BECAUSE ONE LIPSTICK IS NEVER ENOUGH – BOBBI BROWN

THE 7 DEADLY BEAUTY SINS

If you think you have your hair and beauty routine down to perfection, think again.  A study by online hair and beauty retailer Hairtrade.com has revealed the 7 deadly beauty sins that nine out ten British women admit to making every day. From washing your hair too regularly to streaky fake tan,

Despite being simple to fix, many women claimed that their mistakes were simply due to not knowing how to rectify them.

A spokesperson for Hairtrade.com said: “We’re all guilty of making beauty blunders, but the good news is that they can easily be put right.  You might even find that by following some of our top tips you can even save time and money all whilst looking gorgeous.”

Our friends over at Hairtrade.com spoke to a focus group of women aged 25-40.  These were the seven most common hair and beauty mistakes.

1.    Frizzy hair

Untamable frizzy hair is the enemy of all women, particularly in the summer.  But many people don’t realise that dehydrated hair is at the root of the problem.  Use a deep conditioning treatment regularly, particularly throughout the summer, to repair damaged hair.  When you’re styling your hair, try using a few drops of serum to smooth out fly aways.

Also steer away from using heat styling appliances and try and find products that create a similar effect. However, if you can’t bear to be without your straighteners, make sure that you apply heat protection spray religiously.

2.    Over done brow

With big brows in this season, it’s easy to be tempted to add a few more strokes with your brow pencil.  However, it is important to watch out that your statement brow doesn’t end up looking like two slugs plastered on your forehead.

Ditch your brow pencil for a powder and wax pallet to achieve a much better applied and defined look, and make sure you don’t apply your make up too close to the mirror to look at the overall shape of your brows.

3.    Streaky fake tan

The idea of a quick tan is so tempting, but even if you follow the instructions to the letter, the reality is that you can wake up looking like you’ve been tango’d.

Make sure that before you apply fake tan you use a body scrub to remove any dead skin cells.  This will help you achieve an even glow rather than your tan looking blotchy.

Finding the right fake tan for your skin can be tricky, but investing some money in to a more expensive brand is definitely worth it.

4.    Smudged lips

Lipstick can brighten up your face and looks great when you first apply it, however making sure you maintain your lips while you’re out is imperative.  Smeared lipstick across your face is never a good look, so try applying a little translucent powder to your lips after you’ve put your lipstick on.  This will help it stick, meaning that your lips will stay pristine for longer.

Furthermore, spraying your face with a little setting spray before you leave the house will help your make up stay in place.

5.    Foundation lines

An orange foundation line around your neck looks careless and dirty, so make sure you pay extra attention when applying your base coat.  Invest in a foundation brush to ensure that you get even coverage, and don’t forget about your neck.

The core of the problem can also stem from picking out the right shade in the first place. Be warned that when trying on foundation in a shop you are seeing the colour in artificial light, which can change as soon as you walk out of the store.

6.    Over treating spots

It’s easy to panic as soon as you have a breakout, but applying every spot cream under the sun will just clog up your skin.

The best remedy for reducing spots is to take off all your make up and let your face breathe. Spots are often a sign of clogged pores so give your face a break and take off the slap.

Using a face mask once a week can help prevent spots and will leave your skin looking dewy and refreshed.

7.    Over washed hair

Many people believe that by washing your hair every day you’re keeping it in top condition, but they’re wrong.  Washing your locks so frequently means that you strip them of natural oils and can actually end up doing more harm than good.

Try washing your hair every other day, and gradually over time stretch it to three days between washes. If you’re self conscious about your hair being too greasy, spritz with a little dry shampoo for an instant refresh.

You’ll soon notice that your hair looks healthier and you’ll get an extra half an hour in bed in the morning.

BE THE QUICK BEAUTY!

“What is this life, if full of care, we have no time, to stand and stare!” Welsh poet W.H. Davis had penned these lines in 1911. How appropriate these still remain! Leisure is an expensive luxury. And if you are a lady, on top of that a working lady with kids, this just doesn’t appear anywhere in the picture. Does it mean that while on that office party or family get together, when everyone is looking their best, you should feel let down by your own appearance? We totally disagree. We come up with little quick beauty tips which may help you to rush into that happening party when you have just about 10 minutes to get done with your make up!

1)     Cleanse – It will take about a minute for you to cleanse your face, but cleansing helps you to remove the accumulated dirt and sebum. Ensure you buy a gentle face cleanser which doesn’t include too many synthetic agents. Pat dry once done.

2)     Tone – You’d require the next minute to restore the PH balance of your skin and for closing the opened pores. Toning will leave your skin radiant and glowing and you will instantly start feeling the confidence gushing through.

3)     Foundation and Sun Screen – Even if the party is indoors, you may want to apply your sun screen as it keeps your skin natural and supple for a longer duration. We suggest take 3-4 drops of both foundation and sun screen on your palm, mix them up and dot your face up from chin to forehead. Then gently spread it using your fingers. Make sure your fingers reach every corner of your face as you definitely don’t want to look fair on face and dark on corners. Give it two minutes as you want to be sure about the base of your make up. 

4)     Concealer – Use a good quality concealer to ensure that your dark circles stay hidden. Just draw a line with the stick and blend it in your skin with your fingers. We emphasize on usage of your fingers because nothing can help your skin feel better than your own skin. Take a minute to get this done. If you have other dark patches or blemishes on your skin, you may want to conceal those as well.

5)     Blush: Smile a little in the mirror. For two reasons – you will instantly feel relaxed and your cheekbones will highlight themselves to make your job simpler. Just dab a little blush on them and broaden it in rounded motions. Use a brush for this if you’d like, but we would still suggest fingers. Another minute for this and your face is ready for a lift up.

6)     Eyes: Look up in such a way that your eyes look in the mirror and the lashes skywards. Brush mascara evenly from roots to tips of the eyelashes. If you do not wish to use a liner, brush the mascara a little darker so that it gives the liner effect. Otherwise just draw a small line on the upper eyelid and fill the lid with your cheekiest eye shadow. Take 2 minutes for this, as you’d like to make sure your eyes exude all charm.

7)     Lips: Dab a little foundation on your lips with your fingers. This helps the lip color to last long. Draw a fine line around your lips with a lip liner of a similar but darker shade as your chosen lip color. Now dab the lip color and fill your lips up blending the color with the liner. Kiss a tissue to remove the excess color off your lips. Just about 2 minutes for this and you are done.

This 10-minute guide will only help you if you have good cosmetics and make up products on you. We’d suggest check some great deals on http://www.voucherbin.co.uk/and invest in them for a beautiful you.