Brush It Up!

The right makeup brushes can help you get the most out of your makeup.

As someone who loves and breathes makeup 24/7 I can say I have the knowledge of what is good and what is not. Sometimes we would like to buy those cheap makeup tools in order to save those dineros but what we are doing really is waste money and waste the products that we are using. The right makeup brushes can help you get the most out of your makeup. It is important that we buy the right kind and quality brushes if we want to save and also to achieve the kind of look we want.

Sponges:

Yes!

Sonya Kashuk and Beauty Blender are now the latest craze in sponges.  They are non latex and is made of high quality materials that can withstand daily washings. The sponges are rounded and will glide over the contour of your face, allowing you to buff your makeup and create a flawless  finish. 

NO!

Avoid basic latex makeup wedges. they easily fall apart and waste most of the product. They soak up too much foundation and their shape makes it harder to work and create a smooth finish

.

Blush Brush:

YES!

Choose any full round blush brush the round bristles makes applying blush a breeze and this gives you a smooth finish. Use angled blush brush for contouring and getting on the hollow of your cheeks.

NO!

No to any flat blush brush that renders flat lines that extends from the cheek to the temple. This is an outdated look. This kind of brush does not distribute the product evenly and concentrates it in one area.  This is definitely a no no.

Eyeshadow Brush:

YES:

The best eyeshadow brush is one that has a wide soft bristles that can pick up the right amount of product. The bristles do not fall off easily because if it does it will not give you a good finish. There are different kinds of eyeshadow brushes designed for different purpose. The best one I have tried is MAC and that is a bit pricey so I recommend Sonya Kashuk brushes for beauty in a budget but with good quality.

NO:

This free eyeshadow applicator that comes free with your compact works for smudging your eyeshadow along the lash line but this would not be good in applying eyeshadow more than one color as this would  mud the hues.


Highlighter Brush:

Sometimes called highlighter brush, bronzer or stippling brush. The unique cut of the bristles allows for the supper light application of finishing foundation, blush or bronzer.

Curing Zits The Natural Way

Zits can appear every now and then and it's most annoying when it pops up on a big day! Geez, it certainly drives me nuts when it happens. Over the years I have used different OTC (over the counter) zit preparation like benzoyl peroxide to get rid of the zits and occasional bad breakouts.  It did help in getting rid of those unsightly blemishes and so I stick with it for a long time. But as health advocates started to campaign for natural products to increase awareness among the general population, I decided to try using natural products to cure zits.I found it very effective in getting rid of the blemishes and it's very pocket friendly as well ;-) Here's what I used:

Bitter Gourd/ Ampalaya (Momordica charantia):

 

Bitter Gourd is now gaining popularity not just as a vegetable but for its medicinal properties. Aside from lowering down blood sugar in diabetic people, this vegetable has an antimicrobial property too. I have personally experimented with this when I had a bad breakout. I took one medium sized bitter gourd and grated it, took the grated fleshy part and squeezed out the juice. Then I placed the bitter gourd extract inside a clean small bottle and stored it inside the refrigerator. I would thinly apply the extract all over my face and leave it on the entire night and after 2 days the zits were clearing out. By the third day the zits were totally gone. I know for some this might seem like a hassle but it's worth trying especially if you are low on your budget. Plus one of the big bonus I get by going natural is that there are no toxins in my skin which are produced by the chemicals used in commercially prepared pimple products. Thereby lessening the likelihood of premature aging.

Guava / Bayabas (Psidium Guajava):

Guava is most notable not just for its delicious fruit but for its medicinal properties. A proven antimicrobial used in wound care, guava leaves are also used for curing pimples and zits by taking a handful of young guava leaves and boiling it in 2-3 cups of water. Wash your face with  warm water from the boiled guava leaves. apply your cleanser and get 2-3 pieces of the boiled guava leaves and use it as a facial scrub. Scrub it gently all over your face and wash it with the remaining water from the boiled leaves. This also helps in getting rid of the blemishes and prevents breakouts. It makes the skin  look visibly clear and pimple free.

Malunggay (Moringa oelifera):

 

Moringa or malunggay is considered as a poor man's vegetable but today it is gaining popularity for it's medicinal use. Moringa grows widely in southeast Asia especially in the Philippines where it grows abundantly all over the country. This miracle vegetable is loaded with vitamins and minerals and helps cure several ailments including skin conditions.  Last year, I had  developed cellulitis on my index finger due to an allergic reaction to detergents. It was such a bad case, my finger looked like a sausage and it was severely painful. At the same time I had a bad pimple breakout. A good friend of mine who is a health enthusiast gave me pure moringa capsules which I took twice a day. After taking two tablets on the first day the swelling disappeared, on the second day my finger was near normal and my blemishes were gone. On the third day my finger looked very normal and on the fourth day it was completely healed and I was pimple free too. I experimented taking the moringa capsules when I had a bad breakout of pimples and the results were amazing! After a day the pimples was gone! Ever since that day I would regularly take moringa capsules like a daily supplement. I never experience having zits and cellulitis ever again. The capsules are sold very cheap, so it's affordable and very effective. For those who wants to have great looking skin I suggest you take moringa capsules every day.

  

Benefits of Going Natural:

1. Cheap and readily available. You don't need to break your bank to buy that anti acne cream. No need to wait until the product arrives when it's sold out because it's abundant everywhere.

2. Won't cause premature aging. Most of these facial creams and anti- acne creams that are commercially prepared are harmful to our skin. The chemicals produces toxins that can cause premature skin aging and even skin allergies. When you go natural it is guaranteed fresh with no preservatives or harmful chemicals that can damage your skin.

3. No side effects. Natural remedies do not cause side effects when used properly and in appropriate amounts compared to commercially prepared products. There are no synthetic chemicals that are used so there is no worry of overdose and side effects.

NYX Megashine Lip Gloss Review

NYX Megashine lip gloss is one of my favorite gloss brand. It is quality and affordability rolled into one great product! I love the light and smooth feel and compared to other lip gloss products I have tried NYX Megashine lip gloss does not feel too sticky or too heavy on the lips. I'd give this 5 lippies out of 5 lippie score. It is richly pigmented and has a sweet light fragrance that is not intoxicating. Overall I love the quality of this product and it's super affordable price at $5 only! I say it's definitely a steal! NYX lip glosses are designed to be worn alone or with lipstick, either way it will sexify your lips! Grab an NYX lip gloss and try it for your self to test the quality and avail of the great savings you can get. I have put aside my expensive glosses and use NYX  from the day I discovered it. Now, I am a huge fan!

Company Information:

• Established in 1999 in Los Angeles, California by Toni Ko.
• Though a new comer in the cosmetic business the company is one of the fastest growing cosmetic company in the United States.
• NYX is named after the Greek goddess who ruled the night.
• NYX is known for its quality but ultra low priced cosmetic products.

Surviving the Hospital Stay: Must Bring Items

I stayed in the hospital for a few days this week and thought I should be writing this piece for all of you Sassy Chicks out there. I know when you're feeling like hell you don't care about how you look, especially when every part of your body is painful. I understand that part, it ain't easy being sick and even if you don't wanna look terrible, chances are 99% you look really horrible.  I know don't raise your eyebrows at me, just telling the truth here. 

I don't think it's a reason to look terrible and stop taking care of yourself just because you are in the hospital. Unless of course if you become severely ill and would not be able to groom yourself, that would  be excusable. However, if you are able to there is no excuse not to get groomed.


What To Pack?

Here is a list of things that you will need should the doctor tell you to stay in the hospital for a few days.

1. Baby wipes- make sure that you have a few packs or bottles of alcohol free baby wipes stocked at your place. This is very useful especially when you are in the hospital. You can use this as feminine wipes and at the same time clean surfaces with it as well as your hands.

2. Toiletries- don't forget to bring these ones along, a small bottle of shampoo and conditioner, a small bottle of body wash, a small bottle of lotion, feminine wash, toothpaste and toothbrush, mouthwash, deodorant or antiperspirant whichever you prefer. Don't forget your facial toner or cleanser.

3. Lip gloss or lip balm - I personally take this one with me even in the hospital. The air conditioning unit in the room usually makes my lip chap and dry. That is of course is unsightly and so to prevent that I carry a gloss or balm with me.

4. Pack your favorite PJs - a nice cotton pj is great for hospital stays or a cotton shorts and cotton tank top. Make sure that it is clean and still looks good. You don't want to wear a rag where everybody sees you. Wearing nice things even when you're sick helps increase your sense of well being and people who feels good about themselves have higher chances of recovering quickly.

5. Pack your good undies - here's a fact most of the time doctors will be examining your body and that means you may have to expose a part of your body. You definitely don't want them to see your grandma's panties right? It is embarrassing if you wear bras with stretched out straps that looks like it could be thrown out to the trash or panties that are faded and has stains on it. Your undies will speak about who you are. What kind of person are you, if you are clean or a lazy louse. So, pack those good ones and discard the worn out ones.

6. Bring your fave cologne- nothing repels another person than a bad smell. Make sure while you are in the hospital that you are clean and smelling good. You might ask help from the nurse on duty or the nurse assistant to help you bathe if you have  difficulty in doing so. Spritz on your favorite cologne to give you that clean fresh feeling. Make sure that you use a scent that attracts people not repel them lol. Some colognes have the heavy musty smell and frankly speaking you must avoid that especially in a closed room, it would be enough to give the medical team a headache for the rest of the shift.

7. Bring your fave book/ psp - it could be very boring to stay in the hospital with nothing to do. This will be a good time to catch on with some reading. You could bring your favorite book or magazine to pass the time away, or else bring your psp to entertain yourself. If it is not against the hospital policies you could bring your laptop with you.

8.Bring some goodies - if you are allowed to eat sweets or chips bring some along or you could bring extra chocolates and offer it to your doctors and nurses. They would definitely love that and this is one way of establishing rapport with them and you can be sure they will take good care of you while you are there.

9. Thank you cards- a small thing can go a long long way. Give thank you cards to the nursing staff and your doctors to let them feel that you appreciate what they did for you. You can give these when you are being discharged. They will remember you and should you be hospitalized again you have made some friends around and they will accommodate your needs and make sure you get a vip treatment.

10. Air Freshener or potpourri- I know you are not going on a holiday vacation, if you are like me I like to stay in a freshly scented room. Hospitals have this distinct kind of odor that makes me feel nauseous and so I like to bring a small air freshener and  hang it where the air conditioner is or a handful of potpourri wrapped in a net like cloth just to freshen up the room.

Never Forget To Bring:

Of all things in your to do list never forget to bring the following:


1. Hospital Record/ No.- If you have a hospital record already don't forget to bring that so it would be easy to pull up your records of previous hospitalization. This will also give a good deal of information to your attending physician and the nursing team and will greatly help in the planning for your care.


2.Recent Laboratory Tests- If you had undergone any laboratory test within 6 months prior to your hospitalization bring it along as this will help the doctor in evaluating your present health status.


3. Maintenance Medication- Do not forget to bring your maintenance meds, this will save you money should your physician allow you to continue taking it.


4. Insurance Cards/Medicare Card- You would be needing this during admission. You could save a lot of money from hospital bills when you present your insurance or medicare cards. If you are an insurance holder the hospital will ask for your card as a proof that you are indeed the owner of that insurance policy.


5. ATM/Credit Cards - Should your insurance not shoulder all the bills or your credit limit has been used up, make sure you have your atm card or credit card with you to pay the excess bills not covered by your health insurance or medicare. It will save you the panic and the embarrassment of not being able to pay your bill.

Heads Up Pretty Gals!

Hi Single Sassy Chicks!

I am super duper excited to receive my samples from one cosmetic company. I don't mean to sound so cryptic lol but I do not want to divulge just yet what the samples are. I'm going to test the samples and post a review here for all of you to read. I can't wait anymore, I think they are in transit now.  Hopefully I'll get your views on this by leaving comments on the page.

Today, I have worked hard enough to find a good read about improving this blog and I still have tons to read and learn. I want to give you my very best and I'm working hard on it. I have also contacted a company that sells this beauty product that works wonders and it's 100% natural, I'm looking forward to sampling their product and I would like to do a product review on it here in the Single Sassy Chick blog so everyone would get tons of information about it. I'll keep my fingers crossed until I hear from them.

I also spent time today responding to MyLot comments on my posts and posting new ones too. I am enjoying this community so much not because I am getting paid by the site just by participating on a daily basis (which they do) but because it's a great community. I meet great people everyday and the exchange of ideas fires me up. People are so helpful there, they give you tips and suggestions on almost everything and they teach one another how to make extra money online. By the way guys I'm nearing my very first payout for this site! If you'd like to join this community click on my article on making extra money and just copy and post the link in a new browser and sign up. There is no fee in signing up, it's like Facbook or Myspace but this one rewards you for your participation.

Finally, If there is anything you would like me to write about or feature in an article kindly leave your suggestions in the comment box and if possible leave your email address so I can contact you should there be a need.  Thank you guys for visiting  The Single Sassy Chick blog .

All the best,
Your Single Chick