Treewolfwest Blog

Having a baby is an amazing thing. Who knew you could make something so perfect? And who knew it could do that much damage to your belly? Stretch marks are one of the most discouraging things after having a baby. Women can feel embarrassed, or unattractive because of their stretch marks.

Stretch marks can also happen if someone has gained a lot of weight in a short period of time. As the body gets larger, whether you’re gaining weight or pregnant, the skin stretches to accommodate the new size. The stress and stretching on the skin creates scars. These scars are stretch marks. People get stretch marks everywhere, from their tummy to their back to their legs and arms. There are a couple of ways to get rid of them, but most people don’t want to have a painful surgery.

While surgery is a pretty extreme way of treating stretch marks, a lot of women are finding out that Shea Butter in its unrefined certified organic form can help. Shea Butter comes from the kernel of the Karite Nut tree. It is becoming very popular in the United States, because of it’s amazing healing powers. It can reduce scars and help them fade. It is also amazing for skin rashes, dry skin, eczema, insect bites, and many other things.

You will want to make sure that when you decide to purchase Shea Butter, that you purchase it from a company who only sells 100% all natural unrefined organic Shea Butter. The refined Shea Butters are pumped full of damaging and toxic chemicals. Also, all of the healing powers of Shea Butter are lost during the refining process.

Smooth the healing Shea Butter on any area of your body that has stretch marks and be consistent. Do it every day. You will notice the reddish or purple stretch marks fading to a much lighter color. Your stretch marks will not be as noticeable, and depending upon how bad they are, you may not even be able to see them at all within a month. Use your Shea Butter on all areas of your body. It works wonders for dry, tired feet and is known for it’s anti aging properties. You just can’t go wrong with all natural unrefined Shea Butter.

Who in this world does not wish for that perfect shape of the lips? But each one of us is not that lucky to have them and even slight imperfections of our lips cause great distress to us. Never mind, this little problem could be solved very easily. What you need to do is just know the right way to create great-looking lips in no time. Here we are with the tips to help you give your lips that balanced and beautiful shape.

Big Lips: For the big lips you should use muted colors such as purples, browns and bronzes.

Small Lips:
In case of small lips in order to balance the uneven shape of lips you should use a light shade of lipstick.
To make your lips look fuller, line the lips with a lip pencil and then blend the edges with a sponge applicator.
If you want to make lips appear smaller, use concealer over natural lip line. Line just inside natural lip line. Fill in new lip shape with lipstick.

Thin Lips:
You should draw lip outline with a neutral-colored lip pencil slightly beyond the lip area. Then only apply the lipstick.
You should apply a little white shadow on center of the lips over lipstick and then spread slightly.
You should avoid applying very dark shades of lipstick as it makes the lips look even thinner.
If one lip is thinner and you want to make lips appear balanced, outline thinner lip just outside natural lip line.

Fuller Lips:
For the fuller lips you should spotlight lip-gloss right in the center of your lips.
The fuller lips really do not need lip liner. But if you like to have those looks then soften edge with your finger.
The fuller lips should not wear any lip color that is too glossy or shiny.
If you want to make lips appear fuller outline lips just outside natural lip line. Fill in lips with pencil lipstick.
Line fuller lips along natural lip line. Fill in new lip shape with lipstick.

Luscious Lips
Give the finishing touch to your makeup with luscious, brightly colored lips.
Why to hesitate for selecting the shades such as red, pink, orange and even silver to apply on your lips.
Shine and shimmer your lips with various glosses in addition to some wild color.
You should keep your stick on your lips by applying gloss over them or using long-lasting lipsticks.
You should go light on eye makeup to attract attention to your wild lips.

If by chance you have 20 minutes time with you then you should try a funky party look. You should slick on a lip color that you have never dared to wear. The twenty minutes time is also enough to vamp up your fingertips with a festive red polish.
Eyes
This time you have got some time therefore you should line both your top and bottom lash lines with the help of a soft-brown pencil.
You can also extend the liner just beyond the corner of your eyes using the smudging technique.
Then you should swipe on a golden-brown shadow from lash line to crease, blending upward.

Cheeks
You should apply the same ultra-blend able cream-blush formulation to the apples of your cheeks.
You may want to pump up your blush to balance out your strong lip and eye colors, depending on your skin tone.

Lips
The ‘Red-alert lips ‘ are a classic holiday custom so why not go for them.
With this pink-gold-brown color combo, you can choose a red with warm berry or gold undertones to keep your colors from clashing.
You should forgo the lip liner.

Nails
You can give a couple of minutes to those sexy, well shaped, red painted nails as they are worth the extra few minutes of careful application time.

There is no doubt that the Lips are the most sensual feature on our face. They play a real important role while communicating with others as they draw others ‘ attention very easily. Therefore it becomes necessary to give careful attention to them when applying lipstick so that they could get compliments.

While applying Lipstick you should always keep in mind that first you should apply the lip liner and then only the lipstick.

A. Lip Liner
B. Lipstick

Applying Lip Liner First
The lip liner helps you give your lips a neatly defined edge, which decides the shape of your lips. Though the Lip liner is optional but when you are using it, it should be used before the lipstick. The lip liner keeps the color from bleeding and it gives you a guideline for applying your lipstick.

1. You should use a Lip Liner prior to applying the lipstick.

2. You should use the lip liner that is either neutral or matching to the color of the lipstick. Always use a liner that is a shade or two darker than your lipstick, stick with the same tone.

3. You should not use a lip liner, which is darker than the color of your lipstick. Because when the lipstick fades after sometime and the liner does not, you are left with just an outline, which looks odd.

4. To apply the lip liner you should start drawing an outline from the center of your upper lip. And gradually come to each outer corner, following the edge of your natural lip line or the way you want your lips to appear.

5. To make the sharpening easier, before applying the lip liner you can chill the lip pencil in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

Applying The Lipstick
For applying the lipstick in right way you should first apply the lip liner and then only go for the lipstick.
1. Apply the Lip Liner first.

2. Then apply a little moisturizer on your lips. It will not only soften your lips but also help the Lipstick glide on more easily on your lips.

3. A dusting of powder or a bit of foundation beneath lipstick can maximize its staying power. Therefore you should apply a light coat of foundation on your lips. This will act as a base on your lips and also help even out the color of your lipstick.

4. Now it is time to outline the natural edge of your lips, which you could do with a Lip Pencil. But it should not be more than one shade darker than the Lipstick that you are planning to use.

5. At the time of applying the Lipstick you should relax your mouth in such a way that it opens slightly. Stretch your lips and starting at the center of top or bottom, glide color to corners.

6. Now with the help of a Lip Brush apply your Lipstick starting from the center of each lip and gradually working outwards to fill in the Lipstick on your lips. Start with the right side of the lips, upper lip first. Lip Color should be inside the lip liner, not outside the liner.

7. It is great to add gloss after the lipstick. This will help keep your Lip Color strong and the gloss will stay on longer.

If you want a deeper effect of lipstick, then press your lips gently against a tissue in such a way that it does not smudge or remove too much of your Lipstick. And then you should apply another coat of the lipstick.

Insert a finger inside your mouth and withdraw it slowly. Doing so will help you prevent your lipstick from sticking to your teeth and also to remove any excess lipstick from inside your lips.

On occasion, you may wish to add a gentle exfoliation and mask to your treatment. You can try the recipes here, or make up your own using ingredients you have in your own kitchen. Persons with oily skin may find exfoliation beneficial once or twice a week, while people with dry skin may wish to exfoliate only once a month.

Recipes:

Rose Cream Cleanser

1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon rose hydrosol
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients in the order shown, stirring well after each one. Apply cleanser to face and neck skin, using gentle, upward sweeping motions. Rinse well. This recipe should be used within 2 days and makes enough for two cleanings.

Tone-Up Tea

1 cup distilled water
1 heaping tablespoon dried green tea leaves
1 heaping tablespoon dried chamomile flowers
1 tablespoon rose hydrosol
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
3 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3 teaspoon lemon juice (optional addition for oily skin)

Heat distilled water until boiling. Remove from heat and add green tea and chamomile. Steep for 15 minutes and strain out plant material. Add rose hydrosol, aloe vera and vinegar (and lemon juice, if using) and stir well. Pour into a clean bottle and label. Shake well to ensure the mix. Store in refrigerator for best results and use within 3 weeks.

Aromatic Facial Oil

3 tablespoons jojoba oil
3 tablespoons rose hips seed oil (or 3 tbsp. hazelnut oil for oily skin)
2 drops rose essential oil
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil
2 drops palmarosa essential oil

In a glass bowl or dish, combine oils with essential oils. Stir with a clean pop sickle stick or plastic utensil to combine. Pour into a clean bottle, preferably one with a medicine dropper so you can apply the oil using the dropper. After cleansing and toning, and while skin remains a bit damp, apply a bit of the moisturizer using gentle patting motions. Do not rub the oil into the skin. Rather, just gently pat it onto the skin and it will absorb readily within a few minutes.

Oats & Aloe Exfoliant

1 tablespoon finely ground oats
1 tablespoon finely ground almonds
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel

Combine ingredients in a bowl and stir until well mixed. Apply to face and neck skin after cleansing and before toner is applied, using gentle circular motions. Rinse well with warm water and gently pat excess moisture from face. Follow with facial mask.

Creamy Facial Mask

2 tablespoons white clay (I recommend and use kaolin)
3 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon rose hydrosol

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and stir until a paste-like consistency is achieved. If mixture is too runny, add a bit more clay and stir. If mixture is not smooth enough, add a bit more hydrosol. Spread over clean face as the step immediately preceding application of facial toner, avoiding eye area and lips. Rest for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm, water and pat excess water from face.

1. WAAAYYYY too much blush - Blush is supposed to look natural, flushed, pretty. Think J.Low. She’s got it down. Apply your blush before ANY other color on your face. If you look like you could throw on lip gloss and mascara and run out the door, you’re good!

The best blush color? No, it’s not fuscia. It’s a pinky/peach. Look for something with soft shimmer, a pinky/peach that looks young, fresh on anyone of any age. (J.Low and Lara Flynn Boyle rarely make an appearance without it on.) And it’s all about location, location, location. Smile, tap blush on apple cheeks. Done. That’s where you blush. Period. Easy.

2. The dreaded blue eyeshadow a la 1960’s. Okay, I think whenever someone is in that dreaded “color” shadow mode, it’s because someone at some time said “gee! that looks great honey!” When it painfully didn’t. We’re suckers for a compliment. Someone likes that blazer I’m wearing and I’m wearing that thing 3 days in a row. Beauty is supposed to make you look at the whole image. Not just one thing. You want the whole you to shine.

In photography makeup, a trait of a good makeup artist is when their makeup style blends in with the whole photo. It doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb. I feel complimented on my work when someone oohs and aahs over the photo, not my work. Then I know I’ve done a good job.

3. Navy blue, dark blue, any blue. - Anything with blue, dark blue or grayish blue around your eyes really brings out the dark blue undereye circle under it. Copy a color on your face that you don’t like in your makeup, and it’ll look worse. Way worse. Case in point: a red dress with sunburn. See? Doesn’t work. Go warmer, chestnutty, bronzy in shadows and liner instead. Trust me.

4. “You’re looking a little tired. Are you feeling ok?” - We’ve all been there. If people ask if you’re tired when you aren’t it’s could be your makeup. Incorrect make-up color choices can actually make your skin look tired. How? By unintentionally wearing colors that have gray in them. A grayish pink blush, a grayish mauvey lipstick, a grayish eyeshadow — even your foundation might be gray. All that gray can make you look tired by bringing out the gray in your skin.

The good news is, you don’t need a facial. You need another color. How can you tell? Put your cosmetic color onto white paper. What color do you see? If you see gray, that’s the culprit. And gray is the #1 added color to cosmetics. Makes me wonder how many women have run to the skincare counters to get the latest alpha hydroxy, skin brightening wonder creams, only to find out it’s really the makeup that makes you look, well, you know, tired.

5. The old school overdrawn lips. Overdrawing the lips does NOT make your lips look bigger. It can make youlook like a clown. So how do you fake the illusion? It’s in the color and the shine. Yes - shine! Start our with a lighter color, think about a nude pink. Look for a shade that mimics your lip color, or is 2 shades deeper than your actual lip color. Apply to your lip line and not a millimeter more. Then add shine. Shine bounces light and gives the illusion of a fuller pout. Try Bobbi Brown’s lip gloss. She has a different type of shimmer going on in her lipglosses that makes your lips look 3-dimensional. It truly works.

There’s a lot of great make-up out there to play with. Stay away from these common pitfalls and you’re well on your way to looking fabulous.