Tag: beauty hacks

Ditch Lip Injections With These 9 Hacks!

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I’m OBSESSED with having plump lips – the fuller the better is the general consensus! I literally can’t even scroll down my Insta feed without seeing a full, juicy pout staring me in the face. I know I dont’t need it, God blessed me in that department already but I love when my pout is fuller. So, here’re nine DIY concoctions, techniques, and (safe) tools you can use to enhance your lips for a more voluptuous look – they actually WORK!

1. Toothpaste: Probably the quickest DIY ever, and it’s so simple: cover your lips with a thick layer of toothpaste and leave it on for just 10 seconds! Wipe it away, et voila, a smooth, plump pout.

2. Cinnamon: Cinnamon’s been used in beauty for thousands of years, and because it stimulates blood flow so effectively, it’s one of the main ingredients in a ton of lip plumpers. For a lip plumper on the go, add a couple of drops of cinnamon oil to your FAV lip gloss. For a more intense effect, mix cinnamon powder with a moisturizer like Vaseline, olive oil, honey, or any balm, and apply this to your lips for a minute or so before removing with a damp towel. You’ll notice an intense tingling; this just means it’s working!

3. Overlining and Contouring: This is still my favorite hack to date, and I think it’s probably the most effective for faking fuller lips in just minutes. The technique involves contouring and drawing slightly outside your natural lip line. It also makes your lipstick last ALLL day!

4. Wasabi: Believe it or not, Wasabi isn’t just delicious with your sushi; it will plump up your lips in less than a minute too. It might feel a little uncomfortable, but it’s got to feel better than an injection!

5. Peppermint Oil: Like cinnamon, peppermint also causes a rush of blood to your lips. Mix peppermint oil with a little honey, apply to your lips and remove after one minute. Alternatively, add a few drops of peppermint oil to your lip balm or gloss and plump as you go.

6. Too Faced Lip Injection: This product really works, and I’ve been a fan of it for years! They’ve also released an extreme formula and colored gloss versions.

7. Cayenne Pepper: This can get pretty hot and spicy, so if you can’t handle the heat, you might be better sticking with cinnamon. Just mix a pinch of cayenne pepper with a teaspoon of olive oil (I’ve been tempted to use a few drops of sriracha in the past – I LOVE it!) and apply a thick layer of the mixture to your lips. Leave on for 1-2 minutes (or as long as you can last), before wiping it away with a damp towel.

8. Lip Plumping Suction Tools: Okay, these are definitely something you need to be careful with (from experience they can hurt a little), as you can bruise your lips if you use them too intensely. However, if ‘suffer to be beautiful’ is your motto then this is definitely an effective cosmetic alternative.

9. The Ultimate Plumping Mix: If you’re feeling daring, then a potent combination of some of the above ingredients gives you crazy good results! In a small container, combine ½ tsp of cayenne pepper, ½ tsp of cinnamon, a pinch of ginger powder, a drop of peppermint oil, and combine with 2 tsp of oil, like coconut oil or olive oil. Once the ingredients are well mixed, gently massage the mix into your lips for ten seconds and leave on for up to 2 minutes – if you can!

And finally (and most importantly!), just because bigger lips might be everywhere on Instagram, it doesn’t mean they’re the perfect look for every person! Everyone’s face is different, and we all suit different lip shapes and sizes, so I suggest you steer clear of the shot glass hack, or excessively using lip plumping devices. Not only can these cause short-term bruising, major swelling, and a lot of pain, but if done repeatedly they can destroy your lips’ natural collagen levels and weaken the skin tissue, causing a deflated look. So always be careful using unconventional methods. AND, that’s why I love lip contouring, it lasts all day and wipes away at night!

Which beauty hack is your favorite? Let me know if you have any other hacks in the comments below.

Broke Girl’s Guide: 7 Awesome Hacks To Save Money On Your Beauty Products

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If you’re obsessed with beauty as much as I am, it’s safe to assume that you’ve probably splurged on the latest product drop. If you haven’t convinced yourself that buying a new highlighter is way more important than your weekly lunch allowance, are you even a beauty addict? But what majorly bums me out is when I’ve fallen in love with the product – telling pretty much anyone who will listen, just how dope it is – then suddenly it’s gone. To help you out if you’re ever caught in this dilemma, I’ve got 7 super easy hacks to make your products last way longer so you don’t waste a dollar.

1) Don’t overuse your product 

One of the most common mistakes that everyone is guilty of is using way too much product. To make sure you don’t squeeze out a week’s worth of moisturizer in one go, follow this guide on how much you really need.

2) Get the most out of our your mascara

When your fav mascara is running low and you find yourself scraping the barrel, add a couple of drops of saline or an essential oil, like almond oil, to inject a little moisture back into the product. Just make sure you don’t pump the wand as this will actually add more air bubbles and bacteria into the tube, making it even drier. Another amazing hack is to use your old mascara wand as a brow brush. Simply soak it in some makeup remover so there’s no excess product hanging about.

3) Never forget to wash your brushes

I can’t tell you enough how crucial it is to regularly wash your brushes. Not only will it make them last waaaay longer, it’s also so much better for your skin as you’re not spreading any bacteria onto your skin that’s left on your brush.

4) Store your nail polish in the fridge 

To give your nail polish a longer shelf life, keep them cool by storing them in the fridge during the summer months, or all year round if you live in a desert. This will stop any clumps from forming and it won’t get all gooey. If your polish is already at that stage, you can also add a couple of drops of nail thinner into the bottle.

5) Oil up your razors

Even though razors seriously save us on a daily basis espicially when there isn’t anymore hair removing lotion, they’re not the cheapest tool in our beauty kit. So to make it last longer, after using your razor shake it dry and leave it to soak in baby oil. This will keep the metal from oxidizing, so it’ll stay sharper for longer.

6) Make your fragrance last

One of the most expensive items in my beauty cabinet is fragrance – if there’s one time I ignore a price tag it’s when I’m in the perfume aisle. So make sure you don’t keep your fragrance in your bathroom, as the steam from your showers will degrade the aroma. To make your perfume last longer throughout the day, apply an unscented lotion before applying the fragrance as it will hold the scent longer when it’s sprayed onto moist skin. Also, don’t forget an eau de toilette is less concentrated than a perfume, so the scent will fade a lot quicker.

7) Keep the lid

Another super easy way to make sure your product stays in prime condition is making sure you always put the caps back on them (even if you’re in a rush) and also making sure you close it properly. It will make your products like eyeliners, lip liners, mascaras, and lipsticks last so much longer, as it will stop any air or bacteria getting into it, preventing it from drying out.

Check out 10 genius beauty hacks that will save you more money, as well as how to heal a broken soul, I mean palette, here. Let me know if you have any other hacks in the comments below.

Broke Girl’s Guide: 10 Genius Beauty Hacks That Will Save You $$$!

Published on by Lee1 Comment

If you’re anything like me, you treasure your beauty products and want to make the most of every last brush, blush, and lipstick. A smashed palette is a worthy reason for a day off work, your FAV foundations stuck at the bottom of the bottle is cause for a tantrum. Besides the fact that I love makeup, I spend good money on it too, and don’t want a single drop to go to waste. So, with that in mind, here’re 10 genius hacks that will do everything, from save your eyelashes, fix your mascara, save your smashed powders and more…

1. Get Every Last Bit of Lotion

Cut open your beauty tubes to get all your beauty product out. This works on almost ANY plastic bottle! You’ll be amazed by how much is left inside when no more will seem to come out. Scrape out the leftover product from the top half that you cut off, and put it into the bottom half. You’ll then have a huge amount of product left to use, and you can seal it up again by pushing the top half over the bottom half.

2. Salvage Broken Powders

We’ve all lived the nightmare of watching in slow mo as our fav powder or eyeshadow drops slowly to the floor and shatters into tiny little pieces.

But, there’s good news! You can save your broken powder (don’t take them traveling!) with rubbing alcohol. Add a few drops at a time until the eyeshadow turns into a thick paste, then press it down firmly with a spoon or your finger. Leave it open for the alcohol to evaporate, when it does, your powder will be good as new.

3. Save Your Foundation

You found the perfect shade, the perfect coverage, and now it’s gone, but you can still see a good few dollars of foundation left at the bottom of the glass jar. Of course, the stupid pump won’t reach it. Remove the pump, tip the foundation upside down in a re-sealable pot and leave it for a few hours. When you return, the majority of the product will be waiting in the pot for you. Still more Foundation stuck inside the bottle? Add a little moisturizer and shake, et voila… Tinted moisturizer.

4. Fix Broken Lipstick

Nothing is messier than trying to apply lipstick when it’s broken. Fix it by gently melting the broken parts, put them back together, then place it in the fridge for around an hour to seal… Lipstick fixed.

5. Revive Your False Lashes

Make the most of your false lashes by cleaning and storing them properly to get up to 20 wears from them.

6. Don’t Waste Your Foundation

Never apply your foundation straight onto a beauty blender or sponge, it will soak up all your foundation. Instead, dot it over your face, and spread it with your fingers or a foundation brush. Then, use your makeup sponge as the final step to perfect and blend your foundation, contour, or concealer.

7. Freshen Up Toiletries

Think you’ve finished your shampoo, conditioner or body wash? Add some water to it and give it a shake, you’ll get more than a few more uses from them.

8. Rescue Your Lipgloss

Revive your fav lip gloss with warm water. When it gets to the stage you’re literally scraping the barrel, just put the lip gloss in a glass of hot water (not boiling). The leftover product will sink to the end of the tube where the wand can reach it.

9. DIY A Unicorn Glow!

Got glitters you never use, outdated bronzers and shadows, broken powders? Smash them up into a fine powder and mix it with a moisturizer or coconut oil for a homemade tinted or shimmering moisturizer.

10. De-Clump Mascara

Mascara going dry and clumpy? Add a couple of eye drops into the mascara, mix about, and it will be good as new for another week at least. In a pinch, a drop of hot water will do the trick.

Hope these hacks revolutionize how you save your beauty products! If you’ve got any other amazing ideas, I’d love to know: leave your tips in the comments

9 Perfume Hacks That’ll Make You Smell Gorgeous ALL Day

Published on by Lee1 Comment

If you were told that you’ve been applying your perfume wrong your entire life, you probably wouldn’t believe me. Just because it’s the way you’ve always seen it be applied – in countless movies, advertisements and inside every fragrance store – doesn’t mean it’s actually right. But if you’re spritzing your fragrance onto your wrists than pressing them together, you’re actually applying your perfume all wrong! By rubbing your skin together, you’ll disturb the top notes of the fragrance, which means it won’t last as long and the scent will be altered. Mind-blowing, right?

I know how much time, money, and effort it can take to find your perfect signature fragrance, so you really don’t want to waste a single drop. Here are nine hacks that’ll help your fragrance last, and keep you smelling hella fresh all day long. And for the record, just spray your fragrance and let it sink on your skin – whatever you do, DON’T DAB.

Here’s a quick debrief on the basics…

When it comes to fragrance one of the most important things to note (no pun intended), are the layers each perfume is made up of. Usually, every fragrance contains three notes, a top note, which is the first fragrance you smell (this disappears after 20 minutes), an intense middle note (known as the heart note), which becomes noticeable after 15 minutes, and a base note (the strongest scent) that lingers for up to four hours. Of course, this is all dependant on whether you follow any of the following hacks:

1. Moisturize first

Fragrances last longer when they’re applied to oily complexions, so make sure your skin is prepped and moisturized before you douse yourself in perfume. Just make sure you apply an unscented lotion, otherwise, the lotion will mix with the notes of your perfume and the scent will change.

2. Know where to spritz

If you apply your perfume to warmer areas of the body, it’ll be more intense and be fragrant for longer. More specifically, apply it to your pulse points – where the blood vessels are at the surface on your skin (your wrists, elbows, neck, chest, the back of the knees, ankles, and calves). Your pressure points naturally radiate heat, helping the fragrance evaporate from the skin.

3. Apply Vaseline To Your Pressure Points

As mentioned, perfume lasts a lot longer if you apply it to oily, damp skin. So I like to rub some Vaseline onto our pulse points as it helps to lock in the scent.

4. The lighter the scent, the less time it’ll last

Lighter aromatic scents like citrus or jasmine will evaporate faster as they have a smaller molecular structure, whereas scents like wood and musk will linger longer on your skin. It’s important to remember this when you’re purchasing a new scent.

5. Apply Your Perfume After You Shower

If you apply your perfume to your body when it’s still damp, the moisture will lock in the scent so it’ll last a whole lot longer – plus you won’t stain any of your clothes with spray marks!

6. Spritz Your Hairbrush

Spraying your brush with a couple bursts of perfume will disperse the scent through your hair. Your hair will retain the fragrance all day, but it won’t cause damage or drying like it might if you spray it directly onto your hair.

7. Make Your Own Lotion

To create your own signature moisturizer, put a couple drops of your perfume into an unscented lotion and shake well. You’ll basically be creating the scented lotion equivalent of your fragrance, but for a fraction of the cost – it’s a total bargain! Plus, it’s the ideal lotion to apply before you spritz, for long-lasting sweetness.

8. Décor Hack

Obsessed with this super easy hack, and it’s such a cute deco feature: Spray tissue paper with your fave scent and then line your drawers with the paper. It’ll make your clothes smell great, and you’ll be remembered for your signature scent everywhere you go!

9. Store your fragrance in a cool dark place

If you keep your perfume bottles in warm, damp places, the heat will damage the molecular structure and damage the quality of the fragrance. So make sure they’re not in the bathroom or in direct sunlight. Instead, keep them safely in the box in a cool dark place.

Let me know your favorite fragrance in the comments below!