Thumb rule of beauty: Attitude is everything. Carry yourself upright, believe in your own natural charm, and always remember to give time, energy and love to yourself and others.
If you’ve never given yourself time before, don’t worry. Take baby-steps toward a changed you. All you have to do is, start giving yourself a few minutes a day.
Still feel you won’t have the time? Set your alarm clock 30 minutes faster than usual. Then sit and make a rough chart of the time you waste during the day on unimportant phone calls, net-surfing and shopping. Take some of that time and utilise it to pamper yourself.
BE THE PART
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your clothes and cosmetics can make up for the radiance you might lack. Do everything in your power to leave a fragrant, beautiful impression wherever you go. You are a star in your own right. Play the role.
Keep an interested eye on fashion, but don’t fall slave to its whims. Dare to dress your own way. Rebel against the season’s latest cut: Show off your beauty and hide your imperfections as only you can.
KEEP UP WITH YOUR BODY
Listen to your biorhythm. Your body is constantly telling you what it needs. But in the rush of work, you often forget to listen. Don’t eat just because it is lunch time. Listen to your body: Is it really hungry? If not, drink two glasses of water and carry on working. When you feel hungry or tired, do what your body is asking you to. This way, you’ll find your own energy level, fine tune it and feel fine.
SOFT, SILKY, MILKY SKIN
Guess what the number one beauty treatment for your skin is?
No, it’s not the latest alpha-hydroxy-rich cream. Yes, it is plain water. All you have to do is, drink as much as you can. If you don’t take in at least eight glasses a day, you’re depriving yourself of the most wonderful beauty treatment available to a woman.
Another beauty ally: Milk. The lactic acid in milk is a pure treat for your dry, depleted skin tissues. Every morning, give your face a splash of fresh milk, and watch the results.
More natural acids: Pineapple juice, tomato juice, oranges, grapes. See? All the beauty equipment you need is right here inside your fridge — no need to splurge on expensive products.
So what exactly is toning? You might think it is dab of a store-bought toner on the skin every morning, as part of a good girl’s routine. Yes, and no! Yes, if you can afford it. No, if you’re smart enough to carry lemons in your purse! Just slice, squeeze and wipe. You’re toned for the day.
More inexpensive toners: Rose water, witch hazel, green tea, liquid boric acid.
Forget the expensive Vitamin E-enriched creams in the market. Go to a pharmacy, buy Vitamin E capsules instead. Any potency is okay. Prick open the capsule, and mix with your moisturiser. You get the vitamin without the extra chemicals or expenditure.
Exfoliate. It’s important, just like peeling the skin off an onion is important. Create your own scrub with two teaspoonfuls of coarse sugar and a few drops of olive oil. Gently rub this mix into the creases of your face and rinse off with warm water for an incredibly fresh-feeling face.
Another magical scrub: Simple sea-salt. Use it on both body and face, remembering not to rub too hard. Try this off-beat face mask. Soak whole green lentils overnight. Grind coarsely in the morning, adding a little honey. Apply on face and neck, then rinse off after five minutes. Great for a perk-up.
When you apply moisturiser on your face, pretend your skin is a piano and you’re ‘playing’. Tap the face as you would your piano keys, and you’ll get more from your moisturiser.
BODY BASICS
Sweep away stubborn cellulite with a weekly dry bath. Scrub skin with a bristle brush or loofah, always stroking towards the heart. Try to do this at least five minutes at a time.
For great body and bounce in your hair, add an egg to your regular shampoo. But beware, if you rinse your hair in hot water, the egg could scramble right in your hair and be impossible to tease out!
Prepare this repair pack for damaged hair: Mash one ripe banana and mix it with a few drops of almond oil. Massage this all over your head, and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
Going out in a rush but no time to shampoo? Try this hair lift. Brush one tablespoon of talcum powder, or cornflour through your hair. Watch the difference. Suggestion: Try this first on a day when you’re not rushing out — just to be on the safe side!
MODEL TOWN
The world’s most glamorous models carry vaseline in their purse. It’s inexpensive, and it creates instant tinted gloss for your lipstick.
To keep make-up in place, models spritz hair spray on their face. Caution: Do this holding the spray at arm’s length and keep your eyes closed.
How do models perk up sleepy eyes? One of the quickest tricks is to run a spoon under cold water, and hold it over the eyes for a few seconds. The coolness of the metal is a great way to kick-start the day.
Did you know: Models brush their lips! Yes — using an old toothbrush, you can not only remove the ‘chap’ from your lips, but also plump them up for a quick pouty look!
