsenal, way more frequently than advised
• a dark period in which I may or may not break down and pick at it
• regret
• more concealer
• and then a week or two of awkward, gradual, hard-to-cover healing

I've gone through this cycle more times than I can count, as have many friends, and many fellow subway riders in whom I recognize the sad resignation of "hey I just have to carry this thing around on my face for a while."

No more. I am here to show you the light.

I actually resisted writing this story (because let's be honest: This is more personal info than you or I ever intended for you to know about me), but the product I've been using is so good that I decided I had to suck it up and share. I hope to go down in history as a brave and selfless hero.

Renee Rouleau's Anti-Cyst Treatment has changed everything. I started using it last week, when yet another dreaded spot began to form deep beneath my skin, and I swear to you it went away in two days. TWO DAYS. That's less time than it takes me to finally wash off the remnants of Saturday night's eyeliner. And we're talking about a spot that usually unpacks a bag and gets comfy before going anywhere.

Renee Rouleau

Interestingly, the formula is much more watery than anything I've used before, and features lactic acid as opposed to acne's more common warriors salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. It dries completely clear, feels like nothing, and, when used twice a day, delivers exactly what it promises.

It is a bit on the pricey side, at $41.50 a bottle, but anyone who's suffered the tyranny of a cyst will get it when I say "worth it" doesn't even come close. The only other downside I can think to report is that my skin has been a little flakey from being dried out, but honestly, I care 0.23% considering how much better life is on the other side.

Try it and report back. May the blissfully cyst-free force be with you.