Don’t you love when you try a hack for something and it actually works. Maybe you ran out of something and there’s a replacement you didn’t know about. Or maybe there’s a cheaper product right under your nose that’ll do the job of your usual more expensive one. Well today I’m going to share my 7 favorite beauty hacks.
Beauty Hack #1
The cheapest and easiest way to clean up your nails after you’ve finished painting them is with some nail polish remover and a $1 e.l.f. concealer brush.
Years ago I bought this cute little remover pen to take polish off around the nail bed and clean up any mistakes. It was great while it was new. Unfortunately after repeated use the marker-like tip became disfigured and didn’t clean up small areas as well as when it was new. The pen came with a couple extra tips but if you were lucky enough to not misplace them you probably changed them just when the pen ran dry.
My next pen was from a different company and was horrible. I suffered through years of bad cleanup jobs (yes, Q-tips I’m looking at you!) until I was flipping through nail pics and came across a girl with gorgeous nails. Her paint job was perfect. She stated that she used an eyeliner brush dipped in acetone to clean up her lines. From there on out that’s all I’ve used and it’s the best hack ever!
Here’s what I use: Up & Up brand acetone remover and a $1 concealer brush from e.l.f.. (Only use the white cheaper brush, not the black one as it tends to bleed from the remover.) First I paint my nails as I normally do and when I’m finished I carefully pour a little remover into the bottle’s cap. Next I dip the brush into the remover and dab it lightly on a paper towel then go around each nail. I wipe the brush off after each pass along the nail to remove any polish and then re-dip and dab again. This works like a charm!
Beauty Hack #2
This is a great hack for folks with oily hair or anyone who feels theirs needs a refresher. Both of my girls went through a spell where their hair would get oily super fast. They’d wash it before bed and it looked and smelled oily the next morning. Dry shampoo wasn’t as big back then so I didn’t have that to rely on but I did have cornstarch.
Yes cornstarch. The stuff you use in cooking. I recall more than a few mornings spent dusting their scalp with the stuff. As a matter of fact, I kept a baggie of it under the cupboard in the bathroom.
Here’s how I used it: I would dip my fingers in the cornstarch and then rub it through their hair at the scalp. It’s better to start with a little and add more. You don’t want to walk out with a huge dusty gray patch on your head. Continue adding more slowly until hair looks fresher. The cornstarch helps soak up some of the oils and give a little bit of lift to the hair. Be sure to wash hair thoroughly at night.
Beauty Hack #3
If you’ve read any of my First Friday Faves posts you may have come across this next hack. It’s possibly my favorite or at least a close second favorite beauty hack. I swear by this product when it comes to mattifying an oily t-zone. I have tried tons of face primers claiming to mattify oily skin but none have ever worked for me. The only things that came remotely close were a Bonne Bell product discontinued at least 15 years ago and an Estee Lauder gel that they may not even make anymore but I know I definitely can’t afford.
I had to find something that worked all the time and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. One day I was on my favorite website, First Friday Faves and I came across a post about using Milk of Magnesia as a primer. I figured it was worth a shot since nothing else worked so I bought the generic brand from Walmart in the plain flavor. I swear I heard angels singing. This stuff worked!
Here’s how I use it: [I have to make sure you’re aware that I only use this under foundation!] After I wash my face and apply moisturizer I apply a thin layer over my nose and sometimes onto my cheeks where they meet my nose. Then I either shake the bottle and dip my finger in what’s on the cap or I dip my finger inside the spout of the bottle. Next I dab and lightly spread the liquid over the skin. Typically I try to concentrate on the areas where my pores are larger. I have not had any issues with this clogging my pores or causing breakouts but you may want to test a small inconspicuous area first before going all in.
Make sure you’re applying it as evenly as possible. It will dry to a white-ish finish. You don’t want it completely opaque, just hazy looking. Sometimes you get uneven coverage. You can take your finger and rub the heavy spots to even things out or use a fingernail to scrape a bit off. Also, when the bottle becomes older the liquid inside gets a bit thicker which can make the substance gritty. I apply like normal but rub off any grit before applying foundation. I’ve never had any issues applying foundation over the milk of magnesia. It works really well at keeping the oiliness at bay and if I do get shine it’s a LOT less noticeable than without the primer.
Beauty Hack #4
Did you ever get a zit but didn’t have anything to help tame it? Maybe you ran out of your benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid creams and potions but needed a quick fix. When I was younger I used this zit zapper all the time. Good old-fashioned toothpaste!
When I got a pimple I’d grab our regular toothpaste. I’d squirt some onto my finger and dab on the pimple. I always tried to use basic non-gel toothpaste as that seemed to work best. Make sure to wash your face the next morning.
Did this hack actually work? Well, I know I used it lots of times so it must have done something for me. I would suggest using it sparingly as it may irritate your skin.
Beauty Hack #5
Fixing a broken fingernail with a tea bag and Crazy Glue. This hack has saved my grown out nails a couple of times. Granted, you need to have these two pretty basic items on hand to make it work but if you purchase them ahead of time and keep them in your manicure bag you’ll be ready when you need them.
How to use them: Start with freshly cleaned unpolished nails. Take your scissors and clip off a small piece of the tea bag. It should be big enough to cover your nail break and wrap around one side of the nail but no bigger than that. Make sure your nail is set and not crooked or overlapping and squeeze a small dab of Crazy Glue onto it. You can use a cotton swab to spread it over the break and onto the underside of the nail. Gently apply the tea bag swatch. It should cover the break by wrapping around the side of the fingernail. Allow the tea bag to dry then file the edges with a rough nail file and finish with a finer grit. When the edge is smoothed to your satisfaction cover with a base coat and follow with regular nail polish. Voila!
Beauty Hack #6
I don’t know about you but I swear I create static electricity everywhere I go. It’s especially bad this time of year (cold and dry). I’m going to tell you how I combat pesky static that affects your hair and clothing while at home and away.
First of all one of the best ways to keep static at bay is by using a moisturizer every day. And I mean applying it from head to toe. I personally love Curel but you can use whatever you like as long as it provides all day moisture. Then for added anti-static insurance I spray my sweaters with Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus both inside and out.
But… sometimes that isn’t enough to stop the static monster. My biggest problem area for static while out and about (besides my car) is inside dressing rooms while trying on clothes. Yikes!! My hair can look fine going in but once I pull a sweater over my head it’s game over. Every single hair decides to freak out and either stick to my face or stand up on end. It can be very embarrassing when you’re finished and leave the fitting room looking like you stuck your finger in the electric socket on the way out.
So let me tell you how I combat that: Always carry hand lotion with you. While it’s even better to carry a travel size bottle of the Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus with you it’s not always practical. I recommend you keep a tube of lotion in your purse. There are some really small ones out there so you shouldn’t have any problems finding one.
When you’re in the dressing room and the static monster starts to rear its ugly head squeeze a bead of lotion in you hand, rub your hands together and rub over your hair lightly. This method has saved my hair in Kohl’s dressing room so many times. And if you forget your lotion, which I’ve done before, you can resort to lip balm if you’re desperate. Yes I’ve been there and done that. You obviously don’t want to use a sparkly or outrageous colors but any plain type will help in a pinch
Beauty Hack #7
This last hack is a true lifesaver. I’m a lint rolleraholic. I use mine all the time! When you have as many pets as I do you can’t live without one (or more!). I try to take one with me everywhere I go but sometimes you just don’t so a hack I found useful is tape.
Next time you’re ready to go out and you want to roll your clothes but find out you’re all out of sticky strips reach for a roll of tape. You can use whatever tape you have on hand as long as it doesn’t leave residue so I’d check on an inconspicuous area before you go all out on your entire outfit. I’ve used regular scotch tape, packing tape and masking tape.
I’ve used this trick before, after I arrived at work and realized I didn’t have my roller with me. I’d tear off a big strip of scotch tape, hold an end in each hand and pounce it over my clothing. When it wasn’t picking up anything else I’d tear off another piece and continue til I was de-furred de-linted. While it may be harder to get every area than what it would be with the roller it still does a really good job.
I hope you’ll try one or more of these hacks. Let me know it turns out if you do. Do you have any beauty hacks that you think everyone should know about?
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