Beauty routine short cuts

Reuters

GOOD FOUNDATION: If you're used to slapping on expensive cover-up to hide the side-effects of a big night out massage some foundation onto the area around your eye, including your lid.

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While most beauty experts would have you believe you need to spend vast amounts of money on fancy lotions and potions to keep your skin, nails and hair in tip top condition, it isn't always the case.

We all know there is no replacement for a fruit and vegetable-heavy diet and plenty of sleep if you want to look your best, but there are a number of short cuts you can adopt to improve your appearance.

Best of all, most of them are cheaper than Pamela Anderson's dress sense.

If your addiction to this season's bright nail polishes has left your nails looking discoloured, don't start dousing them in nail varnish remover in a desperate attempt to freshen them.

Instead, reach for the white wine vinegar. Put a dash on a cotton ball and then rub over your nails - they'll be sparkly-fresh in no time.

Regardless of what you've heard growing up, expensive shampoos are no better than their cheaper counterparts. While posh conditioners really do improve the look and feel of your hair, there is no need to splash the cash on what you wash your locks with.

Beauty editor of Britain's More! magazine explains: "Shampoo washes straight out of your hair so doesn't really have the chance to do much more than cleansing."

Want a pout as perky as Angelina Jolie's without pain of collagen injections? Look no further than your trusty pot of Vaseline.

Simply smooth some of the sticky cream onto your lips before bed and then tap around them with a clean toothbrush. In the morning, wash the Vaseline off and buff your lips with the toothbrush - your lips will be supersized and luscious.

If you're used to slapping on expensive cover-up to hide the side-effects of a big night out, try this cheaper alternative - when you are applying your foundation, massage some onto the area around your eye, including your lid.

Dust with powder and then apply shadow as usual, with all traces of shadow banished for good.

*Do you have any more beauty tips? Post your comments below.

- Bang! Showbiz

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Homemade Goddess   #6   12:30 pm Jul 21 2009

Instead of forking out for expensive bath salts & body scrubs, make your own. Add 6-12drops of your favourite pure essential oil (Lavender, Rose, Sandalwood) into 2 bags of epsom salts (from the supermarket), mix & store in a clean dry glass jay. Place a few tablespoon fulls into the bath & enjoy. You can also add a tablespoon or 2 of carrier oil (almond, jojoba) to the salts to make a glorious body scrub. Caution, if your adding the carrier oil and using srub in shower the floor can become slippery.

Katie   #5   06:12 pm Jul 20 2009

No need to buy an exfoliator scrub, just get an exfoliator mit or cloth. Far easier to use and lasts twice as long.

Victoria   #4   02:18 pm Jul 20 2009

Extra virgin olive oil + brown sugar makes a terribly inexpensive body scrub and is wonderful for your skin. Using jojoba oil or sweet almond oil (or extra virgin olive oil) as a moisturiser works far better than anything off the shelf. Rinsing hair with cider vinegar makes it wonderfully clean. Masks made from baking soda work wonders for spots and blackheads. There are so many beauty treatments you can do with things you just have in your pantry. It's a wonder people spend so many thousands of dollars on products which have comparable results to cheaper, more natural alternatives.

pinup   #3   04:38 am Jul 19 2009

Rubbish....the Vaseline theory has been about for sooooo long. Sounds good in theory and if you want to spend the day feeling as if you have had a lube and oil change it will work for you! Do we all have a nice clean toothbrush handy as we slap on Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)? Give us a break.....we can figure out for ourselves what works.....

sam   #2   11:25 pm Jul 18 2009

ALWAYS put foundation on your eyelid before applying eyeshadow - it makes it stick and stops it from rubbing or falling off during the day.

i always hairspray my finger and wipe over my eyebrows to stop them falling out of place!

and my wee trick for smooth hands: sprinkle a bit of sugar on your palm, add a bit of baby oil and rub together for 1 minute - wash off and ur hands are as smooth as a babys butt!

Sonja   #1   07:05 pm Jul 18 2009

Milk is still the best eye makeup remover by far. Gentle on the eyes and really effective.

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