The waterline is the strip of skin between your eyelashes and your eyeball. The easiest and most common waterline to line is the one on your lower lid.

But why would you want to use eyeliner to line it?

• It darkens around your eye without going below the lash line.
• It adds drama.
• It helps create a glamorous look.

Lining your lower waterline looks like this:

Since the waterline is so close to your eyeball though, you might be afraid to use eyeliner on it.

Luckily for you, I made a video to show you an easy and quick way to line the lower waterline without poking yourself in the eye.

Remember! You need an eyeliner that is both sticky and soft.

Are you ready to try lining your lower waterline?

There are lots of ways I track my fitness and weight loss. I use websites to keep me motivated. Since it’s January and this is the time of year when many jump on the fitness wagon, I thought I’d share my favorite fitness and weight loss websites, in no particular order.

Runkeeper

I like going for walks and bike rides, but it’s hard to track how well you did if you go purely by minutes. After all, that doesn’t take into account how far you went or the elevation change.

So, I use Runkeeper to plot out the walks and bike rides. You can use a map to draw out your route, even if it doesn’t follow a street and instead goes through a park. Then it tells you how far you went and how many calories you burned. (It does other stuff, too, but that’s what I use it for.)

Nutrisystem

Of course, I use the Nutrisystem website. I mostly use it to track my weight loss and to interact with the community.

If I ever have a question about Nutrisystem, whether it’s wondering about free foods or adding a bun to the flame-broiled beef patty, I ask the forums. And, FYI, you can be a member for free without even ordering their food.

Skinnyo

This website is solely for tracking your weight loss.

At Skinnyo, you can join “challenges” where you’re a part of a group and fight for top honors as the biggest “loser.” (I’m winning my challenge! Woo!) Every Monday, after I weigh-in, I go enter it in at Skinnyo.

Fitocracy

This is one of my favorites lately.

At Fitocracy, you track your fitness. Did push-ups? Enter it. Danced to a video game? Enter it. You earn experience as you exercise and level up, just like a video game. (I’m level 6!) They even have quests and achievements. You can also join groups for more motivation. Fitocracy is currently invite-only, but if you want to join, email me and ask for an invite code, and I’ll send you one if I have any.

Have you been using any awesome fitness or weight loss websites? I want to hear about it! Tell me in the comments.

The same goes for Q-tips. There’s a host of uses for them beyond just cleaning your ears.

So, I’ve come up with some cool ways to use the products to help you look and feel a whole lot more beautiful.

Here are four cool things you can do with Vaseline and Q-tips.

Cocoa Lip Exfoliation

I love the holidays, and hot cocoa is one of my many big pleasures. If you like cocoa too, you can use that yummy chocolatiness to exfoliate your lips.

Start with a glob of Vaseline. (Here’s a tip: use a Q-tip to take Vaseline out of the jar to keep the product clean.) Put the Vaseline on the back of your hand.

Mix a tiny bit of powdered cocoa to the Vaseline and mix with a Q-tip. I used Nestle Fat Free Hot Cocoa, just 20 calories per pouch.

Once mixed, rub it onto your lips. The granules in the cocoa will slough off dry skin. Wipe off excess from your lips. You’re left with soft lips with a yummy chocolate flavor.

And, as a bonus, you can make a nice hot cup of cocoa with the leftover powder.

Custom Blush Tint

Sick of your current blush colors? You can create your own cream blush with Vaseline and loose eye shadow.

Add some Vaseline to the back of your hand.

Then, mix in a pretty loose eye shadow shade. I used L’Oreal HiP Shocking Shadow Pigments in Fiery, a nice shimmery pink shadow. Ooooh, pretty.

Then just smooth the new color over the apples of your cheeks. The Vaseline will create a subtle, sheer color and will keep your skin moisturized and dewy.

Remove Makeup Mistakes

Ever make a mistake with your mascara or eyeliner? Instead of removing all of your makeup to fix the one small error, use a Q-tip to get rid of tiny mistakes.

Dip your Q-tip in makeup remover, squeeze out excess so it doesn’t drip, then use it to remove tiny imperfections.

There! Now you don’t have to start over.

This is also a good method if you have a lot of fallout from unruly eye shadow.

Soften Up Your Eyebrows

If you’ve ever used a brown pencil to fill in your eyebrows, you know how sharp the line can be. While that kind of bold drama has its place, it doesn’t always look good for day makeup or soft eye looks.

Instead of the pencil, dip a Q-tip (the pointed Precision Tips are best for this) into matte brown eye shadow or eyebrow powder.

Gently dab at your eyebrows to add soft color that isn’t as dramatic as the pencil.

As you can see, Vaseline and Q-tips can definitely do double-duty. Have any tips of your own? Add them to the comments. I’d love to hear them!

Disclosure: I was provided with Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline® Lip Therapy Original®, Q-tips® Precision Tips™, a $25 gift card and information about the products by RocketXL. All opinions are 100% my own.

If so, you’re in a makeup rut.

While it’s good to find what works for you, sticking with the same tired colors and techniques will make you bored, fast. And if you’re bored, so is everyone else.

But, don’t worry. Here are some tips to help you get out of that makeup rut.

5 Ways to Climb Out of That Makeup Rut

1. Choose an eye shadow color you’ve never tried before. There’s got to be some color in the rainbow that hasn’t graced your lids. Yellow, red, pink, orange…these are all awesome colors that don’t get enough use as eye shadows. Try them out!
2. Wear more on your eyes. Do you usually go light on your makeup? Today, apply a thicker eyeliner line, a darker crease eye shadow shade, or apply shadow to your lower lids as well. It doesn’t hurt to have a little drama now and then.
3. Wear less on your eyes. If you usually go bold for your makeup, give your look a break today. Apply only the bare minimum, such as a thin line of brown eyeliner and a sweep of brown mascara on the upper lashes.
4. Pucker those lips. If you’re used to a subtle mauve, peach or rose shade on your lips, go bold today. Find the boldest lipstick in your collection. You probably have a color you bought but never wore (don’t we all?). Try that!
5. Change with the seasons. Just as the weather grows colder, so should your makeup look. Stay out of the rut by adapting your makeup colors to the seasons. For winter, blues, plums and metallic gold and silver work great. Choose pastel pinks and greens for spring. Rock warm orange, yellow and red over the summer. Autumn is all about brown, rust and deep forest green.

No more makeup rut for you!

Original rut image copyright Dave Spicer and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

I want you to smile. Even if you’re not having a great day, do it. You’ll feel better sooner or later. And anyway, you’re beautiful. Listen to me: I’m a gnome.

All the best advice comes from gnomes. Thanks, AG!

But, as your collection grows, you need to get creative. And, while you’re at it, you can create pretty storage that looks great in any bathroom.

Today, I’m tackling storage for makeup brushes.

Pretty Pink Gravel Makeup Brush Holder

For this makeup storage idea, all you need is:

• a clear glass
• some aquarium gravel (yes, aquarium gravel)

While any color will do, I went for pink. Why? Because it’s my favorite color and because it’s super pretty. (And I got it at a dollar store for some extra savings.)

Just fill up the glass with the aquarium gravel, and you’re done. Stick the makeup brushes into the gravel and they’ll stand on their own.

Set the makeup brush holder where you normally put on your makeup. I’ve got mine on a ledge right above the sink. Check out the pretty pink gravel in action:

How do you clean the gravel?

Since you’ll be using a lot of powder products with these brushes, some of the powder may fall down onto the gravel.

Luckily, it’s easy to clean. Just dump the gravel into a fine strainer and rinse it in the sink. Let it the gravel dry and pour it right back into the glass.

Here’s an extra tip: if you like to use spray hair products or perfumes, do this away from your makeup brushes so it doesn’t fall onto the bristles.

When you open up the box, you may be confused by the array of double-barreled syringes. I know I was. “How the heck do you use this stuff?”

Well, I thought I’d be the guinea pig for you. I tested this out and took pictures through the process. With the Brazilian Peel skills under my belt, it’s like I’m a pro now.

Be confused no longer! Here’s how you use the Brazilian Peel for shinier, healthier and hopefully-anti-aged skin.

How to Use Brazilian Peel

Start by washing your face. Get all of the day’s gunk and makeup off to reveal your naked skin.

Take one of the four syringes out of the box. You should use one per week.

Twist off the cap at the tip of the syringe. It only twists one way (counterclockwise) and comes off easily.

Press down on the plunger of the syringe so the goo from both barrels goes into the palm of your hand.

Rub your palms together to mix the different ingredients. The lotion warms instantly. Tingly!

Spread the Brazilian Peel mix over your slightly damp face starting at the top of your forehead and working it down onto your neck and chest. Avoid the eye area!

You’ll be nice and shiny.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and chill out. I read for a while (right now I’m reading “As You Wish” by Gabi Stevens).

As time goes by, your skin will feel tighter and slightly tingly—but not in a bad way.

Once the timer dings, rinse off your face with cool water. Rinse off all remaining peel and pat your face dry.

Done! Now all that’s left is some good moisturizer. If you did this during the day, put on some SPF, too. Protect yourself!

Well, that wasn’t so hard. Now you know how to rock the Brazilian Peel. Let me know how it goes!

You’re approached by a friend, family member or a stranger on the street. “Nice hair!” And you don’t know how to respond. You might tell them that you actually hate your hair or that they shouldn’t be complimenting you for any number of reasons. Some people make faces. Others get skeptical.

Many of us don’t know how to handle those times when someone has something nice to say. But rather than denying the compliment or getting suddenly nervous and fidgety, learn to take it in stride. After all, they just said something nice to you.

Next time you get a compliment, consider these tips for handling it in the best way possible.

1. Say “thank you.” Resist the urge to tell your friend that’s she’s wrong to compliment you. If you normally put yourself down when you get a compliment, and you can’t think of anything else to say, say thank you and move on.

2. Smile. Even if you don’t believe the compliment is sincere or you still get a nagging feeling from bad self-esteem, hide it with a smile. After all, you don’t want to give off a bad impression.

3. Respond with “that’s so nice of you.” This platitude gives the impression that you’re comfortable with a compliment without actually agreeing with your friend.

4. Return the compliment. Turn the focus back to your friend. If she complimented your shoes, fawn over her handbag. If she likes your homemade cookies, bring up the entrée she cooked at her last dinner party. This method is perfect for those who feel uncomfortable when they’re the focus of attention.

5. Agree with your friend. It doesn’t hurt to have high self-esteem. If you’re complimented on something you actually like, say it. When a family member compliments your new promotion, don’t be afraid to say, “I know! I’m so excited! I really deserved that raise.”

Keep these tips in the back of your mind so you always have something to say to a compliment. If you’re as great as I suspect you are, this should be happening all the time!


You can also read this article, written by me, on Technorati Women.

Though you may think of old Barbie dolls from the 1980s when you think of blue eye shadow, you don’t have to look like you just stepped out of a scene from Valley Girl.

Blue eye shadow can be bold. It can be subtle. It can be dramatic. It can be work-appropriate.

Want proof? Want tutorials?

Check out these makeup tutorials and FOTDs to find a blue eye shadow look that suits you. Some feature a large swath of blue while others have just a hint among many other colors.

Six Ways to Wear Blue Eye Shadow

Icy Blue Eye

FOTD: Blue Drama

Bejeweled

FOTD: Birthday Blues

Rainbow Eyes

FOTD: Tropical Fusion Revisited

Want more eye shadow color inspiration? Check these out:

• 6 Ways to Wear Green Eye Shadow
• 6 Ways to Wear Pink Eye Shadow

Now, go put on some blue eye shadow! Stat!

If you get a good night’s sleep, you’ll look refreshed and beautiful the next day.

So many of us have a hard time getting our necessary beauty sleep these days. But no more! Follow these tips to help you get to sleep and stay there. (And this is coming from some who used to have terrible insomnia!)

10 Tips for Better Beauty Sleep You Can Start Tonight

1. Take your TV out of your bedroom. The more you equate alertness (like watching TV) to what you do in bed, the harder it will be to fall asleep. Designate your bedroom as a sleep-only zone (save for a few nocturnal activities too NSFW), and your body will learn that it’s time to shut down once you crawl between the covers.
2. Regulate the temperature. Nothing ruins a good night’s sleep worse than a scorching, sweaty tangle of sheets or teeth-chattering chills even with several comforters. Do what you can to keep the temperature in your bedroom just right. If you like it cool, turn down the heat a few hours before bedtime. If you like it warm, heat up your sheets with a heating pad right before you get into bed.
3. Add some white noise. I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time sleeping in a room that’s silent. I always have a noisy fan blowing as I slumber. Not for the wind, but for the soft whirring of the blades. If you don’t want to use a fan, you could also try a sleep machine that has options for white noise, thunderstorms, light rain or other pleasing sounds.
4. Leave your troubles behind. If you have a lot on your mind, your thoughts may be keeping you awake. Before you hop into bed, tell yourself to table what’s worrying you. You can always think about these things in the morning. For now, your mind needs rest. While in bed, if you start thinking of these negative things, push them away. They have no place in dreamland.
5. Don’t exercise right before bed. Intense cardio workouts keep your heart pumping and raise your energy levels, making it tough to catch some Zs. If you really feel a need to exercise before bed, keep it relaxing, like some bedtime yoga.
6. Start a nighttime beauty routine. The more you have a routine before bed, the more your brain will realize it’s time to shut down. And since you should have a nighttime skincare routine anyway, you’ll kill two birds with one stone. Remove your makeup, wash your face, and add some heavy night moisturizer. You’ll be glowing in the morning.
7. Include other bedtime routines. Besides your beauty routine, add other duties to your nighttime repertoire. Before I hop into bed, I make sure my heat is turned down, my door is locked, and my cell phone is right where I want it. I also say aloud the things I want to get done the next day. You’ll be readying yourself for a sound sleep.
8. Avoid foods and drinks that’ll keep you awake. That means you should only consume caffeine in the first half of the day (if at all). That includes coffee, some sodas and teas, and anything with a lot of chocolate. As yummy as a big slice of chocolate cake may be, you’d best not leave that treat for right before bed.
9. Eat foods and drinks that will relax you and make you sleepy. If you like tea, you may want to try Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea. It’s delicious and flavored with spearmint. You could also try turkey for dinner or a warm glass of milk for their sleep-inducing ingredients.
10. Get comfortable. Find the softest and least constricting pajamas you can. Or, if you’re brave and there isn’t anyone you don’t want to see, forgo the pajamas and sleep in the nude. You’ll want to be as comfortable as possible in order to have the best sleep. Cover your bed in your favorite pillows and blankets so you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.

There. Now you have no excuse for a bad night’s sleep. Gone are the dark circles and bad attitudes that comes from a lack of quality beauty sleep.

Do you have any of your own tried-and-true tips for better sleep? Let us know in the comments!

Underlying sky photo credit by Athena’s Pix

Well, actually, this short book used to come bundled with The Complete Eyebrow Guide, but I decided to give it out separately now.

You can find 50 Ways to Look and Feel Beautiful on Smashwords. For free! (I was going to sell it on Amazon, too, but apparently they don’t let you list your books for less than $0.99. Boooo.)

Are you having one of those days? You just don’t feel very happy—and you’re not too satisfied with the way you look either. Even people with super high self-esteem have days when they’re feeling down.

That’s where the book 50 Ways to Look and Feel Beautiful comes in.

Wondering how to improve your beauty, with and without makeup? Interested in improving your inner beauty?

With this book, you’ll get…

• Ideas for new fashion statements
• Inspiration for feeling better about your life
• Powerful boosts of self-esteem
• Tips and tricks to make your hair, skin and makeup look better than ever
• Feel better about yourself and your unique beauty

And, best of all, it’s free!

50 Ways to Look and Feel Beautiful comes in these formats:

• Online (HTML)
• Online (JavaScript)
• Kindle
• Epub
• PDF
• LRF
• Palm Doc

Go ahead and download it for free!

Want to review my books on Goodreads?

I’ve recently become an official author on Goodreads. Basically, that means my regular profile turned into an author profile and is now connected to all of my books.

I know that some of you have read my books. (Whether The Complete Eyebrow Guide on Smashwords or Amazon, or The 30 Day Ultimate Beauty Makeover on Smashwords or Amazon.)

Could you be a doll and give it a review on Goodreads? Also, while you’re there, you should totally friend or fan my profile:

Trisha Bartle’s books on Goodreads

50 Ways to Look and Feel Beautiful

The Complete Eyebrow Guide

The 30 Day Ultimate Beauty Makeover

What a whirlwind of a day. I love you all.

But what I really like about her is her music. She makes fun pop songs that you can sing along with or dance to.

I’m bringing this up because her new song, “Who Says” is a really good self-esteem anthem. It has a good message about how beautiful you are.

Here, watch the video:

Did you hear the lyrics?

No?

Here’s a snippet from Selena Gomez’ “Who Says” Lyrics, just for you:

You made me insecure
Told me I wasn’t good enough
But who are you to judge
When you’re a diamond in the rough
I’m sure you got some things
You’d like to change about yourself
But when it comes to me
I wouldn’t want to be anybody else

Na na na na na
Na na na na na na
I’m no beauty queen
I’m just beautiful me
La na na na na na na na na!
La na na na na na na na na!

You’ve got every right
To a beautiful life
( C’mon! )

Who says
Who says you’re not perfect
Who says you’re not worth it
Who says you’re the only one that’s hurting
Trust me
That’s the price of beauty
Who says you’re not pretty
Who says you’re not beautiful
Who says

Good stuff, right?

Not only is the song just, you know, good, but it also has really inspiring lyrics.

“You’ve got every right to a beautiful life.” You’re right, Selena Gomez! I DO have a right to a beautiful life.

And so do you, Makeup Files readers. So do you.

Photo credit: avrilllllla

I like having Makeup Files, because when I’m going through something, I can help myself by helping my readers. That’s how I came up with the 26 Mantras for Powerful Self-Esteem last year.

I talk about inner beauty and self-esteem a lot. It’s great to have them both, but even the most self-loving women out there have their dark days. I do, anyway, and I’m normally brimming with self-esteem.

So, what could help on those gloomy dark days? Where all you can think of doing is sitting and staring out the window or watching some lame show on TV that you don’t even care about?

I’m here to help you (and me) figure it out.

10 Ways to Break Through Your Gloomy Mood and Start Feeling Good About Yourself Again

1. Make a list of what you like about yourself. Separate it into sections, such as “inner beauty,” “outer beauty,” and “social beauty.” Look over this whenever you feel the gloom creeping in.
2. Do your makeup in the most colorful and out-there look you can conceive. Bright yellow and pink eye shadow? Awesome! How about a rainbow eye shadow look? Take a picture of your bright, smiling face and show off your new makeup look on your Facebook wall. Watch the compliments pour in. (And you can even post them on the Makeup Files Facebook page! I’d love to see what you can do.)
3. Take a picture of your favorite thing. It could be a person, animal or an object. The arches of your church. The willow tree in your backyard. Set the picture as your computer’s desktop wallpaper so you can see it all the time.
4. Ask your close friends what they think your most positive attributes are. You might be surprised by the answers. Often we have a very narrow view of how we see ourselves and who we are. Getting an outside opinion really opens our eyes. Now, do the same for your friends.
5. Get out of the house. Even if the weather is just as gloomy as you feel, that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck inside. Bundle up, throw on a hoodie, or bust out your favorite colorful umbrella. Walk around the neighborhood or window shop the stores downtown. Fresh air will do you some good.
6. Turn off the TV. If you’re feeling gloomy, watching television is often one of the only things that you feel like doing. But it’s not really good for you. Instead, take a long bubble bath or do your nails in a funky color. Most anything is better than being a couch potato.
7. Read a self-help book. It might give you the motivation you need to bring you out of the gloom. I like Awaken the Giant Within and You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls. You could also try one of the beauty-related books I wrote that are available in Kindle format: The Complete Eyebrow Guide and The 30 Day Ultimate Beauty Makeover. Apply what you learned in your favorite self-help book.
8. Help someone out in need. Whether you’re just handing a dollar to a beggar on the corner or volunteering at a soup kitchen. When you focus on helping others, there’s a nice side effect of feeling better about yourself.
9. Smile. Even if you don’t feel very happy and you have to force it; smile. At first, it’ll be a chore. But, after a while, the smile will creep into your brain and you’ll actually start to feel (and look) better. If you don’t believe me, try it. You’ll see.
10. Watch your favorite movie. When I’m in a gloomy mood, I don’t even like doing the things I normally like to do, including watching movies. If you have that too, you’ll just have to make yourself watch it. Put it in the DVD player and sit down with a glass of water and a bowl of buttered popcorn. You should feel a bit better in about an hour and a half. (Yes, I told you not to be a couch potato, but this is an exception.)

There. You should, hopefully, feel a bit better about yourself and not nearly as gloomy.

I’m going to go try some of these myself…

Underlying cloud photo credit: Yogendra Joshi

Whenever I think of Mean Girls, I remember this little exchange between Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) and Regina George (Rachel McAdams):

Regina: But you’re, like, really pretty.
Cady: Thank you.
Regina: So you agree?
Cady: What?
Regina: You think you’re really pretty?
Cady: Oh… I don’t know

Regina turns things around and makes it sound like it’s a bad thing to think that you’re pretty.

Here’s a clip of the scene:

Later in the movie, Cady is encouraged to go along with the other girls as they talk badly about their looks while standing in front of a mirror.

I think about this a lot. Not just the scene in the movie, but the state of our society today. We—especially women—are encouraged to focus on the negative aspects of our personalities or looks. We’re seen as conceited if we mention what we like about ourselves.

And that’s just wrong.

So, today, know that you are beautiful. Inside and out. And not only that: don’t be afraid to admit it.

Ignore the Regina Georges of the world.

You are awesome.