Not too busy to be beautiful

It is true, “Every woman wants to look like themselves — just more beautiful and confident.”

But when you are a woman on the move, this can sometimes seem like a farfetched dream.

We barely have time to pick out the right outfit for the day so wearing a full face of make-up may be asking too much.

Following the beauty regimens touted in magazines and TV shows may require that a woman wakes up two hours earlier just to ensure she has her best face forward.

But let’s face it; no one wants that kind of life. And isn’t it easier to wake up, get dressed and leave without worrying about make-up or your hair?

It is, but only until you get to your appointment and while you are in the lift that you get a reflection of this person you have become...your naked face, which you have laid bare for all to see, now clearly shows the eye bags — because you went to bed late last night, your blackheads — because your hormones have been acting up lately and oh my...is that a bushy eyebrow that looks like Jim Carrey’s in Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

It’s no way to live my fellow too-busy-to-be-beautiful ladies. So how can we get ready in exactly the amount of time it takes your tea to be ready?

‘Eve Woman’ discovered a few tricks and quick fixes and with the help of some professionals in the make-up, hair and image arenas, we will ensure you don’t walk out that door looking drab, ever again. We are our sisters’ keeper.

1. HAIR

The easiest step to looking great is to ensure your hair is in tip top shape. Grace Makosewe, fashionista, image consultant and CEO of Nairobi VIP Parties agrees.

“It has to start with the personal basics.

Ensure your hair is on point and your dress is up to scratch and if you get that right, you may not need make-up... well maybe an eye pencil here, a little lipstick there and some mascara wouldn’t hurt.

When you look good, you feel great. It has to start somewhere, why not at the crown?” she says.

If you like braids then have your hair braided and if you are a weave on girl, get your weave done, but for the love of beauty, don’t stay with any of these hair additions on your head longer than you have to.

To keep your braids from looking shabby around the edges, instead of applying gel, use a moisturising organic leave-in conditioner or organic oil (none greasy) and brush it into the braids as opposed to away from the braids. That old-fashioned look of creating a faux baby hair line is not chic, plus the conditioner or oil will give your hair that much needed TLC.

If you are wearing human hair weave, and you have no time to pop into the salon or you don’t know your way around the curling iron, invest in bendy rollers.

Hairdresser Jacky Nderesi of Nailstop Salon insists they not only help prolong the shelf life of the weave (which is often damaged by heat application processes), it’s also a quick fix for women-on-the-go who cannot afford time in the salon on a weekly basis. To know more about how to use the bendy/flexi rollers, go to YouTube.

Wash your hair at least once a week and moisturise it regularly. If your hair is natural, detangle your hair with your fingers first before running a comb through it.

This will cut down on breakage and aid in growth. For a quick hairdo, add something shiny and hold your hair upwards in a bun. Even if uncombed, the headband will give it a polished finish that will look like you took time to achieve.

Tip: Try natural oils like coconut, jojoba, olive, or castor oil as well as natural shampoos and conditioners, which are great for your hair because they don’t have additives.

Trick: To keep hair from breakage, sleep on a silk or satin pillow or tie a silk headscarf; wash your hair three to five times a week with conditioner (or mild shampoo) and avoid applying heat.

2. SKIN

If you want to spend less time fussing over your skin, your goal should be to have the healthiest skin possible.

The easiest way to keep your skin healthy if you’re on-the-go is to eat right and stay hydrated.

That means drinking at least eight cups of water a day and eating foods that are anti-inflammatory and contain lots of anti-oxidants.

Think foods such as salads, bright red and green vegetables, omega 3 rich fish, avocados, olive oil and blueberries.

Your skin is a projection of what is going on internally, so obviously if you aren’t eating healthy, your skin will be the first to show.

It’s equally important to keep a skin regimen that you can quickly get into on a daily routine, it may take away five minutes of your time, but your skin will thank you in old age. Here are some of your daily go-to products - Cleanser, serum, moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blush, highlight.

Grace says, “Good foundation is worth the time and money. I wear make-up to protect my skin because, let’s face it, our sun here can be a tad harsh sometimes. I also ensure I get products with high SPF to keep the sun’s rays off my skin.

If you are a girl on the move, maybe all you will need is a primer or a moisturiser, some powder, mascara ...lipstick and blush, especially with this tough economy. And if you have money, go all out and get the high end products.”

Le’s all agree from here hence forth, no chipped nails or nail polish. Right?  Because in the market is polish that can last up to a week (We hear someone in the back shouting two weeks) but there is also fast-drying polish that takes five minutes from start to finish. No chipped polish ladies.

“We now have a range specifically for those who don’t have the time to wait 30 minutes for their nails to dry. It’s quick, it is easy and affordable,” says Pamela Gatwiri who recently launched her own line of polish dubbed PAM.

Above all, she emphasises, “Take care of your nails. Have a pedicure at least every two weeks and a manicure every week. Practice proper filing techniques such as making your strokes go in one direction.”

Tip: Steer clear of the cuticle area when applying nail polish to avoid the polish chipping quickly.

Trick: To avoid discolouration often caused by nail polish, always apply a base-coat, which is enriched with garlic. According to Pamela, the base-coat strengthens the nail enamel and ensures your coats are thin and dry before you apply the next coat.

3. LIPS

Irene Akinyi, a make-up artist and CEO of Show and Tell Make-up by Renee, says exfoliating your lips goes a long way in making them beautiful.

“Get some sugar, olive oil or coconut oil and Vaseline for exfoliating your lips. Mix them in a small container then use your finger or a toothbrush to rub the mixture on your lips in tiny, circular motions for about 30 seconds.

Rinse it off with water and pat dry with a tissue,” she says. “Smoother lips means smoother lipstick, which makes everything look better.”

4. TEETH

“And if there is one thing make-up artists love, right next to flawless glowing skin and high cheekbones, is white gleaming teeth,” she says.

A trick that has helped her to have that picture perfect smile. You will need baking soda and lemon juice - Mix them together to make a paste, apply it to your teeth with a standard toothbrush. Brush as normal. Use this remedy once a week until you reach your desired results. Once you have achieved sparkling teeth, try to limit yourself to using this remedy just once a month.

5. EYES

For the best pencil eye-liner application, ensure  the pencil is warmed up before application. Either draw your eye-liner on the back of your hand until the dragging stops, or use your hair dryer on its lowest setting for six to seven seconds before applying. Application is a lot easier, so you get the look you want on the first try without dragging your eyelid.

“To conceal under eye bags, simply cover the shadow of the bags with concealer. Always use the foundation first before the concealer and then blend it in with a concealer brush, which brings us to the brushes factor. Buy good brushes ladies, because this will mean all the difference.

A good brush can make even the most inexpensive make-up look high end. It’s all in the brushes,” says self-taught make-up guru Irene.

6. EYEBROWS AND EYELASHES

Do not over-pluck your eyebrows. Brows make a huge difference for everything, so make sure they’re kept and look groomed. To fill in the brow, use a pencil in just small, light strokes over thinner spots in your eyebrows. This will make your eyebrows look more natural. They’ll otherwise be way too dark and inky if they are completely coloured in. Plus, blend with a brow brush (like the one you just re-purposed from your mascara) for the most natural look.

Apply mascara on lower lashes first, that way you don’t get to transfer it on your eyelids and mess up your eye-shadow!

Trick: When shaping my eyebrows, I ensure the inner part of the eyebrows is lined up vertically with the tear ducts to find the right angle for my brow. If you lay a make-up brush vertically along the edge of your nostril, the end of your eyebrows on the outer part of your face should just touch the brush, but not intersect it.

Tip: Use an old mascara brush to groom your eyebrows. Don’t forget to wash it first though. Always do your eye make-up before applying foundation. It helps conceal the mistakes made by pencils and eye-shadow.