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Whether you came across them by accident, your favourite celeb swears by them or your friend strongly recommends them, there are some beauty tricks that actually work and don't break your budget. Here are some of mine, what's yours?

Body model
1. This one I found by accident when I had a slight shaving mishap and had to stay in the bathroom for a while. Directly after showering, rub moisturiser all over your body and stay inside the bathroom for 10-15 minutes (brush your teeth, wash your face, sit in the toilet, etc). I find that the warm, damp air makes my skin absorb the moisture, making my skin softer and more supple.


2. Another one I found by accident - directly after a morning workout, wash your face and slather on some moisturiser. You'll have a natural healthy glow that will last all day that you'd hate to cover up with make-up.

3. How many times have you find yourself rushing home from work to prepare for a big night to find you don't have time to wash your greasy, limp hair? Add volume and absorb the grease by rubbing talc powder into the roots of your hair and blow-drying it. This is a trick a lot of hairdressers swear by.

4. To make the curl on your lashes stay longer, use the eyelash curler AFTER the mascara, but wait about a minute.

Lips
5. Lips looking and feeling chapped because of the recent weather? Condition and plump your lips by gently scrubbing vaseline onto them with a dry toothbrush at night. In the morning, create your own coloured lipgloss by mixing vaseline with your favourite shade of lipstick.


6. If you're Asian, you'll understand what I'm talking about when I ask - don't you hate how the hairs on your eyebrows go straight down, sometimes creating a ragged, uneven bottom line? Brush your eyebrows across with a hair gel and cut off any stray hairs at the bottom.

7. I tend to stay away from eyeliner pencils to fill in the gaps as they can make your brows look harsher. Besides, having 'leaking' eyebrows in the rain aren't very attractive, you know. Opt for a brow bush powder instead - one or two shades lighter (if you're a brunette) or darker (if you're blonde) for a soft, natural brow look.

8. After washing and towel drying your hair, bend over and let your hair hang down then blow dry from the root to the tips to create instant volume in your hair. Never blow up against the hair tips as this causes damage to the hair and more split ends.

9. Here's a facial scrub masque that you can whip up yourself at home or if you've forgotten to have your daily dose of fruits and there is a bunch of rotting bananas on your counter. Mash one banana and mix well with 3-4 tablespoons of honey. Apply an even layer to your face and let it set for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly to reveal an oh-so-smooth face.

Coffee Beans
10. I've only recently just tried this and will be looking out for the results but apparently, this is a huge hollwyood beauty trick, according to Diane Irons, a model who's written several books on beauty and make-up tips she's picked up from the modelling industry. Did you know that caffeine is a key ingredient in many expensive products targeting cellulite? Don't throw away those used coffee grounds just yet. While still warm, rub the coffee grounds onto your problem areas (you may want to line your bathroom floor with papers to catch all the residue), seal the grounds to your skin with a cling wrap and leave for 5 minutes. Shower afterwards.

*images from www.wikipedia.com
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Bizarre Beauty Products - from Japan

October 2nd 2007 01:24
I’ve noticed people have stopped asking me for advice on how to lose the weight they’ve put on during winter because they hate hearing that dreaded word : exercise. So I’ve decided that the next time they ask me for tips on how to tone and shape up for summer, I’ll refer them to some bizarre beauty products from Japan I discovered through uniquedaily.com and have fun seeing which ones would be gullible enough to purchase one of these online-

Jawline Slimmer
Getting conscious of your double chin that you make an effort to always keep your chin up? The Jawline Slimmer can take the excess fat from your massive jowls. No exercising but it does involve some sweating. The aluminium guard is placed under your jaws and under your chin. All you do is add water and wait for the sweat to come out like you would in a sauna and voila, slimmer jaws!

Ok, so this next one involves a small weight and a teeny weeny bit of movement that some might consider a form of exercise, but do you really want to walk around all summer with a fat neck? The Slim Neck Piece with a mouthpiece attached to a net with a weight at the bottom may make you feel like a stork delivering a newborn babe but after a few sessions of moving your head up and down, you’ll be admiring your new slim neck from all sides in the mirror.

Side Mouth Toner
Has anyone ever pointed out the jiggly bits at the corners of your mouth that make you look like you’re grumbling when you’re actually smiling? I’m guessing the experience has happened to many Japanese women as someone went through the trouble of creating the Side Mouth Toner. Say goodbye to those unflattering jiggly bits and smile with confidence by sticking this apparatus in the corners of your mouth, opening and closing your mouth until you feel the corners burn.

And let’s not stop at jiggly bits of your mouth either. Tone and shape your cheeks with Cheek Toner, a pair of tongs that have rollers at the end which you roll over the flabby bits of your cheeks again and again so you can finally have the defined cheekbones everyone will envy.

Model Leg Shaper
Flabby legs? Sick of sweating it out during spinning classes to get shapelier butt, thighs and calves? Why not try the Model Leg Shaper? All you have to do is slip your feet into a pair of what I call reverse clogs – the higher part of the heel is under your toes so instead of walking on tiptoes as you do with normal heels, you’ll practically be walking around on the soles of your feet. The Model Leg Shaper will not only tone your whole lower body but will also help you with your balance while looking oh-so-fashionable.

Have you ever looked down at your feet and noticed your toes are too close together that you can’t tell where your big toe ends and your second toe begins? Then slip on a Toe Stretcher – kind of one of those ones they use on your feet in beauty salons when they’re waiting for your pedicure to dry. This stretches your toes and, if used enough, will make them stay in that position so you too can have attractive frog feet.

*images from uniquedaily.com
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Make up Trends Spring/Summer '07/08

September 25th 2007 02:30
STARS IN YOUR EYES
Bobbi Brown Metallic Collection
Make your eyes shimmer, sparkle and dance and stock up on the range of metallic eyeshadow because it’s all about bringing focus to your eyes this spring/summer season. Opt for lighter metallic shades like white, pink or gold during the day and more dramatic shades like purple, blue and forest green at night. Apply a lighter shade of metallic eyeshadow over the entire eyelid, working into the inner corners of the eye and use a darker shade into the crease of the lid. Line the inner sides of your eye with a black or dark brown eyeliner for a smouldering effect.

Check out : Bobbi Brown’s Metallic Collections : Forest Green (green hues), Midnight Metallics (blue/silver); Burnt Sugar (copper/bronze) and Velvet Plum (purple/pink).
*image from www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

BOLD, BUSHY BROWS
Brooke Shields Eyebrows
The bushy eyebrows of the 80s are back so think carefully before you pick up those tweezers. But before you can sigh with relief and say goodbye to the painstaking process of tweezing, bushy can also mean scraggly (aka Incredible Hulk), when not maintained. So treat them like the hair on top of your head – tame them with gel and brush them up.

Check out : 5 Piece Eyeybrow Kit from Anastasia Beverly Hills – includes brow powder, brow gel, angled brow brush, tweezers and brow stencils.

DRAMATIC LASHES
Loreal Lash Architect
So that’s why more women are lining up for lash extensions these days. What better way to complement your new shimmering, sparkling eyeshadow than with long, full, almost-fake lashes? For those who would rather stay away from the fake stuff, invest in eyelash curlers and a great mascara that gives you both length and volume without the clump.

Check out : Loreal Lash Architect

NATURAL-LOOK BASE
I don’t know about you but with the warm weather upon us, I don’t like my face feeling too heavy with make-up so hearing that covering your entire face with foundation is a no-no this season is good news for me. The aim is to use as little coverage as possible and make-up artists say that most people can get an even skin tone with just a tinted moisturiser (with sunscreen). If you want to hide away blemishes, apply dots of concealer and a brush of loose powder.

Check out : I only ever use Olay moisturiser now and unfortunately, they don’t have tinted moisturisers. If you’re as devoted to your current moisturiser as I am and don’t want to switch to another brand that stocks tinted moisturisers, all you do is mix in a blob of foundation with your Olay moisturiser.

BRONZED CHEEKS
The colour of healthy, sun-kissed cheeks to complement the tan you’ll be getting this season.

Check out : Sephora Duo Bronzer

NUDE LIPS
Lip Tox Sheer
Just because the focus is all on the eyes doesn’t mean your lips should look washed out. So your lips can get just a little bit of attention even with its nude colour, the aim is to make them appear fuller and luscious. Opt for a lipstick that will give your pout a sheer gloss and a lip plumper for a fuller pout.

Check out : Bee-Luscious Lip Tox Sheer
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Do you have these in your make-up bag?

September 21st 2007 01:00
All make-up artists have their favourite tools for making their clients look fab and glam. Daily Mail lists the ten tools beauty experts deem are must-haves in a girl’s make-up bag.

Cosmetics

1. Angled Brow Brush
Perfect when your eyebrows are looking patchy or you accidentally plucked more brow hairs than you should have. This brush allows you to precisely fill in gaps in your eyebrows with a brow powder, creating a natural even look. Tip : Apply powder in gentle, feather strokes across the brows.

2. Nail Buffer
I love this one. When I discovered this when I was 16, I said goodbye to fake nails and nail polish forever (well, except for those special occasions). Tip : don’t buff your nails more than once a week or it could damage them.

3. Blusher Brush
To apply blush powder to your cheeks naturally, you need a BIG blusher brush. Not those short, rough ones that already come in blush cases. Tip : Apply blush to the area of your cheeks where you blush naturally and sweep toward the hairline. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a multitude of blush powders so you can blend them together and create a blush custom-made for your skin colour.

4. Eyelash Curlers
Nothing uglier than seeing someone with beautiful long lashes looking like they have elephant lashes. Eyelash curlers make your eyes appear bigger and your eyelids (for those with almost non-existent ones) appear wider. Tip : Hold curlers over your lashes in place for 30 seconds.

5. Foundation Brush
Hmm…it’s supposed to help you apply foundation over your face more evenly but I find I don’t have as much control and almost always, I have to use my fingers to ensure the foundation blends into the skin. Tip : Don’t apply a blob of foundation directly onto your face and then use the brush. Put a blob of foundation on your hand first and gradually pick it up from the edge with the brush, applying it to your face in sweeping strokes.

6. Eyeshadow Brush
Well, have you ever tried applying eyeshadow with your fingers?

7. Cosmetic Sponge
This one, I think, is better than the Foundation Brush when applying foundation. It gave me better control and allows you a more even finish. Tip : Wash your sponges every few applications with mild, fragrance-free shampoo, otherwise the built-up muck on your sponge will make your face look dull next time you apply foundation to it.

8. Tweezers
My best friend. Not only does it tame your eyebrows, but a practical thing to do during commercial breaks of my favourite reality TV. Tip : Gold-tipped tweezers are best for plucking. Tip 2 : Pluck your eyebrows just after you’ve had a shower, brow hairs are less stubborn then.

9. Lip Brush
Not only does it give you an even lipstick coverage but experts say it’s also excellent for applying concealer and covering up dark shadows under your eyes. Tip : Dip brush into foundation and apply to blemish with short feathery strokes.

10. Sharpener
Nothing worse than a stub for a lipliner that gives you a ‘bleeding’ look around the edges of your lips.
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There is a beauty salon I’ve been going to in Sydney the past ten years. While they don’t offer the ambience (more often than not, you’ll find yourself in something no bigger than a cupboard, lying on a towel-covered patio chair next to a rack of shoes) or service (never book for more than two people as they tend to leave the ‘excess people’ waiting outside), this place offers the best value for money when it comes to facials. For around $55, you get a facial with a heavenly shoulder massage and the treatment can last up to 2 hours, depending on your therapist.

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And now, it's finally come to this...

# Pot Scourer, the new exfoliator
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#6 Anti-Perspirant Cotton Balls?

Cottonballs

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#9 Detox your body - Drink 8 to 10 litres of water a day

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I was 14 when I started paying close attention to models in magazines like Dolly and Girlfriend. This was the time when the airbrushing of models and actors by paintstakingly meticulous graphic designers was still a secret and all teenage girls thought that what they saw of their favourite model and actor in their pictures was all natural.

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Dermalogica’s Skin Brightening System consists of 3 products – Daily Microfoliant, Day Bright and Night Bright, each of which you can purchase individually. This system was recommended to me after I decided to get rid of the discolouration around my mouth and nose once and for all as the three products combined contain Dermalogica’s "brightening complex to restore the skin’s healthy glow while balancing pigmentation and protecting against future discolouration".

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Loreal Hydrafresh Aqua Liquid

June 12th 2007 18:31
Loreal Plenitude Hydrafresh Aqua Fluid is marketed as a moisturiser with a very unique texture : the moisturiser is half cream/half gel which is supposed to literally melt into your skin. It is enriched with vitamins and ‘essential’ minerals – the box doesn’t quite say what these minerals are that make them so essential, but the moisturiser should leave your skin hydrated without the greasiness.

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When you query beauty therapists about other beauty products besides the ones they’re selling and using on your face, it’s understandable for them to be ranting and raving about how these other products never live up to their promise. Then they go on to rant and rave about how good their own products are and how pleased you’ll be with the results after the facial.

Ask them what they think about Sothys and they’ll be silent for three seconds before grudgingly, pulling-their-teeth-out reluctantly mumbling, “Yeah, they’re ok.” And that’s as close as you’ll ever get to an approval before they manage to swallow the bitter pill in their mouth to brightly say, “But let me tell you about our products…”

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For a while, I had heard nothing but rave reviews about SK II. What apparently sets it apart from other beauty products, and probably the main reason for the high prices, is the main ingredient contained in all SK II products – Pitera – a clear, rich liquid naturally extracted during the sake fermentation process. It’s supposed to restore the ‘skin’s natural 28-day renewal cycle’ for a younger, more radiant-looking skin.

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Loreal REFINISH Microdermabrasion Kit is a home kit that promises visibly resurfaced, radiant-looking skin "in 2 steps, 2 minutes, twice a week".

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