May 15 Get It Pretoria 2524 Get It Pretoria May 15

Get Gorgeous

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minutes 5 toNo time? No problem. Here are 10 quick and easy beauty hacks to get you from drab to fab in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.

fabulous

Solution: No time to wash your hair? Sprinkle a

little baby powder onto your scalp and scrunch into your roots. Leave for 2-3 minutes to let the powder absorb the oil, then comb through your hair to get rid of any extra powder and to blend it into your hair. For dark hair, mix a sprinkle of unsweetened (important, or you’ll end up with sticky hair) cocoa powder into the baby powder so that it blends easier into your hair.

Oily hair1

6 Flat, limp hairSolution: If you

haven’t heard of a sock bun before, prepare to be

amazed. Take an old sock, preferably one that’s close to your hair colour, and cut the toe off. Roll the sock up, and put in your hair as if you were tying it up in a ponytail. Pull the rolled up sock to the ends of your hair, then tuck the hair around the side and into the centre of the bun. Rotate the sock as you roll it down to the base of the ponytail so that it is completely covered by your hair. Fix with another elastic if need be, and voila, a chic, voluminous bun that suits any occasion.

2 Tired-looking eyes

Solution: Brighten up your eyes and erase the weekend’s partying by applying shimmer eyeshadow in a champagne or silvery hue to the inner corners of the eyes. This will help give you a more wide-awake look. Using white liner to line your eyes can also help open them up and make your eyes appear larger.

3 Dull skinSolution: Exfoliation is the best way to get your

skin glowing again. This will get rid of the dead skin cells stopping you from looking your best, along with any other toxin or product build-up. Out of product? Make your own exfoliation mask with a little brown sugar and olive oil. Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, which soothes and repairs skin, while brown sugar gently clears the skin of dead skin cells, and contains glycolic acid, a powerful compound that helps expel toxins and bacteria as well as moisturise skin.

4 Smudged nailsSolution: You don’t

have to redo the entire nail; just dip your finger or a cotton

bud into a little nail polish remover and rub gently over the area in a circular motion. Be sure to rub very gently, as you don’t want to remove all the polish from the area; you just want to blend it in and get rid of the bump that smudged polish usually leaves. Paint over the nail again and seal with a clear top coat.

5 Can’t perfect your cat-eye

Solution: We all know how frustrating it can be when you just can’t get that line looking right. To get the angle perfect, use your credit card to form a roughly 45-degree angle from the outer corner of your upper lash line to the outer corner of your brow. Sweep liner along the upper lash line and as far past the corner of the eye as you like, using the top of the card as a guide.

Solution: There’s nothing worse than a chic, dark lip that’s faded and smeared an hour after being applied. Give your lipstick a base to stick to by applying your regular foundation over your lips. If you're wearing a bold lip colour, make sure you apply lip liner to create a barrier and prevent bleeding. Line your lips, then fill them in with the liner as well – the liner gives the lipstick another layer of colour to stick to. Apply lipstick over the liner for intense colour and long-lasting wearability.

7 Lipstick that fades and bleeds

The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.

– Coco Chanel

8 You’ve run out of shaving gel

Solution: If you find yourself stranded in the shower without any shaving gel, repurpose your shampoo or conditioner and use it on your legs. The richer formula of the products will actually soften your skin better than regular shaving gel. Since it’s not originally intended for shaving though, you need to clean your razor thoroughly afterwards, as the shampoo/conditioner could build up and it may mean you need to replace your razor sooner than expected.

Solution: Get wet to get dry. It’s not ideal, but when you’re in a pinch and you really don’t want to have to redo your manicure, dunking your nails in ice-cold water will help them dry faster. Let your nails air-dry for at least two minutes (or as long as you possibly can), then submerge them in a bowl of ice-cold water for three minutes. The cold water freeze-dries the polish, sealing and hardening it quicker.

9 No time to let your nails dry

10 No time for a full face of make-up

Solution: Downsize your beauty regime by using multipurpose products. Use a tinted moisturiser, which covers SPF, moisturiser and foundation, to smooth your skin tone and give you an even base. Swipe some cream blush over your cheeks and use for lips as well to get that healthy glow, and give your lashes a quick flick of mascara to finish off. You’re ready to go in under five minutes.