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The little things that make a BIG difference

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm really interested to know the your little secrets when it comes to style and beauty, you know the type that cost peanuts but gives great results. Care to share?

Mine? I had those annoying little bumps at the back of the arms which made my skin look like corned beef. I tried all types of exfoliaters (some cheap, some not so cheap) and even tried sea salt and olive oil and nothing worked. Until I as given one of these as part of a gift set and the results are incredible.
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-.....nge_12628/

Over to you

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44 replies

Latest reply was from LeahJanes

Stephanie

Veteran

well, this isn't really 'peanuts', but I have a new leave-in hair product (Coppola Keratin Rx) and a vitamin supplement for hair (Biosil). Together they have made a world of difference in my fine hair, which has been my biggest 'grooming' problem for years. Neither one is cheap, but divided out over use they are not bad (probably $5 a week or so)--and compared to the hundreds and hundreds of dollars I have spent on products/services that have not done anything, they're a great deal.

Inge

(website)

This is probably not a 'secret' at all: I used to buy body scrubs quite often, now I just make my own: sugar mixed with a little olive oil (you can add your favourite essential oil to make it smell great). It works as good as the store-bought scrubs and costs a lot less.

Warning: do not use salt instead of sugar. Well you can, I did once too, but I can tell you one thing: if you have even the tiniest scratch on you, you'll know immediately. Ouch!!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

For exfoliation with body washes I use http://www.amazon.com/White-Ex.....d_sbs_bt_4 otherwise the bodywash leaves me feeling slick and not exactly clean. I find them for $1.50 at drugstores on sale. Love 'em. Once I tried them over 10 years ago there was no going back.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

After I make my espresso in one of these, I take the used coffee from the filter section, then exfoliate my hands and finish off with rubbing some lemon juice in. Then I take tiny bit of whatever cream is lying around the kitchen and my hands feel fab.

AJ

Veteran

I apply more coats of mascara to the outer 1/3 of my top lashes. It just seems to open up the eyes more.

I tweeze my brows directly after a shower. It's less painful.

I use small clear elastic hair bands to hold the extra flap on my belt.

Bracelets can help extend the length of a necklace.

If you have an interesting, detachable purse strap, try it as a necklace or belt. I've also used long necklaces as belts as well.

Big lightweight scarves can also become a fun swimsuit sarong and vice versa.

Some of my tanks are just a tad bit frustatingly low in front, so I wear it backwards.

I like to look at decorating mags for color combo inspirations for my outfits.

I use a pumice stone on my heels while in the shower.

Keep perfume in the fridge during the summer months for a nice cool spritz.

AJ

Veteran

R&J - I have those bumps too and I noticed a big difference when I started using a washcloth to apply soap instead of just my hands.

catgirl

Veteran

Moroccan hair oil. LOVE. But not for peanuts.

For peanuts, vitamin E oil from the local grocery store.

Vani

Veteran

Exfoliating bath gloves. About $3 on an average. I used to spend a good amount getting my legs waxed one to two times a month because shaving left me with nasty ingrown hairs. The lady who waxed suggested I use exfoliating gloves everyday in the shower. I went from more than 10 to 0 ingrown hairs in about a month and now have no problems shaving regularly for over a year now. It means SO much that I am finally able to wear dresses and skirts all the time, esp in Florida!

Louise

Veteran

Ooo good tip Vani, I get ingrown hairs from waxing too x

kellygirl

Veteran

Great thread! DD loves Moroccan hair cream. Wish it wasn't so dern expensive though. DD's both have bumpy patches on the back of their arms. I could never figure out what they were but I guess they need a better exfoliator than a wash cloth. I'm going to check out those nifty gloves.

Me, I bought one of those files from the beauty supply store--it's steel with holes in it. It works better than a pumice for filing down calluses on my feet.

Elizabeth

Maybelline eyeliner pencil and a cheap, matte eyeshadow that matches my hair color. Without make-up, my eyebrows are invisible. I pencil in some feathery lines, smudge with a flat eyeshadow brush. Then I dab the brush in the shadow and lightly dab some on top of the smudged penciled in brows. The combination of the two looks quite life-like. It takes a light touch, a little goes a log way.

Aida

Veteran

I get my brows waxed every 1-2 months; clean brows are an absolute must with my nearly-no-makeup face and I hate tweezing. I've been seeing the same gal for over 5 years now

I gently exfoliate my face daily in the shower. I also use a shower poof so I don't have to exfoliate body as often, but usually do it once a month.

I also use a pumice stone on my feet in the shower, usually weekly and more in the summer.

I dislike shaving and with dark dark hair and light see-through skin it was pretty useless. So I use an epilator on my legs/armpits. Collectively takes as much time as shaving but lasts far longer (especially for pits!). I'm very prone to ingrown hairs though, so I have to exfoliate far more often right after doing it.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

hehe my best tip is to get your brother to fall in love with a lovely beauty therapist LOL Having a professional on tap for me to text or call whenever I want to ask a question, or to give me samples, discounts and little lessons, has made the biggest impact on my beauty regime!

Blinc mascara and lash primer, along with either tinted lip balm or lip gloss are the only two things I wear every single day now and even those two things make quite a difference.

The other BIG thing I discovered quite by chance this week was that simply wearing a skirt over my usual shorts instantly lifts me about a million %.

My girls have those bumps on their arms too - I have never really known what to do about them... I wonder if a super light exfoliation on 6 & 4 yr old skin would be ok? I would hate to do anything too harsh on their lovely delicate skin...

Louise

Veteran

I'm loving everyone's tips. Kellygirl I love morrocan hair oil too, expensive but I've had my bottle since last April and I'm still only half way down! x

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Ah, so many of us have the arm bumps! I wonder if Inge's sugar scrub would gently enough for the little ones. Thanks for sharing ladies.

I have to admit my life has been simplified by wearing just lipstick and mascara most days.

Morrocain hair products really have me curious now.

Louise

Veteran

Julie I spotted a light morrocan oil the other day which is for lighter hair as the regular stuff can leave dark deposits x

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Darn it Julie, this is driving me nuts - There is a name for those arm bumps ... I used to have them when I was younger ... will keep thinking!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and here's my tip: to keep my hands soft in the winter, I slather them in olive oil (or jojoba oil, works just as well) and put on a pair of fleece gloves. Then I go out for a walk! When I come home the gloves are yuck, but my hands are amazing. And, it seems to make my nails strong too.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

The arm bumps are Keratosis Pilaris
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pu.....PMH0002433
Both my kids have this. It was explained to me as basically eczema of the hair follicle.

An

I'm loving this thread.

FWIW, my naturopath tells me the arm bumps are due to an Essential Fatty Acid deficiency. ??

My hairdresser used morrocan oil last time I was there and I really loved it. It is expensive so good to know it lasts a long time Louise.

I love Cetaphil gentle cleanser - is indeed very gentle and non-irritating on the skin and very inexpensive.

Barbara

Veteran

My favorite: Wet N Wild Kohl Brow Eyeliner Pencils, Dark Brown 652 and Taupe 648. Because I am fair-skinned and my hair is dark ash blond, I blend the colors to subtly shape my brows. $1.00 each at Target. Excellent and cheap. Yes, I have multiples!

Lisa

Veteran

My cheap beauty tip, I use my toothbruch to exfoliate my lips. Keeps them soft an even application of lipstick or gloss. Especially in the winter when lips can crack easily.

Mac

Veteran

- I used to buy more expensive makeup but now I check the reviews at "makeupalley.com" and thanks to them have discovered lots of wonderful drugstore brands that look just as good and cost a fraction of the price
- dermatologist suggested Lac-Hydrin (moisturizer that can be found in drugstores) for the KP on the back of my arms. You have to use it daily but it works like a charm and not too expensive
- I rip out those perfume strip samples from my magazines and lay them flat, facing up, in my bra drawer. Every time I put on a clean bra, I get a faint whiff of a pretty smell

Arya

(website)

Where does one get Moroccan Hair Oil? Is there a brand to look for? I want!

Isabel

Veteran

What a great thread !!!! Thanks for starting it R&J and to all those with great ideas.

I heard Sharon Stone say ( many, many years ago ) that if you have some eyebrow hairs coming in and you don't have time to pluck, swipe some concealer under your brow. I do this and love it !

Also, when dyeing my hair, I use a tooth brush to "comb" along my hairline to get all the finer hair. ( It also allows you to get really close to the root. )

Deb

There are some really great tips here - I've copied and pasted like mad! Here are a couple more:

* I line my inner eyelids, top and bottom, with a good coating of kohl pencil or other soft pencil liner. I then *squeeeeeze* my eyes shut, very tightly, and open. The liner will have pushed through the lashes - then I use a Q-tip to carefuly wipe away all residue from my inner lids. It adds subtle definition w/o obvious lines.

* I embellish the occasional necklace with a wired-back earring. The necklace should have some heft to it - not be a thin chain - so that the wire itself isn't obvious. You need to play around to see what works - I will sometimes shop earrings specifically with this in mind. Looks particularly good with pearls.

Patty

Veteran

Those bumps on the back of your arms is keratosis pilaris--and a nuisance! We've got here too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris

Lynne

Veteran

it's not peanuts...Geurlain make a lipbase called Liplift. It looks like a foundation stick, you put it on before lipstick. It makes your lipstick,even glosses, last for ages and is a wonderful lip conditioner. The tube lasts for ages, and I get every last bit out with a brush. My friend worked at the Christian Dior counter in a department store and told me all the cosmetic staff were using this, no matter which company they represented :).

mamaKate

Veteran

I'm with Theresa - a mother-in-law who is a dermatologist!

Another "secret" is to wash my short hair only once every 3 days - for the first couple of weeks, the hair is oily, but after that it takes on such a nice texture and body, no products needed!

Third one - Vaseline at night on the cuticles, eliminates hangnails and keeps my nails strong and even.

Final one - sheer hose hide all manner of imperfections, especially when I haven't shaved my legs.

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