Getting dressed for a night out on the town can be an expensive proposition if you are a student with limited funds or a working woman struggling to make ends meet. After all that time, effort and money spent on getting the right ensemble together, you wouldn’t want to skimp on makeup. After all, the last thing you want to do is to go out with all those lines, marks and blemishes plainly visible for all to see. However, buying make up can put a dent in your pocket that you may not be able to afford. So what is the solution?
Simple! There are many remedies for marks and blemishes available at home that can be used in lieu of makeup. Simple ingredients from the kitchen and the bathroom medicine cabinet can be used as a substitute for lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow and face powder. All you need are the correct recipe and the procedure to make them.
Let us first look at lip care. Several foods contain natural colors that are quite effective at staining your lips. Some of the most effective are beets, Jell-O, Kool-Aid and colored fruits such as berries. Any of these foods can be mashed and applied to your lips with a Q-tip to give it color. However, a more effective way would be to mash up the food and mix it with a bit of petroleum jelly before applying it. Lipstick made from beets will last the longest. For the best results, first outline your lips with beet juice and then apply the mixture, taking care not to go beyond the outlines. You can vary the shade as per your preferences by mixing it with extra petroleum jelly. If you prefer the matte look, try mixing the beet with beeswax instead.
Vitamin E capsules make a great lip gloss. All you have to do is to prick a hole in one end of the capsule, squeeze out its contents and apply them to your lips. The vitamin E will also moisturize and protect your lips so make sure that you have a few of these capsules in your handbag before leaving the house.
Applying anything around your eyes will have to be done carefully so as not to irritate them. For making eye shadow, you will need some powdered food dye that can be bought at any cooking store. Mix a pinch of the food color that you prefer and mix it with some non-scented baby powder till you get the shade of your choice. Mix this powder with some petroleum jelly and apply it around your eyes. Avoid using powdered herbs that may irritate your skin or eyes.
Face powder can be substituted with unscented baby powder. Apply a little onto your face by pressing it on with a powder puff. Gently dust off the excess powder unless you prefer that chalky look so loved by vampire buffs. Cheek color can be prepared in a similar manner to homemade lipstick by mixing some mashed beets, Jell-O or Kool-Aid with petroleum jelly and applying it to your cheeks. Even dabbing on some lipstick and blending it into your skin will prove effective.
For skin care, there are a number of products that you can use that will keep your skin moisturized, giving it a soft and supple feel. One method is to apply fresh cream to your skin and leave it on for half an hour before bathing. For treating acne, try mixing 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water and adding a few drops of tea tree oil to the mixture. This can be applied to your and acts as a pH toner and balancer.
Practice making and applying these products so that you can achieve the desired results. Once you have mastered them, you will be ready to go out and party!