Welcome To Ms. Necessity’s Corner.
Who in the ham fat is Ms. Necessity, you ask? Well, as luck would have it, Beauty Marked!® is pleased as punch to introduce you to our newest BM! editor-at-large, who most importantly and oh so meritoriously, just so happens to be the mother of invention. Ms. Necessity is a gorgeous, ever so resourceful beauty that’s near and dear to us all. She’s our beauty angel. Turn to her for quick thinking, sagely, tried and tested, and ultra nifty tips and hints. Ms. Necessity is also known as the virtual patron saint to D.I.Y.-ers, those who are time poor, cash strapped, to those who have memories like sieves when shopping (especially when it comes to much needed toiletries), and to all getters of even more gorgeousness. Ms. Necessity gets you out of shtook every time.
Have you run out of deodorant? Forgot to pick up more toothpaste? Is your hair a tad dry? Well, try these beauties, courtesy of Ms. Necessity, on for size:
-If you’ve run out of deodorant, never fear. Just race to the kitchen and grab a chubby pinch of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and press it into your underarms after you’ve washed. This is sure to keep you fresh.
-No need to swoon because you blanked on toothpaste when shopping last. Just go the trusty baking soda and mix it into a paste with a squeeze of lemon juice and “brush, a brush, a brush ah!”
- Could your hair do with being a little less dry? Apply a tablespoon or so of warmed olive or coconut oil into your tresses and rub in well. Wrap your hair in a warmed towel, plastic bag, or shower cap and leave the oil to sit for at least an hour then wash out. Apply shampoo neat to your hair before wetting to ensure that the oil is thoroughly removed, then shampoo as usual. Ta da! hair that feels moisturized and full of bountiful brilliance!
Invention, your mother rocks!…Thanks, Ms. Necessity.
Just The Facts, Ma’am.
Beauty is not caused, it is. -Emily Dickinson
You Deserve It. Indeed You Do!
This is just a super quick, yet important, post to say…Go on…buy that special treat you’ve been thinking of, spritz on that gorgeous fragrance that makes you feel awesome, hold your head up just that little bit higher today, turn the music up a bit and sing to your heart’s content, reach for that gorgeous new lipstick you adore and smile. Just posting to remind you that you do deserve it! You deserve whatever brings you joy, always. Simply because you’re beautiful!
A Cheerful Reply…
To a comment from a cherished reader posted yesterday:
What eyeshadow colour would you recommend for everyday wear? I have olive skin tone, dark brown eyes and black hair. I want my eyes to stand out!
A hearty arsenal of everyday eyeshadow options heralds a true makeup maven. Even though I am a card carrying member of the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it club”, I still feel it’s a sign of the savvy to have several staple options on hand to suit every eventuality. While EOTD (eye of the day) looks tend to be more on the neutral side of spectrum, they needn’t be boring. Although matte shadows do have a place, it’s often best to have a little bit of finely milled shimmer or barely there opalescence in your neutral to give it a modest yet beguiling edge. So what am I talking here? I’m talking eyeshadows that range in colour from champagne, rose gold, taupey- plums, frosted peach, mink, golden pearls, burnished bronze, cashmere, gunmetal, shimmering chocolate and pearlescent olives. Most of these neutrals, if not all, should certainly suit.
For ultra flattering eyes that won’t be missed, a simple wash of shadow across the lids will do the trick nicely. No need to worry about using additional colour along the Outer V, brow highlight or crease unless the spirit moves you, but a wee smudge of liner (in a darker version of the colour used as a wash) to tightline will make your eyes pop (in the most lady-like way, of course). Absolute lashings of mascara on curled lashes and a dressed brow will finish off your EOTD to perfection. This type of makeup application will always give you a gorgeously polished eye for day. Now if you’re feeling like you want to really stand out, but not in a sore thumb kind of way, this is a prime time to break out your coloured eyeliners and head straight for your waterline. How heavenly is a line of darkened teal, violet, sapphire, or jade, coquettishly winking at you from the waterline? Just scrumptious. Have a play with a few combinations and you’ll soon have several delectable favourites at the ready for each and every day of your long makeup wearing life. Most of all, have fun! *whispers* -Yet another secret to being infinitely beautiful.
Black Or Brown?
Q. What’s the best colour mascara to wear for a classic day makeup look?
A. Well, it depends is the start of the long answer. Both, for the short answer. I know this is sounding, already, like one of the more befuddling koans used to provoke enlightenment, but it’s not as tricky as it may seem. I promise you. For our fair haired mavens brown mascara will add a lofty flutter to your lashes that exudes class. For our darker haired divas both black or brown will work a treat, but brown is more likely to give you that YLBB (your lashes but better) look which leaves them intrigued. I absolutely adore brown mascara on ravishing redheads, without a doubt, for day. Black haired beauties may feel mega fabulous with a few of lashings of black mascara, for sure. But in all honesty, always feel free to flip the script and go against convention if you feel so inspired. See…so really, both can work. Just ensure that your lashes are separated and clump-free and you’re sure to look gorgeous whichever colour you choose!
The Garden Of Beauty.
While stumbling across an esoteric forum on the internet, I was instantly struck by the sub text under the title of one of the sections in their special interest area. In the Health and Beauty Section (like I’m going to pass up an opportunity to visit this one) it had the following written:
“Health is wealth then surely beauty is what reflects it.”
How perfectly spot on, I thought to myself. This credo was right up my alley. It, absolutely, got me thinking about how accurate that simple statement really is. What came to mind for me was how incredibly important it is to take excellent care of our bodies both on the inside and out. It’s so very key to take good care because one’s outlook and self esteem will automatically flourish. Ensuring that your inner and outer beauty continue to grow and blossom will constantly yield gorgeous and plentiful crops of sheer abundance. Here! Here!
Cleaning Makeup Brushes.
As wonderfully emailed…
After reading Beauty Marked! Online Beauty Magazine and your blog daily, I was inspired to race out and purchase a lovely set of make-up brushes, -and what a difference this has made! Thank you. Now that I have this “you beaut” set of brushes and one kabuki, how do I care for them?
I am so pleased you enjoy Beauty Marked! and welcome back. Now, let’s see about these beautiful brushes. Aim to wash your frequently used brushes at least once a week, if you’re the only one using them. You may have to wash them more regularly if they have been used for wet types of makeup, such as cream or liquid foundation, concealers, block mascaras and wet eyeliners.
Makeup brushes can successfully be washed with baby shampoo, non creamy, non glycerine or glycolic free gel facial cleansers, or very mild sulphate free shampoos. What you do is, while holding the brush by the handle so that the bristles are pointing downward, gently run luke warm water over the hairs only, taking care not to get the handle wet or allow water to run up into the ferrule (the ferrule is the metal part of the brush designed to hold the glued hairs of the brush together and also joins the hairs to the brush’s handle).
Once the hairs are wet, swipe the wet hairs through a pea size blob of cleanser which is easily placed in the palm of your other hand. Then gently rub the cleanser through the brush’s bristles. You might find your palm a handy place to swish the soapy bristles back and forth to loosen the make-up for optimal cleaning. After a minute or two of gentle massaging in of cleanser, rinse the brush hair under running luke warm water while continuing to hold the hairs downward and massage the bristles until the water runs clear. Shake the brush and reshape the brush’s bristles and set the clean brush aside, just over the edge of counter or table to dry.
The bristled end of the brush needs to be placed over the edge so that the bristles are open to air on all sides for proper drying. I like to fold a clean face washer into a square and place it on the edge of the area I am drying the brushes on. I find that the flannel will elevate the brush from its drying surface as well as keep them from rolling of the counter! Leave the brushes to dry overnight. Once dry, I gently fluff the hairs and return them to there usual home for safe keeping in readiness for their next call to duty.
Now to Kabuki brushes. How do you wash those confounded little cuties do you ask? Well, here’s a little Beauty Marked! tip: Wash them in the same method as you would do the longer handled babies, but the only difference is in the drying. Sticky tape the handle to the very edge of the counter or table to allow the hairs to air on all sides. Fluff when dry. We have also heard of folks wrapping an elastic band a few times around the stubby little handle and then tying one end of string or ribbon to the elastic band and the other to a doorknob to dry overnight. But honestly, do whatever works best for you, as long as the bristles are allowed to dry free from touching any surface and that water doesn’t run into the base. Too easy!
Lastly, when cleaning synthetic brushes that have been used for gel or wet & dry eyeliners or any similarly tenacious eye makeup, Beauty Marked! recommends quickly dipping the bristles into a small amount of eye makeup remover. Rub in thoroughly, rinse and then wash them as you would wash your other cherished brushes.
The above suggestions should help you keep your brushes in good nick. Well cared for brushes should last a very long time and serve you well. Be sure to let us know at Beauty Marked! if we can help you with any of your other beauty questions. BM! is always all to glad to help.
