The Beauty Lounge in Haddon Township New Jersey

Selecting and applying foundation make up can be tricky. These foundation make up tips will help make this otherwise frustrating task, a little bit easier for you.

Choosing your color may seem intimidating, but it's not as bad as it may seem. Simply swipe two or three colors that are close to your natural skin color along your jaw line. You want the make-up to disappear into your skin. If it doesn't, move along until you find one that does.

Next, you will need to choose your finish and coverage. Are you looking for a sheer, dewy, look or something matte and long lasting? If all of this sounds overwhelming to you, schedule an appointment for a consultation at your favorite department store with a make up artist. This is typically a free service. Talk to them about your lifestyle and needs - are you active at the gym - do you prefer very little makeup - do you need more coverage due to blemishes and scarring? They will help you choose a foundation that is right for your skin type and lifestyle.

Once you have selected the foundation make up that is right for you, you need to prep your face so your foundation goes on smoothly.

Primers are getting a lot more recognition lately, and rightfully so. They help your foundation to glide on like silk and also give it staying power. One to try is Laura Mercier. Another option is to prep with moisturizer. You just have to be careful, because the ingredients in some moisturizers break down the foundation make up - leading it to discolor or peel.

As for application, there are mixed opinions on this. A sponge works well and is easy to blend, although many make-up artists insist on a brush. I think both work just fine and it is a matter of personal preference. I use a brush for the initial application, and blend with a sponge. Blending your foundation into your neck is so important. Do not forget this step or you will have a visible line, and we all know what that looks like don't we?

Concealer should be applied one shade lighter where you are dark, and the same shade as your foundation where you need to cover redness. Look for a concealer that is water based. This is the biggest error women make when choosing concealer. The majority clog your pores, so the blemishes you are trying to cover are just being replaced! Laura Mercier has a wonderful two in one Camouflage that can be custom blended to match any skin tone.

Finally, dust some translucent loose powder over your entire face with a large brush. Skip this step if you want a dewy look.

There you have it, a flawless base.

Rebekah Bono is Beauty and Fashion editor for online fashion magazine,The Glamour Gal

We've all experienced a fashion emergency or wished we could improve out beauty regimen with easy, inexpensive adjustments. So here are some quick and easy ways to stave off that unsightly pimple, keep under eye bags at bay and have gorgeous skin all year long.

Pimple Rx

Feel a pimple coming on and can't walk around with chalky white toothpaste on your face? Try dabbing some of your perfume on the blemish a few times throughout the day. The alcohol in the perfume will help dry it out (plus you'll smell great!).

Sleep better

Have trouble falling asleep but you've exhausted your sleep aid prescription? Why not try to catch some Z's the natural way? Lavender is known to promote alpha waves, which are necessary for restful sleep. Try soaking in a bath before bed with Lavender salts or Lavender oil.

Here's another idea: take a Lavender face pillow and pop it in the microwave on low for a couple of minutes, then place inside your pillowcase. Put your arms over your head and clasp hands, then stretch your clasped arms as far to the right as possible (make sure you remain comfortable) and then back over your body to the left. Repeat about five times. Breathe in deeply as you do these stretches, which will get the oxygen flowing.

Perfect that Pout

We can only dream of having lips like Angelina-well naturally anyway. Most of us have at least thought about using a lip plumper, hoping to look in the mirror and see gloriously luscious lips smiling back at us. The key is getting lips ready for lip plumper, so it can penetrate and do its job. Here's a little trick that won't cost you a dime. Apply a small amount of Vaseline on a soft bristle tooth brush that's been moistioned with warm water. Ever so gently brush lips for about 2 minutes-you might want to do this while watching TV, two minutes can feel like forever. Remove the Vaseline with moistened towelette or soft washcloth and then blot dry. Apply moisturizer, sunscreen and lip plumper. Then go show off your beautifully plumped lips.

p.s. If you don't want to splurge on a store-bought lip plumper, dab a tiny-and we mean tiny-amount of Cayenne pepper on your lips. It'll sting a little, but what's a little pain in the name of looking gorgeous?

Baby Soft Skin

Wonder why some women appear to have plump, hydrated skin even in the middle of winter while yours is so dry it hurts to smile? Chances are those other ladies are doing a few things differently-or else they are genetically perfect and we don't like them anyway.

When it comes to keeping your skin hydrated it only makes sense to drink lots of water. Water keeps the cells in your body quenched, so your skin looks luminous and your appetite is curbed (great skin and a trim figure-it's too for the price of one!). You've heard it before but we'll say it again, get eight 8oz glasses a day. Your skin will thank you.

Here's something you may not have heard before: distilled water is the best for drinking because chlorine and other contaminants are greatly reduced when the water is boiled. To hydrate your skin throughout the day try a purified water mister.

Moisturizing Basics

The best time to moisturize is immediately after bathing when your body is damp and moist. Smooth on Body Butter, Body Cream, or Body Lotion to lock in moisture. And you don't have to spend a lot of money.

Some may think the more expensive a moisturizer is, the more effective it will be against dry skin. But this really is a myth. That's not to say expensive lotions don't make us feel more luxurious (even if it's just because we know how much it cost). But the good news is-especially if you don't have a $200 a month beauty budget-is that you can still yourself to radiant, glowing skin for the cost of your daily Starbucks and muffin, just by visiting your local drugstore. There are lots of great moisurizers that hydrate and condition dry, thirsty skin with natural ingredients like shea butter and vitamin E.

In addition to applying lotion daily, here are some other helpful tips to keep skin smooth during the winter months:

Keep your shower times shorter and limit your exposure to hot water. Try turning on the radio and limiting yourself to just 2-3 songs as a guide.
Avoid intense scrubbing while showering. Choose a soft soap rather than an exfolient. Here's an idea. The SALUX Beauty Skin Cloth gently exfoliates the skin with a special texture that stimulates blood circulation, while requiring you to use less soap.
Don't forget your sunscreen! Sun damage can still happen with clouds in the sky, so it's very important to continue to wear no less than SPF 15 every day.

Frizz-free hair

On the go and forgot your hair pomade? Don't freak out-and certainly don't let your hair freak out. Apply a small dollup of hand lotion in your hands, then gently smooth hands over your hair. This will help to tame unruly hair. You can also use a tiny amount of Vaseline on the ends of your hair. For future hair emergencies, make sure to pick up one of these great products to keep on hand and in your medicine cabinet: Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream , Biosilk Silk Therapy, which also doubles as a great skin salve, and Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss.

De-puff eyes

Trust me I've become a pro at de-puffing eyes. Computer strain, too little sleep, too much sleep, stress-you name it and it makes my eyes puff up like a cream cheese wonton. If you're looking for a quick fix that's more effective than cucumbers, try a green tea or black tea bag (it must contain caffeine). Dip it in hot water then toss it in the freezer for 5 minutes. If you have some foresight pop an anti-histamine like Benedryl the night before and you'll wake up bag-free. Supplements can help with puffiness too. MSM with Glucosamine, Flax Oil and Evening Primrose Oil seem to help alleviate puffiness.

Fake tan streaks

With all the publicity about skin cancer you feel guilty getting a tan the old fashioned way. So you tried a self-tanner or maybe you opted for the Mystic Tan booth. Unfortunately you ended up with the telltale streaks on your arms, legs, feet ... okay everywhere. Don't worry, you don't have to wear a turtleneck and pants until it fades. Hop in the shower right away (some will inevitably come off anyway) and generously rub down with an exfoliating body scrub followed by a rigorous scrubbing with a loofah. For really bad cases around the ankles, feet, elbows and hands (usually the driest parts of your body), you can use a callous file to eliminate unsightly streaks. We don't recommend incorporating these measures into your regular routine but if you've got a hot date or a big event you can't exactly show up looking like you got in a fight with a can of orange spray paint either.

Better yet--avoid rubbing your skin raw with St. Tropez Self-Tan Remover. Like magic it removes unsightly stains from your palms and other body parts if you mess up (the only caveat: it only works up to 4 hours after you apply self tanner). Find it at Sephora, Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret and Red Door Salons.

For a more even self-tanner application, try Tan Airbrush in a Can. We love it!

Beauty Improvs

When you don't have ...

Hair gel USE ... Lotion
Mascara USE ... Vaseline (it works! Just go light, you don't want to have gloppy lashes)
Zit cream USE ... Perfume for on-the-go/White toothepaste for at-home use only.
Lip gloss USE ... Vaseline
Neosporan USE ... Honey
Lip plumper USE ... Cayenne pepper
Eye gel USE ... Frozen tea bags

A. Covington is a beauty writer who loves anything that smells great and makes her skin, nails, and hair look and feel amazing. She lends her beauty IQ to her beauty blog. Her readers get a daily dose of beauty tips and cosmetics product reviews, plus articles on makeup, skincare, hair products, and fragrances for the body and home. Amy maintains three blogs for Belisi Fashions, a luxury accessories brand based in Palm Beach.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Covington

The thought of taking a shower in heavily chlorinated pool water is not an appealing one at all. However, most people have no idea just how much chlorine they're being exposed to by not using a shower filter. The regular tap water coming out of your shower head contains just as much chlorine, if not more, than the amount allowed to be in standard public swimming pools. By using a quality shower head filter you can reduce or even eliminate chlorine completely from your daily shower.

Chlorine can make for an uncomfortable shower experience because it usually strips away natural oils, which can easily disrupt the natural metabolism of the skin. This can lead to excessive dryness and unnecessary cellular damage, greatly accelerating the signs of aging. By installing a reasonably priced shower filter in your home, the benefits of softer skin and more manageable hair become a reality almost immediately.

Standard shower filters have only been shown to reduce free chlorine, and in some rare cases, chloramine (a devastating combination of chlorine and ammonia). Although there are many claims to the contrary being made by several shower filter sellers all over the Web, a simple fact remains. The combination of a relatively small amount of media within a short bodied shower filter simply cannot remove other contaminants from fast flowing hot water using standard methods. Basically, the water is too hot and moving too quickly for the small amount of "stuff" inside to do it's job with any meaningful results.

Using a shower head filter will ensure your skin and hair feel and look much healthier, but also provides tremendous protection for the rest of your body by not forcing you to inhale toxic chlorine fumes. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you get a shower filter if you have asthma or any other sort of respiratory condition. It can be extremely beneficial to those that have serious asthma and/or allergy symptoms. Chlorine and chloramine are notorious for causing irritation to the sensitive mucus membranes of the eyes, nose and throat.

Another advantage to having a shower water filter is that it can help enhance the pH of water and bring it much closer to the "neutral" range of 7.0. There are several different shower water filtration systems out there that use their own technology or techniques to filter the water. Some even claim to have some type of complex, multiple stage filtration system that promises to remove of all kinds of synthetic and volatile organic chemicals. However, most of these types of claims are based entirely on clever marketing instead of real data. When in doubt, always ask to see data substantiating any claims that sound too good to be true.

The best thing about shower filters is how relatively inexpensive they are and how easy they are to install and maintain. An average shower filter will run anywhere from $40-$90 and should perform with average results. Even if you are willing to spend a little more money, higher priced shower filters do not necessarily provide greater protection. Look for shower filters that utilize Vitamin C (Ascorbate), KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) or Chlorgon (Calcium Sulfite); with the Vitamin C and Chlorgon type shower filters also providing excellent protection from chloramine. Shower filters that contain any type of carbon generally do not perform as well and have been known to produce large amounts of bacteria within a short period of time. The bacteria feed on carbon within the moist, warm confines of a shower filter and quickly multiply. This can lead to bacteria being released into the stream of shower water and onto your body.

The most important aspect of purchasing and using a chlorine shower filter is whether or not it will perform to your level of expectation. If in doubt whether that very attractive shower filter hanging in your shower stall is actually working, go out and purchase some total residual chlorine test strips and test for yourself. A bottle of 25 test strips will generally run less than $10 and can be found on eBay for even less. Just make sure you purchase and use test strips that check for both free and combined chlorine, otherwise known as chloramine. With the rapid implementation of chloramine across the globe, free chlorine disinfection of our public water supplies is sure to quickly become nothing more than a distant, unpleasant memory.

Are you looking for a vacation that will spoil you with body massages, facials, healthy meals, and wonderful beauty treatments? Beauty Spa vacations help you escape from the everyday pressures of life and relax in a beautiful and tranquil environment. Specific destination spa vacations are to educate men and women about their health while coordinating healthy lifestyles and physical fitness activities.

There are spa vacations that include your particular hobby. You can book a spa vacation for a biking adventure, canoeing, kayaking, ski adventures, walking vacations, and horseback and golf vacations. If you are looking for just a relaxing spa retreat, you will find stress management retreats, weight loss vacations, spiritual retreats, and yoga vacations. There is a vacation spa package to fit nearly every possible need. These spa vacations are professionally managed and teach the guests healthy habits that they will take home with them.

Which spa is best for you? Here are some tips on how to find the perfect spa vacation.

Choose a spa vacation that fits your needs. If you're looking for a spa to refresh your spirit, then choose a tranquil spot that will be most restful to you. That could be an oasis in the desert or a peaceful resort on the ocean. Choose one that is within your price range, so won't add to your already high stress level.

Choose one that you feel you can get to or afford easily. Remember the purpose of a spa vacation is to relax and de-stress, not add more. There are stress management spa resorts that will teach you techniques to lower your stress level and give you a better quality of life. They may teach you yoga or meditation so you can more easily control your stress. Stress can make you sick in body and in spirit.

If you are looking to be just pampered there are spas that will do exactly that. All you need to do is go and do what they tell you. This spa will pamper you with facials, massages, and manicures, the whole works. That could be exactly what you need for this time of your life.

Do you feel the need to lose weight? Then a spa that will specialize in weight reduction should be your choice. Most of these spas will provide you with healthy foods, personal trainers, aerobics, nutritionist, and therapists. They will work with you to change your lifestyle to not only lose the weight but to keep it off once it's gone. They will train you to make the right choices and continue your exercise routine when you return to your regular return. Sometimes it's that little push that can give you the incentive to make permanent changes in your lifestyle for a healthier and happier you.

You may choose a spa vacation that will pamper you but also give you the opportunity to play nine holes of golf or take a private lesson. They offer all the same features of a regular spa but also include your favorite pastime to make it even more enjoyable.

Your choice might be a get back to nature spa. You can do that in some of the most beautiful spots in Southern California. The Spa Montage offers you a retreat on the ocean to reconnect with nature and you. It offers quiet, peaceful surroundings and therapeutic treatments.

You may choose to go to a relaxing spa by yourself, with a spouse or significant other or with a larger group. A spa retreat is a great idea for reunions and family gatherings, and corporate brainstorming sessions. Maybe you would love to go to a spa on your honeymoon. It could be one of the most restful trips you'll ever take together.

Regardless of what spa vacation you choose. You will come away with a renewed sense of serenity and peace, and a new awareness of your body and how its surroundings affect it. So, go for it, whether you take a solo trip, a trip with a spouse or best friend, or meet as a group, you will find the spa experience to be a welcome break in this hectic, stressful world.

Gregg Hall is a consultant for online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get more info on spas at http://www.pamperingdayspaservices.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

Paris salons are offering chocolate facials, wraps, and scrubs to people who want healthy-looking and wrinkle-free skin. The services aim to dispel once and for all the age-old myth that chocolate causes acne and other skin problems.

The chocolate-based beauty treatments have been lauded by chocolate gourmets and chocoholics alike who welcome the quick cocoa fix designed to satisfy the senses. The trendy 32 Montorgueil Spa in Paris uses Nuxe's Phytochoc range of beauty products that is a hit among middle-aged women who want to reduce their wrinkles. Its chocolate facial costs about $155 and lasts for an hour and a half.

"At 32 Montorgueil cocoa extracts are used for their cosmetic benefits rather than to impart a chocolate high, as the Phytochoc range bears little resemblance to the best Belgian bar," said the Agence France-Presse.

The Four Seasons Hotel George V Spa offers a "Decadent Chocolate Package" which lasts two and a half hours and costs $390. For that amount you get the "Chocolate and Cranberry Body Scrub" that uses sweet almond oil, chocolate extract, and crushed cocoa beans to exfoliate the skin. Or you can have the "Toffee Chocolate Wrap" where you can soak for 45 minutes in a warm concoction of cocoa butter, shea butter, and chocolate essence.

For the "Deep Chocolate Massage", chocolate-scented vitamin E enriched oil is used to knead away any wrinkles. The session ends with a plate of hand-made chocolates and a pot of caramel tea.

At the Bernard Cassiere Spa, $58 gets you a 45-minute "Anti-Stress Anti-Pollution Chocolate Treatment." It starts with a facial massage of pure cocoa butter and leaves you in a state of chocolate bliss as thick melted chocolate is applied on the face and neck. The chocolate mask is made by Italian chocolatier Walter Bovetti and can be licked.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate doesn't cause acne. When consumed as part of a balanced diet, this sweet treat has many health benefits. Cocoa or dark chocolate is a rich source of flavonoids and antioxidants that protect the heart. It lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. The polyphenol compounds in cocoa are also believed to have anti-aging properties.

"Recent scientific studies have suggested chocolate boosts the serotonin in the brain that produces a calming effect and stability. Stress has been identified as a cause of acne. If chocolate stimulates the serotonin and calms the nerves, then chocolate could ironically be found to assist in acne restraint," according to the Acne Resource Center Online.

As in all things, moderation is the key. Eating large quantities of chocolate is undesirable since it is a rich source of calories that can lead to obesity and a host of diseases. Stick to small but regular amounts of dark chocolate if you want healthy skin. Or better still, use the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. This powerful anti-aging formula has two components: the Rejuvinol morning moisturizer that nourishes and tones the skin; and the Rejuvox night cream that reduces fine lines and wrinkles.