Score for all those other natural-ites out there! This week a well-respected doctor announced that Thyme may be just as effective (if not more) at treating pesky breakouts as the ever-dreaded benzoyl peroxide! Benzoyl peroxide is the absolute worst! If they came up with an herbal remedy that girlies could use, I would rejoice forever!

Check out the article on NoMoreDirtyLooks.com.

The majority of people don’t pay attention to skincare until they are in their twenties- and many don’t pay it any mind until they are in their forties and it’s too late. Our skin changes as we get older and other factors, such as lifestyle and environment, also influence it to change. Every decade of life brings along its own problems that need to be confronted in their own way, and we should be sure to adjust our skincare routine accordingly.

Under 20

In your teens, your skin is structurally in the best condition it could ever be in and is the picture of health, except for the problems of acne and blackheads. During these years, it’s important to fight against problems like these, so it’s important to wash skin twice a day with a good facial wash. It’s also important to begin using sunscreen on a daily basis, because you don’t want to age prematurely during your twenties.

Roaring Twenties

Once many people get to their twenties and acne is no longer a major problem, they simply do away with a regular skincare routine. However, this is one of the worst mistakes that someone could make because this is actually the best time to start building up a healthy skincare regimen, free of harsh chemical and alcohol-based products. What’s most important in this decade is making sure that the skin stays moisturized. This is also the time to avoid engaging in many of the practices that cause skin to age prematurely, like tobacco use, excessive exposure to sunlight, excessive drinking, and illegal drug use.

Not Quite the Forties, But It’s Definitely Not Your Twenties- the Thirties

During our thirties, skin doesn’t renew itself as quickly as it did in younger years, so it’s important to help keep the process going, and it’s also important to do your part to keep fine lines from turning into more defined wrinkles. Those who care about their skin should exfoliate (at least) weekly at this age range and eat properly. They should also make sure their diet contains all the important skincare vitamins, like vitamins A, B complex, C, D, and especially E, and plenty of water. Just as importantly, they may introduce an anti-wrinkle product to their regimen to help fight fine lines.

After the Thirties

The forties are a tough time to be skin. During this decade, collagen under the skin is damaged, and cannot regenerate itself, which causes wrinkles to become permanent. Age spots begin to show on the skin, and skin becomes dryer than ever before. That’s why it’s important to continue all the good skincare habits that you’ve already established throughout your younger years during this time, and to compliment this routine with an all-natural anti-wrinkle product. While no anti-wrinkle product can totally reverse the aging process, the best anti-wrinkle creams help slow it down substantially. If you’re not sure where to start looking for one, WrinkleReview.com is a good place to start.

Overall, if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and a healthy and consistent skincare regimen, then your skin will stay healthy, too. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it pays to keep it healthy as long as possible, just as it pays to keep any of your body’s other organs healthy as long as possible. Take care of your skin and it will take care of you.

**This article was sponsored by WrinkleReview.com**

Mally Roncal is sharing the love again! Throughout her career, she has been a makeup artist to celebrities from Beyoncé to Jennifer Lopez and from Mariah Carey to Celine Dion. She’s known for flawless, glowing skin, which instantly makes you look like you’ve had 8-hours of sleep! Here are Mally’s easy and quick steps for getting a radiant, well-rested look:

Step 1: First, start with a good moisturizer to smooth over any dry or flaky spots.

Step 2: Next, apply my Perfect Prep Poreless Primer to fill in your pores and fine lines, creating an invisible barrier between your skin and your makeup.

Step 3: Apply a creamy concealer underneath your eyes, and then dab on any blemishes. Even out your complexion with my Ultimate Performance Foundation and a powder brush to get that diffused, airbrushed look.

Step 4: Using a highlighter, apply to the brow bone, cheek bones, temples and down the center of your nose; swirl a universally flattering pinky-peach blush onto the apples of the cheeks.

Step 5: Use my Volumizing Mascara and with the wand, apply inwards for a starburst effect that instantly opens up eyes.

Step 6: Finish by using my Lightwand Eye Brightener. Take the pencil end and draw a sideways "v" in the inner corner of your eyes. If you want to take it to the next level, take the spring-loaded powder dabber on the other end, and apply it on top of the pencil!

Loving this new Spring color, Fairy Lights by butter.

Brush Up on Your Brushing
Like most people, you probably perform your oral hygiene routine each day without giving it much thought. Dentists recommend that we spend at least 2 minutes brushing our teeth both morning and night, but recent surveys suggest that on average, we only spend about 40 seconds. If you don't brush correctly, bacteria can build up in your mouth, leading to serious oral health problems such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Your toothbrush and toothpaste are your first lines of defence against plaque. Not all brushes and pastes are created equal, though. Electric toothbrushes may clean your mouth more quickly and thoroughly than a manual toothbrush, and can be ideally suited to people who have limited manual dexterity, such as the elderly or disabled. With K&Co’s range of Phillips Sonicare, you’ll find the latest in oral hygiene technology, with features designed to make using an electric toothbrush simple and affordable.
Don't let the toothpaste aisle of your supermarket or chemist overwhelm you either. Just make you select a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which has been proven to help prevent tooth decay.

Steps for proper brushing
Brushing works best when it's done correctly. Follow these simple steps when using either an electric or manual toothbrush for healthy clean teeth and gums:

- Brush at least twice each day, preferably after every large meal.

- Place the bristles of the toothbrush where the gum meets the tooth at a 45-degree angle. This way, the bristles clean under the gum line. Make sure the bristles are touching both the gums and tooth surfaces.

- Move the toothbrush back and forth using a rolling motion. Brush the outer surfaces of 2 to 3 teeth at a time. Then move to the next group of 2 to 3 teeth and repeat. Remember to be gentle. Brushing too hard can injure the gums and make them more susceptible to gum disease.

- Use the same technique to brush all of your inner tooth surfaces.

- Tilt the toothbrush vertically to clean the inner part of your front teeth. Use an up-and-down motion with the tip of the toothbrush to thoroughly clean these teeth.

- Bacteria also grow on your tongue, so brush your tongue from front to back for total mouth hygiene.

- The total tooth brushing process should take at least 2 minutes.

- Remember to rinse thoroughly – don’t swallow any toothpaste!

*This is a sponsored post and Smartypanties received compensation for writing it but all opinions herein are my own*

Ladies, Q-tips are nothing new, eh? Our grandmas were using these suckers way back when to fix little smudges in our makeup. But those fabulous little geniuses over at Q-tips have one-upped our grandmas! In case you haven’t heard the buzz, I’d like to introduce you to NEW Q-tips® Precision Tips™ cotton swabs! Designed with pointed tips at both ends, this latest innovation is the ideal tool for beauty touchups – from precise eye make-up application to perfecting manicures. Made from 100% pure cotton, Q-tips® Precision Tips™ are also soft and gentle, so they can be used as affordable and clean alternatives to a makeup brush or sponge.

Additionally, there are many beauty uses for Q-tips® Precision Tips™ you might not be aware of – from using them to create longer lasting mascara to help maximize the life of your lipstick – the uses are endless.

Q-tips sent me over a pack to test them out and I thought, really? I'm sure they're pretty much the same, but once you start using these you really can't stop. I'm addicted. Every AM after I apply my mascara I use these puppies to go under and remove any missteps. 

Visit the Q-tips® Cotton Swabs Facebook page (Facebook.com/Qtips) where you can stay up to date with the latest news and tips. You can also get in on the fun by followingQ-tips® Cotton Swabs on Twitter at @Qtips!

What are your favorite beauty tricks to make you look fabulous? 

PS-Don't you just love my vintage Q-tips pics? 

Smartypanties received free product and a $25 gift card in consideration for this review.

Celebrity makeup artist and Avon Global Creative Color Director Jillian Dempsey worked with Hollywood’s newest beauty, Jennifer Lawrence, prepping her for The Hunger Games Movie Premiere in LA yesterday. The buzzed about actress was cast as Katniss Everdeen, the main character in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s wildly-popular novel.

“Jennifer likes to be daring with her look. She’s not afraid to really wear makeup,” said Jillian. For Jennifer’s bold and glamorous look, Jillian put the focus on Jennifer’s eyes by lining them with a deep black liner and then layering a gold eyeshadow on the actress’s lids. Using a featherbrush, Jillian blended the edges of the liner with the gold shadow. Merging the two textures and colors helped create a multidimensional effect that appeared as a sparkling black. By darkening Jennifer’s brows, Jillian further accentuated the eyes and framed her face.

To create Jennifer’s sunkissed glow, Jillian used her new Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Perfect Contour Powder in Blissful to sculpt cheeks first, then layered a custom mix of two peachy cream blushes on top. This created Jennifer’s overall soft, warm complexion. For a finishing touch, Jillian opted for a nude lip— she applied a lipstain and then swiped on a nude lipstick to achieve a creamy texture.

Here's what Jillian Used to create Jennifer's look:

EYES:
§ Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Black ($22)

FACE:
§ Jillian Dempsey for Avon Professional Perfect Contour Powder in Blissful ($10, available in April)

§ Be Blushed Cheek Color by Avon in Tropical Peach ($8) and Stila Convertible Color in Peony ($25)

LIPS:
§ Ultra Color Rich Moisture Seduction by Avon in Nude Perfection ($7)

§ Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Lip Stain in Coral Aquatique ($32)