Life’s tough enough and having “girl problems” is an everyday undertaking for us. One thing my mother always instilled in me is, if there’s a will, there’s a way”. She was always so creative and useful. She could make syrup from scratch for god’s sake. The lady was an urban artisan for sure. With her gems and other tips I’ve picked up along the way, I’ve got a list packed with savvy life hacks that every DIY woman can put to use today.
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Say goodbye to chapped and dry lips.
We’ve all been stuck at a party or in the bathroom trying to fix our crumbling or flaky lipstick. This happens when we don’t drink enough water or dry them out from licking our lips. Drink water and condition your lips. Before you go to bed take a warm rag and put it on your lips.
Once your lips are soft, immediately take an edible oil like olive oil and put it to your lips. The next day, right after bathing, when your lips are soft, apply the same oil. Carry a small amount of oil or chapstick with you and apply it for the rest of the day. Also, try out a natural brown sugar lip scrub. Repeat the steps above until your lips are healed. This may seem labor-intensive, but it is the least painful way of dealing with chapped lips while conditioning them.
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No more flat iron gunk!
Hooray! We finally have a fool-proof antidote and it’s simple. Just use Coca-Cola. I know, sounds a bit weird but hear me out. The chemicals from the coca leaves and kola nut in their products can strip anything even battery fluid. Just use a light coat then go back over it with a damp cloth of just water. Voila!
Grr…Greasy eyebrows or running eyeliner.
Try applying translucent pressed powder on your eyebrows before and after application and to the corner of your eyes between your top and bottom lashes. The pressed powder absorbs your skin’s natural oils and perspiration.
Q&A: Easy Ways To Thicken Eyebrows?
Got sparse eyebrows?
Nothing’s worse than being plagued with having little to no eyebrows. For some of us, it's genetic but for others, it could be as simple as our sleeping habits. Most of us sleep on cotton sheets and pillows, thus when we toss and turn, the friction from our bedding is literally pulling our hair out, eyebrows included.
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Pull your satin scarf over your eyebrows while you sleep or sleep with a satin pillowcase and sheets. This will significantly reduce hair breakage and pulling.
Still rocking the mascara from yesterday?
Removing mascara from your eyes can be tough, especially if you’ve applied the waterproof one. If you want to save on costs, take a cotton ball, dip it in a natural oil you have lying around the house. Vitamin E, coconut oil or olive oil work best and are great for your skin.
Next, place the cotton ball on your eyelid for 5 seconds, then gently remove the mascara! Not only are you removing makeup, you are also adding products that will improve the condition of your eyelashes and skin.
No nail polish remover?
Simply put another heavy coat of nail polish over your old nail polish.
Wait a few seconds and take a tissue to remove it. You may have to do this several times, but eventually, you will remove the nail polish. Works like a charm!
Mosquitoes and flying bugs just won’t leave you alone!
That’s because our melanin is just so sweet! Create your own insect repellent with lavender oil. Mosquitoes and all their crawling and flying friends absolutely despise it!
Take three tablespoons of lavender oil and add it to a spray bottle with one cup of water. Shake and that’s it. You can spray your plants, your window seal, your doors and your clothes.
Pro Tip: To prevent flying creatures from breeding, get rid of standing water and put food trash in a sealed plastic bag before you put it in your in-home trash can.
They won’t be able to smell the food or gravitate toward the moisture. Also, use lemon to create a fresh scent in your kitchen. Insects hate the smell of clean and will likely pop up less and less.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
