10 BEAUTY TIPS & TRICKS THAT ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I flipping love a good beauty tip. Whether it's how to get brows that actually look like they belong to each other, or the best way to shave your legs without morphing into an extra from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I want to know it all. I've definitely spent too much of my life watching beauty hack videos, which has helped with compiling this little list, but I've also picked up a few just through general trial and error. These are all my favourites - the ones that actually made me think 'why have I not been doing this all my life?'. 

1. Apply hair products to both sides of your hair.

This sounds really stupid, but it's one I realised through using too much toner on my hair. After drying my hair, I noticed that the OTT purple tones were a lot more obvious on one side of my hair – which is also the side that’s in better condition... It's much thicker and doesn't have so many rats’ tails. It got me thinking, and I worked out that that’s the side I tend to pull my hair round to when I apply product. Conditioner, leave in treatments, shine serums - I always take my hair over to my left shoulder to work in the product. So, I figured that the other side isn’t getting quite the same treatment. Since then, I've been making sure I apply product on both sides, going through my hair properly. I'll also try to comb things through when I've got time. It seems really obvious, but it was a habit I’ve only just realized I’ve had for years!

2. Use good cotton wool. 

A little one that I noticed when a makeup artist was cleansing my skin for a shoot. I was asking her which micellar water she was using to take my makeup off with, as it felt really gentle on my skin. It turned out it was the Garnier one I use every freaking day of my life, only instead of using the cheapest of cheap cotton wool pads, she was using slightly better quality ones. I'm not saying it needs to be as good as linen you'd wrap a royal baby in, but a step up from the super cheap options has made a big difference for me.

3. Take selfies. 

As silly as we all know selfies can be, seeing pictures of myself has helped loads with my makeup. It's just another way to get a different view. I find it’s especially helpful for doing eyeliner. Gahhhd I hate trying to get that super sharp flick - I find it so difficult to get both eyes even, and taking a picture helps me to see where I may or may not have made one eye look drunk. 

4. Pat don't rub.

I feel like this is something Nannas pass onto us. An oldie, but a goldie. I think the 'pat don't rub' notion applies to so much with beauty these days - with contouring it's pretty major, no one’s got time to be rubbing off that new nose you've spent the last half hour skillfully crafting. With skincare though, I really try to pat rather than rub, as I can be a little too rough on my skin! I noticed that patting on moisturizer and eye cream helps my skin to feel way more plumped up.

5. Blow-dry your dry shampoo. 

As a huge fan of dry shampoo, it's only recently that I've realised blow-drying is the way forward for getting the most out of it. Not only does it get rid of that talky looking scalp, but it's also a chance to blast in some extra volume when your hair is looking lank and crap. 

7. Hand sanitise. 

When we're meant to be keeping all those makeup brushes clean, it makes sense to have clean hands too. As someone with OCD, I'm biased towards hand sanitiser anyway... I hyperventilate a little when I can't find it in my bag. Lol. I do try to use it though to give my blemish prone skin the best possible chance. I make sure I keep some on hand in my makeup bag, and I also have it on my desk at work - if you're a serial face toucher like me then it's worth having around. 

8. Check areas that need hydrating by leaving moisturisers/hydrating masks to soak. 

A skincare specialist told me this one. Instead of just slapping on moisturisers and hydrating masks, it's good to keep an eye on how they're being absorbed.  The areas that suck moisture up the quickest are apparently the ones that are most in need of hydration. When I tried it, it was actually my forehead and chin soaking everything up. I'd been so intent on mattifying my t-zone, that I was also drying it out like a bit of old boot leather. 

9. Sleep in braids. 

Get all von Trapp family and give yourself some overnight French braids. I mainly try to sleep in plaits as it's easier for myself in the morning - it's good for avoiding major bed head issues. I do still think it's one of the better ways to keep your hair in good nick though. I just find my hair stays a lot smoother when it hasn't been rolled about the bed. I tend to slap a whole load of leave in conditioner on before I braid it, so my hair can soak it up overnight - it really helps it stay nice and shiny!

10. Check lighting.

When your makeup looks the bomb then you see yourself in natural light and your contour is a hot mess. Killer. When possible, I try to check my makeup in different lights. I usually do this as I go, before any bronzing disasters are beyond repair. Chances are, I'm not going to get it to look perfect in every light *look at me in soft lighting with a Valencia filter only please*, but most major mishaps can be toned down with a quick lighting check. 

I'm sure some of these you'll already be sussed up on, as some are kind of obvious when you think about it?! Sometimes I find it's the obvious ones that I forget about though! 

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