Beauty Secrets, Tips and Tricks

Truer words were never spoken. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. There is a special uniqueness and individuality that sets us apart from the rest. Besides the obvious beauty that we all hold within ourselves, women have found many secrets that can improve their finer features and solve nagging problems.

So what beauty secrets are there that can still be considered "secret?" Apparently, they're no longer secrets if they're out there for the general public to read. However, there are many tips and tricks that Hollywood stars would prefer to be kept exclusive. After all, why would they want to share these with their competition?

The best beauty secrets are those that make you say "wow, this really helps." Others may help you find an easier method of applying makeup or hair color. What's really fun, are those secrets that celebrities let slip out, whether by accident or a true desire to help other women. Here are a variety of free secrets that have been let out of the bag.

Skin and Makeup

Charlize Theron does a switcharoo with her eye shadow. Instead of applying the darker color on her eyelids and the lighter color above, she applies the lighter color on her lid and the darker shade above. This enhances her beautiful blue eyes and adds to her youthful appearance.

Thick foundation and powder makeup falls into pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Too look younger, use a moisturizer as a base, before your foundation. Apply makeup with a light hand and quality brushes.
The tan ain't always natural. Celebrities often go to salons and have their tans airbrushed on, not only to darken their skin, but to cover up blemishes and flaws.

US Weekly reports that "Desperate Housewives" star Nicollette Sheridan goes to L.A.'s Jim Wayne Salon for monthly Super Performance Facial Treatments to help treat her dry and sensitive skin.

Botox is no secret to celebs, but just take a look at some of their faces when they're trying to express themselves. If natural lines don't appear in their forehead and around the eyes, they've probably been Botoxed. Scarier yet, are those reported Botox parties before awards events.

Tyra Banks revealed during one of her shows that drugstore brand makeup works just as well as those pricey bands found in department stores. Hence, it's not always the brand which you choose that's important, it's the technique in which you apply it.

Crisco can be used to remove makeup and moisturize extremely dry areas on your face and body.


Hair
To look younger, celebrities avoid too short or too long hair. Shoulder length, layered hair is versatile and ideal for more youthful styles.
Don't add hair color to freshly washed hair. Natural oils help protect the scalp and make the hair shaft absorb color more efficiently.

Baby shampoo is gentle. So gentle that is helps preserve hair color and treatments such as perms and straighteners.

Professional stylists know that by setting their blow dryer on a low, cool setting and using a diffuser makes hair less frizzy and easier to achieve the desirable hairstyle.

Body and Shape

A model's best kept secret is using duct tape around her waist and stomach to trim off extra pounds. Beauty pageant contestants have also done this.

How do celebrities get those white, picture-perfect teeth? If they're not born with them (most aren't,) porcelain veneers are bonded to their teeth to cover up imperfections such as chips, misalignments, and discoloration.

Dentists don't want you to know that you can whiten your teeth at home with a simple solution of peroxide and baking soda.

Covering Flaws With Make Up

How to Cover Flaws with Makeup

Since nobody is perfect, we all have what we consider either minor or major flaws we'd rather not have. Surgery is not your only option to achieve the look you want. Makeup is indeed the best and cheapest way to camouflage imperfections and cover flaws.

 

Redness, Blotchiness, Spots

Foundation is the cure-all for evening out skin tone and hiding pimples. For extra smooth skin, start with clean, dry skin. Apply a light moisturizer such as Neutrogena anti-wrinkle cream which soaks up and dries quickly.

Apply a cream formula foundation evenly with a wet sponge. Yes, you can use your fingers, as long as they're clean. This often helps the makeup look more natural. Blend in thoroughly. If needed, you can apply a second layer of foundation after the first dries. Set with loose translucent powder. If you use concealer for extra coverage on dark spots and blemishes, apply this after foundation, but before the powder.

Scars, Port Wine Stains, Birthmarks, Rosacea

Sometimes foundation doesn't cover the flaw completely. There are many products on the market designed specifically to cover up scars and port wine birthmarks. Dermablend™ is a favorite and is not limited to your face. Whichever brand you choose, a waterproof formula is ideal, not only for a rainy day, but for hot and humid weather.

The trick is to choose the shade that is closest to your skin tone. If your skin is darker in the summer months, you may need to have a darker shade on hand. Don't be reluctant to blend as this can be the best way to find the perfect shade.

Wide Nose

To make your nose look thinner, use dark, matte blush or bronzing powder on the sides to recede the areas. Adding white eye shadow will bring out the center further. To widen your nose, reverse the process.

Wide or round, Full Face

If you want to thin down and elongate a wide or round face, again utilize your dark blush or bronzing powder to shade the sides of your face and jaw line. Matte colors look more natural and play down fine lines and wrinkles.

To create the illusion of higher cheekbones, use a facial powder four shades darker then your natural skin tone and apply it just under the bone.