Tricks of the trade
What do real women do to look beautiful? To find out, I went online and searched my favorite bloggers for their best beauty secrets. Here are their top, go-to strategies for gorgeous hair, glowing skin and marvelous makeup.
Dunk nails to dry
"If you have no quick-dry products lying around, dip your painted nails in a bowl of ice-cold water to help them dry faster. It really works!"
Coat cuticles, avoid a mess
"I rub olive oil around my nails before I embark on a nail-art design. It makes removing excess polish way easier."
Hide chips with textured polish
"Unlike regular lacquer, the glittery kind is supposed to look sort of uneven, so it's great for fix-it situations. When a nail chips, instead of removing all my polish and starting over, I'll just slap on a coat of sparkle over my current color. And when I (inevitably) get another chip, I paint on a little more. You can keep a manicure going indefinitely!"
Steam nails for a matte look
"If I'm making soup or boiling pasta, I'll put on two quick coats of nail polish. While they're still wet, I'll hold my nails for three seconds over the steam coming from the simmering food, keeping them about 5 inches above the water. Then I watch the magic happen: My glossy painted nails turn matte-sexy."—Michelle Phan
Topcoat your decals
"When I opt for nail stickers, I always seal them with a clear topcoat covering the tip of the nail, too. It discourages edges from peeling, makes the decals last longer and gives an authentic painted-on look (so you can pretend you have crazy nail skills!)."—Kathryn Romeyn, Beauty Bender
Take off glitter with felt
"I love sparkly polish, but it sticks to your nails like crazy. To remove it, I use felt instead of a cotton ball—it works like a gentle Brillo pad."—Allison Kratzer, Makeup by Alli
Cocktail your concealer
"I like my cover-up to float on the skin and hide imperfections rather than sink in and accentuate them. My latest trick: I first dab my ring finger into an eye balm (I love Kiehl's Rosa Arctica Eye), then swipe it over a solid concealer and dot it on. The creamy texture blends in very smoothly and doesn't settle into little lines. So nice."—Brooke Pakulski, Blushing Noir
Perk up foundation with face oil
"Instead of layering on powder before happy hour, press a few drops of face oil over your cheeks to refresh your foundation and create a super natural glow."—Elizabeth Dehn, Beauty Bets
Dot your eyes
"I have the least steady hands on the planet, but I love the way my eyes look when they're tightly lined. I've learned to hold a liquid-liner marker pen horizontally, so I'm using the broader side of the tip instead of the fine point, and press it into my lash line. This way I can line my eyes in three to four quick stamps instead of trying to draw a straight line—which is nearly impossible!"—Lara Ramos, The Glossarie
Chill out
"If your eye and lip pencils are really soft, leave them in the fridge for about an hour before you sharpen them—the less creamy they are, the less waste there is."
Blend your own glossy shadow
"I combine dark shades, like metallic brown, deep green or vibrant blue, with a creamy luminizer on the back of my hand to create a gorgeous, subtly glossy version that looks pretty both day and night."—Alexandra Spunt, No More Dirty Looks
http://www.health.com/356d8589-eff7-47ae-88de-c8d990c95763
"I spin my brush in small, light circles from my cheekbone to my hairline. This trick gives a flawless, airbrushed look."—Allison Kratzer
Remove makeup with coconut oil
"After I douse a cotton pad with my regular makeup remover, I add a bit of coconut oil and apply it to my closed eye. It helps break up the makeup, so it slides off with more ease."—Julie Gutierrez, YouTube vlogger
Add blush for lasting color
"Eye shadow works, too, to give lipstick longer-lasting wear and a unique matte finish. Just make sure it matches your lip shade."—Alexis Wolfer, The Beauty Bean
Last edited:
