Wondering if you should invest in a waterproof mascara? Is there really that much of a difference between the regular and waterproof? Here are three benefits of using a waterproof version versus traditional mascara.

No Smudging

The last thing you want to happen after applying mascara is to have it smudge. This can sometimes happen before you're even done applying it. By having waterproof mascara, you don't have to worry about incidentally rubbing your eye or even washing your face with plain water.

No Racoon Eyes

When mascara runs and gets in your eyes, rubbing it can give you racoon eyes. Sometimes this is actually done so on purpose for a certain look. But if you're not going for that look, waterproof mascara can keep this from happening unintentionally by not running due to sweat, tears, or other incidental wetness.

Still Easy to Remove

While it may not come off with plain water, waterproof mascara is not that hard to remove. All you need is a simple moisturizer or soap. Honestly, to thoroughly remove regular mascara, you probably still need to do this anyway. So, why not just get the kind that helps prevent annoying issues and save yourself the trouble? Get your waterproof mascara today!

Fragrance is fun to wear and there are so many wonderful scents you can choose from. But how do you decide which perfume is best for you? Did you know that there many benefits to wearing a quality fragrance? These can help you make the best decision.

Enhance Your Mood

Feeling a little down? Dab on a new scent. It's been scientifically proven that the right fragrances can effectively and significantly enhance a person's mood. Choosing a quality fragrance with only the best ingredients can help ensure this is done correctly. Make sure you're using the right fragrance supplier.

Nice Scents Attract Others to You

Just as a good scent can make you feel good, it does the same to others around you. Try splashing on a quality fragrance and look around to see the way people's reactions to you change. Choose a perfume of high quality for the best results. This is especially beneficial when pursuing a love interest.

Feel More Confident

When you know you smell good, this makes you feel more confident and in control. This is also true when your mood is enhanced. Therefore, a good fragrance can be ultra beneficial in boosting your confidence. Try it today and see what happens.

When you need eye shadow, you can't just buy the first thing you see. It's important to know what you're looking for. Choosing the best eye shadow palette is about colors, tone, variety, and more. Here are some of best tips on making sure you have the best palette.

Complement Your Skin Tone

When choosing your eye shadow palette, your skin tone matters. Do some research to determine which color combinations are best. Sometimes you may need more than one palette to mix and match for tone, as well as create specific looks.

Enhance Your Eye Color

Eye shadow is meant to enhance your looks. Part of that is making your eyes stand out. Choose colors that look best with your specific eye color, while still accenting your skin tone.  Sometimes this will be a blend and sometimes you'll have the best look with solids. Remember that more than one color can create the eye-enhancing effect. So, you'll still be able to wear different colors on different days.

Consider the Look You're Trying to Get

There are many looks out there that you may be trying to achieve with your eye shadow palette. Natural eye, smokey eye, cat eye, and exotic eye are some of the popular choices. By choosing an eye shadow palette that complements your skin tone, enhances your eyes, and creates the look you need to achieve, you are well on your way to being to being a fashion diva.

Most people realize that natural cosmetics are healthier than the alternative. However, the transition can seem difficult for some. Making a smooth switch to natural cosmetics is easier than you think.

Experiment With Several Options

Sampling various natural cosmetics can help you figure out what works best for you, personally. It can be fun trying out various lipstick tones and flavors before finding a match. Also, with things like cover-up or foundation makeup, you want to make sure you're choosing a tone that matches closest, as well as feels the best on your skin.

Read Labels

Check the ingredients listing on the labels to find what works for you. One fun thing about natural cosmetics is that they are often scented with fruits or flowers or both. This gives you double the benefit over many alternative brands. Also look for ingredients that are good for your skin, such as coconut oil and Vitamin E.

Avoid Trying to Find an Exact Match

Instead of searching for something that is an exact match to your current brand, instead browse natural cosmetics to figure out what you like. All makeup brands are different and that includes natural brands. It's okay to like more than one.

Coconut oil has many health benefits. But did you know there are also beauty benefits of using coconut oil-based products? Here are five of them.

Softer Skin

Coconut oil is a superior moisturizer, as it helps create smooth, soft skin without pore blockage. It’s actually good for your pores and may help reduce blackheads, whiteheads, and acne.

No Wrinkles

Try using coconut oil on those troublesome wrinkle areas, such as under the eyes, around the nose and mouth, on the neck, and more. This can help reduce or prevent the appearance of baggy eyes and wrinkles when used regularly.

Banish Dandruff

Instead of spending a ton of money on solutions that don’t work, try using coconut oil to get rid of your dandruff. Apply it evenly to the scalp, at least once per day.

Wipe Makeup Away Faster and Healthier

Coconut oil has natural properties that lift dirt, grease and grime away from the face. It’s also good for the skin. This makes it a great makeup remover. Keep your face looking clean and clear and wipe makeup away with ease.

Seal Split Ends

Did you know that coconut oil is a great lightweight oil to use when you need to seal split ends? It can help heal the hair over time.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Proper hair care starts when kids are babies. But tweens will usually start showing interest in caring for their hair themselves. This is a necessary skill. It especially comes in handy for when the kids are not with you, such as at school or at a friend's house. Whether their hair needs some extra maintenance or a full-on routine, tweens need to know how to properly care for their own hair.

Show them by example. The first step in teaching tweens to properly care for their hair is as simple as caring for your own. When they have a good example to follow, it's much easier to get the point across. On the other hand, if your hair is mess, why would they trust that what you have to say about hair care is correct? Anything you are telling them to do is something you should also be doing yourself. My kids already know that if I am telling them something about hair care, I have either been doing that myself with my own hair or theirs. If your family has various hair types, like in ours, make sure they understand which things you cannot do with your own hair, but that are great for theirs.

Always have the proper supplies within reach. It's much easier to keep up a hair care routine if your tween has easy access to the supplies. Don't make her search for the basic supplies needed, like a brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, or hair accessories. Everything your tween needs to style his hair should be in a convenient location for him. This will avoid frustration for everyone. You may be thinking about hair products that could be toxic. We have a general rule about toxicity in our house. If something's toxic enough that you'd worry about the kids using it without you, it doesn't belong in the house anyway. We generally purchase or make our own hair care products that use only natural and safe ingredients.

Make it a part of the daily routine. There should be a set time for your tween to maintain her hair each morning. She should also know that even if she brushes and styles her hair at that time, there may be extra maintenance throughout the day. Most hairstyles will have to be adjusted at some point during the day. Knowing to do this will also help your tween feel more confident at school and in other public places.

Explain the purposes of each item. While you may think it is obvious, there are some things your tween needs an explanation for. He may know what the item is, but does he know the purpose of it as well as why it needs to be done? For instance, myself and two of the kids use Hollywood Beauty Tea Tree Oil in our hair care routine. For us, it helps keep frizz under control, reduces breakage, prevents dandruff and dry scalp, and more. They may know the routine and that a particular item is part of it, but let them know the reason that routine is in place.

Teach them easy hairstyles. If you expect your tween to maintain proper hair care, simple styles must be taught. Of course you can also teach them elaborate hair styling techniques. But start with the basics and make sure they have plenty to choose from. This makes it easy for them to get ready in the morning. It also will help if their style comes loose at school and they need to improvise. Girls lose their ponytail fasteners often. Make sure they know how to style their hair both with and without accessories. My tweens know how to style their hair so well that they prefer to always do it themselves.

Explain what happens to hair not properly cared for. Not only do tweens need to understand what happens when they style their hair, but they also need to understand what happens when they do it incorrectly. Show them what non-managed hair looks like, if possible. Talk about how people can go bald, get knotted up hair, split ends, and more when the wrong products are used or when nothing is done at all. Have them look in the mirror when they first wake up and ask them if they would go to school that way. If they are homeschooled, like mine, instead ask them if they would go meet their friends that way or go to a sports practice or library like that. When they can visibly compare well kept hair to that which isn't, they may better comprehend why proper hair care is so important.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Lightening your hair with some highlights or throughout is a fun way to get a new look. But bleaches and lighteners can sometimes be harsh on your hair, with lasting effects. What some people don’t know is that there are some effective natural lightening methods that work on all types of hair. Get the lighter look you want with these healthier ways to lighten ethnic hair.

Prepare Your Hair for Lightening

Before lightening your hair, some advanced preparation is necessary. Make sure your hair is clean, dry, and does not contain any product. This way, the lighteners will not react with any of the ingredients that your regular hair products contain. It is recommended to shampoo only with a good shampoo to remove all oils and other residue. Leave conditioning for afterward, as the conditioner may also interfere with the process.

Be sure to wear clothing that you don’t mind being damaged, as some of these lighteners may have a bleaching effect on clothing as well.

Lemon Juice Hair Lightening Spray

This mixture can lighten your hair significantly. Therefore, it is recommended to only use this method if you are looking for a dramatic lightening effect. For naturally dark shades, expect this to create a light brown to brownish blonde highlighted look. The lighter your hair is when you start, the lighter it will be when you finish the process. If your hair is colored or lightened, measure the results by the tone of the current color.

To prepare this lightening spray, you will need one spray bottle, a bottle of distilled water, and a bottle of lemon juice from concentrate. Blend the water and lemon juice half and half in the spray bottle. Shake to mix it thoroughly. Once the mixture is made, spray it onto dry hair and brush through until the hair is saturated. Leave it on until the hair is lightened as desired. Going out in the sun will help speed the process. Leave the hair down so that it is exposed to the elements. Do not leave the mixture on for more than a couple hours, to avoid excessive dryness.

Rinse the hair thoroughly. Do not shampoo. Apply a good conditioner to the hair and scalp and use only oils to soften and style for the first 24 hours. After this, you can style as usual. This is to help seal in moisture and avoid dryness and irritation. Do not use this method on hair that has been chemically treated recently, as it may cause dryness and breakage.

Hydrogen Peroxide Hair Lightening Spray

Much like the lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide can also have dramatic lightening results. Expect to see light brown to blonde hair when using this mixture. The lighter your hair is at the start of the process, the lighter it will be at the end. If you start with a blonde tone, be aware that your hair may turn a lighter blonde to a white, silver, or gray tone.

You will need one spray bottle, a bottle of distilled water, and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Mix the water and hydrogen peroxide half and half in the spray bottle. Saturate the hair by spraying it evenly and brushing it throughout. You can go out in the sun to speed the process. Keep an eye on the hair and rinse thoroughly as soon as you reach the desired lightness. Do not leave this on your hair for more than an hour, to avoid damage.

Once the hair is rinsed thoroughly, deep condition the hair and scalp and use only oils to soften and style for 24 hours. Then, style as usual. If your hair is especially sensitive to breakage, this method is not recommended. Do not use this method if your hair has been chemically treated or exposed to chlorine recently. Doing so may cause the hair to turn green instead and it may also cause excessive dryness and breakage. Remember that hydrogen peroxide is a chemical. It is simply the better alternative to more harsh chemicals.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Lightening Rinse

The effects of this lightening rinse can vary from person to person. On darker hair, it may simply result in bringing out natural highlights. For the best results, the recommended distilled water is a must. Vinegar is good for deep cleansing and softening your hair. Therefore, this method has added bonuses.

To create this hair lightening rinse, combine half apple cider vinegar and half distilled water in a large bowl. After your hair has been shampooed and conditioned, rinse it with this mixture, rubbing and making sure that it gets into all of the hair. Leave the rinse on the hair, as it is a rinse and not a solution. Do this frequently to slowly lighten your hair or bring out natural highlights. Style as usual, paying extra attention to your usual moisturizing process.

Chamomile Tea Hair Lightening Rinse

When lightening your hair with chamomile tea, expect to bring out natural highlights. The effects will occur most obviously in areas that are naturally lighter. This is simply a way to further highlight what you already have naturally. On some people, other areas may lighten slightly as well.

To create this lightening rinse, make a pitcher of chamomile tea (any brand will do, as long as it is 100% chamomile tea). Once the tea is brewed well, chill it until it’s cold. After shampooing and conditioning the hair, rinse thoroughly with the tea. Do not rinse the tea off. Repeat regularly for the best results over time. Style as usual, making sure to moisturize well.

Hair Lightening After-Care

Remember that lightening your hair is an extra process your hair is being put through, even when the process is natural or healthier than other options. Even though alternative methods may be safer, you should still give extra care to your hair to help avoid dryness and breakage. Follow the after-care styling and conditioning instructions included with each method for the best results. Be sure to also condition the ends and provide extra oil on them to help prevent breakage.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

The kids are looking forward to going back to school for the fall, but you're dreading that morning rush. Hair styling can take up a good portion of time if you allow it to. But there are several ways to minimize some of the time and stress involved with styling a kid's hair for school.

Wash and Condition at Night

By washing and conditioning a kid's hair at night, parents can minimize the time it takes for morning hair styling. This way the time that may have been spent washing, conditioning, and drying the hair can be better spent on something else.

Forget Heated Devices

Not only are heated devices damaging to the hair, but they can add on a great deal of time, depending on how elaborate your kid's school hairstyle may be. If some style is needed, soft curlers can be placed in the hair before bed and are generally easy to remove. For quicker morning styling time, a large number of curlers is not recommended.

Use Long-Lasting Hairstyles

Kids with longer hair may benefit from long-lasting hairstyles for school. Some of these may include cornrow braids or dreadlocks. For the best results, these hairstyles should be well-maintained, as appropriate for each. If done right, there will be little to no hair styling involved while getting ready for school. This will certainly speed the morning routine.

Keep Hair Short

Short hair may be easier for kids to maintain themselves both while getting ready for school, as well as during school. Try choosing a short hairstyle for kids that can be achieved within just a few minutes.

Keep Hair Soft

Sometimes tangles in the hair can prolong hair styling time. Condition and brush the hair well at night to avoid this. Another thing that may help is to brush a small amount of tea tree oil through the hair both at night and in the morning.

Extra Tips

• Braid hair at night to avoid knots, tangles, and dryness. A single braid is also a quick and easy hairstyle that can last your child most or all of the day during school.
• School hairstyles should be simple to minimize morning stress, as well as make it easier for kids to maintain during school hours. Braids, ponytails, or simply wearing the hair down are great for this.
•  Use tea tree oil to secure flyaways, reduce static cling, create shine, and keep the hair healthy. Place a few drops into the hands, rub together, and then smooth onto the hair.

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Swimming is fun, but what it can do to your hair certainly is not. If your hair looks like you just stuck your finger in an electrical outlet and a bleach factory at the time every time you swim, then this is for you. Even if that hasn't happened to you yet, know that it can. Chlorine is not good for your hair at all. It can cause frizziness, dryness, split ends, bleaching, and more. You need some damage control for your hair before and after swimming. As someone who has personally dealt with various types of hair on myself, my kids, and other family members, I have learned quite a bit about hair.

Condition Hair Before a Swim

Before swimming, it is wise to condition the hair very well. A deep conditioner is really good for this. For deep conditioning, I like my homemade avocado conditioner. It helps to protect the hair from root to tip, as well as prevents breakage and provides excellent moisture for all types of hair. Conditioning the hair before a swim can help keep it moisturized, which will help fight against the damage that chlorine can cause.

Do a Hot Oil Treatment on Hair Before a Swim

For extra moisture protection, as well as strength and overall protection from the chlorine, a hot oil treatment can be good before a swim. A tea tree oil blend is a good choice to use as a hot oil treatment. Simply take your hair oil of choice, heat it in a small microwaveable container for 15 seconds and smooth into the hair. Be sure to cover all areas and comb in. Leave the treatment on the hair during the swim for the most effective chlorine protection.

Wash and Condition Hair After a Swim

After swimming, the hair can have buildup and residue from the chlorine. It is important to wash all the chlorine out of the hair to prevent damage. In addition to depleting moisture, chlorine also can fade the color or even bleach the hair. I recommend using my homemade clarifying shampoo (the baking/soda vinegar blend). After a good washing, also be sure to condition the hair to restore moisture. A deep conditioning again with the homemade avocado treatment is a great idea and will help keep that moisture in and fight the dryness and frizz. Even though the avocado blend can double as a conditioning shampoo, the clarifying blend is necessary to remove the damaging particles contained in the chlorine.

Apply Tea Tree Oil to Hair After a Swim

After a swim, once the hair has been washed and conditioned, apply a tea tree oil blend for added moisture and protection. Tea tree oil is good for damage control, moisture, treating dry scalp, and fighting the fade. Tea tree oil also happens to be a fungus fighter and can repair breakage and split ends, which can help keep the hair healthy and strong.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

There are plenty of people out there searching for natural beauty photos. Yet, when one goes to search for these sorts of photos, what comes up are “natural makeup look” or “no makeup look.” There is still actual make-up involved. While I don’t have anything against using make-up, if somebody is looking for natural beauty out of sheer appreciation for it, why can’t we find it?

The answer is pretty simple. Promoting natural beauty doesn’t pay. We live in a day and age where products rule our lives. Even ones made with natural ingredients are still products. While I’m glad that there are many people shifting away from chemical-based mass-market products, when I’m looking for natural beauty, I’m looking for actual natural beauty.

Girls are having make-up and other “beauty” products marketed to them at younger and younger ages as the years go by. Younger and younger, girls are being coerced to imitate the looks of their favorite celebrities. The truth is that most celebrities are actually not really any “better looking” than us. This isn’t to say there aren’t some naturally gorgeous celebrities – Scarlett Johansson comes to mind – because there certainly are. But if you’ve seen a lot of the celebrity “no makeup” photos, most “ordinary” people are far more attractive than those that we supposedly look to as fashion icons and models of beauty.

So you can probably figure out why the media perpetuates these “no makeup” celebrity photos. They want people to think that if you don’t have makeup, this is what you will look like. However, let’s also understand that most of these “no makeup” pictures are celebrities at their absolute worst. If you really look, you can tell that some of them are even photo-shopped to make them intentionally worse looking. It’s all a big conspiracy to keep the booming beauty business growing. The celebrities are in on it, too, because they often wear the products because of the huge stipends they receive from said companies. It’s disgusting and it’s costing perfectly beautiful girls their dignity and money they really shouldn’t be spending on products that will only destroy their natural beauty.

Yes, that’s right. These products are specially formulated to destroy natural beauty. Fortunately, there are all-natural, chemical free alternatives to the mass market products. But that’s not really the point. You’re still covering up your natural beauty. This whole “no makeup look” thing which actually in fact involves things like lightly applied concealer and whatnot seems to fool a lot of people. Why is it that girls need make-up in the first place? They don’t. It’s just a big mass media scheme to make lots of money and to fuel the advertising revenue of major entertainment venues. And now they’re going to the point where these products will actually leave behind residues that will damage your skin and hair. They will claim you’ll have to use more products to make it go away. It’s a horrible trap.

There are some celebrities that have started promoting natural beauty more, such as Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga. However, they then return to wearing make-up again soon afterward. It’s frustrating to me that we don’t have celebrities just go all the way natural, but there are obvious reasons for that. It’s the pressure of mass media for celebrities to conform to trends and styles and whatever they’re being told by the big “beauty” companies is fashionable right now. I’m sick and tired of the psychology that these big corporations are using on all the lovely ladies, and now the teen girls, and even tween girls. It’s time we put a stop to this.

It’s actually quite easy. Stop wearing make-up. That’s right. Just everyone stop wearing it. If you have to, you could wear the ones made with only natural ingredients (check the labels!) But honestly, I say we just stop using products altogether, outside of natural solutions such as lemon peels, coconut oil, or the many other natural beauty aids in our world that are both inexpensive and effective. As a society, we must send a message to these corporations who only want to destroy women’s beauty so they can increase their bottom line. This isn’t a conspiracy theory. This is fact. We need to begin to reverse the damage that mass media has done to us, and right now.

While I am not a fan of the selfie craze, I actually invite people to take selfies without makeup. You might be surprised when you compare them against pictures of celebrities. The thing you will notice is how fake they look. A wrinkle here or there is not going to ruin you. Freckles are beautiful. And when people start seeing their friends and family wearing no make-up and looking uniquely beautiful and lovely, it’s hopefully going to start a trend.

Fact: you don’t need make-up to be pretty. It’s fun for dress-up, but on an everyday basis, a fresh face is always best. You’ll look younger longer, save lots of money on products and actually look healthier and fresher. It might look rough at first, as the residues left behind by products need to be washed away. But eventually you will see a difference. There are plenty of natural solutions for things such as acne or skin discoloration. All you have to do is search for them online. The info is there.

And for love’s sake, never encourage your young girls to wear makeup. They’ll thank you for it later. Promote natural beauty. The world will be a better place for it.