Stylemate - Cheat's Guide

Drop a dress size safely

2009-02-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

Let me say, I am NOT an advocate of the crash diet...but to help you on your way and to make a good difference early - i've been told by a dietition that Celebrity Slim is the way to go. It's the 7 day shake/soup combo that's meant to be a real corker and work wonders in the initial weightloss department. It's $41.99 from Woolies....

Make-up in a minute

2008-06-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

If you only have a minute to spare, concealer is the one thing you shouldn’t skip. Here’s why you should use it and how to get it right. A common misconception is that concealer is designed to cover blemishes. It’s not. It is an instant brightener and should shrug off the tired look after a long and deep or broken sleep. A good concealer is smooth, creamy and yellow-toned. The right shade of concealer is just a hint lighter than your natural skin tone or your foundation. The first place to apply it is around your eyes. Starting at the inner corner, lightly dab it with your ring finger down towards your nose at the base of the eye socket – just above your cheekbones. Then fan the concealer up and out towards your bottom lashes. If you just apply it straight underneath your lashes, it will get caught in your laugh lines and age you instantly. Instead, divert attention away from the lines by brightening above the cheek area. You could also apply some colour to the corners of your mouth and sides of your nose, around the nostril. This brings them are out of shadow, making your lips appear fuller and your creases beside your nose less deep. Mascara should definitely be next - but throw that into your bag for later. Remember, you should learn to be a magician when it comes to applying make-up. Less is more should be your mantra.

Fast track to fuller lips

2008-05-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

take a lip pencil int he same shade as your lips and draw around the edges of your mouth. Don't draw outside - scary! Taking a glossy lipcolour (since shine makes your lips look fuller) fill in your lips. Blend the lipline and the glossy colour to ensure it looks natural. Then here's the trick. Take a white or pearl shimmer powder and dab it on the cupids bow and in ht ecentre of hte bototm of your lips. Use your finger to dab some more gloss over the top and voila! Fat lips in no time.

Lose 10lbs in 10 secs

2008-04-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

As the ad for Miraclesuit control wear says, "Lose 10lbs in 10 seconds". I'm not kidding, you can't breathe, or eat or drink while you're wearing them, but beleive me - you will look slimmer. It's like a full body corset.

Bejewelled

2008-04-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

If you only buy yourself one thing this season - then let it be a gorgeous piece of real jewellery. It doesn't matter what it is - but if you wanted to be "on trend" then you'd probably purchase a cuff for your wrist - although this could be a pricey choice. I always wear four gold bangles that were my grandmothers and my husband knows that if he's lost for a gift idea - he can pick up a bangle or a chain and I'll be chuffed. They are my signature, they are meaningful and they surpass fashion.

Blow fast

2008-03-24T17:10:00.001-07:00

The fastest way to blow dry your hair is to ditch the flat paddle brush in favour of a large vented round one. Air can circulate around a vented hairbrush which means you can dry more hair faster - reducing your time infront of the mirror - which means, more time in bed!

Make-up under spectacles

2008-03-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked how to wear eye make-up if you wear spectacles. It's really simple. Try and match and or balance it with your spectacle frames. So, if you have outrageous frames, keep the make-up really simple. Perhaps simple kohl liner and that's it. Forget the eyeshadow and I'm told that mascara can play havoc if your glasses sit right up close to your face. Therefore steer clear. But, if your glasses are unframed, you can play up your eyes, so go for a neutral metallic shadow, volumising mascara and liner.

White wash

2008-03-20T01:23:00.000-07:00

If the need to banish greys is urgent and I mean, immediate - then break out the eyebrow pencil for the day or night. Simply colour-in the stray greys after you've styled your hair. Bear in mind tha tif you actually need to do this, then you need to colour your hair - properly...

Pony rides

2008-03-05T01:22:00.001-08:00

One of the chicest and speediest hair dos to emerge from the recent ready to wear shows is the side-parted ponytail. The pony is low-maintenance and unfussy and should look like it took just a few seconds to do. Simply blow dry or air dry your hair naturally and with minimal handling part your hair over the arch of one eyebrow. Sweep all your hair into a low pony and your done. So easy and so polished!

Quick fixes for thin, short or straight eyelashes

2008-02-24T16:33:00.000-08:00

Direct from the Maybelline NY website, which incidentally has some fabulous tips and tricks, is this one for creating luscious eyes.
"You’re not alone—very few women are happy with their eyelashes. Maybelline New York, the #1 mascara brand, has a solution for all your needs.If your lashes are thin, try a volumising formula. For natural-looking volume, try Great Lash and Full N’ Soft. Both condition lashes while creating buildable, natural-looking volume. Dial up the volume for a more dramatic look with Volum’ Express or Volum’ Express Turbo Boost. Or for bold volume with a unique comb application, try Lash Stylist.If your lashes are short, consider lengthening mascaras. New Define-A-Lash Mascara creates added natural-looking length while it defines—and no unsightly clumps! If you want our most dramatic length plus volume, your best option is XXLVolume+Length or XXL Intense Volume+Length. For a long-lasting, lengthening option, try a waterproof mascara with a long-wearing formula like Unstoppable.If your lashes are too straight, try a mascara formula that curls and lengthens lashes. Sky High Curves could be just what you need. An easy trick to boost your lash curve is to use an eyelash curler before you apply mascara or after it’s completely dry."

Size tip

2008-02-16T01:05:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are not yet Country Road devotees - beware the trouser stretch. I don't know what's going on there but everyone I know has shorts or pants or jeans that have stretched and stretched and stretched. Always try on a size smaller than you would normally wear and move around a lot in the fitting room. If you wear them long enough in store, the smaller size will stretch to fit.

Shine on

2008-02-12T22:56:00.000-08:00

All hairstylists will tell you (if you ask) that for the shiniest hair, minimise the amount of shampo you use, rinse for twice as long and do it less often. For those of you with long hair, on the days you think you really need to wash - apply conditioner instead, rinse thoroughly and wear your hair up. Better for your hair, less time consuming and keeps a little more cash in your hip pocket.

Scent sensitivity

2008-02-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

To prevent your skin from having a reaction to fragrance, don't wear the same scent every day. Sometimes, if you use the same fragrance every day and stop for a while, when you resume using it - your skin goes crazy. Apparently this is quite common. A good excuse to house a wardobe of beautiful smells.

Go for grey

2008-02-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

A really quick and easy way to have polished eyemake-up is to use dove grey. You can achieve the smoky look without your face being overwhelmed and it's perfect for day. Black, if not applied proficiently, can get a little draining. Team it with a swipe of mascara, cream blush on the apples of your cheeks, a lick of gloss and your good to go.

Dark eye lining

2008-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

Being able to apply a black eyeliner should be an indispensible part of your beauty repertoire and can be a cinch to do if you know the tricks. For starters, ditch the liquid - it's too hard to apply if you're not a professional. For a strong liquid look, go for one of the cake liners that can be dipped in water for richer texture (Laura Mercier). Invest in more forgiving shades like chocolate, khaki or plum. Make a mistake? Dip a cotton tip into a non-oily make-up remover and straighten out the line. Some make-up artists might say that rimming the entire eye makes them look small and beady. I disagree - and so would Kate Moss. rimming the eye - if applied correctly gives then immediate definition. A swipe of mascara and suddenly you're sultry.

Brighten dull skin

2008-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Following are five easy ways to revive a dull complexion:
1. Blend your foundation with a little moisturiser to ensure it doesn't feel too heavy.
2. Go overboard on the blush? Put a little tinted moisturiser on top to soften.
3. Always check your make-up in natural daylight, wipe off heavy shimmer witha damp sponge.
4. Use a boosting serum product underneath your mosituriser for an extra lift.
5. Don't underestimate the power of water. Guzzle regularly.

Grey Daze

2008-01-25T01:13:00.000-08:00

While I think of it - if you can't get to the hairdresser for a colour - there's always eyebrow pencil. Simply style your hair the way you intend to wear it - and colour in the greys with a pencil in the same shade. It's not foolproof - or longlasting. But, it will get you through the day, and night.

Feeling foul?

2008-01-22T01:08:00.000-08:00

We all wake up feeling foul some times........some of us more than others. But the fake-it-til-you-make-it adage is at an all time high in this situation. Rather than slap on sloppy clothes, whack your grubby hair into a pony tail sans brushing and then leave the house make-up free. Try the reverse. Dress slim (like the French) because it gives you a sense of your body and when you wear close fitting clothing it is hard to look sloppy. Wash and dry your hair. Don mascara, eyeliner, blush for a lift and a highly polished gloss for good fun. My friend Annette also suggests leaving thongs and trainers at the front door...Do this and I defy you to feel crumby.

Iron avoidance

2008-01-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered how you can tell whether a piece of clothing is going to wear well, when you're actually wearing it? It's easy not to look like an unmade bed. Before you buy something, take a handful of the fabric and squeeze it for about 20 seconds. If it looks like you’ve been rolling in the hay, then that’s probably how you’ll look wearing it.

Boiling point

2008-01-15T02:12:00.000-08:00

Suede is a bit of a sticking point with me - it's a nightmare to clean if it gets dirty. Never, ever wear it if you think there'll be a change in the weather. Having said that - a quick way to revive tired suede (particularly shoes) is to hold the item over a pot of boiling water (or kettle) for a few seconds. Allow it to dry then go over it with a suede brush to revitalise the nap.

Prime number

2008-01-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

A cheap and cheerful way to prime your lips is to use a good old Chapstick underneath your lipstick. The formula of this product is very waxy, which plumps and smoothes lips enabling them to retain colour longer.

Leg work

2008-01-09T19:45:00.000-08:00

The fastest way to give the illusion of longer legs is to firstly wear trousers that are flat fronted and then to wear tops layered over the trousers. So, if you want to wear a black top (on top) then choose a colour that is related, say charcoal, and wear that underneath - poking out from under the black top. What this does is shorten the waist. But, in doing so, it lengthens the leg.

Wake up call

2007-12-28T23:39:00.000-08:00

Instantly brighten up your complexion with blush. First, dust on a neutral shade of blush—start on the apple of the cheek and blend the blush upwards toward the hairline, then downwards toward your nose to soften the color. Finish with a pop of brighter blush applied just on the apples of the cheeks. I attribute this wisdom to makeup doyenne Bobbi Brown.

Eye light

2007-12-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

While it may look like an opthamologist’s nightmare, the eyelash curler is a beauty maven’s dream designed to be the fastest route to the appearance of bigger, brighter eyes. While some cosmetic aficionados would have you curl before applying mascara, I think it’s far more effective to apply mascara before attaching the contraption to your eyelashes. For a power-packed curl, heat the device with a hairdryer before using

Ironing aid

2007-12-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

To clean an iron that's become discoloured or sticky, heat it up and run it back and forth over a piece of white paper that has been liberally sprinkled with salt. Then, wipe it over with a soft white cloth (like a towel) before letting loose on your clothes.