Professional beauty tips to try at home

Beauty experts have gathered and given their top advice in their areas of expertise for tips that you can try at home for a more beautiful you. A THICKER LASH IN A FLASH 'For luxuriant eyelashes, use a flat angled brush to apply mascara along the root of your upper row - to the topside, not underneath. This is where they're at their thickest, and they'll instantly look fuller' Juliana Sergot - make-up artist NEW WAVE 'For naturally curly hair that tends to look frizzy, mix your curling mousse with a hair conditioner and apply it to your hair. This will give a sleeker look and create more controlled curls' Darren Bain - HOB Salons NAILS AU NATUREL 'For beautifully white, stain-free nails rub them all over with half a fresh lime. Then soak your fingertips in some water with dissolved bicarbonate of soda (or a dissolved denture tablet) for a few minutes. Et voila - gorgeous nake nails.' Georgie Cleeve - Oskia GET A GRIP... 'If your hair is very thick and normal hairbands don't hold it, attach kirby grips to either end of a regular hair tie, stick one of the grips into your ponytail, wrap the tie around the hair, and then pin the other grip in.' Maarit Niemela - Hair Stylist A VINE IDEA 'Take some fresh grapes - plus a few extra to eat! - slice them in half and slide them over your face, cut-side down, in a circular motion. The fruit acids act as an exfoliant and give your skin an antioxidant boost, resulting in an instantly brighter complexion.' Mathilde Thomas - Caudal?e THE ASPIRIN FACE MASK 'Crush two aspirin tablets and mix with a tablespoon of organic honey. Apply to the face (avoiding the eye area), leave on for 20 minutes, then wash off. The aspirin contains beta-hydroxy acid - an ingredient in many high-end face masks - that will refresh the complexion.' Shelley Barrett - ModelCo THE BLACK LASH BACKLASH 'Use brown mascara on your lower lashes rather than black - even if you use black on the top lashes. A lighter colour on the bottom gives your eyes a lift. Also, line the inside of the eyes with a dark brown liner, as, over time, it will smudge into the lashes resulting in a very sexy eye.' Tom Pecheux - creative make-up director, Estée Lauder DAIRY GOODNESS 'Instead of using hot water when steaming your face, use hot milk. Heat the milk to boiling point, pour into a warm bowl and place a towel over your head for the ultimate steam cleanse. The lactic acid in the milk decongests the pores, leaving your skin beautifully clear.' Ruby Hammer - make-up artist KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL 'If you want radiant skin without having to book in for a facial, just head to your kitchen. Spread natural yogurt all over your face and leave on for 20 minutes to brighten the skin. Wash it off, wrap some ice cubes in a muslin cloth and rub them all over your face to refresh and de-puff.' Sarah Chapman - facialist FEET FIRST 'For a DIY pedicure, start with a foot scrub of rock salt mixed with body lotion. Apply to dry skin, focusing on calloused areas and the nails, too. Fresh lemon juice whitens nails, so apply with cotton-wool, then use a soft cloth to buff them. Finally, finish with a bright varnish.' Margaret Dabbs - footcare expert PREP YOUR PINS 'For great summer legs layer your body products. Begin with a body serum to hydrate and replenish lost moisture, then an oil to nourish and finally a cream to seal in the goodness. Look out for oils that contain rose, neroli and evening primrose and moisturisers with shea-butter - they will make your legs look instantly better.' Geraldine Howard - Aromatherapy Associates TAKE A BROW 'Eyebrows define the structure of the face and eye area, so it's best to keep them to a medium width as thinner brows can be ageing. Colour should be the same as your natural hair, or one shade darker, in order to balance your features properly.' Michelle Doan - Emani Minerals HOW TO USE DRY SHAMPOO 'To ensure that your dry shampoo doesn't make your roots look chalky and grey, spray it on to a paddle hair brush followed by some hairspray, then brush from the roots to the ends. Your hair will instantly look clean and shiny.' Adam Reed - L'Oréal Paris TWIRL YOUR WAND 'To prevent your mascara from drying out it's best not to pump the wand up and down, as this will push air into the tube. Instead, dip and twirl the wand to coat it with product - you'll have enough to cover your lashes, and your mascara will last a lot longer.' Sandra Cooke - make-up artist MANE PROTECTION 'Always protect your hair in the sun. Hats or scarves are best, followed by treatments containing sunblock. The sun's rays break down the molecular structure of hair, which, unlike skin, doesn't appear to recover within a few weeks. Long hair can take years to renew.' Michael Van Clarke - hair stylist HOW TO APPLY CREAM BLUSHER 'Cream blushers are perfect for spring, giving you a dewy, romantic look. Never apply to the underside of cheekbones, though. Instead use your fingertips to apply it to the apples of your cheeks, then blend up and outwards towards the hairline.' Daniel Sandler - make-up artist A DROP OF MAGIC 'Adding one drop of facial oil to your daytime face cream in the morning will give your complexion an instant lift and glow and prep your skin for smooth make-up application.' Natsumi Watanabe - make-up artist THE HARD LINE 'If your eye or lip pencil is too soft and crumbly it can be difficult to achieve a strong line. Solve this by placing the pencil in the freezer for a few minutes, then gently run a line over the back of your hand to warm it up slightly. Now line your eyes or lips with a perfect stroke of colour.' Susan Chyi - founder of Jelly Pong Pong NOT-SO-FAKE TAN 'When applying fake tan to your face your pores can sometimes become blocked with the product. Prevent this from happening by rubbing an ice cube over your face before application. This will close the pores and stop you getting the tell-tale black spots.' James Read - tanning expert JUST A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR… 'Sugar water makes a great hair-setting lotion. Dissolve six teaspoons of sugar in a glass of boiling water, cool, then transfer to a spray bottle. Mist over hair, then wrap small sections around your finger and secure to the crown with grips. Remove grips when dry, for soft curls.' Johnnie Sapong - hair stylist BRUSH UP 'Sweep a long-handled body brush across your limbs and torso, directing strokes towards the heart. A daily brush helps our skin shed waste and toxins, as well as boosting circulation and the lymphatic system. This, in turn, improves skin tone and helps the immune system.' Liz Earle MAKING WAVES 'Everything from the 1970s is big this season, including the hair. Create waves by twisting wet locks into tight curls and pinning up with kirby grips. Blast with a hairdryer to set, then remove the grips. Voilà - perfect Charlie's Angels waves.' Alain Pichon - L'Oréal Paris TOP OF THE POPS 'Bright colours are a big make-up trend this spring, especially orange. But it can be difficult to wear lively shades around the eye as they tend to dull on the lid. Solve this by applying a little matte white shadow around the colour - it will make the bright shade really "pop".' Tom Pecheux - Estée Lauder BRIGHT EYES 'For a softer effect around the eyes, try using a coloured mascara. Forget garish 1980s shades and pick a dark plum for intensifying blue eyes and dark green for brown eyes. This is a great look for spring, particularly if you've worn a lot of dark eye make-up over winter.' Thomas de Kluyver - make-up artist A BIT OF A SQUEEZE 'If you're confused about the perfect lip colour to go for, squeeze the tip of your middle finger. You'll see an intense red or pink colour, which is a guide for the lip shade you should be after.' Natsumi Watanabe - make-up artist A PARTING GIFT 'Place your fingers on one side of the forehead (above the left or the right eyebrow) and sweep diagonally to the other side of the crown, towards the back of the head. With your parting invisible front-on, your hair will look fuller and thicker.' Akin Konizi - HOB Salons TRUE COLOURS 'Lips are naturally pink, so the colour of the lipstick in the tube isn't the shade you'll end up with on your face. Pat foundation on lips to neutralise them, then apply lipstick on top. You'll get the true shade that way, which is important if you're going for a statement lip.' Wendy Rowe - Burberry USING BRONZER IN WINTER 'Swirl a large brush in a biscuity shade (avoid anything orange-based) and draw a number three on your face. Start from the temple, curve around to the cheek and finally curve down to the chin, then repeat on the other side. This will slim the face and warm up dull winter skin.' 'Stella' beauty team BE KIND TO COLOUR 'Hard water can make it difficult to maintain coloured hair. Attach a filter to your shower head to soften the water and remove any mineral deposits, which make hair look dull - the last thing you want if you've spent lots of money on colour.' Marie Robinson - colour ambassador for Pantene APPLYING MINERAL POWDER 'Start by buffing the outside of the face with a really soft brush dusted in powder, and slowly work your way in towards the forehead, nose and chin. The minerals will warm and blend with the oils in your skin to give that "no make-up" make-up look.' Sarah-Jane Froom - Bare Escentuals ABSOLUTELY BALMY 'Lip balm is a handy tool to use if you want to make your complexion glow. Stroke a little clear balm down the brow bone and up the cheekbone (in a sideways V) to highlight the eye area, or mix a little with a cream blush and apply to the apples of the cheeks for a rosy glow.' 'Stella' beauty team LOWER THE TONE 'Tone down bright eyeshadow by stroking a colourless loose powder over the eye with a rounded fluffy brush. You'll still get a good pop of colour without it being too strong. The same "soft-focus" technique can be used with blusher, too.' Thomas de Kluyver - make-up artist SMOOTH OPERATOR 'If you have frizzy hair but don't like using styling products, squeeze lemon or lime juice in your shampoo and conditioner. The juices are cleansing and high in acidity, which helps to close the hair cuticle. The result? An impossibly smooth and sleek hairdo.' Paul Falltrick - Matrix LIPSTICK THAT LASTS 'Even the best lipsticks fade after a few hours. To avoid a patchy lip place a tissue over your first coat of lipstick and gently dab on a loose powder. The tissue acts as a filter, allowing just enough powder through to fix the lipstick before a second coat.' Shama Sahzayasin - make-up artist SOFTLY SOFTLY 'The way you shampoo your hair could be potentially damaging. Don't rub it too vigorously as it will irritate the hair cuticles. Instead, massage the roots and scrunch shampoo into the ends. You'll benefit from a tension-relieving head massage and minimise frizz, too.' Phil Smith - hairdresser SHAVING FACE 'Don't reach for the aftershave straight after shaving. Splashing it on your face will actually dry out the skin and aggravate any sore or red patches. Instead, apply a good moisturiser all over your face and just a dab of aftershave behind your ears.' Mike Mason - barber, Geo F Trumper WATCH YOUR SODIUM LEVELS 'To keep hair frizz-free for as long as possible after a permanent blow-dry, look for shampoos and conditioners that are sodium-free. Keratin is applied to the hair to keep it straight, but most shampoo and conditioner contains sodium, which breaks down the keratin.' Philip Kingsley - haircare expert PILLOW TALK 'Sleep on a silk-covered pillow to keep skin hydrated and crease-free. Unlike cotton, silk doesn't wick away moisture and is naturally hypoallergenic. Don't let all your lovingly applied products be absorbed by your bed linen!' Clare Rogers - Treatment Rooms, Brighton DARK SECRETS 'Applying a dark lipstick can be very tricky. Begin by lightly dabbing the colour on to your lip with your finger to create a stain. Then build up with a matching liner. This will layer and fix the base, giving even coverage and the perfect pout.' Shama - make-up artist at CLM A FINE WEAVE 'A great look for day or night, boho braids are easy to create. Take a front section of the hair and, starting on one side, braid along the hairline. Secure behind the ear with a pin. Quick, simple and right on-trend.' Lisa Whiteman - Webster Whiteman, Mayfair A RIGHT SPECTACLE 'When choosing glasses, work with your skin tone and eye colour. If you have a warm complexion and hair colour, go for bronze, tortoise or brown frames. Cooler complexions suit lighter shades such as white, silver, blue and grey.' James Kaliardos - make-up artist, L'Oréal Paris TOP MARKS 'The key to a stylish topknot is to create contrast between the pulled-back hair and the knot itself. The pulled-back hair should be kept sleek and glossy, whereas the knot should be wild and almost "undone".' Gary Hooker and Michael Young - Hooker & Young WAX ON, WAX OFF 'If you plan to wax at home before jetting off on holiday, do it at least 24 hours before - this allows time for your skin to settle down before exposing it to the sun. Always peel off wax strips in the opposite direction of hair growth, and be sure to apply sunscreen to protect skin.' Otylia Roberts - Simply Wax GET THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE 'Always comb out the tangles in your hair before you get in the shower or bath - you will split and damage it if you wash it while it's full of knots. Before washing, rinse it with warm water to open up the follicles and get rid of any styling products.' Lisa Shepherd - haircare expert SCRUB-A-DUB 'If you suffer from dry, cracked heels make your own antibacterial salt scrub by mixing a handful of sea salt with almond oil. Give your toes a good going over with it in the bath and you'll emerge with smooth, sandal-ready summer feet.' Agi Mirz - Hand and Foot Spa THE PERFECT PONYTAIL 'For the sleekest ponytail lie on the bed with your head hanging off the edge. Gather the hair on the crown, or lower if that suits you. If you want it super-smooth, mist your brush with water first. Voilà - a perfectly smooth, face-lifting ponytail.' Alex Box - make-up artist SUN-KISS ME QUICK 'To create a natural sun-kissed look, use a light bronzer all over the face first, then a slightly darker one on the forehead, nose and chin. A pinky-gold colour is best for fair skin, golden bronze for medium and golden red for dark complexions.' Trevor O'Keefe - Laura Mercier MISMATCH OF THE DAY 'When it comes to nail colours I think matching fingers and toes is a bit naff. Instead, think of it as having virgin's hands and tart's feet. Keep it nice and neutral up the top, but have fun with colour down below - the brighter and bolder the better.' Iris Chapple - Mavala NAIL IT 'Get the most out of nail varnish by preparing your nails first: scrub them with a nail brush in warm water with a soap-free cleanser. This will ensure a clean surface, free of any traces of a nail-varnish remover or natural oils, which can lift your varnish. It will last an extra few days.' Emma Cox - Jessica Nails IN A FRIZZ 'When the weather's humid it's tempting to overstyle hair with hairdryers and straighteners. Instead, opt for low-maintenance curls or updos, which are much more suitable for summer and easy to maintain.' Nick Malenko - Royston Blythe at the Dorchester A SALINE SOLOUTION 'Have you ever noticed how spotty skin seems much clearer after swimming in the sea? To recreate the effect at home try soaking a towel in comfortably hot salt water, then lay it on the spotty area for 10 minutes or so. This should clarify skin on the face, chest and back.' Stella beauty team BRIGHT EYES 'To conceal dark under-eye circles properly, you'll need two products. First, correct the dark blue tones with a pink-toned concealer. Then use a yellow-toned concealer over the top, to lighten the darkness and make the area the same colour as the rest of your face.' Hannah Martin - Bobbi Brown From, Telegraph.co.uk