Women with facial proportions that are closest to average are considered the most beautiful by their peers, research suggests.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego and the University of Toronto asked college students to view digital photos of women's faces that were identical except for slight alterations in certain facial proportions, including placement of the eyes and the relationship between the eyes and mouth.

Female faces that followed certain proportions were judged more attractive by their peers -- specifically, a vertical distance between the eyes and mouth that's 36% of facial length, and a horizontal distance between the eyes that's 46% of facial width. Researchers are calling it a "golden ratio."

Though it is unknown why faces that follow these proportions are considered lovelier, researchers say one theory is that humans have a mental prototype that represents an average of all faces and those that are closest to it are considered the most appealing. Previous research has shown that those with symmetrical faces are also perceived as more beautiful, possibly because the symmetry indicates good health. It is possible that evolutionary biology dictates that average faces are viewed in much the same way, the study authors noted.

So does this mean women shouldn't bother with cosmetics and appointments at the salon?

Not so fast, the study authors noted.

"We already know that different facial features make a female face attractive -- large eyes, for example, or full lips," said study co-author Kang Lee, a professor at University of Toronto and the director of the Institute of Child Study at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. "Our study conclusively proves that the structure of faces -- the relation between our face contour and the eyes, mouth and nose -- also contributes to our perception of facial attractiveness. Our finding also explains why sometimes an attractive person looks unattractive or vice versa after a haircut, because hairdos change the ratios."

Since only white female faces were included, the authors noted that there may be a different set of ideal proportions for other racial groups, male faces or children's faces.

The study was released online in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the journal Vision Research.

SOURCE: University of California, San Diego and University of Toronto, news release, Dec. 16. 2009

Rose Petals Soap
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of clear glycerin soap base
rose petals
20 drops of scent of your choice
Instruction:
Melt about 1/2 cup of clear glycerin soap base. When melted,
add approximately 20 drops of scent (for better fragrance, add
Rose Garden fragrance). Using a pair of tweezers, dip rose
petals in the melted glycerin soap. Dip one at a time, shaking
off the excess soap, and place the petal on waxed paper to dry.
As they start to dry, gently turn them over to keep them from
getting a glob of soap underneath them.
Home Made Soap for Natural Glow
Ingredients:
Bars of natural fragrance or color free soap
Essential oil
Food coloring
Oats
Almond oil
Vitamin E oil
Instruction:
Grate soap in a blender and boil a pot of water and put a glass
bowl over the pot. Add some almond oil into the bowl and then
add soap into the bowl. Take the water from the pot and add it
into the bowl until soap changes into paste. Add oils, color, and
vitamin E as desired. Let cool in molds of your choice. Air out
on wax paper for a day or two.

Apple or Carrot Facial Mask Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 apple or a large carrot
Honey
Instruction:
Grate an apple finely and then add about 4 tablespoons of
honey. Mix it well apply the mask to your face wait 10 minutes
and rinse. This recipe works very well for oily skins. If your
skin is not oily you can substitute raw carrots for the apple. I
tend to use the apples most of the time but if I am having an
acne problem I use carrots for my facial mask that week.
Facial Mask Recipes for Normal combination, oily and blemished skin
Ingredients:
1 egg white
1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal
1 teaspoon olive oil
few drops of lemon juice
Instruction:
Mix one egg white, 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal, a teaspoon
olive oil and a few drops of lemon juice until smooth. Spread
on your face and neck, leave on for 15 – 30 min then rinse with
lukewarm water. Few drops lemon juice will help to reduce
blackheads while egg white will leave your skin feel “tight”
after this mask application.
Banana, Yogurt and Honey Facial Mask
Ingredients:
1/2 banana
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon honey
Instruction:
Mash the banana with a fork then mix in honey and yogurt. Apply
to your face evenly. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with
cool water and get soft and smooth skin.
Orange and Yogurt Facial Mask
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
Juice of 1/4 of an orange
Instruction:
Mash the above ingredients properly and apply on your face
gently. The sensation is both cool and relaxing. Leave on for a
five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the
perfect mask for you. The yogurt will cleanse and nourish.

Yogurt Face Mask for Sensitive or Sunburnt Skin

Ingredients:

• 1 cup natural yogurt (we like it just-out-of-the-fridge cold)
• ½ cup oatmeal (any type of basic oatmeal works here)

Preparation:

Mix the ingredients together.
Apply to the skin for 10-15 minutes.
Wash off mask with a washcloth steamed in the microwave (careful that it's not too hot).

Two other fun options for oatmeal face masks:
Egg whites. Mix the oatmeal and an egg white. Let the mixture dry on face, then gently wash off with a few splashes of warm water. Follow with a steaming washcloth to the face.

Peptol-Bismol. A friend of mine uses Pepto-Bismol with oatmeal for her masks. She got this tip years ago from a magazine. She suggests the active ingredient (bismuth subsalicylate) in Pepto-Bismol soothes your stomach as well as your face.

Homemade Clay Mask for All Skin Types

Ingredients:

• 1½ tsp green clay (French is preferred)
• ½ tsp kaolin clay
• 1½ tbsp aloe vera gel
• 1 tbsp rosewater
• 2 drops rose essential oil

Clay Masks

Preparation:

Mix green and kaolin clays together.
Add in the aloe vera gel, rosewater and oils.
Refrigerate mixture for up to four weeks.

Every shade of skin is beautiful, but as we grow older our skin tone can change. Freckles may appear, dark spots can arise, and skin may not be as light as it once was. So, if you're still not ready to embrace your dark side, read on for a few natural whitening tips and tricks.

Facial Skin Care : How to Make Skin Lighter Naturally



Method 1

Step#1
Put orange peels on a plate and place them in direct sunlight. Allow the orange peels to dry completely. Do not leave them in an area where ants can easily get to them.
Step#2
Use the herb grinder to grind the orange peels after they are completely dry. You will want to grind the peels until they appear as a powdery substance.

Step#3
Slowly add raw milk to the powder that you made from the orange peels and mix. Stop adding milk as soon as the two ingredients form a pasty substance.
Step#4
Apply the mixture to your skin at least once a day. Once the mixture dries on your skin, gently rinse it off with lukewarm water and dry skin with a towel.
Method 2
Step#1
Put sandalwood powder into a bowl you can use for mixing. Set it to the side.
Step#2
Get the lemon juice, tomato juice and cucumber juice ready. You will only need enough to basically get t he sandalwood powder wet.
Step#3
Mix together equal parts of each of the juices.
Step#4
Slowly pour the mixture of juices into the sandalwood powder and stir. Continue pouring in the juices until you have a nice pasty mixture.
Step#5
Apply the mixture to your skin daily. Allow the mixture to dry on your skin and then gently rinse it off with lukewarm water. Towel dry.
Method 3
Step#1
Pour 2 tbsp. of gram flour into a bowl you can use for mixing. Add a pinch of turmeric.
Step#2
Add a few drops of lemon juice to the turmeric and gram flour mixture. Add the same amount of milk cream.
Step#3
Mix the ingredients as you add the lemon juice and milk cream. If you have a pasty substance, then you are finished. If not, continue adding equal amounts of lemon juice and milk cream (while stirring) until you have a pasty substance.

Like blackheads, white heads too are formed in the skin where skin cells clog and close a hair follicle. It's small and appears on the outer layer of the skin like a raised white bump. In medical terms it is known as a closed comedone.

Though they don't look as ugly as blackheads but if they set in the skin deep, they can create problem to you. All such things as black heads and white heads spoil the texture of your skin by showing it non smooth and lustrous. You need to look after the skin to prevent it from getting whiteheads and if you already have them then you need to workout to remove them. They usually appear on the sides of the nose, cheekbones and where the skin is fine.

How to remove whiteheads: first thing you should do to your skin is drinking lots of water, which removes the toxins from the skin and keeps whiteheads at bay.

Try all such methods to keep away the white heads from the skin still if the problem persist then seek medical or professional help of a dermatologist.

Minimize Facial Lines(Under eyes, around nose and mouth)
A face speaks volumes they say. The features, the shape, the care and nourishment to safeguard nature's plenty, all these go a long way over the years. As one grows older the face takes the maximum beating, the reason being it is a highly sensitive area and it is exposed the maximum. Since the wear and tear is more, one has to pay more attention to the delicate skin for a better presentation and appearance.

• Apply face foundation colour as recommended.
• Using tip of wedged sponge or cotton swab, dip in lightest foundation colour.
• Apply lighter colour in deepest area of line.
• Blend lightly up to the highest point outside the line with sponge.
• Powder lightly to set foundation. Do not go too heavy on powder.

  

Remember, don't go more than one-half to one shade lighter or you will actually attract more attention to problem areas. (If you need a lighter shade of foundation than you have, you should order the next lighter shade.)

The secret to properly applying concealer is to find the right shade and the blend it in so it looks flawless, not obvious. Concealer looks most natural when you work in "sheer layers and build it up gradually," according to the editors of Allure's "Confessions of a Beauty Editor."

To properly apply concealer, apply several dots of concealer under the eyes, then use the pad of your middle finger to tap it in (always tap, never rub). Apply concealer on other uneven spots on the face -- including the chin, and around the nose and mouth if need be -- and tap in.

Dust fine, loose powder over your face to set your makeup. According to makeup artist Scott Barnes in the August 2006 issue of Allure Magazine, loose powder applied with a fluffy brush is "the secret to good concealer."

Keep in mind concealer is not a beauty product to scrimp on (see my picks for the top 10 concealerson the market). Also, you'll want to find the right shade for your skin color. If your skin is darker in summer, you will need a darker shade for summer months and a lighter one for other months. To test shades, try them out at department store beauty counters or Sephora.

Do you want to achieve that perfect face for a night on the town? Follow these steps for a sexy night time look!
S#1
First apply your foundation with a makeup sponge. Be sure to get a shade closest to your skin tone. After applying foundation, you can touch up any blemishes or under-eye areas with concealer. For a night time look it is important to achieve a flawless look. Now, set your foundation with powder.


S#2
Now you can apply your blush. I like to use a cream brush night. You can apply your cream blush just at the apples of your cheeks, and blend outward with a makeup sponge! Cream blushes will last your whole night through with no touch ups!

S#3
Next, for the most fun part of night time makeup EYES! Anytime you are doing night time makeup you need to play up your eyes! First you can apply a neutral shade all over the eye lid from the eye brows down to the lashes. Now I apply a silver grey shade from the crease down.

Next I use a darker grey on the bottom of eye lid. Now you can line your eyes with a charcoal grey liner. You will need to wear black mascara complete the look!

S#4
Next since we played up the eyes, you can add a neutral lip shade. A nude lip is very sexy with a smoky eye!

Achieving the right look with makeup can be a task for some of us. Most women want to look natural, yet flawless in our makeup. With a few easy steps and tricks, it is possible to look beautiful yet natural without appearing plain and washed out.

wash your face with a gentle cleanser such as Neutrogena or Clean and Clear. Pat dry with a towel. Apply a mild facial moisturizer like Oil of Olay or Dove.

There currently exist a glut of celebrity fragrances, with Paris Hilton having four (or eight if you count the men's versions). Britney Spears is on her fourth, and even WAG's like Coleen and Alex Curran are getting on the act./ They tend to fall into the same category- sugary sweet with ridiculously girly packaging (look at Jordan's princess like bottle) and they are really popular as well.There's clearly a market for celeb scents, so why not start releasing fragrances from women I'd actually LIKE to smell like? Here are my suggestions for celebs I'd like to see bottled (in a nice way).

Number 1: Dita Von Teese

I can't believe this lady doesn't have a scent yet, it seems like an oversight surely? I imagine it would be heady and musky, with notes of sandalwood and jasmine mixed together in an aromatic concoction that hinted at unearthly delights and delicious naughtiness, with perhaps a sprig of cherry just to add an extra boost.

Reality Comparison: Agent Provacateur, what else?

Number 2: Jennifer Aniston

I imagine any perfume that Jen did would be rather sweet and florally. Perhaps a sprinkling of peonies mixed with a waft of sunflowers with some steely irises for contrast? It would certainly be full bodied and have a lot of depth and anyone wearing it would feel inspired and powerful.

Reality Comparison: Tommy Girl/Hugo Boss Woman

Number 3: Sarah Michelle Gellar a.k.a Buffy

We've already celebrated Sarah's beauty style here, but we haven't yet addressed just what she'd smell like. Despite the fact that she's all grown up now, any scent she created would have to pay homage to her Buffy roots, so I'd imagine something spicy yet sweet and fresh. Perhaps a mixture of fresh fruits like lemon and lime with a tangy orange mid tone, and base notes of watery aromas like honeydew and sea breezes.

Reality Comparison: Marc Jacobs Daisy, DKNY Be Delicous Night

Number 4: Angelina Jolie

I know it's a little harsh to have Angelina and Jen in the same column, but they're such different types of women, that they each deserve to be recognized in scent form. Whereas Jen was soft and floral, Angelia will be musky an intense, with almost overpowering topnotes that blend into a solid base. Think chilli flowers, blended with oriental vanilla and healthy lashings of spice, and you'll get the picture.

Reality Comparison: Dior Poison/ Anything from Commes des Garcons

Number 5: Rihanna

This lovely lady has such a unique personality and great vocal talent that I envisage armies of tweens running out and purchasing this- and some adults as well! It would be a heady mix of aromatic dark chocolate with hints of amber and sandalwood, in a glorious bottle. Throw a little Cinnamon in for added zing and you have Rihanna in a bottle!

Reality Comparison: Issey Miyake/ Angel/ Kenzo Flower

Runner ups:

Madonna and Cherie Blair. Both are strong unique women, but I'm not sure I'd want to smell like them. Then again, you could say the same for Jordan/ Kerry Katona.

Just as the rest of your skin, lips require constant hydration, especially during summer. Exposure to sun, high temperatures and strong wind causes the thin defensive layer of the lips to lose its moisture retention capacity. Dry, chapped and inflamed lips as a result? These are signs that the lips are thirsty.

Lips never tan because they lack melanin, but can get sunburnt if not protected. Use balm, lipstick or gloss with a sun protection factor (SPF) or a special care product. Don’t lick your lips in an attempt to moisten them as the saliva contains salts, which cause the lips to crack even more.

Lips require extra care if they are prone to peeling and cracking as this means that they are more susceptible to wrinkling as well. Ensure that you don’t have deficiency of one of the following substances: Vitamin B, iron or essential fatty acids. Don’t lick or bite your lips, because they will crack even more. Remove the dead layer of cells by massaging with a soft toothbrush. Increase your daily water intake.

The basic rule is: Always use hydrating and nourishing balms, lipsticks and glosses that have an SPF factor.

Lip Balm Baume Prodigieux Levres from Nuxe, 7 ml

Each and every one of the nuances of the lip balm Prodigieux(r) - Natural Crystal, Pink Legendaire or Sparkling Chocolate flawlessly fulfills its mission as means of seduction. These balms are a treat for your lips, as they moisturize, help protect from the sun rays and are the perfect finishing touch to your makeup.

Mango and sunflower oils increase the skin’s natural defense mechanisms by enriching the tissue with lipids, thus soothing the lips and improving their elasticity. The Shea butter nourishes and preserves hydration by retaining water in the cells. The sweet almond oil, rich in Vitamin A and E, is a soothing treat for dry lips.

Nourishing lipstick Lumene Premium Beauty, 3,8 gr

Long-lasting lipstick with Sea-Buckthorn oil for softness and exquisite shine. The patented complex Tri-peptidesTM soothes and protects the lips against the harmful effects of free radicals. The 15% water content restores elasticity and strengthens skin structures so that the lipstick doesn’t fall into the fine wrinkles around the lips.

Hydrating lipstick Lumene Cranberry kiss, 4,5 gr

The Red blueberry seeds oil nourishes the cracked lips and makes them silky smooth. The unique state of Vitamin E, Tocotrienol, which is contained in the blueberry, is the most effective antioxidant known to people. It reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles around the lips.

Hydrating Lip Balm Nivea Lip Care Hydro Care

This balm provides intensive and long-term hydration for the lips. Thanks to its light texture it is absorbed quickly with no greasy residue. The balm contains moisturizing Aqua spheres and natural ingredients: Shea butter and Jojoba oil.

Lip Gloss (Natural Nuance) Nivea Lip Caregloss and shine

These glosses add irresistible brilliance thanks to the ultra sparkling pigments they contain. They nourish the lips, don’t stick and add a hint of fruity flavour. The ingredients are Shea butter and Vitamin E.

Moisturizing lip balm Dry Skin SOS от Avo

The jojoba oil and moisturizing complex protect the skin from drying effects.

1.What makeup tools do I need for the proper makeup application?

You need powder brush in order to apply the powder evenly. These brushes must be full and round in shape. The blusher brush allows you to apply the blusher evenly, because they are especially designed to define the natural curves of the cheekbones. You also need a small brush to comb and shape the eyebrows. You can apply the foundation with a special makeup sponge or with your fingertips. The makeup tools should be clean and of good quality. To learn more see How to choose and how to take care for your makeup brushes

2.Why should I use face powder?

The face powders give a matte appearance to the face and fix the foundation. They sat up the makeup, set the concealer and give your face a finish look. Applying face powder is the fastest and the easiest way to correct your makeup during the day. There are two types of powder – pressed and loose. Pressed powder helps you maintain a matte appearance to the face and the loose powder serves as a base for the makeup products.

3.Why should I use foundation?

The foundation gives your face an even color. It’s a base for the makeup application. Foundations cover both areas of coloration and blemish discolorations. They hide little pimples, dark spots, red spots, blackheads and whiteheads. A foundation should be applied straight after the application of a moisturizer.

4.How can I choose the right foundation?

Selecting the right shade and type of foundation can be really difficult. It comes in a variety of shades and textures. Those with oily skin should choose a foundation containing less oily ingredients; it should be a thick liquid. Foundation that is more liquid and containing moisturizing ingredients is appropriate for dry and sensitive skins.

5.Can the blusher help shape my face?

Yes, the blusher can help shape your face, making a log face appear rounder and a round face appear longer. The blusher should be applied after the foundation with a special blusher brush.

6.Is it true that the foundation and the face powder suffocate the skin?

No, it isn’t true. Nowadays these products don’t suffocate the skin’s pores. They protect the skin from the atmospheric influences and from the UV rays. They moisturize and nourish the skin, some of them have even an anti-ageing effect.

7.How can I make my lips appear fuller?

You can make your lips appear fuller with the help of well-applied makeup. Apply a dusting of powder to the lips to maximize the lipstick’s staying power. Line the outer edge of your lips before filling in with lipstick or lip gloss. Apply the lipstick carefully and at the end add a little luster in the middle of the lips. To accentuate the lip size use a liner a hint darker but never draw outside your mouth.

8.How can I make my eyes look bigger?

To make your eyes look bigger you should apply eyeshadows and eyeliner in right shades. At the inner corner of the eyelid apply a shadow in the lightest shade. The darker shadows should be applied in the middle of the lids to the outer edge of the eyes. Use white eyeliner for the inner corners of the eyes. Curl the lashes to achieve an innocent look and apply two coats of black or brown mascara. The mascara will make your eyelashes look thicker and longer.

9.How can I give a depth to my eyes?

To give a depth to your eyes outline the eyes’ contour/ close to the lashes/ with black or brown eyeliner. Use a small brush and blend well.

10.How can I hide the dark circles under the eyes?

To hide dark circles under the eyes you must use a concealer. Apply it before the foundation and blend it well. Choose a concealer with a yellow or peachy undertone to neutralize the blue and the green in the circles. Finish with translucent powder.

It is a must do to remove your entire make up before you go to sleep. If you do not make this a habit,, you will be staining your bed sheet and pillowcases every night. Further more this can cause worsening of skin problems like pimples, acne, dry skin etc for you.

A good make up remover must contain the right amount of water and oil in it as well as Vitamin E and Vitamin B5. Follow these tips while removing makeup:

- You should shake and mix the remover well before applying.
- Gently clean your lips with a cotton pad soaked in with the remover.
- Clean your upper eyelids by rubbing in an outward direction from the top.
- Clean your under eye lids by moving the moist cotton pad in an outward direction from the bottom.
- Use only mild makeup removers.

- Make up remover specifically for your eye should not be used in for any other part of your face.
- Mascara is hard to be removed with normal makeup removers. Baby shampoo can help you in getting rid of mascara. As Baby shampoo contains only mild detergents, it will not cause any irritation on your eyes.
- If used in smaller amounts, baby shampoo can be used to get rid of make up from other parts of your face as well.
- You may apply extra virgin olive (EVO) oil in order to remove waterproof mascara. As EVO is a natural anti-oxidant, it would be really great for your skin.
- Baby oil can be used as a great makeup remover as most cosmetic products like blush, foundation, concealer etc are water-soluble. After removing the entire makeup by using a tissue soaked in baby oil, you can wash your face in water to gain a very refreshing feeling.
- When you start the makeup removal process, always start from your eyes.
- Always choose the right kind of cleanser to suit your skin type.

A short cut
Apply some of your regular mayonnaise on your face and remove it with cotton. This would be a trick to get rid of your make up the cheapest way and fastest.

The most kissable lip look? The same one that's pretty any time: your natural shade with a kick.

Step 1: Prep
Smooth lips with lip balm. Avoid slick products, such as Vaseline or anything else petroleum-based (they will make the lipstick slide off).

Instead, apply a waxy balm, such as Chapstick, and massage into lips with your finger tips. Then let it sink in for a few minutes.

Step 2: Pick Your Stick
Grab one that lets lips show through, such as a sheer lipstick or light gloss.

Apply...LIPSTICK straight from the tube. Blend into lips and along your lip line with fingertip.

Apply LIP GLOSS with the wand or a lip brush. Smooth out with your fingertip.

Step 3: Blot
When you are finished applying color, lightly kiss the back of your hand. This will get rid of excess product without cutting down on the sheen. Then, gently smack your lips together to even out the color one last time. Pucker up!

A QUICK FRESHENER AND TONER:
Tension shows in your face when your features look drawn and your expressions frozen and rather set. A good laugh is the best way to relax a tense face, but this exercise routine will help you to liberate and tone the key muscles quickly: try it when you are sitting in the bath , not at the traffic lights...