6 Inexpensive Beauty Tricks Only Stylists Know
Save a little money on your beauty regimen with these inexpensive secrets from the pros.
1. Baby your brushes. Good makeup brushes should last a lifetime. If yours look destroyed, here's how to keep your next brush in tip top shape, according to InStyle's experts. First, never let your brushes sit with product on them for too long; it can permanently damage the bristles, according to makeup artist Fiona Stiles. Wash them regularly with shampoo or a mild dish detergent. To dry, lay brushes flat on a paper towel, says makeup artist Jake Bailey: "If you put them upright in a cup, water can seep into the base and rot the brush."
2. Don't redo makeup-refresh it. There's no need to remove and re-apply makeup after a mid-day meltdown. "To sop up oil and refresh makeup, lightly mist your face with toner, then pat with a tissue," salon owner and makeup artist Eva Scrivo tells Marie Claire. Then dust with loose powder for a smooth, velvety finish.
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3. Skip the expensive body scrubs. Is a spa body treatment beyond your budget? You can easily get silky, smooth skin at home with a homemade body scrub from SheKnows: mix one part olive oil with two parts sugar or salt, then add a few drops of an essential oil (try lavender or grapefruit). Gently massage over your arms and legs before your next shower, then rinse off with warm water.
4. Prepare before you pucker up. Smooth, flake-free lips are an essential first step when applying lip color, but you don't need to buy a lip scrub, personal stylist Fawn Cheng tells SheKnows. Her recipe: Mix equal parts brown sugar, olive oil, and vanilla extract. Gently massage the mixture over lips and remove with a facial tissue. Then proceed as normal with your lipstick routine.
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5. Warm up your foundation with bronzer. You don't need to have an arsenal of different face foundations in your beauty kit, according to makeup artist Brett Freedman. She tells Real Simple, "When summer comes and your winter foundation looks too light, you can warm it up by adding a touch of gel bronzer to it. This is way easier and cheaper than buying a brand-new foundation."
6. Don't over-powder. When you're getting ready on a hot day, don't continuously powder your face as you do your makeup, says makeup artist Lisa O'Connor; you'll risk ending up with a caked-on effect. "Wait until just before you're ready to go out, then blot excess moisture and set your makeup with powder," she tells Total Beauty. -By Amy Ahlberg
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