Beauty Tips I Wish I Knew Years Ago

Do you recall the first time you ever applied make-up? I'm not talking about the short lived dalliances with the contents of your mother's make-up bag (I used to line my lips with my Mother's khol pencil), but your first real, grown up effort. The first time you gave blending a go and perhaps your first flirtation with liner?

I do and let me tell you it was not a path tread all that smoothly. There was (and still is) many mishaps mostly with overly orange foundation and crudely blended eyeshadow; much like anything practise makes perfect and if you have a helpful friend, relative or co-worker, the whole process becomes so much easier, which leads me to today's post.

I want to know what the best pieces of beauty advice you have received are, the beauty secrets or tips you'd let 15/16 year old you in on - y'know the little tid bits of advice that changed how you look at cosmetics forever.

I've mentioned it several times now (one more time for those at the back) but the quick and easy trick of applying dry shampoo to my hair before bed, really has revolutionised my hair care game. By doing so, not only is every trace of the often ashy, powder based residue gone by the morning, as is the excess grease and any lingering reminders of city life, but I awaken to more volume than I could ever need. I now have no need for a teasing comb - good times, not to mention less hair breakage.

Another "don't knock it until you've tried it" tip, is using sticky tape or a bank card to apply liquid liner. Simply attach or line up in the case of the card to the outer eye, use the edge to mark in a perfectly angled, sharp flicks and fill in. Simple. I'm more than certain there will be several tutorials putting this very "hack" into action. The only problem I have found is that by using tape it can remove your foundation so I do tend to use an old bank card.

A friend with beyond perfect eyebrows told me to take a few steps away from the mirror when filling in my brows. Why? Well rather observantly, she noted that very few people see you truly up close and personal; by standing back you will more accurately see what others notice and perhaps be a little less self critical? I'm still at that less than wonderful stage of taming my brows but I did think it was a great mantra none the less.

My pointers may not be ground breaking but I do wish I had them in my arsenal in my teen years, life may just have been a little easier. Much like a game of pass the parcel, I'm asking you to share one (or a few) beauty tips that you would like to bestow upon other beauty lovers. Hey we are in this together, one un-blended eyeshadow at a time...