Beauty Fix: How to get curly lashes without an eyelash curler and more answers to your beauty questions
Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more and provide all the answers. This week we share a tip for eyeshadows that will make blue eyes shine (it’s all about complementary colours!) and an equally helpful product for making dull skin look radiant. Plus: We introduce a new way of applying moisturizer that’s quicker than the traditional pump. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at [email protected].
Is there a trick to getting the last bit of body lotion out the bottom of a pump bottle?
We’ve all been there: you’re in a rush to get out the door in the morning and suddenly the easiest task—applying moisturizer—becomes a struggle when your bottle is near-empty. However, thanks to Vaseline, the days of treating a bottle of moisturizer like a cocktail shaker are over. Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer ($10, well.ca) is body lotion that comes in a spray can, making application easier than ever. Much like spray sunscreen, all you have to do is aim the bottle—the compressed-air system takes control of distributing the right amount of lotion onto your body. Even better, the new formula contains a key ingredient that allows for faster absorption: Stratys-3 is a complex that is comprised of three moisturizing agents which complement the efficacy of glycerol (known for drawing moisture into the skin), ultimately resulting in multiple levels of skin receiving moisture.
I can never seem to get the hang of using an eyelash curler, but I do like the look of curled lashes. Can I achieve the same effect without the eyelid pinching?
Curling one’s lashes is quite literally eye opening, but it can definitely take a bit of practice to get it right and by “right” I mean no skin pinching or sharp angles—there’s a learning curve to curling lashes! Puns aside, if using an eyelash curler really isn’t your scene, you can always turn to curling mascara for a similar effect. The brush is usually the basis of appeal when choosing a curling mascara, and Hard Candy Flat to Fab Mascara ($7, at Walmart) is no exception! The hourglass-shaped brush can be used to essentially sculpt lashes into a curled shape and the mascara formula is both volumizing and excellent for holding the shape created with the wand. Your eyelids will be so relieved!
My concealer seems to be too dry for my dehydrated skin, specifically my eye area, and looks cakey when I apply it. Should I look into a different formula for my skin type?
The first step to any makeup application is to prime the skin, whether it’s with a primer or just by taking the time to properly moisturize skin. The undereye area is tricky, because any type of dehydration can lead to fine lines that makeup just loves to seep into, causing creasing, which is never a good look. Give your eye area a dose of moisturizer and allow it to sink it for a few minutes before applying any makeup to the area. Enlist a liquid concealer, such as Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30, sephora.com) to conceal undereye darkness and other imperfections. This particular formula will work overtime for you (wearing well for extended hours), and it contains antioxidants to reduce skin irritation, as well as increase hydration, firmness and elasticity of the skin.
What colours should I use to make blue eyes pop?
Seek out warm-toned shades such as bronze, gold and brown. The idea at play here is straight-up colour theory: colours that are opposite one another on the colour wheel are complementary. Blue is actually opposite of orange so any shade with a warm undertone is bound to make your blue eyes sing! Colours to consider: Laura Mercier Metallic Crème Eye Colour in “Rose Gold” ($28, at Holt Renfrew) is a warm pink shade with a gold shimmer. Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow in “Panama” ($32, thebay.com), on the other hand, is a deep brown shimmery powder shadow that can be worn wet or dry. Between these two products, there are so many options! Wear each one solo, layer the powder shadow (wet for more intensity, dry for less intensity) over the cream shadow, use the powder shadow on top of the cream shadow as an eyeliner as opposed to an all-over lid colour. Basically play around and see what works best, but rest assured, no one will be overlooking your baby blues!
I find most setting powders dull my makeup. What’s a less mattifying option?
You are absolutely correct – setting your makeup with a loose or pressed powder is the best way to ensure it lasts throughout the day, but it’s easy to lose the healthy radiance of a foundation by using a setting powder that’s too matte in nature. Try to focus the application of your setting powder on the areas in which you need it most (specifically limiting application to the T-zone) and then sweep on a finishing powder such as Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in “Dim Light” ($54, sephora.com) in the areas you want to bring light to. This peachy beige powder neutralizes yellow undertones in the face to make skin appear more alive, and it has a satin finish that gives skin a glow without visible traces of shimmer. It’s the ultimate highlighter for anyone who is anti-shimmer, so it can actually be applied lightly all over the face for a brilliant finish.
 and an equally helpful product for making dull skin look radiant. Plus: We introduce a new way of applying moisturizer that's quicker than the traditional pump. Have a beauty question we haven't answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.
Read on for the full fix! »
Is there a trick to getting the last bit of body lotion out the bottom of a pump bottle?
We’ve all been there: you're in a rush to get out the door in the morning and suddenly the easiest task---applying moisturizer—becomes a struggle when your bottle is near-empty. However, thanks to Vaseline, the days of treating a bottle of moisturizer like a cocktail shaker are over. Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer ($10, well.ca) is body lotion that comes in a spray can, making application easier than ever. Much like spray sunscreen, all you have to do is aim the bottle—the compressed-air system takes control of distributing the right amount of lotion onto your body. Even better, the new formula contains a key ingredient that allows for faster absorption: Stratys-3 is a complex that is comprised of three moisturizing agents which complement the efficacy of glycerol (known for drawing moisture into the skin), ultimately resulting in multiple levels of skin receiving moisture.
I can never seem to get the hang of using an eyelash curler, but I do like the look of curled lashes. Can I achieve the same effect without the eyelid pinching?
Curling one’s lashes is quite literally eye opening, but it can definitely take a bit of practice to get it right and by “right” I mean no skin pinching or sharp angles—there’s a learning curve to curling lashes! Puns aside, if using an eyelash curler really isn’t your scene, you can always turn to curling mascara for a similar effect. The brush is usually the basis of appeal when choosing a curling mascara, and Hard Candy Flat to Fab Mascara ($7, at Walmart) is no exception! The hourglass-shaped brush can be used to essentially sculpt lashes into a curled shape and the mascara formula is both volumizing and excellent for holding the shape created with the wand. Your eyelids will be so relieved!
My concealer seems to be too dry for my dehydrated skin, specifically my eye area, and looks cakey when I apply it. Should I look into a different formula for my skin type?
The first step to any makeup application is to prime the skin, whether it’s with a primer or just by taking the time to properly moisturize skin. The undereye area is tricky, because any type of dehydration can lead to fine lines that makeup just loves to seep into, causing creasing, which is never a good look. Give your eye area a dose of moisturizer and allow it to sink it for a few minutes before applying any makeup to the area. Enlist a liquid concealer, such as Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($30, sephora.com) to conceal undereye darkness and other imperfections. This particular formula will work overtime for you (wearing well for extended hours), and it contains antioxidants to reduce skin irritation, as well as increase hydration, firmness and elasticity of the skin.
What colours should I use to make blue eyes pop?
Seek out warm-toned shades such as bronze, gold and brown. The idea at play here is straight-up colour theory: colours that are opposite one another on the colour wheel are complementary. Blue is actually opposite of orange so any shade with a warm undertone is bound to make your blue eyes sing! Colours to consider: Laura Mercier Metallic Crème Eye Colour in "Rose Gold" ($28, at Holt Renfrew) is a warm pink shade with a gold shimmer. Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadow in "Panama" ($32, thebay.com), on the other hand, is a deep brown shimmery powder shadow that can be worn wet or dry. Between these two products, there are so many options! Wear each one solo, layer the powder shadow (wet for more intensity, dry for less intensity) over the cream shadow, use the powder shadow on top of the cream shadow as an eyeliner as opposed to an all-over lid colour. Basically play around and see what works best, but rest assured, no one will be overlooking your baby blues!
I find most setting powders dull my makeup. What’s a less mattifying option?
You are absolutely correct – setting your makeup with a loose or pressed powder is the best way to ensure it lasts throughout the day, but it’s easy to lose the healthy radiance of a foundation by using a setting powder that’s too matte in nature. Try to focus the application of your setting powder on the areas in which you need it most (specifically limiting application to the T-zone) and then sweep on a finishing powder such as Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in “Dim Light” ($54, sephora.com) in the areas you want to bring light to. This peachy beige powder neutralizes yellow undertones in the face to make skin appear more alive, and it has a satin finish that gives skin a glow without visible traces of shimmer. It’s the ultimate highlighter for anyone who is anti-shimmer, so it can actually be applied lightly all over the face for a brilliant finish.
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