As summer of 2013 rolls into the near distance, our bodies will be more on show than ever (especially if you’re going on holiday). So, why not give your body some tlc with a spring (or should it be a summer) clean? A full body overhaul will have you looking and feeling your best for the summer months.

Diet
Seen as though ‘you are what you eat’, make sure you know what you’re eating. Establish what foods you should buy organic and what foods you should buy from a regular supermarket. Some foods have more pesticides than you would realise, so make sure you check what you are eating. If you want to be really sure, buy foods from an organic grocery store. Try and eat local fresh produce and always find out where your products are from.

As there are plenty of greens in season this time of year, there’s no excuse not to eat your vegetables and salad. But, you should have an excuse to avoid shop bought salad dressings. They can often be filled with unwanted sugars and fats which are the opposite of what you want. Making your own salad dressings from scratch are much better for you as you know exactly what is in it. Get some extra virgin olive oil, a little salt, some vinegar or fresh lemons and you’ve got yourself a home made salad dressing.

Exercise
If you usually run on a treadmill but can’t stand the sight of another treadmill then use mother nature to your advantage. You have one huge open space to use as your treadmill. Running, jogging or walking around outside can be much more beneficial to your body than you would think, its great for mind-body connection.

Sleep
Believe it or not, you can sleep your way to a fitter body and lifestyle. No it’s not too good to be true, you just have to work at it a little. Studies show that people who stick to a fitness routine and a strict diet still won’t get the full results they want if they don’t get enough sleep. So even though you may think sleep is nothing like fitness and dieting, but with enough but not too much of it you can get real results!

Cleanse Your Body
Even if you aren’t ready for a week long juice detox, even one day will suffice. Giving your body a little rest from all of the junk food and fats is good even if its just for one day. Sticking to raw vegetables, fruits and unsalted nuts for one day will definitely make you feel better.

Skin
Dry brushing your skin is a fab way to improve circulation. It only takes around three minutes to dry brush your whole body, and it is really beneficial so make a little extra time for it in your day. Remember to apply enough pressure on your skin but not so much that it hurts.

Hair
Summers heat can really damage your scalp, so to help it you can use the post shampoo and conditioner cold water treatment. It’s exactly what it says on the tin, you rinse your hair with cold water after applying shampoo and conditioner to close the hair follicles. It also adds mirror shine to your hair so that’s always a plus.

So, stick to these tips and stick around for some more summer time health and beauty tips to keep your body loving you as much as you love it. And for more secrets to keep your skin healthy and radiant, don’t go anywhere else but here! And as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

As the winter season finally comes to an end and the spring season peaks around the corner, so do the fashion trends. It’s out with all the fur, knitwear and tights and in with the floral, floaty and fresh! Want to know the latest fashion trends from the catwalk and beyond? Look no further!

• Cut Away’s

A lot of clothing this season is ‘cut away’. Dresses have cut out sides, patterns cut out or large backless sections. And the new ‘cold shoulder’ clothes are taking us girls by storm! Grab yourself a fashion cut away and stay very much on trend.

• Cute Crops

Crop tops are one of the ways to show off your figure without appearing too ‘desperate’. You can wear some nice leggings or trousers and a crop top and still feel feminine! Cropped turtle neck tops are very popular because of their figure fixing qualities.

• Bomber Jackets

Whether they are leather or pleather, not to worry. This bold statement jacket design can cater for many different styles. As this trend is widely available in many different styles, colours and price tags you can tailor your bomber jacket to your outfit! To help you with your look, get funky smoky eye make up with our fabulous video tutorial!

• High Waisted

High waisted hot pants are incredibly popular, especially with people who want to create a waist and those who want to perhaps hide their ‘muffin top’ a little too. Striped high waisted shorts are popular for night outs and skirts that can be worn above the waist (especially bodycon skirts) are too.

• ‘Boyfriend’ Blazers

Just slightly oversized, but not too much; these blazers are perfect over your most fitted dress to add a little tuxedo chic to your look! And they keep your outfit perfectly sophisticated and keep you warm at the same time, jackpot! With so many styles and colours available you’ll be spoilt for choice.

• Pinafore Dresses

Even though skater dresses are still on trend, pinafore dresses are becoming ever more popular with us girls. I don’t know exactly why, but they just have such a feminine look about them! And in every colour/style under the sun, it’s hard NOT to like the pinafore dress.

• ‘Skinny’ Trousers

Usually in the past skinny jeans have been a hit with us girls but lately skinny trousers are hitting the shops just as much. And with this season’s trends being rather stripey why not get your hands on some striped skinny trousers? You can wear these with some pretty ballet flats in the daytime, and then transform your look with some killer platform heels at night! These are perfect for girls who don’t want to bare their legs on a night out but still want to look fashionable!

• Bright, Bright, Bright!

Well when you think of spring and summer, flowers and the sun come to mind, am I right? Well, to coincide with the sun and bright coloured flowers, we think brightly coloured clothes are very appropriate! Whether it’s just accessories, or if you’re really bold two contrasting bright colours you can certainly find a look that suits you.

• Feminine Handbags

Even if you aren’t a very feminine dresser, you can still ooze a bit of girly style from your handbag. Choose a pretty print or style, such as floral, tassled or just plain pink. And if you want to add a little character to your look, studs are very much in right now. Who says you can’t have a bright pink bag with studs on it?

• Monochrome Patterns

Monochrome patterns such as check and dog toothed are a hit this spring and summer. The bigger and bolder the pattern, the better. If you want to pull of a sophisticated look for an evening event then monochrome is your trend to follow! Team a lovely monochrome patterned dress with some killer heels and a contrasting bag for a bold and daring look.

And if you just can’t get enough of spring and summers fashion trends check out 2013’s footwear trends too! And as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

It often depends on the male, but some of the little imperfections on women that guys find a turn on may surprise you. Take hair for instance, the myth that a man loves a woman’s body to be completely without a single hair, apart from the hairs on her head, should be dispelled straight away. We don’t mean you should never shave your legs or keep those arms smooth, but the hair around the pubic region and in many cases even under the arm pits are not necessarily going to make a guy run a mile. In fact these imperfections are a big turn on with many men. The hairy armpits are much favoured by men in Germany, France and pretty much all of Europe, Britain aside.

Have you got the misfortune of having a hooked nose? It may be that you are thinking of having a nose job or some kind of cosmetic surgery which will flatten it down or make it smaller. If you are, then please stop and think carefully about what you will now read in the next few lines. Men find women with hook noses attractive, sexy and mysteriously appealing. It gives a sense of mystery and makes a woman look powerful, confident and a bit like an Egyptian high priestess. Flat noses that have been broken (as they would be in cosmetic surgery) are not appealing and you will be far better off keeping with that prominent facial feature. A lot depends on how you wear something too, and I am not talking about clothing. They way you present yourself with your hooknose may well make it an added attraction to the guys.

A large amount of men like a woman who has ‘dimples’. For those of you who are unaware of what dimples are, they are the fatty bits of your cheeks that stand out when you smile. Men think these are cute and unique and love them. But nowadays, it’s not two dimples that men think are sexy, it’s the women who have only one dimple. Smile away ladies!

Small breasts are not necessarily an imperfection, although some people may tell you otherwise. In fact small breasts look cute on girls, because if you wear a large V-neck top it can look actually very appealing. In Brazil, many women have naturally large breasts but the men there favour not large breasts, but big buttocks. If you don’t believe me just look at any video of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro and see how the buttocks are shown off. It is not necessarily fat or overweight buttocks but just large, strong and healthy looking cheeks. Some men love a chubby stomach, a small gap in the teeth and of course that one spot of the face that used to be called the “beauty spot.”

Some other more unique imperfections that men around the world like are:

• Your stretch marks – some men find stretch marks as a really personal body imperfection and find them sexy, especially on the hips.

• Your small amount of gray hairs coming through your natural hair colour can sometimes be found sexy. Some men have said grey hairs are sexy especially when they are coming through black hair, silver and black are considered mysterious to them.

• Some men find the little bits of fat on your hips (also known as your muffin top) sexy. They say they find it sexy and like to grab and play with it, each to their own!

• Some men also like the slight curve of your stomach just below the belly button. They say there’s nothing wrong with flat stomach, but some men just like a little bit of a curve.

• Your eyes can often appear sexy to a man if they are imperfect. Imperfections such as discoloration, odd colours, small pigments and others like this can be unique and sexy to some men.

• Your height can be sexy. If you are somewhat shorter than most women then many men will find you more attractive. Some men have said it’s nicer to cuddle with you and when they spoon you, you fit much better as the little spoon!

• Your bad eyesight can be really sexy. You’ve all heard about men with the secretary fantasy, so your glasses can be an advantage. Men think you look confident and smart with them on, so ditch those contacts!

• Your cellulite can be sexy too. Apparently some men think it’s like the unique patterns on your fingerprints, they tell a story and they like it. Wow, I wish all men like our cellulite then we wouldn’t have to worry so much!

So don’t worry about those little niggles here and there, now you know there’s at least 1 guy out there who likes you for you. Have confidence in your self, stay happy and as always keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

Lifelong partnerships these days are far more rare than they were several years ago. Relationships tend to last around a generation or less on average and often we find divorce, separation or the break up of a romance a far more common occurrence in our lifetime than ever before. It’s sad that the want for love and lifelong companionship is so much missed these days! So, if you find yourself single, on the shelf or without a man in your life, you may be content with that, or then again you may really miss having a man by your side. But don’t worry about it, the right man will come along, however it’s not as easy as in the films when your Knight in shining armour comes riding along to whisk you away. In reality you have to do a little bit of the work too unfortunately!

You will of course be wondering how much longer you will be remaining as a single woman. What naturally occurs during our time as a singleton is we start to think things like, “Will I ever find a man?” and “What more do I have to do to get that man?”; Questions like these make us feel as though we are perhaps doing something wrong, or not doing something right to attract the guys. These questions are silly and uncalled for in our situations; they can be demeaning and very depressing so as far as you’re concerned, they aren’t in your vocabulary anymore! Ditch those questions and move onto questions like “How could you resist me as a girlfriend?” and “Which man (out of this huuuuuge queue) should I choose for a date first?”

What a man loves to see a lot in women is confidence; it is also true the other way around, us women love a man who knows where he stands and is aloof, assured, courageous and resolute in his demeanour. If you can act like that, and stroll into the room with head held high, it will instantly appeal to the guys. He will think you have a reliable, bold and brash nature and it will sub-consciously appeal. Getting the happy medium between confident and cocky is crucial, you want your man to think you stand independently, but not so much that you don’t need anyone else but yourself.

If you have already arranged a date with a man and you want to win the man over it is important to maintain eye contact and not to look nervously in the other direction or on the floor. Body language is the main thing people look at when on a first date so it’s crucial you get it right. Keeping your arms close to your body and your body slouched is a sure fire sign that you are shy and uncomfortable. Even if you are a little uncomfortable, don’t show it. Have you arms open (this will show that they are mimicking your open mind). If you struggle with keeping your arms in an open position, try using them to talk. This gives depth to your conversation and will divert any creepy constant eye contact he may be giving you. You should never slouch either, keep your back straight and your shoulders drawn back as this will give you more impudence, poise and tenacity. A woman who is confident has an allure about her that makes her mysterious and she is not afraid to stand tall and look another person right in the eye. Basically, she is not afraid to be seen, and very much wants to be noticed.

When you are on a date with a man let him talk about his life a little bit and don’t interrupt with several questions about his former relationships and children. Allow him to say what he wants to say about him and then deliver your piece. Remembering of course to always maintain eye contact and show interest. A little goes a long way with dates, so be confident, talk but not too much, listen but not too much and of course the main thing is BE YOURSELF. If he falls for you for who you are then that’s brilliant. And to avoid embarrassment or unwanted awkwardness check out these first date do’s and don’ts! Have a good time on your date and as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

We’ve all had those moments when you’ve suffered a break up or a sad time and we sit watching sad love movies in our pj’s eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, right? Sometimes it’s natural but if it becomes an often activity then it’s something you should look into dealing with as it can become serious.

When you compulsively over eat food, it may be that are suffering from a fairly new eating disorder known as binge eating. Binge eating is very much linked to mental health and the emotive patterns of the mind and the methods by which we think. It won’t surprise you to learn that many women begin binge eating as a way to relieve depression, anxiety or stressful times.

It is a serious condition and naturally our bodies may gain weight as we continue eating beyond the point where we feel quite full. There is also a sense that we have lost control of what we are eating and feel lost in our way. Binge eating and the characteristics surrounding another disorder, Bulimia Nervosa, involve eating well beyond the amounts we should be consuming. In Bulimia a patient may purge the foods she has eaten by vomiting, often deliberately induced.

Binge eaters do not usually purge and therefore rapid weight gain is one of the physical problems sufferers encounter. If a person is suffering from uncomfortable emotions and raw feelings, it can be a trigger for that person to begin a binge eating program in order to cope with the anxiety. If a person has never really had stress before, it may well be that person does not know how to effectively handle anxiety and therefore embarks on a binge eating period.

Sometimes it may only last a few days, in worst case scenarios it can drag on for months or even years. But just why we go on binge eating disorders is not clearly known. It certainly is a modern disorder, and appears to be linked to anxiety or stress-ridden people. But the link between depression and bulimia or binge eating is unclear. For several years patients suffering from depression have always gone off their food, rather than resort to bingeing on it.

Binge eating due to depression or anxiety can also be referred to as ‘comfort eating’, which we all experience at some point in our lives. If you’re worried that you’re binge eating, then signs to look out for are:

• Eating larger meals more regularly that often leave you feeling very full and bloated
• Changing your diet from regularly healthy foods to unhealthy foods (this can also cause unwanted side effects like stomach aches, skin breakouts and weight gain)
• Eating when you are not hungry, and you just feel like eating
• Finding yourself thinking about food more often even if you aren’t acting on those thoughts can be an early sign of an eating disorder

So, what are the ways in which binge eating can be treated, and how can one stop compulsive eating disorders such as these? Treatment is difficult because those who binge eat are often ashamed of their habit and do not seek medical or psychiatric help in the early stages.

Sometimes they are so secretive about it, even family and close friends are unaware someone has a binge eating disorder. But the best and most tried methods for treatment still appear to be nutritional counselling and education, medication and psychotherapy.

Things to try if you know you are binge eating

First things first, get to the bottom of the cause of your binge eating. Are you just really hungry? Are you feeling sad or stressed? Are you depressed? Finding the problem that’s causing binge eating and dealing with that first is a major step to beating the binge!

At meal times, try to use a smaller plate or bowl and don’t let yourself pile up the food as much, having a smaller plate will make the meal look like it’s a large portion and in turn your body will feel fuller more quickly.

If you still feel hungry after meal times, stop and think ‘Am I really still hungry?’ if the answer if ‘yes’ then have a small snack like fruit or vegetables, try and avoid the chocolate, crisps and fatty foods. Vegetable crisps are a good alternative to potato crisps as they don’t contain as much oil, saturated fat or salt. And here are 3 healthy chip/crisp alternatives to help you with your snacking… you can thank me later.

If you are really struggling with over snacking then try making yourself a ‘snack pack’. It’s the snack equivalent of a packed lunch. Just pack a certain amount of healthy and filling snacks into a box or bag and have this accessible to you whenever you feel hungry, this way you won’t snack more than what’s in the box. Try counting the calories and fat content of the snacks so they don’t go over your RDA (Recommended Daily Amount). If you’re struggling finding healthy snacks, then here’s some healthy snacks ideas under 200 calories to be getting on with!

It’s important to remember that stopping eating altogether is NOT a way to combat binge eating, this will have the reverse effect and has serious consequences. If you want to eat and relieve stress at the same time, then kill two birds with one stone with these 4 foods that relieve stress. So you can still eat, and be confident that it’s for a good cause!

If you have problems with binge eating, remember; don’t panic. You are NOT the only one suffering, so try talking with your parents or friends about it. Remember to include regular exercise in your lifestyle to avoid really rapid weight gain and talk to your GP about treatments of binge eating and if you are struggling with mental issues then it’s really important to talk to a counselor or family member about it! Don’t worry, stay calm and deal with the problem rationally, and as always keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

We all want to look good but sometimes we don’t have the time to do it. This is usually when we seek out quick and easy beauty treatments/regimes to buy back some time… they may be quick and easy but they can certainly backfire on you. So, is it worth spending a little more time on beauty? Let’s find out.

1. Getting your eyebrows waxed

Plucking your eyebrows in a rather painful and sometimes (depending on the condition of your brows) very time consuming which is why most of us opt to get our eyebrows waxed at a salon instead. However, this quick treatment is where problems can arise. Having a speedy brow makeover can be a godsend, but you may find you’ll be going back to the salon a little earlier than expected. Getting your eyebrows waxed can pose a higher risk of ending up with odd brows that are crooked and don’t match.

Solution: Pluck them.

You may have one brow too short, or end up looking permanently confused all the time. If you’re not very pain tolerant and that’s your reason for waxing then fret not, use a numbing cream or even a children’s teething aid to numb the area before plucking. Before shaping your brows, try to grow back all the eyebrow hair to get the best eyebrow shape that suits your face.

2. Using Diet Pills

Ah, diets, diets, diets. We all hate doing them but we all want to stay in shape. DILEMMA. Usually, diet pills are advertised and are widely available and many people fall for the ‘miracle effects they have’. Most people believe that they can get super slim in a week just by taking these diet pills and not exercising at all. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, some of the diet pills may work but they’ll pose risky side effects during or after taking them. Many of the diet pills, if you stop taking them abruptly, can cause the same effects as someone who is addicted to cocaine… no I’m not kidding. The side affects include spells of nausea, depression, low energy levels, vomiting, headaches, lack of any motivation and general body pain. Sound like a miracle to you? Thought not.

Solution: Healthy diet and regular exercise.

Eating healthy meals in small portions at the right time of the day can help massively to your overall weight loss. Cut out the snacking, or if you can’t then make sure you snack healthy things. For 2o healthy snack ideas under 200 calories, see here. Exercising regularly (about 30-60 minutes a day) will boost weight loss. If you have time to visit a gym, then do so. You can find motivation by going with your friends or boyfriend instead of going alone. If you don’t have time for the gym, then a stroll with your dog or family is just as good. Try to walk to anywhere that is within walking distance instead of driving or taking public transport, the more exercise the better. If you’re struggling with finding exercises to do, our 5 most effective cardio workouts are sure to get you moving. And if it’s a bikini body your after, we also have good ways to ‘Get In Shape for Summer’.

3. Dying your eyebrows

When you dye your hair a drastically different colour, you will also need to deal with your eyebrows. So if you are naturally blonde and are going to dark brown hair then you will need to dye your eyebrows the same colour. And if you are brown and bleaching your hair then you will need to do the same with your eyebrows. Bleaching your eyebrows yourself may seem quick and easy but you can end up with green off coloured eyebrows so get it done professionally.

Solution: Get it done professionally.

Getting your eyebrows dyed by a professional is a MUST. There is so much room for error doing it yourself. You can burn or irritate your skin, bleach your skin or do a basically rubbish job and end up with an off colour. It’ll pay off to get it done in a salon.

4. Getting fillers done

Fillers are a easy injection to help many problem areas. They help plump up your lips, get rid of all sorts of wrinkles on your face and fill in your cheekbones for a more defined face shapes. Fillers like Juvederm and Restylane are quick fixes and may sound nice and easy ways to sort out wrinkles etc, however you need to be really sure on what is being injected into because the effects can be horrific. When getting fillers done make sure it is a trusted doctor that you go with. Ask as many questions as possible and if you are doubting anything at all then leave.

When you get fillers on the cheap, you save money but there is a very good chance of things going very wrong. There is a previous case of doctors in Florida were injecting animal products from china because they appeared much cheaper. However they injected far too much of it, so much that the client was admitted to hospital. Another woman headed to Mexico for Juvederm fillers and was injected with god knows what. The woman ended up with lumps, scars and various bumps. This cannot be fixed because she doesn’t know what was injected.

Solution: Try Exilis

It pays to get proper procedures done. A procedure called Exilis is recommended nowadays because it is a non-surgical procedure using heat through the skin making the collagen tighter. The tightening of the collagen in the skin is what reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It obviously doesn’t give as dramatic result as fillers do, however it does give a lovely refreshing look to the skin WITHOUT the nasty side effects. And if you decide to keep your lips as they are without fillers, check out these Tips On Maintaining Your Beautiful Lips!

So it might seem like a bargain at the time, especially in our financial economy, but you’ve got to really think before plunging into a cheap and easy treatment like that again. So think before you act, it may save you embarrassment, pain and a fair chunk of change too. And as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

1. A Reliable foundation

You need to have a foundation that won’t let you down. As the base of your make up, it is responsible for making your skin look flawless. If you aren’t sure about what shade you are then fret not, leave things like that to the professionals. If you go into any Boots or anywhere that has cosmetic counters will have staff that can help you find your perfect shade. If you’re on your own and can’t ask a professional then put a few shades on your jaw line (vertically) to see what shades suit you best.

2. A Concealer

Even if you’re foundation is top notch you will still need a good quality concealer. Everyone has something they want to correct, whether it’s red patches, dark circles under the eyes or a few blemishes now and then. A good quality concealer can hide these in a flash. Again if you’re wondering what shade you are you can get a professional to help you.

3. A Blusher

You want a blush that is natural, not too dark and not too obvious either. Find the right shade for your skin, it should be visible but not like you’ve been punched in the cheek. Avoid blushes with shimmer and blushes that are too dark. The blush should blend into the apples of your cheeks but you shouldn’t be able to see where the blush starts or ends, if you can then you’ve used too much or it’s a little dark for your skin. A professional can help you find your shade.

4. A Good Eyelash Curler

Most people remember all of the make up products but often forget eyelash curlers. As eyelashes grow outwards not upwards, applying mascara without curling your eyelashes won’t give a dramatic eyelash effect. Although metal eyelash curlers are good, plastic ones can help you avoid the signature ‘bent’ look that metal ones provide. Also, never curl your eyelashes after applying mascara as the lashes can become stuck to the curlers and can get pulled out. When curling eyelashes, try to have the curlers as close to your eyelid as possible without pinching it, clamp them down for only a few seconds and release. Perhaps you can curl the middle of the lashes a few times too to create more curves.

5. A Good Mascara

Now, a lot of mascara’s these days promote big bold eyelashes, (thanks to the fake eyelash phenomenon). However, if you’re after a natural look in the day and a bold look at night you may have to invest in two mascara’s. For daytime, brown mascara is probably more favourable as it is more discreet (especially if you are blonde) but will still give your lashes a little volume and shape. However, if you’re going all out at night time and getting glammed up to the nines then you will want a more volumizing mascara. Look out for one that is black, preferably anti clump (unless you want the spider legged look…) and a mascara with a thick and curved wand is best.

6. An Eyeliner Pencil

First things first, as eyes are incredibly sensitive and probably don’t enjoy all the make up we put on them; an eyeliner pencil that glides on without irritation is best for your make up bag. Pinch the end of the pencil with your fingers to warm the eyeliner up a little, this way it will glide on much better. Remember when applying eyeliner, pull the skin gently up on the brow bone, this will make the skin taught. This allows the eyeliner to glide on much better.

7. A Winning Highlighter

No I don’t mean those fluorescent pens you get at the office. A nude, peach or pink cream highlighter can work wonders on your face. From defining your cheeks, lifting your brows or slimming your nose, it has it’s many uses so it’s a must have in your make up bag.

8. A Nice Nude Lippy

You don’t have to wear super bright lipsticks to make your face pop. A nice nude, peach or discreet pink coloured lipstick can do the trick just as well. Nude lipsticks are ideal for the daytime when you want a little lip colour but don’t want to go over board on colour. They also help hydrate your lips throughout the day and some even plump your lips for a fuller look. Ask a professional which shade would suit your skin tone best.

9. A Gentle Eye shadow

This is where it gets tricky. You want a nice soft eye shadow, but sometimes they can be so soft that they hardly even show up. But we don’t want to look like we’ve been involved in a punch up either. It’s difficult to get the happy medium with eye shadows but what you have to remember is to choose an eye shadow that is only a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. Make sure when you apply your chosen shade that you use feather light strokes to avoid heavy lines, and instead of blending with a brush, try blending with your finger instead.

10. And finally, a good set of brushes!

It’s not just the products that matter the most, you wouldn’t be anywhere without the applicators! You don’t see professional make up artists applying products with the brushes that come with the product do you? So invest in a good quality brush set. To increase the life of your brush set, make sure you clean your brushes regularly to avoid colours becoming ‘off colour’ because other colours have got into them. You can soak these brushes in a diluted baby soap or hand soap solution to keep them squeaky clean.

There you have it, must have make up products for your make up bag. So now when you have a make up emergency you won’t kick yourself because you’ve forgotten something vital.

These are just the very basic must haves. Other products include:

Compact face powder,
Lip balm
Tweezers
Blotting pads
Eyebrow pencil
Lip Pencil
Pencil Sharpener
And make up wipes

For more help finding your skin type and how to combat problems with it, check out ‘The Inn’s and Out’s of Skin Types!’ and as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!

After a long, painful day, it seems as though our bodies naturally, without our consent, migrate towards the kitchen to drown our frustration in ice cream, chips, whatever your drug of choice may be!

However unhealthy this habit may be, sometimes we can’t help ourselves. But don’t despair! By replacing our usual quick fix with a healthier (and lower calorie) alternative, we won’t feel so guilty afterwards and our bodies will thank us later.

Personally, I need a little crunch in my munch to feel better, so here are 3 of my favourite chip/crunchy snack alternatives!

1. Sesame sticks.
When you need a salty fix, sesame sticks hit the spot without the pore-clogging and stomach-bloating chip consequences. Containing only 90 calories in one fairly large stick, you can satisfy your urges without cheating on your healthy habits.

2. Snapea crisps
Another great alternative to your trusty Cheetos are snapea crisps. They are somewhat hard to find (I recommend searching your local Whole Foods), but their 150-calories-for-22-snapea-crisps deal is definitively worth it. They also get bonus points for being very natural and healthy, with no artificial flavours or colors.

3. Creative Apples
Now I know we don’t usually dive into the fruit basket when we feel like indulging, but apples can become pretty funky if you get creative. Applying a thin layer of peanut butter to this 90 calorie snack can satisfy both your crunchy AND sweet yearnings. You can also mix some apple wedges into a bowl of Quaker Harvest Crunch cereal (or your favourite oatmeal) and sprinkle the top with a light dash of cinnamon. I bet you your fruit never tasted so dangerously good.

And if you cave and splurge on some Doritos, don’t sweat it. The world already has so many rules; it is perfectly okay to break one once in a while.

Have an amazing week, dolls!

xoxo

Gabby Vachon, editor in chief of The Fudge Perfection Project

False eyelashes, or falsies as some girls call them, are fast becoming the latest beauty enhancement product that women simply must have. They are cheap, widely available and in many different styles, colours and sizes ranging from natural to er… not so natural. To sport a pair of fluttering eyelashes gives a woman an appearance of having sultry and delicious eyes and the effect is more flattering when we blink and flutter the lashes.

But false eyelashes can bring with them problems a number of negative effects, particularly if misused. Removing your false eyelashes incorrectly can have a negative effect on you and the delicate rim of the eye. If a woman wants to appear glamourous and attractive she will need to concentrate on the eyes and the appeal they give to a wider audience. As falsies use a glue to apply them, it’s likely they will get stuck to your natural lashes, so when you rip your falsies off after a ‘not so sober’ night out then there’s a chance you’ll rip some of your natural lashes out too.

But removing false eyelashes improperly can do damage to your original eyelashes and using falsies for too long can also have a detrimental effect on your own lashes, particularly if the long term use stretches into years. One need remember that your own lashes can receive damage that is irreparable and permanent. When your natural lashes are damaged for ever, it’s false eyelashes that will need to worn for ever if you want to have long looking eye lashes.

The trouble with false eyelashes is very few of them actually appear natural. Often they are too long and the general public is often aware the user is wearing false lashes. If you are a regular wearer of falsies you’ll know that putting them on is a challenge sometimes and not something you feel you would have to go through every night.

Some women, who have worn false eyelashes regularly for years have seen almost 80% of the natural lashes that have disappeared from the eye, either by being tugged out accidentally when removing false lashes, or pulled out during improper removal of the falsies.

The glue that is used on false eyelashes can come into conflict with the natural lashes, particularly if the wearer wants a dramatic look day in, day out, and wears them all the time. It is possible to surgically plant new follicles of hair where damaged lashes have been removed by the regular use of false lashes but I’m sure most women would not want to endure this awkward period of cosmetic surgery anyway.

So, remember to always remove your false eyelashes slowly and exactly how the manufacturer recommends in the small leaflet that will accompany each set of false eyelashes. And try to have a few nights off falsies, because a natural look is always better at the end of the day! We wrote about how to make your eyelashes longer, this is a great method to use if you are not wanting to use fake eyelashes no more!

And for more fakery tips and help check out ‘How To Remove Fake Nails‘ and ‘How to Apply Fake Tan!‘ so you can learn how to do these procedures properly to avoid future damage! And as always keep those beautiful (and not damaged) eyes on DropOfPink!

If you are stressed out, tired, suffering from that debilitating time of the month or just plain grumpy, your focus will not be on what food you can eat to relieve the stress and worry of everyday life, but who you can shout and scream at next. No one likes to be stressed out but sometimes you just can’t help it.

Some might suggest you have a break and a nice cup of coffee or have a chocolate to make you feel happier. While these two treats are sure to give you an instant, albeit temporary fix, neither is actually the answer. If you want to consume a food that will positively shift your stress levels right down, you will need to eat something that we call a super food. A super food basically is what it says on the tin, the super hero’s of the food world.

It is said that we are what we eat, and in many ways this is very true. If you are stressed in the body and mind then alcohol or lots of coffee are not really going to be the answer. You may find temporary relief but it will soon be a one way ticket to more depression, stress and bad times. Coffee will give you a lift for a short while and alcohol will do the same but the headaches that lead are definitely unwanted.

Let us now look at some foods that are likely to relieve stress and get us back to our normal selves once more. Hoorah!

Milk is a protein that is packed with calcium and protein. It also has those rarely found but effective vitamins B12 and B2. Milk is high in antioxidants too and goes perfectly into a nice cup of tea in the morning or poured over some cereal, preferably a high grain natural product like oats or bran flakes. If you want to avoid caffeine then a decaffeinated tea is fine.

If you have some levels of aggression and anger accompanying your stressful moments, try chewing on a packet of almonds. This delicious nut is perfect for chomping at its bits and releasing lots of vitamin B12 and E into your body. You will also notice the zinc and magnesium levels are high in almonds and this will help to have a calming effect on your body. Phew!

Blueberries also have intense amounts of fibre, stress-busting vitamin C, packed in anti-oxidants and also benefit from being low in calories. This super fruit is also delicious to taste especially when sprinkling a handful over your morning oats or mixing them in with yoghurt.

If you love your meat then try tuna as an option for a midday snack. This tasty fish is packed with vitamins B6 and B12, which both act as an effective stress buster to get you back fighting fit and positive once again.

So try these super foods and see how it improves your mood over time. However it’s not just down to your foods to keep your mood levels high, other factors such as work and sleep can seriously affect your mood. Check out ‘6 Tips to a Good Nights Sleep!’ and as always, keep those beautiful eyes on DropOfPink!