Beauty By Mish

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Many toxic chemicals can be found in food, water, and other everyday products. Some of them are linked to cancer, birth defects, reproductive harm, and many other diseases. Each day American women use an average of 12 self-care products which leads them to exposure to around 170 chemicals. Taking care of your health does not only start with the food you eat, limiting salt and sugar consumption but limiting your exposure to harmful chemicals included in your shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, and many more everyday products. You should be extremely cautious if you have sensitive skin like me. Some of my soaps and face washes had caused me painful rashes and severe acne. I did my research and decided to share with you guys the chemicals that I avoid at all costs.

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)

Probably the most common ingredient in shampoos, soaps, body and face washes. SLS is a chemical that allows cleansing products to foam. Many beauty gurus recommend using baby shampoo when washing your hair and there is a reason behind it. SLS can cause permanent hair thinning, fade hair color, and strips your strands from their natural oils. Switching up to a baby shampoo will gently clean your scalp without harming it since it's rarely added to baby products.

Formaldehyde

Whole Food, CVS, and Target have banned Formaldehyde from their shelves. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. Formaldehyde can cause infections of the throat, eyes, skin, and nose. Daily exposure to this chemical can lead to contact dermatitis and asthma. UC Berkeley School of Public Health made a study and found that exposure to formaldehyde causes brain cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and sclerosis.

Fragrance

The fragrance chemical is found in many shampoos, cleaners, moisturizers, and many other cosmetic products and is well-known for adding that nice scent while using. It is linked to respiratory diseases, allergies, rashes, side effects on the reproductive system, and dermatitis. The fragrance is a carcinogen and can lead to many types of cancer. No organization restricts manufacturers from using fragrance in their products so you better switch to non-scented products.

Talc

Talc is being used mainly in baby powders, eyeshadows, blush, and deodorants. Its function is to absorb moisture. Talc is directly linked to causing ovarian cancer and when inhaled it could cause lung tumors.

Photo by Nati Melnychuk on Unsplash

I have been using cruelty-free cosmetics for the past 3 years and I have tried most of the brands out on the market. Going cruelty-free is such an easy step in your routine but at the same time, it is such a big step in helping build a better world for the animals. So today I decided to share with you guys the makeup brands that I am most impressed with.

Revolution Makeup

That was the first cruelty-free brand that I started using and I am impressed by their makeup. Some of their eyeshadow palettes aren't worth it but I have used most of their foundations out there and they are my favorite. As a make-up artist, I was looking for a cruelty-free pro brand, and Revolution Makeup got my eye. To be honest, I wouldn't buy any of their eyeshadows, but their contouring palettes, foundations, and lipsticks are my favorites at the moment.

NYX Cosmetics

Just like Revolution Makeup, NYX Cosmetics got me a great first impression a few years ago. NYX and Revolution are the cruelty-free brands that I have been using every day for the past 3 years. I currently own a few matte lipsticks of the brand and I love them. They don't dry out my lips, they are long-lasting and are pretty cheap. I have tested some of their colored eyeshadow palettes but I am pretty disappointed. They smudge easily and the pigment, well, It's quite not there. I wouldn't buy and recommend any of those palettes.

Bell Cosmetics

Bell Cosmetics is a brand that I tested during my makeup training and actually, there is not a product that I didn't like. They are a bit more expensive than Revolution and are definitely worth the money. I currently own powder, a few mascaras, more than 5 eyeliner pencils, lip pencils, and lipsticks and there isn't a bad thing I could say about the brand and the quality. I definitely will continue buying everything from this brand!

Wibo

I have used just one eyeshadow palette, fixing spray and powder of this brand. So far so good. The eyeshadow is pigmented and blends well plus it's affordable, the powder didn't make my face look cakey and is long-lasting so I am looking forward to buying more of their products.

Mayani

The first thing I bought from Mayani was a single pressed-on eyeshadow glitter and OMG. That made my eyelids shine girls. I didn't expect such a good result with a cheap product. I have tried their eyeshadow brushes and I am in love with them. They help me achieve that smokey eye with ease. They are soft and make the blending process so much easier. I would buy more from them for sure.

Makeup tips from a pro makeup artist for foxy eyes and countouring makeup

My makeup course was such a nice experience. I have learned many new things and my makeup knowledge is on another level ( no joke ). Here are some of the most important tips I have learned so far.

Blending is everything
I know it sounds cliche but believe me. My hardest part was the eye makeup and everything looks much better when it's blended nicely. An important tip I have also learned during my makeup course was to always start with the lightest color and build it slowly darker which is especially helpful when you are a beginner and you are just starting. That way you won't mess up. Trust me.

Apply your contour on your cheekbone

Okay, trust me. I was skeptical too, but once I saw the results I was impressed. I have always sucked my cheeks in and applied my contour at their shade, but this is a big NO. Applying it higher on the cheekbone will help you achieve that lifted and younger look.

Always go for the foxy eyes

Another important step of achieving that lifted trendy look. Going for round eyeshadow is an old-fashioned way of doing your makeup and may easily make your eyes bigger and more round which is not a good idea. Apply your eyeshadow as usual but blend it slightly to the tails of your eyebrows so you can achieve that trendy foxy eye makeup effect. Finish with sharp eyeliner and falsies just on the outer corner of your lashes and VOILA. You look like a goddess already. Thank me later.

Good lighting is a must

Such an important step in doing your makeup and especially when working with clients. If you are a pro and you are traveling make sure to have a look at the place that you are visiting and choose carefully where you are going to place your client. The best tip I could give is to make them sit on a table so they can be seated on the level of your eyes so it is easier for you to do their eye makeup. They should be seated in the lightest room of the house but not in direct sunlight so you can have a good view of their skin and choose the right foundation shade, therefore.

how to grow long and healthy hair fast tips

Having a beautiful, long and healthy hair is the goal every girl wants to achieve. In today's post I'm going to share with you a few tips I've learned throughout my hair journey. Keep on reading to find out!

Choose the right shampoo

I know it sounds cliche but choosing the right shampoo for your hair type is an important step in the process of achieving those long, shiny, and healthy locks. You can't just buy a regular 2 in 1 shampoo and expect your hair to have that "just-left-the-salon" look. Try investing in professional hair products which are a little bit more expensive but, for sure, will make your hair look a hundred times better.

Try a DIY mask

Okay, trust me. At first, I wasn't impressed by the effects my home-prepared had on my hair. I decided to try another one using olive oil and eggs and the results were shocking after I started applying it once a week for a month. I'm not trying to exaggerate the effects of the hair mask but I was impressed. My hair was shinier, much softer and it wasn't tangled and lifeless. I highly recommend trying it for yourself!

Try organic products

Lately, I have been using amla powder as a conditioner for my hair and I'm pretty impressed. If I have to be honest, the smell the product has is not pretty pleasing but after all, it doesn't stay on your hair. Women from India have used amla powder as a conditioner for their hair for ages. I have always wondered how they take care of their long, luscious locks when I have seen them on TV and I think that I found their secret. You can't lose anything if you try it for yourself - the product is pretty inexpensive and a little bit of quantity goes a long way.

Stop putting your hair in tight hairstyles

Last year I was used to wearing my hair in a high and tight ponytail because of my job. Well, in the second month I noticed that my hair was starting to fall off more than usual and my hairline was receding. Truth is that those hairstyles may sometimes look chic but they are putting a lot of stress on your scalp and are weakening the roots of your hair resulting in hair loss and breakage. Instead, try leaving your hair down or do loose braids. Your hair will be grateful.

Life is like a roller coaster. It has ups and downs. It's normal. No matter what your problems are about don't lose faith. Better days are ahead. Today I decided to share with you guys some tips on how I stay positive and faithful through the bad times.

Be grateful for what you already have

There are so many things that you have, but you aren't grateful for. The roof over your head, a warm bed, food on your table, clean clothes, access to clean water, etc. Remember - it could always be worse. Some kids are homeless and are starving, and you are here getting upset about something less important? Come on, get up and work on your dream your future.

Remember that some things happen for a reason

The best life lessons are learnt through hard times. You fail at something, so you can become better at it. God and the universe are testing you everyday to see if you can learn from your mistakes. Learn how to see the good in the bad and your life is going to change instantly.

Sometimes the worst is going to happen before you success

Life is the balance between the good and the bad. You can't achieve the best in it if you don't go out of your comfort zone and show God and the universe that you are ready and determined to get it. Nobody said it's going to be easy. You are strong enough to go through everything to achieve anything you want in life. You just have to fight for it.

Meditate

Meditation relieves stress and calms the mind. It also helps you see your goals more clearly and keeps you focused. I highly recommend practicing meditation at least once a day. It is life-changing, I swear.

Know that the universe has the best plan for you

As I said before everything happens for a reason. Never doubt the universe's laws. If you stay positive and keep working on your dream life, you are going to attract it. If you lose any hope and keep on blaming others for your mistakes instead of learning from them, you are going to attract more negativity in your life. It's called The law of attraction. It is a universal law. It works 24/7. So, be careful of your thoughts.

Clear skin makes you feel a hundred times more confident. My skin is really sensitive, so today's tips would be especially helpful for those with sensitive and prone to breakouts skin.

1. Wash your face regulary

I wash my face twice a day using Nivea's Micellair Face Wash. Since I have sensitive skin I use only gentle products on my face. This face wash gently cleans the dirt and makeup residue off my face and doesn't leave it dry, so I recommend it.

2. Exfoliate

I prefer to make my face scrubs at home. First, because every non-organic face scrub consists of little plastic beads, which pollutes the oceans. Second, because they are too harsh to those with sensitive skin, like me. I prefer to mix 1 tbsp of brown sugar with a little bit of water. I gently exfoliate my face, wash it off and apply moisturizer. I haven't had any problems using this method, so give it a try.

3. Use organic face mask

It is not only that you save some cash doing this, but the fact that they are less likely to irritate your skin. In my article Best DIY Face Masks I wrote about my favorite organic masks. Some organic masks do wonders, trust me.

4. Drink enough water

Cliche, I know. Probably the most important step to great skin. Drinking enough water will make your skin more hydrated, clear the breakouts, even the color and tons of other wonders. The recommended quantity of water per day is 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women. Focus on drinking at least 2 liters of water per day for a week and see the results. You will be amazed.

5. Test for food allergies

If nothing else seems to work you should get tested for food allergies. You might be intolerant to some foods and not even know it. It turned out that I have lactose-intolerance and milk and dairy products cause my skin to breakout. Instead of milk, I started using coconut and oat milk and I feel a hundred times better now. So, if you think you might be allergic to some foods go get tested.

6. Limit salt and sugar intake

Not only salt and sugar make you gain weight, but make your skin break out more and irritate it. Try to cut them down to a minimum. Replace milk chocolate with dark chocolate and prepare your food with less salt than you would usually eat it with.