10 POCKET FRIENDLY MAKE UP TRICKS FOR WOMEN

Here are 10 pocket-friendly make up tricks for
Kenyan women on a tight budget.
1. Egg white facial
You can put all your eggs in one basket, but
don’t boil or fry all of them. Use some egg
white as an easy mask to temporarily tighten
pores, thus reducing chances of blackheads
and dealing with those pesky breakouts. Egg
whites are also rich in nutrients for your skin,
and are a little less drying than some other
home remedies for blackheads. Get it, black
head?!
2. Charcoal boils more than just githeri
Charcoal can boil your nyoyo (githeri) and also
double up as a beauty product for clearer
skin. It clears blackheads and removes pore-
clogging dirt, as well as opening up the pores.

3. Mkojo moisturiser
Yes. You read that right! Pee is being used as
moisturiser, as it has been since Julius Caesar
was Emperor of Rome. ‘Urine therapy,’ as it’s
called, has a long history as a skin-
conditioning treatment. Beginning in Indian
culture at least five centuries ago, the use of
urine made its way to the Egyptians, Greeks
and Romans and is now in Kenya, where your
bursting bladder can save you money
for chama!
4. Mnazi deodorant
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which kills
odour-causing bacteria. Dab a little oil under
your armpits to stay fresh (and smell good) all
day. You can also try making your own
homemade coconut oil deodorant, I tell you!
5. Sellotape contouring
You simply place the tape as guideline around
the areas you want to apply foundation that is
darker to your skin tone. Once applied within
the tape, you peel it off and apply a lighter
shade of highlighter or foundation and blend.
Then ta-dah! You are left with Kylie Jenner-
esque cheekbones!
6. Aspirin for acne
Aspirin is typically used to cure headaches,
but it apparently works wonders on acne too.
The pain reliever is a form of salicylic acid,
proven to ‘reduce swelling’, ‘unclog pores’ and
‘soften thick, scaly skin’. An experienced
woman knows how to crush five tablets and
mix the powder with a tablespoon of plain, full-
fat yoghurt and honey, to create a ‘soothing
and moisturising’ face mask.
7. Bye bye, eye pencil
Thousands of women are turning to
permanent make-up, also known as
micropigmentation or cosmetic tattooing, as
the answer to their beauty problems: a hustle-
free alternative to applying eyebrow pencil,
eyeliner or lip liner every day. It’s used
particularly by older women, as eyebrows can
become thin and lips can lose their definition
with age, but now the young ones are
embracing it to stop spending too much on
eyeliners.
8. Honey and milk adhesives
Both milk and honey have properties that are
good for skin. Honey has antibacterial
properties and the lactic acid in milk is said to
help keep skin soft and supple. When mixed
together, they form a formidable adhesive.
9. Oil and avocado hair mask
Mix two tablespoons of honey with a medium-
sized avocado and apply to dry hair for 20
minutes. Your hair will be moisturised by the
avocado’s unsaturated oils and the honey’s
moisturising qualities.
10. Glue si ya mbao

While it’s not advisable to use glue on any
part of your body, it’s one of the best
products to open pores for a thorough, clean
as well as remove black and white heads.