Vintage Style Home Decoration

The most important thing about vintage style home decoration is to find a great source. You'll need to find your local antique store, thrift shop, vintage store, flea market or car boot sale, try them all out and start hunting for unique vintage furnishings.

Remember to be patient when you are looking for things, and choose only quality items that will suit the look you are going for. Take a list with you of items you might want in your home, like a classic vintage chair or an antique mirror, then search hard for these items. Try to stick to the list, and really think through every item before purchasing, it's easy to get carried away when you are shopping for vintage.

When you are styling your home, you can either opt for a shabby chic look which is a mix of modern and vintage, or you can choose all vintage pieces, but edit them by hand to bring them up to date. Or you can simply choose to have a few vintage pieces to make a very eclectic looking home.

There are several key items that anyone wishing to start vintage styling their home should keep their eye out for:

- Chairs & Sofas
These are the most practical items you could purchase, and they are very easy to update with a little polish, paint or re-upholster. Elegant french chairs give bedrooms a sexy update, 60s bubble chairs make childrens bedrooms a fun place, and thrift highchairs look great in any kitchen.

- Thrift Furniture
Make sure you go to your local garage sales and flea markets for some cheap vintage furnishings. Always check the quality of the items before buying, and visualise exactly where and how it would fit in your home. Keep your eye out for rare items with great detailing and craftsmanship that you wouldn't be able to find at your nearest Home Depot store.

- Cushions & Vintage Bedding
An item that will instantly give your house that vintage feel is some antique cushions. Comfortable, homemade, embroidered cushions on every surface will make any house feel more homely. Vintage eiderdowns and throws can give a quaint, chintzy update to a bedroom. Keep an eye out for great colors and fabrics that will best reflect your home style personality.

- Crockery & Glass
You can never have too much vintage glassware or tins, as they really give off a great antique vibe and aren't usually too expensive. Crockery, especially blue and white, is another fabulous addition to the kitchen table, that looks beautiful and will be timeless. Choose high quality glass and ceramic vintage items, as these will be valuable but not extortionate.

When you are piecing all of these items together, remember to keep it simple. Don't overcrowd your space with too many items, or you run the risk of your house looking museum like or dowdy. Instead, choose specific items that will enhance your home, and keep the space fresh with light colors that will make every room feel spacious and classic.

To give a bedroom a touch of vintage style:

Start by painting it white, then add a great bed frame and mattress, a great bed cover and loads of cushions. Attach pins to the walls to display your favorite vintage hats in a quirky and interesting way, and reflect the same on the opposite wall but with your favorite photos in thrift bought frames. Pile vintage suitcases in the corner of your room, and store any other items in a gorgeous wooden chest. Hang clothes on a modern rail covered with fairy lights and flower clips. And find a great old chandelier to put in your room. Put wood flooring down, and cover with a stylish antique rug, and you are finished!

This article was submitted by Alissa Carter. Find decor ideas and vintage home ware styles at Room Elegance.

For great homemade craft ideas, visit Homemade Gifts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alissa_Carter

Find More : home decoration , home style , Find decor , Decoration Home , Renovation House , Interior Design Home

18 MAC to School Makeup Tips

Guess what? I decided to go back to school on Saturday. Yup, I attended a 2-hour MAC Studio Talk makeup class at Bloomingdale's in SF, and, like the Chanel master class at Macy's a couple weeks ago, it was packed with makeup tips and new product information.

If you love makeup, brand-sponsored classes like these are a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I found out about the MAC Studio Talk class through the Bloomingdale's website. Ask in the stores, as well (check with the counter staff), because other brands offer similar classes.

Makeup classes like these are often free, but sometimes stores or brands will charge a nominal fee. Classes are usually kept small (30 people or less), and in some cases hands-on (as was the MAC Studio Talk class), where you're able to apply products on yourself. Other times, they'll be more lecture-style. To reserve a spot in a MAC Studio Talk class through Bloomingdale's costs $75, but that amount also applies toward the purchase of MAC products at the end of the class. If you were planning to spend some money on a new collection anyway, a class like one of these may be a fun way to couple your new products with some professional instruction.

MAC Studio Makeup Talk

Each student was given a choice to learn either a bridal look or a club-inspired look. I chose the club look, and the instructors described each step in the process. I picked up a few tips along the way.

1. Beat the Heat with MAC Wipes
When it's hot out, store MAC Wipes ($17) in the fridge. It keeps them feeling crisp and refreshing against your skin when used to remove your makeup.

2. Fix+ to Soothe Red Areas
If you have red, splotchy skin, spritz Fix+ ($16) over your entire face before applying your makeup. Not only does the spray prep skin for makeup application, but it contains soothing chamomile as well.

3. Primer Reduces the Need for Touch-Ups
Face primers are great for oily skinned ladies and gents. You won't have to reapply your makeup as often throughout the day if you use a primer first. MAC has two kinds, Prep + Prime Skin ($23) and Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 ($28).

4. Use Fast Response Eye Cream to Minimize Fine Lines
If you have fine lines around your eyes or mouth, apply Fast Response Eye Cream ($28.50) to the areas before applying any of your makeup (even foundation). The formula contains optical diffusers to minimize the appearance of fine lines.

5. Layer Foundation: It's Easier to Add Than to Take Away
A little foundation goes a long way. It's better to start with less and to build it up to the coverage you want. It's easier to slowly add product than it is to take it away.

6. Studio Tech Foundation for Medium Coverage
MAC Studio Tech ($29), a cream foundation in a compact tends to be lighter than MAC's fluid foundations. I'm normally an NC 35, but Studio Tech in a slightly darker NC 37 provides great medium coverage and helps soften and diffuse lines on the skin.

7. Use Downward Strokes to Apply Foundation
Facial hair and fuzz tends to lie vertically on the skin, from top to bottom, so when applying foundation with something like a 190 Foundation Brush ($32), use downward strokes to and go with the "grain" of the hair.

8. MAC Blot on Your T-zone for a Natural Look
For a natural look, top MAC Studio Tech foundation with MAC Blot Pressed Powder ($21). In the class, I dusted the Medium Deep shade on my T-zone with a 187 Duo Fibre Brush ($42).

9. Apply Bronzer Like a Pro
When you apply bronzer, think of a capital letter E. With Refined Golden Bronzer ($21) and a 187 brush, start near the outer corner of your right eye, swiping down the curve of the cheek bone (under the apple of your cheek). Then, swipe back up the same way. From there, swipe over the right temple onto your upper forehead just below your right hairline. The overall shape you're shooting for resembles a capital E on the right side. Do the reverse on your left.

10. Apply Blush Like a Champ
When applying blush, grab a 187 duo fiber brush. Swipe it on the blush pan once or twice, tapping off the excess powder. Smile in the mirror to make the apples of your cheeks more prominent and apply with the blush using a small, circular motion. Repeat the process, moving the color up from the apples to the hairline.

11. Tame Unruly Eyebrows
If your brow hairs lie in different directions, Brow Set ($13.50) is a handy product to have around. It's a gel that acts like hair spray for yours brows, keeping them in place. It even comes with a mascara brush. In a pinch, you can also use it to tame stray hairs elsewhere on the face.

12. Prime Your Eyes with Paint Pots
Eye primer extends the life of your eye shadows. Painterly Paint Pot ($16.50) is a great multi-purpose eye primer. It's a creamy, nude beige shade that goes with almost all colors. Apply the product over the entire eye using a flat brush like the MAC 242 ($23). You don't need to use lots of product when it comes to Paint Pots; less is more.

13. Eye Shadow on Your Brow Bone
Shading and color gradients with eye shadows aren't just for the lid and crease area. When applying color onto the brow bone with eye shadow, start applying color with the brush directly beneath the highest point of the arch of your brow, applying less color in either direction from there. The center beneath the arch is where you'll want the most color. Concentrating color here creates a focal point and further defines the shape.

14. How to Apply Eye Shadow in the Crease
When applying crease color, use a 224 Tapered Blending Brush, and start with the brush head at the outer end of your lashes (the side near your outer eye). Then, move the color into the crease using a back and forth windshield wiper motion. Lessen the pressure of the brush head as you move the brush into the inner crease; this creates a lighter application of color. The result should be a color gradient that gets lighter as it moves into the crease.

15. How You Hold Your Brush Makes a Big Difference
Where you hold a brush on the handle affects your control. The closer your fingers are to the barrel (the silver section beneath the brush head), the more pressure you put on the brush head. To apply color evenly, place your fingers in the center of the brush handle.

16. Get Big, Bold Lashes with Primer
If you have wimpy lashes like I do, then apply two layers of Prep + Prime Lash ($13.50) after curling your lashes but before applying mascara. It dramatically lengthens and thickens your lashes.

17. Double Your Fun with False Lashes
To take false lashes to the next level, double 'em up. Glue one row of 7 Lash ($12) on top of a row of 3 Lash ($12).

18. Using Gloss to Create a Pouty Lip
Dab a small amount of gloss in the middle of your bottom lip for a simple pouty look that doesn't look too goopy or overdone.

The MAC Studio Talk class at Bloomingdale's was a *blast*! I learned so many new application tips, and I also discovered a few new MAC products I really like (Brown Script eye shadow and Prep + Prime Lash).

To attend a free makeup class near you, check with your local MAC Cosmetics makeup counter for dates and times.

http://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/mac-makeup/18-mac-to-school-makeup-tips/ Karen Monterichard Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Monterichard

Find More : Makeup Course , Makeup Bridal , Fashion Academy , Cosmetics makeup , makeup application , makeup class

How to Apply a Facial Mask

A great way to nourish tired and rough skin is to apply facial masks, specifically facial mask sheets. The function of face masks is to provide an intense nourishment of essential ingredients to help your skin become younger looking, soft and smooth.

Variety of Facial Masks
Facial mask sheets are awesome because it helps to remove dry skin from your face and impurities as well as providing moisture and nutrition to revitalize your skin. Just recently we had an excellent review of our Faifia green tea face masks by fellow blogger at Bringing Out the Beauty.

On the market today, there are several types of face masks available

• rinse off facial masks
• peel off facial masks
• facial masks in sheet form with a high concentration of essence

Directions of use differ for each type of facial mask product but there are a few common principles to keep in mind prior to and after applying face masks in order to maximize the benefits of the face mask.

Frequency
Face masks are skin care products that provide nutrition to the skin.

Regarding the mask sheet type of mask, the sachet contains a high concentration of ingredients and essence. So, using the mask sheet or any mask for that matter, too frequently could irritate the skin. Mask sheets are very affordable but it doesn't mean you should just use one everyday.

The frequency of mask application should be around every 2nd or 3rd day.

Prior to Applying Facial Mask

• Double cleanse well. Even if you don't put on make up, your facial skin is still exposed to the dirt and pollution in the air which will only fill your pores.
• Good idea to open the pores so that when you apply the facial mask, all the nutrition is immediately absorbed into your face. Cover your face with a steamy towel or soak your face with warm water and chamomile tea bag.
• Follow the directions. Apply a face mask sheet for the duration suggested in the directions.
• If you use mud face masks, apply an even layer on your face, avoiding sensitive areas such as eyes and mouth.

After Applying the Facial Mask
You can soothe and maintain your moist and nourished skin by applying plenty of moisturizing cream or lotion. If you used a sheet type face mask, you can just pat your face with the remaining essence on your face.

Spa quality yet affordable best facial masks. Don't miss out. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jae_Jun

Find More : facial mask , facial mask product , best facial masks , Facial Skin , Facial Product