Aggie Robertson - Beauty Hacks: Make-Up Cheats, Skincare Tricks and Styling Tips (Life Hacks)

BEAUTY HACKS

Copyright Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2017

Illustrations by Kostiantyn Fedorov

With research by Agatha Russell

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the publishers.

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This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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eISBN: 978-1-78685-366-0

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DISCLAIMER

Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any loss or claim arising out of the use, or misuse, of the suggestions made herein. Always test a small amount of any home-made concoctions first, either on the back of your hand or behind your ear, to check for allergic reactions. Consult your doctor before embarking on any new exercise programme or diet.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Beauty Hacks , the must-have book for anyone who wants to master the art of being effortlessly beautiful. Whether you are an out-and-out beauty expert or someone who just wants to look great on the go without breaking the bank, this book is full of tips and tricks for lifes beauty dilemmas. Youll be able to carry on strutting your stuff in true style while saving time, money and effort; these hacks are so clever that they may even inspire you to try out some new looks.

So, if your favourite nail polish keeps going sticky, an outbreak of blackheads has left you feeling like a complete and utter recluse or you think youve got the worst smoky eye technique, dont panic. Weve got it covered here with our top tips and easy fixes to set you straight read on to discover the beauty secrets you wont be able to live without.

MAKE-UP TRICKS

Make-up shouldnt need to come with a detailed blueprint: its simple, and with these tips it will be a cinch. Girls-on-the-go need fast, feature-enhancing tips that will make them look fantastic but without all the work.

ICE CUBE PRIMER

Before you even start applying make-up, this simple trick is the perfect way to prime your skin. Wrap an ice cube up in a thin flannel or thick, soft tissue (you dont want it to stick to your skin), and rub gently over your face, concentrating on areas where your pores are most visible. The cold ice will close up pores and minimise their appearance under make-up for a smooth, long-lasting effect.

HEATED CURLERS

Just like the hair on your head, eyelash curls set quicker and more effectively with the help of heat. Take your lash curlers and heat them with a hairdryer for no more than 10 seconds. Wait a few seconds for them to cool slightly, then check with your finger that they are warm but not hot. Then place them over your eyelashes and curl like you normally would. Finally apply mascara for wide, beautiful lashes no false ones needed!

A LITTLE TRICK OF THE EYE

Heres a tip that will make your lashes look volumised. Wash an old mascara brush and roll it through loose setting powder (talc-free baby powder will work too). When the brush is coated, wave the wand through your eyelashes and coat them in powder, making sure that there are no clumps. Then apply your mascara as you usually would for a thick, impressive set of lashes.

MASCARA TIPS

Take your mascara to new lengths by gently drawing the lashes towards the bridge of your nose with three strokes of the brush. Then fan them back outwards another three times. Make sure that every individual lash is coated by using the tip of the brush to paint each one and push them into the right place. Wiggle the wand horizontally across the lower lashes and you are done. Grab your bag and get your day started.

LOYALTY CARD LINER

For perfect liquid eyeliner every time, use a spare plastic credit or loyalty card as a foolproof guide for the elusive perfect flick. Hold the card edge lengthways at an angle, touching your lower eyelid. If you are using eyeshadow too, apply the powder along the card line first and then apply the eyeliner. Starting with the flick, draw along the card. Slowly take it across to the rest of your eye. Was that too easy?

ELIMINATE MESS

Make your eye make-up look as professional as possible and do away with smudgy streaks across your eyelids with this hack. Simply use a small square of cardboard (a business card is perfect) and hold it behind the lashes as you apply your make-up to create a surface for excess mascara to go onto. You can even cut the card into a curved shape to fit the crescent of your eye.

ENHANCE YOUR EYE COLOUR

Mix it up a little bit by applying one coat of bright blue mascara to your lashes first. Then brush on a black layer over the top, but leave about a quarter of the blue showing at the lash line. This bright blue ring around the eye will draw the focus to your newly intensified eye colour.

REVIVE OLD MASCARA

Not ready to say goodbye just yet? Here is a tip that will keep your mascara hanging on just that little bit longer. Put a few drops of saline solution the kind you use for contact lenses into the mascara bottle, and swill it around to give your slightly gunky mascara a new lease of life.

WIDE AWAKE

A pale pink liner will subtly open the eyes to make them look bigger and more youthful. Apply all the way along the bottom of your waterline, as well as in the corners and along the top of the eyelid behind the lashes, to brighten. Another tip: dot and smudge some pink liner underneath your brow to lift and enhance its shape.