Join Designer, Author and Host Linda Peterson in the Clay Cafe’. You’ll learn how to create beads quickly and easily with the use of bead rolling tools.

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I just stopped by the pharmacy and picked up a great new product from Almay-it’s a line of eye makeup for different eye colors, including brown eyes, which happen to be my color! You can choose to play up or bring out the eye color, and the line includes mascaras, eye liners and eye shadows. You would have to buy each thing individually, but I’m excited to see how it does. My professional make-up kit includes some of the best, but for something that is more affordable, Almay seems like a good brand. Another bonus is that the make-up is hypo-allergenic. Here are some other matching ideas that I’ve used in the past when working on set. TIP: Working with three complementary shades is your best bet-the lightest shade is the accent color that should go just beneath your brow-bone, the medium color goes across your lid and the darkest shade should be applied to the crease. Find your eye color and enjoy!

Brown eyes: Try a neutral look for daytime with soft beiges or brown. For going out at night, a smokey eyed look can work with tones like dark plum and deep blue. I also have one client who prefers a soft green shade for daytime which looks pretty. Light or dark brown mascara also works nicely to go along with all these looks, unless your hair is black, and then wear black mascara.

Green Eyes: Purple tones can enhance your eyes, and so can shades of green. Choose a purple to go with your skin tone-not too dark or you’ll look like you got punched! Plums or violets are good. You can also use other greens like jade or emerald that go with your skin tone-there are cool and warm shades that you can experiment with to see what works best for you. Take a look at the Pop Beauty line on www.sephora.com. They have some great ideas for different green eye color pallets. I would also try a plum colored eyeliner and dark brown mascara for these looks.

Blue Eyes: For you gals, cool is the name of the game. Choose tones like light blue, off-white and silver. I also love to use neutral tones like cool beige or tan for daytime. Mary Kay has a wonderful selection of these to go with every skin tone. www.marykay.com. For nighttime, the smokey eyed look can really work well for you with some midnight blue eyeliner and a sparkling navy shadow. Black or dark brown mascara is usually best with these looks. A charcoal or grey eyeliner works great with the blue and silver shadows.

Hazel Eyes: This is a fun eye color to play up because of its different shades. You can use lovely lavender which will really set them off, or also try shades like a sparkling gold or beige. Pinks and blacks work well with this eye color, so you can try a blush shadow with black mascara and black liner. Remember to apply lightly, especially for daytime! www.glow.com has a great eye trio for hazel eyes that you can have delivered right to your door. You can also use a plum color and liner for a nighttime look.

Sonia Kashuk, who has a line at Target, has a different take. She recommends that you choose your eye shadow color based on your hair, not your eyes. I think this holds true, but then, how would I get to experiment with bright turquoise? She says blondes look great in creams and taupes, and that mochas and chocolate browns flatter brunettes. If you are auburn or redhead, you can choose coppers, peaches, and reddish browns or cool tones like pink and lavenders. Gray hair will work with grays, soft purples, and blues.

I hope you have fun as you try different products and different looks. What are your techniques? Do you choose your colors based on your eyes, your hair color, or neither? As a make-up artist, I’m always trying to keep up on what women prefer!



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Time and time again we’ve seen articles that give tips to helping self-published authors gain exposure after their book is completed. But by this time it’s way too late. Traditionally published authors have a leg up. They receive help from publishers and in-house publicists to promote their books. Self-published authors do not have this luxury. Waiting too late to promote a self-published book could lead the author to defeat before the book is even available for purchase.

Being a traditionally published author, I still do most of my own promotion. This has helped me learn a lot. Self-published authors look to me for advice and I go out of my way not to offer the generic tips for promotion. The old fashioned tips of yesterday barely work for traditional authors and they do nothing for self-published authors. Self-published authors have to put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into promotion. Not only did they write the book, but also they published it. They should begin to think of themselves as true publishers and no longer as authors. It doesn’t matter if a book is good, if no one knows it’s out there, it will not sell.

I’d like to share some tips that should give self-published authors more understanding about how crucial the right amount of promotion is for a self-published book.



It’s Never Too Early

Traditional publishers begin marketing their authors’ books months before the books come out. While this is the usual time frame for pre-promotion, this will not do squat for a self-published book. Self-published authors should begin promoting themselves before the book is even completed. Self-published authors need to create a solid buzz and make sure people know they’ve written a book before it goes to print. A good amount of pre-promotion buzz for a self-published book would be a year before the book is released. That’s right, a year before you publish it. Remember it’s hard to promote a self-published book. It’s even harder if you expect to be able to compete with new books on the market that are traditionally published. And that, is whom you’ll be competing with. Promotion should begin as soon as you officially decide to publish your own book.

Promote Yourself to the Industry Not Just Your Potential Audience

While beginning the promotional process, do not ignore the industry itself. Promote yourself to other writers, journalists, media outlets and book reviewers during pre-promotion. Join writing groups and author groups that allow the membership of self-published authors. Join social networks and scream from the sky that you’re an author. Have a killer web site. Become friends with independent bookstores (you’re gonna need them), and online bookstores such as Amazon. You are not only an author but also a publisher. Act like it! Authors do not have to build a relationship with bookstores but publishers do. If you sign on to be your own publisher, you must do the things real publishers do. You need to build up a presence and knowledge within the industry. You also need to build up a strong partnership with booksellers. This will be your bread and butter. Also, establish as many media contacts as you can. You not only have to be the author and publisher, but also the publicist. Self-publishing a book causes you to wear many hats. It’s time to get down to business.

Do Not Ignore Book Clubs When You’re Self-Published

Book clubs can bring you exposure, especially if they liked your book. But book clubs have to be aware of your book to take interest. Traditional publishers will often ask their authors for a list of book clubs an author would like for the publisher to contact. Authors also contact book clubs themselves to bring awareness. One thing I’ve noticed is that self-published authors never seem to promote to book clubs. Book clubs can bring you tons of exposure and reviews. They not only read and discuss your book but they also share information with organizations, libraries and other book clubs.

The good part is that book clubs don’t seem to be as prejudice against self-published authors as other options. Self-published authors should begin contacting book club leaders months before publication. Email them or call them if there is a number. Pitch your book to them as if you were pitching it to a bookstore. If they seem uninterested, offer them something to change their mind. If you live in the area of a particular club, offer to come and speak to the club. Offer to order the books for the club members for them to read and review. Most times it’s a long wait to receive a self-published title once you’ve ordered it. Give them autographed copies. Help the group out and they will be more willing to help you. Get the ball rolling the best way you can. You can sell tons of books through book clubs alone. This is another time you need to remember that you’re also the publisher and publicist. Act like it.

Promote Through Other Self-Published Authors And Visa Versa

Okay so you’re struggling to sell your self-published book. The odds are that you’re not the only one in this predicament. Cross promotion can be very effective if used correctly. Self-published authors can promote each other faster than promoting themselves alone. Review books of other self-published authors and post your reviews (honest reviews), on sites such as Amazon. If you didn’t like the book, you can always tell the author and give them the chance to reject your opportunity to review or not, but this is great promotion. Most book reviewers will not touch a self-published book, so this may be the best option. The trick is to pick the best author to review your work. Don’t just pick anyone. Pick someone who’s gaining respect in the industry as a self-published author. You want someone who is popular and whose blurb or review will get you some readership.

Getting reviews from just any self-published author will not do. In return, review their books or promote them on your web site. You can start a little review service site (do not charge), where you’ll review other authors’ books and display the info on your site. This way, you’ll not only bring them attention, but you’ll be seen as a literary influence and you’ll gain exposure through helping others. This will bring you attention and bring more visitors to your site. Make sure you are selling books directly from your site as well. Whatever you do, do not result to spamming. This will only turn people off. Remember, you’re no longer just an author. You’re the entire package.

 

You Can Never Do Too Much Promotion



As a self-published author, your book’s audience is limited. No one knows who you are. Self-published books are not available in bookstores or libraries. Self-published authors’ entire audience depends on their ability to self-promote online. Self-published authors waste too much time on conventional methods that do not work. Why have a book signing if your book isn’t available in stores? Why spend money to put ads in magazines if your book isn’t available in stores? The truth is that if a book isn’t available by conventional methods, why advertise it in conventional ways? Most people buy books out the stores, contrary to popular belief. You have to make them want to order yours. You gotta have a good pitch to audiences and a good hook for reviewers. Be creative. Use the Internet as your primary source for exposure. Keep in mind that this is for long-term sales. Don’t expect results overnight. It takes months and years to sell books. The object of the game is to keep promoting and keep your book on everyone’s mind.

You must remember that long-term promotion is what sells whether a book is self-published or not.



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Celebrities enjoy huge fan following especially when it comes to beauty and style matters. Being a style-icon a celebrity is imitated by his admirers once he builds an image. A celebrity beauty tip, whether it be about skin care, acne prevention, hair styling, reducing body weight or any other issue related to improving looks has always been cherished by the admirers. Adjudged from this angle, the best celebrity beauty tip of the present age seems to be being ones own self.

Inspired by the doctrine that beauty comes in all sizes, shapes and colors and is more about self-expression than mere imitation of someone else’s style, modern fans go for personal styling. A few generations back an individual would be content with just getting an Elvis Presley hair cut or a Marilyn Monroe makeup even if that gave a more or less dumb look. A present generation Tom Cruise admirer instead customizes the star’s hairstyle to best suit his personality. Similarly, a woman obsessed with Julia Roberts may not opt for a curly crop, but rather sport her hair straight, a la Brooke Shield’s style.

The same celebrity beauty tip holds for make up and attires. Considering the camera glares and flashes they are exposed to, it is very fitting that a beauty pageant winner or a celebrity will settle on heavy makeup and some out of the ordinary clothing. However, when adopted in everyday lives, the too gorgeous, overtly glamorous looks will best be termed ‘blunders’ on the fashion-front. No wonder that young women go for a lot of scaling down and opt for the ‘girl next door’ look rather than the ‘Diva’ look.

Most celebrities consider beauty as ‘not just skin deep’, and hence concentrate a lot on health care and grooming. With useful advices as natural and homemade beauty tips on skin, hair care and on other health related issues, this happens to be the most helpful aspect of celebrity worship. Although most of the beauty secrets shared by the stars are no different from the natural beauty tips one has grown up with, youngsters pay heed to these time tested beauty secrets only when it comes in the form of a celebrity beauty tip.

A celebrity beauty tip can be anything such as

• Sticking to healthy lifestyle • Giving the body its regular quota of exercises • Increased intake of water • Meditation • Direct application of natural products like honey, milk, etc. • Application of homemade beauty potions • Application of other beauty treatments like TCA skin peels, etc.

The perfect combination of homemade beauty tips with occasional TCA peels seems the right answer when it comes to stopping the onslaught of professional stress and makeup. The fast-action TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) skin peels cause acne, pigmentations, scars and wrinkles to vanish in matter of moments and is perfectly safe. With the effects of the chemical skin exfoliation lasting for 6 months to a year, application by medical practitioners is recommended. The wide acceptance of TCA peels in the medical community has made it much more than just a celebrity beauty tip.



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Its my daughters 13th birthday and her dream is for some kind of star to be there. Whether its michael buble or rihanna, she doesnt care, just someone who thirteen year old girls like.
How much does it cost???
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Eye Beauty Enhancement Tips from Melany Whitney CPCP, DAAM

Melany Whitney is an expert permanent cosmetics technician. She is highly regarded by the press and others in her industry and has become the “voice” for permanent cosmetics; regularly interviewed on national television and for fashion magazines. In this interesting article you are sure to learn a few new tips to enhance your eyes even if you don’t wear permanent cosmetics.

If you are considering permanent makeup for the first time, you’ve got lots of questions. This article will help you to understand why permanent cosmetics should be your new beauty enhancement. With a permanent makeup application there is literally no “down time”, you’ll be ready to show off your new prettier you right after your procedure.

If you are looking for freedom from makeup, permanent makeup can give you the freedom to look your best at anytime. You can transition immediately from work to an evening out without having to be a slave to the mirror for touch ups; just a quick powder and you’re out the door.

For this special piece, we’ve interviewed Melany Whitney on how she beautifies and enhances eyes permanently. We think that you will find her artistic insight interesting reading.

Interviewer: Melany, you do such a wonderful job on enhancing eye beauty, but don’t clients get uncomfortable with you working so close to their eyes with needles?

Melany: Let me explain a little about the eye area first. The eyelids are literally the two folds of skin that shield the eyeball. The upper eyelid is larger and more moveable. It regulates the opening and closing of the eye with the help of the Orbicularis Palpebrarum muscle. Lower lid movement is slight. The eyelids act to sweep dirt from the surface of the eye, protecting it from injury, and helping distribute tear fluid.

As a permanent cosmetic practitioner, I am frequently working in close proximity to the eye and over the major protection for the eye, the eyelid. This is the biggest fear that my clients have - can I go into their actual eyeball during a procedure? Well, because the eyelids are the protection for the eye - I only work with a closed lid - thus protecting the eyeball at all times. I hold the lid firmly, but gently, in order to get enough stretch for pigment retention in that area. Poking a client in the eye has never been a concern for me a seasoned technician. The part of the eyelid that I work on is thicker at the margin - called the Tarsal Ridge. This is where most technicians DO NOT put color because it is actually more difficult to do, if one is not familiar with the physiology of that area.

Interviewer: So do you put color there in the Tarsal Ridge?

Melany: Yes, I feel that any eye lining procedure is not complete without some darkness being put in between the client’s eyelashes (the Tarsal ridge area) to give the appearance of a fuller and thicker lash base. It usually is an area in which you simply cannot get conventional eyeliner - so that the line you get with over the counter products, winds up accentuating the thinning of our lash line instead of plumping it up.

I always include this lash enhancement, which in most cases is all that is needed, to give one a “brighter and open eyed” look. It is natural and cannot be easily detected as “added”. You can go to sleep, wake up, swim, sweat, etc. without “tell tale raccoon eyes”.

Interviewer: What about the client who wants a more dramatic look?

Melany: If my client wishes a bit more thickness or darkness to that upper lash line, I can add a tad thicker line in that area to make that area even more outstanding. At the same time, I try to keep a “soft edge” to both the top and bottom liners for that all important natural appearance.

Interviewer: What about the lower lid, I think you do something different there don’t you?

Melany: Yes I do, the lower liner is definitely treated a bit differently than the top liner. It needs to be put in-between each bottom lash and in a more of a stippled or connected dots technique. Due to the natural salt we have in our tears - the bottom line will always fade a lot more than the top and give a softer effect - but a very important one. Without bottom definition, your eyes tend to look droopy and tired. Done correctly, which means, NOT done with a thick application, the liner will actually make your eyes “pop”. If not done in just that precise way, a thick black liner will tend to “close the eye up”.

Interviewer: What about color selections and what colors should not be used?

Melany: The choices in color for eyeliner have basically come down to black and black brown. Color can actually be applied as a shadow above the liner (permanently or by conventional means) if desired later. If you understand color theory - the reason you should not rim your eyes with a medium or light brown is that those browns tend to have too much warmth or red tones in them and can give your eyes a “rabbit eye” (pink) effect. 

Interviewer: Any other important tips for us today on eyeliner?

Melany: Another VERY important tip is that eyeliners should NOT go past the last lash in any direction (top or bottom). This is due to the fact that if done in the medial area or outer Canthus area of the eye, you could experience “migration”, weeping or bleeding of the color under the skin, where it is not supposed to be. I am asked many times to pass these parameters and decline. Better safe than sorry in these instances!

Another comment I’d like to make is that all black eyeliner pigments have “blue” in them. This blue will eventually come out months to years down the road. This has never been a “negative” to be concerned about, since all eyes look great with the smallest bit of blue or charcoal around them. Actually this “fading” tends to make light blue eyes a bit greener looking! This does not indicate that your technician is using “common” tattoo ink in your liner - it is simply a reality of the color black.

Interviewer: What great tips and insights into how you enhance eyes permanently. I think that even if you don’t wear permanent cosmetics that your tips about color and placement of liner every woman can use to improve her personal eye beauty even with removable makeup.



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Use a black eye shadow with an angle brush, and that’s going to give you that really soft look in eyeliner. Learn how to apply bridal makeup eyeliner from a professional makeup artist in this free wedding video.

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French Manicure is a style that’s elegant and showcases white nail tips highlighted by a base having natural look. Ideal for moderate or short-length nails, French manicure was made well known by famous stars and fashion authorities in the 1920s and still continue to be trendy these days.

French Manicure Description

Fashion gurus possess conflicting points of view on the stylish French manicure. Some experts deem that it is old fashioned while still others favor the outlook that it is elegant and timeless and will never be outmoded. Nonetheless, whatever the experts believe, still a lot of women opt for the French manicure due to its natural appearance and sophistication. It also provides the nails well-groomed and neat look that is not ostentatious and finicky.

French Manicure is a manicure style that’s graceful. It showcases white nail tips highlighted by a base having natural look. It is a fashion technique of polishing the finger or toe nails in which off white or ivory nail polish is put on to the tips of the nails while sheer polish, soft beige or pastel pink coat is applied to the rest of the nails. This style is ideal for moderate or short-length nails. French manicure was made well known by famous stars and fashion authorities in the last century and yet it’s still a remarkable part of vogue trends this present day.

French Manicure History

Let’s learn the staging on the progress of the French manicure approaches, together with a few of the variants existing in our day. The introduction of the first French manicure is quite uncertain. However undoubtedly, the French manicure technique became prevalent in several French nail salons. In the early periods of the 20th century, the chic style drew the interests of US fashion designers. This led to the massive application of the French manicure amongst the famous female celebrities of the 1920s. Then, ladies in the United States imitated the procedure. The craze went on until 1930s as countless ladies have the French manicure as part of their beauty treatments at salons. However with the Depression that controlled a large part of the US, practical women started to study the procedures to craft the manicure’s appearance at home.

French Manicure Procedures

Before you start giving your nails a French manicure, make sure you have followed the general rule for putting on nail polish.

• Prepare your nails by immersing them in lukewarm water in order to make softer the cuticles.

• Get rid of old nail polish using acetone remover. Lightly push cuticles back with an orangewood stick and cuticle remover. Clean and trim your nails.

• Spread over hand cream to your nails and wipe them in. Let it there for three to four minutes. Wipe down nails using a tissue to eliminate surplus.

• Apply an even and thin clear base coat. Place a tip guide unto your nails. This will wrap your nail’s lower portion. Then follow the curvature of your nail tip’s white color.

• Put on white or neutral polish to the uncovered tips of the nails and dry. The portion that will be painted white must be kept thin. Going too broadly on the white paints will make your fingernails appear stocky.

• When the tip’s white polish is already dry, carefully take away the nail tip guides.

• Paint the whole length of the nails twice using a beige polish.

• Lastly, set a layer of top coat. The top coat’s main job is to shield the layers underneath it.

• Clean few slip-ups (if any) with the use of an orangewood stick enveloped in cotton dampened with acetone or remover.

• Let your fingernails dry totally. It normally takes 25 minutes before your finger nails can perform small things. Although it takes an hour before you can actually use your hands for bigger tasks.

In order to have an enduring French manicure as well as maintain neat looking nails, make sure to put an added coating of top coat on the nails each night. Moreover, beauty stores and pharmacies make available nail polish kits particularly built for the French manicure. These assembled kits will be highly handy for you. And, you can visit a nail spa or salon to get your nails polished if you are anxious of manicuring yourself. In general, French manicure costs higher over a regular polish due to the level of precision required to come up with a nice set of French manicure.



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