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Sometimes the best solutions to our biggest beauty annoyances are surprisingly simple.
If you think you've already got a bag of beauty tricks, well, it's time to get a bigger bag. We asked top experts for their best makeup and hair tips
to help you look gorgeous. They cut down your get-ready time, too,
because we know you probably don't get much solo time in the bathroom. But that's not even the best part — you can master these moves with stuff you already have in the house. When there's no extra shopping involved, you know it's gonna be good.
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Prevent Mascara Smudges
Let's be honest: You always get way
more business cards than you could possibly hand out. So make good use
of those extra cards and have them work as the beauty tool you never
knew you needed. Sonia Kashuk, professional makeup artist and founder of
Sonia Kashuk at Target,
says to apply mascara with your dominant hand, per usual, and use your
other hand to hold a business card over your eyelid, right above your
lashes. That way, while you apply each coat the card works as a shield
to prevent any raccoon-like appearances at the office.
Grow Thicker Eyebrows
Big, full eyebrows have been a major beauty trend over the last year, and they're not slowing down in 2016. But if you're still paying for those over-plucked days of the '90s,
don't fret. Castor oil will give you Brook Shields-worthy eyebrows in
about two months, says Jessica Scantlin, director of artistry for Blushington.
Every night, put three or four drops in your palm and, using your
finger or a cotton ball, completely coat your whole brow and brow bone
(we like this one from drugstore.com).
Let it soak in while you sleep, as "the fatty acids can stimulate blood
circulation to the area and subsequent hair growth," says Mona Gohara, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine.
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Your
new secret weapon: scotch tape, says Kashuk. First, take a very small
piece and stick it to the back of your hand to remove some of the
adhesive. Then, place one end at the outer corner of the eye and lay it
at a diagonal toward the end of your eyebrows, she says. The tape acts
as a guide, letting you know how far out to apply your eye shadow, and gives your look a super clean edge.
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Perfect Your Eye Shadow
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Make Your Own Highlighter
Don't
have any highlighter on hand? Just mix some of your light, shimmery eye
shadow (champagne works great) with a few pumps of eye serum or cream, says Romy Soleimani, makeup artist and beauty director at large of Beauty.com. It'll give your favorite features just the right amount of attention so no one will know how much sleep you got — or didn't get — last night.
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Reduce Redness After Tweezing or Waxing
There's
nothing cute about bright-red eyebrows that refuse to return to their
normal shade for hours after leaving the salon. For a quick fix,
saturate cotton balls with whole milk and apply directly to the red
areas, suggests Lisa Pentangelo, a New York-based makeup artist and
owner of Browbitch. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wash your face with cold or tepid water and you'll be good to go.
Keep Polish Off Your Cuticles
Stay away from a messy-looking mani by covering your cuticles
with a little Elmer's glue, says Shim. Dab a Q-tip in the stuff to make
it easy, then apply and let dry for a few minutes before doing your
polish. Once you're done, all you have to do is peel off the glue for picture-perfect nails.
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De-Puff Your Eyes
After you steep your green tea, wrap the bags in saran wrap and store them in the fridge, suggests Soul Lee,
owner of Beautiful Soul Makeup Studio. When your eyes seem puffier than
usual in the morning, place a bag on each eye for a few minutes, as the
natural caffeine in green tea can help reduce swelling.
Warm up your pencil eyeliner and not only will it be easier to smudge for that perfect smoky-eye look, but it'll also go on as smooth as liquid liner, says celebrity makeup artist Allan Avendaño.
Using a lighter, hold the flame near the tip of your pencil for just a
few seconds (don't let the flame directly touch any part of your
eyeliner), then blow on it to help cool a bit before applying.
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Turn Your Pencil Eyeliner Into Gel
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Make Your Nails Dry Faster
There's
nothing worse for a busy woman than sitting around an extra 15 minutes
(im)patiently waiting for nails to dry. So after applying your topcoat,
add a drop of olive oil
to each finger, and allow the oil to run down the nails, says Shim. The
extra coat will add a protective barrier to the polish, and Shim says
it'll shrink your dry time to 10 minutes or less.
Deep Condition Your Hair for Cheap
Yes, coconut oil
to the rescue once again. But it's when the stuff is coupled with a
shower cap that makes it most effective, says celebrity hairstylist
Jennifer Nast. Apply the oil from scalp to ends, then pop on a cap to
create heat that allows the oil to penetrate the hair. Let it sit for an
hour before following your usual shampoo routine to reveal seriously soft and shiny strands.
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Get Thicker-Looking Hair
If you have fine hair, celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago
says you can apply eye shadow to your scalp (or just your part) to make
your hair look more full. Using a medium-sized eye shadow brush, gently
apply powder the same shade as your hair (we love the wide variety of
options from MAC) directly to your scalp until the area is lightly covered.
[post_ads_2]Tame Hair Static Stat
No, you don't need a dryer sheet in your purse at all times.
Instead, just rub a dime-size amount of hand lotion into your palms,
then run your hands through your hair, says Nast. Done and done.
