How many hours do you spend looking in the mirror in the morning? If you’re spending more than 30 minutes on your morning beauty routine, you might be wondering you can complete it quicker. You might also be a little curious about the beauty routines of other women around the world, and whether there are any tips worth remembering. If you’d like to learn some beauty tricks that will change your life forever, below are eight which will change your life forever and are worth remembering.

1. How to Wake up Without a Bed Head: If you’d rather not worry about how your hair looks when you head out of the door in the morning, try fixing it into a handful of buns using hair grips before you go to bed. When you wake up in the morning, apply dry shampoo, take out the hair grips and untwist the buns. You’ll be left with a hairstyle for almost any occasion.
2. Achieve Fuller Looking Lips: For this effect, you’ll require a white lip pencil and a coloured lip liner. Apply the white pencil to the middle of your lips and the coloured liner to the corners. Blend together, then apply lip gloss for instant fuller looking lips.
3. How to Keep Hair Grips in Place: Hairgrips are not as popular as they used to be, but they are still great ways to keep your hair in place as long as you can get them to stay where they are. If you spray them with hairspray before you use them, they’ll stay where they are for most of the day.
4. Updo Hairstyles can be Flattering: You might think it requires a certain shape of face to look good with an updo hairstyle. It’s possible for it to flatter all face shapes if you follow the lines of your jawline and keep the hair moving in an upward direction.
5. How to Apply Lower Lid Liner: If you struggle to apply lower lid liner perfectly, you might be doing it all wrong. Rather than tugging it across your lower lid, pull your skin taut at the outer corner of your eye. You’ll be surprised how much easier this makes it.
6. Easy to Apply Nail Art: If you’re tired of waiting for your nails to dry, imPRESS Manicure can supply you with a range of different style nail art. Simply peel off the clear backing, line them up and press them on. Your stylish nails are ready in just a few minutes!
7. How to Get Natural Looking Brows: If your eyebrows look drawn on, people are going to spot them from a mile away. Create a more natural looking brow by using a pressed powder eyeshadow rather than an eyebrow pencil. Choose a colour that’s one shade lighter than your eyebrows.
8. How to Prevent Acne: If you’re prone to outbreaks of acne, you might be interested in learning that it could be your washing routine that’s causing the problem. To avoid skin irritation, which is often the cause of acne, wash your face gently. Avoid rubbing it as much as possible. Wash your face in the shower, and you won’t have to touch it at all, just let the flow of water do the washing for you. Try this twice a day, and you’ll be amazed at the results!

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Becoming a parent is such a joyous occasion that can’t possibly be described in words. It’s one of those things that you have to experience to understand how amazing it feels. Parenting isn’t all fun and games, however. In reality, you kind of live your life full of fear! That doesn’t sound very good, but it’s somewhat true. Parents have so many things to worry about – but that’s all because we love our children more than anything in the world. 

Amongst all your ongoing fears, parents – particularly mothers – experience one key fear in the first few weeks/months after giving birth. What if my baby doesn’t like me? What if we don’t connect? It’s a horrible feeling, and it’s made worse if your baby cries a lot. 

Thankfully, the majority of babies may go through a crying phase, but they eventually warm to you. Also, you can do plenty of little things to strengthen the bond between you. Here are some ways to bond with them:

 

Skin-to-skin contact

Speaking of close contact, you should look to achieve it as much as possible. Outside of breastfeeding, you’ll rarely have skin-to-skin contact with your baby. So, change this! Spend time just carrying them against your naked chest or lying with them on you. They feel your skin and develop a strong connection to you. It feels amazing for you as well, babies just feel warm and soft – it’s unbelievably cute!

 

Make eye contact when bottle-feeding

However you choose to feed your baby be it breast, bottle or a combination of the two it’s your decision and one you should make without any sway/judgement from others. A newborn formula is an option if you choose with lots of options available. If you’re worried about losing some of your bond because you don’t get the benefits of close contact breastfeeding, then there’s nothing to fear! Instead, make eye contact the whole time. Stare into their eyes, so they know who’s feeding them. This does wonders for your bond as they develop an attachment to you and recognise you as the person that looks after them and feeds them when they’re hungry.

 

Massage your baby

Giving your baby a little massage is proven to do much more than strengthen your bond. Again, you get the skin-to-skin contact that every baby craves. But, you also help them feel relaxed and calm. Again, your baby starts to associate you with these feelings. This will sound like a bizarre comparison, but it’s like stroking a cat. If you give your cat belly rubs and stroke them, they start to love you more and more. 

Don’t worry if your baby seems to cry a lot and not like being in your presence. This is just a phase, and you can help the situation by trying the three things listed above. And remember the most important rule of all – there are no rules, trust your intuition.

 

This is a collaborative post. 

 

While rhinoplasty is a relatively complex medical procedure, the recovery process is actually quite brief and not too uncomfortable for most people. Minor pain, swelling, bruising, soreness and congestion is common. These are usually the only post-op discomforts that most people experience. Recovery times vary and depend on the individual’s ability to heal and the level of pain tolerance.

The complexity of the surgery and adherence to the after-care instructions are also factors that contribute to how quickly you can expect to heal from a rhinoplasty. Dr. Andrew Jacono, MD is a dual-board-certified facial surgeon; he specializes in reconstruction and plastic surgery and is a worldwide industry leader in his respective field. He has patented a Quick Recovery Rhinoplasty that minimizes incision lines and does not require the nose to be broken during the surgery. He does not pack the nose after surgery, and he prescribes a holistic home-healing routine that aids in speeding up the recovery process. Here is an expected timeline for your healing phase following traditional rhinoplasty surgery.

Immediately Following Surgery

It is important not to worry or stress when you see your face immediately after surgery. Your overall appearance is not an indication of what you will look like. Immediately after the procedure, you can expect to have a very swollen face with a wide-looking nose. Additionally, the space between the tip of your nose and your mouth will look considerably longer than before the operation. Your nose may also look unnaturally lifted.

Weeks 1 And 2 After Surgery

You should expect to be out of work or school for a week or two after having rhinoplasty. To help aid in the healing process, you should follow your plastic surgeon’s orders for post-op care. You will need to relax and get plenty of rest in the week or two after surgery. Ice your nose regularly, per your doctor’s orders, and sleep in a propped-up position in bed or in your favourite recliner. After a week or two, your doctor will want to see you in the office for a post-op appointment. During this appointment, the healing process will be assessed. You will likely be able to have the splint removed, and you will be able to see your nose for the first time since before the surgery.

Weeks 2 To 4 Following Surgery

During this phase of the recovery, you can really begin to see your new nose taking shape. As you get closer to the one-month mark after surgery, most of the swelling and bruising should have subsided. Your nose will begin to appear as if it is shrinking in overall size; the post-op wideness is diminishing day by day. You may begin to develop some bumps and hard surfaces. This is completely normal and happens as a result of your cartilage and tissue repairing, regenerating and taking on its new shape. The tip of your nose will continue to descend into its natural new position. Your normal breathing will be restored, and you may even notice a significant improvement in sinus breathing. It is important to note that your nose may still feel a bit numb a month after surgery.

3 Months After Surgery

By this phase of the healing process, almost all of the swelling is gone. The tip of the nose is the very last area to decrease in size and swelling. The tip should be the only part of the nose that is still slightly enlarged. The tip of the nose has also dropped by this point, and you can now see the new size and shape of your new nose and its new position on your face. At this phase, you will most likely get your doctor’s approval to resume your normal activities, including exercise. To continue to prevent trauma to the nose, you will want to refrain from being involved with high-impact or risky activities that may damage the nose and require corrective surgery. Your nose will take an additional three to six months to fully heal, so you may want to refrain from doing any strenuous or high-risk activities until the one-year mark has passed.

The overall healing time for rhinoplasty is generally fast. The pain and discomfort are also typically minimal compared to other medical procedures and plastic surgery operations. With all of this in mind, it is important to remember that it is still a complex surgery. It is critical to adhere to your plastic surgeon’s specific instructions before and after the surgery for the best results, to speed up your recovery and to reduce the possibility of experiencing complications.

Dr. Andrew Jacono, MDis considered to be one of the best rhinoplasty surgeons in the world by his colleagues and patients. He is honoured to be one of only 139 elite members of the International Rhinoplasty Society. This prestigious society is reserved for surgeons who have proven to be industry leaders in producing top-notch results, are creating innovative ways of performing rhinoplasty and have an elite and extensive list of satisfied patients.

During your consultation, Dr. Jacono will perform a thorough examination of your nose. He will take into consideration your desired results, age, ethnicity and skin type, and he will notate any structural damage or deformities. Digital photography with computer imaging technology is combined to give you a unique morphing of your current nose with the anticipated results using Dr. Jacono’s unique surgical procedure. Every rhinoplasty patient gets their own unique result that is not a cookie-cutter outcome. You can find out more about a world-renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Andrew Jacono, here: www.newyorkfacialplasticsurgery.com.

 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Maintaining a clean house is a tough job and having the right vacuum cleaner for your needs is essential. Whether you have trouble with cleaning your carpets, hard floors, drapes, pet hair, regular dust, or if you are just into home-automation, there is a perfect vacuum cleaner for you.

Searching for the ideal vacuum can be a daunting task as house vacuums come in a wide variety ranging from cordless models to central vacuuming systems. To make it easier for you, we have shortlisted some of the best house vacuums on the market in 2018:

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional (NV352)
This particular model from Shark is a 2-in-1 upright vacuum cleaner that turns into a canister-only, more portable version of itself on the press of a button. It is easy to set up and has a powerful suction, enough to clean your carpets effectively without pulling the fabric in.

 

It comes with separate attachments for hardwood floors, curtains, pet hair, and difficult-to-reach spaces. It also includes a brush roll shutoff button to enable you to switch between carpet and bare floor cleaning. One possible drawback of this machine is that it doesn’t come with a retractable cord.

Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
This upright cordless model from Hoover is equipped with a fade-proof battery so you don’t have to keep looking for power outlets while vacuuming. It also comes with Hoover’s patented WindTunnel Technology that packs enough power to remove the dirt hiding in the most difficult spaces.

 

It scoots comfortably under most furniture and its brush roll makes cleaning crevices a breeze. It has had great results on hard floors, especially on pet hair. And once you are finished with cleaning up, this lightweight vacuum painlessly packs away.

Gary’s Vacuflo True Cyclonic

This central vacuum from Gary’s Vacuflo gives your home a hi-tech upgrade, removing the need of lugging a heavy vacuum with you around the house. It allows you to simply plug a hose in an outlet in your wall and get access to a powerful suction that’s capable of removing all the dirt from your house.

 

It uses True Cyclonic technology to make it the only vacuum that can remove 99% of the dust and allergens from your home. Plus, it stores all the waste in a large container in at out-of-the-way that doesn’t need to be emptied after every cleaning. These distinctive features make this model an efficient, convenient, and green option for your home.

Bissell 20431 Powerglide Lift-Off Pet Plus Upright Bagless Vacuum
This upright model from Bissell has a removable canister that you can use as a portable hand-held vacuum cleaner for smaller spaces. Its swivel technology, extended wand, and 30-feet power cord make it easy to manoeuvre around furniture, even in full size. It has a variety of pet cleaning attachments and its crevice attachment comes with LED lights to easily reach dark corners. Also, its SmartSeal technology removes allergens from the air and traps them in a vacuum seal to keep the air in your house clean and fresh.

Black + Decker CHV1410L Lithium Cordless Dust Buster

This compact, cordless model from Black + Decker packs quite a punch in its small size. It is very portable and lightweight which makes quick cleanups a breeze. The presence of a slim nozzle with an optional brush attachment provides access to the tightest spots in the house. Its cyclonic action protects its suction quality by spinning the debris and dirt away from the filter. Plus, it has a see-through canister and a washable filter to make cleaning easy.

iRobot Roomba 980 Wi-Fi Connected Vacuuming Robot
This robot vacuum is a great way to bring home-automation to your house. Its auto-adjust cleaning head detects different floor surfaces and adapts to carpets and hard floors as required. It comes armed with an AeroForce 3-stage cleaning system that uses multi-surface brushes and powerlifting suction to remove trapped dust and debris from your home. It also has a power boost mode that increases suction on carpets to up to 10 times.

 

Smart sensors prevent it from falling over edges and getting caught in furniture. You can schedule your house cleaning through its app and the best part is that it will return to its charging station once it is done.

Dyson Light Ball Multi Floor

Dyson boasts of a range of excellent quality house vacuums and this one is no different. One especially notable feature of this model is the Smart Ball it incorporates to allow users to smoothly steer the vacuum in any direction.

 

This vacuum also has the strongest suction of any other model in the lightweight vacuum category. It includes an instant-release wand that makes it easy to clean your home from floor to ceiling. Plus, a washable filter and a retractable cord make it a very convenient option.

Dirt Devil Razor Pet Steerable Bagless Upright Vacuum
This upright model from Dirt Devil is lightweight but a powerful option for your home. It comes with swivel steering that makes manoeuvring around furniture easy. It adapts to both carpets and hard floors through its Spin4Pro premium brush roll and is great at handling pet hair.

 

A 10-feet cleaning wand helps you clean your drapes and its “no loss of suction” technology guarantees reliability. Plus, its advanced 3-stage filtration system helps to remove allergens from the air in your home.

Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor Canister Vacuum
This model by Miele is designed specifically for hard floor cleaning but includes a combination cleaning head that can be used on area carpets too. It manoeuvres comfortably around and under furniture to easily clean your hard floors, especially using the included parquet twister floor brush, which has a 90-degree twisting angle, making cleaning 20% faster.

 

You can choose among six different speeds to get the perfect suction for all your surface cleaning needs. With its crush-proof hose and stainless-steel wands, this model is designed to last, boasting an average lifespan of 20 years.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Christmas is so close you can almost touch it – it won’t be long before you’re in a mince pie coma luxuriating in the new cashmere socks you received from Aunt Gertrude 😉 But with Christmas comes the inevitability of January and a hive of resolutions and productivity and for bloggers that often means SEO. But I promise it doesn’t have to be as dry or daunting as you may think it is.

I am by no means an SEO expert (I’m always learning!) but as an oldie when it comes to blogging – nearly 10 years – here are my top tips for bloggers when it comes to SEO:

Make a Plan

I suppose this stems from my PR/Marketing days when it was drummed into us that without a plan even the best ideas in the industry were doomed to fail. What is exactly what you want to get out of SEO? What searches do you want to appear on page 1 of Google for? Don’t put all your time and effort into ranking highly for the best prams on the market when you’re a big advocate for babywearing. Do your research, become an expert in understanding your target audience and what they want and what they’re searching. Google Analytics is great for gaining a deeper understanding of behaviour and trends.

Networking

I promise I’m not a dodgy used car salesman with this one – but networking is still king in business no matter how you approach it. Without getting too technical, Google adds more ‘weight’ to sites that are linked to by established sites (this can also work in the same vain but negatively if you’re linked to by less than desirable sites, so something to bear in mind.) One way to achieve this is to take part in guest posts, it’s a natural – and often fun – way to broaden your blogging circle while working on the SEO for your site.

Consult The Professionals

I like to class SEO in the same bracket as a good blow-dry – it takes skill and one that I can do but I’m not brilliant at; this tip is as much for me as it is for you, after all these years I’m finally understanding the benefits of outsourcing aspects of my job that I’m not great at. SEO and online visibility are part and parcel of blogging and something you need to get right to see real growth. Consultancy services offered by click.co.uk are great for bloggers who often think that they’re not big enough to benefit from SEO marketing but that’s such a misunderstanding. Here’s my saying that 2019 is the year that I will finally outsource – will let you know how I get on.

 

Evaluation is Key

I’m hoping this one is pretty self-explanatory but if you followed step one (listen to me sounding like an SEO guru haha!) then it’s important that you periodically stop to take stock; to see what’s working and what isn’t. This doesn’t have to take the form of a dry as cardboard all afternoon meeting – gosh how I don’t miss those! I find it best to track progress in the forms of input vs output taking into consideration time/effort/budget spent when I do my month end paperwork and track it using a simple spreadsheet set up – with a  treat of a blow-dry if it’s been a good month!

There you have it, a realistic SEO hit list for the new year – it is by no means going to make you the next Zuckerberg but is a handy starting point and will hopefully have you feeling in control

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.