The Secrets Behind Red Carpet Perfection
Tape, tans, fake hair and girdles run rampant at Hollywood awards ceremonies.
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Bright smile. Before a wedding or party where you're going to be photographed, rub the juicy side of cut strawberries across your front teeth to brighten them.
Silky legs. If you suffer from ingrown hairs following hair removal, get into the Nivea Creme habit. Ingrown problems should become a thing of the past with a daily application as dry skin causes hair to imbed. Nivea helps to retain moisture, meaning existing hairs pop out and new ones don't appear.
Skin reviver. If you have jet-lagged or hungover skin, make-up artists swear by gel cloth masks like SK-II's Facial Treatment Mask. After cleansing, leave one on for as long as you can. There is no mud, no rinsing to remove gunk -- just a fuss-free mask that livens up your skin and saturates it with moisture.
Banish roots. If you have grey roots showing, a quick touch-up with dark mascara will do until you get to the hairdresser. For blondes, try a little hairspray focused at the roots and a dusting of loose, gold eyeshadow.
Baby-soft feet. For beautiful feet, use Benefit "Touch Me Then Try to Leave" cream. Rub all over, then wrap in cling film, put socks on, and leave overnight for totally soft skin by morning. Do this once a week, and your feet will be gorgeous by sandal season.
Polish fixer. Splash a drop of olive oil over freshly painted nails. This forms a protective film over the polish, encouraging it to dry more quickly and stop smudging. Alternatively, transform grubby nails by rubbing chalk under the tips with a nail brush to give a French manicured look.
Roller hair. If you've used hot rollers and your hair looks tight or "dolly curled," spray a generous amount of Eau de Toilette on to a clean hand towel. Give your hair a gentle rub and tug -- this will break up the curls and settle it, giving a more relaxed, sexy look.
Don't be flaky. Dandruff? Crush up an aspirin and mix it with your regular shampoo. Properties in the painkiller will calm the dry scalp and save you splashing out on special brands.
Hair teaser. Instead of back-combing your hair, use a firm bristled toothbrush, digging it into the roots and lightly teasing. Softer "baby" toothbrushes are also a secret weapon on shoots as stylists use hairspray on them and smooth wispiness around the hairline.
Beat puffiness. Splashing your face with iced water in the morning will reduce puffiness. But did you know that if you hold an ice cube against the roof of your mouth with your tongue, the chill will help reduce facial puffiness from the inside out?
Smooth hands. Don't throw out used ground coffee -- it makes a great hand exfoliator. After it has cooled, place in a plastic bag in the fridge. Twice a week, scoop out a teaspoon and rub on your hands before rinsing and applying your usual cream.
Nail it. In a dire nail emergency, the rough ignition part of a box of matches will serve as a nail file for troublesome snags when you can't find an emery board.
Two-minute face-lift. An egg white and lemon juice mask has an instant tightening effect on skin, so it's ideal to do an hour before you go out to a party.
Add volume. If limp hair needs an injection of oomph after work, wet fingertips and massage the roots. Using a blow dryer, flip your head over, then blow your hair forward, getting heat on the scalp. Allow hair to cool before flipping back. If you've no access to a dryer, pin your hair up on top of your head, mist hairspray on the roots, wait to dry, and then brush hair upside-down.
Natural glow. To fake the natural look, dab some cream blush on the apples of your cheeks, then apply light foundation or tinted moisturizer over the top. You'll get the "flushed from within" look.
