4 Game-Changing Beauty Shortcuts
Find the Right Shade of Blush
Take a very brisk walk to the drugstore or department store. When you get there, look for a blush that matches your natural flush, says makeup artist Molly Stern. Here's where to start:
If your skin is fair, pastels (like baby pinks and peaches) work best.
If you have an olive complexion, try fuchsia and orangey tones.
If your skin is dark, choose a coppery or golden shade.
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Get Rid of That Ponytail Crease
You know the bend that's left in your hair when you take a ponytail out of its elastic? Here's a trick for getting rid of it, from Tommy Buckett, a stylist at New York City's Marie Robinson Salon. Lightly dab a little water on the bend. Part your hair down the middle from front to back and separate each section in half. Then, with the nozzle of your blow-dryer directed down over a flat brush, run the brush through each section from roots to ends. (If you have curly hair, let it air-dry; the hair will go back to its natural wavy texture.) Finish by using a smoothing shine spray (like Tresemmé Smooth No Frizz Shine Spray, $5; drugstores).
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Keep Your Red Lipstick from Bleeding
Follow this simple three-step process from Rick DiCecca, Estée Lauder's global makeup stylist. First, swipe on a lip balm with shea butter (like Aveeno Lip Conditioner, $4, or Nivea A Kiss of Moisture, $3; drugstores). Then apply a dab of foundation and blend with your fingers all over lips. This evens out existing lines and creates a smooth surface for lip liner. Use a liner with a waxy formula (like Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip Pencil, $19; EsteeLauder.com) and follow your natural lipline. Lipstick pigments will adhere to the wax, creating a barrier that will stop the color from bleeding. - Alessandra Foresto
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Stop Flyaways
Next time you whip off your hat to find your hair standing on end, rub an unscented dryer sheet over the flyaways, says David Evangelista, a hairstylist in New York City. To further calm static, use a conditioner that contains cetrimonium chloride (like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, $7; drugstores). The positively charged ingredient dissipates the negative charge that causes flyaways, says Mort Westman, a cosmetic chemist in Oak Brook, Illinois. This two-pronged strategy will cut down on your hair-raising experiences. - Alessandra Foresto
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