Woman Wearing Beige Dress with Beige Cardigan Posing
By Jennifer Whyte Fashion

Should You Wear a Cardigan Over a Dress for Wedding

You may be conflicted about what to wear a wedding as a guest. If you have concerns about the temperature and how you might feel alternatively too cold or too hot at times, you could be considering wearing a sweater, jacket or cardigan to the wedding.

Should you wear a cardigan to a wedding? Is that a fashion faux pas or is there a better answer? I understand that the bride isn’t the only one there’s usually antsy and anxious on the wedding day.

If you are a Bride and looking for something to wear over your Wedding dress when it gets cold, a cardigan may not be suitable, you’d be better sourcing something from a Bridal Boutique.

A lot of the guests worry that they might be distracting from the ceremony or stand out too much in the pictures or they might not be making the bride happy with what they wear.

All of these are valid concerns, especially in today’s picture-centric weddings, so let’s dive into the idea of a wedding cardigan and if it’s ever a good choice.

Cardigan over Dress for Wedding- Is It Okay?

When chosen well and paired properly, a cardigan over dress for wedding can work really well. It can be stylish, cute, and a perfect outfit match.

You want something that will be comfortable so that you won’t feel like you need to keep taking it on and putting it off throughout the wedding. That can be distracting, and you don’t want to draw unnecessary attention when it’s not your big day. Make sure you’re wearing something that’s a good fit and that provides the kind of warmth you want if you’re going to be at an outdoor event.

Keep in mind that some weddings start indoors and then go outdoors for pictures.

The cardigan can be a good choice if you’re going out into nippy, cold weather and you don’t have a jacket to go well with your outfit. Remember that pictures will be taken all throughout the wedding at most modern wedding events. There will probably be professional photographers prowling the entire ceremony as well as the reception party and dinner. You could end up in shots at any time, and even if it’s in the background, you want to make sure that your outfit looks good.

Choosing a cardigan over dress for wedding party look is fine as long as you have one that creates a pleasant overall look with your dress. Consider how the colors work together and if there are any clashing patterns or styles. Some cardigans look really frumpy or goofy, and those aren’t the kind of looks you want to end up with for a wedding event.

Be sure to choose a cardigan that improves the outfit you are wearing rather than taking away from it. That way, you won’t feel out of place when you feel cold and you want to slip it on.

What Dress to Wear with Cardigan for Wedding?

We talked about choosing the right cardigan, and now let’s talk about the kind of dress you might wear with a cardigan.

If you’re wearing a lengthy dress with long sleeves and lots of coverage up top, a cardigan may not even be necessary. Of course, you can always throw a cardigan on top of your dress, so long as the two go together well. It’s probably redundant and usually considered a fashion faux pas to put a cardigan over a long sleeve dress. It works best with short sleeved or strappy dresses.

Keep in mind that there may be a color theme for the wedding, particularly if you are in the bridal party. Make sure that your dress and cardigan are on point for the theme. That may mean buying a dress or cardigan especially for the occasion. It’s definitely best to choose something you will feel comfortable wearing again, so keep that in mind as you do your shopping.

Closing Thoughts

So, should you wear a cardigan over a dress to a wedding? It’s perfectly fine as long as you’ve been careful with your choice. You don’t want your look to stand out too much and pull a lot of attention away from the bride. You also want to make sure you’re comfortable with how you look in wedding pictures with the cardigan on.

Keep in mind that this isn’t piece of clothing that you can just take off and stuff in a bag if you’re not happy with how it looks and feels at the moment. You will be carrying it around with you the entire time unless you have some place to stow it.

Woman applying setting spray to face
By Jennifer Whyte Beauty, Cosmetics

Best Drugstore Setting Spray: Oily Skin, Dry Skin & More

Setting spray is one of those makeup secrets that a lot of people don’t know about. Or you may be familiar with this product even though you don’t use it, thinking it’s unnecessary.

If you’re someone who puts a lot of time into your makeup look, though, and you would like it to stay intact as much as possible, setting spray is an essential part of your makeup kit and an important addition to your makeup routine.

What Is Setting Spray?

If you want your makeup to stay on all day and not become smudged or washed out, then setting spray is what you need. A decent setting spray will ensure your makeup stays looking flawless and won’t let you down.

When to Use Setting Spray

If you want really great results when using setting spray and you want it to work as effectively as possible, it should be applied between layers of makeup. As you put on each layer, use some setting spray before applying the next layer. This will help each layer set and hold much better than it would otherwise.

Only use a little bit of setting spray on each layer. It doesn’t take a lot for it to be effective. It should be applied for the first time when you put on your foundation and powder. From there, just add it at the end of each layer of makeup.

Best Drugstore Setting Spray for Makeup

Settings spray tends to be a pretty simple product, so there’s no need to go to high end makeup stores to get your spray. You can find decent ones at your local drugstore. You just have to know what to look for.

Here are a few of the best options for drugstore setting spray:

  1. NYX Professional Makeup Matte Setting Spray
  2. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Spray
  3. Milani Making It Last Setting Spray
  4. Maybelline New York lasting Fix Setting Spray
  5. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water

These are some for the better all-around setting sprays, and you can pick any one of these up in most drugstores and feel confident about the kind of results you will get. What if you need a spray to work specifically for your skin type? You have some options for specialized drugstore setting sprays as well.

Best Drugstore Setting Spray for Oily Skin

If your skin is a bit oily, you need to use specialized products that take that into account. Otherwise, your oily skin will cause them to smudge or wear off quickly. With the right setting spray, your oily skin won’t be an issue and your true beauty can shine through.

We recommend Rimmel’s Stay Matte Fix & Go 2-in-1 Primer & Setting Spray as the best setting spray for oily skin. It contains a primer and setting spray in the same solution, which is really convenient. This product is incredibly effective at locking in your makeup and preserving your look. It can be used to give you a shine-free appearance so that your oily skin does not get in the way of what you are trying to achieve.

Best Drugstore Setting Spray for Dry Skin

What if you have dry skin and want a setting spray that accommodates you? Your dry skin can work poorly with some setting sprays, so you may need to choose something that is specially designed to work well with dryer skin types.

For that situation, we recommend the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe. It is soothing and moisturizing, so your dry skin will feel nourished under your makeup rather than deprived. It can be used as a makeup refresher throughout the day. You just spritz a little bit on every few hours to keep your makeup looking on point.

Does Setting Spray Work?

If you have used setting spray before and have not been pleased with results or you have heard about other people using it and it not working for them, you may have your doubts. Is setting spray actually effective at keeping your makeup in place or is the product just a marketing ploy?

It does really work if you use it properly. Remember to apply the spray between each layer of makeup and not to overdo it. If you follow the directions and apply it as it is supposed to be, setting spray will work very well for you. It will keep your makeup looking as vibrant and clean as it was when you first put it on for the day, preserving your look flawlessly.

Of course, it helps if you have a decent quality setting spray as well, which is part of the reason why we put this article together. We know there are some low quality setting sprays that will fail on you after a while, but they are not all like that.

You have to be discerning in your makeup kit choices, and that’s true when it comes to setting spray as well as anything else. If you pick one of the options we have listed here in this article or something else that is well reviewed and proven to work, you will be just fine.

Is Setting Spray Necessary?

Setting spray isn’t necessary all the time, but you will definitely want to wear it if you need your makeup to stay on for a long time or to look perfect for special occasions.

It’s also a good idea for someone with oily skin to use setting spray pretty much all the time so that their makeup does not smudge.

What Is a Good Dewy Setting Spray to Use?

The dewy look is in right now, and it gives you a vibrant, wet look that makes your skin appear more youthful. It’s different from an oily shine in that the dewy look creates a supple, glowing, and healthy look for your skin. Some setting sprays are better than others at helping you achieve that look.

The same spray we recommend for dewy skin- Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe– is also the best one for getting that dewy look. Since it is made for dry skin, it has to provide extra moisture and shine.

Do You Need Primer and Setting Spray?

In most cases, you can use one or the other and still have your makeup looking great. Most people will use both of them only for special occasions, when they want to take extra time on their makeup routine and get the best possible look. For everyday use, though, we don’t think using both is essential.

Do You Use Setting Spray before or After Makeup?

As we mentioned, setting spray works best when it is used after you apply each layer of makeup. Apply it when you are finished putting on your foundation and then use it after every subsequent layer of makeup to hold everything in place perfectly.

Tips for Applying Setting Spray

We want to leave you with a few pointers to ensure you get the most out of using your setting spray.

1. It As A Primer

You can apply setting spray after moisturizer and sunscreen but before foundation to act as a primer.

2. Boost your Highlighter

If you want to get more oomph out of your highlighter, apply some setting spray to your highlighter brush and use it in conjunction with the highlighter.

3. Best for Oily Skin

Most people don’t need to use setting spray every day, but if you have oily skin, it is a good everyday makeup routine addition.

4. Don’t Pay Too Much

There are some incredibly expensive setting sprays out there, but you can avoid them and just choose something that is well reviewed, like the products we mentioned here.

5. The Right Spray for You

Oily skin benefits from mattifying setting spray, while dry skin benefits most from hydrating setting spray.

 

Pre-Workout
By Ellis Francis Fitness

Alternatives to Pre-Workout: Caffeine Free & Natural

Giving your workout a jump start by chugging vitamin and nutrient shakes is a very trendy way of boosting your energy and preparing your body for a workout. However, doing that every time you’re going to go to the gym can be expensive, time consuming, and even boring.

The good news is, there’s more than one alternative to pre-workout juices and smoothies. We are going to share some of those with you, and you can pick from these options to determine what might be best for you. Feel free to mix them around and try different ones on different days, just to keep things interesting.

Caffeine Alternative Pre-workout

If you’re already a coffee drinker, it makes sense to use coffee as a way to give your body a boost before you start your workout. Caffeine is a natural alternative to pre workout that spurs your energy levels and helps you to feel invigorated.

You have to be careful about drinking too much coffee and using too much caffeine before your workout, of course. If you’re not paying attention or you overdo it, you can end up with a serious energy crash afterwards. You could also dehydrate your body a little bit or give yourself some jitters that will make working out difficult.

Coffee isn’t the only caffeine product you can use to start your workout off on the right foot.

You could try green tea as well or one of any number of energy drinks or sodas. Obviously, the energy drink and soda options are packed with sugar and not very healthy for you. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, we suggest avoiding those.

However, they can be stimulating alternatives to try once in a while for boosting your energy output and powering you with caffeine.

One thing to keep in mind about caffeine products is that they take about 45 minutes for the caffeine to kick in and start giving you the full effect. Make sure you have a large enough window there between when you drink your beverage and when you need the energy for your workout.

Pre-Workout Alternative to Caffeine

If caffeine is something you are trying to avoid for health reasons (or any other reason), then there is a healthy alternative to pre-workout staples and to caffeine as well.

You could try concentrated breathing, which is a type of breathing exercise that stimulates your body. It gets your blood pumping and your heart racing a little bit as it mimics that action of cardiovascular exercise, without the actual exercise.

Start off in the focused breathing pose. You have likely seen cyclists or swimmers do this before an event. You stand with your hands on your hips and push your index and middle fingers into your stomach.

From that position, start breathing in through your nose deeply. Breath in for a full seven seconds and then hold your breath there, keeping it in for an additional seven seconds. Then, breathe out through your nose for another seven seconds. This 7-7-7 method is very effective at oxygenating your blood and preparing your body for exercise. As soon as you finish one set of breaths, start into another, keeping that going for a total of three rounds of breathing.

Then, you need to speed things in and breathe in quickly through your nose and then blow it out fully and quickly through your nose as well. Do this 20 times to get the full effect.

From there, go back to the 7-7-7 breaths. That should finish you off and prepare your body for a workout.

This kind of breathing is not natural, so it can take some time to get the hang of it, but it does a great job of revving you up and energizing your body for the exercise to come.

Healthy Alternative to Pre-Workout

Another healthy and simple option you do to prep for the workout is to take a cold shower. This stimulates the body, getting all the nerve endings to be receptive and increasing your heart rate. The shock of a cold shower really speeds up your pulse and can make your breathing faster as well.

You do not have to wait until your workout is done to hit the showers. Take a few minutes to shower ahead of time so that you start your workout clean, refreshed, and energized. We promise this will wake you up and make you feel mentally focused and ready to go.

This alternative to pre-workout methods that are most common is simple and effective. It costs you nothing, which is why it is such a good option. You may not always have coffee or another caffeine stimulant available, but you should have access to a cold shower when you are ready for a workout.

Best Alternative to Pre-Workout That You Can Eat

Do you like the idea of a snack before your workout? There are some great options that don’t require you to pour liquids in a blender and chug them down.

Oatmeal is a healthy choice that will produce long-lasting energy. The protein and fiber content are great for your energy levels and ensure you don’t crash afterwards.

Salt is a good choice as well. You can either have some salt on its own or eat salty foods like nuts that are high in protein and fiber. Remember that when your body sweats a lot, it loses salt, and this will help ensure that you have enough salt for the workout and the recovery time afterwards.

Bread and pasta can be good choices as well due to their complex carbohydrates. That means they will give you a long energy boost. Just be careful about eating too much, as you can feel full and bloated and not have the immediate energy for the workout. Bread is a better choice than pasta because it tends to have some sugar, which means a quick energy boost for you as well as a long-term boost.

Fruit is great for your pre-workout snack too since it is a healthy source of sugar. Unlike processed sugars, the sugar in fruit is relatively good for you, in reasonably-sized quantities. Chomping down on an apple or having a banana before your workout will give you a quick energy spike to stimulate your body.

These are some alternatives to the standard pre-workout options, and maybe you can find a few that you like and that offer you a good boost of energy so that your workout is not so draining.

castor oil in womans hair
By Jennifer Whyte Beauty, Haircare

How to Get Castor Oil out of Hair

If you look at most of the beauty products you put in your hair, chances are that castor oil is in many of them. It is like a wonder oil for your hair, and that’s because it provides so many great benefits.

If you try to use just plain castor oil in your hair, you can focus on the benefits that only it is offering, but you may have trouble washing the oil out. Your hair can still feel greasy after a treatment, so what do you do about it? You obviously don’t want to damage your hair in trying to get the castor oil out, but you want your hair to feel clean.

I’ll talk about how you can remove the castor oil in a moment, but first let’s talk about what this oil does and why you might want to use it in your regular hair care routine.

Castor Oil Benefits

Why use castor oil in hair at all? This oil is so good for your hair, and I’m going to go over some of the benefits for you here so you can become a castor oil fan as well, if you aren’t already.

Castor oil has a bunch of fatty acids in it that feed your hair, making it shiny, thick, and lustrous. If you want the kind of hair that you can just grab a bunch of together and pull without a few weak strands falling out because it is so strong, then castor oil is your secret weapon.

It is especially good for curly hair, since it helps to moisturize the hair and treat damaged areas. It can bring your hair back to life and make it shinier, fuller, and much healthier. The fatty acids do a great job of keeping moisture locked in, so your hair is hydrated and nourished throughout the day.

While castor oil won’t make your hair grow fast, it does offer some other benefits. It works on all sorts of hair health problems and eliminates them, like inflammation and infections. The oil is an anti-microbial and an anti-inflammatory, which makes you wonder why more people don’t see castor oil as a super essential treatment for hair to make it extra healthy. It works on both the scalp and the hair, improving their health.

If you are trying to regrow hair, then castor oil should be in your hair care kit for sure. It makes it easier for hair to regrow smoothly and it boosts healthy growth, not making the hair grow faster but ensuring it grows in stronger and less likely to fall out or break.

How to Get Castor Oil out of Hair

Okay, so I have talked about the amazing benefits of castor oil and why you should be using it immediately, and now let’s get into what you need to do to get excess castor oil out of the hair so that your hair feels clean.

It can be tough to get castor oil out of hair, and that’s because this oil is really thick. It just doesn’t want to come all the way out. My recommendation is to start with hot water and whatever shampoo you use. The hot water is a natural degreaser that won’t harm your hair.

The hottest you can make the water and still stand it, the better and more effective it will be at getting the oil out. The shampoo will work with the hot water to lift the oil out.

You may have to wash the hair a few times this way, because one wash might not be enough. It just depends on the texture of your hair and how much castor oil you put in.

If you still feel the oil in your hair after a few washes, you do have some other options. You can try an apple cider vinegar wash. Just rinse the vinegar right through you hair, not leaving it in for any length of time. Run the vinegar through and then wash the hair with water immediately afterwards.

You could also try some conditioner on your hair to remove the oil.

Let the conditioner sit in your hair for about 20 minutes and then wash it out as normal. That should be enough to get out any remaining castor oil.

How to Get Castor Oil out of Hair without Washing

If you would prefer to not get your hair wet, then there are a number of ways you can get the castor oil out. I want to share some of those with you.

Dry Shampoo

Just rub some of this into your hair and comb it out. It works really well at getting the castor oil out close to the roots. Dry shampoo will remove oil on contact without the need for any washing whatsoever.

Blow Dry

You can get oil out of your hair by blow drying your hair as well.

Just dampen your hair slightly and then apply some heat protectant to keep your hair safe. Apply it to one small section of hair at a time. Then, using the concentrator nozzle on the blow dryer, activate the dryer and hold it about an inch from your hair. Keep working until the hair is completely dry.

You may see what looks like some smoke coming off your hair, but that is just the water evaporating and not your hair being set on fire.

Baking Soda

The miracle of baking soda is that it can be used for practically anything, even getting rid of oil in your hair.

  1. Combine some baking soda with a little water to make a paste and then work that through your hair.
  2. Leave it to sit there for about 20 minutes and then clean it out.

How you remove the baking soda paste is up to you. It can be rinsed out, or you can leave it to dry out completely and comb it out.

There are a few other methods you can use, but they all involve you rinsing out your hair afterwards. Combining mint and rosemary works well, as does a combination of lemon juice and aloe vera. You could even wash your hair with eggs and rinse them out, but that might be a last resort.

The point is, there are lots of ways that you can get rid of the castor oil still in your hair, so don’t worry too much if your hair is still feeling greasy after you use products with castor oil in them. You have some options when it comes time to clean it out.

 

Woman doing Feet Elevated Press Up
By Ellis Francis Fitness

How To Do A Feet Elevated Press-Up

If a regular press up is not hard enough for you, why not take it to the next level with an elevated version? The press up, or push up, is one of those classic exercises that just about everyone will incorporate into their workouts because it offers so many benefits.

The typical press up works your chest, arms, shoulders, and back, with some benefit to the legs as well since they are providing support and balance. Let’s look at the elevated modification of the traditional press up, though, and see how it is different and how it can be used to improve your gains and your workout.

What Is a Feet Elevated Press Up?

This version of the push up uses an elevated position that places your feet on a higher surface than your hands. That stance pushes your upper body down harder with the force of gravity, making you work harder to push yourself up to the full height of your arms when they are completely extended. It means you have to exert more force from your shoulders, upper arms, and forearms.

In theory, it should give you greater gains, but it is not a push up that everyone will be able to do. This is the kind of exercise you move to when you want a greater challenge out of your workout.

How to Do a Feet Elevated Press Up

For this exercise, you will need to use an elevated surface. A workout bench or a box will work fine. If nothing else, you can use the seat of a chair. Just make sure that whatever you use is secured and will not slide out from under you when you start working out.

We recommend starting with a low elevation, because the higher your feet are elevated, the more force of gravity will be exerted on your upper body. That means you will have to do even more work to push yourself up.

Start by kneeling down by the bench or other elevated surface, with your back facing to it. Then, place your hands on the floor with your palms flat. Your shoulders should be directly above your wrists and the elbows should be bent at a 45-degree angle. From that position, put your feet onto the bench.

Your legs and shoulders should be lined up as you start the exercise. Once you are in position, brace yourself with your quads, your glutes and your core. Bend out at the elbows and let your upper body lower to the floor. Your neck and head should remain straight as you do this.
Once your chest and nose almost touch the floor, you can push yourself back up to the starting position as you straighten your elbows once more.

You can do 8-15 reps and 2-3 sets for this exercise, but be careful about overdoing it. It can be an exercise that puts a lot of strain on your shoulders and wrists in particular, so if you feel pain there, you need to stop the exercise. Make sure that your form is correct before you try again. Consider building up your upper body power first if the feet elevated press up is giving you a lot of trouble.

If you have the wrong form for this exercise, you will injure yourself, making it difficult to continue your workout. If you want to make the workout easier, you can lower your elevation. You may want to increase the elevation over time to give yourself a greater challenge and improve your gains.

Tips:

  1. As you do the elevated press up, be aware of the line of your back. Make sure it does not arch, and you can tilt your pelvis back a bit to help keep the back in line. Your core and glutes can be used to keep the line of your back stabilized as well.
  2. To keep your neck in the right position (a neutral position), look down as you do the exercise rather than up. Your back and neck should stay lined up as you do this exercise.
  3. Watch your elbows as well. They should stay at a 45-degree angle when you are down at the bottom of the press up. If they flare out, then your shoulders can experience undue pressure and may be damaged.

What Muscles Does a Feet Elevated Press Up Work?

This exercise puts a lot more strain on your upper body, targeting the pectorals, shoulders and upper arms, primarily. These muscles have to work harder than they would when doing a traditional push up, so the gains to those muscles should be greater. That is true only if you can sustain this exercise for as long as you would a regular push up.

Your forearms are worked as well, as are some of your leg muscles and your core muscles. However, the focus is off the lower body even more with this modification, so you won’t get the kind of gains you normally would for the lower body and core body muscle groups. Push ups are not really about those muscles anyhow, but the elevated push up is even less beneficial to those muscles.

There are modifications of the elevated foot press up you can do that will target some of your muscles even more. If you would like to focus on your triceps, biceps, or your shoulders and chest, then try some of these variations:

Wider Stance

Placing your hands farther apart will put more of the exertion on the chest and shoulders, building those muscles faster.

Narrow Stance

Bringing your hands closer together when you do the elevated push up will activate your triceps more and improve gains for that muscle group.

Inward Stance

By rotating your forearms and wrists in toward each other as you do the feet elevated press up, you will put the focus more on your biceps. This can be quite a strain on your wrists in particular, so you will want to take this one carefully and stop doing it if it is very painful.

Benefits of a Feet Elevated Press Up

Some of the benefits of this push up modification are immediately evident. Your gains for the upper body muscles can be improved by using this push up instead of the traditional version. For that reason, it is certainly worth trying this exercise out every now and then.

If you want to build a powerful upper body quickly, challenging exercises like this are crucial to that goal. You can’t just do the same kinds of typical exercises that most people do just to get in shape.

Of course, the elevated press up is great for toning the body and getting your heart rate up, helping you to lose weight effectively. It offers practically all of the benefits of the typical push up but with added benefits to the upper body and an increase in upper body gains. The lower body suffers a bit as a result, but not significantly.

One of the great things about the elevated press up is that it uses gravity to increase gains rather than incorporate expensive gym equipment or some other type of tool. That makes it a very versatile exercise that can be done practically anywhere at any time. You just need the appropriate elevation to make it work.

Pink Eyeshadow Over Eye Primer
By Jennifer Whyte Beauty, Cosmetics

Best Eye Primers By Skin Type: Mature, Dry & More

After you have used a few different eye primers, you will realize that they are not all the same. Some of them allow for smooth makeup application, and others are more difficult to work with. In this article, we are looking at the best eye primers on the market and what makes each of them worthwhile.

Applying eye primer is probably a minor part of your makeup routine, but if each component is excellent, then the finished result will be excellent as well. You want to look your best, after all, don’t you?

What Is an Eye Primer?

For those who may be unfamiliar with this bit of makeup, the eye primer prepares the skin around the eye for your eye makeup- eye shadow and such. The eye primer will make the rest of the makeup for this area of the face go on well, if it is of decent quality.

If you have ever had your eye shadow look rough and not blend well or it looks dull, then eye primer helps. It can give the eye shadow a more vibrant appearance and help it to look smoother and more effective. It can also change the texture of your skin so that makeup goes on easier and stays on longer. For longer lasting eye shadow, eye primer is essential.

Best Eye Primer for Mature Skin

If you have mature skin, then your skin has changed from its youthful, supple texture over the years. It may be tougher to apply makeup smoothly and get it to stay on and look like it should. Your skin is likely to be a bit rougher and more prone to wrinkles, so your makeup routine will have to adapt.

You may have to use specialized makeup products that take your mature skin into account. Which are the best eye primers for mature skin?

1. NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

This light primer goes on smoothly and tends to not crease. It stays on for a long time and is really easy to blend. All for that makes it perfect for mature skin.

2. Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

This one will dry to give you a matte finish, and it is excellent at evening out your skin tone. You only need a very small amount of it, so be careful about using too much. That means your purchase will last longer than with most eye primers, so that’s a bonus.

3. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Painterly

Our final selection for mature skin types is this one from MAC. This buildable primer lets you add other colors to help get rid of discoloration easily. It pigments splendidly and can double as eye shadow, if you like. The matte finish keeps it in place for a long time, and you should not have to worry about creases, even for all day wear.

Best Under-Eye Primer

What kind of primer works best under your eye? This sensitive part of the face may have dark circles that you need to hide. To get rid of the dark areas, you may want something that is lighter and brighter. Here are our top picks for under-eye primers:

1. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Eye Primer

This primer excels in a few areas. First of all, it is a great moisturizer, keeping that under-eye skin hydrated and locking in moisture. Secondly, the Hydro Grip Primer works very well with your concealer, helping it to have a good grip under the eye, which is where the primer gets its name from.

2. Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener

This is a two-in-one primer from Rihanna’s makeup line, and it primes and lightens the skin surrounding your eyes. It resists sweat, creases, and humidity, so you are good to go no matter what. This primer is also a decent moisturizer and conditioner, making your skin healthier and happier as it works.

3. Smashbox X Becca Under-Eye Brightening Corrector

Smashbox simply makes some of the best makeup and beauty products out there, and this is a great primer and brightener that does the work of a concealer as well. You can save yourself from having to use multiple products under your eyes and just go with this one. The reflective illuminators take the focus off your under-eyes, and the Vitamin E in this product is really good for your skin health.

What Is an Argan Oil Primer?

We know a lot of you are interested in using natural products as much as possible, particularly in place of conventional makeup products for the long-term health of your skin. Argan oil is a decent eye primer that is completely natural, if you are wanting an alternative to the cosmetic products we have listed here.

Argan oil can be used as a hydrator and moisturizer, so adding a few drops to your skin can help it to feel nourished and rejuvenated. It will keep your skin looking better for longer. You can add some to your foundation so that the foundation stays on better and applies more easily, using argan oil in the place of a primer. It also does a decent job of hiding blemishes.

Best Hydrating Under-Eye Primer

The under-eye primer you use should be good for you, but some of them go the extra mile and provide nourishing, hydrating benefits. This is a part of your face that can be wrinkly and look stressed, so hydration is important. Which eye primers are going to give you great hydration and act as moisturizers for that delicate skin?

1. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later

This eye shadow primer is so powerful that you only need a tiny bit to get the full effect. It works on multiple levels, controlling sebum to prevent oil from messing with your makeup, locking in hydration and creating a smooth base for your makeup. It is like an all-in-one primer that does pretty much everything you could want from an eye liner primer.

2. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer

We also have to include a Smashbox product in this category. Their hydrating primer does just what it advertises, offering moisturizing benefits and creating a smooth surface for makeup to be applied. It is super light and one of the most hydrating primers you can find, so it is as beneficial as it feels.

3. e.l.f. Hydrating Under Eye Primer

Our final choice is another great hydrator and one that is really soothing. It contains aloe vera, green tea, and bilbo ginkgo extract to nourish your skin and relieve irritation. The botanical ingredients make it one of the more natural choices, so we have no problem recommending it even for sensitive skin.

Maybe you haven’t given much thought to your eye primer before or haven’t even bothered to use any. We hope now that you understand what this product can do for you if it is of decent quality, and you should have a great resource to find some of the best eye primers.

Woman Using Salt Water Face Spray
By Jennifer Whyte Beauty, Skincare

How to Make Salt Water Face Spray

I often hear how ocean water is good for your skin. It is the nutrients in the salt that make your skin look and feel so vibrant and healthy.

Maybe you have noticed in the days following a trip to the sea that your skin looks incredible- more nourished and youthful, with a lovely glow. It’s not just the tan from the sun making you think you look better. The salt water is giving you some superb skincare benefits.

It’s no wonder, then, that skincare product manufacturers have created salt water sprays. These handy sprays bottle the nutrients for the ocean water and allow you to apply it directly to your skin.

I made my own salt water face spray, and I want to share the method with you. First, I would like to talk about what this spray is and exactly what it does for you. Anecdotal evidence about trips to the beach making people look great are fine, but let’s get into the actual benefits that salt water spray offers. I know many of you will appreciate that.

What Is Salt Water Face Spray?

This is a salty spray that you apply to your skin or in your hair. Putting it on the skin is supposed to be akin to taking a dip in the sea and offer you the same kind of skincare benefits you get from that. This method simply saves you a trip to the beach and the trouble of applying sun lotion. It is meant to be a quick and simple way to pamper your skin, but does it really work?

Benefits of Salt Water Face Spray

There are definitely some benefits to using salt water spray on your face. It has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Plus, the salt water is great at reducing inflammation. That makes it pretty healthy for your skin, especially if you are dealing with eczema or another skin condition.

You do want to be careful about drying out your skin, though. The salt can absorb moisture, which makes dry skin even dryer and can rob combination skin of essential hydration. So, if you are going to use salt water face spray, do so sparingly, using just a little at a time.

Also, it is best not to do it every day. This spray is a good way to treat some skin conditions when they flare up, but it is not necessary for everyday use, nor would I recommend it for that.

Salt water spray is a decent exfoliator as well, creating small abrasions on the skin that are not damaging. This can help lift off dead skin cells and other debris when you wash your face. Any kind of exfoliation treatment is going to help give your skin a healthy glow and make your face more vibrant and clearer.

Once again, that is not something you need every day, but the occasional salt water spray exfoliation can be quite helpful and make your skin stay looking beautiful and clean.

Salt spray works as a facial toner, helping to even out your skin and remove blemishes and discoloration. It can be left on if it is light enough and doesn’t contain anything too abrasive or reactive. In certain salt sprays, there are some great minerals that are very good for your skin, encouraging better skin health over repeated uses.

How to Make Salt Water Face Spray

There are lots of ways to make homemade salt water spray that would be safe to use on your face or your hair. I will share one of those with you- something I found that works great and doesn’t cause any harmful reactions or undesirable effects.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
  • 1 cup of boiled water (or distilled water)
  • 1 pinch of Epsom salt

Directions:

  1. Combine Epsom salt and sea salt in warm water. Stir together until the salt dissolves completely.
  2. Store in a spray bottle or glass jar until you are ready to use it.

You can add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil to make the spray even more beneficial and to give it a pleasant smell. You may want to use something like mint or lavender.

You could also use magnesium flakes instead of Epsom salts, as those flakes have specific beneficial characteristics that make them a good addition to this spray.

To use the spray effectively, you should apply it to your skin by spraying it on lightly; don’t worry too much about getting full coverage. Or you could use a cotton pad and use that like a toner. The spray can be used when you do your daily skincare routine, or you could apply it after you get out of the shower.

If you want to change things up even more, though, you could use herbal tea in place of distilled water. Use something like chamomile tea or calendula, but whatever you use, make sure you are working with a tea that comes from dried herbs and not from a tea bag.

Should Salt Water Spray Be Used to Treat Acne or Eczema?

Dermatologists do say that salt water spray can help with acne breakouts and with preventing acne as well as in the treatment of eczema. However, they recommend that you use products specifically designed for treating those skin conditions to handle them more effectively.

While salt water spray can help to alleviate some of the symptoms and give you less severe skin problems, it probably won’t cure or eliminate the issue.

Feel free to use salt water spray as part of your beauty regimen when you are dealing with these kinds of skin problems, and you can expect the spray to help. However, you should be using dedicated treatment products to deal with the conditions as well, if you want to see powerful results in a short period of time.

This facial spray is trending now, and I know there is a lot of misinformation about it and plenty of TikTok videos demonstrating how to use it and the kind of results that people get, so I thought it would be helpful to keep you all informed about what the spray is. I hope you find the info here helpful as you develop your own beauty and skin care regimen.

Horchata Latte
By Ellis Francis Nutrition

How to Make a Horchata Latte

For the lactose intolerant, horchata is a dream beverage. It is so sweet and delicious and can be made entirely without any dairy products.

This drink is one that has gone on to inspire so many wonderful desserts thanks to its rich and decadent flavor. While horchata is often served as a beverage on its own, I think coffee drinkers would agree that it is better in latte form. For me, that is where horchata achieved perfection as a drink.

I have to confess that I have a little horchata latte obsession. This is just the perfect dessert drink to finish off a meal with, and I like to make it myself. You can do the same and not have to take a trip to the coffee shop just to get your horchata latte fix. I am going to share with you my method for how to make a horchata latte at home.

What Is a Horchata Latte?

Maybe this drink is unfamiliar to you or you would just like to learn more about where it came from and how it has evolved. I think you might appreciate it a bit more if you know those kinds of details.

Most people know horchata as a Mexican beverage, and it is very popular in that part of the world, though its fame has certainly spread to other countries in a big way. You can get horchata in latte or non-latte form throughout the United States and Europe, as well as much of Central and South America.

You might be surprised to know that horchata actually has Spanish origins, though. This drink was one that has been around since the time of the Roman Empire, so we’re talking at least 2,000 years ago.

Horchata is made from plant-based milks, often derived from nuts and then sweetened to make it more palatable. It may have been originally made with barley, but the predominant horchata drinks we find today are typically made from various kinds of sweetened nuts or rice.

Horchata can be different depending on where in the world you are, but it tends to be quite sweet and is usually used to make dessert-type drinks. The horchata latte can be as simple as horchata plant milk mixed with coffee. Like any quality coffee drink, there is a right and wrong way to make it. Everybody has their preferences as to how they like their coffee to be made and how sweet or bitter they want it, but

I will share with you my method for making homemade horchata latte. You can always make your own modifications to it to personalize it more to your liking. I just want to give you a method to work from.

How to Make Horchata Latte

The recipe I am going to share with you is for a fine coffee drink, so you will need some specialized coffee making equipment to make this according to these specifications. Not all of the steps I am going to share with you are necessary for a very basic horchata drink, but if you want the full experience and you prefer exquisitely-made coffee where you can taste all the different notes, then this is probably the method you will want to use.

The equipment I recommend is a coffee maker or espresso maker, a cheesecloth, and a blender, as well as a bowl and some mugs. You should get all of that out ahead of time to make things easier on yourself.

Ingredients:

  •  2 cups of water
  • 1 cup of long grain rice
  • 3 cups of milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 4 shots of espresso (or a cup of strong coffee)
  • 3 cups of ice cubes
  • Condensed milk (for added flavor)

Directions:

  1. Rinse the rice, making sure that the water is running clear before you stop.
  2. Put the rice into the bowl with your water and then let the rice soak for about four hours. You could also let it soak overnight instead.
  3. Pour the water and the rice from the bowl into the blender, and then add in cinnamon, milk, and vanilla.
  4. Blend for about 2- 2 ½ minutes until everything is somewhat smooth.
  5. Use the cheesecloth to filter your mixture (a fine mesh strainer works as well). This helps get rid of any solid rice.
  6. Make up your coffee or espresso.
  7. Add ice to the mugs and then pour in horchata mix and coffee. You can add some condensed milk to make it even sweeter.

What Is an Iced Horchata Latte?

Most horchata lattes are made with ice, like the recipe I gave you above. You can add more ice to suit your tastes, or you could make this as a hot beverage. Be aware that ice will dilute the flavor of the horchata, however, so you may prefer to cut back on the ice or make the drink a different way.

If you want the full flavor of the horchata latte and you want it cold but don’t want any chunks of ice, then you can always take your ingredients and chill them. Just leave out the ice and refrigerate your ingredients for a couple of hours. Once you take it out of the fridge, it should be well chilled.

What Is Green Tea Horchata Latte?

A green tea horchata latte is also known as a matcha latte. It uses matcha powder, typically, to give the drink its distinct green look and green tea flavor.

You can make this beverage very similarly to the way you made the horchata latte up above. The main difference is the addition of matcha powder. One tablespoon is all you need for the drink, and you can add the matcha powder at the step where you mix everything in the blender. Just make the rest of the drink according to the directions above.

Once the drink is complete, it will have a bright green look and will provide all those great green tea benefits. As with the horchata latte, this green tea version is meant to be served chilled or iced.

There are a number of ways to make horchata lattes, and I have only given you a couple. Feel free to experiment or check out other variations online. People have so many good ideas for making this drink really special. You can add all sorts of lavish sweet things to it to make it more of a dessert or cut out the dairy products entirely to make it suitable for the lactose intolerant.

It can also be made with different coffees. The way you prefer your coffee will likely inform how you make this drink, and don’t let my preferences on coffee making change what you love about your own coffee and how it is made when you are preparing a horchata latte at home.

By Ellis Francis Fitness

How to do the Double Leg Glute Bridge

The glute bridge is a powerful way to build your glute muscles as well as your hamstrings. It’s done by lying down on your back and keeping your feet on the ground as you push upward with your pelvis.

This is a great exercise for people who spend a lot of their day sitting down in an office or at home and who want to improve lower back strength and health. It boosts mobility and flexibility, and some of the variations of the glute bridge can be superb additions to your workout as well.

What Is a Double Leg Glute Bridge?

This is the standard glute bridge exercise, as you use both legs for the pelvic thrusting movement. Don’t confuse it with the hip thrust, as the two movements are different.

With a double leg glute bridge, the focus is on your glutes, as you might imagine, so it is a good way to build up that part of the body while improving some aspects of your movements and flexibility.

The position may seem very unnatural at first, so you will need to get used to the exercise slowly. Be sure to limber up your body ahead of the exercise and perform it very gradually as you make sure you have the right form and don’t hurt yourself.

How to Do a Double Leg Glute Bridge

Here is a detailed guide on how to do the double leg glute bridge.

  1. Start by lying down on the floor and bending your knees while keeping them at about a 45-degree angle to the rest of your body. Your feet should be resting flat on the floor, spread about a hip width from one another. Your arms should be lying flat at your sides, palms facing downward. You will likely want to do this exercise on a yoga mat or other supportive surface.
  2. From this starting position, lift with your pelvic area, using your feet to push off from the floor. Lift until your lower body is lined up with your bent knees. As you do the exercise, do your best to keep your stomach flattened, and you should be squeezing with your glutes as well to maximize the benefit to those muscles.
  3. Keep the elevated position held for a few seconds, breathing in and out several times, activating your core as you do so. Then, come back down to your starting point.
  4. Do several reps and then rest your body for a few moments, continuing with another set or two when you are ready.

What Are the Benefits of a Double Leg Glute Bridge?

The double leg glute bridge is one of the better exercises for developing your glute muscles and getting a shapely rear. It is very simple to do and does not require any equipment other than a floor mat, if you want to use that. This makes it versatile and simple enough that you can do it at home. The benefits of double leg glute bridge extend to other parts of your body as well. It builds strength throughout your core and lower body, improving your lower body power and toning your muscles for a fitter look.

What Is a Single Leg Glute Bridge?

The single leg glute bridge is a great modification for this exercise that should challenge you and help to target some other muscles.
You can do this by lying down on your back and extending one leg upward. Keep the other foot flat on the floor and your knee bent. Do the same glute bridge movement as before, pushing off the floor with your foot that is resting there. Use the elevated foot to stretch upward at the same time. Hold that movement at the top for a few moments and then come back down to your initial position.

What Are the Benefits of a Single Leg Glute Bridge?

This variation is a great way to focus on a single side of your glutes at once, dealing with training imbalances and putting more exertion into a single glute with each rep.

You may find that your glutes look uneven as you work out for a while and check your progress, and you can train a single side using this modification. The single leg glute bridge also ups the challenge. It takes more effort to do compared to the double leg version because you are putting more weight on one side of your body. That side has to work harder, so this is a good way to challenge yourself and take the workout to the next level.

Is a Single or Double Leg Glute Bridge Better?

Both of these exercises will work your glutes, but the single leg is the tougher exercise. That makes it a good option for advanced workouts. You just have to be careful to work both sides of your glutes so that there is no imbalance.

There are times where you will want to use one or the other. If you are new to glute bridges or you haven’t been working out for long, the double leg glute bridge is probably the better option for you for now.

What Is the Difference Between a Hip Bridge and a Glute Bridge?

These are two distinct kinds of exercises. They may look the same, but a key difference in the hip thrust and the glute bridge is that one uses a bench or other elevated surface and the other does not.

Hip thrusts are typically weight training exercises, and you would need a bench to rest your shoulders and back on as you do it. You would typically use weights with this exercise as well.

The glute bridge is done on the floor, and no weight is usually necessary. This is a bodyweight exercise that uses your own weight to create resistance rather than trying to add any equipment to it for better results.

The movement for the two exercises is very similar, which is why they can be confused, but they have different goals and require different equipment to perform.

What Muscles Do Double Leg Glute Bridge Work?

This exercise works your glutes primarily, but it can also require input from your abdominals, calves, hamstrings, and quads. It works much of the posterior chain, which includes your gluteus maximus and your hip abductors. It also exercises the oblique muscles, the rectus abdominis, and several leg muscles for stability.

What Is a Double Leg Glute Bridge Elevated?

If you are ready to handle a variation on the double leg glute bridge, then you can try the elevated version. Use an exercise ball or another small object to elevate your feet for this modification. Your heels should rest on the ball, and you can do the exercise as normal, like we described it above. Be sure to keep your abdominals activated throughout for spine stabilization and proper form. If you are doing it properly, this exercise should not be painful.

What Are the Benefits of a Double Leg Glute Bridge Elevated?

There is good reason to try this variation of the exercise. It makes you work a bit harder and can increase your gains for your workout. How high you elevate your feet will determine how difficult the exercise is. Be sure to start with a low elevation, and then you can work your way up from there, if you like.

This exercise works your glutes harder and will put more force on the middle of your body. You will have to push harder and exert yourself more to do the same movement.

Try out the basic version of the double leg glute bridge first before tackling any modifications. Make sure your form is correct and that you can do the exercise without any difficulty or pain. Then, you can feel free to move on to the modification and enjoy their added benefits.

Tea Tree Oil Spray
By Jennifer Whyte Haircare, Beauty

How to Make Tea Tree Oil Spray for Hair

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is known primarily for its ability to treat a wide range of maladies. I first learned about this oil as a way to handle athlete’s foot, and I know people rub it into their skin to treat itchiness, acne, and even sinusitis.

Tea tree oil is also good for your hair, and I will talk to you in a moment about those particular benefits.

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

The oil comes from the tea tree plant that grows naturally in Australia. It is used for all sorts of home remedies there. As a natural oil, it tends to be very safe and very effective, and the risk of side effects is low. The biggest problem people might have from using this oil is that they experience an allergic reaction, but that is quite rare.

If you are concerned about a tea tree allergy, you can put just a drop on your skin and see if there is any reaction. Pay attention to any redness, change in skin color or indications that your skin is burning or itching.

Tea tree oil can be made into a nourishing hair spray, which is what I want to share with you here in this article. Keep reading to find out why you may want to use it and how you can make the spray by yourself.

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Hair

There are plenty of great reasons to use tea tree oil, and many of its benefits are specifically for hair health. Here are some natural benefits of using tea tree oil in your hair.

Nourishment

Tea tree oil is excellent for hair and scalp health. It stimulates the growth of healthy, luxurious hair because of how helpful it is for your scalp and hair follicles. The moisturizing effects of tea tree oil are tremendous, as it uses its hydrating power to deal with dry scalps and hair. Water is a great hydrator, but it dries out too quickly in heat.

Tea tree oil is more long lasting, and it will stay and hydrate your hair for a long time, giving your hair the nourishment it needs to grow well and feel soft.

Soothing Power

The hydrating capabilities of tea tree oil also help with itchy skin. You can use this oil to soothe your skin anywhere, but it is particularly helpful for dry, itchy scalps. Scalp folliculitis and scalp eczema are just two of the conditions it treats, and it is a natural remedy for a number of health problems that can affect your scalp.

If you find yourself always scratching your head because the skin there feels irritated, try using some tea tree oil. By eliminating itchiness in the scalp, this oil is also beneficial for your hair and its natural, unhindered growth.

Lice Remover

Are you in a battle with head lice? Use tea tree oil to scare them off. Many essential oils are used to keep pests at bay efficiently, because their sensory organs may not like the smells of certain oils. For head lice, the natural oil they hate is tea tree oil, so you can nourish your hair and get rid of the troublesome lice at the same time. Tea tree oil doesn’t just repel them; it can actually kill head lice in certain stages of their development.

Dandruff Treatment

You can also use this oil to handle dandruff. Tea tree oil is damaging to the fungus that causes dandruff, and as dandruff dries out the scalp and causes irritation, tea tree oil hydrates and nourishes. You may always be scratching at dandruff on your head because of how uncomfortable it is, but applying some tea tree oil can lessen the irritation.

How Tea Tree Oil Works

Tea tree oil works somewhat slowly for some uses. Don’t expect instant results if you are using it for acne treatment, for example. Tea tree oil will work in about 12 weeks when utilized for that purpose. That can be disappointing, but when you keep in mind that this is a relatively safe natural remedy that is very effective at hydrating, healing, and soothing, it might give you some more patience.

For most problems, though, tea tree oil works quickly. It can hydrate your skin and hair very fast and provide soothing comfort for itchiness almost immediately.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair

You can use the essential oil version of tea tree oil in your hair and enjoy many of its benefits without ever having to turn it into a spray. Just put a few drops of this oil into your hand and mix that with the normal amount of shampoo you use on your hair. The tea tree oil will combine nicely and work together with the shampoo to hydrate, nourish and benefit your hair.

How to Make Tea Tree Oil Spray

Let me share with you a homemade version of tea tree oil spray for hair. This is pretty simple to make and works well as a daily spray you can put into your hair to give your hair nutritional benefits, hydration, and other advantages unique to tea tree oil.

You can take an empty spray bottle and put just a few ounces of water in it. Then, add two drops of tea tree oil to that and close the lid tightly. Shake the bottle around and spray it a few times. This will clean the bottle out and prepare it for a proper tea tree oil mixture.

Then, add two cups of water to the spray bottle and two teaspoons of tea tree oil. Close the lid and mix it all together. If you want to use a smaller spray bottle that doesn’t hold that much liquid, then you can always decrease the amounts I listed while keeping the ratio the same.

Does Tea Tree Oil Irritate the Scalp?

Tea tree oil is actually very soothing to the scalp. It is great for dealing with irritation and itchiness, helping with dryness and making your scalp feel so much better.

If you do experience any irritation when you apply tea tree oil to your scalp, then you should stop using it. Irritation could be indicated by itchiness or burning, and this may tell you that you have an allergic reaction.

Can You Leave Tea Tree Oil on the Hair?

Since tea tree oil takes time to fully hydrate your hair, I would recommend leaving it in. The oil should not cause any problems if you leave it there and don’t bother to wash it out. The longer you leave tea tree oil in, the more it has time to do its work and sooth, hydrate, and nourish your scalp and hair.

Does Tea Tree Oil Affect Hair Color?

Tea tree oil should not affect your hair color in any way, if you have natural hair color. If you use a hair coloring product, however, then tea tree oil could make the color fade. That’s because this oil is an astringent, and you want to be careful about how much you use on colored hair. If you have any concerns, you may want to wait until you change your hair back to a natural color to try using tea tree oil.

Does Tea Tree Oil Make Your Hair Thicker?

While this oil does not directly make hair thicker, it can nourish both the scalp and hair follicles. This could easily result in thicker and more luxurious hair. If you want healthy hair, then you need to make sure it stays hydrated and ensure that your scalp is treated well. Tea tree oil works on both areas and produces some great results, often giving you thicker, fuller hair over time.

 

Mix Concealer with Moisturizer
By Jennifer Whyte Beauty, Cosmetics

Should You Mix Concealer with Moisturizer?

Combining your makeup and skin care items can yield some interesting mixtures. You typically don’t want to play around with these too much unless you know what you’re doing and you are using a mixture that has already been proven.

What about mixing concealer with moisturizer? Is there a reason to do this or is it a bad idea? If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you combine these two, we are going to detail the results for you. That way, you know whether to avoid it or whether it’s worth trying and how you should do it.

Can You Mix Concealer with Moisturizer?

It is okay to combine your moisturizer with concealer, and mixing them together creates a concealer that blends more easily. If you have trouble getting your concealer to blend into your skin and do its job without looking highly visible, then you may want to try to mix concealer with moisturizer.

Combining these two beauty products creates a custom treatment that does two things at once. The beauty of the combination is that instead of applying two separate products, you only need the single application. That can save you some time, and it is helpful if you struggle to fit in the full beauty routine you like to do in the morning. It’s one less thing to rush through.

So yes, you can mix concealer with moisturizer, but you ought to do it with a purpose. Don’t just combine them because you can, but we want you to know why they ought to be combined and in what instances it would be best to combine them.

It may not make sense to put them together in some cases, particularly if your concealer is already a really high quality one that you are happy with.

When to Mix Concealer and Moisturizer

We believe the best time to put these two together is when you have a concealer that finishes dry and flaky. This concealer may otherwise be okay, but it doesn’t look perfect when you finish applying it. If that is the case, adding a bit of moisturizer to it can give it a big boost. Instead of fighting with it and not being happy with the finished product, you can get a look you love.

You will probably spend less time applying it and be more satisfied with the finished look. On top of that, you are getting your moisturizer treatment at the same time you are applying concealer, so your skin will stay hydrated and supple.

Maybe the concealer works well sometimes but doesn’t function properly when the weather is dry or your skin is dry. These conditions will make it flaky, and that’s when you can upgrade your concealer by adding a bit of moisturizer.

If you want sheer coverage or you would refer to take a somewhat dry concealer and make it dewy, then adding moisturizer makes sense. It can enhance your concealer and help it to achieve the kind of easy, smooth application you want from it.

Instead of changing concealers, you can mix in some moisturizer and make it more to your liking.

How to Mix Concealer with Moisturizer

One thing to keep in mind about mixing concealer and moisturizers is that not every concealer will mix well with every moisturizer. You may have to do some experimenting where that is concerned, but we can give you some pointers to help you determine what might be a good combination.

We recommend that you do not combine water-based moisturizers with silicone-based concealers. These tend to not mix very well.

When mixing a dark concealer with a moisturizer, you should know that the moisturizer will make it a bit lighter. How much lighter it makes it will depend on how much moisturizer you are using as well as the type of moisturizer you use.

Here are some steps you can follow to mix the two products together and hopefully get your desired consistency, shade, and effect:

  1. Put a little bit of concealer on the back of your hand (about as large as a pea). You could also put it onto a mixing palette.
  2. Add in just a little moisturizer and then use a spatula or your fingers to combine them. They are mixed when the consistency is even and looks smooth.
  3. Apply your combination to your skin and allow the concealer mixture to stay there before you try to blend it. This ensures you get good coverage.
  4. To blend in the concealer, use your fingers, a brush, or a slightly damp sponge.
  5. Use setting powder to keep the concealer in place to stop it from creasing.

If you want to make the moisturizer tinted, you can use 2/3 moisturizer and 1/3 concealer in your ratio. The kind of coverage you want will determine how your ratio should be. More concealer will provide more coverage, and more moisturizer will make the coverage somewhat sheer.

When putting concealer under the eyes, the best ratio to use is half and half. If you are hoping for better coverage there, though, then go a bit heavier on the concealer. When applying the mixture under your eyes, you may notice the area there is a bit dry. In that case, just add a little eye cream to your makeup sponge or brush (or use moisturizer in place of eye cream). Do this before you try to blend the concealer, and this will ensure the under-eye area is hydrated and has a dewy look.

If you are applying concealer and moisturizer near your lash line, be aware that any amount of concealer there can make your eyes look smaller. You may want to work at the dark circles rather than applying concealer at the lash line so that your eyes don’t appear too small.

Can You Mix Concealer with Moisturizer for Foundation Replacement?

Foundation can feel a bit heavy sometimes, especially during the winter months. If you want to switch it out with something lighter that gives you a similar look, then you can use concealer in its place. We recommend mixing in some moisturizer with the concealer to give it a lighter look. Using this in place of the foundation may be just what you need sometimes.

Just be sure to use the concealer-moisturizer mixture as a spot treatment rather than spreading it all over. Apply it in your trouble spots for the best results.

So, Should you Mix Concealer with Moisturizer?

Mixing concealer with moisturizer has its benefits, but if you mess up your ratios, you can get a mixture that is mostly just one or the other.

Pay attention to your ratios and try to keep them within the limits we have given you, at least to start with. Once you are more comfortable with the combination and how it works together, you can try a little experimentation and see what works best for you.

If you are switching concealers or moisturizers, then start with the ratios we have given you and don’t try to experiment too much at first.

Once you learn how to combine these two products well, you will feel like you have unlocked some beauty secrets that few people know much about, and that can be really exciting. That’s when you can really have fun with it and consistently achieve the kind of look you are going for.