How to Hide Pimples with Makeup

It can be a real pain to wake up one morning and realize you got a big pimple staring back at you.

No matter if you are 16 years old or 36 years old, dealing with pimples is no fun.

The good part is that there are ways that you can hide a pimple with the right makeup. There are ways that makeup can easily conceal your pimple if you know how to properly apply your makeup and what makeup you need to be using in the first place.

If you are looking to hide a pimple with makeup, check out my tips below.

Use a Green Color Corrector For a Bad Breakout

If the pimple is really noticeable, especially if you find that it is really red, you are going to want to start out with a green color corrector. This helps to even out more of your skin tone and takes a lot of the redness away from the pimple.

Use a Thick Concealer

When it comes to hiding a pimple with makeup, you are going to need heavier makeup then if you weren't trying to conceal the spots on your face.

Use a thicker concealer first (if you didn't use the green color corrector). Use a small brush or even a Q-tip to apply the concealer and make sure that you do blend it in so that it doesn't make the pimple even more noticeable.

Use Your Normal Foundation

Apply your normal foundation like you usually would, just making sure that you dab it and blend it well over the area where you already applied the foundation.

Do make sure that your concealer or color corrector is completely dry before you apply the foundation or it will just smear the concealer off.

Finish Off with Some Loose Powder

Set the concealer and foundation in place with a light dusting of loose powder all over your face. This helps to keep the makeup in place and make sure it doesn't rub off right away.

Consider Mineral Makeup for Hiding Acne

If you suffer from acne breakouts on a regular basis you may want to consider buying a quality mineral makeup for covering up the pimples. The mineral makeup is heavier but doesn't have all the oil and chemicals that other makeups have, which can actually lead to more pimples.

For more makeup tips and really an amazing transformation with covering up acne, check out the video below.

Can You Use Face Wipes with Sensitive Skin?

Face wipes are a really nice beauty tool to have on hand at all times. They can be used on the go as well as for regular cleansing of your face at night and in the morning.

Facial cleansing wipes are really the easiest way to freshen up and clean your skin. In fact you can use them on more than just your face but other parts of your body as well.

If you have sensitive skin you may wondering if you can use face wipes especially if you have a problem with most other facial products.

The good news is that there are actually several facial wipes on the market that are made for sensitive skin. If you do have sensitive skin and tend to have bad reactions to most makeups or cleansers I would recommend that you stick to these face wipes rather than trying ones that aren't designed for sensitive skin.

A facial cleansing wipe that I would recommend for sensitive skin is Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes.

These wipes are made from all natural ingredients including aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber, and vitamin E. These wipes don't have the harsh chemicals that other face wipes do so they would less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

They are great for cleansing your skin and are quite refreshing due to the aloe vera and vitamin E. There is no burning or redness that other wipes cause especially for people with sensitive skin.

The Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes also smell pretty nice as well. With some other facial cleansing wipes I have tried they had that chemical or "peroxide -like" smell to them. But these wipes smell sort of fruity but don't have a strong fragrance to them.

One other suggestion that I would have for people with sensitive skin is to actually try baby wipes that are labeled "Sensitive." All of the major baby wipes brands have a sensitive line as well as store brands like Target as well.

It may sound sort of funny to use baby wipes on your face, but think about how well they clean off a baby's bottom and they are completely safe for your face as well, but just avoid getting them in your eyes. And the sensitive wipes are specifically designed with no fragrances and to be gentle on the skin.

Lastly, if you are going to try face wipes on your sensitive skin it is a good idea to simply start out only using them on a small area of your face like around your chin area were it may not be noticeable to other people if you do have a bad reaction. Just like any other beauty product it is a wise idea to test out the product on a small area of your skin first to see how you react.

Do you use face wipes to cleanse and refresh? What is your favorite brand?

5 Skin Care Tips for the Summer

Although it may just be the beginning of spring, summer will be here before you know it.

With each season, you should adjust your skin care routine. During the summer you especially want to make sure you are protecting your skin from the sun's rays as well as keeping it hydrated.

Check out these 5 skin care tips for the summer time.

1. Use a Foundation That Has SPF Protection

Make sure to use a foundation makeup that also has a SPF in it as well. Even if you aren't going to be spending time outdoors it is still a good idea to just use a foundation that also has SPF protection on a daily basis. It only takes a few minutes out in the sun for your skin to start feeling the effects.

If you have fair skin you may need more protection than the foundation offers, but it is still a good idea to have the extra SPF protection for times that you know you won't be outside for more than a few minutes.

2. Use Lip Balm to Protect Your Lips

Just like you want to protect your face from the sun's rays, you can't forget about your lips as well. Use a clear lip balm or even a color lip gloss that has protection in it as well to help your lips from drying out and keep them moisturized.

3. Make Sure To Use Sunscreen On Any Exposed Skin

If you know that you are going to be outside for more than a few minutes running in and out of buildings, then you need to make sure you use sunscreen on any skin that may be exposed.

Even though being "tan" may be popular, a tan is actually not healthy and a sunburn is even worse. When the color of your skin changes, that means it is reacting to the sun's UV rays. Some people don't realize that a tan is actually proof of sun damage.

Prevent sunburns and sun damage to your skin to help your skin look young and fresh as well as protect yourself from increasing your chances of skin cancer.

Look for a sunscreen that not only moisturizes your body but also has a SPF of at least 25. And don't be afraid to reapply often.

4. Use a Face Mask to Hydrate your Skin and Make It Glow

You should consider using a face mask at least once  a week to help clean away dead cells from your skin as well as hydrate your skin.

Being in a hot climate can really dry out your skin and then being in air conditioning can also mess with your skin as well. A good rejuvenating face mask will help to properly cleanse your face as well as hydrate it to make it glow.

Check out my recommendations for face masks you can make at home.

5. Choose a Moisturizing Lotion for Your Morning and Night Beauty Routine

If you don't already use a moisturizing lotion for your body, then you definitely want to start this summer. The skin and hot weather can completley dry out your skin, so you need to make sure that you are moisturizing both in the morning and at night and especially right after your shower.

This helps to keep your skin smooth and glowing and we all know that we show a lot more skin in summer than in the other months.

You can even take inspiration from the summer time and use a lotion with a coconut or citrus smell. It will give you a hint of fragrance and leave with a warm attitude.

Have fun this summer and enjoy the sun, but remember to take care of your skin.

What Type of Skin Do I Have: How to Determine Your Skin Type

Knowing what skin type you have is essential for buying any type of beauty products from makeup to face wash.  For example, if you have oily skin you are going to want to stay away from any products that will add excess oil to your face.

Knowing your skin type can help you better take care of your skin so that you can look your best.

There are 5 basic classifications of skin tones. These include: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive.

There is a very simple way to determine your natural skin type and all it involves is a facial tissue or even a piece of paper if you don't have tissues. When you first wake up in the morning, wipe your face with the tissue and then take a look at the tissue to see which category you fall into.

You will also need a mirror that you can examine your face in to really determine your skin type along with the tissue test.

Normal Skin

If your tissue has no traces of oil on it or only a very, very tiny bit, then you most likely have normal skin.

When you look in the mirror when you first wake up, you will notice that your skin will still look healthy and vibrant. Your skin is smooth and you most likely won't notice any dry spots on your face but you may still have somewhat of an oily t-spot, which is completely normal for everyone.

Normal skin is the easiest to take care of as you can use just about any product with good results. Most women find though as they age, their normal skin disappears if they don't take care of their skin and their diet.

Oily Skin

If you look at your tissue and you notice quite a bit of oil spots on it, then you most likely have oily skin.

When you look in the mirror in the morning you may notice that your face looks shiny and may even look greasy even though you may have cleaned it before you went to bed. Oily skin is usually prone to acne and blackheads and you may have larger pores as well.

Although oily skin can be problematic, most women with oily skin find that they don't have to worry about wrinkles as much as other women.

Women with oily skin want to avoid products that add more oil or moisturize into their skin. Look for oil-free products and makeup for your face.

Dry Skin

If you take a look at your tissue and notice not one spot of oil on the it, then you may have dry skin, but could also have normal skin. You should inspect your skin in the mirror to determine if you have dry skin.

When you look in the mirror you may notice that you have dry, flaky spots on your face. You may notice that even though you just washed your face it still looks dry and you may also look older than you are as well. Dry skin is more prone to wrinkles and aging because it lacks the moisture and hydration to keep it supple.

If you have dry skin, look for ways that you can moisturize your skin such as foundation with a moisturizer as well as face creams. Also, people with dry skin should really protect their face from the skin as this can dry it out even more.

Combination Skin

If you have combination skin you may notice that your tissue has oil spots in the common areas such as your nose area and your forehead but will be dry around your cheeks and other areas.

Combination skin is really one of the most popular skin types and can often be confused with normal skin. The difference is that combination skin will have different areas of the face that are oily and then may also have dry patches as well. Normal skin will look completely healthy with no really oily spots or dry spots.

Combination skin can be difficult to deal with when choosing facial products because you are working with both dry areas and oily areas. The dry areas on your face should be treated with quality creams that help moisture while the oily spots on your face should be properly cleansed and conditioned to keep them oil free.

Sensitive Skin

With sensitive skin you probably will notice no oily spots on your tissue but instead may notice regular red spots, dry, itchy spots and even inflamed areas on your face.

Sensitive skin can be really problematic and often times women have trouble finding beauty products and makeup that won't make their face worse. You may want to look into finding a quality moisturizer that uses all natural ingredients and testing it out on a small area of your face first. Avoid beauty products with scents and fragrances as these can irritate sensitive skin even more.


Have you determined what type of skin you have? If you are having trouble still determining your skin type, check out this quiz from Fitness Magazine.

Any advice for fellow women that you have found help take care of your skin type?

Homemade Face Mask Recipes for Acne

You may be surprised to find that there are items right in your home that can help you fight your acne problems.

It's not a bad idea to try a homemade face mask for acne to see if it works as well or even better than the masks or products you are currently using. You can save a ton of money and best of all ensure you aren't putting unnecessary chemicals on your face.

Here are 3 face masks that help with acne that you can try on your face.

Honey and Cinnamon Face Mask

The reason why this face mask works so well, is that the cinnamon helps reduce redness and inflammation as well as helps to clean out pores. Honey is a great way to moisturize your skin and give it a healthy glow and can be used for so many different facial and skin care products.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. organic, pure honey
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 juice of a lemon

Warm the honey slightly so that it can easily be poured. Mix all the ingredients together until you get a smooth paste. Make sure your face is clean from any makeup or other products and massage the mask onto your face. Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes and then use warm water and a wash cloth to remove it.

You can store any left over mask for up to a week in a sealed jar. Use it 3-4 times a week for regular acne prevention or use it when you have any acne flare ups.

Aspirin, Lemon and Honey Face Mask

This mask may sound sort of funny, but there are lots of people that swear by this mask as it helps to dry up pimples and can also be great for a person with oily skin and blackheads. Aspirin has salicylic acid, which is great for the skin and the lemon helps is a natural antibiotic for the face. The honey of course helps give the skin a clean and healthy glow and leaves it feeling refreshed.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 aspirin tablets
• Juice of a lemon
• 2 tbsp warm honey (optional)

Crush up the aspirin tablets using a rolling pin or even a coffee cup until you get a fine powder. Squeeze the lemon juice over the aspirin and allow it to dissolve into the liquid, forming a paste. Add in the warmed honey if you are going to use it. If you have oily skin along with acne, you may want to try the mask without the honey as some people find it adds too much moisture.

Apply the mask to your face or you can use it for spot treatments as well. Let it sit for approximately 10-15 minutes or until it is completely dried. Remove the mask with a warm wash cloth and if needed you can use a tiny bit of baking soda to remove the mask as well.

Milk of Magnesia Face Mask

Years ago I first heard about using milk of magnesia to help clear up your acne and after trying it as a spot treatment a few times, I do have to say that it does work just as well as some acne products do and it is a lot cheaper. This is actually liquid magnesium, which is like a clay that helps to absorb oil and also has cleansing properties as well.

Ingredients:

• Milk of Magnesia - traditional kind with no flavors

Apply the milk of magnesia to your entire face or use it on your trouble spots. Let it dry and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Use a warm wash cloth to wash off the mask. 

I have seen some people complain that milk of magnesia does dry out their face too much, so if you have acne but your skin isn't super oily, you may only want to use this one once a week or so instead of every other day.