Most women spend a fortune on their beauty must-haves without even knowing that cheaper and convenient alternatives are lying right in front of them - in their kitchen cabinets and stationery drawers. We reveal the secret uses of a few tools you often underestimate.

TEASPOON FOR DRAMATIC LASHES

To curl your lashes to perfection, get a teaspoon from your kitchen and warm it slightly with the help of a hair dryer.Make sure it isn't too hot. Simply hold the bowl of the tea spoon behind your upper lashes and apply pressure on the lash line with your thumb.Press the lashes up and hold them for a few seconds along the edge of the spoon until you see a bend. Apply mascara after curling to get thick, long and dramatic lashes.

MATCHBOX TO FILE YOUR NAILS

Got a broken nail that irritates you all the time You need not wait to reach home and grab your nail clipper or filer. Simply buy a matchbox from a nearby chemist or superstore and run the striked rough strip along your nail (the area where you run the matches) to shape the nail instantly.

COOKING OILS TO DRY POLISH

You may have noticed manicurists spraying freshly painted nails with a special oil so that they dry quickly. But did you know that your cooking oil does the same After painting your nails, hold them over a sink and spritz some oil over them.Hold the can 12 inches from your nails as you spray to avoid damaging the finish.Make sure you use plain oil and not any low-fat or flavoured oils.

Also, swirling oil around your mouth is a fantastic way to attain naturally white teeth and combat gingivitis, plaque and the bacteria that cause bad breath. Coconut oil works best here. Sesame and olive oil are other options. Swirl for around 20 minutes without swallowing, so that the oil coats every surface.

CARBONATED WATER FOR SHINY HAIR

Frizzy hair is often quite tough to tame. Carbonated water works like apple cider vinegar - its low pH level helps reduce frizz minus the unpleasant smell that vinegar usually leaves. Pick up a bottle of non-flavoured carbonated water. After you shampoo and condition your hair, give it a final rinse with a mixture of regular water and carbonated or sparkling water. This will leave it soft and shiny.

SCOTCH TAPE FOR PERFECT EYELINER

Mastering the technique of applying liquid eyeliner is difficult. Here's the trick. Take an inch-long piece of Scotch tape and press it to your hand a few times to dull its adhesive power. Place the tape under your bottom lashes at the outer corner of your eye, and angle it towards your temple. With a felttip pen liner, begin sketching from the middle of your upper lash line to the outer corner of your eye, using short, dash-like strokes. Some of the liner might bleed onto the tape, but you need not worry about it.Finish the line by going back to the middle of your eye and sketch short thin strokes till the tear duct.

CLING FILM FOR YOUTHFUL SKIN

There's nothing better than cling film for keeping those sandwiches fresh. But can it keep your skin looking hydrated and nourished as well As the Japanese suggest, apply a good amount of moisturiser on your face and massage it into your skin. Apply another layer and wrap your face in cling film. Don't forget to create a breathing hole. Leave it for 20 minutes. The same process also works for neck and decolletage areas that are often prone to aging and sun damage. How does it work The heat from the body encourages pores to open and the cream to get absorbed, instead of just sitting on the skin's surface, thus boosting collagen.

TOOTHBRUSH TO SCRUB LIPS AND GROOM BROWS

You already know what a toothbrush does for your smile, but did you know it is also a multi-purpose beauty tool Get baby soft lips by using a toothbrush as an exfoliating agent. Apply some petroleum jelly or creamy cleanser to your lips and rub gently with a toothbrush in a circular motion.To brush away stray strands of hair, spritz a clean toothbrush with a little hairspray and stroke gently over your up-do or fringe to get a neat look. You can also use a toothbrush to groom your power brows. Try dipping it in lemon juice and use it to remove patchy tan on knees and el bows or whiten polish-stained nails. Lastly, you can also use a toothbrush to de-clump lashes.

Source: Times of India

BDST: 1654 HRS, JUNE 30, 2015
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor