6 Expert Tricks To Freshen Up Your Look
You’ll feel absolutely fabulous with these simple beauty secrets.
Look around at the women who seem ageless. Often the radiance these women reflect is the result of little make-up tricks and techniques. A little tweak here, a dab of concealer there, and what appears to be magic is done. But you don’t need any special powers to get that glowing ageless look, just these tips.
Restore lustre to your locks
A mane of glossy hair is your crowning glory but tinted hair can become dry and dull. The secret to restoring the shine? Jojoba oil. “Jojoba has a fine molecular structure that allows it to enter and fill the hair shaft, making it a perfect choice for conditioning,” says salon owner Paul Labrecque.
Spread the oil liberally through dry hair, put on a plastic shower cap and cover with a hot towel for 30 minutes. Wash thoroughly, then rinse with cold water to seal the cuticle and trap moisture. “When the hair shaft is infused with oil, the cuticle lies flatter, so hair looks smoother and shinier,” he says.
Lift tired eyes
It may sound old-school but applying tea bags to your peepers can perk up tired-looking eyes. “The caffeine helps shrink the underlying dark blood vessels and forces out some of the liquid that creates puffiness,” explains dermatologist Dr Ava Shamban. Soak tea bags in hot water for a minute before plunging them into ice water for a few seconds. Lie down and apply them directly to your eyes area for 15 minutes.
Curl Your Lashes
Using an eyelash curler makes lashes look longer and eyes wider. When lashes are clean and dry (wet ones won’t hold a curl), position the curler at the root of lashes and give three firm, gentle pumps.
Release and repeat. “Holding it steady doesn’t create a natural-looking, fluid curl,” says make-up artist Jessica Liebeskind. For a longer lasting beauty-lash, heat your curler with your blow-dryer for 15 seconds first. “The warmth holds the bend better,” adds make-up artist Mally Roncal.
Banish brown spots
Camouflage is key. First, dab concealer that’s one or two shades lighter than your foundation onto the spot. Use a concealer brush to give more precise coverage than your finger. Follow with a dot of foundation that matches your skin tone. “The concealer lightens the spot, and the foundation helps blend it seamlessly,” explains Liebeskind.
Plump thin lips
Our lips start to lose volume from our mid-20s. So if your pout is not quite as pillowy as you’d like, create the illusion of fuller lips with a soft lipstick hue that mimics the natural lip-colour of your youth. “Dark or bright colours call attention to the size of your lips, emphasising thinness and fine lines around your mouth,” says Liebeskind. And finally add a tiny dot of gloss to the middle of your lips for fuller look.
Say goodbye to a matte finish
The healthiest looking skin has a subtle sheen. Heavy foundations, finishing powder and even powder blushes can mask this ‘glow’ and leave skin looking dull and matte, as well as accentuating fine lines and wrinkles.
“Switching from powder formulas to creamier ones gives your skin a soft reflective sheen,” says make-up artist Kimara Ahnert. So as soon as you use up your powdery products, replace them with a light-coverage liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser, and a cream blush that imparts a youthful luminosity.
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