"Beauty Secrets" by Danielle King

15 Quick Beauty Secrets for the Diva on the Go!!

by Danielle King

I'm sure, like any normal teenage girl, you want to look cute and presentable. But with the SATs, homework, chores and work right around the corner, it's literally impossible to take any time out for yourself. Well, fear no more, because with these ultra-fast shortcuts, you'll be able to go from "drab" to "fab" in a matter of seconds (and still look cute during your Regents prep class).

Tip #1: The number one tip that every make-up girl should know is that the key to good-looking make-up is great skin! And in the winter time, it is very common for skin to dry out, lose its moisture and begin to look dry and sullen. Well, the secret here would be not only to drink tons of water but to use a facial scrub at least once a week instead of your everyday, regular cleanser. This will shed the old skin off your face--which makes it look dull--and will revive it to new. You can also use the facial scrub a second time the next day and follow it with a good, strong moisturizing facial lotion. (Don't forget: It should be at least SPF 15).

Tip #2: You know what they say: the eyebrows are the window to the soul...okay, it's the eyes that are the window to the soul, but they totally go hand-in-hand! When you have shaggy, unfeminine brows, it totally ruins your look! You can go to your local salon to get them done, or you can do it yourself at home with tweezers or a brow razor. Trust--your face will look ten times fresher.

Tip #3: Your eyes are one of the features that you can really play up the most. If you're in a rush to get re-beautified after lunch, just brush on a shimmery eye shadow that is subtle but big enough to get the cute guy across the class to take notice! FAIR SKIN: Shimmery pink; MEDIUM: Bronze-like color; DARK: Shimmery gold.

Tip #4: When you're tired from all the hard work, sometimes all you need is an eye reviver! Curling your lashes opens your eyes and makes them look wide awake. Just make sure you hold the curler on each eye for at least 15 seconds.

Tip #5: To add onto tip #4, if you want a little extra pizazz, you can also apply a coat of black or brown mascara on the top lashes to look even more wide awake.

Tip #6: We all get bags under our eyes, but when your bags have got bags, it is not a pretty picture. And it really sucks when they show from a long night of "studying" (Wink, wink!). Dab a bit of concealer (that is at least one shade lighter than your skin tone) using your middle or index finger around, on top and under the eye. Basically, put it wherever the lines are noticeable. Make sure not to put too much--you don't want your skin to look like clay!

Tip #7: Facial highlighters are good also! Shimmery eye shadow on the brow bone lights up the face. You can buy one from a store like Sephora or, if you're on a budget, Duane Reade. Don't be fooled by what's on the box! Some of these highlighters can be used on the brows, inner lids, cheekbones, upper lip, brow and even a lil' dab on the lips can be used to brighten them up.

Tip #8: Blush is a good extra in waking the face for the working diva. A light pink blush would look good on fair skin tones whereas plum or rose color would look good on darker tones. These colors will look good because they have a glow that will have (and keep) all eyes on you!

Tip #9: A bright, red lip gloss (or lipstick, if that is your thing) draws attention to your face, makes teeth look whiter and will have all the boys' heads turnin' with their eyes on your luscious lips.

Tip #10: Got 3 minutes? That is all you need for this cute winged-out liner look! All you have to do is start with a thin line of liner across the lid, then go over it once again and extend the line a wee bit. Voila! Look at you, Cleopatra!

Tip #11: Sometimes in the winter, your hands can get dry and cracked. If you've got at least 3 minutes, you can apply two coats of clear nail polish on your nails and have them looking instantly cleaner. Ahh!

Tip #12: Don't dismiss clear mascara! If your parents do not allow you to wear make-up, or if you don't like the feeling of it on your face, clear mascara brightens the eye and gives the illusion that you have something on your lids when you really don't. Totally natural but still luscious!

Tip #13: If you also hate the feeling of lip gloss, then you can wear chap-stick that tastes delicious also. I would recommend a cherry-flavored chap-stick or any sweet-smelling brand, or if you hate the way those taste, Blistex is on the rise!

Tip #14: If you hit the snooze on your alarm a little too long, you can apply a coat of mascara on your lashes followed by a shimmery, sweet, lip gloss. It's totally subtle and gives you the natural look. People will be wondering how in the world you look so fab!

Tip #15: There are some people in life who go for pizazz, excitement and drama. If you are like me, you love all those things! If you want to really stand out, try a jewel-toned color for your eyeshadow (like topaz, emerald, etc.) and sweep it across your lids. Also, after applying a coat of mascara, you can add a coat of tinted mascara on top. This has different colors like purple or blue. These two colors whiten the look of the eyes and are great for when you want those wacky days!

Hope you enjoy these beauty secrets! If you have any comments, questions or ideas that you'd like to talk about, post a comment on the site. Until next time, my fabulous divas!