Whether you’re a beauty aficionado, total newb, or somewhere in between, chances are you spend a lot on makeup. A recent study in People Style stated that the average woman spends $15,000 on beauty products in her lifetime! While there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be your best self (#Iwokeuplikethis), it makes sense to save money where you can by using products effectively. Take a look at the 20 best beauty hacks to get the most out of your makeup below.
1. Apply foundation at the centre of the face and blend out.
Avoid the dreaded cake face with this trick. If you start from the outside going in, it can result in harsh, unnatural lines. Blending from the centre of your face pulls the product out, resulting in a faded look with seamless edges. You’ll also end up finishing your look with less product.
2. Apply bronzer in a 3 shape.
If the Kim K. contour seems like way too much effort for your beauty routine, try this quick bronzer trick for a quick contour. Apply your bronzer in the shape of a 3 starting at your temples to make your cheekbones and jawline more pronounced.
3. Use soap to set your brows.
Stop buying eyebrow gel! Keep your eyebrows in place throughout the day and simultaneously make your brows look thicker with a bar of soap. Run a spoolie over the bar and brush it through the hairs for a feathery texture. Head here for full instructions.
4. Test foundation on your neck.
When buying foundation, finding a seamless shade is imperative. Rather than testing the foundation on your arm or face, swatch it on your neck. No one looks good with a face two shades darker than their neck and chest.
5. Avoid harsh lines when filling brows.
Instead of drawing solid lines, use short flicks to fill in your brows – almost like you’re mimicking the appearance of a hair. This results in a more natural looking brow.
6. Apply foundation BEFORE concealer.
Many people think of concealer as the base, but apply foundation first. If you do it the other way around, blending out your foundation will remove concealer, meaning you’ll use more than you need to.
7. Make the arch of your eyebrow darker.
When filling your brows in, define the shape by playing up your arches. The outer portions (where your eyebrow starts and finishes) should be lighter, while you should focus the heaviest amount of product where your natural arch is.
8. Wash your makeup brushes.
Sometimes it seems impossible to achieve clear, radiant skin, but FYI, your makeup brushes could be the culprit. Wash them weekly with a mild face soap to get rid of bacteria. Cleaner bristles will also result in better makeup application.
9. Don’t throw out shattered powdered.
Dropping a compact on the floor can seriously ruin a morning, but there’s no need to despair. You can rebuild your compact by collecting the broken pieces, pouring in a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol, and using your fingers to reshape. Let it dry and your compact is good as new.
Most of us are guilty of this; pumping mascara seems like an innate habit. However, the motion forces air into the tube, which can result in bacteria growth. Instead, try swiping the mascara brush on the inside of the tube, pulling it out at an angle, and then wiping any excess product off with a tissue.
11. Line the outside of your lips with concealer.
Don’t just apply lip liner and lipstick on your lips, but use concealer to sharpen the edges as well. Not only will the lipstick line look clean, the concealer will also keep your lipstick from bleeding out.
12. Don’t use the same concealer to cover pimples and under your eyes.
The concealer you use under your eyes should be a shade lighter than your natural skin tone. However, using a lighter shade concealer on a blemish will end up highlighting the pimple instead of hiding it. Dab a concealer the same shade as your skin on pimples and imperfections.
13. Don’t apply foundation with upward strokes.
First off, let’s start by saying that everyone has a bit of fuzz on their face. Applying foundation upwards and against the grain of these tiny hairs will result in the peach fuzz becoming more visible. Pat the foundation on or blend outwards and downwards for a more airbrushed look.
14. Add moisturizer to your face products for a dewy finish.
You may have heard the term “strobing” within the beauty world… Well, it’s all about enhancing your natural features by using light reflecting products. Add moisturizer to your foundation or concealer for a less intense strobing effect. The moisturizer will help add shine to the areas of your face that catch the light.
15. Use baby powder for fuller, longer lashes.
If the struggle is real when it comes to applying falsies, try this instead. Apply one coat of mascara, dip a Q-tip in baby powder and then run it along your eyelashes, focusing on the ends. Add a second coat of mascara and your eyelashes will instantly look longer.
16. Fake beauty marks to hide blemishes.
We’ve all experienced pesky blemishes that just won’t seem to go away. Even worse, the blemish is crusty or protruding. Instead of packing concealer on (which can actually look worse), apply a regular amount of concealer, some setting powder and then dab a matte brown eyeshadow on top. Sounds weird – but voila your blemish is now a beauty mark.
17. Use dots to get symmetrical winged eyeliner.
When applying winged eyeliner, usually one side is makeup artist-worthy while the other… let’s just say it ain’t pretty. Make your winged eyeliner symmetrical by applying dots first – kind of like a road map – and then connecting them to create a precise line on both sides.
18. Soak your mascara tube in a cup of hot water.
If you find your mascara is getting clumpy too quickly, toss it into a cup of hot water while it’s sealed. This will loosen the product from the sides of the tube and allow for an easier, clump-free application.
Using highlighter under your brows can look a little fake and add too much spotlight under your arch. Instead, use a concealer for a more subtle approach.
20. Use peppermint oil with lip gloss to plump your lips.
Don’t waste your money on expensive lip plumping products. Instead, put a couple drops of peppermint oil on a Q-tip and swipe across your lips. Rub your lips together to make sure it’s coated evenly and then put your favourite lip gloss on top. If you love the results, you can even add peppermint oil to a tube of lip gloss with a dropper.
21. Broken lipstick? Save it by melting it back together.
There’s nothing more annoying than buying a brand new lipstick and having it break right in half upon first application. But the next time it happens, you can fix it by melting the two sections back together and leaving it in the fridge to set.
This might seem like a no brainer, but you can get the most out of any beauty product that comes in a squeezable tube by simply cutting off the end. Squeeze the leftovers into a resealable container (think pill or contact lens cases) to make the most out of every last drop.
Do you know any beauty hacks that we’ve missed? Share with us in the comment section.
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