Expert Skin Care

Ashley Greene has said - after posing for a magazine in a skimpy bikini - that she has no desire to be stick-thin.

She revealed: 'A lot of people like to be super-tiny, but I don't want a child's body - I want a woman's body that is extremely fit. It's so much sexier.'

The 23-year-old actress shares her fitness secrets with Women's Health.

In it, she describes the gruelling exercise routine that gave her the toned body she shows off in the latest Twilight movie, Eclipse.

'My body holds muscle really easily and I tend to bulk up [if I'm always lifting] weights,' the 5ft 5in beauty says.

So, during breaks in filming, Greene says she would do interval training including squats, abdominal planks and lifting kettle bells.

'I did side-planks for my obliques, which are one of my trouble areas,' she said. 'And traditional planks tone your back so you don't have that little bit of fat hanging over your bra. Ugh!'

Greene says she even arranged squat contests among her female co-stars.

When she's not training for the Twilight movies, Greene takes a more relaxed approach to exercise, doing Pilates or running three to five miles, three to five days a week.

'You put on your headphones and go off into your own little world,' says the actress who likes to run in a canyon near her Los Angeles home.

'If you're running outside and you have a beautiful view, you have this sense of being free.'

CELEBRITIES are always under pressure to look good, so it's no surprise that their bathroom cabinets are packed with top-of-the-range lotions and potions. However, many female stars shun leading brands and instead delve into their kitchen cupboards.

Hollywood A-lister Catherine Zeta-Jones recently revealed that she washes her hair with beer to get her gorgeous shimmering locks.

The Welsh actress, who is married to Michael Douglas, also divulged some of her other weird and wonderful beauty tips that are more commonly found in the kitchen than on a cosmetics shelf.

Ever wondered how she maintains her soft, glowing skin? The Intolerable Cruelty star - who turns 40 this year - moisturises with honey and salt to keep her skin looking youthful.

Instead of toothpaste, Zeta-Jones uses natural whiteners such as apples and strawberries to cleanse her canines.

Here we uncover other bizarre - and inexpensive - celebrity beauty secrets that will have you raiding the kitchen cupboards for the next-best-thing.

MILK
Supermodel Cindy Crawford is a fan of milk, but as well as drinking it, the model-turned-actress uses it to cleanse her skin. According to experts, milk contains antimicrobial and cleansing properties. Lactic acid helps dead skin cells deteriorate. Also reported to be a believer in the benefits of milk baths is Cameron Diaz, who uses powdered milk as an exfoliant on her skin which is prone to acne. Mixed with honey, milk helps the skin to glow.

TOOTHPASTE
Besides using it to keep her teeth white, American actress Jennifer Love Hewitt swears by using toothpaste for spots. If apimple appears, she applies a small amount of toothpaste to it, leaves it overnight, and that helps to clear it up.

OLIVE OIL
Pretty Woman Julia Roberts has an unusual beauty regime when it comes to nail-care. The Erin Brockovich star has been known to apply olive oil to her nails and cuticles. Soaking your nails for 30 minutes in a small cup of olive oil can improve brittle, dry nails. Olive oil is also good for you hair, skin and diet.

COFFEE
You can achieve shiny hair using coffee. It's a popular alternative to shampoo for Jennifer Love Hewitt. But coffee also has another use - and that's for beating cellulite, according to Halle Berry. It's the caffeine in it that helps rid cellulite because it increases blood flow and cellulite is related to poor blood supply.

WINE
Desperate Housewives all over Scotland will be trying out this beauty technique - if they crave smoother skin but don't mind wasting a glass or two of wine. Teri Hatcher, who stars in the hit US drama, is a firm believer in pouring some wine into her bathtub. It has a natural skin softener and exfoliant and wine grapes can draw toxins from the body. Some spas have introduced the latest 'vinotherapy' craze.

CRANBERRY JUICE
Pouring a cup of cranberry juice over your hair after shampooing can boost its shine. The juice does this by sealing the cuticle to add shine. It is said to enhance the colour of red or strawberry blonde hair. It's a favourite technique adopted by the likes of Nicole Kidman.

BEETROOT
Bollywood star and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty uses beetroot as a blusher. She says: "If you want a natural flush, boil some beetroot in the microwave and rub a bit on your cheeks, over your moisturiser."

SALT
Salt is great exfoliator: after a bath or shower, sprinkle it on to your hands and rub gently over the skin to remove dry skin. It also acts as an alternative to mouthwash: mix salt with baking soda in a glass of water and gargle. It's thought to whiten teeth and remove plaque.

VINEGAR
If you are prone to bruising, vinegar is thought to help by reducing blueness and speeding up the healing process. Soak a cotton wool ball in white vinegar and apply to the bruised area for an hour.

YOGHURT
A yoghurt face mask is ideal for soothing tired skin or cooling sunburn. Apply natural yoghurt to a cleansed face for 15-20 minutes. Adding honey helps moisturise dry skin and, for oily skin, add a few drops of fresh lime juice. Rinse off with water.

Hair Treatments

Conditioners, special shampoos and other hair treatments can increase the shine of your hair, help protect it and even repair some damage. But if you're afraid of the high price tag that often accompanies salon quality products, here are some simple at-home hair remedies that do the trick.

Dull Hair Remedies

Four household products ensure lustrous hair:

1. Lemon juice - mix it with water and rinse for added shine and bounce
2. Baking soda - mix it into your shampoo to eliminate dirt and grease.
3. Beer - after shampooing, rinse hair with flat beer to add body and shine
4. Tea - boil tea leaves and let cool; apply liquid to dry hair and let sit for 20 minutes; rinse with warm water.
   

Oily Hair Remedies

Two solutions to fight greasy hair:

1. Carrots - boil and mash them and apply to hair; let sit for 15 minutes; wash and rinse
2. Aloe and Lemon - mix ½ teaspoon of aloe and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with regular shampoo; wash and rinse.
   

Dry Hair Remedies

Apply a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Work any of the following ingredients through hair; put on a shower cap or wrap with saran wrap; let sit for 20 minutes; wash and rinse.

1. Mayonnaise
2. Olive oil/ baby oil/coconut oil
3. Egg yolk
4. Mashed avocado
5. Mashed banana
   

Skin Treatments

Forget expensive designer products. Glowing skin is as easy as opening the fridge:

Oily Skin /Acne Remedies

Create a mask or spot treat with any of the following ingredients:

1. Garlic - natural antibacterial properties make garlic a great acne treatment. Press into a paste and apply on acne
2. Honey and apple - mash together, and apply to individual pimples
3. Tomato paste - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
4. Cooked oatmeal - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
5. Egg yolk - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse
   

Dry Skin Remedies

Soft, supple skin is a cinch with any of the following:

1. Almond oil - use as a primer before foundation or as a night moisturizer.
2. Banana - mash and apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes
3. Mayonnaise - apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes
   

Exfoliating Remedies

Slough off dead skin cells with these simple solutions:

1. Coffee - mix a quarter cup of ground coffee with a tablespoon of salt; rub on face then rinse off.
2. Pineapple - a natural acid exfoliant; puree pineapple and apply to skin; let sit for 20 minutes.
   

Nail Treatments

Most nail damage is the result of environmental influences (washing dishes, housework, yardwork, etc.), so try to protect your nails from these culprits. But when all else fails, one at-home remedy can rescue dry, brittle nails:

1. Olive oil - olive oil moisturizes nails and softens cuticles without weakening them, preventing hang nails caused by dry skin. Soak nails in olive oil for a few minutes every week.
   

Tips for Teeth

Teeth discoloration can point the finger at many offenders - ageing, smoking, consuming staining foods and beverages like coffee, red wine, cola, and blueberries. So it's inevitable that many turn to teeth whitening to restore those that were once pearly.

You have your pick of expensive teeth whitening procedures and over-the-counter chemical treatments, but for a more natural solution, try making a paste of the following ingredients:

1. Strawberries - they contain malic acid, which acts as a mild astringent when mixed with baking soda or powder
2. Lemon juice and salt - lemon juice also contains acid
3. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda
4. Orange peel and bay leaves

1. Fix an eye makeup mishap.

Be extra careful -- once you've already smudged, you don't want to make it worse or you'll have to start all over again from scratch. Scott Miselnicky, executive director of global product development at Clinique, suggests wetting a Q-tip with makeup remover and gently dabbing at the mistake until it's completely gone. Go slowly so you don't take off too much!

2. Avoid Shirley Temple curls.

Pageant-perfect curls are a bride's worst nightmare. For a natural look, wrap a section of hair around the outside of the barrel and hold for three seconds. Release and let cool, then lightly run your fingers through your hair. And don't forget -- vary the size of your curls, and switch up the direction in which you wrap them.

3. Fake a great pair of cheekbones.

"If you're face is roundish, shading lightly can work wonders!" says Lucy Baldock-Sacchi, international makeup artist and founder of Lucy B. Cosmetics. She suggests using a matte bronzer just below your cheekbones, then following up with a pink or peach blush on the apples of your cheeks. To tone it down, skip the bronzer and use a hint of shimmer on the highest point of your cheekbones.

4. Flatter your face.

When it comes to choosing a hairstyle, all of our experts emphasize that your look needs to harmonize with your gown. Also, make sure to choose a style that will bring out your best feature, explains Jamal Hammadi, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Hamadi Beauty. "For an updo, placing the style between the top of your ear and the top of your eye (like a high ponytail) will enhance the shape of your eyes, while placing it lower (like a chignon) will put the focus more on your lips and neck," he says.

5. Stave off a breakout.

Right before the wedding is not the time to try out a new skincare regimen. No matter how tired you are, make sure you stick to your cleansing schedule and remove your makeup before you go to bed! If you really need more ammo, try a mask with salicylic acid.

6. Apply perfect foundation.

It only takes two tools to do this right: a quality brush and a makeup sponge. The brush will give you coverage, while the sponge will blend away any streaks or remove excess buildup.

7. Pull off a bold lip color.

Lots of brides like to amp up their look for the reception, and a deeper lip hue is a great way to do it. "Using a brighter lip color will always make your teeth look whiter; a big plus on your wedding day!" says Stila makeup artist Sarah Lucero. Keep all the rest of your face relatively neutral, and your eye makeup soft -- not severe. "Also, make sure your cheek and lip colors are in the same color family," she says.

8. Get voluminous locks.

Even if you're not going with a curly style, a curling iron or rollers should be in your repertoire. "Blow out your hair with a round brush for body, then follow up with a curling iron all over," explains Edward Tricomi, co-owner of Warren-Tricomi Salons.

9. Apply alluring eye shadow.

Eye shadow color trios and quads can be difficult to decode: How do you know where to use each shade? According to Baldock-Sacchi, it's perfectly fine to break the rules and experiment. If you want your eyes to look wider, she recommends using the lightest shade on the inner corner to give your peepers a more open look. Shimmering shades can be used all over and look amazing layered over color. The darker shades should be used for contouring in the crease or the center of the lid.

10. Keep your lipstick on your lips.

Miselnicky suggests applying a small amount of vaseline on to your teeth to keep lipstick from winding up on your teeth. "Also, gently blot your lipstick with a tissue after you have applied it to remove any excess," he says. "Believe me, the groom will be happy!"

11. Fight the frizzies.

"Always try to wash and rinse your hair with cool water, which will help maintain its natural moisture and prevent your hair from drying out," Hammadi says. Follow it up with a frizz-fighting product that will boost your protection level.

12. Make mascara run-proof.

Waterproof mascara is a wedding day must-have. "I use waterproof on everyone involved in the wedding party because you never know who will tear up!" Lucero says. For lower lashes, she recommends applying mascara with a flat eyeliner brush rather than the mascara wand. "This trick prevents smearing under your eyes, which can make you look tired," she explains.

13. Boast a beautiful decolletage.

You want your chest and shoulders to have clear, glowing skin -- especially if you're wearing a strapless gown. Debbie D'Aquino, vice president of global product development at Clinique, recommends wearing clothing that breathes and keeps perspiration from building up on your skin (this goes double for workout wear). Cleanse with a treatment that includes salicylic acid. We love ones that come in spray bottles because it's so much easier to apply to the back.

14. Prevent dark under-eye circles.

It might be tough, but Diane Berson, M.D., says it's key that you get plenty of sleep (and not just the night before the wedding). "Sleep with your head elevated on a pillow to reduce puffiness, and try not to rub your eyes," she says. It's also a good idea to use an eye cream that brightens as well as hydrates.

15. Touch up your makeup.

You may not have time to redo your makeup before the reception starts, but you should give yourself a quick once-over in order to make sure you stay looking great (after all, nearly every second of the reception will be photographed!). Makeup expert Francis Roman of Butterfly Studio says to skip blush (which should last just fine) and your eyelids (too risky). Instead, apply another layer of lip color, and blot your T-zone with an oil-removing paper. Then run a makeup sponge or a Q-tip beneath your lower lashes to remove any mascara or eye shadow that may have smudged or fallen beneath them, and you're good to go.