We scoured the net for
every bit of advice we could find, and threw some ideas of our own in for good
measure. From basic beauty dos (wear sunscreen every day) to don'ts (avoid
popping pimples) as well as obscure secrets (beer and vinegar rinses?), you'll
find advice to keep you as beauty-full as ever.
Does your eyeliner
constantly crumble while putting it on? Our friends at You Beauty recommend
leaving it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying your makeup. It
should glide along your lash line seamlessly after that.
Shave With Conditioner
If you're out of shaving
cream, lather your legs with conditioner instead of soap. Conditioner will
soften the hair on your legs making it easier to shave (and it will leave your
skin feeling extra silky).
Rinse Hair With Beer Or Vinegar
Rinsing your hair with beer
helps restore moisture to your locks while using vinegar will up the ante in
shine. Soak your hair in either liquid (not at the same time) for a few
minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Turn Up The Heat
For curlier, flirtier
lashes, the experts at You Beauty recommend heating your lash curler with a
hair dryer for five to eight seconds before curling them.
Use Ice Cubes To Keep Fat, Acne And Wrinkles At Bay
The experts at You Beauty recommend
massaging an ice cube over your face until it melts. Do it every night before
bed and keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles under control.
Make Your Manicure Last.. And Last
Before applying nail
polish, wipe nails with an acetone-based cleanser. Essie Weingarten, founder of
Essie Cosmetics, told the pros at Redbook that cleaning excess dirt, oil or
moisturizer from your nails will ensure that the polish adheres properly.
Follow the rest of these tips at Redbook and your perfectly polished manicure
will last for a week and a half.
Soothe Your Stomach.. And Your Face
Apparently Pepto-Bismol
isn't just a stomach soother; it can also be used as a facial mask. It contains
bismuth subsalicylate, which is commonly found in facial creams. In an
interview with Reader's Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skin works,
recommended spreading two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, then letting
it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Apply Sunscreen Daily
Wear sunscreen every day,
rain or shine. Even when it's cloudy. According to the American Academy of
Dermatology, 80 per cent of the sun's ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
Don't Neglect Your Elbows
It's easy to forget about
your elbows, but they need just as much protection and care as other parts of
your body. Cure dry elbows by massaging Bio-Oil onto them daily. You'll see and
feel softer elbows in at least two days.
Lighten Hair With Chamomile Tea And Lemon Juice
In an interview with
Reader's Digest, Potpie Pools, hairstylist and owner of The Salon, recommends
rinsing your hair with a mixture of chamomile and fresh lemon juice instead of
conditioner to permanently lighten your tresses. Allow your hair to dry while
sitting in the sun or use a blow dryer — the heat will lighten your locks.
De-Puff Your Eyes With Raw Potatoes
In an interview with
Reader's Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks recommends using
raw potato slices to soothe your eyes. She says they are astringent which means
they help decrease water retention and they also contain the enzyme catalase
which helps lighten dark under eye circles. First, wash and peel a potato. Cut
two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes. Lay down, relax and let
the potatoes work their magic. Rinse the eye area gently with lukewarm water
when you're done.
Maximize The Lifespan Of Your Blow Out
We love walking out of the salon
with a fresh blow out, but how do you prevent your locks from going limp in the
days after? The experts at Allure say plan early. Your hair naturally secretes
oil so be two steps ahead and spray your roots with dry shampoo before you
start producing oil. This way the dry shampoo will absorb any moisture before
it weighs down your tresses. Also make sure you protect your hair from moisture
(rain is sure to ruin your mane) and touch up your blow out in the morning
using a hair dryer and round brush. It will give you an instant boost of
volume.
Contouring Creates Dimension
The trick to achieving a
chiseled celebrity-like face is to contour (Angelina Jolie cheekbones,
anyone?). Your face is three dimensional so applying foundation in a single
tone will only make your face appear flat. Add a highlighter to areas of your
face that would usually catch light but create enough shadow to emphasize your
jaw line and cheekbones. For tips on how to contour your face according to its
specific shape, visit Total Beauty.
Say Goodbye To Makeup Sponges
Makeup sponges help you
apply makeup, but not without a cost. They usually soak up more liquid
foundation than what ends up on your face. The result? You're wasting
foundation and constantly buying new sponges. The fix? Get a foundation brush.
You waste less foundation and it allows for a more even and precise application
than a sponge would.
Avoid Overly Rosy Cheeks
Giving yourself a natural
glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you'll want to avoid brushing on
too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two
finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your
cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Keep Misbehaving Brows In Check
Spritz an old toothbrush or
a clean mascara wand with hairspray, then brush brows and style them as
desired. Even the most hard to tame brows will fall in line with this trick.
Applying False Lashes
Adding extra eye fringe
amps up the glam instantly. First, take your falsies and loosen them by gently
flexing the eyelash band, then curl your natural lashes to make sure your
falsies line up with your actual lash line. Apply glue on your falsies using a
Q-tip. Using tweezers (or finger tips if you feel that gives you more control),
place your falsies as close to your lash line as possible. Let your lashes dry
for a minute before you add a coat of mascara (this is optional).
Toothpaste Zaps Pimples
You've heard it before —
don't pop your zits! The folks over at Daily Glow suggest applying a bit of
toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you
wake up in the morning. They say that toothpastes draws impurities out of
clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple. Opt for organic
toothpastes rather than gel toothpastes which don't work as well.
Blot Away Excess Oil
Do you start the morning
with matte, fresh-looking skin only to find that by the time 5 p.m. rolls in
you're a shiny mess? If you have oily skin then blotting papers are a beauty
godsend. Don't use powder to soak up the oil. Using too much periodically
throughout the day will make your skin appear cakey because you're just
layering makeup on top of more makeup. Opt for blotting papers instead. They
will soak up all the oil. We love We love Sephora's blotting papers.
No Makeup Remover? Try Lotion Instead
If you're out of makeup
remover, use body lotion to get rid of makeup. It works especially well on
tough mascara.
Create Fuller Lips
If you're tired of having
thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner.
Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though — don't extend your lip line
too much.
Lashes For Miles
Curl your lashes both
before and after applying mascara for longer lashes. You may want to re-curl
them throughout the day to get some extra lift, just remember to be gentle when
you apply pressure with your curler.
Don't Pop It
No, no, no! Don't pop your
zits. Not only does it increase the chance of scarring, it's also likely that
you will worsen the blemish and spread bacteria to other places on your face
which could give rise to another breakout.
Stop Your Hair Color from Fading
If you've just had your
hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the color to fade. One surefire way
to prevent such a mishap from happening is to use a deep-conditioning treatment
once a month. This will help lock in color and has the added benefit of staving
off dry and damaged locks.
Use A Flat Iron To Create Waves
Flat irons are amazing
tools with multiple uses. Not only can you use it to straighten your hair, you
can also create tight curls or soft romantic waves.
Exfoliate Your Lips
Dry, flaky, chapped lips
are the worst canvas for lipstick. To ensure that your puckers are in perfect
pout condition, the experts at The Beauty Department recommend exfoliating your
lips. To do this, apply lip balm to your lips, then using a toothbrush or clean
mascara wand, scrub your lips (don't be too rough). Then, use a tissue to wipe
away excess flakes and voila! You'll have a perfect pout in no time.
Microwave Lotion into Luxury
Who doesn't love a spa day?
If we could go every day, we probably would, but that would also put a dent in
our wallets. A quick, easy and cheaper indulgence is to put your favorite
lotion in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Make sure the oils in your lotion
don't separate and that it isn't too hot. Apply it on to your skin and enjoy!
Exfoliate Daily
Exfoliation is an important
and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin's natural
glow. Use a light exfoliate, like the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica, to
freshen your face daily.
Know Your Shade
When choosing a foundation,
test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural
light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn't too
different from the natural shade of your neck. We really love Makeup Forever's
Invisible Cover HD Foundation because it comes in so many shades.
Uses For Old Mascara Wands
Don't throw away your old
mascara wand, it's still got a few uses left. Clean it and use it as a brow
brush instead. You might even find it handy around the house — use it to unclog
sinks or clean tough to reach areas in your home.
Wear Pantyhose Or Tights
What's worse than having to
wear a skirt with absolutely no time to shave your legs? We've all been there.
The hassle free fix for this is to wearing pantyhose or tights (try a patterned
pair for something new). It will disguise stubble as well as any blemishes on
your stems.
Tweezing Tips
Before you tweeze, make
sure you soften your skin by dabbing a cotton ball soaked in warm water or
cream. When you start tweezing, do so in the direction of your hair's growth.
Camouflage Grey Hair
If you want to camouflage
some strands of grey hair on the go, the folks at Real Simple suggest using
mascara if you have dark hair. For blondes or redheads try dusting your roots
with bronzing powder.
Cut Back On Pedicures
Save money on your beauty
routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot
with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off,
apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you
can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
Use Dry Shampoo
We absolutely love dry
shampoo, especially Klorane (we use this brand religiously). It absorbs excess
oil on your strands and scalp and keeps your mane looking clean and fresh. If
you don't have dry shampoo, try washing just the top of your head (or wherever
there is oil), with regular shampoo followed by a quick blow dry. Your tresses
will look as good as new.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Be beautiful and
environmentally savvy while you're at it. Recycle your old beauty products by
shipping them to Terra Cycle (you can download their pre-paid UPS shipping
packages online so it's completely free). They'll take your old beauty products
and transform them into something new.
Don't Pump Your Mascara
The experts at Beauty Is My
Duty say that you should never pump your mascara (i.e., moving the wand up and
down in the tube really quickly) because it will only allow air into the tube
which will cause your mascara to dry (and ultimately shorten its lifespan).
Apply Bronzer Evenly
Before applying bronzer or
self-tanning lotion, mix a drop or two of the solution with moisture cream.
Blend using your finger or a Q-tip then apply to skin as you would regular
moisturizer. This will ensure the cream blends in — and covers skin — evenly.
Use Oil On Your Skin.. Even If It's Already Oily
This probably sounds crazy,
but using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin
can actually improve your epidermis' condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates
the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based
products will have the opposite effect.
Avoid Chipped Nail Polish like the Plague
There are only two options
for your nails — with nail polish or without. Do not allow your nails to be
caught somewhere in the middle (there is nothing worse than nails donning
chipped red nail polish). Even if you think no one else will notice, trust us,
someone will.
Moisturize Properly
Sometimes less is more.
Don't slather your face with moisturizer because it will take 10 minutes or
more to be absorbed by the skin before your face is ready for makeup. In an
interview with Real Simple, Susan Evans, a dermatologist, said the best way to
apply face cream is to blend a dime-sized amount on your cheeks, nose, chin and
forehead instead of moisturizing heavily.
Clean your Makeup Brushes
Make sure you clean your makeup
brushes regularly to avoid a buildup of makeup residue and bacteria. You can
purchase makeup brush cleaner from a drug or beauty store, or you can simply
use shampoo and conditioner to clean your brushes as you would your own hair.
Clean brushes guarantee a super smooth and even makeup application every time.
Treat Ingrown Hairs
Apply a product containing
azulene or witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness that's
associated with ingrown hairs. From there, coax the ingrown hair from its location
with a pair of tweezers (don't pull it out, though — this will only make the
ingrown hair regrow in in the same way later).
Towel Dry the Right Way
Don't rub your hair dry
with your towel; it will cause your hair to frizz. Instead, before getting out of
the shower gently squeeze excess water from your hair. Then, wrap your hair in
a towel and pat it dry to absorb any remaining moisture.
Consult a Doctor before Popping Pills
Do you really need all
those supplements? It's true the healthier you are, the healthier your skin and
hair will be. But popping supplements without discussing them with your doctor
can do more harm than good. Why? Because mixing certain vitamins and minerals
can have the opposite effect of what you're hoping. Talk to your physician before
popping any pills.
Remove Nail Polish without Remover
If you run out of nail
polish remover, you can remove cracked or chipped nail polish by applying a
clear top coat to the nail and removing it promptly with a cotton ball.
Perfume Basics
Don't douse yourself with perfume before you leave the house (you don't want to
bombard other people's nostril with strong smells). Just because you can't
smell it doesn't mean other people won't be able to. If you wear it every day,
chances are your olfactory sense has just become desensitized to the scent.
Only spray or dab perfume on select spots like your knees, wrists, base of
throat, and behind your earlobes.
A Top Coat Is A Must
Add a top coat to freshly
painted nails, and then again once they are dry. This makes your nail polish
less likely to chip and will ensure it lasts longer.
Clarify Your Hair
In order to remove product
build-up from locks, use a clarifying shampoo once a week. This will also help
prevent dandruff and other annoying hair/scalp conditions.
