Beauty Tips

Not to toot my own horn, claim that I am particularly beautiful (if at all), or to stomp all over Amy and Jo’s territory, but I thought I would share some things that make my morning routine a little easier, and .

• Brush your teeth in the shower. It’s faster, you use less water, and it’s an excuse to stay in the shower that little bit longer.
• Always take your makeup off before bed, and before you exercise – or just once you don’t need it. I don’t actually do much to my skin – i moisturise when I remember, I cleanse if I notice my cleanser in the shower, I always wear sunscreen, and I always take my makeup off. No matter how drunk I am.
• Instead of expensive cleansing wipes, use baby wipes – fewer perfumes, soft cloth, and about 1/3 the price. They also make taking off nail polish much easier (and you use less remover) for some reason- even bright red.
• Get your clothes ready the night before. Saves time in the morning, and means you don’t run the risk of looking like you got dressed in the dark because of morning clothing-related rushing mishaps.
• Wear clothes that fit.
• Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream, Kerastase heat protecting cream stuff, Origins Never a Dull Moment scrub, and Have a Nice Day mousturiser and Paul Sebastian (i think) curl stuff, MAC concealer, and Napoleon “Dallas” lip shine are my go-to products
• Headbands hide a multitude of hair sins, and have the added bonus of being cute. Or make you look like a ballerina, as I was told the other day. Which made me laugh loudly.
• Wear whatever the hell you want. Seriously. Someone once told me that hoop earrings bigger than a 50c piece make you look like a slut. The earrings I’m wearing right now – much bigger than that. Because who cares – if you like it, and you like how you look in it, wear it.
• Which leads me to my only real hint. When it comes to cosmetics and makeup – use whatever you like. I’m not sure that expensive cosmetics are any better than cheaper ones. But, for me, I love the ritual that goes with buying my make up from MAC and Napoleon (and I do believe that Viva la Glam is the best lipstick). I love the smells and the packaging, and the haughty staff. And thus, putting my makeup on makes me feel good. And what makes you feel good and confident, will make you look good. If that’s supermarket cleanser, vaseline and Maybelline Great Lash, fantastic. If it’s Clinique, and Estee Lauder and gold flecked eyeshadow, and you can afford it, more power to you. Beauty magazines only exist to sell you things, and if they make you feel bad about yourself, what’s the point. Experiment, practice, find what works for you, and remember – makeup and hairstyles are meant to be fun. Makeup is basically painting on your own face. How can that not be fun?

And because my friends are ever so pretty (even if they do disagree with me on some things), I canvassed them for their tips:

From Em:

Wear sunscreen. If nothing else, wear sunscreen because it stops you getting wrinkles. If only I could take my own advice.

Also, don’t listen to people who tell you not to wash your hair everyday. If you need to, then do it. Better than looking greasy.

From Nadi:

ummmmm get lots of sleep? no so likely in this job. I dunno how well it works, but i put bio oil on my face at night, and my skin always feels very soft in the morning….yeah, i got sucked in by their low-rent ads, clearly.

From Carla:

My beauty tip is to invest in good skincare products rather than make up, but that may be because I can never be bothered faffing around with foundation or whatever. Ooh, and cleanse, tone and moisturise twice daily (sorry that was 2 tips. Choose your favourite!)

Laura says:

well, I cleanse, tone and moisturise every day and i wear an spf moisturiser during the day and an eye cream.

i also exfoliate once or twice a week and i mask, depending on how my skin feels i either use a clensing, hydrating or exfoliating mask.

in winter i sometimes add a bit of rosehip oil on dryer areas.

bodywise i use a sugar/salt scrub once or twice a week and use bodyoil.

Claire filled up my inbox with the following:

My beauty tip was passed to me by my Mum: do not scrimp on the quality of the make-up you use, no matter if it’s pricey. Good make up makes a difference – it looks, feels and lasts better.

.. and can I add, my Mum always looks awesome!

oh and Mum also recommends wearing make-up in general (when it’s appropriate) even if you can’t be bothered applying it, because it’s good when people make an effort to look nice.

And then Gilly and Caroline carried on a whole conversation:

Gilly: Oh dear…I don’t think I’m the best person to ask!

I guess my tip would be trilogy rosehip oil – it’s a cheap night
‘cream’, seems to do what it says, and smells real nice

Caroline: My two faves are

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream. I have had my tube for about 3 years and it still hasn’t run out. Cures everything from dry lips to flaky cuticles to dry heels

and

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. Gets rid of oily build up, blackheads and tired skin, leaving me feeling polished and fresh.

Gilly: oh yeah that microfoliant is awesome!

I also love my l’occitane shea butter hand cream (cute travel size good for handbag) and trilogy everything balm (which is kinda like 8 hour cream )

Caza: i love balms

Thanks you guys!

And while are on things pretty, I thought I would share some cupcake porn. Gilly and I gave Carla a dark Chocolate and raspberry cupcake from tempt. So pretty (sorry about the photos, I had to take them from my phone). I love that they come individually boxed, and are just so pretty! Carla’s reaction: “cupcake is off the heezy”

And then, for her birthday, Clare and I sent Gilly a dozen cupcakes from the cupcake parlour. Around $65 to send a dozen cupcakes from the South to the North Island. I’d give you an exact price, but I’d have to check my credit card statement, and that’s something I studiously avoid doing. Anyway, so pretty, and so many! Gilly reports they were really good.

Right, I’m done pimping bakers now. Go buy someone (preferably me) a cupcake and tell them they are beautiful.

Oh, and one last beauty tip: Smile. That’s it, just smile.