Tips, Tricks and Beauty Hacks

Monday, 13 April 2015

5 Life Hacks That Will Change Your Life...

Hey there Folks,

In this crazy, chaotic day and age any little tips to make my life easier are a huge plus in my book. And so I have searched far and wide and surfed the web long and hard in order to find some handy life hacks that have changed my life and hopefully will change yours too.

I have already shared some beauty hacks and some hair hacks (although there are plenty more to come) so this time I am going to share some hacks that are more about life in general, so without further ado (I've always wanted a reason to say that, it sounds very British doesn't it? lol)

1. Re-cycle Old Candle Jars...

I don't know about you but I am certainly a candle lover, not just because they make my home smell lovely but also because of the moods that certain scented candles can bring, whether its a cinnamon scent in the winter time to remind you of christmas or a pumpkin scent to remind you of halloween and autumn. That being said I was always reluctant to throw away some of the beautiful glass jars, thanks to this hack though that is no longer a problem, simply clean out your candle jars and re-use them for storage, I personally like to store my cotton buds or makeup brushes in mine.

2. Keep Your Books Out of The Way and on The Right Page...

From the heading on this hack you might think I have gone a little crazy (er lol), but fear not, with a little explanation it will make perfect sense (honestly). We've all had those moments when in the kitchen when the recipe book just doesn't want to behave and either closes, loses the page or is just generally in the way. Well the solution is simple just take a coat hanger (the ones that hold trousers with the little clips) and use it to keep your book on the right page and out of the way. Personally though I tend to use my iPad more than my recipe books and this hack works great for that too.

3. Prevent Necklace Tangles...

If like me you are tired of attempting to de-tangle all your necklaces then this hack is definitely for you, and all you need is a drinking straw. Just insert the chain into the straw and fasten it and no more tangles. Great for every day use or travelling.

4. Strengthen Charger Cables...

In our house we literally go through charger cables like you wouldn't believe, sometimes the kids chargers only last for a day or 2 before stopping working, so when I found this hack I was pleasantly surprised and immediately started hunting round the house for pens. All you need to do is take the tiny spring out of a pen and wrap it around the end of your charger, this will strengthen the cable considerably and (hopefully) prevent the cable from bending and breaking. 

5. Organise Your Cleaning Supplies...

The cupboard underneath my kitchen sink is literally full to bursting with various spray bottles and sponges so that I can clean my house thoroughly, and no matter how many times I tidy it up and re-organise things I always end up losing something and then dragging everything out again in order to find it. This hack however saves the day, all you need to do is buy or find a hanging shoe organiser and hang it up in your kitchen or utility room. Then put all of your cleaning supplies in the pockets and bam you're friends and family will be jealous of just how organised you are lol. And to top it off you can even use the same idea to organise sachets etc in your pantry.

I hope that you enjoy these simple life hacks and that they help make your life a little easier, I know that I will be using each and every one of these, fingers crossed the cable one will continue to work as that will certainly save me a few pennies :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Alice xoxo

Saturday, 4 April 2015

5 Hair Hacks That Will Change Your Life...

Hey there, I'm back again with some fab hair hacks that I've found and tried out, they've definitely made my life a easier and hopefully they will do the same for you.

1. Tame Those Strays...

If, like me you have the huge problem of unruly flyaway and baby hairs then this is the solution for you. Once you have styled your hair simply take a clean toothbrush (preferably one you're not going to use to brush your teeth afterwards lol) say a little hair spray directly onto the toothbrush and gently comb those stray hairs into place. You end up with perfectly chic flyaway free hair and it takes no time at all which is a huge plus in my book.

2. Keep Those Hair Grips (Bobby Pins) In Place...

This next hack is super simple and the perfect way to make any updo feel more secure and last throughout the day. Although I have really thick and slightly curly hair I have a serious problem with hair grips working their way out of my hair and disappearing to lord knows where but with this hack that is no longer a problem I have to deal with. All you need to do is cross over your hair grips when you place them in your hair, so imagining that you are creating a square, just place one grip from the bottom right corner pointing up towards the top left and then place the other from the bottom left to the top right corner, easy peasy. Also another handy tip for creating extra hold is to spray your hair grips (bobby pins) with a little hair spray before putting them in your hair which will help prevent them from slipping and make it feel even more secure.

3. No More Split Ends and Faster Growing Hair...

I have to say (and I've said it before lol) I am a huge fan of the benefits of coconut oil but until more recently I had no idea just how beneficial it is for your hair. Now as with most hair oils you do have to use it a sparingly to avoid your hair looking greasy but when applied the right way it leaves your hair smooth and silky. In order to reduce the number os split ends you have (and lets face it all of us suffer with split ends from time to time) just rub a small amount (I use roughly a pea sized amount) between your fingers and rub it into the ends of your hair, you can do this on wet or dry hair but personally I see more of a difference when I use it on wet hair. As an added benefit coconut oil is also supposed to help your hair grow faster (which makes sense if you think about the fact that it makes your hair healthier) and my hair certainly seems to be growing quicker than normal. Before I started to use coconut oil to treat my hair it was badly damaged and full of split ends and so I ended up cutting a good 4 inches off the length, however now you can't tell at all so I recently started to comb some of the coconut oil through my eyelashes and eyebrows using a spooly in the hopes of encouraging growth there too. 

4. Quick And Easy No Heat Curls...

I am looking for different methods of curling my hair but I find that most of the no heat methods involve attempting to sleep on a head full of lumps and bumps and a night full of tossing and turning while you arrange and rearrange your curlers/socks/bandanas into a position that you can lay on comfortably, which for a light sleeper like myself is near impossible. So when I found this hair hack I just about jumped for joy. There are 2 ways of doing these beautiful curls but they both start with your hair in a high ponytail, which means no more tossing and turning as your curls are on the top of your head lol. So, starting with your hair in a high ponytail dampen your hair, (just barely as if your hair is too wet the curls will fall out) then take a hair donut and pull your ponytail through the centre, from there all you need to do is wrap your hair around the donut taking it round the donut and then through the hole in the centre and repeat until you run out of hair. Or alternatively you can take roughly 1 inch sections (larger if you want bigger curls) and wrap the hair around your fingers from the end upwards and pin in place at the base of your ponytail (this method is the one that works the best for me). When you wake up you'll have beautiful curls and hopefully no more tossing and turning. 

5. DIY Detangling Spray...

I don't know about you but my hair seems to be a tangle magnet but why spend money on a pricey de-tangling spray when you have all the ingredients to make your own in your bathroom cabinet? all you need to do is mix one part conditioner with 2 parts water into a spray bottle and just like that you have your own fab de-tangling spray and your hair will be silky smooth and knot free. So save your money and make your own, or better yet use the money you've saved and buy a new lips instead, you know you want to. 

5 Beauty Hacks I can't live without...

Hey there, today and hopefully every week i'm going to share with you 5 tips, tricks or beauty hacks that have either saved my life in a pinch or that I have learned from various places over the years. The main thing to remember though is that although these may work for me everyone is different and theres no guarantee that they will work for everyone.
phew now thats out of the way how about we get started?

1. Longer Lasting Perfume...

If like me you find that your perfume just falls flat after a little while meaning you either seriously need to re-apply or run the risk of smelling like you've taken dumpster diving a little too seriously, then this is the hack for you. All you need to do is apply a small amount of vaseline or chapstick to the areas where you apply your perfume and your perfume will last that much longer. This is definitely a hack that has saved my skin or rather other peoples noses on more than one occasion.

2. Save Your Dried Out Mascara...

Now most of you girls (or guys) know that when your mascara dries out too much thats pretty much a death sentence for said mascara. However, now you can give that old clumpy mascara a new lease of life by simply placing the tube in a cup of hot water (not boiling but not too cold either) for around 5 minutes. With this hack theres no need to throw away your favourite tube of mascara just heat it up and your good to go. Although, I've got to say that there is a down side to this tip as you lose the excuse to get some more mascara.

3. Mattify That Glossy Lip

I am most definitely a self confessed lipstick addict, I love all the different shades and the way that you can completely change a look just by using a different coloured lippy. That being said i am not the kind of woman who can pull off a glossy lip, I don't know what it is but I just prefer the look of matte lipsticks. However anyone who loves a matte lip will know that there are serious limitations when it comes to matte lipstick choices, so when I found a hack to make "any" lipstick matte I just about jumped up for joy. Finally I can enjoy a matte lip without the lipstick envy that comes along with it. All you need to do for this hack is apply your lipstick as normal (any shade would work) then take a tissue and hold it over your lips, then all you need to do is tap some translucent powder (using a makeup brush) through the tissue and on to your lips. Voila instant matte lipstick.

4. Create a Sharp Eyeshadow Look and Perfect Wing

This particular hack is one I use pretty often as it just makes things so much easier. If you struggle to create a sharp line with your eyeshadow or maybe can't seem to get a nice straight wing to your liner, then this hack right here is your life saver. All you need to do is take a small piece of tape (I prefer to use craft tape or cheaper sellotape as it's less sticky), line the tape up with your lower lash line making sure to follow the curve of your eye and aim up towards your eyebrow and then do your eyeshadow as normal. When you come to do your wing you just need to follow the edge of the tape. When you're done simply remove the tape, touch up your foundation and your done and have mastered the perfect wing to your liner.

5. Turn Your Kohl Liner into Gel

Okay so I have a serious problem with eyeliner, I just feel completely naked without it, weird I know lol. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with kohl eyeliner, in fact it's great for perfecting a sultry smokey eye or a soft makeup look. But when doing a winged liner look or you just want a perfect black liner then this hack is here to help. All you need is a kohl liner and a lighter, take the eyeliner and hold it close to (but not touching) the flame until you can see it change consistency and look a little like it's melting (you don't need to hold it there for long just a second or so) wait for it to be cool enough that it won't burn you and apply as normal. Just like that you've turned your greyish black kohl liner into a super black gel liner...Perfect.

Okay folks so there you have my 5 beauty hacks for today I will of course share more tips, tricks and hacks with you and I hope to see you again soon...

Alison