One of the easiest ways to pump up your look, add a little style and make yourself feel great is to paint your nails. There is something about a nice set of freshly painted nails that is a real confidence booster. Painting your nails really doesn’t take too long and the look can last for days if you do it correctly.

You’ll find a ton of beauty reviews on how to apply your nail polish. What could be easier? Nail polish is a breeze, right? Like anything, it is simple if you follow a few simple steps.

1. To polish your nails you will want to start by choosing the right shade. Choose something that you will be fine with wearing for about a week or so. If you plan on changing the polish color or going back to nude nails keep in mind that darker shades may tend to stain your nails and require extra work to remove.

2. You will also need a good base coat and top coat polish, Bonjois has a great top coat polish that will work nicely.

3. Start by removing any old nail polish with a non acetone nail polisher remover. You can push back your cuticles, if desired.

4. Trim and smooth your nail edges.

5. Apply the base coat in an even layer. The professional trick to applying nail polish smoothly is to use three swipes of the brush – one in the middle and then one on each side.

6. Then apply you chosen shade. I recommend two coats if you’re a busy girl like I am.

7. After that is dry apply the top coat. What could be easier?

Nail polish is a simple step that makes you look well groomed and classy. Frankly, I find it therapeutic to be able to focus on something so uncomplicated in the midst of a drama filled day!

Final Tips:

It is very important that you make sure each layer is completely dry before moving on to the next. Also be sure you let your nails dry before doing anything to prevent smudging and messing up your freshly polished nails.

Your nails should stay looking great for about a week. You should apply a top coat every other day to help extend the life of your polished look.

Enjoy!

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Manicures can be a delightful and relaxing experience for most. For me, it was something that I was talked into because no matter where I went I ended up having what I thought was an allergic reaction. The skin above my nails would start to peel. It completely defeated the purpose of having a manicure and making my hands look nice.

Well a few weeks ago I had to go get a manicure again for a family event and I finally found a manicurist that told me what was really going on. It isn’t the chemicals. It is the cuticle removal process. If the technician cuts too deeply into the cuticle it forms a cut that actually keeps going. This causes the skin to peel in strips.

If you have experienced the same phenomenon there is a simple solution. Simply tell the technician that this tends to happen when you get manicures and have her not cut so deeply. Leave more of the cuticle in tact and you can have a great looking manicure without irritating your skin.

I love simple beauty solutions. Don’t you?

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Top Tips on How to Apply Makeup

If you’re like me, somewhere in preadolescence you probably learned how to apply makeup. What most girls this age don’t learn is how to apply makeup correctly. Applying makeup is an art and it has to be done correctly or you could end up looking like a clown.

Here are some of my favorite tips on how to apply makeup.

• Focus on one feature or go natural on all features. For example, if you want to make your lips stand out then go with a bright lipstick, but keep your eyes and cheeks subtle. Not only does this keep you from looking too made up, but it also helps to really make the highlighted feature pop.
• Start out light. You can darken much easier then you can lighten. You want to always start out with the least amount of makeup and then work up to your finished look.
• One last thing to know when you apply makeup is that it is a layering process. For your skin you should start with moisturizer. You can then add concealer or foundation or both. Then you finish with a powder.
• For your lips you start with a bit of moisturizer to smooth, add some lip liner and then the lipstick or gloss. When you are learning how to apply make up it is always best to buy products that are made for the beginner. You can get brushes or even actually makeup designed to make application easier. Something like Sephora Brand Perfect Ten Brush Set ($150 Value) Perfect Ten Brush Set which gives you all the brushes you will need in one handy case. Good brushes will help you to apply makeup better and more easily.

Just follow the rules and use good products when you are beginning to apply make up so that you can look more like someone from a fashion magazine rather than the circus.

Sincerely,

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

I’ve always said that the eyes are one of the greatest features to play up when applying your makeup. Mascara cosmetics are a great way to play up eyes because there is a range of options so that no matter what your eyes may look like, you can make them look great with a little mascara.

Using mascara cosmetics is something that many women shy away from. The idea of trying to delicately paint your eyelashes with the tiny wand is more than gals can handle. It really isn’t that bad, though. Once you learn how to do it you can quickly apply a couple coats every morning with ease.

One of the biggest issues with applying mascara cosmetics is that the mascara gets on the area around your eye and can be difficult to remove. This is caused by not allowing the mascara to dry. It is a rather fast drying product so slowing down a bit when applying will eliminate this common problem.

Here are some of my best tips for choosing a great mascara!

Choose a type: As mentioned, there are a variety of different types of mascara. You will find mascaras that separate and some that plump. You will also find a variety of wand styles. You should read the product description and choose the mascara that will suit your needs and desires.

Get a magic wand: A great product for those of you want volume, length and curl all in one with an easy to use brush is Stila Multi-Effect Mascara Black. This mascara has a curved wand that will help you avoid getting the mascara on your face.

Find a winning formula: Look for a mascara formula that is made to plump and lengthen your eyelashes. It is a great product for beginners or experienced mascara users.

Now that you have chosen your mascara you can begin.

It is best to start with the upper lashes. You want to look down a bit so that your eyelashes are not lying right against your eyelid. Brush them slightly with the wand. Keep looking down for a couple of seconds to allow the makeup to dry. You can then add another layer of mascara if you would like.

To finish you need to do your bottom lashes. You do not want to brush them or you will end up with mascara all over your face. Instead use the end of the wand and run it back and forth across your lower lashes to coat them. Again, make sure you hold your head so that the lashes are not lying against your face.

It is that simple. Now you can really make your eyes stand out with a little mascara. On those days when you are running late try using just mascara and you will be surprised at how great this product can work alone. It is a quick and easy cosmetic product that you will make you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Try it for yourself.

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Toe nail fungus is the bane of beach goers everywhere. You want to slip into those sandles and have cute men admiring your perfectly coiffed toe nails and the slender shape of your ankles not cringing at the sight of yellow brittle nails.

After a not so pleasant experience at a nail salon, my big toe was in desperate need of attention. I tried all the so called specialized products with no luck, then my mom told me about an old remedy that sounded strange but actually worked - Vicks.

Yes, vicks the cure all that your mom used for every cold and cough actually seems to work on toe nail fungus. Just spread that menthol concoction on your toe a few times a day and you will actually be amazed at how quickly the nail fungus begins to fade away.

You will begin to notice that the dense nail begins to thin and a newer healthier nail starts to grow in. It also helps if you can keep your feet bare as much as possible. Bacteria loves heat so socks, especially colored ones, seem to aggravate the symptoms.

Now no one beauty treatment will work for everyone. This one worked wonders for me so I thought I would pass it along. Try it for yourself and get ready to strap on your sexiest pair of sandles this summer.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

Need naturally softer lips in seconds?

• Rub a bit of honey on them using the tips of your fingers.
• Leave on for 30 seconds then gently wipe off with a warm, wet towel.
• Follow with a lip moisturizer or even some chapstick.

Easy and inexpensive. What could be better?

Enjoy your softer lips or better yet find some lucky guy to compliment you on them daily.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

I have finally found out where to buy Annick Goutal perfume online without spending a fortune. Watch my video to find out more:

Go to Amazon.com now and get your next Annick Goutal perfume for less:

One of the greatest products on the beauty market today is sheer cover makeup. The whole concept is great coverage without a thick look. Beauty reviews are always talking about sheer cover makeup because it is an amazing creation.

Since the dawn of makeup there has been the issue of too thick coverage that looks more costume like then natural. The point of makeup is to enhance your look, not cover you up and make you look fake. With sheer cover makeup that is exactly what you get – good coverage of those less than perfect spots without a heavy made up look. It is the true dream product.

One of the hottest new products is airbrush makeup. It has been used in the entertainment industry for quite some time, but it is now in the mainstream. ModelCo Shimmer Airbrush Luminizer Shimmer Airbrush Illuminizer is a great choice in this type of sheer coverage. It contains plenty of vitamins for that something extra that leaves your skin looking radiant. You get sheer coverage and look amazing when you use this product.

Sheer cover makeup is a great option if you hate looking like you caked on makeup. It is also wonderful for your skin because it doesn’t clog pores and won’t cause a greasy look. Of all the new products on the market, sheer cover makeup is one thing you can not miss out on. You will wonder how you ever did with that old makeup once you try sheer cover makeup.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

When someone asks what one makeup item I can not live without, I tell them that of all the cosmetics, lipstick is it. Every woman should have a lipstick that they love in their cosmetic collection. Lipstick can dress up your whole face in a second.

The best part about lipstick is there are so many choices. When it comes to cosmetics, lipstick is the one thing that has so many options you can find a new one for each day, mood or outfit. You can choose from matte, glossy and sheer. You can get almost any color you desire, from the classic red to the Goth black. If you are serious about lipstick then you can go with something like the Sephora Brand Classic Blockbuster, which includes 32 different lipstick colors.

The reason that no woman should go without makeup is that it helps to really bring out natural beauty. Apply some lipstick and you will see what I mean. It helps bring out the natural glow in your cheeks and the highlights in your eyes. It is a quick and easy beauty solution.

Besides all of the reasons above, lipstick is the easiest thing to apply. A couple swipes of the tube and you have it applied. It is really one of the simplest makeup items. There really is no reason for you to not wear a little lipstick everyday.

Beauty reviews and beauty experts will agree that having a good collection of lipsticks is essential. So when I am asked what I can not live without in regards to cosmetics, lipstick is always number one on the list.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

P.S. This makes a fantastic gift for those of you who hate spending hours at the makeup counter to find the perfect shade for your skin tone only to find that it doesn’t go with most of your outfits. If you love to play around with wardrobe and color then this cosmetics kit will be a complete lifesaver: Sephora Brand Classic Blockbuster

As a woman, you likely have a hair care routine, a skin care routine and a multitude of other routines that all fall under the main heading of beauty care routines. It’s a simple fact that in this world you have to keep up your beauty care or you will lose out on jobs, dates and almost anything else that requires you to get noticed. (Not to mention that little thing called self-esteem!)

You have to develop some type of beauty care routine. It should be something that you can do everyday and that will be easy for you. If you feel your current routines are too much to handle then it may just be time to stop and revise your beauty routines.

You should start with understanding the basic care that you need – hair, skin, nails, and face. Skin and face are separate because there are many things you only do to your face that you do not need to do to your whole body. One of my favorite face creams is by Bliss. The Bliss The Youth As We Know It is an amazing anti-aging cream that’s great whether you’re started to see lines yet or not. You’ll want other moisturizing products for the rest of your body.

Speaking of different products, the next step is looking at the products you need. You should start with finding products that are made for you and your needs. You can look at beauty reviews to get a good idea of what to use. Try choosing products that serve a dual purpose. This will cut down on the number of products and the overall time it takes for your beauty care.

Once you choose your products you should naturally be able to work those products into a routine. Try to stick to minimal standards and avoid spending too much time on your beauty needs. You do not want it to be a hassle or you will not likely stick with it.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls