HOW TO GET GORGEOUS AT HOME

Jennifer Aniston

How to: SCORE STAR-STYLE HIGHLIGHTS
While major Madonna-worthy makeovers are best left to the salon, you can take subtle highlights à la Jennifer Aniston into your own hands. Master them with the right tool and a light touch. To avoid high-contrast chunks, stay within two levels of your natural colour, especially if you have dark hair, explains Marcy Cona, creative director of colour and style for Clairol. And size matters: the smaller your colouring comb, the more understated your results. Some at-home kits, such as Herbal Essences Shade on Shade Highlights, $10, come with a double-ended wand, so you can control and vary how much dye to deposit. To perfect your placement, “practise with conditioner.” Focus on the surface of your hair where the sun would naturally lighten your locks, targeting strands around your face, your fringe or wherever you want a hint of sparkle. The most common mistake women make? “Generally, they are heavy-handed,” says Cona. Less is more, so build gradually.

Fake tan

How to: FAKE A PRO TAN
The real secret to a flawless finish is in your scrub: “The fewer dead skin cells on your body—exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!—the more evenly your tan will appear,” says Stacy Baker, Sephora education specialist. Don’t forget to polish rough patches on elbows and knees; shave or wax at least a day in advance; and keep skin well-moisturized pre- and post-treatment (to help max out the longevity of your glow). The prime time to apply a self-tanner is before bed (allow at least 20 minutes for it to dry before hitting the sheets), so the formula can go to work overnight before you rinse the next morning. With sprays, always keep the bottle several inches away from your body to ensure even coverage; on the face, mist lightly in three vertical sections (right side, middle, left side). Don’t pick a shade meant for a skin tone darker than yours, as that “ups your odds of getting an orange hue,” advises Baker. Go gradual: “The first time you apply is like the first day out in the sun: just get the base coat.” Add a bit more each day and, by the end of the week, you’ll be golden.

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Jet-lagged Skin

How to: MAKE JET-LAGGED SKIN LOOK FRESH AGAIN
A day on the plane leaves a complexion tired, lacklustre and dry. Thankfully, an intensive facial can wake it up. “Any time you want to keep your skin healthy, it starts with thorough cleansing,” says Holly Sherrard, education manager at The International Dermal Institute Canada in Toronto. Melt away sebum and dirt with an oil-based product made for all faces, such as Dermalogica PreCleanse, $51, then follow with a wash that suits your skin type: clay-based if you’re oily; gel-based if you’re normal; and creamy or milky if you’re dry. Step 2: slough off dead cells. “Exfoliation can reveal the healthier, more luminous skin cells underneath.” FLARE pick: Nuxe Gentle Aromatic Exfoliant with 3 Roses, $31. Next, layer on a treatment masque souped up with the skin saviours you need: multivitamins for dull or sensitized skin; hyaluronic acid and vitamin E for dehydrated skin; or clay, biotin and caffeine for oily, acne-prone skin. Moisturize and—voilà—you’re back to your gorgeous self again.

Blow out wavy hair

How to: BLOW OUT WAVY HAIR WITHOUT FRYING IT
Prep damp waves with a heat shield such as John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat Protective Styling Spray, $10.50. Next up, divvy hair into manageable sections and start from underneath, taming the trickiest curls first—usually, they’re found along the front hairline. “It’s easier to smooth stubborn hair while it’s still wet, and the wetter it is, the easier it is to straighten it,” explains Howard Barr, Canadian creative consultant for John Frieda. “I prefer natural-bristle brushes. They add shine and don’t damage the hair as much.” A medium-sized round brush is best; use a brush too small and you’ll create unwanted body, while big brushes don’t provide enough tension. Blow-dry in one direction, from the roots downward, to smooth hair cuticles and amp up shine, plus prevent frizzy ends. To extend the life of your blowout, swap your cotton pillow for satin, since the no-friction fabric lets hair slide and stay in shape. Freshen day-after hair with an oil-zapping dry shampoo. FLARE pick: Fekkai Au Naturel Powder Clean Dry Shampoo, $27.

“How to Get Gorgeous At Home” has been edited for FLARE.com; the complete story and where-to-buy appears in the May 2009 issue of FLARE.

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