The Real Dangers of Minty Lips

So many lip balms claiming to moisturize your lips contain mint. It leaves a refreshing feeling that cools your lips. It also dries your lips out and/or impedes the moisturizing process. Mint is used on oily skin for a reason. Quite a bit of lip products for eczema contain mint because it soothes the irritation but it's also delaying the treatment. Mint in higher dosages are used as natural collagen boosters to make your lips appear fuller by irritating your lips until they swell.

Home Dyes Work Best When You Go From Light to Dark

Home hair dyes seem like such an affordable alternative to salon prices but only if you're going from light to dark. It's possible to find success when you go from dark to light but if you find your hair to be exceptionally dark and you're going for a contrastingly lighter shade, you may find that you're still wasting money because you're not lifting the color deposited on your hair so the lighter shade may not become visible. Something to think about.... Cheap doesn't always mean bargain.

Become a Hair Model

Getting your hair cut, colored, or styled is a costly investment. Call your local salons or beauty schools to see if they offer free services to hair models. If you live in the Los Angeles area, Fred Segal salon offers free services. In San Francisco, Vidal Sassoon offers similar programs during certain times of the year.

A Sunkissed Glow

To give your skin a nice glow after a day in the sun, sweep your cheekbones, forehead, nose, and chin lightly with a solid bronzer and bronzer brush. It takes 30 seconds and makes a great impact.

Boost Your Eyelash Curler's Performance

Rather than spending money on a heated eyelash curler, simply heat your manual eyelash curler with your hair dryer. Then use as you ordinarily do. The heat will curl your lashes more effectively than by gently pressing at it. It works more like a curling iron.

Transform Your Lipstick into Lip Gloss

Transform your lipstick into a lip gloss by melting your lipstick and a little Vaseline into a tiny jar. Mix it together and enjoy.

Prevent Your Lipstick From Bleeding

Prevent your lipstick from bleeding by keeping them well-moisturized. Lipstick bleeds when your lips are dry. Slather on a coat of Vaseline before going to bed. At night is when your body rejuvenates itself. Your body will absorb the moisture best during this time. Apply a thick coat of Vaseline for five minutes before applying your lipstick. Gently remove the Vaseline beforehand. Alternatively if you shower in the morning, slather on a thick coat of Vaseline before you get in. The humidity from the water and heat will moisturize your lips a lot more effectively. Then, line your entire lips with a translucent lip liner. I like Paula's Choice. This acts as a lip fixative.

Soften a lipstick shade with Vaseline

Soften the intensity of a striking lipstick shade with Vaseline.

Close to Flawless Skin in Cold Weather

If your skin is only slightly uneven in complexion and you live in a cold environment, consider using tinted moisturizer. It's inexpensive, applies on easily, requires less maintenance, and doubles as a moisturizer and skin protectant. There's no point in following a meticulous routine of applying foundation and concealer if you don't need it. You could be unnecessarily clogging your pores with multiple products. While some people recommend using tinted moisturizer in hot weather because of the SPF 15 benefit, I advise against it. The liquidy-creamy consistency can melt in the heat and create a darkly discolored mask. Ugh!

Makeup on a Budget

If you're on a budget, prioritize money for high-end foundation and concealer. Flawless skin can only be achieved with superior ingredients that glide on smoothly. Eye shadows, eye liners, mascaras, lip liners, lipsticks, and lip glosses are similar in formulation. In fact, many department store brands also own drugstore brands, too.

3-in-1 Product: Baby Shampoo

This is every typical girl's best friend. It's shampoo, makeup brush cleaner, and lingerie washing detergent. Use it as a clarifying shampoo because it's not pumped with massive chemicals, which is why it's gentle enough to clean your makeup brushes and delicates.