Go for Shine and Sheen this holiday season!

For Gleaming lids like Rihanna:

Keep sparkle close to the lash line or inner corner of the eyes to brighten and dazzle.

For Lustrous lips like Paris Hilton:

Shimmer, frost and sparkle textures make lips appear fuller.

For Shimmering skin like Katherine Heigl:

Dust shimmer beneath your brow and along the top of your cheekbones for a candlelit glow.

For Glittering fingertips:

Lighten up dark holiday nail shades by layering on an iridescent or sparkly top coat. 

Other tips to take note:

- Team your sparkle with matte textures to keep a mod, sophisticated look.

- Shy away from products that look like chunky craft glitter.

- Do not add sparkle to more than two features at once and play down the rest of your makeup.

- If sparkle is too much for you, try shimmer or metallic shades instead. 

Windows to your soul

Using liquid eyeliner can be daunting, but it is such a gorgeous, glamorous look. Practice using these tips and you will soon be applying eyeliner like a pro:

1) Apply the liner with your eyes open and use it on the upper lid only.

2) Tilt your head back about 30 degrees and look at the mirror. You might want to rest your elbow on a table to stabilize your arm. Pull your lid away from your eye very gently using one or two fingers, then apply eyeliner from the inner corner to the outer, getting as close to the lash line as possible.

3) Try using short, feathery strokes if one solid line is too hard to start. You can always go back and fill in the dots.

Using pencil:

Start from the outside and draw towards the inner corner, as you tend to apply more pressure from the start and the outer corner should have a thicker line.

Using gel:

1) As gel liners dry fast, you must act fast.

2) Use a slanted brush or flat-tip brush. 

3) After dipping into the eyeliner, dab off the excess.

4) When applying eyeliner, avoid excess dragging to get a clean line.

To note: Keep plenty of cotton buds and eye make-up remover on hand to correct mistakes.

There are many ways to make your eyes look bigger. Lining the inner rims with a white pencil is a tried and true method of really making them appear wider and brighter. Lashes are the next stop - they are a great eye opener. Before applying mascara, make sure you give them a good curl from the base to the tip. It is also better to keep eye-shadow light and sheer. Avoid dark shades as they will cause your eyes to recede and appear smaller. Highlight the brow bone and add a soft wash of color to the lid.

Pamper your hands..

Due to constant exposure to water, detergents, wind, air-conditioning and sun, our hands lose moisture and elasticity. Therefore our hands deserve the same treatment, if not more, as our face and body.

In order to keep the skin on the backs of your hands soft and smooth, exfoliate the area regularly. This will prevent them from aging prematurely. You can also apply a relaxing mask to the back of your hands, along your fingers and down to the base of the nails. Carefully hold your hands over a bowl of hot water, so the steam can activate the mask. Then wipe away and moisturize. Use an intensive hand cream that will give long-lasting hydration and improve the appearance of your skin and nails.

While cuticle creams and oils are a must to avoid painful hangnails and dry cuticles, some people have rough skin all round the tips of their fingers. You can slather the oil or a very thick moisturizer over the skin and slip your hands into some soft cotton gloves. You may also want to wear the cotton gloves while doing your household chores, just until your skin heals.

If you love long nails and cannot bear it if you split or tear one, then a repair kit is a must-have. Square sides help to reinforce the fingernails and prevent splits and breakage.

A good start to strengthening weak nails from the inside out is to eat foods rich in protein and calcium. However while waiting for the new diet to take it's effect, try one of the fantastic topical treatments that can turn severely damaged nails into strong, sturdy talons.

Tool of the trade

A good lip brush will banish two great make-up sins - harsh liner and crooked lipstick. You will get a better result if you apply color with a brush because you can blend the liner into the main shade and get a smoother finish - plus you will be able to dig out that last bit of lipstick from the tube. Use your lip brush to apply concealer too - after a thorough cleaning, of course!

Do you know...

Most cleansers, moisturizers and exfoliators for men are all right for women to use. Male and female skincare products are quite similar in terms of main active ingredients. The only differences are in the fragrance, menthol or slightly higher concentrations of some ingredients. You can use his products when staying over. However, do take note that prescribed skincare products should not be shared.



You do not have to pack your own skincare now. Isn't that great?

How often should I exfoliate?

Exfoliating regularly will give you brighter looking skin and allow products to penetrate more easily. How often you exfoliate your face depends on the coarseness of the granules - superfine can be used daily, and products with larger grains should be used about twice a week. Three time a week is good for your body - apply the scrub to dry skin before showering. Your scrub will be more effective and go further. Always use rubbing motions towards your heart, it helps expel toxins.