The trick to finding the perfect foundation shade

We’ve all done it – when we go shopping for foundation we instinctively dab a little from the tester bottle onto the back of our hand, but this is immediately where it all goes wrong.

What you should do instead…

First of all, go shopping for foundation with a bare/makeup free face (or at least no foundation already on your skin). Next, select 3 foundation shade testers that you feel are closest to your skin tone. You will now test this on your face – but not just anywhere – specifically the space between your cheek and jaw line. Testing foundation in this particular area will give you the best shade fit for your entire face and will also determine what will blend seamlessly with your neckline tone.

Start with the first shade and dab it on your fingertip, then draw a line from your cheekbone down to your jawline. Repeat this step again with the second shade, drawing the line next to the first one. Repeat with the third shade. You will now have 3 lines of foundation in the cheekbone-to-jaw fleshy area of your face.

Hot Tip: use a different fingertip for each shade so the colours don’t mingle!

Next, find natural light…

If you’re in a department store or chemist, you’ll have to do your best to try and find somewhere with a bit of natural light at hand. Harsh store lighting won’t give you a true indication of how the foundation looks on your skin. So many times we’ve chosen a shade that looks right under fluorescent lights, only to go out into daylight to discover the mismatched horror! Don’t worry about looking weird for a minute – it’s far more embarrassing to wear a mismatched foundation day in, day out without even realising it!

Hot Tip: Have a compact mirror handy in your bag so you can quickly pop outside or stand near a window.

Now it’s time to blend!

Begin to blend each line of foundation into your skin, one at a time. The shade that disappears completely into your skin is the right one for you! How easy is that? This method ensures you never have that awful foundation jawline stripe or frightful ‘mask’ look again!

Hot Tip: After this process of elimination you are going to have 2 shades of foundation on your skin that are not right for you and therefore need to be gotten rid of pronto! So make sure you have some makeup or baby wipes in your handbag to wipe off the foundation lines when you’re done testing them.

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Today I’ll guide you through how to make your very own fizzing bath bombs – just like the ones you get from the store! So lie back, relax and getting ready to soak away all your worries with your very own Homemade Bath Bombs. It’s so easy – so read on for the recipe!

Homemade Bath Bombs

What you’ll need:

• ½ cup bi-carb soda
• ¼ cup citric acid (get this from the chemist or supermarket)
• ¼ cup Epsom salts (again from the supermarket or chemist)
• 2 teaspoons water
• Your favourite essential oil
• 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil
• Food colouring of your choice

You’ll also need:

• Something to serve as moulds for the bombs – rubber/silicon cupcake moulds work a treat, or browse a craft store for cheap mould ideas (avoid metals)
• Glass bowl

Now let’s make bath bombs!

Step 1. Combine all the dry ingredients (bi-carb, citric acid and Epsom salts) in a glass bowl. Mix thoroughly. To this you can also add some dried flower petals or the leaves from an herbal tea bag (optional).

Step 2. In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the wet ingredients (water, coconut or olive oil, essential oil and food colouring). About 6 drops of your favourite essential oil will do (such as lavender for a calming experience). As for the food colouring, you’ll only need a few drops too to give the bombs a lovely coloured tint – so don’t overdo it!

Step 3. Begin to slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients bowl, mixing as you go with your fingers, just a few drops at a time (we don’t want the mixture to start fizzing). Do this until all thoroughly combined.

Step 4. Spoon the mixture into the moulds, packing firmly and smoothing the top if using cupcake/baking moulds. Allow the mixture to set for 2 hours before carefully popping out onto the some paper towel to air-dry a little longer (if need be). In humid weather, it’s best to leave the mixture to set overnight.

Step 5. Add bath bomb to a running hot bath, light some scented candles and enjoy the luxury! These bath bombs also make a beautiful gift for the other ladies in your life as well!

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Most of us will be guilty of at least one…or two…or…three!

1. Wearing makeup to bed
   I know this is obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many women still try and get away with it! Yes, we lead busy lifestyles and when you’re exhausted, it’s tempting to think ‘Oh I’ll just do it in the morning!’. However, wearing makeup to bed is a recipe for clogged pores, breakouts and not to mention oil and dirt transferred to your pillows! If you simply can’t muster the energy after coming home late from a party, keep a packet of good quality makeup wipes on your bedside table for such emergencies.
2. High heat hair straightening
   We want the highest heat to get the best result, right? But using your straightening iron at full blown heat just burns your hair, causing brittleness, dryness and split ends. Use straightening irons on low heat settings only. Using a protective heat barrier treatment before straightening is a good idea too.
3. Steaming hot showers
   A steaming hot shower feels sensational – but it’s going to zap moisture straight out of your skin, causing dryness. The extreme heat can even weaken blood vessels, causing broken capillaries – and we definitely do not want that! Turn down the heat; it’s better for you in the long run.
4. Not using sunscreen daily
   On my blog I talk a lot about the importance of using SPF sunscreen to ward off the signs of ageing – and that’s because UV exposure is the major cause of wrinkles and loss of elasticity in the skin! If you think you’re fine without sunscreen because you’re just driving to work in your car, think again. UV exposure will affect you – even in your car. Wear sunscreen daily and your future (younger looking) self will thank you.
5. Dirty makeup brushes
   Makeup brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria, dirt, oil and makeup gunk build up. I’ve talked about this before on my blog. Click here to go to my 3 Easy Ways to Clean Your Makeup Brushes post – these methods are so easy, you have no excuse! *please link to this story I have already written
6. Neglecting the neck and décolleté
   Hey, the neck and décolleté need TLC too! Like our face, these areas are the first to show the signs of ageing. When you moisturise, ensure you include your neck and décolleté. Immortal Cream is perfect for keeping your face, neck and décolleté hydrated and youthful.
7. Over-washing your hair
   Give your hair a break – don’t wash it every day! Over-washing hair strips your hair follicles of natural oils making it dry and frizzy. Plus, day-old washed hair looks better and styles better. If you notice a little oiliness creeping in, use my cheap 1 ingredient DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe between washes. It works a treat!

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post Are you guilty of these 7 bad beauty habits? appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

That doesn’t really sound like something we want to be putting anywhere near our face!

The good news is, cleaning your makeup brushes is super easy – and cheap! No need to spend money on store-bought makeup brush cleaners, I’ll take you through 3 effective ways to clean your makeup brushes with everyday household items.

1. Bar of soap

The humble bar of soap still has its place in beauty it seems! Take a bar of soap and run it under the tap to moisten, then take your brush and wet the bristles too (avoid wetting the brush where the bristles meet the handle – we don’t want water getting inside the brush).

Begin to apply the brush to the bar of soap in circular motions to loosen the dirt and gunk, rinse the bristles under the water and repeat as needed. Once clean, sweep the brush dry over a paper towel and leave to dry completely overnight.

2. Dish sponge + mild soap

Take a new, clean dish sponge and moisten it under the tap, apply a gentle hand soap or mild shampoo to one side of the sponge. Then take your brush and moisten the bristles. Begin to work the brush bristles into the sponge on the soapy side. The texture of the sponge helps to loosen the makeup build-up and dirt and get right up into the bristles. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clean. Dry with a paper towel.

3. Olive oil + dish sponge

This method is great for your eyeliner and lipstick brushes! Simply pour some olive oil into a small bowl and dip your brush in – it’s okay if the olive oil gets onto the metal/handle bit here. Take a clean, moist dish sponge and work the brush into the sponge to loosen the gunk. Rinse and repeat if necessary and dry with paper towel. The olive oil breaks down all the dirt plus moisturises the bristle hairs too! Now that’s some makeup brush TLC!

Hot tips: Aim to wash your makeup brushes once every fortnight and do it in the evening after you have finished with makeup for the day. Reason being is they need a few hours to dry – so leave them to dry overnight and they will be clean and ready for use again by morning.

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post 3 Super Easy ways to clean Makeup Brushes with everyday household items! appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

Ladies, I’m here to help. I have for you today the quickest and cheapest fix for greasy hair ever – and all it takes is an ingredient that is probably already in your kitchen pantry.

DIY Dry Shampoo

Yes, you can buy ready-to-go dry shampoo with all sorts of chemicals in it, or you can make your own at home simply using arrowroot powder or cornstarch from your kitchen pantry. I kid you not!

For light hair

All you need is some arrowroot or cornstarch powder. Sprinkle onto your roots and greasy areas and work through with a comb, your fingers or a clean makeup brush. Start sparingly and add more if necessary. You will be amazed at how your oily hair instantly loses the greasy shine!

For dark hair and red heads

Mix a little unsweetened cocoa powder from your pantry (yes, cocoa powder!) into the arrowroot or cornstarch powder and work through hair as above. Cinnamon can be used too. See which one works for you!

Tips

• For easy application, keep your powder in a shaker jar (like for salt, spices and dusting powders), or create your own by poking holes through the lid of a jar. Simply shake on, work through, and go!
• Mix in a few drops of your favourite essential oils to the powder to lightly perfume your hair at the same.
• Great for taking camping so you can look fresh as a daisy 3 days in without a shower (much to the amazement of your camping companions!)

Arrowroot and cornstarch are both great oil absorbers, which is why this simply works. To avoid looking like it has somehow snowed on your head, work through the powder thoroughly. For darker hair, play around with the arrowroot to cocoa powder ratios if need be to get the right shade.

I was sceptical about this at first, but I’ll try anything once – and I’m glad I did. My jaw almost dropped to the floor when I saw how effectively it worked. And it took me a just couple of seconds. Give it a go next time oily hair creeps up on you and threatens to ruin your day. You can thank me later!

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post The quickest and cheapest fix for greasy hair EVER! appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

Instead, tackle winter head on with my Top tips to Get You Glowing through the cold months and you’ll be sure to feel brighter and more beautiful inside and out.

Keep the water warm
Avoid the temptation of having steaming hot showers in winter. This only zaps your already dry winter skin and hair from even more moisture. Start off hot to get that warm feeling through your bones, but ease it up to warm water as you go.

Treat yourself to a weekly bath
Begin your bathing ritual with dry body brushing to exfoliate dead skin cells and kick-start your circulation. Add in nourishing natural ingredients to running bath water to leave your skin soft and beautiful. To moisturise dry skin, add in some coconut oil or do like Cleopatra did by adding a couple of cups of milk and some honey to your bath water. Try brewing a couple of cups of strong herbal tea from your kitchen pantry and add it to your bath with your choice of essential oils. And don’t forget to light those candles. Mmm…so luxurious!

Moisturise damp skin
Get in the habit of moisturising your body straight after your bath or shower while your skin is still damp. This locks in all the moisture and keeps you soft and supple even when it’s freezing outside!

Get up and moving
Peel your doona away, turn off your movie marathon and make sure you get outside into the sunshine in winter to keep up your levels of vitamin D. A brisk morning walk around the park on a clear, sunny day will do the trick. Plus, keeping your body moving will oxygenate your skin and help flush waste from your skin cells for a radiant glow.

Whip out the pumice stone
With winter comes dry, scaly elbows, knees and feet. After your evening bath or shower, while your skin is soft, take a pumice stone to dry areas like elbows and the heels of your feet. Moisturise with a rich body moisturiser afterwards and place on a pair of comfy socks to lock in the warmth and moisture. Your feet will be brand new and baby soft in the morning!

Up your Omega-3 intake
Moisturise your skin and hair from the inside out by ensuring you eat plenty of omega-3 rich foods and essential fatty acids throughout the chilly months. Make oily fish such as salmon and avocados a regular in your shopping basket or ensure you get a daily hit by taking cod liver oil or a fish oil supplement.

Stay hydrated
Balance your winter-warming beverages like tea and coffee with plenty of water. Try herbal teas to keep up your fluid intake while still keeping things warm and cosy. Guzzle coconut water, which is packed with electrolytes, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, for a refreshing alternative to water.

When your body is dehydrated it shows – skin appears lifeless and wrinkles and fine lines are more prominent. Indoor heating only adds to skin dehydration, so in winter, drink even more water than you usually would.

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post Top Tips to get you GLOWING this winter appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

This Honey & Sugar Lip Scrub uses just 3 ingredients which you probably already have in your pantry. It’s super quick to make too, and will leave you with soft, smooth and totally kissable lips in no time at all!

HONEY & SUGAR LIP SCRUB

WHAT YOU NEED

1 teaspoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon honey

WHAT TO DO

Simply mix all the ingredients thoroughly in a little bowl. Add a little more brown sugar if you want a grainier mix. Transfer to a small jar or container (or cover bowl tightly with cling wrap).

30 SECONDS TO A PRETTIER POUT

Take a dab of the scrub and start gently exfoliating your lips in a circular motion, concentrating on particularly dry or chapped areas. Do this for 30 seconds to a minute. Wipe away the scrub with a soft, damp wash cloth.

THE BEST PART

All of these ingredients are edible, and delicious, so it doesn’t even matter if a little gets in your mouth – you will probably love the taste!

THE RESULTS

You’ll be left with softer, smoother, moisturised lips and the exfoliating effect stimulates circulation to create a temporarily pinker and plumper pout! I like to apply a little dab of coconut oil or lip balm afterwards as a final moisture boost.

STORING

Store your delicious lip scrub in the fridge for 2-3 weeks and use it as much as you need.

XOXO

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post Get kissable lips right now with 3 ingredients from your pantry! appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

I love sharing my tips for maintaining a young, fresh and flawless complexion – but today I want to travel below the neck and pay special attention to a whole other region that contributes greatly to our health and appearance – the skin on our body!

There’s just one tool you need in your bathroom which can help you banish cellulite, exfoliate dead skin cells, eliminate toxins and tighten your skin for a smoother, sexier body – and it’s super cost-effective too!

I’m talking about Body Brushing. If you haven’t heard of this tried-and-true beauty method before then read on, you are going to love what I’m about to tell you!

I love sharing my tips for maintaining a young, fresh and flawless complexion – but today I want to travel below the neck and pay special attention to a whole other region that contributes greatly to our health and appearance – the skin on our body!

There’s just one tool you need in your bathroom which can help you banish cellulite, exfoliate dead skin cells, eliminate toxins and tighten your skin for a smoother, sexier body – and it’s super cost-effective too! I’m talking about Body Brushing.

How can a brush make you healthy and glowing?

Dry body brushing is a powerful detoxification method for your body. Our skin is our largest organ and through it a lot of impurities and toxins are secreted. Daily brushing with a body brush stimulates lymphatic drainage and eliminates waste and toxins from your body. A healthier lymphatic system helps your body operate at its peak and can also ward off sickness, too. Body brushing is essentially an all-over body detox – and it takes just 5 minutes a day!

Dry body brushing improves skin tone and smooths out cellulite

Body brushing also works as a fantastic natural exfoliant for your body. Exfoliating your skin helps to clear clogged pores and buff away dead skin cells leaving your skin softer, smoother and invigorated. Dry body brushing is also said to reduce cellulite as it may soften the hard fat deposits and distribute them more evenly beneath the skin.

And did I mention it feels wonderful? It’s like treating yourself to a full body massage every day which is great for stress relief and improving your energy levels and mood.

How to do it

Every morning, jump in the shower with your body brush in hand – but do not turn on the tap yet! This is dry brushing after all. Starting at your feet, begin to brush upwards towards your heart – always towards your heart – in long sweeping motions. Move up your legs and then start at your hands and up your arms towards your chest. Focus on your stomach and back too but avoid sensitive areas, varicose veins and the face. Now, rinse away all the dead skin by taking your usual morning shower and you will be glowing for the day!

Where to get it

Dry body brushing is a super cheap investment that offers a whole range of great health and beauty benefits. Always look for a natural bristled brush (not synthetic). You can find body brushes at health food stores and even your local chemist. I could go on forever about all the amazing reasons to try body brushing but it’s best you just get out there and do it yourself! Try it for two weeks – you’ll see and feel the difference!

To glowing health,

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post Is this cheap and effective beauty tool missing from your bathroom cupboard? appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

The good news is, you are probably more attractive than you think. Here’s why it’s so important to let your inner beauty shine.

Physical beauty is only a part of what makes you attractive

When you look in the mirror, all you are faced with is your physical appearance. We tend to zone in on our imperfections and all it takes is to notice a few blemishes or a slightly crooked nose to make us feel ugly or unattractive.  But the reality is, how attractive you are to other people has a lot to do with your personality too. It’s a whole package.

Dr Debra Luftman, co-author of the book, The Beauty Prescription, told the Daily Mail, “Of course it’s important to make the best of what you’ve got, but there’s so much more to beauty than looks alone.” She goes on to say, “Beauty is also about the way you move, speak and express yourself. It’s about good health, warmth, spontaneity and charisma.”

Confidence is beautiful

Psychology Today advises that we all have the ability to change how other people perceive us, and it simply comes down to confidence – “When you’re convinced you look good, others see you in a more favourable light. Understanding your own powerful self-perceptions can help you stop obsessing over your appearance – and look better.”

So when you walk into that party with your head held high, acting warm, friendly and engaging, no one is going to care about (or notice) that blemish on your cheek. Although we personally magnify our physical imperfections, other people take in the whole picture – and they most certainly find confident, self-assured people instantly more attractive than those that appear to be uncomfortable in their own skin.

How to lift yourself up

Feeling more beautiful from the inside out can be achieved a number of ways:

• Stop comparing yourself to others – focus on your own assets and strengths and accept that we all have our different strong points that make us attractive and desirable
• Let go of imperfections – put on your favourite outfit, pick up a positive attitude and you’ll see that you still look beautiful, imperfections and all!
• Spend time with people that make you feel good and detoxify your life from those that bring you down
• Exercise can reduce stress and elevate your mood – and when you feel happier, others will respond to you more positively
• Beautify your life – little things like getting fresh flowers for your home, burning aromatic candles or treating yourself to a manicure can help create a sense of beauty

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post Are you pretty on the inside? Here’s why it matters! appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.

Sometimes it’s the simple things you do that can give you a lasting impact, so if you’re heading to a dinner date straight from work, never fear – just read on!

1. It’s all about that base
   Makeup will hold better, and look better, on freshly cleansed and moisturised skin. So always start your makeup routine doing this. A rich, hydrating moisturiser like Immortal cream helps foundation look dewy and radiant all day (opposed to dry and flaky – no thanks).
2. Use Primer
   To really allow your makeup to go the distance, after moisturising and before concealer or foundation, use a face primer. Or if you’re a fan of eye shadow but dread that creasing look that creeps up over the day, an eye primer is definitely your go-to friend.
3. Get a translucent lip liner
   Also known as ‘Invisible lip liner’, this handy little makeup bag essential can be applied as a base before lipstick to prolong lipstick wear. As a lip liner, it prevents lipstick from bleeding, which not only looks bad but draws attention to those little pucker lines we’d rather not know about!
4. Perfect brows
   For all-day perfectly tamed brows, dip a clean mascara wand into pure aloe vera gel and use to shape and style eyebrows for a sleek, groomed look.
5. Set makeup with finishing powder
   Enough said!
6. Use waterproof mascara
   Waterproof, smudge proof – you choose. But this is the easiest way to avoid that little situation I spoke of at the beginning of this post. Also, if you’re going to the movies to watch a rom com that is bound to bring on the waterworks a la The Notebook, then you’re sorted.
7. Make blotting papers your handbag friend
   Even after using finishing powder, those with oily complexions will at some stage of the day start to shine through. Don’t just cover up this oil with more powder – that can clog pores. Instead always keep a pack of facial blotting papers in your bag to blot your t-zone throughout the day. Once you get rid of the excess oil, feel free to touch up with a light dust of powder if necessary.

Belinda
HiLife Health & Beauty

The post 7 tricks for staying makeup fresh all day! appeared first on Free Trial - Immortal Cream.