My makeup brushes look destroyed after just a few months.
You might not be cleaning them often enough. Letting brushes sit with product on them for too long can permanently damage the bristles, washing them once a month with dish detergent, which breaks down the oils and pigments that build up in the hairs. How you dry your brushes is critical too. After a rinse, lay them flat on a paper towel. If you put them upright in a cup, water can seep into the base and rot the brush.
The only concealer that covers my dark circles is so thick, it looks cakey.
Piling on a heavy cream concealer isn’t the way to go. Liquid formulas absorb more easily under the eyes and cover circles without caking, Go for an opaque fluid with a peach base, which will help counteract the blue-gray tones. Still seeing shadows? Try a dusting of fine, light-reflecting powder over concealer to brighten.
Whenever I wear gloss, an icky white film forms on the inside of my lips.
It’s when lips are dry and flaky that particles can get trapped in the creases and create a gunky coating. Exfoliate your pucker with a washcloth before applying gloss. You can also run a cotton swab along the inside of lips to remove the film. Or switch to a glossy balm, It gives the same shiny look but no residue.
Hairs appear on my skin so quickly after shaving!
Sometimes tiny hairs get trapped under the skin’s surface by dead cells. A light scrub with a loofah before shaving will exfoliate and free hidden hairs so you can remove them in one clean sweep. If you get prickly hairs, use a moisturizer with urea or glycerin to soften and help them lay flat.
Just hours after applying mascara, I find traces of it on my lids.
That’s because mascara can break down when it comes in contact with oils on your skin, leaving telltale spots. If you don’t plan on wearing eye shadow, try this: Before coating lashes, create a matte canvas on lids with primer, like this light NARS formula, then top it with a translucent powder. Look for ones with silica (like MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Transparent finishing powder), which absorbs oil like nothing else.
I wash my face before bed but find makeup on my skin in the morning.
Your cleanser isn’t cutting it. Switch to an oil-based formula, like Bobbi Brown’s, which breaks up cosmetics better than traditional soap, Or wash with your regular cleanser and use a cotton pad soaked in toner to remove any residue left on your skin.
Over time, the packaging of my makeup looks grimy.
There’s good reason, When doing your makeup, your fingers are covered in creams and oils, and that residue winds up on your compacts, What’s worse? You can transfer that residue and bacteria to your face. So keep antibacterial wipes nearby and take a minute to rub down the surfaces. Don’t forget to disinfect makeup and beauty tools as well: Wash eye shadow applicators by hand with dish detergent and water, and regularly wipe down lipstick bullets and gloss brushes.
The skin around my nose is red.
This could be the result of one of many skin conditions, so consult a dermatologist to find the culprit. If the problem is rosacea, for example, you’ll want to avoid inflammation triggers like spicy foods and hot saunas. If it turns out you have dilated or “broken” capillaries, you can consider Intense Pulsed Light laser treatments to shrink the blood vessels; up to five sessions are usually needed, If you have combination skin with redness plus flaking, take a close look at your skin-care routine. Oil-absorbing products can get trapped in the folds around the nose where skin is drier, causing irritation and redness, The solution: Use mattifiers and acne medications only on greasy areas, and switch to a light gel moisturizer.
My self-tanner stains the bed sheets.
Try to do your self-tanning early in the day. Then, after four hours, rinse off in the shower to remove just the temporary bronzer on the top layer of skin, If it’s closer to bedtime, use a large makeup brush to lightly dust yourself with baby powder after the tanner has dried. This forms a barrier that prevents slip-off but won’t alter your hue.
My nails always peel at the tips
Sawing back and forth across your nail tips with a gritty file can cause tears, which then lead to peeling. Use a smooth glass file, and file gently across the edges. A biotin supplement can also help strengthen nails in the long run. Aim for 2.5 mg a day.
I just got a blowout—and now it’s raining!
Toss your head upside down, twist hair into a high, loose bun, then pin it in place, The bun helps keep strands smooth until you get inside. Another solution: “A silk scarf works wonders,” Have one knotted stylishly on your handbag; then, when it’s drizzling, fold it into a triangle, cover hair, and tie ends under your chin. Silk fabric is slippery, so it won’t ruffle your hair and muss up your look.
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