Fresh and innocent, the no-make up look or the natural make up look is the latest craze in make up. This trend is specially suited for the spring and summer season, when make up trends follow fashion trends in emphasizing on a fresh, light look. The effect is natural and yet glamorous. The natural look is also suitable for professional women like teachers, doctors and such who like using make up but are forced to keep it light due to the nature of their work.

Whatever your reason, here are the steps that will help you get that natural look this summer.

• Clean your face well and moisturize it using a light moisturizer. Apply some tinted moisturizer or a fine layer of natural foundation of a shade that is as close to your natural skin shade as possible. Keep it light.
• If you have troubles with dark circles or blemishes use a concealer a shade lighter than your base foundation. Use a minimal amount and lend it in using your fingertips. Apply light translucent powder.
• Blend in a neutral eye shadow over your upper lid and use fingertips for blending in. Blend it in well so that it looks natural and not harsh or demarcated. Follow it up with a powder eye shadow of a shade darker than the cream eye shadow.
• It’s time to apply some cream blush. Choose a light, fresh shade and use your fingertips to blend it in.

Facials are like a treat for your skin. An occasional facial every now and then not only works wonders for the skin, but also relaxes you and calms you down. Taking time out for a facial can be a luxury sometimes, and therefore it is necessary to educate yourself about the different types of facials that you can treat your skin to, and whether they even suit your skin type.

Regular or normal facials

The least expensive of all facials. These are a regular cleansing, steaming and massaging affair. These type of facials are good for those who are not suffering from any particular skin problem, or those who don’t like to experiment much with their skin.

AHA facials

AHA stands for Alpha Hydrolic Acids. AHA facials are good for those with pigmented or wrinkled / wrinkling skin. AHAs are found in fruits and flowers and these facials use products that contain AHAs.

Acne facials

These are designed for people who are either already suffering from acne or those whose skin is susceptible to acne, that is, people with oily or greasy looking skin. Ex foliation followed by deep pore extractions are done as a part of this treatment.

Galvanic facial

This new age facial uses steady galvanic current to improve the penetration of the water soluble products.

Collagen facial

This facial comprises of various steps like ex foliation, warm vapor, deep pore cleansing, lymphatic drainage massages, freeze dry collagen sheet treatment to remove wrinkles, dark circles and the effects of aging on the skin.

If you are considering getting yourself a designer bag, you should do it. There is a lot of positive reasons that you will want to get yourself a designer bag. You will feel great knowing that you are carrying around a designer bag that will make you the envy of your coworkers and friends, they are also designed according to

what’s in fro each season, and designer bags are generally crafted to be more durable which makes them last much longer than other bags.

There are a lot of well known bag designers out there that would be a perfect choice. They each bring different things to the table to provide you with a great designer bag. Labels such as Prada, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, and Gianni Versace, and many others offer you designer bags that are well respected in the fashion industry and designed to last you for many years to come. When you choose a designer bag you know that you will be able to count on it to last a long time and give your look that extra special touch.

When you want to make a statement to those around you that you are a woman to be taken seriously, you will want to have a designer bag on your arm. This will show people that you know how to treat yourself well and that you give yourself only the best. When you want to gain the respect of others that know about fashion, you will want to start with a designer bag.

When you want to be noticed as a confident and proud woman you will want to make sure that you take all the right steps when you are getting ready for your day. You will want to choose the right clothing that will set you apart from the rest and demand respect. You will also want to make sure that you present yourself in a pleasant manner that will be appealing to those around you. The way that you can accomplish this is to choose the right perfume to wear.

When you are trying to find that perfect perfume you want to make sure that you try it out on yourself first. Perfumes may smell different on each person depending on your body’s chemistry. When you are trying out a perfume you will want to make sure that you try it on clean skin. You should dab a little bit to the inside of your wrist near where your pulse is. You will want to wait five to ten minutes to see how the perfume will really smell on you.

You should choose a perfume that gives off a scent that you enjoy. Don’t get a perfume because your friend that you are shopping with likes the smell of it. You are the one that has to like it and if you buy a perfume that you do not truly like, you will never wear it again. When you wear a perfume, it should be more for you than others, so make sure that you enjoy the scent of the perfume that you choose.

When you are going out for the evening you want to look your best. It can be difficult to decide what to wear for your evening out. Here are some steps that you can take to be sure that you pick an evening wear that suits you:

The first thing that you will want to keep in mind when you are choosing evening wear is to make sure that you choose something that fits your figure and accentuates your best features. You also want your evening wear to down play any flaws you may have.

You will also want to choose evening wear that contains colors which work with your skin tone. You want to stay away from a shade that bleaches you out or makes you look pale.

Keep in mind that you will want to consider your surroundings while you are picking out an evening wear. If you are going to be at an outdoor event and it is chilly outside, then you will want to wear something that will look good and set you apart from the rest, but provide you with warmth at the same time. Therefore, you would want to stay away from something backless and possibly add a throw to your look.

If you are going out for the evening with a date then you will want to try to pick an evening wear that goes with what your date is wearing. Keep in mind that you don’t have to match them, but the two of you shouldn’t clash either.

Many women walk around each day looking fashionable and stylish, they turn heads and people admire their great sense of style. What these people don’t realize is that when these women get home at night they pull those gorgeous shoes off of their feet and pay the price for that great look. They reveal blistered feet which feel pinched and tired. Great fashion doesn’t have to cause you pain. If you are looking for stylish shoes that don’t have your feet aching at the end of the day, you will want to try the following tips.

When you are trying on a pair of shoes you want to try on both shoes, not just one. You will want to walk around in them for a few minutes to see how they really feel when you are wearing them. Make sure that you try them on how they will actually be worn. In other words, if you will be wearing them with nothing else on your feet, then don’t wear socks or anything else on your feet when you try them on.

While you are walking in the shoes, you want to pay close attention to how they feel. If they rub or pinch on a certain part of your feet while you are trying them out then they will do this the entire time you wear them after you purchase them. You are going to be wearing them for hours and any irritation that they cause to your feet will be constant and only get worse as time goes on. Make sure that you pnly purchase shoes that fit perfect and cause no discomfort when you try them on.

PRETTY by Elizabeth Arden Eau de Parfum Spray

• Top Notes – Italian Mandarin Orpur, Orange Blossom, Peach Nectar
• Middle Notes – Star Jasmine, Petalia, Pink Iris, White Peony
• Dry Down – Fluffy Musk, Jacaranda Wood, Creamy Amber

PRETTY – Created by international perfumer Claude Dir of Givaudan, Pretty is described as a spirited floral fragrance of exceptional charm. The floral heart is surrounded by a mélange of fruits, wrapped in a well-rounded background of serene woods. At its core is a premiere ingredient, Petalia, a creation and patent by the house of Givaudan.

My take on Pretty:

How appropriately named, for all women in this world aspires to feel pretty in their own way.  Pretty first attracted me with its name. The pastel colour package that it came in hinted at a soft, floral scent – which was the type of perfume that would appeal to me. I was not disappointed and fell in love with the scent immediately when I tried it. Pretty has this sweet smell of a well-balanced floral bouquet – simply irresistable and feminine. It will definitely make the perfect addition to my spring/summer collection.

BUY IT : Pretty is the type of fragrant that is suitable for everyday use without the worry of being overwhelming. It is available as 1.0 fl. oz., 1.7 fl. oz and 3.3 fl. oz Eau de Parfum.

Some of you may recall that I ran a giveaway for FLABuLESS a while back. Well, FLABuLESS has now changed its name to TRES SLEEK.

For the benefit of my new readers, here’s a little background information about TRES SLEEK:

Founded in August of 2008 by Lee Stevenson TRES SLEEK is the first ever arm shapewear for real women. Lee saw a void in the shapewear market and TRES SLEEK was born. A pioneer in arm shapewear, Lee created these unique compression sleeves for the “everyday” woman to instantly smooth the arms and reduced the appearance of sagging and bulging skin. TRES SLEEK arm shapewear comes in four lengths long sleeve, short sleeve and cap sleeve, in two colors nude and black, as well as a variety of sizes. For more information please visit www.TRESSLEEK.com

While it takes hard work and discipline to stay in shape certain parts of the body can at times seem unresponsive to diet and exercise, leaving women frustrated and discouraged. TRES SLEEK, offers innovative, convenient and affordable solutions that slenderize, conceal, and reshape common trouble areas. The arm shapewear collection is available in two styles, the Pleine, and the De Quart; two colors, black and copper nude. Retail Cost: $29.95 and $26.95 respectively.

If you use discount code “TresSleekApril09” throughout the month of April 2009,  you will be eligible for 20% off your purchase at www.TRESSLEEK.com. Offer is valid for US and Canada only.

Congratulations to this very deserving reader:

Vanessa C.

For winning the TOKI Giveaway

Please email me your shipping address by using the Contact Form here. If the prize remains unclaimed by 27th March 2009, we will be doing another random draw.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

I am a huge fan of mineral makeup because they are made from naturally ground minerals from the earth,  non-pore clogging, provide long lasting weightless coverage through out the day and doesn’t irritate the skin. In fact, they are the perfect solution for women with sensitive and mature skin. Thus, when I was offered the opportunity to review Elizabeth Arden’s latest mineral makeup - the Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF20, I jumped at the chance!

I had chosen the the Pure Finish 3 shade and the mineral powder foundation came equipped with its very own portable grinder compact to create a fresh layer of microlight mineral makeup for each application. Just remember these simple instructions – Twist, Swirl, Tap and Apply. I absolutely love this innovative feature as it allows the powder to remain pure and fresh over time plus there’s no wastage or mess. (For full details of how to use its built in innovative grinder feature, click this application link here!)

Pure Finish Mineral Powder Foundation SPF20 is also enriched with anti-oxidants, natural skin smoothers, non-drying ingredients and an UV protection, SPF 20 and PA++. I am personally a strong advocate of using products with SPF and PA++, to the extent that I  will never go outdoor without such coverage. So, this product definitely scored extra points from me.

When I first tried it, I was amazed at how  comfortable it felt over my skin. The mineral powder was lightweight and blended smoothly and evenly. Unlike traditional liquid foundation, it doesn’t cake but instead, easily lasted all day without any retouching.  After 5 days of using Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF20, I am now a firm believer that once you have tried it, you will not want to go back to traditional liquid foundation.

BUY IT : If you’re looking to keep your skin beautiful and problem free, Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Foundation SPF20 is the smart alternative to chemical laden cosmetics that most of us are used to. For a look of pure perfection that’s non-drying, skin brightening and comfortable to wear every time, paying only $37.50 is definitely a worthy investment. Go and grab one of the nine shades available for yourself. You can thank me later.