As a beauty editor constantly interviewing makeup artists, hairstylists and skin care gurus, I hear boatloads of beauty tips. Some are bologna, (I don't lie), filler "tips" that experts have said so many times to so many people they don't even hear themselves say it. Some are boring (i.e. don't pop pimples yourself and wash your face twice a day). But some are pure gold.
So I thought, why not send out a little office survey to my beauty editor colleagues, who also hear an insane amount of tips, and create a list of the 15 Best Beauty Tips We've Ever Heard? Well, I obviously did that. Here are seven that rock our world:
Hairstyling TipWho heard it: Susan Yara, Associate Editor
From: Chris Megia, a hairstylist at the Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in Los Angeles
"After applying dry shampoo to day old (or for me, three-day old) hair, blow dry the roots using a round brush. The mix of the dry shampoo and the natural oils will have the same benefits as a volumizer so you'll get an extra day out of your blow-out and have major volume. I now do this every week!"
Anti-aging skin care tip
Who heard it: Kristen Giordani, Executive Editor
From: Various derms including Dr. Heidi Waldorf, Dr. Ariel Kauvar and Dr. Amy Wechsler
"The best way to fight aging and prevent pimples is to use a prescription retinoid. You've likely heard this, but have you tried it? It is honestly the one thing that will make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. I constantly get compliments on how smooth my skin is and I completely attribute that to my religious use of a retinoid. It helps smooth wrinkles, prevent blemishes, keep pore size small and fight sun damage. Just be sure to also use SPF religiously with it -- another tried and true tip."
Makeup tip
Who heard it:Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor
From: Celebrity makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian
"Sometimes volumizing mascara formulas can be heavy and weigh down your lashes and take out the curl. She told me her best formula for the best lashes: 'Use a waterproof, lengthening formula first, it will hold the curl up. Then add a coat of volumizing mascara on top.'"
Perfume tip
Who heard it: Kristen Giordani, Executive Editor
From: Can't remember, it was years ago
"Fragrance rises, so spritz it on your ankles or behind your knees to help your scent last longer."
Makeup Tip
Who heard it: Susan Yara, Associate Editor
From: A friend
"So this is second-hand knowledge, but Heidi Klum once told my friend that you should swap your usual black or brown eyeliner for purple because it's a subtle way to make the color of your eyes pop. I use MAC Eye Shadow in Sketch, $13.50 and apply it with an eyeliner brush to my upper lash line. No one notices it's purple unless they're up close, but I get a lot of compliments on my eyes when I wear it."
Dark circle tip
Who heard it: Sarah Carrillo, Senior Associate Editor
From: Brow expert Kristie Streicher
"You can use your eyebrows to make dark under eye circles less noticeable. Just tweeze your brows so they're more straight-across than arched. When they're arched you get a complete circle effect (your brows and the dark circles below) and that exaggerates the dark circles, but if your brows are straight across, it breaks up that shape and de-emphasizes the circles."
Hair removal tip
Who heard it: Anna Jimenez, Assistant Editor
From: A friend and later was confirmed by cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu
"If you want the closest shave, shave in the opposite direction of hair growth. But if you're like me, and prone to ingrown hairs, particularly in the bikini line area, shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth is practically guaranteed to make the problem worse. The doc then confirmed that 'when a shave is super-close, the hair can actually retract into the skin slightly and curl back on itself during the first few days after shaving."'
We have eight more tips that are totally worth your time, so see the rest of the 15 Best Beauty Tips We've Ever Heard.
· Want more anti-aging beauty tips? See 10 days worth of tips and advice for youthful-looking skin.
· And what good are tips without good solid facts? See if you know the myths and facts about aging.
· Get more makeup tips and health and beauty news here.
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