fast SMOOTH

YOU CAN ACHIEVE SUPER-SMOOTH HAIR WITHOUT BEING A SLAVE TO YOUR HAIRDRYER... Start by finger drying your hair – upside down if this is easier. Keep running your fingers through your hair as this will accelerate the drying process. Once dry, section off the top layers with clips and use thermal irons or a hair straightener to smooth out the most visible areas around your face and the crown area. The result is polished, shiny hair that was quickly achieved.

colour CARE

KEEP YOUR COLOURED HAIR LOOKING (AND FEELING) SILKY SOFT...

* Pat coloured hair dry, rather than rubbing, as coloured hair is fragile.
* If you frequent the gym, don’t shampoo hair after every workout, try rinsing with water and using conditioner on the ends.
* When using a hair dryer, angle the nozzle down the length of the hair to keep hair cuticles smooth and boost the shine.
* Give your hair a treatment once a week to keep the cuticles smooth – after applying your conditioner, wrap your head in a towel and relax for 5-10 minutes.
* Avoid washing red hair directly after colouring. Red hair needs extra time to penetrate the hair strand properly.
* Avoid re-colouring hair too often as it makes it increasingly fragile. Leave at least three months between hair colour treatments.

lash TRICK

I READ THIS GREAT LASH TIP TODAY... which involves mixing your formulations. Use a volumising mascara, then a lengthening mascara to give your lashes maximum impact!

butt BLAST

ZAP PROBLEM ZONES like your butt with a strong shower jet. With your shower nozzle work over your skin in circular motions to kick-start your circulation and move toxins. Switch from hot to cold water to get the maximum benefits.

happy WEEKEND

"A life without love is like a year without summer."
—Swedish Proverb

double-duty SKINCARE

SOME MORE INTERESTING ANTI-AGEING info from elle.com... Certain skin-care ingredients work as both antiagers and brighteners. Prescription retinoids—vitamin A derivatives found in products such as Retin-A Micro and Differin—though marketed as blemish treatments are also potent antiaging brightening agents. Besides retinoids yielding better skin texture including diminished wrinkles and brown spots, research done at the University of Michigan suggests that they also have the power to stop photoaging before it starts: After UV exposure, they prevent the rise of collagenase, which is what breaks down collagen. Regular use of a retinoid product also increases the amount of new collagen formed, which further contributes to soft, supple skin. For an over-the-counter brightening and antiaging fix, try creams containing retinol. Though weaker than doctor-prescribed retinoids, retinols are less irritating than their prescription-strength cousins and may be a better option for sensitive skin types.

shady LADY

“THE RIGHT LIP COLOUR can make a huge difference to your overall look and enhance other features like your eyes,” says internationally renowned make-up artist and beauty authority, Bobbi Brown. Here’s her guide to finding your perfect colour...

If you’re in your 20s...
“Use a shimmery lip gloss to get a pouty, sexy look,” says Brown. “Your lips have a lot of natural definition, so this is the time to wear lighter colors like pale pinks, nudes, and beiges.”

If you’re in your 30s...
“This is when you first start noticing lines around the lips and a loss of definition,” says Brown. “For a polished look, pair a shimmery lipstick with lip liner, applied after the lipstick.”

If you’re in your 40s...
“Natural colouring starts to fade at this point, so you want to add a bit more colour to lips,” says Brown. “Look for creamy lipstick formulas in soft rose, nude, raisin, and putty. The trick to wearing neutrals is looking for shades that are a bit more intense than what you wore in your 20s.”

happy WEEKEND

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else."
—Judy Garland

new LINES

WHEN IT COMES TO EYELINER there are no strict rules: it really depends on the occasion... Lining just the outer corners of your eyes gives you a wide-eyed look that’s perfect for the day – while rimming your whole eye adds intensity for more of a nighttime feel. Whatever look you’re going for, remember to thicken and smudge the line upward as you get to the most outer point of your eye to create a lifting effect. And apply the liner close to your lash roots to make your lashes look thicker.

true HEART

I"M 'TRYING' TO GET A STORY FINISHED TODAY - so here is a lovely quote to get you through the day...!

"A loving heart is the truest wisdom."
—Charles Dickens

peppermint PEP-UP

A COOL SHOWER STIMULATES CIRCULATION in your body and can have a toning effect on your face.. and research has shown that lowering the temperature just a few degrees can make you feel more awake. Plus multiple studies have shown that if you use a peppermint body wash, its scent increases alertness and even improves performance on cognitive tasks. (Can you tell I need more sleep?)

wavy WAVE

NEED A LITTLE HAIR UPDATE? TRY SOME WAVES... First, section off your hair and secure with clips. Using a large barrel curling iron, curl one section at a time, starting at the bottom and working your way up towards the crown. Then, instead of combing your waves, toss your hair up and down three times and finish with a shine-enhancing hairspray.

happy WEEKEND

"LAUGHTER IS AN INSTANT VACATION" - Milton Berle

(pic from one of my favourite blogs beach bungalow 8)

hot HAIR

HOT AIR CAN ACTUALLY HELP TRAUMATISED HAIR... Heat increases the effectiveness of conditioners - that's why salons stick you under the heat during conditioning treatments. For at-home re-hab, slick on leave-in conditioner before drying. Your hair will look smoother than if you dried it au natural.

hot MUMMAS

TWO OF MY FAVOURITE HOLLY- WOOD MUMS... for more pix check out Just Jared!

summer GLOW

IF YOU HATE LOOKING PASTY IN WINTER you can recreate a summer glow by following these make-up artist tips...
DON’T apply your foundation thickly.
DO dot a rosy bronze cream blush on your chin, forehead and the apples of you cheek – where the sun would naturally hit you.
DON’T let foundation and blush sit on your skin for too long without blending – you’ll end up looking blotchy.
DO smear colour upward and outward, making sure to swipe some blush over the bridge of your nose and your brows.
DON’T wear matte colours.
DO wear pearly lipgloss to give you whole face a healthy look.

natural HAIRCARE

I LOVE THIS NATURAL NO-CARE HAIR... Allure mag says this look turns out best when you put in a smidgen of effort while hair is still damp. Run a tiny drop of leave-in conditioner through hair (this will control any frizz), part your hair as you normally would, tuck it behind your ears, and leave it that way until it's dry. You'll end up with a gentle wave in front.

happy WEEKEND

"Fun is about as good a habit as there is."
—Jimmy Buffet

half UPDO

HERE'S A GREAT HAIR-DO IDEA FOR THE WEEKEND... the half up-do! Start by misting your roots with a bit of texturizing spray to give them some texture (funny that). Next create a messy centre part and pull back just the top layer of hair on each side of your face—the bottom layers should fall over your ears. Fasten the pulled-back pieces into a small ponytail just below your crown with a thin elastic. Easy! And don't worry if it looks messy, it's supposed to!

de PUFFY

LOVE THIS TIP FROM ALLURE on how to subtract puffiness from your eyes... They say the old tea-bag-on-the-eyes trick works for a reason: The caffeine constricts blood vessels, the tannins reduce inflammation, and the pressure tamps down the puff. But if that sounds like a pain (or a mess), a chilled compress is just as effective. Cucumber slices, an eye gel you keep in the fridge, or a bag of frozen peas all work the same way. It's really the cold that shrinks the capillaries and stimulates lymphatic drainage.