If you’re looking for a natural, inexpensive toner, Michelle might have the solution for you. When cooking rice, keep the starchy water that you get from rinsing the uncooked grains and use it as a toner. According to the actress, rice water helps soften and brighten the skin and the third wash is the best. A Vietnamese beautician introduced Michelle the beauty hack years ago and she’s been hooked ever since. The only downside, she says, is that it doesn’t have any preservatives so you can’t keep it for long: “I think you can keep it for a maximum of three days in the fridge. But I’m always cooking rice so it’s always available to me.”

There’s even a sheet mask version too, though she’s not tried it. “Take rice paper like those used to make Vietnamese spring rolls, cut holes for your eyes, nose, and mouth, then soak the paper in water and wear it as a face mask,” shares Michelle.

Heated eyelash curlers are a great and easy way to achieve eye-opening looks. But according to Julie, you can recreate the effect with satay sticks in half the time. Place one satay stick on top of your lashes against your eyelid, then, using a lighter, heat another stick and use it to push your lash in an upwards movement from base to tip. Repeat this a few times and voila, beautifully curled lashes. “The entire process takes seconds and the effect is really great. But you have to be very careful because you can easily burn yourself!” warns Julie.

Learning from the pros, Chantalle revealed that her trick to achieving flawless, long-lasting makeup is to use a sheet mask before applying makeup. The secret is to pick a mask with hyaluronic acid to plump the skin. The mask acts as a primer, hydrating your skin so your makeup will apply more evenly and flawlessly, staying put longer. “I do this before important shoots or appearances and it works because my skin feels very hydrated and I won’t have to deal with cracked makeup or deep makeup lines,” says Chantalle.

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Instead of turning to skincare products, Paige uses mineral water to soothe her sensitive skin after a long day of shoot. After cleansing, she calms her skin by placing cold Evian water-soaked cotton pads all over her face. “It hydrates my skin and is very soothing. I have eczema and it works for me, so it is now part of my daily routine. It was recommended by my beautician and I heard that the minerals in the water are good for the skin. I’m not sure if it will have the same effect if you use other brands,” says Paige.

If you are lusting over Jayley's fair, glowing complexion, the answer is in the vegetable aisle. Instead of plain water, the actress hydrates herself with lukewarm lemon-infused water, sometimes with a few additional drops of honey for flavour. “I’m already fair but [my skin] is more dull yellow than glowing white, so I decided to give the beauty hack a try after reading about it online, and there was indeed a difference after one month,” she shares. While the concoction is great for brightening and detoxifying your skin, we wouldn’t recommend having it first thing in the morning as the acidic nature of the drink could cause an upset tummy.

Photo: TPGOpen

Like Jayley, Hong Ling also looks to lemon to brighten her skin. The actress tells 8days.sg that every week, she exfoliates her skin with fine-grain salt before applying a DIY mask of lemon juice, aloe vera gel, and warm water. “To create the mask, mix two tablespoons of aloe vera gel with a teaspoon each of lemon juice and warm water. I feel salt is good for treating acne so I will use it on my pimples or as an exfoliant before masking,” she says. Leave the mask on for around 15 minutes then rinse it off with warm water.

Want frizzy curls but don’t wish to commit to a perm? Take a leaf from Yasminne's beauty book and go to sleep with braided hair. To ensure the curls last all day, make sure your hair is semi-wet when you braid it, says the Class 95 DJ. Depending on the thickness of your hair, braid it in six to eight parts — and make sure they are tight. “Braid it tight in a mixture of thickness, but don't do small braids ‘cos you'll end up with super frizzy hair like pubic hair,” warns Yaz. The next day, take everything out, flip your hair over, and blast it with hairspray. For added volume, use a crimper to lift the roots.

Lip plumping glosses aren’t new, but if you are reluctant to give up your favourite gloss, try Hazelle’s DIY hack to boost your pout. Just add a drop peppermint essential oil to your lip gloss, mix it well and apply for instantly plumper lips. The peppermint oil simulates blood circulation under the lips, creating a swelling effect, and also serves as a muscle relaxant, so your lips look relaxed yet full at the same time,” says Hazelle. “I personally am happy with the thickness of my lips, but I use this beauty hack from time to time because it’s a good beauty routine."

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Germaine swears by this makeup hack to get an instant facelift. Dubbing it the "facelifting hack of 2020", she says this trick, which she learned on TikTok, is the perfect way to achieve a lifted eye look. “I do this almost every other day. I used to pack on the concealer in a triangular shape, but found that it can highlight eye bags and doesn’t really do much in lifting the face. This hack is minimal, takes less than five minutes, and doesn’t involve packing on too much makeup,” says the 987 DJ. 

In fact, it’s so simple that even noobs can pull it off. All you need are a liquid or stick concealer, blush, contour stick, and a brush or makeup sponge. The magic is in the placement and right combination of products for your skin type. “Try to use products that complement each other in terms of the texture and viscosity. For example, liquid blush with liquid concealer, or cream blush with stick concealer,” she shares. "I use a slightly damp beauty blender for the best results and when applying your makeup, instead of dragging it across your cheek, dab it to get a smooth blend."

Watch Germaine’s tutorial for tips and tricks to achieve a free facelift:

Kym Ng swears by the power of rose oil. When she is tired or doesn’t have time to do her 10-step skincare routine, she will apply the essential oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties and promotes circulation, all over her face before hitting the sack. “It acts as a moisturiser and mask, and the next day you will wake up looking very fresh. It is not only good for the skin, but also the hair and my husband likes the scent too!” she says. “After I blow-dry my hair, I will apply it to the roots. It soothes the scalp and repairs it. I have been doing this for the past two years since I started growing my hair out.”

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Dubbed the beauty guru of radio, Jiahui reveals that the secret to her glowing complexion is daily exfoliation. Instead of a facial scrub, which can be harsh for the skin, she uses an exfoliating lotion to gently remove dirt and dead skin cells that contribute to skin dullness. The lotion can even double up as a moisturiser. After cleansing, pump the lotion onto a cotton pad, gently wipe over your skin, and you're done! “Exfoliating lotions are much milder than scrubs, and they help to cleanse the skin really well too. There were times when after cleansing, I realised there were slight traces of makeup. And it’s gentle enough for daily use and keeps the skin smooth and unclogged. I don’t have to use a weekly scrub anymore,” says the YES 933 DJ.