Rikku

These are just some random beauty tips I found from various websites and people. I take hair and beauty at my school, so I get some advice from there too. They're probably only little things that everyone already knows but I just felt like making a journal in case anyone didn't know.

Hair

Use a soft hairbrush with natural bristles only. This stops the hair and scalp getting damaged.

Use a widetooth comb, especially when your hair is wet and at its most vulnerable.

Use hot water on your hair before shampooing, this opens your hair shaft much like your pores.

Rinse with cold water, this closes the shaft as well as helping with softness and shine.

Only apply shampoo to the scalp, the ends from the neck down don't need it.

Hair should be shampooed twice a week, every other day at most. Washing hair every day will make your hair become dry because of the amount of oil you're washing out.

Apply conditioner to the ends (three inches from your scalp), this is where the moisture is needed most.

Cooling your conditioner in the fridge will seal hair cuticles straight away because of the low temperature.

Comb hair through (with a widetooth comb) while the conditioner is still in your hair, this makes it easier to rinse and also when combing hair afterwards.

Rinse hair then rinse again, this ensures all the product is out of your hair and helps give it a clean and silky finish.

Apply mousse to the roots of your hair only and hold each section upwards while blow drying underneath. This gives your hair volume without it appearing stringy.

Spritz holding spray onto an eyebrow brush and apply to both eyebrows and flyaways to keep them in place.

When clipping hair back for make-up, make sure to place a tissue between your hair and the clip to prevent creases.

Baby powder can be applied to the roots of your hair to disguise greasiness.

Combing hair regularly helps spread natural oils to keep hair healthy and shiny.

Massaging your scalp before bed helps stimulate the blood circulation needed to keep hair in good health.

Lemon juice and beer lightens hair, beer is also good for brown hair.

Vinegar helps with oily hair.

Skin care

Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses a day, more in the morning, less at night. Drinking water at night, and also eating salty products, leads to cheek puffiness the following morning).

Eat healthily (fruit and veg, vitamins).

Use a non-oily make-up remover to help prevent spots.

Try and avoid make-up wipes as these tend to dry your skin out. Instead use a liquid or cream eye make-up remover along with a cleanser for the rest of the face and lips.

Cleanse, tone, and moisturise daily to clean, freshen, and smooth skin. Always apply in an upwards motion and start at the neck.

Use an exfoliant (face and body) and a face mask once a week. Over-exfoliating will strip the skin of natural oils, making it dry.

Honey helps make skin soft.

Brown sugar makes a good exfoliant.

Steamy showers are helpful before plucking eyebrows or removing blackheads. The steam softens them.

Use cocoa butter on scars and stretch marks to lighten them.

Exfoliate lips by rubbing them in a gentle circular motion with a clean toothbrush or damp cloth.

Use vaseline on eyelashes to make them stand out and look longer, on eyelids and cheeks to give shine, lips to give shine and softness, and elbows and heels to treat dry skin. This works better if you wear socks and leave them on overnight.

Perfume and toothpaste are both natural remedies for spots.

Organic apple cider vinegar does wonders for acne, as does fresh air.

Sleeping on your back is better for your skin. During sleep, there is a lot of pressure on the face, leading to more wrinkles.

Sleeping with two pillows helps the blood circulation.

Use a natural bristle body brush before having a bath or shower, it helps with the blood circulation, keeping skin healthy and helping with dark veins.

Treat your skin like the finest silk, never scrub your skin harshly (especially on the face).

Nail care

Soak nails in lemon juice once a week/month to remove stains and brighten them.

File nails once every other day to help them grow stronger.

Buff nails once a month to smooth out ridges and add natural shine.

Apply moisturiser to nails and wear gloves to bed to keep them healthy and prevent them getting dry.

Make-up

The proper order of make-up application is: concealer, foundation, translucent/loose powder, blusher, eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, lip liner, lip stick, and lip gloss. Make-up should be applied after cleansing, toning, and moisturising.

Always apply foundation in a downwards motion to prevent the hairs on your face standing up. Use powder-based foundation if your skin is oily, and liquid if your skin is dry.

Green-based concealer is good for covering blemishes.

Concealer also makes a good base for eyeshadow, it gives the shadow something to grab onto.

Use a tissue when applying eye make-up, your fingers should never touch your face. This will spread oil and bacteria.

Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks only, it helps if you swipe a small amount of blusher on while smiling, so you can feel where the blusher should go.

Wetting your eye-shadow brush slightly will turn your eye-shadow into a paste, helping it stick to your eyelids. This will also make it brighter and it should last longer.

When curling eyelashes, always apply mascara after once has been fully curled. If you curl both, by the time you go to apply your mascara, you will have lost the curl.

Curl at the base, middle, and tips of your lashes. This helps with the shape and prevents it going jagged. You should hold your curlers for fifteen seconds.

Apply mascara in a zig-zag motion. This helps separate lashes and prevent clumping. Comb them through with an eyelash comb afterwards.

Never pump your mascara. Unwanted bacteria will get in. Instead, use a twisting motion as you pull the wand out. This is will ensure you have enough of the product on your wand to work with.

If your mascara dries up, apply a few drop of eye make-up remover and mix it with the wand.

Lip liner can be applied outside the lips to make them appear fuller, and inside if you want them thinner. It's good to apply foundation to them beforehand so the outside if the lips blend in. Never go too far in or out though, as it will look fake.

For lip stick, put some baby powder on your lips after applying one layer, then apply another layer over the top. This helps set the lip stick and it will last longer.

Fashion

Avoid too much black, it will always look too harsh if you wear a massive amount.

If you're wearing glitter make-up or clothing, avoid adding too much of any other glitter or shine to your outfit, including accessories, as it can come across tacky.

Massive sunglasses. Not just big ones, but the huge ones that aren't suited to your face shape.

Smiling girls always look better than pouting girls.

Stores that sell good beauty products

LUSH do some really good products like cleansers, toners, moisturisers etc all made from natural ingredients.

The Body Shop are also good for products, and also for make-up and make-up brushes. They also have the different sections of products depending on your skin type.