Beauty Botch
It's a given that our beauty routines become faster as time goes on (whether it's due to daily practice or because you're lucky to get 10 minutes each morning to yourself before getting the kids up, dressed, fed and out the door). But expediency doesn't have to mean sloppiness. From smudged eyeliner to outside-the-lines lipstick, here are the top beauty disasters makeup artists regularly see and how to fix or avert them altogether.
Smoky Smudges
Sultry, smoky eyes are a great choice for whenever you want to spice up your look. But that can easily backfire when a dusting of "soot" falls under your eyes or onto your cheekbones. Rather than rub it in, dap a Q-tip into your cream concealer to pick up the mess fast, suggests Noreen Young, celebrity makeup artist, esthetician and spa industry educator. Next, blend with a pointed sponge and a dot of more concealer. To prevent future occurrences, Young recommends using Shadow Shields before applying eye makeup. "I call them baby bibs for perfect, no-mess application," she says.
Double Trouble
Along with smudged eye shadow, there's nothing like smudged eyeliner and mascara to ruin your perfect date-night look. The good news is that they are both completely fixable and preventable, says Margina Dennis, celebrity makeup artist and esthetician. Her advice is to use Makeup Eraser Sticks—a combination of a Q-tip and makeup remover. To prevent smudges (or minimize them at the very least), always wipe excessive mascara and liquid liner off of the brushes before applying. If using an eyeliner pencil, put it in the freezer beforehand for a minute, which will keep loose fragments from breaking off mid-application.
Outside the Lines
As a busy mom, lip liner is likely not getting used a whole lot these days. But it's your best bet to keep lipstick from straying outside the lines. To keep it in place, Young suggests having a clear lip liner in your cosmetic bag. "You apply it like a regular lip liner, and it is invisible to the eye. But it works wonders at keeping the lipstick in place and not running all over your face," she says.
Self-Tanner Tricks
While staying out of the sun may help certain beauty disasters (sunburn, for one), trying self-tanners can bring about another set of problems—namely splotchy, uneven patches. To prevent this or make it less noticeable if it does happen, exfoliation is key, says Dennis. The reason? "Exfoliating gets rid of dry skin and creates a smooth surface for self-tanner," she says. She suggests using a gentle exfoliator like Sex A Peel, which will leave your skin smooth and hydrated.
Red-faced
You're halfway through running errands when you realize (thanks to a side glance in the rearview mirror) that the redness from your wax appointment has yet to subside. Unless you want to rearrange your schedule so that the wax appointment happens last, an easy way to soothe any redness and inflamed skin is fresh aloe. Young recommends keeping an aloe plant at home so that you always have some handy and can take to-go. "A few drops is all you need. It's cooling, soothing and tones down redness, too."
Forget to Set?
No matter how short on time you are always check your face in the sun or in a well-lit area, says Young. "I have seen so many women make the mistake of not applying a light dusting of powder over the foundation to set it," she says. When powder hasn't been applied, your makeup will look disjointed, especially blush. She suggests setting your foundation or tinted moisturizer with powder first and then applying (a small amount) of blush after. Another beauty blunder? Too much blush, which Young calls "cake face." A little goes a long way," she notes.
Tools of the Trade
Like blush, applying bronzer can be disastrous if you don't keep your tools in tip-top shape. "Keeping your brushes clean will help keep your powder blush or bronzer from grabbing," says Dennis. She recommends using a brush cleaner like Brush Off, which rids brushes of bacteria, dead skin and face oil. If you do end up with an overdone or uneven bronzer or blush application, Dennis suggests trying something like MAC Prep + Prime Fix+. Just mist on the face and use a flat top or buffing face brush, like the IT Blurring Brush, which will help blend any splotchiness.
Oil Overload
Using oil to tame your hair is understandable. But going the slightest bit overboard can make your hair look greasy and dirty, says Dennis. For the days between washes, Dennis suggests keeping a dry shampoo in your beauty-product arsenal, such as Batiste.
Well Polished
As if on cue, the smudged manicure dilemma strikes again, which leaves you with three options: Drive back to the salon; find a similar color and fix it yourself; or be content with a botched manicure (and the $25 you just wasted). Thankfully, you now have a clear solution. Dennis suggests trying Londontown Kur Instant Smudge Fix whenever your manicure goes awry. When doing your own manicures, choose polishes that are thinner so that they take less time to dry between coats (Deborah Lippmann is Dennis's go-to brand). And try submerging your nails in ice water to speed up the drying process followed by applying a drop of Jessica Quick Dry Oil to each nail, says Dennis.
