Staying beautiful in hard times

WITH everyone tightening their belts to wait out a slow economy, some items once considered to be essential are now being relegated to the luxury category. For some of us that even translates to our makeup, skin and hair care. However, that doesn’t mean we have to give up our natural beauty. There are plenty of ingredients commonly found in the home that can help us stay beautiful even when we can’t afford cosmetics.

Tip #1 — Make your own microderm abrasion product
Mix a few grains of sugar crystals in with your favourite skin cream and apply to freshly washed skin. Gently massage the cream in small circular motions around the face and neck area. Rinse with cool water and pat dry. Your skin will look almost as good as an expensive spa treatment.

Tip #2 — Extend existing foundation
Instead of using foundation straight out of the bottle, mix it with moisturiser. That way you take care of two birds with one stone. You continue to moisturise the skin – the most important treatment of all – and still add a touch of healthy-looking colour. You may want to play with the mixture to get the ratio the way you want it; however, two parts moisturizer to one part foundation works well for most women.

Tip #3 — Shape up those brows
If you can’t afford anything to play up your beautiful eyes, this is one trick that works every time. After all, the brows frame your face and should always be in picture-perfect condition.

Tip #4 — Ditch those under-eye bags and dark circles
Instead of throwing away tea bags after you brew your morning tea, put them in a zipper bag and place them in the refrigerator. When those nasty eye puffiness comes calling, lay down for about 10 minutes with the cool damp tea bags on your eyes. Tannin, one of tea’s main ingredients, works naturally to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

Tip #5 – Add natural highlights to your hair
If you can’t afford hair color, try highlighting instead, done the natural way. Mix one part lemon juice with three parts water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and spray onto the hair, or paint on highlights using pure lemon juice and a small paintbrush. Then blow-dry or let your hair dry naturally in the sun. Be sure to condition it afterwards to keep hair from becoming too brittle.

Tip # 6 – Shine up that hair
When expensive hair care products no longer fit into the budget, turn to your kitchen pantry. Any number of items from coconut milk, to honey or even vinegar, will add vibrancy and shine when used during a hair rinse. A few drops of glycerine or olive oil applied directly to freshly washed and dried hair will also do the trick.

Tip # 7 – Make your own lip tint
Not only is this home product easy to apply, it will last a lot longer than many lipsticks and colors on the market today. Just choose your favorite gelatin color. Dampen a foam tipped applicator with water then into the powder. Apply the color directly to the lips. Add more than one coat to deepen the tone, if desired. For shine, add a touch of glycerin or lip balm on top.

Tip # 8 – Make your own blush
Mix one cup of strawberries, raspberries, or cherries with a teaspoon of glycerin or liquid vitamin E. Blend thoroughly in blender. Mix a small amount of the berry mixture into your loose face powder to create a smooth creamy blush that will brighten any complexion. Add more berries if a deeper color is desired.

Tip # 9 – Rejuvenate skin with a natural toner
Cucumber does wonders for the skin whether you use it directly or just throw in your morning facial bath. Because the vegetable has amazing hydrating properties, it will give your skin the same youthful, beautiful glow as your favorite, more expensive, facial cream.

Tip # 10 – Exercise and eat properly
No one wants to hear it, but it’s true. Exercise and a proper diet is the best medicine for the body’s overall health. That even includes the complexion. The most beautiful women in the world glow from the inside out and that only comes from taking care of their bodies.