18 Beauty Tricks I Wish I Knew When I Was 18
11. Shampoo Build-up? Reach for the Apple Cider Vinegar
One organic beauty staple you'll find in all the organic beauty books and Websites is apple cider vinegar. There's simply nothing better to add shine and life back into your limp locks. Apple cider vinegar can be used daily or just a couple times a week to remove product build-up on your hair. It smells kind of funny (although some people claim they love the smell, but hey, these people probably also love patchouli) so I suggest applying it BEFORE you shampoo. I also recommend shampooing with a mild baby shampoo that doesn't include sulfates, the wicked witch of hair products.
The recipe is ridiculously simple, which is my kind of recipe: put 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup water in a spray bottle. Give it a shake. Spray on the roots of hair and your scalp in the shower. Massage the apple cider vinegar into scalp (this is also good for combating dandruff) and then spray more on the hair itself, massaging it into hair with your hands. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before washing it out with a gentle baby shampoo.
You can use this rinse daily until your hair appears shinier.
See more hair mask recipes in Hair Mask Recipes: Homemade Hair Rinses & Hair Masks
12. Buffing Lasts Longer Than Nail Polish
My fingernails always chip quickly because I am a fidgety person by nature. And then because I'm also a busy person who can live with nasty chipped nail polish, I tend to go far too long between manicures. This is not cool when one is a beauty writer by trade.
Hence, my addiction and supreme love for buffing. Buffing is the beauty editor's secret. You get shiny, gorgeous nails without the hassle of nail polish (and let's face it, nail polish is full of nasty stuff that you may not want flowing into your blood system).
It can cost about $5 or more than getting polish, but buffing lasts a super long time and is a popular choice among my natural, organic-loving friends.
13. Lip Liner: The Secret to Long-lasting Lip Color
To keep your lip color lasting as long as possible, first fill in your lips with lip liner. Even when the lipstick or gloss wears off, the liner will stick around for awhile, making your color last much longer.
14. Wear Sunscreen Every Day Rain or Shine
I started wearing sunscreen every single day -- rain or shine -- when I was 30 but I wish I had started this habit when I was younger. Sun damage is the No. 1 cause of premature aging.
15. Double Up on Your Makeup Product Duty
Why buy a ton of products when some work double duty. For example, you can use eyeshadow as eyeliner by wetting a eyeliner brush and dipping it in your shadow. Instead of buying both a foundation and a sunscreen, get a foundation that has SPF. BB creams pack in a tint, sunscreen and anti-aging properties all in one product. And I love Bobbi Browns pot de creme, which can be used as both lip color and blush.
16. If You Can Only Choose One Makeup Product, Choose...
If you don't have time to put on a full face of makeup and you had only oe product to choose, I'd select a bright lip color. It will add pop to your face in a way that no other single makeup product can, including mascara.
17. Wear Scrubbing Gloves in the Shower
I have used scrubbing gloves in the shower since 1997 when my friend Susan introduced me to the concept. You simply pour onto your gloves a liquid cleanser and scrub the dead skin off your body. You're left with silky, smooth skin.
18. Cleanse Your Face Every Night
I have cleansed my face almost every single night since I started wearing makeup and my skin is in great shape. I just can't imagine going to bed with a day's worth of impurities and skin-clogging foundation and sunscreen on my skin. For this same reason, I always brush my teeth at night.