Make-Up Tips & Beauty Advice

It can be tempting to try to solve other people’s problems but it takes special skills and sensitivities, and even then it may not be what benefits them most. People are generally capable of solving their own problems. Ill-considered or unsolicited suggestions, however well-intentioned, can signal that you’re insensitive to the other person’s feelings or are trying to take control. This can irritate or hurt them, undermine their self-esteem and even threaten their relationship with you.

Tread Carefully

1. Listen Well

The issues may be more complex than they seem, and listening attentively will help give you a basis for better advice. More importantly, a sympathetic listener may be all the other person needs. Allowing people to unburden, air their anxieties, consider options and spot solutions of their own can be more empowering for them than imposing your solutions. And they’re more likely to follow their own advice.

2. Get Permission

Always ask whether the person has already thought of some solutions before giving advice. Say, ‘How have you considered handling this?’ If they are at a loss, add, ‘Would you like to hear my ideas?’ Even if the person specifically asks for advice, start by asking, ‘What are your ideas?’

3. Empathize

If you’ve experienced a similar situation, remember how you felt and what helped you. But everyone is different, so offer it as your subjective experience, not a one-size-fits-all solution.

4. Brainstorm

The other person is in the best position to know what will work for them. Ask questions to help them to consider all the factors involved, and to weigh up all the alternatives.

5. Know your Limits

To advise is to take the position of an expert, which can be unhelpful if you’re not qualified, or dangerous if the advice is in specialized areas such as law, health or psychology. If in doubt, direct them to professionals.

6. Be Straight

Are you genuinely considering the other person’s needs, or projecting your own hopes, fears or aspirations onto them? Being seen as a person who can give advice is a very powerful position and may make you feel rather superior. Consequently advice can be a value judgment, and what has been right for you may not be right for the other person. Examine your motives: are you promoting a line that may benefit you in some way, perhaps by putting the other person in the same position as you? (If you’re currently minus a partner, for example, could you be advising a friend to leave hers so she will share your lot?). Rather generate solutions together and discuss their various outcomes before deciding on a course of action.

7. Respect their Decision

Only the person involved knows what’s right for them, or what they’re capable of so if they don’t take your advice, accept it. But if following their own counsel could harm them or others (by perhaps not stopping drug usage, or committing a crime), contact the appropriate counseling services or authorities.

Applying make-up doesn’t need to be a difficult, expensive or time consuming task.  If you follow a few simple tips, you can achieve a great look from a minimum of cosmetics, in a short space of time.

One factor often overlooked when talking about make-up is a good skin care routine.  For maximum benefit you should cleanse, tone and moisturise morning and evening without fail.  Leaving stale make-up on overnight can cause premature ageing.  During the day it is important to protect your face from the sun even in the winter.  If you want to save time, buy a moisturiser that contains an SPF of at least 15. If not apply a sun cream after you have moisturised.

Once you have a clean face, apply skin adjuster to areas that need attention, for example under the eyes with a neutral adjuster or red cheeks can be “calmed” with a mint adjuster.  Use a very small amount of concealer to cover any blemishes.  It may also be an idea to put an eye base on your eyelids to even up skin tone and moisturise this delicate area.

Now your face is ready for foundation.  For a natural look, it is important to choose a foundation as close to your skin colour as possible and apply with a damp sponge, paying particular attention to the middle part of your face around the nose area.  Set with loose powder and apply blusher on your cheeks.  Depending on the shape of your face, you can use blusher to make the most of your features. 

Next apply eyeliner in a colour that suits you, under your lash line from the outside in as far as roughly two thirds along, towards your nose.  Apply a light colour eye shadow to the whole of your eye lid and then accentuate the outside corner with a darker shade and blend. Apply mascara carefully in a suitable colour.

Finally apply a lip base to your lips to moisturise and give your lipstick more staying power, outline with a pencil and fill in with your favourite lipstick, ensuring it suits your colouring.

For the evening go a shade darker with the lips, eyes and blusher.

To summarise your make-up bag should contain: one foundation, one loose powder, skin adjuster, eye base, two eye pencils, four eye shadows, one mascara, two blushers, one lips base, one lip pencil and two lipsticks. 

Make sure the colours you use are suited to your colouring.  You do not need to try and match what you are wearingand it shouldn’t take you more than ten minutes to apply your make-up.  If you find yourself short of time you can cut corners and still look great.  Apply  a tinted moisturiser, an eyeliner in a flattering colour, mascara and a sweep of lipstick or gloss and away you go, all in a matter of minutes. 

Personal debt is not only a very common problem in Western countries; it is a very difficult problem to prevent, or overcome, at an individual level. It is, indeed, very personal. For that reason, many people may want to keep quiet about it, and maybe not even tell close family that there is, or is about to be, a money problem. They would probably benefit from some help, but who do they go to for debt advice?

Prior to actually receiving debt advice, most people will go through three phases: Firstly, acceptance that there is a debt problem; Secondly, deciding whether to seek advice from a third party about the problem; and Thirdly finding out where to get advice and then seeking it.

Acceptance of a Debt Problem

Personal debt is something that many people may not even be aware of as a problem, even when it is. They may be in a revolving debt situation, whereby they keep borrowing more to make repayments on existing loans and credit card debts. As each facility reaches its maximum, they may seek another credit card, to add another creditor to their revolving debt cycle. Eventually, the debt roundabout stops, and creditors come after their money. If acceptance of the problem has not be there before, suddenly a person may be forced into acceptance.

Deciding Whether to Seek Debt Advice

Once the debt problem is accepted, or acknowledged, by an individual, they then have to decide if they need to seek advice.

Some people may be aware that they have a problem, and for a variety of reasons, may think that they can get by without any outside advice. They may think they do not need help as they can sort the problem out themselves. It is also quite common for some people to be too ashamed and embarrassed to admit that they have a debt problem, especially if they live in a country where being in debt has a social stigma attached to it, such as the UK. Others may just think that getting debt advice is either too expensive, or that they will be conned out of their money, or both.

Eventually, though, the weight of the debt burden forces most people to consider seeking advice on their debt situation. The pressures from creditors may become so overwhelming that even the most reluctant may seek some sort of expert debt advice or counseling.

Who Can Provide Debt Advice?

The next stage can be as difficult for many people as the earlier two: finding somebody appropriate, trustworthy and knowledgeable, who can be relied on to provide sound financial advice in a way that benefits you, and will help you extricate yourself from the burden of debt.

As with any problem, it is best to share with those close to you; indeed, with debt, they may well be affected anyway, so they should know. While you have been quietly suffering with debt worries and keeping it to yourself, your spouse or close friend may know somebody who can give free and useful advice, as well as share the emotional burden.

Should there be nobody in your close circle who is able to give you useful advice, which is normally the case, then you need to consider your local options.

The local options for debt counseling and advice will depend on where you live. The local laws may vary greatly, and it is important that you consult somebody who is aware of current regulations on consumer debt, and the treatment of debtors by creditors. That way, you may have your worries eased about your creditors coming to your house, and taking your possessions as a way of recovering their money. You will be aware of any legal protection you may have in your country or state, and act accordingly to protect yourself.

For those who live in the UK, there is a free option for debt advice: the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB). The CAB have specially trained people who concentrate mainly on consumer credit counseling work. They will provide the advice you need on your rights, help you assess the debts, and then write to your creditors on your behalf. Having an advisor who will contact your creditors, and deal with them on your behalf, can reduce the personal pressure enormously.

In other countries, options will vary. What can discourage many from seeking advice about their debt problem is a fear that they will be cheated by an unscrupulous counsellor. Debt is an industry that, unfortunately, does attract some who prey on the unfortunate. They may lure customers with claims of being able to clear a bad credit record, when in fact it is not possible to do so. They may tempt people in bad debt with consolidation loans, demand a high up front payment, and then get a high commission on the loan as well.

Such sharks are quite easy to avoid if you shop around for the best counselling services at a reasonable cost. The following tips may help wherever you live:

1. Check with local and central government agencies to see if there are any free debt advice services. If not, ask if there is a licensing system for legitimate advisors, and stick to those.

2. Be wary of outrageous claims to clear your debt, and requests for large upfront payments.

3. If you decide a consolidation loan may help, shop around carefully, and select the lowest interest rate option, with no upfront charges.

Once you have found an advisor, be sure to take their advice, and co-operate in every way you can to allow them to improve your debt situation. It will be worthwhile in the long run.

It is important to have a good base to work on so cleanse, tone and moisturise at least half an hour before application.  This will ensure the make-up doesn’t slide off your recently moisturised face!  Prepare your face before applying foundation with a primer to even skin tone.  Use your primer very sparingly so it doesn’t show through the foundation. 

Apply your foundation with a damp sponge.  Small spray bottles are very inexpensive and are an easy way to dampen your sponge.  You will find you use far less and it will glide onto your face.  As long as you have chosen a perfect match to your natural skin tone, you will look as though you have a naturally smooth face.

Use a tiny amount of eye base on your eyelids before applying eye shadow.  Not only will use less eye shadow but the delicate area around your eyes will be protected and the colour will be purer.

If your eye pencil is too hard during the winter, hold it under a hairdryer for about three seconds.  This will soften it sufficiently to give you a good line without pulling at the skin around your eyes.

Mascara should only be kept for six months, after this time you may find it has “gone off”.  Twist the wand in the tube rather than pulling it up and down.  This will ensure that less air gets in contact with the mascara and will help to keep it in a good condition.  

When applying lipstick, use a lip base first.  You will only need a tiny amount and it will moisturise your lips, give a truer colour so you won’t have to use as much lipstick.

Cosmetic counters are very attractive with all the different colours available and sales assistants readily available to sell you beautifully presented boxes of cosmetics.  It is easy to get carried away and come home with more than you need.  If you just stick to a few colours that really suit you, it will save you money and you won’t have a drawer full of barely used eye shadows and lipsticks that you will never wear.

Finding good relationship problems advice can be very difficult. It is not that there isn’t enough information. Almost everyone and their mother have relationship advice. If you tell someone, even a stranger on the street, that you are having trouble with a relationship, they will probably have something to say. Nevertheless, most advice for relationship problems is based on biases alone. Anyone you ask will most likely try to apply the lessons from their own relationship problems to yours. These lessons may be appropriate, but then again they may not be. Whether you are worried about breaking up relationship ties, or dealing with relationship problems for an ongoing relationship, it is always a headache if you can’t figure out what to do.

There is no point in getting relationship problem advice from a physician either. Even psychiatrists give lousy love advice most of the time. They say that they are qualified to give relationship problems advice, but in my experience they are often not good at this particular area. Don’t get me wrong – if your relationship is massively flawed and there is something psychotic about your partner, a psychiatrist will give you the right relationship problems advice – get out of it! Nevertheless, psychiatrists make terrible romantic partners. As such, how can you consider them fit to give relationship problems advice?

It has always seemed to me that the only way to get dependable relationship problems advice is to find a best friend who knows all about those things. Find someone with words of wisdom for dating help, go out for a few drinks with him whenever you are having relationship troubles, and trust his word implicitly. Friends like this are hard to find, and their skills at giving relationship problems advice should be fully exploited.

I get most of my relationship problem advice from my best friend. It is pretty odd because he has never been in a relationship himself. He’s actually not really been interested in dating at all, spending most of his time in more intellectual pursuits. Nevertheless, he gives the best relationship problems advice that you have ever heard. Maybe it is because he is looking at it from an outsiders perspective, but I swear that his advice is better than any advice column you could ever read! Getting romance advice from someone who has never been in, nor even desired, a romance is a little bit weird, but it has begun to feel totally natural to me.

Here are a few proven tips to help you look sexy and attractive in no time. Sometimes you don’t have to spend a fortune on beauty products/services in order to look sexy. All you need is some positive attitude, self confidence and a few tips like the ones in this article.

Beauty tip 1: Brush Your Teeth

Always take good care of your teeth. Keep them extra white and shiny (aka sexy). Visit the dentist every now and then to ensure your teeth are healthy.

Beauty tip 2: The Earrings

I strongly recommend using your favorite jewelry when trying to look sexy. I will stress the use of earrings especially at dark hours. A pair of metallic classy earrings can make the difference and give you the hottest look.

Beauty tip 3: The Red Lipstick

Red color is bound to attract attention. Nothing does the job better than a red lipstick. Younger women should also use some lip gloss to sweeten their lips and have that shiny attractive look. Older women should avoid lip-gloss and choose a red lipstick that matches their skin type. For example, a blonde lady should use a pure red lipstick while a dark-skinned lady should go for a dark-red one.

Beauty tip 4: Quit Bad Habits

No matter what you think, quitting bad habits like alcohol or smoke will have a tremendous impact on the way you feel and look.

Beauty tip 5: The Sun Glasses And The Hat

Some people look extremely sexy when they look mysterious. A pair of sunglasses of your choice will give you a mysterious and cute look and it will protect you from UVA and UVB radiation. How about adding a hat to the set? A hat will strengthen your sex appeal and will draw attention too.

Beauty tip 6: Elegant Fabrics

Try wearing clothes made out of elegant fabrics like silk or cashmere. These fabrics feel good and will boost you self-confidence. Plus, you can visualize you are taking the place of your favorite celebrity.

But enough with the beauty tips.

Keep in mind that outer beauty is not all you need. No matter how many tips you know, how many beauty products you’ve bought, how many experts/stylists you’ve taken advice from etc.

Do you have the right kind of mindset to look sexy? Do you feel good about yourself?

What is inside is reflected on the outside. You always have to take good care of your inside and feel good about it in order to achieve an astonishing and sexy look. Then you can apply all the beauty tips you want.

Here are 10 tips for a smaller business either to get started in marketing or to review what you are already doing and make improvements.

Tip 1: Look at what you are doing now

Start by looking at the marketing activities you use and the marketing skills you have. You are probably doing a lot of the right things already. However, you should:

* research what your market wants; where, when and why customers buy; what benefits they are seeking from your product or service; and what competitors are providing;

* decide on your objectives, identify and choose your target customer groups and position your business to serve your chosen market profitably;

* put the plan to work through selling and promoting your products and services to customers, through pricing and using appropriate distributors and agents effectively; and, finally,

* monitor the effectiveness of your marketing activities in terms of customer satisfaction and the impact on your bottom line.

Tip 2: Focus on the customer

Make the customer the focal point of everything the organisation does. Why? Because good, happy customers equal higher profits. If your team is too heavily sales or product oriented, consider a change of approach.

Tip 3: Set up an effective marketing team

In a customer-focussed organisation, marketing is something that everybody does – not just marketers. Everyone has a role to play, including:

* your managers – who plan and look to the future, allocate budgets for marketing activities and co-ordinate activities;

* your salesforce – who are the eyes and ears of the business and, through their frequent contact with your customers, can keep the business in tune with what the market is looking for;

* your marketing and communications staff – who develop and deliver marketing communications and support sales programmes as well as coming up with innovative new product/service ideas;

* your external marketing agencies and specialists – who are available to provide the occasional specialist support you need such as research, brochure design and printing, telemarketing or website development.

Good communication between all these groups is essential to good marketing. But two things, in particular, ensure success. Your business should be committed to its customers and ensures everyone pulls together to deliver high quality products and services on time, every time.

Tip 4: Divide your customers up into groups

Every customer is different so why treat them all the same? To start treating customers as individuals, look at how and when they buy. This will help to start putting them into groups and understanding the needs of each group. For example:

* High volume/high value buyers – place frequent large orders

* High volume/low value buyers – place frequent small orders

* Low volume/high value buyers – place occasional large orders

* Low volume/low value buyers – place occasional small orders

Groups of customers who have similar needs or who behave in a similar way are known in marketing as ’segments’. You will probably need to use different marketing techniques and approaches to reach different types of customer.

Tip 5: Identify customer benefits

Now you can identify why each customer segment buys your products and services and what ‘benefits’ they are seeking. This in turn will help you to target existing and new customers more effectively with specific products and services. As a result you can make better profits. For example, low volume/high value buyers may be more profitable for you than high volume/high value buyers who may continually squeeze you on price.

Tip 6: Decide how to deliver these benefits

You deliver benefits through what marketing people call the ‘”marketing mix”. These are essentially the tools of the marketing trade. Your goal here is to define your “unique selling proposition” (USP) – something that truly sets you apart from your competitors.

The basic marketing mix consists of:

* Product – the goods and services you are offering, including packaging and service content, such as warranty, after sales.

* Price – what the customer pays. Remember that there are different types of prices such as list prices, discounted prices, and many different ways to arrive at prices. Price may be used to communicate the position and values of the product/service.

* Place – how and where the customer obtains the product/service. For example, a catalogue company may allow customers to buy through the catalogue itself, on the company’s web page or through off-the-page advertising.

* Promotion – the means and mix of activities used to promote the product or service, for example, advertising, direct marketing, PR, exhibitions and trade shows.

But you should also consider the three extras:

* People – the people you employ and how they deal with your customers;

* Process – the way your business operates; and

* Physical evidence – the look of your premises, vehicles and the appearance of your staff. All can have an impact on how you are perceived.

It is usual to tailor the marketing mix to the needs of each segment.

Tip 7: Decide what and how to communicate

When you know who your audiences are and what they want, work out a message or messages to each customer segment. Since customers in each segment may want different benefits, the message to each segment may have to be adapted. The messages need to underline and explain the specific and relevant benefits that you can provide them. You can then decide the best way of communicating, whether it is through printed media, such as brochures, or electronic media, such as websites and email.

Tip 8: Make a marketing plan

Once you have made these key decisions, you have effectively developed a marketing strategy. Why not write it down? The plan may cover between 6 months to 5 years. Then you will have a document that explains what you are doing to anyone who needs to know. This includes your bank manager, external marketing agencies you use and new members to the team. It is a good idea at this early stage to involve members of the team who are going to be responsible for delivering the plan. The Chartered Institute of Marketing can help you devise your own marketing plan online.

Tip 9: Get on with it!

The marketing plan specifies what the marketing activities are, who is responsible for carrying them out and when. Now comes the time to get on and do it. Your role as a manager is to motivate your team and make sure you get the results you have planned for.

Tip 10: Measure and control

Your marketing plan gives you something to rate your performance on as you develop your business. For instance, if you spend money on advertising or PR, you can evaluate this against any increase – or decrease – in sales revenue, stock price or numbers of new customers contacting you. This will help you measure how effective your marketing activities are.