How to Choose the Fragrances to Match Your Personality

Are you ready for the Christmas and New Year parties? It’s probably time to choose your fragrance the way you select your dress, hairstyle and make-up. Think of the fragrance of a way to enhance your mood and to accentuate your personality. The key to fragrance bliss is finding scents that express different sides of you.

Probably 90% of having great time at a party is your perception, so make sure your feel absolutely irresistible if you want others to see the same. So the first step is to explore the different scents and experiment which one makes you feel like a goddess! The proper way to test a perfume is to apply it to clean skin, preferably on the inside of your wrists, and allow it to evolve. The scent you smell initially won't be the one you end up with.

One of the most important factors to consider is how the scent makes you feel. The sense of smell is linked to the brain's limbic system - which affects sexual behaviour, emotion and even memory – and that scents can trigger different responses in different people.

A fragrance can be chosen according to various criteria. A well chosen perfume can lift our mood, highlight the aspects of our personality we want and it can give us the sophisticated allure or it can show our youthful, playful nature. Try to determine which of your personality traits you would like to highlight. When choosing a perfume it is important not to try on more than two fragrances at once as you will not be able to make an adequate judgment.

• If you are a mysterious, sophisticated and seductive woman you should choose oriental alluring fragrances like patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood or musk. To get a stronger touch of your personality you can also choose a mint or eucalyptus sent as long as they match your body chemistry and they don't come on as too strong especially when it comes to your professional setting or a first date.
• To highlight your classic, elegant and sophisticated nature you can choose vanilla based fragrances. They will you compliment you and they as well as emphasizing your warm, soothing side. If you prefer an earthy scent choose cedar, sun bleached cotton or deep wood fragrances. They are the best options if you are a nature loving girl who embraces an eco friendly lifestyle.
• Nothing emphasizes a feminine, romantic and bohemian nature more than floral scents. Roses, white flower, jasmine or freesia are good choices that will emphasize your sensitive, romantic side. If you are a shy person make sure you choose a delicate perfume that will give you a sophisticated allure without being too strong.

• Fruity fragrances are perfect for emphasizing a youthful, bubbly and playful nature. Studies have shown that women who wear citric based fragrances are perceived as younger than they really are. Choose it when you want to be perceived as optimistic and glamorous or when you want to instantly lift your mood and boost your energy.

You could create your own homemade perfume by selecting from a wide array of essential oils – delicate floral scents or spicy resins or a host of fruity, fresh citrus oil. Use clear 80% vodka as a carrier as it’s unscented and would best blend with the essential oils you would add.

For freshness: Oils from the skins of a variety of citrus fruits provide the perfumes fruity, fresh note. Lemon, grapefruit, bergamot and bitter orange oils are used as light scent oils. They give a refreshing top note and also provide the perfume with its delicate, invigorating scent.

For warmth and spice: The addition of lemongrass, cypress, neroli and verbena oils gives the perfume a mild spicy, slightly woodsy scent.

For fullness and harmony: vanilla, cinnamon and cedarwood oils give the perfume a lasting fullness. They bind the mixture of essential oils together and harmonize well with the fresh citrus oils.

Jojoba oil for a perfume base: This medium weight, golden oil is a liquid plant wax. Produced from cold-pressed jojoba seeds, it makes an excellent carrier for natural perfumes since it has a very long shelf life, is easily absorbed by the skin and is non-greasy.

Citrus oil for refreshment: Gently uplifting and soothing citrus oils, such as neroli and bergamot, provide a fruity, floral freshness to a perfume's fragrance.

Jasmine oil for intense richness: Used to make fine perfumes, jasmine flowers are picked before dawn to prevent any of the soft and sensuous oil from evaporating.

Geranium oil for harmony and balance: This delicate, rosy fragrance is very effective in treating stress, fatigue and anxiety, and it is an inexpensive alternative to genuine rose oil.

Ylang-ylang oil for relaxation: Possibly the most erotic aroma on earth, this sweet, tropical scent is a reported aphrodisiac. It calms the senses and relaxes the muscles.

Patchouli oil for prolonging a fragrance: This warm, earthy fragrance acts as a fixative, slowing evaporation and prolonging the scent.

you can have beautiful hands and nails in the comfort of your own home

With the below steps you can have beautiful hands and nails in the comfort of your own home without visiting a nail spa or salon. Step one to having beautiful nails is to eat better. It might be the hardest thing to do, but it will by far be the most helpful. Taking a multivitamin will also help grow stronger, longer, healthier nails.

Have the proper tools ready: salt or sugar scrub, an orange wood stick to push cuticles or specialty cuticle pusher, a sharp nail cutter(optional: as needed), cuticle remover cream(optional), cuticle oil or balm.

1.     Before starting: are your nails even? Do they need to be cut? Do this first unless your nails are extremely hard. If nails are hard do it after the next step.

2.     If you use a cuticle remover, apply that then soak hands in warm water for several minutes. Use a sugar or salt scrub during this process but scrub to lightly exfoliate hands.

3.     After several minutes dry your hands. Push back the cuticles lightly. Do not apply to much forceful pressure at this point as you can damage this delicate area.If you have and are experienced with a cuticle cutter now is the time to use it. I do not recommend using one on anything except obvious white dead pieces of the cuticle.

4.     The next step is to apply a cuticle oil or balm, finish with hand lotion.

5.     Once lotions have soaked in you can use a bit of isopropyl alcohol on cotton to remove excess oil from the nail, be sure to avoid the cuticle. You can now apply nail hardeners or nail polish to complete the look.

If you complete the above steps once a week you will begin to have smoother prettier nails and hands within a few weeks. Remember there is no magic bullet for nail growth, it takes time.

It's Important to know the shelf life facts of your cosmetics. 

Keep track of how long you've had your beauty products, for two good reasons: To be sure they are still effective and to assess their possible contamination with bacteria that can cause rashes or infection. Save this handy guide.

FOUNDATION: up to 2 years: Throw out sooner if the pigment has started to change or the consistency becomes clumpy. 

LIPSTICK: 1 1/2 to 2 years: When the waxes eventually dry out, you'll feel a loss of the slip that makes application easy.

MASCARA: 3 months: Because the process of applying involves moving the wand from lashes to bottle and back, the risk of introducing bacteria is high. A new tube every three months is simply sensible eye hygiene. 

EYE SHADOW: 2 years: If either powder or cream varieties exhibit an odor, color or texture change, discard sooner.

LIP AND EYE PENCILS: 2 years: If the pencil starts to stick and get more difficult to use, it's probably dried out. Time to toss it. 

BLUSH: 3 years: Despite a long shelf life, be alert to changes in color, smell or consistency. 

MOISTURIZERS: 3 months to 1 year: Discard them sooner if you start to smell an off odor or the overall texture seems to have changed. 

SUN PROTECTION: 1 season: When it's time to discard, you'll notice that the product starts to separate and may have an odor.  

SELF -TANNERS: 6 months to 1 year: Self-tanners take on a funny smell when they're past their prime. They become less effective and you may get a lighter or inconsistent "tan" 

FRAGRANCE: 1 to 4 years: Perfume fades in 1 to 2 years: Toilet water: 2 to 4 years. Store these in a cool, dry place away from any sun light. 

DEODORANT: 3 years: The active ingredients don't last forever, and once they're inert, the deodorant isn't effective. 

NAIL POLISH: 6 months to 4 years: The less it's exposed to air and sunlight, the longer it will last; store in the refrigerator.

Most women wear the same makeup shades year after year

Most women wear the same makeup shades year after year. All those boring beige's and humdrum neutrals make me want to scream. Why not have a little fun with your makeup? After all, it's a cheaper pick-me-up than a new pair of shoes or new outfit. You can break out of the beauty rut by zeroing in on two areas in particular: the lips and the eyes.

For your peepers, eye-opening miracle of bright blue eyeliner to line your bottom lashes.
more bashful babes can opt for a subtle navy version  And if blue's not your thing, then plum eyeliner is an equally eye-popping alternative.
You can also try a burgundy coloured mascara for a fun pop of color that's guaranteed to make your tired black mascara jealous.

As for your lips its fun to go with corals and popping  pinks.

Whatever you do, make sure to pick only one facial feature to play up with bright colors. Although it may be tempting to go overboard with your new colorful products, Like most things, a little bit can go a long way.

From the age of 12 art of putting on make up must be learnt!

From the age of 12, it is built into a young girls mind, the art of putting on make up must be learnt! Having your make up perfect every time is very important to all females. Looking beautiful gives them self confidence to achieve anything in life. Eye liner, concealer and eye shadow soon become everyday words for young woman.
But remember, don't just look your best possible, look the best there is. Be the person that when you walk down the street, everyone looks at and stares in amazement at your beauty. It is possible to get that "Hollywood" look everyday.
Perfect make-up isn't about the amount you put on, but it's about what you are trying to achieve from it. So if you want:
• Refinement
• To look younger
• Better complexion
• Beautiful lips
• Killer eyes
It doesn't matter what you are looking for in your make-up, it is just as important to identify what you want to achieve with your make-up and then find out the best way to go about it.
With Hollywood telling us that it takes an army of people and professionals to reach the perfect look, many everyday people think that this is out their reach, but that is not true. There are many techniques and tricks that anyone can use to get the perfect look they are after.
Through careful research I have now found all the techniques I need to look beautiful time and time again. Everyone has different shaped faces, bones structures and skin tones, it is up to you to figure what you have and what you can do with it. Got a beautiful smile? Don't hide it under a mountain of make up, show it off with a nice gloss.
The best tip I ever received was to look after your skin - remember your skin in the biggest organ in the human body and one which everyone sees.
Having found the secret to putting on make-up for me, I have had new found confidence and the compliments just seem to flow. Find out your ideal look and run with it, give yourself the confidence you deserve.

Lunch time grooming

If, like any normal person, you find yourself with too little time to groom yourself, the salons close before you finish work and weekends are taken up with other chores, there may be an option for you. You could nip out on your lunch to spruce yourself up, especially if you have a hot date or night on the town waiting at the end of the day. Here's a list of treatments that you should be able to get at any decent beauty salon and leave you with enough time to enjoy your sushi.

Eyebrow threading: three minutes. This can even be available in high street Superdrug stores and is the art of trimming eyebrows using twisted thread rolled over the hair to pluck it out at follicle level. It lasts much longer than regular tweezeing but can be a bit painful.

Half leg wax: seven minutes. Leg waxing can take time so if you're in a hurry go for the half leg to save time and stick with the knee lengths if you're going out. Obviously it will take more time if they have been neglected and less if they have not long seen a razor so factor that in.

Back Massage: Five minutes. This isn't a necessity but who can visit a salon without getting one? It would be much nicer to go for a full length session but why not get a little slice of heaven at around a pound a minute.

Facial: Ten Minutes. This might not sound like enough time for a facial but with something like a CACI's Hydratone treatment it can be quick. This treatment uses silicon like gel which contains collagen, hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E which are massaged into the face with small slightly-electrified rollers.

Hair and Nails: Fifteen minutes. Many modern salons are now catering for the customer on the go and offering several services at simultaneously. Companies are offering a mani-pedi with an express blow dry leaving you with great hair and nails.

Fake tan: eight minutes. Go where you like in the summer but thanks to our dismal climate that tan won't last long, fake tanning is a completely safe way of keeping the colour without risking your skin and is much quicker. Tanning formulas are no longer greasy and smelly and many salons offer an instant drying spray that won't come off on clothes and gradually fades.

Make-Up: seven minutes. You can do this yourself but to get that real glam look often takes hours in front of the mirror, with a professional make up artist you can look your best in no time and they will be able to use equipment and products that you might not be able to afford.

After a hectic 55 minutes you are ready to go looking fantastic. It's not something you can do everyday however as these treatments combined will set you back around £200. But if it's a one off then why not give it a whirl.