Take it from someone who tries out skin, hair, and make-up hacks for a living: The five-minute hack videos all over the internet hardly ever work. But, thanks to social media and beauty influencers, every once in a while, we come across a trick that revolutionises our routines. If you’re someone who enjoys learning new tips that allows you to skip a step (or many!) in your skincare or makeup regimes, keep reading…
Q-tip lipstick trick
The original beauty influencer, YouTuber, and now beauty mogul, Huda Kattan, swears by this hack to avoid getting lipstick on your teeth, and we totally believe her! All you have to do is place a Q-tip horizontally between your lips and apply lipstick as you normally would, but with your mouth closed.
Faux facelift hack
To give your face an immediate lift at home and with zero downtime. Just use the products you have in your makeup kit very smartly. It is all about strategic placement of concealer, bronzer, and blush. For this tip, we recommend using cream or stick products as you will be applying all of them together, and then blending them out with a brush or sponge. Instead of drawing triangles under your eyes, apply concealer to only to the inner and outer corner of your eyes. This will pull up your eyes and cheekbones. Next, apply bronzer and blush right above your cheekbones instead of under them (for blush) and apples of your cheeks (for rouge). The higher application of these products will make your face look more lifted.
Blinding highlighter tip
To intensify any cream or powder product–be it eyeshadow or highlighter–keep a setting spray and a densely brush or beauty sponge handy. Dampen the sponge with some setting spray and press it in the powder formula. Dab this on your cheeks (or lids) and repeat to build up the pigment.
Jamsu technique
This tip to seal in makeup is supermodel, Bella Hadid, and Korean beauty-approved. Begin by doing your makeup–foundation, concealer, contour, blush and whatever else it is you’d like to apply—before you powder your face. Then, dust it with translucent powder and submerge it in a bowl of icy cold water. Hold it in the water for about 15 to30 seconds, then pat it dry with a gentle washcloth. How does this work? Well the powder sets the make-up and the water locks it in.
Frozen cucumber hack
The latest trend that’s been doing the rounds is this one: The frozen cucumber hack. Beauty enthusiasts swear that this hack to control sebum production (read: oily skin) and acne. Simply take a cucumber and cut it in four to five pieces. Then pop it in the freezer. Use these pieces on your face to massage it. This skincare hack works because cucumbers are high in vitamin K that can help reduce dark circles. The fact that they’re frozen also helps soothing inflammation and swelling, and reduces puffiness.