How to get a brighter, whiter smile in 6 easy steps

Having a brighter, whiter smile is something every women wants. The easiest and quickest way to achieve those pearly whites is to spend a couple thousand rands and give up a few hours in your day every 2-3 months sitting in a dental chair - maintaining your whites!

BUT, most of us just don't have the time nor the money these days to spend on dental services and we are forgetting that there is a far more simple solution!

6 simple adjustments to your daily routine:

#1 In the morning - Avoid coffee/tea as best you can as this is one of the main causes of stained teeth. However, if you are anything like me in the mornings where coffee intake is an absolute must, then please proceed with your morning coffee - brush your teeth straight after your cup of goodness, add some whitening strips along your teeth and have a shower. Peel off 10 minutes later.

#2 Lunch time - carry a bottle of H20 around with you wherever you go. Swish some water around in your mouth after your meal. Do this after snacks and/or coffee during the day as well.

#3 Mid day Snack time - Best snacks for a brighter smile which happen to be really healthy as well; apples, pears, strawberries, carrots and celery.

#4 Dinner - When you finish your meal, pop in some whitening gum, which contains stain-removing calprox. Still, any gum will work. Because it stimulates saliva flow, it will act as a natural detergent.

#5 MAKEUP - When going out for the night, opt for a lipstick that will make your teeth appear brighter instantly. Lipsticks with blue undertones — rose, red, burgundy, and plum shades — work best.

#6 BEFORE BED - Just as its a bad habit to go to bed without removing your makeup, don't hit the sack without brushing your teeth. Try to get a flossing session in as well for best results.

The Pros and Cons of Revlon Colorstay Foundation

I have been searching for a brilliant, medium - full coverage foundation which will leave my skin looking matte for hours and I have finally come across a real gem drugstore foundation.

Pros

• It is a sweat proof, oil-free formula which leaves you looking fresh and matte all day.

Its incredibly easy to find the right color for your skin tone as Revlon Colorstay has such a wide range of colors to suit your skin tone. And even if you are an in-betweener, its fairly easy to mix foundations, also many shades come with a yellow undertone as well.

• Its pretty inexpensive (as is expected from being a drugstore foundation) compare to brands like M.A.C etc.   

•One bottle goes a long way! It definitely stays on all day if you are looking for that ultra long-wear foundation. The Revlon Colorstay foundation claims it lasts up to 16 hours, even up against a crazy heated climate.

• It comes in two formulas, combination/oily and dry, so it doesn't dry out dry skin or increase shine on oily skin.

• Very easy to apply

• Gives Medium to Full coverage.

• Its very easy to layer and mix without getting cakey.

• Does not clog pores or feel heavy on the skin, it is a very light and smooth consistency.

• The #1 thing I love the most about this foundation is the fact that it contains mattifying agents leaving your skin looking flawless and matte.


Cons

• The old packaging does not have a pump, making it quite difficult to get the last 3rd of the product out. Revlon colorstay active is now packaged in a pump bottle making the lives of many makeup manias around the world so much easier!

• For those with oily skins, you do tend to get abit shiny after 5-7 hours of wear. This can simply be fixed by using some powder. (Rimmel Stay Matte works wonders for me!) Oil absorbing wipes can also be used but I don't recommend you rub or press too much, as this will remove your foundation and/or create an unevenness of your skin tone.