8 Essential Makeup Hacks Everyone Should Know
Who needs a glam team when you have these hacks?
The surge of confidence you get when you rock a daring lip color is unmatched. The sensual nature that rises within you when you sport siren eyes is unrivaled. And the overall feeling you get when your makeup looks like it was chiseled and drawn by the makeup artist of all makeup artists is incomparable. But unfortunately, our makeup doesn't always come out the way we envision it. Our mascara smudges, our lipstick moves, and we end up feeling more like a young adolescent exploring makeup for the first time.
When these days come out swinging, it's important to have some helpful hacks in your back pocket. So, L'OFFICIEL's done just that. We've compiled a list of makeup hacks that everyone, pros and beginners alike, should always have at the ready.
In a perfect world, we'd all be able to leave the beach looking like we just returned from a week in the Bahamas—aka with the most beautiful, shimmery, golden tan. But for some of us, that's the furthest thing from reality. So, if you're still looking to get some summer color without the harmful rays of the sun (and an extremely uncomfortable sunburn), try this easy blush hack. Instead of just applying color to the apples of your cheeks, swipe some product across the bridge of your nose, too. Because this is where the sun would normally color your nose, you'll be left with a natural, but painless flush.
This next tip, while hotly debated, is great when you're in a pinch. Eyeshadow primer is crucial when preventing your vibrant eyeshadow from smudging, fading, transferring, creasing, or all of the above. But when we run out of product or we're trying to travel lightly, concealer can come to the rescue. The skin-colored product can help provide a neutral base for your shadows, while also giving the pigment something to stick to.
Thank Sabrina Carpenter and her Mean Girls Broadway co-star for this simple hack. Place a tissue on top of your lips and simply powder your lips over the tissue. That's it. Before you know it, whether you opted for a crimson red or a more natural neutral, your puckered pout is going to stay put.
Dipping your mascara into the tube, only to reveal a dried-out cakey product is the opposite of ideal. Instead of instantly running to the store to grab a new one, try squeezing a few drops of contact solution into the product. Within seconds, the shelf-life of your now revived mascara will be able to give you spider-like lashes for (at least a few more) days.
We've all been there before: You're swiping your favorite volumizing mascara across your eyelashes when all of a sudden you blink. Suddenly, the eyeshadow of your dreams is littered with dark, unwanted mascara marks. While your first instinct might be to try to wipe off your mistake as fast as possible, instead, let these pesky marks dry first. Then go in with a Q-tip and gently buff them off the skin. And with that, you can say goodbye to streaks and smudges.
For soft and smooth lips, exfoliation is key. Gently brush your toothbrush over your lips a few times and follow that up with your favorite hydrating lip balm. Not only will the scrub slough off dead skin, but it will also reveal a natural, rosy color—no makeup needed. But, if you do feel fancy and want to sport a bright matte lip, your lips will be ready to roll—and there won't be any flakiness.
While this might seem silly, it's such a life-changing hack. Don't have a colored lipstick on you, but have a powder blush? Swirl the product on your palm, grab your favorite lip balm, and mix them together. No highlighter? No problem. Take your lip gloss and put a small amount on the high points of your face. No eyeshadow? Grab your bronzer and layer it on your lids until you get the desired color. Makeup is multi-purpose. Use it to your advantage.
If you've found yourself on the makeup side of TikTok at all, you've probably come across the viral videos of a woman smearing drips of foundation all over her face. But instead of grabbing a brush or sponge, TikToker Meredith Duxbury uses her hands first and, well, it always ends up looking flawless. In fact, using your hands can serve a two-fold purpose. Using your hands will help melt the product into your skin, while also preventing a sponge or brush from soaking up excess product. And this hack works for more than just foundation. Use your fingers to apply blush, eyeshadow, lip gloss...the possibilities are endless.
