The Secrets Behind Red Carpet Perfection
Tape, tans, fake hair and girdles run rampant at Hollywood awards ceremonies. go >
By Madeline Crisp
Clever cover-up. If you get stranded without your concealer, check the cap of your foundation -- the makeup that has collected there will be thick and perfect for covering up flaws.
DIY dye. If you've dyed your hair at home and the result is too tame, take a second box of color and dilute it in equal parts with shampoo. Lather on your hair and let it sit for five minutes before rinsing. You'll get a second hit of colour and loads of shine.
Make-up on the run. If you don't have time for full-on eye makeup on a night out, try this: Dip your finger in a pot of waxy lip balm, then scribble a little dark eyeliner on top of the balm. Gently rub the finger into the roots of your top lashes and finish with mascara ... the smearier, the better!
Home trim. You CAN trim your own fringe, but do it dry with proper hairdressing scissors. Divide your fringe into three sections, grab the first one, pull it straight up and twist. Snip into the ends with the point of the scissors, cutting diagonally so each strand varies a little in length. Drop the section to see where it falls, then twist and cut more if necessary. Pull up the next section, matching it to the length of the first and so on. You've just added a few more weeks to your cut!
Bright eyes. Find your eyes water in the wind? Dot a little Vaseline at the outer edge of your eyes -- it will act as a waterproof barrier.
Easy polish. For a hassle-free DIY pedicure, apply base coat and two coats of color a few hours before bed (don't bother trying to keep within the lines) and top off with glossy top coat. Next morning in the shower, you'll find you can easily scrape off any stray polish with your fingernails -- voila! -- perfect toes.
Style file. Always style your hair in sections, starting at the back. Because the back of your head is the hardest to reach, do it first as it requires most effort. Your arms get tired blowdrying, so if you do the front first, you'll lose the willpower to do the back properly, which can ruin your look.
Get rid of shine. Caught yourself in the pub mirror with skin like an oil slick? Don't panic. That nasty hard toilet paper makes an excellent blotter! Simply tear off a corner and press on to your skin to soak up shine.
Scrub up. You don't need pricey scrubs and loofahs in the bath -- a double-sided kitchen sponge (green one side, yellow the other) will do an excellent job for lathering and exfoliating.
Plus, you can buy in bulk and throw them out as soon as they start looking a bit iffy.
Wash and go. Got extensions? You can leave the bulk of your hair to dry naturally, but you must ensure the bonds are fully dry to prevent them from softening. If you do want to blow-dry all your hair, use a heat protection spray such as Racoon-Xtend Thermal Defence.
Nail SOS. To mend a split nail in an emergency, take a tiny thread of cotton from cotton wool (so small you can hardly twist it) and put it in the split. Pull away the excess, then paint with clear polish or base coat.
Expert blow-dry. If you have a difficult hair line, blow-drying can be a nightmare. Brush your hair in opposite directions while drying, to tame unwanted kinks and create extra volume where needed.
Eye soother. If you have puffy eyes, try placing a thin slice of potato on the eyes for 10 minutes. Or a chilled teaspoon can help, too.
Hair tamer. A small tube of hand cream in your handbag can fix a bad hair day.
In winter, rub a tiny amount on your hands and smooth over your head to eliminate static and "hat hair." Come summer, running a tiny amount through your hair with fingertips will tame frizz.
Face saver. Revive a tired complexion by going hot and cold. Soak your face cloth in warm water with a few drops of Dr. Hauschka Lemon Bath, which softens hard water and revitalizes you and your skin. Apply the compress to your face for a few seconds -- repeat and do your usual cleansing regime.
Complete with a cool splash -- this contrast in temperature strengthens the skin. The warmth stimulates the delivery of oxygen to the surface, while the cool helps eliminate toxins and closes pores.
