A lot of women like to pamper themselves every now and then, getting their nails done or enjoying a beauty treatment for example. As us ladies know, it can take quite some time and money to look the way we look! For me personally, there are a few things I won't spend my money on when it comes to beauty or lifestyle. Not because I'm a total cheapskate - I tend to splurge on luxury handbags and fancy dinners instead - but because a) it's just as easy to do at home or b) I simply like doing it myself!

A while back when I talked to my friends and a few female colleagues about this, I realized that I actually have quite a few things that I don't spend money on where others would do that almost every month. Here's what I'm talking about: these are the things I won't spend money on and do at home instead!

Bye bye, hairdresser
Don't laugh, but the last time I went to a hairdresser I was about 10 years old. Okay, my mom (who has her hairdressers certificate) cut my hair when I was younger, but pretty soon after I was allowed to dye my hair I started doing that myself. It took a few wrong turns to eventually do it right, so now I've been cutting and dying my hair myself for about 8 years. Yes, also cutting bangs and trying out crazy hair colors. Even if you go to the hair salon to get the ends trimmed, it's still a lot of money. I once calculated that cutting my own hair, dyeing my own hair and doing my own (clip in) hair extensions saves me up to 400 euros a year. Yeah, I won't go to a hairdresser for as long as I can do it myself - and don't fail at it😜

Gel nails
Those long nails? They're fake! People often think they're my natural nails, which I take as a major compliment. When they ask me where I get them done and I tell them I've been doing my own gel nails for over 10 years they're pretty surprised. I am quite the creative type, I LOVE doing my manicures myself! I simply use tips, a good nail glue and a professional gel nailpolish - and that will keep my nails going strong for at least 4 weeks every single time. Let's say I were to go get my nails done professionally every month? It would cost me an average of 45 euro's.... Which I save up! The set of tips I buy (look on Ebay or Amazon) costs me less than 10 euros for 100 tips. A bargain😊

Selftanning
I have actually gotten a spray tan once and it was horrible. And way too expensive. As soon as the summer starts I take out my selftan mitt and a selftan lotion or mousse and I tan my entire body in the comfort of my own home. Scrubbing beforehand makes the tan last even longer, but usually I will reapply my tan after 4 days. Tanning beds are less expensive than getting a spray tan, but because I want to avoid getting skin cancer, I would never ever go lay under a tanning bed in the first place. A spray tan is about 20 to 30 euros for one treatment... You know what's cheaper? A bottle of tanning lotion (around 10 euros!) that will give me around 15 tanning sessions.

Beauty treatments
I do enjoy beauty treatments, as skincare is very important to me - and I would do anything to prevent wrinkles - but I am super picky. And I won't let anyone touch my eyebrows, ever. Over the years I've learned quite a lot about skincare, so I enjoy pampering myself with a nice scrub, face mask and luxury creams in the comfort of my own home. If you go to a beauty salon regularly and get your brows done as well, you would easily pay around 70 euros every other month... So that's not something I would do very quickly, as I can easily achieve the same results at home.

Whitening my teeth
I do have to start off by saying that getting your teeth whitened professionally gets you WAY better results. But at home treatments do work as well, the results just don't be as drastic as when you would get it done by a salon. I use the Crest White strips every few weeks, just to give my teeth a little touch up. After  every 30 min treatment I see a difference, so for me those strips work great! Getting my teeth whitened at a professional salon would easily cost me around 200 to 300 euros a year, whereas the Crest White strips are around 30 euros a year.

At home workouts
Okay. I have to admit that if I were to pay for a gym subscription every month, I would probably actually GO😹. Now I just work out whenever I feel like it. I am currently trying to get back into my hulahooping routine (with a weighted hula hoop, not those fun light hoops we had as kids). I used to hoop for 40 minutes almost every single day and I noticed a major difference in my stamina and I got stronger abs, back and leg muscles. There are so many exercises you can do at home - or go for a run outside- you don't need to pay for a gym to get some exercise. So if you like hula hooping to some fun music, it might be a fun (and INTENSE) workout to do at home.

So, these are the things I don't spend my money on and do at home instead. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section :)

In a time were algorithms may not be on your side, it can be hard to make your post stand out in your followers timelines. Sure, striking images or videos can help you get someone's attention, but there is something else you can try. Something I've been doing for a while now - and I can tell you already: it works! I'm talking about using a different font to stand out from the online crowd.

You've probably noticed that all posts in your timeline have the same font as every other post. The only thing you can really stand out with is using emoji's, images or video's. But have you ever seen those nice fonts that people use in their Instagram names and profile descriptions? There's a website called Lingojam that allows you to enter text and it will convert the text to a few different fonts. You can then copy-paste your text in a nice font and put it in your Instagram bio, for example. But you can also copy-paste that text into your Facebook or LinkedIn post.

I usually only enter the headline of my post in a bold or italic font, that makes it obvious what your post is about in a glance. Just entering the headline of your post in a different font is enough to grab your followers attention, instead of posting your entire text in an italic/bold font. Here's an example of how I make my social media posts stand out by using a different font.

Go ahead and try it for yourself😊

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I've worn false lashes for probably 3 years straight, until I decided to ditch the falsies for a while. It became too much of a fuss to apply false lashes every day before going to work, so I just stuck with mascara instead. But there's just something about the look of false lashes ... I wanted to achieve the same results without actually having to apply lashes or invest in eyelash extensions. I tried this hack I read about online and it definitely works!

There's only one product you'll need to add to your mascara routine: babypowder! It doesn't matter what brand you use, as long as it's baby powder you'll achieve the look of falsies in just seconds.
All you need to do is apply a generous amount of mascara on your lashes, then dust some baby powder on small brush and sweep it along your (wet) lashes. It will form a layer on top of your lashes and it extends them as well. You can repeat this for as many times as you'd like, but this method does give you spider lashes easily! Don't forget to apply the last coat of mascara on top - other wise you'll look pretty crazy with white lashes ;)

I personally like the look of thick, chunky lashes over super seperated lashes, so this works wonders for me. I included a before and after photo below: the results are pretty obvious, right? I think it's definitely worth trying what this trick does for your lashes. If you don't like it, you can use the baby powder for many more creative solutions... like dry shampoo when you have greasy hair. Do you know more baby powder hacks we should learn about? If so, feel free to share it in the comment section👌

PS. If you not only fancy full eyelashes but also thicker, naturally fuller brows: this is the wonder oil you will need to apply!

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Wait, what? An outfit post!? It feels kind of strange (and new again) to make an appearance on my own blog, in the form of an outfit post. It's been quite a long time since I last shared my own looks here on BLES Magazine...  I no longer see myself as a fashion blogger, so I didn't really intend to share outfits anymore. My sister and I were goofing around with the portret mode of my iPhone 8 Plus and we realized that this camera takes the exact same quality photos as my professional SLR camera used to take! We were kinda shocked, these random outfit photos came out so well. I figured, why not share them here.

In case you were wondering if you can take proper outfit photos with an iPhone 8 Plus - you definitely can! The depth is amazing, I might just do this more often (let me know if you think I should). I wore this outfit on a relaxed day of strolling through the city on a Saturday afternoon.  This is what I love to wear in weekends: leggings, oversized sweaters and comfortable shoes. Especially when strolling through the city for hours. If you follow me on Instagram, you might recognize my faux fur coat...  I am pretty much living in this pink fluffy coat this winter, I wear it on all my Instagram photos! It's definitely my most favorite coat, as I've been obsessed with faux fur and this nude/pink color for years. 

This is the second year I've worn this coat, I've washed it as well and the quality is still very good! So as longs as the temperatures allow me, I will wear this coat from Zara many more times. Check the details below for the rest of this super rare outfit post👀

Coat: Zara | Sweater: H&M | Leggings: Topshop | Shoes: H&M | Scarf: Zara | Bag: Ralph Lauren

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Do you also have a hard time getting out of bed and starting your day with motivation? You're not alone, because especially during the fall and winter times, more and more people struggle with this. Whether it's because of the darker days, the cold or just because you're tired or in a rut... Here are 3 ways to start your day with motivation!

Positive vibes are different for everyone, so I must say that these 3 tips are based on my own experience. I have a hard time getting up because I'm often still super tired when I wake up and I am always cold. SO cold. Which makes me want to dive back into bed, but nope… Work’s waiting for me! So, here are my tips for a motivated start of the day.

1: Make sure you don’t have to hurry
I used to set my alarm clock as late as possible so I could get my maximum amount of sleep… Which only caused me to wake up feeling stressed already, because I knew I only had a short time to get ready. I skipped breakfast and ate an apple instead while I ran to the bus station. That doesn’t work, so I learned. I was exhausted before I even made it to work. Nowadays I make sure I have at least an extra 10 minutes so I can get a cup of tea before I leave the house. I pack my lunch, my stuff and walk out the door knowing that I won’t have to run to catch the bus. Those extra 10 minutes save a lot of stress in the morning when you have a bad hairday or if you need to fix a make up mistake. But most importantly: I take more time to wake up with a cup of tea and a proper breakfast. Way to start the day!

2: Put on some good music
While I get ready and do my hair and make up, I like to play some music on my phone. Silence makes me sleepy again in the morning, so I go for happy beats that instantly make me feel good and excited. I always notice a major difference when I wake up and play some music versus when I don’t. If you have a hard time waking up or if you often wake up feeling moody, try playing some of your favorite songs! Make sure you don’t put on songs that make you want to dance, or you’ll be back off with point 1 😉

3: Make a to do list
This one is crucial for me! I absolutely hate waking up thinking: I have a lot of stuff to do, but I don’t know exactly what, when, where or how!… To clear your head, make a to do list on your phone or just old school on paper. I make to do lists for work every single day, so I don't have to worry about forgetting any important tasks. But also for random stuff like reminding myself to put money on my public transport card, or buy groceries, or make an appointment for the dentist... I write everything down in to do lists. It simply makes it easier to let go of things that other wise run through your mind and make you worry. As long as you have a visual checklist, youl’ll be able to clear your head and get reminded of important tasks you should not forget about. Love it!

What are your tips to start the day with motivation?

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It's crazy how quickly trends in make up and beauty change nowadays. It wasn't too long ago when thin, drawn on eyebrows where hot and happening. Then there were (and still are) the 'Instagram' brows, followed by the latest brow trend: full, natural, bushy brows. But what if you're not blessed with brows like super models Cara Delevingne and Kaia Gerber, for example? I tried a beauty oil that's known to promote hair growth... let me tell you: it 100% works! 

Fuller, thicker eyebrows with Castor oil
As soon as I read about castor oil being really great for growing out your eyebrows (or eyelashes) I decided to give it a try. It's important to only use 100% castor oil, which is a bit thicker and yellow-ish of color. Some castor oils are mixed with other oils, so you won't get everything out of the product. Pure castor oil is unusually rich in ricinoleic acid which helps improve your blood circulation, more than any other oil would do. That results in nutrition for the hair follicles, but also much stronger strands and less breakage.

How often should you apply Castor oil?
At first I forgot to use castor oil every evening, so I did it about 2 or 3 times a week. Later on I made it a part of my night routine and I literally applied it every single night before going to sleep. I simply applied a decent amount of oil on top of my brows and gently rubbed it in, so that all the hairs and the roots were covered. After about a week of doing this every night, I noticed a major difference! My eyebrows started growing back in places where there were bald patches before, and the hairs came back so much thicker. After about 3 months my eyebrows were so much thicker that I finally stopped drawing them in. Nowadays I still apply castor oil to my brows about once or twice a week, because they're actually starting to get really bushy... I trim the edges now, which I never thought I'd have to do to my brows!

All I do now as far as my brow routine goes when applying my makeup, it brushing some dark brown mascara through the hairs to make them a little thicker and keep them in place. I honestly love this natural, thick brow look on myself, and it saves me a lot of time in in my make up routine as well. So, if you're looking for a cheap and easy way to grow out your brows, get your hands on a bottle of 100% Castor oil and within a few weeks, you should see major results😃

On the left: what my brows looked like before - vs what they looked like after makeup

My natural brows after using Castor oil

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Excercising... To most people that doesn't sound like music to their ears. So many people spend the day sitting behind a desk, wether it's at school or at work, so a little exercise here and there often loses out. As summer is around the corner and we all want to get more fit and healthy, take a seat (oops!) and read through some tips below on small things you can do to get more exercise out of your day.

Take your (or someone else's) dog for a walk
Dogs are not just the best pets and man's best friend... they keep you fit too! If you already have a dog, go for a walk more often. Your dog will love you for it and both you and your dog will get more exercise. If you don't have dog of your own, ask your friends or neighbours to walk their dog. The best and most fun way to walk an extra mile!

Take the stairs
This one seems so obvious, yet so many people choose to take the elevator instead of the stairs. Sure you don't have to walk 8 floors by stairs, but at least a few steps will provide a good work out! Walking stairs is great for your lower and upper legs and it easily gets your heart rate up, especially if you take a sprint.

Skip the car and take the bike
Help the environment and your health at once by taking the car less often. For shorter distances, the bike is a great alternative to get you from A to B. Cycling is not only a great work out for your legs, a bit of cycling out in the sun and fresh air is also gonna make you feel relaxed and refreshed!

Go for lunch outside
If your job requires you to sit (inside!) all day, make sure to avoid eating your lunch while sitting down, too. Instead, go for a walk outside while you eat your sandwhich or walk even farther with colleagues and have lunch somewhere else, You'll probably have to pick up the pace to be back in time again, so you'll turn your lunch break into a small work out.

Park farther than you need to
If you do want to take the car, don’t stress over trying to get the closest possible spot to your destination. Instead, park farther away than you need to. You’ll get in some extra walking on your way to work or the grocery store.

Take calls standing up
If you spend a lot of time on the phone at work, or talking to your friends for hours, use that time to get off your chair and stretch your legs. Walk around or go up and down the stairs... You can spend that time talking much better than just sitting down!

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For as long as I can remember I have had very dry lips ... The most annoying thing is: I can not stop picking my lips and it results in painful chaps. I have tried a lot to tackle those dry, chapped lips but unfortunately nothing helped. No Labello or fancy lip scrub, not even the well-known O'Keeffes Lip Repair balm. After a long search on the internet I came across a super simple DIY and after a few days I can finally reassure you that this really works! 

The products you'll need

Of course everyone knows Vaseline ... I have had the jars with Lip Therapy before, but I only recently discovered that this product mixed with another product, really gives you amazing results. The stuff I mixed the Vaseline with is 100% pure, Moroccan Argan oil! When I was in Morocco laast year, I went looking for the best, pure Argan oil. Once I found it I took 8 bottles of it home to the Netherlands, of which I still have a nice stock left. Fortunately, there are also enough web shops that sell 100% pure Moroccan Argan oil, but make sure that it actually comes from Morocco and that it has no other additions. 

Why it works

The 'Moroccan gold' has a large amount of anti-oxidants, including vitamin E, which increases the skin's ability to regenerate and it has natural anti-aging properties. Argan oil penetrates deeper into the skin than other oils (such as coconut oil) and retains moisture. Vaseline also does this, which makes me personally think that this combination works so well. I first melted the Vaseline (a whole jar of Lip Therapy) by putting it in a small container and then heating it briefly. I added a tablespoon of Argan oil to the liquid Vaseline. Briefly stir, pour into a small jar and allow to cool the mixture. That's it! 

When I apply this mix to my lips I notice that it is slightly more fluid than just Vasline, because of course oil has been added. But what I also notice is that this combination stays on for a long time and really hydrates my lips. This stuff has finally broken the vicious circle of contstantly picking my lips because they're so dry. In addition, it is a 100% natural product, so I feel free to apply it all day and enjoy sift lips all the time. If you also suffer from dry lips, try this DIY.  Trust me, it is worth it!

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