Beauty fix: Dry shampoo on-the-go, the latest in eyeliner and more
Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at [email protected] or ask away in the comments below.
I’ve gotten the hang of gel liner, but I find the gel pot and brush routine sort of fussy. Can I use anything to streamline my application?
Until recently, the application of gel liner involved, at minimum, potted gel eyeliner and a liner brush. Depending on skill level, a bit of mapping out of one’s desired eyeliner shape may be carried out with eyeshadow or an eyeliner pencil. If you’re beyond the novice stage, then you’re ready for the ease and convenience of Benefit’s latest innovation, They’re Real! Push-Up Liner ($29, sephora.ca). This twist-up pen houses a matte black, waterproof gel formula that’s on the drier side, allowing it to set quickly (ideal for anyone who experiences liner transfer to their lids). The formula is dispensed through a soft, flexible silicone tip that actually pushes your lashes down in order to apply liner as close to your lashes as possible, eliminating that annoying flesh gap between lashes and liner.
I’ve fallen hard for my dry shampoo, but it isn’t in travel-friendly packaging. What can I use when traveling this summer?
Dry shampoo is the saviour of many, especially when heading away for travel (anything to squeeze an extra day out of your style, right?). If your favourite dry shampoo isn’t available in a TSA-friendly size, or if you’re a little wary of packing an aerosol can in your bag or you’re anti-aerosol packaging altogether, opt for a hair powder. Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Rush Brush ($22, at Murale) is a perfectly portable powder dry shampoo that’s in a convenient brush applicator. The formula comes in three shades to suit most hair colours and contains calendula and chamomile to soothe the scalp while corn starch absorbs sebum. Simply dust onto roots and brush through hair for excess oil absorption and refreshed hair.
I have very visible pores on my cheeks and hate blush because it seems to settle into my pores. What can I do to avoid this look?
Pores can become more visible with age, but they can be emphasized and magnified if makeup settles into pores, especially if the makeup contains shimmery pigments, which draw attention to skin. Look for a blush that will give you a natural flush while blurring the appearance of pores, such as L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blush in “Soft Pink” ($17, at drugstores). The silicone in the formula creates a veil over the skin to blur pore visibility, and the pigment is buildable, allowing you to control the brightness of the blush once applied. Tap the formula onto cheekbones and blend for a seamless look. Bonus: the formula contains anti-aging ingredients to benefit skin!
I’ve recently switched to organic beauty products and am looking for an under eye treatment to address fine lines. What can I use?
Organic beauty products used to be associated with marginal efficacy, but that’s no longer the case. The organic beauty realm has made leaps and bounds forward in terms of formulation, ingredients (renewable and sustainable!) and efficacy, allowing anyone who opts for organic and natural products to never miss out on the benefits of non-organic products. Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift ($85, murale.ca) is certified organic, and it revives and brightens the under eye area in under ten minutes thanks to the two-step process involving dousing a marine algae eye mask in stem cellular activator fluid (full of antioxidant do-gooder resveratrol, as well as apple and lemon stem cells) and applying it to the eye area. Fine lines are diminished and puffiness is reduced in virtually no time at all!
I liked the eye makeup at Chloé’s Fall/Winter 2014 runway show. What can I use to replicate it?
Diane Kendal created the makeup look at Chloé’s Fall/Winter 2014 runway show, using a blend of two different products to achieve the iridescent lilac shade on models’ eyelids. For simplicity’s sake, try applying your usual bronzer to the crease of your lid with a fluffy eyeshadow brush to give your crease definition. You can customize the next step to your personal preference: apply NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in “Phoebe” ($29, narscosmetics.ca), a shimmering amethyst shade, to the centre of the eyelid, either dampening the shadow brush beforehand for a high-metallic finish, or applying the shadow dry for a softer sheen.
. This twist-up pen houses a matte black, waterproof gel formula that's on the drier side, allowing it to set quickly (ideal for anyone who experiences liner transfer to their lids). The formula is dispensed through a soft, flexible silicone tip that actually pushes your lashes down in order to apply liner as close to your lashes as possible, eliminating that annoying flesh gap between lashes and liner.
I've fallen hard for my dry shampoo, but it isn't in travel-friendly packaging. What can I use when traveling this summer?
Dry shampoo is the saviour of many, especially when heading away for travel (anything to squeeze an extra day out of your style, right?). If your favourite dry shampoo isn't available in a TSA-friendly size, or if you're a little wary of packing an aerosol can in your bag or you're anti-aerosol packaging altogether, opt for a hair powder. Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Rush Brush ($22, at Murale) is a perfectly portable powder dry shampoo that's in a convenient brush applicator. The formula comes in three shades to suit most hair colours and contains calendula and chamomile to soothe the scalp while corn starch absorbs sebum. Simply dust onto roots and brush through hair for excess oil absorption and refreshed hair.
I have very visible pores on my cheeks and hate blush because it seems to settle into my pores. What can I do to avoid this look?
Pores can become more visible with age, but they can be emphasized and magnified if makeup settles into pores, especially if the makeup contains shimmery pigments, which draw attention to skin. Look for a blush that will give you a natural flush while blurring the appearance of pores, such as L'Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blush in "Soft Pink" ($17, at drugstores). The silicone in the formula creates a veil over the skin to blur pore visibility, and the pigment is buildable, allowing you to control the brightness of the blush once applied. Tap the formula onto cheekbones and blend for a seamless look. Bonus: the formula contains anti-aging ingredients to benefit skin!
I’ve recently switched to organic beauty products and am looking for an under eye treatment to address fine lines. What can I use?
Organic beauty products used to be associated with marginal efficacy, but that’s no longer the case. The organic beauty realm has made leaps and bounds forward in terms of formulation, ingredients (renewable and sustainable!) and efficacy, allowing anyone who opts for organic and natural products to never miss out on the benefits of non-organic products. Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Instant Eye Lift ($85, murale.ca) is certified organic, and it revives and brightens the under eye area in under ten minutes thanks to the two-step process involving dousing a marine algae eye mask in stem cellular activator fluid (full of antioxidant do-gooder resveratrol, as well as apple and lemon stem cells) and applying it to the eye area. Fine lines are diminished and puffiness is reduced in virtually no time at all!
I liked the eye makeup at Chloé’s Fall/Winter 2014 runway show. What can I use to replicate it?
Diane Kendal created the makeup look at Chloé’s Fall/Winter 2014 runway show, using a blend of two different products to achieve the iridescent lilac shade on models’ eyelids. For simplicity’s sake, try applying your usual bronzer to the crease of your lid with a fluffy eyeshadow brush to give your crease definition. You can customize the next step to your personal preference: apply NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in “Phoebe” ($29, narscosmetics.ca), a shimmering amethyst shade, to the centre of the eyelid, either dampening the shadow brush beforehand for a high-metallic finish, or applying the shadow dry for a softer sheen.){kind=link}
