Handy Dandy: How to Make Lip Color Last

 

 

Here are some tips to make that pout last throughout the day...

 

 

#1 - Prime lips (this primer is my go-to).

 

#2 - Trace & fill in your lips with lipliner that matches your lipstick.

 

#3 - Apply lipstick straight from the tube or use a lip brush (like this one).

 

#4 - Blot lips with tissue & set color with a dust of translucent powder (I have been using this one but any one will do).

 

#5 - Reapply a second coat of lipstick and you're good to go!

 

 

Image via.

Handy Dandy: Homemade Facial Toner

 

Homemade Facial Toner for normal to dry skin

 

 

Ingredients:

 

  

• 1/2 Cup Lemon juice
• 1 Cup Water
• 2/3 Cup Witch hazel (can purchase at any drug store)
• Plastic bottle or jar
• 2 Tablespoons of alcohol (for oily skin)*

 

 

 

Mix ingredients together.

Wash face & apply toner with cotton pad all over face.

Apply moisturizer.

 

 

via

Handy Dandy: Kool-Aid Lip Stain

I found this amazing DIY tutorial on The Beauty Department the other day and thought it was genius! For just a fraction of the price, you can make your own yummy lip stain using Kool-Aid...any flavor will do! Now there's another use for that sweet powdery goodness. :)

 

 

Check out the tutorial here.

 

 

*Image

Hnady Dandy: How to Fix Broken Eyeshadow

 

 

Ever come across this in your makeup vanity and think that it's now meant for the trash? You can salvage your broken eyeshadow and keep them in rotation!

 

 

Scoop all remnants of your broken shadow into a separate bowl.

 

Crush remnants until you are left with a finely ground powder.

 

Slowly add rubbing alcohol in, creating a paste. Be careful not to add too much!

 

Stir/mix the paste until it's even throughout and add back into your eyeshadow container.

 

Set aside for a few hours so paste shadow settles.

 

Gently press paper towel on shadow to absorb any extra moisture and to help mold shadow into place, if necessary.

 

Voila! You saved your eyeshadow!

 

 

Handy Dandy: How to Stretch Shoes

Want to stretch out shoes that are just a bit too tight?

 

You will need just one plastic sandwich bag for each shoe, water and your freezer!

 

 

 

Fill up plastic sandwich bags with water, just about half way.

Squeeze out any excess air and seal bag.

Insert this bags into your shoes and freeze overnight.

The newly formed ice block will stretch out your shoes as it expands.

Allow the ice to defrost for a few minutes so you can gently ease the bag out of your shoes (be careful not to 'rip' the bags out).

Try on and repeat steps if necessary.

 

 

 

I have done this several times and it has stretched out my shoes to just the right fit!

 

 

 

*Photo via.

Handy Dandy: How to Whiten Your Nails

If you follow me on Instagram - @theprettyfactor - then you have seen more than a few different shots of the manicures I give myself at home. But those bright colors can often leave a stain behind on your nails when it's time for a redo.

 

Here is an easy at home remedy to clean up your nails and keep them white.

 

 

You will need:

Peroxide, hand soap and a shallow bowl

 

 

 

Remove all nail polish.

 

Fill the bowl half-way with peroxide, making sure that both hands can submerge evenly.

 

Soak nails in the peroxide for about ten minutes.

 

Remove hands and wash thoroughly.

 

 

*Tips via Ehow.com

Handy Dandy: Buttons + Earrings

Lots of loose earrings in your collection?

 

Reuse those extra buttons you have lying around to keep your earrings together in pairs - just slip each individual earring into the hole and voila! Each earring is now connected with it's mate until the next use!

 

 

 

*Photo via Elle.com

Handy Dandy: Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

With the summer heat and humidity affluent during this time of year, it's super important to keep our lips hydrated and free from cracks. Who doesn't love a smooth and soft pout?

There are so many lip scrubs and polishes out in the market (I have been dying to try this one & this one for awhile now!) but you can save some dollars by pulling together some ingredients that can be found right in your kitchen!

Check out this recipe for an easy, homemade brown sugar lip scrub!

*Photo via.

Handy Dandy: Homemade Hair Mask

Hydrating Avocado Hair Mask:

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado (no skin)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon of aloe gel (this is optional, but you should add it if you have it)

Instructions

1. In a medium sized bowl, mash the avocado up like your making guacamole (a ripe avocado and a fork are ideal).
2. Combine the rest of the ingredients into the mashed up avocado and mix until it forms a thick paste.
3. Apply mixture directly from bowl onto dry hair as you would normal conditioner and let is set for 30 minutes and then rinse.

*Hair mask found here.

Handy Dandy: How to Remove Stains from China

Have stained china on your table?

Mix up a paste of baking soda, lemon juice & cream of tarter...

then rub those coffee or tea stains away!

Handy Dandy: How to Keep Cottage Cheese Fresh

Here's a tip to keep your cottage cheese last even longer - store the container upside down in your refrigerator. This helps in slowing down the effects of the oxidation process!

Handy Dandy: Drying with Tennis Balls

Throwing a few tennis balls into your dryer machine will help give your items a good fluff! Try this with any laundry load but this works exceptionally well when drying comforters, towels, coats and even pillows!

The tennis balls also help dry your loads in less time which in turn can help cut down your electricity bill!

For more info on how tennis balls can help with your drying cycle, go here!

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Handy Dandy: Freeze then Grate!

To help make the grating process a bit easier, freeze your block of cheese an hour before you plan to grate it. This will help make the cheese hard enough to grate yet it won't ruin the taste or texture!

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Handy Dandy: How to 'Fix' Burnt Rice

Ended up with burnt rice?

Just place a slice of bread over the burnt areas for 5-10 minutes -

the bread will draw out the burnt flavor from the rice making it good as new...almost! ;)

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Handy Dandy: How to "Unstick" Drinking Glasses

Have a few drinking glasses that need to be "unstuck" from each other?

Sit the outer glass in hot water and fill the inner glass with cold water.

The cold water will cause the inner glass to contract, while the hot water will cause the outer glass to expand thus allowing you to "unstick" your glasses!

Handy Dandy: DIY Candle Holder

Take one narrow vase + a few rubber bands randomly placed + spray paint =

one super easy, fancy looking candle holder!

I have a couple of these vases stored away in a cabinet somewhere, but now I know exactly what I am going to do with them!

*Via my Pinterest

Handy Dandy: Sugar + Batter

Adding a little bit of sugar to your batter will help make your waffles (or pancakes!) brown more quickly!

Handy Dandy: Make a 'Grippy' Hanger

Tired of your blouses sliding off your hangers? Use a hot glue gun to create a 'grippy' hanger! Just apply glue in a zig-zag pattern and your tops will stay put!

Handy Dandy: How to Get Rid of Bruises Faster

Want to reduce the darkness of your bruise & get rid of it faster?

Just mix warm water with white vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in the mix and apply to the bruised area! The vinegar increases blood flow to the surface of the skin so it helps in alleviating the pooled blood in the bruised area.

Handy Dandy: 'Un-Vanilla' Baking Tip

Baking chocolate cakes?

Use the dry chocolate cake mix (or cocoa powder) to "flour" your baking dish and you won't have any white powder mess on the sides!