Split ends? Brittle nails? Dry skin? Us normal folk know these little beauty troubles all too well. All that is about to change, however, as the beauty industry has finally opened their arms to grant us an insight into their mystical world that extends far beyond the salon. Here is an assortment of the finest tips and tricks, straight from the beauty pros:
1.Moisturise with coconut oil if you have dry skin
Coconut oil is like the holy nectar. You can spend a fortune on top branded moisturisers, but the beauty therapists in the know claim that coconut oil can rival any of them. You can get it online, or from any good health shop on the high street, and you’ll find it works miracles for skin and hair. Use it all over and reap the benefits!
2.Exfoliate your lips regularly with brown sugar and olive oil to avoid chapped lips
Winter time plays havoc with our skin and chapped lips, in particular, are one of the pitfalls of the season. Lip balms are all very well, but the professionals have an even better remedy and one that most of us can rustle up from our kitchen cupboards; brown sugar and olive oil. Rub gently to exfoliate any dry skin, before rinsing and applying a moisturiser, to restore smooth, nourished lips.
3.File your nails one way in a straight line to avoid them splitting
Rubbing files backwards and forwards is a common mistake that many of us make. To prevent your nails from splitting, file in a straight line in one direction.
4.The longer the hair, the better the wax
Don’t be red-faced at the salon or tempted to do a DIY trim ahead of your appointment! Long hair is a dream for many waxers, as they state that longer hair results in a better grip and smoother wax results.
5.Avoid elastics to kiss goodbye to hair breakage and split ends
Although elastic-based hair bands are the norm, they are not at all good for your locks. If you suffer with hair breakage and split ends, this could be one of the key culprits. Switch elastic hair bands for soft ties and gentle clasps to give your hair a break of the right sort!
6.Use make up brushes – and wash them!
Switching to use make up brushes is one of the easiest ways you can make your make up go that little bit further, while giving you a far smoother complexion. It’s also a handy trick if you suffer with bad skin; just make sure you wash out your brushes at least once a fortnight. Tea tree or baby shampoos are best to keep the bristles clean and intact. Store the brushes upright, if possible, to dry, where the air can reach them.
7.Warm up your eyelash curlers
Heat generally makes things mould – and last – far better, which is why we use heated curlers or straighteners to tame our tresses. Eyelashes are no different, though you may want to steer clear of the 240 degrees! Run eyelash curlers under warm water to heat them up, but be sure to test them before applying to the eye to ensure the temperature is not too hot. This will make your eyelashes hold the curl much better than when they are cold.
8.Vaseline is a wonder product – especially for your brows
Vaseline has many purposes and is a staple in any beauty professional’s repertoire. One of its more unexpected uses, however, is to tame stray eyebrow hairs and keep the brow line smooth and groomed. Warning: don’t use too much! Super slick and shiny eyebrows are rarely a desired outcome.
9.Apply foundation to your lips before your lipstick
Once your lips are smooth, moisturised and ready for colour, try applying foundation before you add your lipstick. This little trick means that your lipstick will not only last much longer, but also appear brighter and more even.
10.Become your own mixologist
Don’t have quite the right blush or bronzer? Want a lighter coverage to create a dewy fresh-faced look? The beauty experts warn that you don’t need to head straight to the shops and buy a whole new compact just to figure out that actually you’re not too keen on candy pink cheeks, after all. Use other things you have to hand – rub in a little pink lipstick to your cheeks for instance, or mix a splodge of your foundation with some moisturiser to create the BB cream effect. Be creative with the supplies you have to mix up your look.