With the Covid-19 lockdown indoor mask mandate dropped, it’s time to show your bright smile to the world.

The scrapping of the regulation is a blessing for some – masks are uncomfortable and make it hard to breathe; they smudge your lipstick and foundation when you’ve made an effort with your makeup; many of us suffer from maskne . . . the list goes on, so it’s a huge relief to not have to wear the mouth covering.

But if you were one of those people for whom a mask became a type of crutch, we see you. 

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Health regulations aside, hiding behind a mask might have became easy because you were covering whatever real or imagined imperfection you have on the lower half of your face.

Here are some tips to help you smile with more confidence.

A person’s teeth is one of the first things many people notice when they first meet someone.

They can tell so much about a person –  whether they have a gold, crooked, or missing tooth, or unusually large or small front teeth, braces, unnaturally white teeth or staining from smoking, wine or coffee – it’s all there in their smile.

Some problems require professional assistance. But if you just want to restore a little more pearliness to your smile, here’s a quick home remedy to try out.

2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.

Mix the ingredients to a paste.

Use a toothbrush to apply on the teeth. Leave for about 2 minutes.

Tip: Add a bit of water to make the paste softer, and don’t leave it on for longer than 2 minutes or it will erode the tooth enamel.

There’s a famous quote that says, “Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world.”

Sometimes when you’re feeling self-conscious the best thing you can do for yourself is stand out. And nothing does that like a red lippie – just the right one for your skin tone.

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To make your bright, red smile stand out a little more, try going with a classic-glamour makeup look, which works just as easily for the day at work or an evening out without requiring countless hours in front of mirror.

For an old-school chic look you can’t go wrong with, follow these steps.

Use a spoolie brush to comb your brows into place. If you have full brows, use a brow gel. If not, use a brow pencil or kit to fill in your brows. 

Apply nude or beige eyeshadow to the eyelids. 

Use black liquid eyeliner to create a winged look.

Apply strip lashes and touch up the upper eyeliner if necessary.

Finish off with two coats of mascara.

Apply a bright pink blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend it upwards.

Use red lipliner for the outline then apply red lipstick with a lip brush.

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