TIPS FOR NAIL PAINTING

If you are like me, painting your nails is the most time consuming (and excruciating) task possible. I spend a good while painting one hand, then move on to the other only to find I have scraped off an almost dry nail. My least favorite part of the whole process? Using my non-dominant hand to paint with dark colors — the clean is such a pain.

courtesy of Examiner.com

But with a little practice (and some tricks I picked up recently), I’ve come to manage the process. Here are a few of those secrets I thought I’d share with everyone:

1. Start by applying your base coat (USA Link) to a clean nail to help prevent chipping and staining.
2. Take your brush and place it in the middle of your nail get as close to the cuticle as you possibly can without touching the cuticle.
3. Carefully push the drop up towards the cuticle but leave a small gap between your polish and the cuticle.
4. Paint a stripe down your nail with the drop you placed at the top of the nail.
5. Go back to the base of the nail and swipe the polish (USA Link) along the curve of the nail. If you have more squared nails and cuticles try to follow that shape rather than making it more oval.
6. Drag the polish along your nail shape and brush outward to the end of the nail. Do the same to the other side of the nail.
7. If you notice the color isn’t as rich or dark as you would like it, apply a second coat. Most people prefer to do a second coat. Just remember that when putting on a second coat make sure not to apply too much polish which can lead to chipping and flaking.
8. Once you have let your second coat dry, you can apply your top coat.

Some More Quick Tips

• Remember to keep the sides of your nails and the cuticle as clean as possible. If you mess up, don’t fret! Just use a little nail polish remover on your cuticle stick or a dry nail to scrape off that little bit of polish.
• Try and get a good amount of polish on the brush. You want enough polish on the tip of the brush to cover the nail but not too much that it will drip off.
• When painting your nails it is easier to paint with dominant hand first.
• If your non-dominant hand shakes when you use it to paint, try to place it on the table or a sturdy surface for extra support.
• Try applying Cuticle Oil (USA Link) at night before going to bed to allow sufficient time to absorb and retain oil if you experience discomfort associated with dry cuticles

What are your nail secrets? Let us know in the comments section below!

GIRLS WITH GLASSES: MAKEUP TIPS FOR SPECS

No longer does the transformation from beast into beauty require removing our eyeglasses—yes, we can finally wear our specs shame-free, ladies! But, (there has to be a but) your glasses will bring attention to your eyes, so don’t be fooled into thinking you can hide behind them! Here are some tips for wearing your makeup and glasses in harmony.

courtesy of FlauntMe.com

First, you should apply eyeliner to make your eyes more defined—be careful not to overdo it though. Eyeliner is meant to help our eyes appear wider and our lashes fuller, so be aware when applying to not make your line too thick. I suggest trying out Motives® Luxe Precision Eye Line (USA Link) because it will go on with ease and without scratches or skips in lashes, plus it will last you all day and into the night—a must!

Next, apply your eye shadow (USA Link); the color depends on your mood and what you’re doing. If it’s just another day in your life, use neutral shadows or pale colors to match your outfit. If you are going for a more dramatic look due to a special occasion, then you can go bolder with your color choice, but keep in mind that your glasses will play up your eyes so try not to leave any stray smudges behind.

Don’t forget the mascara—the highlight of all the eye makeup for me. This is what really makes our eyes pop! Use at least two to three coats; go ahead and apply your second coats while the first is still drying. Right now I’m using Motives® Lustrafy High-Definition Mascara (USA Link)—it has rubber bristles so all your lashes are separated and lengthened. No more clumps for me!

Finally, please keep your eyebrows in mind. Your glasses don’t forget about them when they’re drawing attention to your face. Make sure you keep them well-groomed!

How many of you ladies out there still like to play dress up with your eyes, even when wearing glasses? What are your tips?

[Celebrity Look] THICK BROWS ARE BACK: 2012 TREND WATCH

Thick eyebrows are in again—thank goodness! I have never been a fan of the thin over plucked look. For some, thin looks good, but for those like me who’s brows naturally look like Bert from Sesame Street (I know I’m not the only one) thick, defined brows look better. So for those Bert brow look alikes out there, our time is here! thick is in, hooray for trends that change.

courtesy of Elle.com

A great brow is an important part of your overall look, the perfect brow can enhance your look, add more expression to your eyes and even make you look younger. Thick or thin groomed brows are important, here’s how to get the perfect brow with a set of eyebrows kit (USA Link). 

• Tame your brows: brush the brow hairs straight up with a mascara-style brush. Trim any long hairs or hairs that are growing straight down
• Find the shape of your brow:
• To find the beginning of your eyebrows: Take a brush or pencil, place it on top of your nose and then extend it over the inner corner of your eye. Where the brush or pencil hits the eyebrow, that is the point where the eyebrow should begin.
• To find the arch of your eyebrows: Starting point is always the tip of your nose. Place the brush or pencil on top of it, now extend it over the pupil of your eye towards your brow. Where the tool meets the brow, there is where the arch should be.
• To find the end of your eyebrows: Place the brush or pencil on your nose and extend it over the outer corner of your eye. Where the tool meets the brow is where the end of your brow should be.
• Shape your brows: use a brow pencil to outline the shape of the brows
• Fill brows in: add definition and shine with a clear or tinted brow gel, wax or powder

What do you think of the thick brow trend? Yea or nay?

BePretty.ca FIXX Lash Extend Serum contest has just ended!!

We have just wrapped up our first contest on our Bepretty.ca Facebook Page and we have drawn a lucky winner @Cindy Leung who shared their expectation/experience with the FIXX Lash Extend Serum (USA Link) with us with a Free tube of the FIXX Lash Extend Serum giveaway; And everybody else who shared will receive a 15% discount on the next purchase of the serum! 


Now, Let's take a look at what our customers say about the Fixx Lash Extend Serum in the contest! 



@Jovy Leung 
This product really WORKS!!..talking from personal experience..and got feedback from a co-worker that I recommended this product to!! Even though it says it takes about 2 weeks...but my eyelashes already looked visibly longer in just a week!!
My co-worker tried quite a lot of products before that said it would promise longer eyelashes..but never worked!! Not until I recommended Fixx Lash Extend to her!! Even our other co-worker noticed that her lashes looks longer!! Now she is plans to continue on to use this product!!
THIS IS a MUST BUY product if you all are looking towards longer/fuller lashes!!


@Jojo L. 
yes it works! haha my lashes got longer and more volume and people actually noticed and complimented!!!!! Greatest part is people noticed!!!!! And this serum also stopped my lashes from falling off when I remove mascara!


@Ah Sue
It is an AMAZING product!! It WORKS on me, a lazy person whom she would rather spend time on sleeping than doing make-up in the mornings...@.@ I tried Fixx only for a few months, but my lashes got much longer...and all I did is to use Fixx every night before I go to bed!


@Joseph Lam
The product is amazing! Worked wonder on my lashes too - highly recommended.


@Angela Wong
 I always have short eyelashes and I always envy my girlfriends that they have long eye lashes. I had tried some many different brands or different types of eye lash lotion or serums, just to hope that one of them can work. Unfortunately, I either allergic to the lotion or serum - which cause eyelash easier to break, or the product didn't work as not growing. So, I was quite upset that I was going to give up. Fortunately, my friend introduced me this FIXX Lash Extend product. At first, I didn't want to try the product, but since this is a new product for me, so I just give it a try. Therefore, I put on the serum on my eyelashes before I go to bed. I used the serum every night for 2 weeks straight. After 2 weeks, I am not allergic to the serum and I noticed that my eyelashes grow stronger, fuller and longer. It is a big surprise for me. I never thought my eyelashes could be as fuller, stronger and longer as my girlfriends. I thank my friend everyday because she introduced my about this product. And FIXX Lash Extend has become one of my favorite products on my shelf! It is AMAZING!!!


@Cindy Leung
I haven't try this product before, but I heard from Jojo this product really help u obtain longer eye lashes! I wish this product can be a life saver for me because I have really short eye lashes!!! :(


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WRINKLE REMEDIES: IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY

Although I am not quite at the age to be worrying about wrinkles, this seems to be an issue that most women detest because it shows their age—we can’t have that! Wrinkles come about not only due to age, other factors such as stress, an unbalanced diet, and smoking can all cause an early appearance of wrinkles. To all you youngsters out there, it is never a bad idea to keep these things in mind because we will have the same problems our mothers do before we know it!

courtesy of TheBeautyInsiders.com

Do-it-yourself techniques:

• For the first one, you’ll need 1-2 Tbsp of sugarcane juice and 2-3 tsp of turmeric powder. Make a paste out of those ingredients, gently apply the paste to all of your wrinkly problem areas, and let it dry for about 15 minutes, then wash your face (or neck or hands—depends on where you need it). This is said to be a successful natural remedy.
• Place egg whites or castor oil under your eyes, to your forehead or any other area that is wrinkle prone. This will help to nourish and tighten skin—great way to naturally reduce wrinkle appearance.
• Gently massage coconut oil around your eyes, neck, or hands every night before you go to bed. This will increase your circulation and encourage relaxation to your skin. The coconut oil combined with a couple drops of Vitamin E oil is an amazing deep wrinkle cream you can make yourself and facial massages will support the results you wish to get!
• Practice yoga regularly—it minimizes aging signs, controls your body weight, gives mental and physical strength, and increases your life span! Makes me want to start doing yoga myself. Certain yoga positions will increase your facial muscles and naturally remove wrinkles from your face, neck and hands.

Serums and creams:

Of course if you want convenience, there are various options to choose from to help with your aging issues. Although it’s on the pricey side, Matriskin™ Collagen MP Serum (USA Link) has very good reviews. This serum reduces the look of lines and wrinkles with its advanced peptide technology. Another good option is  Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum. This is a cream that, if used daily, will promote elasticity, smooth your skin tone, and reduce wrinkles, especially around your eyes are on your forehead. Finally, try Timeless Prescription® Face Firming Moisturizer with MDI Complex (USA Link)—this is known to reduce redness and irritation, (it works on sensitive skin too!) and protects your skin while minimizing fine lines you happen to accumulate.

Whether you want to get handy and make your product yourself or buy one of the creams or serums that many people will testify for—you can finally look the way you feel!

Did these home remedies give you any noticeable differences? What helped you look younger?

FIXX SCOOPS CLINIQUE! Secret to 10 years younger?

In our continual quest to stay ahead of the curve and bring you cutting edge skin care products, we constantly keep track of new ingredient developments as well as breaking news stories. Recently, a press release was published about a new product to be launched in March 2012 by Clinique. According to this press release, this new product is going to contain a “new, multi-tasking” ingredient to fight the visible signs of skin aging.

Because of our efforts to bring you cutting edge products, this new ingredient can already be found in our Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum, launched nearly eight months before Clinique’s new product is scheduled to hit the market!

This new ingredient, called Mitostime™, is a concentrated extract of the brown algaeLaminaria digitata. Studies with Mitostime have shown that it maintains healthy mitochondrial DNA in skin to help keep the skin energized. It also gives skin cells exposed to UV stress a younger appearance and supports healthy skin collagen. In one human study, these multiple benefits of Mitostime translated to a 15% reduction in the appearance wrinkle depth and resulted in the skin of the volunteers looking 6 years younger on average. Mitostime is clearly an effective, cutting edge ingredient for skin care products to help you fight the effects of aging and maintain a more youthful appearance.

But, we didn’t stop with just Mitostime. Because we know that you want the best for your skin, we infused Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum with three additional, cutting edge skin care ingredients: DermSRC™, Phyko AI-PF™, and Thiotaine™. Each of these ingredients works through a unique mechanism to support a healthy, younger looking skin. Thiotaine is a powerful antioxidant to protect your skin from oxidative stress. Phyko AI-PF supports the skin’s natural defenses and soothes the skin. DermSRC helps maintain your skin’s normal hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizing agent, and elastin to help keep your skin hydrated and supple.

One study with DermSRC showed that it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and help the skin look about 10 years younger. The inclusion of all four of these cutting edge ingredients means that Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum fights the visible signs of aging from multiple fronts, making Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum a uniquely important part any good skin care regimen.

While you enjoy the beautiful benefits of Fixx™ Stem Cell Serum, we’ll keep looking for effective, cutting edge ingredients to help you keep your skin looking healthy and young.

Have you tried Fixx Stem Cell Serum yet? What do you think of the results?

DIRTY LITTLE (MAKEUP BRUSH) SECRETS

How many of you are cleaning your makeup brushes? My guess not many of you. This New Year we shall strive to do better: I say we because I am guilty of the dirty brush as well.

Think of it this way: Professional make up brushes are an investment and the best way to get the most out of your investment is to take care of it. Your makeup only looks as good as the tools you use to apply it.

Brushes should be cleaned on a consistent basis especially if you have acne prone or sensitive skin. So how often should you be cleaning your brushes? Here are some guidelines:

• Foundation brushes: minimum once a week
• Brushes used for finishing powders and bronzers: once a week
• Blush brushes: once a week
• Eye shadow brushes: every two or three days
• Eyeliner brushes: after every use especially if you use an eyeliner sealant

How to clean

• Dampen the bristles of the makeup brush with warm water.
• Add a small amount of mild shampoo to the brush bristles and lather up.
• Rinse the bristles of the brush under running water until the water turns clear
• When all brushes are clean, run the bristles across the towel then lay them flat across the towel to air dry. Do not dry them standing up.

Properly cleaning your brushes will not only keep them in good condition, keeping them around for a lot longer.

GET KIM KARDASHIAN’S SMOKEY EYE WITH MOTIVES!

The Smokey Eye — it’s a beloved classic, high drama eye look that’s been re-created in many colors and many ways. The term “smokey eye” doesn’t necessarily mean blacks and greys, “smokey” actually refers to the way the colors are combined to create the look. There’s no set in stone way to do a smokey eye, but we think our way is pretty foolproof.

courtesy of CeleBuzz.com

To give your smokey eye long lasting staying power, start by priming your lids with a layer of Motives Luxe Crème Eye Shadow in Metal (USA Link). Smooth over your lids with your fingers, blending into your crease.

Next, intensify your lids with a dusting of Motives Pressed Eye Shadow in Black Tie (USA Link) for a pearlized, iridescent finish.

To get the smokey drama you are looking for, glide Motives Khol Eyeliner in Onyx (USA Link) across your top lash line from the inner to outer corners of your eye, making sure not to leave any gaps between your eye liner and lash line. Blend (the key to smokey eyes!) the liner upward and outwards with your Motives Detailing Brush (USA Link). To add balance to your look, dot your Motives Khol Eyeliner between your bottom lashes and blend for a soft focus effect.

To complete your classic smokey eye, apply a few coats of Motives Lustrafy High Definition Mascara in Onyx (USA Link) for lush, dark lashes.

Beauty bonus: For a stand out look, try matching the color of your smokey eye to your jewelry. i.e., if you are wearing gold jewelry, go for a golden bronze smokey eye.

Let us know: Have you tried the smokey eye? What are your tips and tricks?