Some gems of wisdom... Sunday, October 25, 2009

1. Before applying makeup and after moisturising, USE A PRIMER. It'll help you acheive a flawless finish. It'll also help to protect your skin.

2. If your nails get discoloured from wearing nailpolish, remove the polish and soak nails in warm water for 15 minutes with the juice of half a lemon. An amazingly good natural whitening trick.

3. Always take your make up off before you go to bed. Otherwise it'll dry out your skin and clog your pores. Even if you use mineral make-up, take it off - you need to give your skin a rest! Oh and you don't want ugly make-up stains all over your pillow.

4. To help reduce frizz and flyaways, use a satin/silk pillow slip. If you can't find one, they're ridiculously easy to make, or alternatively place a silk/satin scarf over your pillow at night.

5. If you've run out of toner, splash your face with cold water after cleansing. Toner is supposed to get any remining dirt/oil/makeup off your face, reduce the appearance of pores/fine lines/ wrinkles and prepare the skin for moisturiser. A good cleanser should really get rid of makeup, oil and dirt and the cold water will help to stimulate circulation, thereby helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and reducing the appearance of pores.

6. Switch to a lighter moisturiser/treatment in the warmer months. Your face will already be getting extra moisture from increased sweating and sebum production. If you use a heavier moisturiser in summer there's also a greater chance your make-up will slide off by mid morning.

7. Eat after exercising. Exercise stimulates your metabolism which means you'll burn kJ faster. It also means you won't have your food jumping around in your stomach.

8. Whilst you can't actually make pores smaller, you can reduce their appearance by making sure they don't get clogged. A great way to do this is by steaming your face over a bowl of hot water and a few drops of your favourite essential oil (I suggest peppermint or lavender). It'll also help to calm and relax your mind.

9. Eat tomato's, spinach, fish, eggs, blueberries, nuts and pommegranates to keep wrinkles at bay. These foods contain high amounts of vitamins and nutrients essential for healthy (and moisturised) hair, skin and nails - including B-vitamins, Lycopene, Anti-oxidants, Omega fatty acids, B-Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Selenium just to name a few. It's just as important to look after your skin from the inside.

10. Wear a sunscreen (even in Winter!) UVA/UVB rays are THE major cause of wrinkles - even on cloudy days.

C xx