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It never fails. You have a big weekend planned, good friends, lots of laughs… not to mention you’ve got a fierce outfit already picked out. And then, BAM! Right there…in the middle of your chin…a pimple the size of an apple. There’s no way you can get that thing cleared by Friday night, right? Wrong!  We just so happen to have 10 easy and natural cures (that you probably have around the house right now) to send that pimple packing ASAP.

• Toothpaste – This is a tried and true pimple buster. Just make sure it’s a white toothpaste, not a gel-based one. The cleaning properties in it work to absorb oil, while the anti-bacterial properties fight bacteria. You only need a very small amount, dab it onto the pimple, and allow to dry overnight.
• Honey – Put this down on the long list of amazing things that honey can do. It is a natural antibiotic which helps kill the bacteria that causes pimples. It is also naturally hydrating, so it won’t dry out the skin around the pimple (unlike the toothpaste, which might cause a little redness). Dab a small amount onto the pimple and allow to dry (at least an hour). Wipe clean with a warm damp cloth.
• Calamine lotion – Yes, in addition to treating severe itching caused by anything from chicken pox to poison ivy, Calamine lotion can also be used to treat acne. Since it contains zinc oxide, it soothes the redness and reduces the inflammation of acne. It also works to absorb the excess oil in and around the pimple. Just dab some on the pimple before and allow it to dry before you go to bed.
• Orange peel/Banana peel – It sounds odd, but they’ve been known to work! The acidity in the orange peel works to dry out the pimple, and the banana peel contains Lutein, which is a powerful antioxidant that also reduces inflammation. Choose either peel (the orange might be too acidic for sensitive skin), then rub gently in circular motions over the pimple and allow to dry. Then rinse clean with a warm damp cloth.
• Aspirin paste – When crushed and mixed with a few drops of water, made into a paste, and applied to the pimple, this aspirin cure can be remarkably effective. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory agent, so it works to reduce the swelling and redness. Dab onto the pimple, allow to dry, and leave it on the area overnight.
• Baking soda – Baking soda is another classic cure-all home remedy that has been around for many years. To use on pimples, add a few drops of lemon juice or water to the baking soda, make a paste, and then apply to the area. Allow to dry for 10-15 minutes, then wipe clean with a warm damp cloth.
• Lemon juice – This treatment can be a bit drying for those with sensitive skin, but it really does work. First, make sure you are using fresh, real lemon juice, not something from concentrate or a container. Lemon juice is not only a natural astringent, but it also has acidic properties that help to dry out and treat the pimple. Dab the lemon juice onto the pimple with a cotton swab or cotton ball, and allow the juice to dry on the pimple (20 minutes or so). Then wipe with a warm damp cloth. You can then apply an oil-free moisturizer, if necessary.

And, just like that…you’ll be all set to hit the town with your friends, rocking that perfect outfit, and that nasty pimple will be a distant memory!

You’d like to think of yourself as pretty hip, sometimes adventurous, and you definitely know a thing or two about makeup. So when you get invited to a party, you immediately think of all the wonderful, slightly daring, party eye makeup looks you want to try…but when the night comes, you settle for the safe-but-pretty brown smokey eye and marginally-brighter-than-you-normally-wear red lip. Well, we say no more! No more playing it safe! It’s a party…you should have party eye makeup to match!

• Glitter girl – The easiest, fastest, and most fun way to get the party look you’re after is to go for glitter! Party eye makeup is glitter eye makeup. And glitter eye makeup needs a good lid/shadow primer first (best picks: Urban Decay Primer Potion and Too Faced Glitter Glue). Apply to lid and allow to dry before patting on glitter shadow (pat…don’t sweep! It will go everywhere). There are many powder shadows with anywhere from a little to a lot of glitter, but if you want to pack a true punch, check out a glitter pigment (MAC has several amazing shades).
• Metallics – Metallic eyeshadow brings a lovely and highly reflective shimmer to the eye area. Here, too, a good primer is recommended before use, since this party is going to put your new party eye makeup through its paces. Metallic shadow can also be used along with matte shadows to create a sultry and edgy smokey eye.
• Big lashes – Another winning way to make a big statement is with big lashes! You can flaunt your own by first curling with your trusty ELF eyelash curler, applying lash primer, and then two coats of the best thickening mascara you can find (Dior Show or Maybelline The Falsies are both awesome for adding volume and length). Of course you can opt for false lashes too! There are literally hundreds on the market to choose from (some of the best picks for quality and cost are Eylure, Ardell, and Dolly Wink). Many are natural hair or mink eyelashes, and are reusable. All it takes to create a look is eyelash glue, and a little imagination!
• Liquid eye liners – The choices of liquid eyeliners and liquid eyeliner styles today can help create incredible and fun eye looks. And liquid liners aren’t just black and brown…there are bold and vivid brights, sparkling jewel tones, mega metallics, and even glitter! Line just the top lashes for a flirty pop, or line the entire eye for an exotic wow!

There are so many eye makeup options, you can’t help but step out of your comfort zone in the most beautiful and daring way. Remember, you’re going to a party or event… your makeup is not supposed to look like you’re just heading out to the grocery store or a regular ol’ day at the office. With a little courage, your look will no doubt win rave reviews from your friends…but, more importantly, your new party eye makeup will make you smile and give yourself a silent pat on the back every time you pass a mirror.

Just as a painter requires different brushes of all sizes and shapes to create a masterpiece, so too will the right choice in eye makeup brushes make your face shine like the work of art it is! There’s no need to break the bank buying fancy brushes, though (and trust us, you could easily break the bank with some makeup brushes on the market today)… we’ve got a list of your absolute ש-have eye makeup brushes right here!

• All-Over Shadow Brush (similar to a MAC 239, SEPHORA COLLECTION Pro Allover Shadow Brush #12 ) – This will be your eye makeup brush workhorse (and it was probably the first real brush many of us bought when learning how to do eye make up). A great all-around brush, the flattened head, dense bristles, and medium length head works well for the general goal of applying eye shadow. Pressed eye shadow, pigment eyeshadow, baked eyeshadow… this brush can handle it.
• Blending Brush (similar to a MAC 217) – This is one of those eye makeup brushes that will save almost any heavy-handed eye makeup application. Fluffy, soft, long bristles can gently diffuse any dark or harsh lines, and blend even the most contrasting shades seamlessly. Best used through the crease and into the outer v.
• Eyeliner Brush (similar to MAC 219 Pencil Brush, MAKE UP FOR EVER 258 Large Precision Eyeliner Brush) – The fine, pointed tip is perfect for applying cream or gel liner, or precisely applying shadow either on top of, or in lieu of, gel liner.
• Stiff Dome Brush (similar to SEPHORA COLLECTION Classic Crease Shadow Brush #73, SEPHORA COLLECTION PRO Tapered Crease #19) – Useful in any number of eyeshadow application techniques, this is also known as a crease brush. The bristles are longer and stiffer than a regular shadow brush, which creates a nice crisp area of definition with shadow through the crease. You can also easily work it into the outer v to really elongate the shape of the eye. (Another contender for the best crease brush is the SEPHORA COLLECTION Pro Angled Shadow Brush #13… the angle of the bristles fits so nicely in the crease area!)
• Short Angled Brush (similar to a MAC 266) – Not only is this brush great for applying gel and shadow liner, it is a must-have for filling in and defining eyebrows! And if you need to go in and fill any bare patches missing liner after adding falsies over liner, you can dip the point of the brush into some gel or liquid, then dab the bare spots. (This is one of those fake eyelashes tips you probably won’t remember until you have it happen to you).
• Short Smudge Brush (similar to a MAC 214) – One of our favorite eye makeup brushes…ever! This brush has short, stiff, rounded bristles and it’s perfect for smoking out a lash line. It also works wonders to smudge out pencil liner, providing that smoldering look you long for with dark eye makeup or a smokey eye.

And there you have it! The most comprehensive list of must-have eye makeup brushes for any woman’s beauty arsenal. If you add a foundation brush, a powder brush, a blush brush, and a concealer brush, you will have a great basic set of tools capable of creating any makeup look you can imagine!  Now go make your masterpiece!