5 beauty hacks you’ll want to try

Make life easier with these 5 beauty hacks you’ll want to try. From your hair to make-up and body care, there’s so much to keep up with when it comes to beauty. But there are also plenty of shortcuts that can reduce the amount of effort you need to put in.  So we’ve got some tips and tricks to get your started. Shhh! Here’s the beauty cheat sheet…

Luscious locks
Dry shampoo does wonders when it comes to keeping your hair clean. It works by absorbing the oil that makes hair look greasy, so it’s a fast and efficient way of keeping your locks fresh, particularly for those days between washes, or after a gym sesh.

Natural-looking lashes
Vaseline does more tricks and wonders than you might think and it makes a great lash treatment. If you don’t feel like putting mascara on for the day but still want a bit of definition on your lashes, apply a coat of Vaseline and it will give them some definition and length (just be careful not to get it in your eyes). It can also help to remove make-up, or act as a barrier between skin and nail polish.

Hydrated eyes
Puffy eyes or dark circles aren’t a must-have look, and some products are very pricey when it comes to taking care of this. So if you happen to have green tea bags in the cupboard, use them to treat your under-eye skin. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties and is packed with antioxidants, so it’s no surprise it does you good internally as well as externally. Put some brewed and then cooled tea bags on your eyes, and leave them there for 10 minutes. The caffeine in the green tea will work to reduce puffiness and tighten skin.

Longer-lasting lipstick
If you like the look of a matte lipstick, or just want a longer-lasting lipstick effect, use make-up setting or face powder to get this effect. Of course you don’t put the powder straight onto your lips. Instead, get a layer of tissue, place it over your lips then dust on your powder through the tissue. This sets the colour of your lipstick, and also gives it a longer-lasting effect.

Happier skin
We all know about the different steps in a skincare routine: cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturising… the list goes on, but one important step that doesn’t seem to be mentioned enough is sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, even in the colder months, will do your skin justice over time – preventing early signs of ageing and protecting you against the UVA and UVB rays. You want to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to get enough protection – as the SPF in your make up product won’t always give you adequate protection.  It’s a small but effective trick for healthy skin.