My Photo Gallery & Some Photography Tips – By Shatha Akeel

Photos can be taken all the time and at any place.  It’s become easy with the cameras of our mobile phones.

Here are some tips that may help you to take nice pictures:

1. Keep your photos simple

2. Get in close – zoom in

3. Shoot pictures every day

4. Use gridlines to balance your shot

To switch the grid on…

* iPhone: Go to “Settings,” choose “Photos & Camera,” and switch “Grid” on.

* Samsung: Launch the camera app, go to “Settings,” scroll down and switch the “grid lines” option to “on.”

5. Focus on one subject

Lashes for days! – By Zatasha Kiran

No makeup look is complete without long, luscious lashes, usually achieved with the use of a good mascara. Whether you like the glamorously over dramatic look or are more inclined towards the natural look, there’s no doubt that mascara helps you achieve that bright eyed, fresh faced look we all aspire to. To help achieve this look without false lashes, try our top three picks.

1. Benefit Roller Lash 

The brush is designed to lift, separate and curl lashes, sort of like a temporary perm, for a pretty, girly look that holds up to 12 hours. It contains provitamin B5 and serin that helps and protects lashes and is great for every day look. It’s easier to remove than other mascaras due to its thin consistency. The dainty vintage packaging alone is enough to make you want to buy it. It comes in two sizes, regular and mini sizes. We’d rate this product a 10/10! A must buy on your next makeup shopping spree.

 

      2. Lancôme Hypnose 

Great for sensitive eyes, this mascara provides an every day natural look. It fans lashes out nicely and lengthens them. The brush helps to separate lashes, prevents clumping and makes the mascara easily buildable. The curved, almost S shaped brush allows full contact with the lashes to achieve that defined, dramatically lengthened look. It provides an intense shade of glossy black and to top it off, it smells great too! We’d rate this product a 9/10. A must have for any makeup collection.

 

3. Rimmel Super Curler

Rimmel London has done it again with their genius 24 hour super curler mascara that gives a better lift than any other mascara we’ve tried so far. It builds volumising, dramatic curls for an all day glamorous look. The long bristled brush makes flawless application extra easy to achieve and prevents clumping and smudging. This mascara gives a rich, shiny black effect and works even better when used on top of other mascaras. We’d rate this a 9/10. Great for mixing and enhancing other products.

Mascara application tips: 

• If you’re nearing the end of your mascara and want to try and get the most out of it add a few drops of oil to the tube and mix.

• Use waterproof mascaras to hold the curl better.

• Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara for that extra curl.

• Don’t pump the wand when you want to get more product on, instead gently swirl so as not to let any extra air in that will dry the mascara up.

 

Say Goodbye to White Flour ~ By Zatasha Kiran

White flour is basically wholewheat flour that has been heavily processed, bleached and stripped of the two main components that make it nutritious, bran and germ. This process also gets rid of fibre which helps us digest it easily and all vitamins in the flour that benefit us, therefore raising the risk of diabetes and many other diseases and providing us with nothing more than good taste! Switching to healthier alternatives can help reduce bloating, give us more energy by consuming more nutrients and helping us to feel less lethargic and even help with hair, skin and overall health. Below are some healthy alternatives to white flour along with some recipes for you to try out.

Almond Flour Brownies

Almond flour is is a great source of vitamin E. It also contains iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium and other minerals as well as being gluten free.

INGREDIENTS:

Carrots: Your Natural Carotene! ~ By J. Raza

Photography Credits: Couleur

Many people fail to realize is that carrots and carrot juice can be extremely beneficial for the quality of your skin. Most of us grew up hearing carrots are great for eyesight and it stopped right there… Drinking carrot juice regularly will certainly change your energy levels, your digestion, and the overall quality of your skin. By simply drinking carrot juice, you will gain access to nutrients such as vitamins A, vitamin C, carotenoids, potassium, anti-fungal, and antibacterial substances that are ideal for people who suffer from acne. To see benefits for your skin, you will want to make sure that you drink a full serving of carrot juice on a regular basis, which usually means every day. Many people experience an almost immediate reduction in inflammation and redness that accompanies acne, and an appearance of skin hydration that they may not have seen in quite some time. Anti-inflammatory properties of carrot juice can help to revitalize and tone up the skin. It is also a natural moisturizer that will help to even out skin tones, reduce the signs of scarring, and even prevent fine lines and wrinkles. By making your own carrot juice at home, you will be assured that the juice is free from additives, preservatives, or any chemicals, and that it is as fresh and potent as it can possibly be.

Ingredients:

The Biggest Eye Wrinkle Causers – By J. Raza

Photograph Credits: Jadrogc

Why am I really picky about who applies my makeup on a big event?

Why I always chose to apply my own makeup from a young age till now?

Okay, yes it can be the simple fact that I am an artist myself and very picky critically.

Many do not give it much thought or may see it as too dramatic but in fact it is true and I see so many clients with this problem and for the same reason I am about to share with you.

Secrets of Japan – By J. Raza

 

So all you beauty readers do remember when I wrote the article on “Dermaplaning,”right? In other words “shaving” the face , which is very popular with the Japanese, Korean cultures – one of the main reasons they have great youthful skin. If you haven’t read that article you might want to go take a look at it to understand how this article goes hand in hand together. Also, you will know what videos to google on YouTube.

Not all shave their faces, but it is definitely a more common practice skin care regime in Japan than in western societies. Shaving gets rid of facial fuzz while enhancing skin’s exfoliation process. Also, toners and lotions seemed to work better when applied to the shaved skin. Of course, shaving also makes cosmetic products such as foundations blend in and create a smooth surface on our skin. Whether shaving really helps maintain flawless skin or not, it certainly seems to keep skin clean. What surprises many foreigners is that many Japanese hair salons offer face shaving services for women.

The other big beauty secret of Japan is the CO2 mask aka carbon laser, the celebrity new buzz mask aka hollywood mask. What does it exactly do? Evidence has shown that CO2, when absorbed by the skin, increases the oxygen supply within the cells. It also improves blood circulation, making the skin firm and youthful. The best part of using this product is that it’s made only from f 100 percent naturally occurring products like lactose and Kudzu root, and causes no side effects of any kind to the user. Some of the other benefits of using CO2 are:

Facial skin becomes fairer, as in discoloration, malasma marks from pregnancies, or hyper pigmentations on regular use of the mask.

The deep moisturizing effect of the mask ensures that the skin becomes smoother and more radiant.

The anti oxidant property of CO2 encourages blood circulation and skin regeneration, reducing scars and fine lines.

Face slimming effects have also been observed with regular use of the mask.

CO2 has anti-inflammation properties and with the help of it, you can get rid of acne, pigmentation, dark spots, and even blemishes.

The mask also has anti aging properties, keeping skin youthful and fresh looking.

The laser energy gently targets the melanin in the cells breaking it up for your body’s natural removal processes.

Because the treatment is gentle, multiple passes are needed in order to target deep into the tissue. Now the secret has been all over in the west becoming the most requested treatment by cosmetic spas. Every problem gone with just this one treatment and imagine results 5 times faster then a chemical peel..

Capturing Surrounding Beauty is My Hobby – By Shatha Akeel

Photography Credits: Markgraf-Ave

I think that each of us has a hobby to practice away from work, home routine, or maybe just to escape our daily life problems..

For me it’s different…

I’ve loved photography since I was little ..

I used to hold that black camera and take a photo of what I see beautiful in my eyes ..

I took photos of myself, my family, my friends , my stuff, every thing

It’s my passion…

Here, I would like to share with you some photos taken by me:

Some see photography as a hobby and passion and others see it as a waste of time. Opinions differ about this hobby.

Personally, I believe that having a passion for photography is not just to shoot photos. Let’s just say that it’s the perfect way to make people view things through our lenses.

Double Chin No More – By J. Raza

Photography Credits: Giuliamar

Let’s talk about this stubborn chin fat, or is it a double chin? What ever you call it, it definitely is frustrating, altering the looks of our faces.  How can we get rid of it? I will discuss some of the main factors in this article.

Are you wearing a high-neck top or scarf and tilting your heads just right when your photos are taken? Do you feel like if it weren’t for makeup tricks, such as contouring and the like, you wouldn’t go out?

How is this extra piece of flesh caused? The extra layer of fatty tissue under our chins is most often caused by being overweight. Sagging skin under the chin can also occur as we age and our skin loses elasticity. For a few, it can be genetic. All of these reasons mentioned can be really upsetting to us women. While there are surgical procedures that can eliminate a double chin, they can be expensive. However, there are many simple home treatment options to get rid of a double chin that are pocket-friendly and painless.

Affordable Skin Care ~ By Natalia Oparka

Photograph Credit: ejaugsburg

There’s no doubt that skin care is on the top of every girl’s priorities. However, it may become rather expensive pretty quickly. All the make up products, creams, oils, gels… Well, this month we are coming up with a cheaper fix for our skin: homemade facial masks.

1. BANANA + HONEY MASK

Why does it work? Banana moisturizes your skin, making it softer. Honey gets rid of acne and blemishes.

Recipe: Pick a medium-sized banana and mash it up, so you get a smooth mass. Add one spoonful of honey, mix it all up, and apply. Leave for 20 min, then remove with warm water.

My Oatmeal Deal – By Natalia Oparka

 

 

Photography credits: Purple_zeppelin

Oatmeal, made of rolled, steel cut or ‘instant’ oat groats, is the best way to start a day for many of us. It does us a lot of good, eg. regulates our blood sugar (therefore excellent for diabetics), lowers the cholesterol levels. Moreover, it regulates our digestion and is an easy-to- make breakfast that provides us with plenty of energy throughout the day.

However, this month we will discover that oatmeal may not only be used for breakfast. Heck, it may not only serve as a meal!

For those who make their first steps in the kitchen (like my humble person), there is a surprisingly easy recipe for oatmeal cookies. Not only is it a quick and healthy snack, but it’s also yet another reason to feel like a pro in you own kitchen.

Oatmeal cookies recipe: