Calling all you fashionistas/style gurus! We need your style-and-beauty tips

[HelenMumsnet]

Hello.

We're thinking of doing an MN Guide to Style and Beauty - but we can't do it without you!

We'd love you to post bestest, wittiest, most practical style/hair/beauty tips, secrets, rules, dos and don'ts on this thread.

Obviously, we're thinking "this will make you look good in the 13 seconds you have between getting up and getting the kids up", rather than "this will make you look good but takes six hours and £3000 to achieve".

Right, over to you. And thank you!

Look after your teeth and use your gleaming smile whenever possible.

Another one: if you see someone who you think looks stylish and you are thinking of stealing borrowing her style, stop. Does she have a similar body shape/colouring to you? Be brutally honest with yourself.

Because if she has a boyish figure, what looks good on her will not look good on you if you are more of a pear. And you will not suddenly be transformed into slinky of hip just with a change of clothing.

I know this sounds astoundingly obvious but it took me about 20 years to work out

flat knee high boots instantly ad a bit of glam to anything - jeans tucked in, leggings, sweater dress

don't leave the house without tinted moisturiser, blusher, mascara and lip balm (not sticky like gloss)

manicured nails - not long talony things, but neat manicured things

sunglasses make you look so much better, and hide a multitude of sins

invest in well fitting jeans and knitwear if that's what you wear most of the time

don't try and dress 15 years younger than you are - 10 years maybe, but you don't want anyone muttering "mutton"...

being practical does not mean you have to look frumpy

white eyeliner does not make you look more awake but actally like a manequin or slap happy droid
Laura Mercier does flesh colured pencils for a natural looking effect that does work

If your mascara becomes difficult to apply in the winter due to the cold, place it under your arm like a thermometer as you do the rest of your make-up then when you come to use it, the heat from your body will have loosened it up a little so that you can apply it with ease. Also works for mascara that is getting on a bit!

Clinique Almost lipstick in Black Honey is the perfect lipstick - suits everybody and not overpowering.

Soften up a stubborn eyeliner pencil with a quick blast under the hairdryer for a softer, easier to smudge look.

Do not do this is you want a crisp line - then it's time to reach for the sharpener!

plus3 - Clinique Black Honey is the best stuff - doesn't dry out lips, doesn't need lipliner and adds just enough colour - I love it too!

Alternative to Black Honey is Elizabeth Arden 8 hour moisturising liptint in the darkest colour (looks scary in the shop, it's not I promise) - lipbalm and colour in one.
[multi tasking emoticon]