6 Essential Makeup Brushes and Their Less-Pricey Alternatives

This post would benefit a lot of us who are so passionate about beauty and yet appreciate the value of savings! Some of us buy a bunch of makeup brushes and after a few weeks they are all lying idle in every corner of the room.. Nawooh!

What makeup brushes do I really need? Which is essential and which is not?

Without much preamble, let's go straight to the point!

1. Foundation Brush

The Flat foundation brush is a synthetic brush used to apply liquid or cream foundation on the face. 

The duo fibre brush is specifically designed to generate an airbrushed finish when used to apply a liquid foundation. DUO FIBRE BRUSH costs about N7, 000.

                          

But don’t be scared I just discovered its alternative: Recently, I found a new tool for applying foundation that gives me that satisfying airbrush finish! Haha!  It's a BEAUTY BLENDER (an egg shaped makeup sponge) and it Costs about "N165" for one piece.  Go get yours now!!!

2. Powder/Blush Brush:

BEST FOR POWDER AND BLUSH

Powder brush is used to apply pressed or loose powder all over the face. It is also fantastic for using as a bronzing brush for larger areas of the skin such as the neck. The bristles pick up the perfect amount of color (powder/bronzer) and distributes flawlessly onto the skin. Medium-sized powder brush can also be used to apply blush on apple of the cheek. POWDER/BLUSH BRUSH costs N5, 980 

Just hear this again, because I have another alternative:  POWDER FOAM/DISC FOAM is used to apply powder on the face. With this, you can massage the powder to penetrate evenly and hence, more flawless look will be achieved! It relatively cheap and costs about N50 for one. 

3. Eye shadow Brush:

BEST FOR EYE SHADOW

Used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments to the eyelid For that perfect attraction you need for your lid and creases of the eye, makeup artists say well-crafted mixed-fiber brushes are a necessary expense. Stiffer synthetic hair deposits color, the rounded top lets you hit that crease, and softer fibers work "like a windshield wiper to spread and blend the color," says L. A. makeup artist Fiona Stiles

Any alternative? Not known yet (***Smiles***) 

4. Contour Brush

 A smaller head of natural bristles—like the ones on Marc Jacobs' Angled Blush Brush. With it you target where color goes and blends for a natural finish. You can also use the slanted edge for contouring, giving you more bang for your buck. A single contour brush costs N4, 225

ALTERNATIVE: you can use your eye shadow brush for this purpose

5. Flat Angled Brush 

The small angled or slanted brush is used to fill the sparse area of the brows.. Getting a single ANGLED BROW BRUSH can cost N3, 380

                                                    

ALTERNATIVE: Thick COTTON BUDS can be used for shaping the eyebrow arch when dipped in concealer or foundation. Costs about N169 for a 150psc

6. Spiral Eyebrow Brush

This is used to take excess mascara from the lashes to avoid clogging. This makes the brow even if it is drawn with a pencil or brow filler to appear natural. It is also used to tone down eye pencil from the brows when it's too much! 

An example is MAC LASH BRUSH and it costs N2, 536

ALTERNATIVE: Do u know that an OLD MASCARA WAND works magic? U can wash for use and it serves perfectly as it's same as the spiral eyebrow brush. It costs nothing! There are so many other brushes. From my List above ...with brush 1 and 2, be sure to have that flawless base you seek.

Brush 3 and l4 would help you blend colors on the eyelid perfectly and contour on the crease respectively.

Brush 5 and 6 would help you achieve the perfect brow arch. 

But I suggest you buy a complete set of makeup brushes which will cost you only N4,500 for just your personal make up or if you are a makeup artist you can go for a bigger set of makeup brushes which is about N12,0000 in the market. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOUR PARTNER

It is easy to lose spark when facing various challenges in life. Nowadays many people feel tired and exhausted due to stress, losing job or overload. If your partner is facing hard times, then you will have a great role to support them and help find the way out. If you really love your significant other, you should do your best to boost their confidence and motivate them when they feel down. Show your love and care for them to understand that they are not alone. You should be ready to deal with nervousness, because when we have problems we usually turn emotional and lose stability. Here are steps on how to motivate your loved one to handle the situation and become strong again.

1. Remind him/her of their success

If things are not going well for you partner, try to provide an encouragement for them by offering a pep talk. You are the one who should remind them how wonderful and talented they are. You can give the example of their past accomplishments. Try to persuade them in their originality and abilities to make their dreams come true. This strategy will help you boost your partner’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

2. Suggest small steps

Sometimes the way to your dreams can be long and complicated. You can find the goal unachievable, because of unexpected challenges and obstacles that arise along the journey. If you’re beloved doesn’t know what to do, where to begin or how to move forward, try to suggest them to start with small steps and actions. You can share your vision of the situation and suggest a list of small steps and people who can help them overcome tough times.

3. Show Concern

Try to determine the cause of your partner’s troubles. If it is possible, try to create a cozy atmosphere and find a suitable moment to talk to them and understand what is bothering them. When you know the reason, you can start on the emotional support instead of just criticizing and commenting that you see your beloved is changing in a bad way.

4. Don’t be importunate

When we want to help somebody, we should be careful enough not to put too much pressure on them. It is important to feel the line support and mental pressure. Your partner has the risk to get more stressed and annoyed if you bother them about something. I think no one likes pushy people, especially when you are surrounded by problems and want everyone to leave you alone.

5. Don’t praise too much

Praising your partner is one of the most significant things to motivate them to move on, but you should know when to stop. Too good isn’t good, too. When you are doing it all the time, they will find you insincere. Don’t gush too much about their goals and accomplishments. Just remind them about their advantages from time to time in order to give them a push to live happier.
 

6. Find something positive in their actions

If you have given your partner an advice to do certain small steps to go through hard times, you should feel responsibility for your actions and try to notice and accentuate all the good things that result from their actions and attempts. You can find different positive moments and changes in their deeds. If they go in for sports, you can remind how strong and wonderful they look.

Nowadays even strong and highly successful people can face problems and lose motivation. If you have a persistent desire to overcome all difficulties in your family life, you should be brave enough to face harsh realities of life and be a single whole despite of everything. Moreover, you should support your partner if necessary. Have you ever tried any other effective ways to motivate your significant one? Share your tips with us please.

THE USES OF CASHEW NUTS AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS..

 

Cashew nuts also known by the botanical name Anacardium Occidentale, or what the Indians call Caju, are rich sweet product of the cashew tree, which have gained popularity in North America and Europe, not only for their succulent flavour but for health benefits too. Cashew nuts are kidney or beans shaped and are full of anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals which are required for the normal functioning of the body. 

Cashews are one of those irresistibly delicious nuts that are also packed with healthy nutrients. Think of copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and Vitamin K, along with lesser known phytonutrients such as antioxidants, Tyrosinase, melanin, elastin, Proanthocyanidins and oleic acid; cashew nuts have them all. Each nutrient plays its part in providing bone strength and joint flexibility, discouraging migraines, improving memory, lowering blood pressure, preventing heart disease and cancer.

Below are some of the health benefits of cashew nuts.

Prevents Cancer – The proanthocyanidins and high copper content in cashew nuts help fight against cancerous cells thereby preventing such ailments as colon and duodenal cancers. These proanthocyanidins are a class of flavonols which fight against tumor cells by stopping them from dividing further.

Healthy Heart – Cashews contain low fat when compared to other nuts, and that too comes in the oleic acid form which is very healthy for the heart. They are cholesterol free and the antioxidants present keep you away from heart diseases.

Lowers High Blood Pressure – Cashew nuts lower your blood pressure with the help of magnesium present in them.

Helps Hair – Copper is the mineral which helps your hair get that healthy colour. So if you take cashews which are full of copper, you can get that black hair that you always wished for.

Healthy Bones – Like calcium, magnesium is also important for bone health, and it is one of the main ingredients in cashew nuts.

Healthy Nerves – Magnesium is stored on the bones surface which prevents calcium from entering the nerve cells and thus keeps the blood vessels and muscles relaxed. Insufficient amount of magnesium can lead calcium to enter the blood vessels leading them to contract. It also leads to high blood pressure, migraine headache etc.

Prevents Gall Stones – Daily intake of cashew nuts can reduce the risk of developing gall stones up to 25%. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, looking at the dietary data of 80,718 women, integrating at least one ounce of nuts a week, such as cashews, give women a 25 percent lower risk of developing gall stones.

Helps In Weight Loss – Though cashew nuts are considered as fats, they contain good cholesterol. So contrary to popular belief, those who eat cashews at least twice a week gain less weight when compared to those who eat less or do not eat at all.

Help Digestion – Cashew nuts help in growth and development, nucleic acid synthesis and digestion. 

High On Vitamins – Cashew nuts are rich in vitamins like riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, niacin etc. These vitamins keep you safe from sideroblastic anemia, pellagra etc.

Healthy Gums And Teeth – As mentioned before, the magnesium content present in cashew nuts is very good for bones. So it gives healthy teeth as well as strong gums to hold them. Research has also shown that chemicals in cashew nuts kill gram positive bacteria, a pervasive mouth affliction that causes tooth decay and acne.

Free Radicals – Cashew nuts help our body to utilize iron properly and eliminate free radicals which cause health problems.

Muscular Degeneration – Cashew nuts have the ability to filter sun’s UV rays and protect us from muscular degeneration.

Cashews are just plain good for you; ensure that you eat a few once every week to help boost your health.