#TipThursday TheNicoleCode's Tips on Beauty on a Budget

Nicole Chikwe was our Expert on today's #TipThursday and she gave ten great tips on how to look great on a budget.

From skincare to make up to style, we can spend so much and sometimes it is cool to just spend a little less. So here are beautypreneur, model and blogger www.thenicolecode.com 's top ten ways to do this!

- Add BAKING SODA to your regular cleanser to make it more exfoliating. That way, you won't need to spend money on an extra scrub. You should ideally exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skincells and to leave your complexion glowing. Baking soda is also great for teeth whitening.

- If you run out of shaving cream, HAIR CONDITIONER is a great substitute! It gives you a nice smooth shave.

- HONEY is perfect for healing acne-prone or dry skin. Just spread on clean skin and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Honey is a powerful antioxidant and also has antibacterial properties, making it good for breakouts. 

Honey is also a humectant which means it draws and retains water so it is also great as a hair conditioner. Just apply one teaspoon into damp hair and rinse with warm water

- Can’t afford to get a manicure? SOAK your nails in hot water, then use a warm wash cloth to push cuticles back

- LEMON is an excellent skin brightener and can be used to fade hyperpigmentation and acne scarring without breaking the bank. Half a teaspoon with a tablespoon of honey as a mask, or dilute half a teaspoon in some water, leave on skin for 15 mins and rinse off. Doing this consistently will leave your complexion glowing and even

- Make your MAKEUP versatile.
For examples, use your neutral eyeshadow as a highlighter, or mix your pink eyeshadow with some Vaseline to create a longlasting lip Stain/gloss.

Lipstick can also be used as a blusher if you run out.

- Buy Coconut or olive OIL.
It can be used in your hair, on your skin and on your lips and as an eye makeup remover. These oils are very versatile and should be a staple in every woman's cabinet.

- NAPKINS or toilet roll are a good substitute for blotting paper, so when you start getting a bit oily during the day, pop down to the bathroom, get some toilet roll, open it up and it soaks up all the excess oil leaving your makeup intact

- Drink at least two litres of WATER a day
Staying properly hydrated everyday is relatively inexpensive and Does more than a lot of beauty products. It helps with acne, with bloating, flushing out toxins and it keeps your skin wrinkle free

And finally, the cheapest AND best thing you can do for your body is to

- Get more SLEEP.
Beauty sleep is not a myth. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep a day helps you get fewer wrinkles, a glowing complexion, brighter and less puffy eyes and helps your products work better as your skin has more time to heal and repair itself.

(Follow @TheNicoleCode on twitter, snapchat and instagram for more beauty tips. Check out www.thenicolecode.com)

#TBDaily 3 Ways to Kickstart your Day!!!

Hi everyone,

It's been a busy day today and I'm writing this on my way home.

I wanted to give you some tips on some things I do (sometimes the day before) that help my 'get up and go' and general core daily.

For this post, I'll do a mix of physical and mental.

1. Plan today yesterday
I take out about an hour each day to prep for the next day. This includes writing out my to-do for the next day, prepping for my show, laying out my outfit and sometimes, even thinking about how I'm going to style my hair.

Let me explain.

I noticed that some days I left home late because I hated the jeans I had chosen or I just couldn't think of what to do with my hair. Then I'd go through the day hating what I'd picked.
So now I lay out my clothes and think about my hair. It actually helps.

2. Eat!!!
My friend was telling me at 5pm today that she just realised she had not eaten all day because she left home early. So I told her to buy cereal and take that in the morning.

Like her, I used to leave home with nothing in my tummy, not even water. It meant I would be at work hungry and end up eating snacks or being unhealthy.

Now I drink tea or have some cereal and it actually helps. Have handy things at home for when you have to leave early (yoghurt, sliced bread, coffee / cocoa mixes, fruits etc).

That way, you at least have something in your stomach!!!

3. Pray!
When I don't start my day off with prayer, I feel lost and listless.
Take at least fifteen minutes to yourself every day to pray, meditate and centre yourself. I find Lagos to be the kind of place where anything can happen so be careful! You want to be emotionally and mentally ready for anything and what better way than to pray?

Do you have any tricks or tips to s.h.a.r.e with us?