Shopping sprees

 So, with the changing of seasons, new school year I started buying some things. At first it was just maybe a few sweaters for the winter, shoes, maybe some beauty products... and i noticed that for just a little over a week I actually renewed my closet and beauty products  My friends started calling me a  total shopaholic  and at some point i thought i might be one. So i studied up on it, and i found some things. I'm writing this because i am sure lots of the girls who read this blog have this problem, when they have a  bit more money they go crazy in the store. And since this blog is all about affordable ways to be fabulous, I thought it would be a good idea to do this article. So here we go.....

 Contrary to popular belief, shopping is not a random, thoughtless act, nor is it emotional — instead the urge to spend is brought on by a primitive area of the brain that makes us seek new experiences. Not only does this help explain why people go on shopping sprees, but it also explains why consumers routinely fall for "new" products. British researchers, using brain scans to measure blood flow, found that a part of the brain known as the ventral stratum was more active when people selected unusual objects. This area releases neurotransmitters like dopamine  which process rewards in the brain.

 It is this age-old reward mechanism of the brain that has scientists believing humans have been giving in to the desire to sample the unknown for generations — so much so, scientists even believe it provides us with an evolutionary advantage. "Seeking new and unfamiliar experiences is a fundamental behavioural tendency in humans and animals. It makes sense to try new options as they may prove advantageous in the long run," says Bianca Wittman from the Welcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at the University College, London.

 Before you start charging up your credit card, it's important to know that there are also risks involved in adventurous spending. In today's competitive world, big spenders can be easily swayed by big brands and mass marketing hype.

On top of the fact that shoppers may be tricked into buying goods they don't really need by clever advertising campaigns and masterful branding, some may also fall victim to common vices, like gambling, in the search of adventure.

"In humans, increased novelty-seeking may play a role in gambling and drug addiction," says Nathaniel Daw from New York University, "both of which are mediated by malfunctions in dopamine release."

What could you do to stop going over the top when you go shopping?...

1. Write lists. Write down the things you really do need a few days before you go shopping, or the day before. And just before you leave, review it, you will most likely put off a few things that you realize are not that important.
2. Before you buy anything, ask yourself ''Do i really need this''... And if you don't find the answer convincing, don't buy it, and be honest with yourself with this one. Trust me it will save  you a lot of money, I've been doing it for a few days, and it helps, I calculated i saved myself about 60$, just for 3 days.
3. Set a limit. When you go shopping take only the money you won't regret spending. Like if you have 200$, take only 100$ or 80$, depending on what you will buy.
4. Always use cash. It's easy to lose track on what you spend when you use a credit card. With cash, you will see how it fades away from your wallet, and the guilt will make you think twice before you buy some expensive bag or boots.
5. Give your wallet to a friend. My best friend is a total maniac, so when we go out, she gives me her wallet, and when she wants to buy something she uses step number two, and before i give her her wallet, she needs to come up with a convincing reason of why she needs it.
6. Go trough your closet. Look in the back, you'll be surprised with all the cool stuff you have in there and just forgot about. It will give you the same rush as shopping, it will save you money, and bonus, if you're  a teen, your mum will be happy you finally cleaned that place. 

So these are my tips on how to overcome the urges you get when you enter a mall. Good luck!!!

How to clean your makeup tools

 No matter what kind of cosmetic we have we always need good tools to apply it on for the perfect effect. But with time putting makeup on becomes a challenge. In the following passages I will tell you how to keep your makeup tools in tact.

 For brushes:

 Make sure to keep your makeup brushes clean to keep bacteria and dirt away from the sensitive eye area and face. Gently wash them with warm water and a little soap, cleanser or shampoo once a week or as needed. Swish just the tops of your brushes (avoiding the handle) into a cup of gentle liquid dish cleanser or shampoo. You will see the soapy water turn color as the makeup is cleansed from the brushes. 

 Rinse the brushes either in another cup of water or under the faucet. Using your fingers squeeze any excess water off the brush as you reform the brush bristles. Lay on a towel overnight to dry. Allow the makeup brush to dry fully before applying makeup to your skin.
If you take care of your brushes, they will last for years.

 For sponges:

 Cleaning your foundation sponge is actually very very easy, and it's good because that way you won't let any bacteria develop on the sponge. It's very easy for them to do so, simply because the foundation is a very welcoming environment for them, very nourishing  So make sure you keep it clean. Of course you should change it often, I usually do it every week, and I wash mine every two days. 

 What you need to do is, first get the sponge wet, use warm water, squeeze it a  few times make sure it's soaked, then you can use shampoo or soap  I prefer soap. Apply a bit of the soap rub it into the sponge, squeeze it and wash the soap off, do it a few times until you can't see any foundation going down the drain. And unlike the brushes, you can use it without waiting for it to dry, actually it's even better, because if it's wet it won't suck out your foundation, and it will all go where it's supposed to.

Thanks for reading, keep following this blog for useful advice on beauty and health. Don't forget to follow us on twitter (@GlidzyGlam)

Perfumes

 We all love them, the sophisticated fresh scents that make the guys turn after you when you pass by,... yeah you know you love them. But I’m sure all of you have came across the same problem, after  few hours you don't feel the scent anymore, and with time you don't feel it at all. In this article we'll talk about how can we keep the scent of our favorite perfume all day long.

•   Keep your body and hair clean. Shower at least once a day, but don't wash your hair every day, just the body. Wash your hair 2 times a week if it's normal or dry, if it's oily do it 3 times a week. But wash your body every day. It doesn't really matter if you do it in the morning or before you go to bed, what matters is that you keep your skin clean and hydrated.
• Use baby oil on your skin, this will not only make it soft, but it usually doesn't have any aromatizing substances, which means it won't disturb the smell of your perfume.
• If you shower in the morning, put the perfume before you get dressed, and spray it on the places which are the hottest, the wrists, behind the ears, behind the knee, on the inner arm opposite on your elbows and your ankles. But don't put on too much one spray is enough.
• If you're out all day long, in the middle of the day, go to the bathroom, and take out your perfume (or bring a small sample of it, it's usually more comfortable), and do the classic, spray 2 or 3 times, so you make sort of a  cloud walk trough it, spin in it, and you'll be good to go again.

 Hope this will be useful, for more beauty tips keep checking out my blog. If you have something that interests you, leave a request in the comments, I’ll gladly write a  special article just for you :).