What is Mascara?

Mascara is a product used to coat and define your eyelashes. If you use only two makeup products everyday it has been recommended that it be mascara and lipstick. Both easy to use and reapply if need be.

Mascara comes in a multiple of colors , dark colors like black, brown, and navy blue. It also comes in colors not commonly used for everyday, fushica, light blue, green, purple, gold and more.
Don’t forget we also have our glitters, some brands better than others. Glitter Mascara can be wore in your hair as well! If there is a color that you feel is just too wild to be wearing but would look really cool in your
hair then that try instead?

Mascara comes in many formulations, waterproof, water-soluble, with added moisturizers, lengthen and thickeners and now mascara that helps your lashes curl and even grow!
There are drugstore brands and expensive brands all comes down to your choice and your pocketbook. A lot of the more expensive brands offer more types and do more for your lashes but for everyday use, often
a inexpensive store brand will do. While reading your beauty magazines and makeup forums online you will find that everyone has that “one” mascara they will not stop using. Everyone is loyal to a brand and tell you all about it!

When it comes to applying mascara please only use the applicator it comes with. A lot of the companies prided themselves on the type of brush they offer, saying that its the brush that makes the mascara better
than the rest, not what is in the tube.

A common problem we all have with mascara, is sometimes it smudges or even flakes. If it has started flaking on you, that is a very good tip that its old and needs to be replaced fast!

One of the best ways not to have your mascara start smudging is to not put your eye cream that you should be using everyday, do not put it right under your eye. The reason is as the day goes on, the eye cream moves closer to your eye causing your mascara to become a little wet. Just enough for it to start smudging specially if you are wearing it on your lower lashes.
There is one very popular older model who’s idea for not having your mascara smudge, is after you have removed your cleanser is to go around the eye with a Q-tip with a toner as a well to make sure there
is nothing left under the eye to get onto your mascara. But that also means going without using any eye cream, and that is a sure way to have those little fine lines to show!

Do not go without eye cream just because it might cause your mascara to smudge. No matter what keep using your eye cream! Because it’s the eye creams that keeps you’re the skin around your eye moist and
not show off your wrinkles if you are old enough to have them.

Did you can even “seal” your mascara by adding a single coat of clear mascara over your regular mascara? That is good if you are wearing glitter mascara and making sure that the glitter doesn’t start flake
off. Before applying mascara use the eyelash curler not after! It will pull and can break off your lashes if you try to curl your lashes after applying mascara. If you have clumps there is a lash comb made just to help take out the clumps.Use it gently and before the mascara dries.

Need tips on how to apply your mascara?
You apply mascara with smooth upward strokes. Many makeup artists feel you don’t need to apply mascara to your lower lashes but most women do. Mascara looks best usually with just one to two coats on the top lashes and only one coat on the bottom lashes.

To get truly thick lashes use Magic Lash eyelash enhancer.* Its natural fibers give length and true thickest to your lashes. Apply one coat of mascara apply a coat of Magic Lash but blow lightly on the wand before applying as a coat. Than add a second coat of mascara and see what it does for your eyes!

Because the mascara applicator comes into contact with the eye, bacteria is then transferred back into the tube. Not sharing your mascara is the only was to stop anything transferring into your eyes and its best
to replace your mascara every six months to keep it fresh. And there you have it, just a few common facts about your basic mascaras.

Copyright Kim Snyder, Owner of Overallbeauty.com Great lover of beauty care and products, never happy without trying to make the world a little prettier for all. Visit Overallbeauty.com to see the latest in
beauty products and skin care.

Attn Ezine editors / site owners. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine /website as long as you leave the links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.

*Offered by Overallbeauty.com

Creating Intense Smoky Eyes

Smoky eyes come in many different colors these days from grays and black, to purple, blues and browns. . It has been said you must use dark and neutral colors, like dark grays or blacks. But not so true in today’s modern world. When you really think about it, smoky eyes are the bedroom eyes of the sirens of yesteryear. The sirens of the past all had a signature look that even you yourself can create.

Your basic smoky eyes take only a few items to create with.

Two eye shadow colors that are in the same family of color. Grays work well with black or another shade of gray. Dark colors are the norm, not forgetting you need one color to contrast the other.

You must have eyeliner! Either liquid eyeliner, pencil or just use the dark color eye shadow as eyeliner but eyeliner is a must have. Along with a black magic mascara and if you want your lashes to be way out there, don’t forget your secret weapon Magic Lash! Works better than false lashes and just easier to work with.

Also don’t forget your basic tools of smoky eye creating, two makeup brushes, one to apply your eye shadows and one to blend/smudge with. A smaller tip makeup brush works great adding depth to your crease as well as applying eye shadow to be used as eyeliner. Q-tips are great to have on hand as well. As well as a eyelash curler to really open your eyes with.

Other items you could use if you really wanted, a makeup primer to keep your eye shadows in place, concealer under your eyes to lighten up the area and even a matte white eye shadow to put in the corner of your eyes just above and around the tear duct. We are going for intense here but this look is yours to have fun with.

In your 20’s using liquid eyeliner is truly fun to go bold with. Paint a black line above your lashes that widens and extends upward at the outer corner of your eyes, letting it dry for at least 5 minutes before touching it. While in your 20’s smoky eyes can be easily pulled off using this dramatic effect without looking like a clown.

In your 30’s black liquid eyeliner maybe too harsh for you. Not counting Angelina Jolie eyes that is. Her look is not a smoky look per say, but she has the most asked for look in today’s elite! The reason why it said that’s its not really smoky eyes is because of the choice of color eye shadows that are used. But still she has the sexiest eyes on the planet!

To really enjoy the truly sexy look of Angelina Jolie, check out her signature bat wing black liquid eyeliner, her expertly arched eyebrows, she often reminds you how truly elegant she is with yet a touch of a rebellious edge.

The major reason why her eyes are such the focus is how she wears a pale, translucent hue that provides an amazing contact to her rich black eyeliner. The look is created in two stages, first liquid eyeliner is applied to the upper lashes only, winging out at the edge. Then a matte black eyeliner is dotted between her lashes for extra eye definition. Even while pregnant her eyes are to die for!

The rest of us in our 30’s and beyond try using smudge-able pencils as it can be a better answer than liquid eyeliner. Use the color that most matching the dark eye shadow you are using for your smoky eyes. To use pencils in smoky eyes layer your eye shadow over your pencil. The color of choice needs to applied at the base along your lashes. Applying eye shadow over the pencil deepens the color and helps pull the whole look together.

Also with eyeliner don’t use it on the bottom lashes from inner corner on out, start in middle and then wing it out. That doesn’t close off the eyes making them smaller, your want your eyes to look as big as they can and still be smoking!

Just remember that no matter how dark your eyes are, you need to match them with nude lips. Nothing better to steal the spotlight off your eyes then a pair of bright red lips. It also ages you as well and not one wants to look older than they really are!

Copyright 2008 Kim Snyder, owner Overallbeauty.com. Great lover of all natural beauty care and products. Offering beauty products at quality prices. Check out Magic Lash Gift Sets & Overall Beauty Minerals today! Visit to see the latest in cosmetics and so much more.

Attn Ezine editors/website owners Free feel to reprint this article in its entirely in your ezine or on your website. As long as you leave the links in place. Do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.

Eyelash Extensions ~ Are They Worth the Money?
As we watch famous celebrities such as Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and
others walk down the red carpet, we can’t help but see they have the
most amazing eyes. They have long, lush lashes we can’t help but
want for ourselves.

For those with money the cost isn’t a problem, for those of us with a
budget, getting eyelash extensions may not be cost effective to have
the look and keep it maintain. For example the most beautiful
Beyonce has a new full set at $500 every three months but they are
costing her $120 per month upkeep. Lose one eyelash and that’s
$20 all by its self. Yes, that’s the truth per eyelash can run you about
$20.00 each.
What is it about eyelash extensions that has them become one of the latest
craze?

Unlike traditional false lashes that are applied in strips and last a day
before needing to be removed, eyelash extensions are glued to your
natural eyelashes and last as long as that eyelash does, 6 to 8 weeks
depending on care. Eyelash extensions are applied with an
adhesive that dries soft allowing lashes to stay flexible and natural
looking. Because they are bonded to each individual lash and not
your skin, eyelash extensions can last up to two months. They fall out
when your natural lash does.
To maintain the look, you need a touch up every two to three weeks to
replace any eyelashes that have fallen out.
There are cases rare as it can be but true, that those that have worn
extensions for so long period of time have become allergic to the glue
that is used! This happen to a eyelash salon owner who is an
professional at putting on and maintaining eyelash extensions.

The number one thing about eyelash extensions you must have it done by
an professional or mistakes can happen and possible cause your
lashes to fall out! Make sure the person going to do your eyelash
extensions has an license to do so.

Are there other products out there that could possible give you the same
look for less cost?

Yes there are two main products you can now buy that will help give you
the look of eyelash extensions both under $25. Magic Lash is one
product that can be found only on the web and Fiberwig that you can
buy at your local Sephora. Both can give you the look of long lush
lashes but you have to use them with your mascara. They only last a
day and come off with your makeup remover at night. Under $25 a
tube verses $300 and two hours plus of your time to put the first full
set on, I will take Magic Lash any day!
There is no such thing as semi-permanent eyelashes, all types of eyelash
extensions are called semi-permanent.

There is now a process now that you can have permanent eyelashes
transplanted. It’s the same idea as if you are having hair replanted.
The only permanent eyelashes are eyelash transplants which are
performed under anesthetic by a doctor and will cost you
approximately $5,000.

Eyelash extensions are something you really need to think about, the cost
factor as well as time factor.
Just for starters it takes up to two hours to have a full set done. Also they
must be kept up if you really want to really keep the look. There is
things you must do to keep them looking good.
For everyday, it comes down to one real fact, can you afford them? Take
time to do your research, check out the salons in your area, ask your
friends who have had it done their thoughts about it. Check out
the prices the salons in your area are asking, always ask if they have
a license to do them. Start out with a list of questions you may
have and when you find someone you think you can trust, go in and
check out their salon. If you are happy with what you see, and you
have the money in your budget then go for it!. It’s your time and your
money and your eyes, so have fun!

Copyright 2008 Kim Snyder, owner Overall Beauty Minerals, Home of the famous Magic Lash Eyelash Enhancer!
Visit her today at Overallbeauty.com Sign up today for a free beauty ebook and see the latest in mineral
makeup and natural skincare and so much more.