You’ve likely tried contouring, tightlining and even strobing. Next on your list should be baking. This technique (which honestly makes us crave cookies and not mad about it) essentially consists of using your body heat to “cook” and set your makeup on areas like the under-eyes, the T-zone and chin, resulting in a more flawless, creaseless finish. Say goodbye to cracked, cakey makeup! And though it adds some time to your routine, it couldn’t be easier to do. Just follow the four steps below and thank us after.
STEP 1:Apply eye cream first then concealer to the under-eye area, the chin, the T-zone — anywhere you need it. Make sure the regions you choose are completely covered in the formula. Use a brush to lightly blend out the makeup.
STEP 2: Take a loose powder foundation (try the Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder) and dust it over the concealer. Again, make sure you cover the entire area as the powder is meant to seal your concealer. For more heavy-duty coverage, apply a second coat of powder, but this time, lightly dampen the brush prior to dipping it in the powder.
STEP 3: Now it’s time to bake! Allow five to ten minutes for the makeup to set.
STEP 4: Using a fluffy foundation brush, dust away any loose powder on top and gently blend it out so there’s no discoloration or makeup lines.
Falsies are a girl’s best friend — bring on the volume and length. But if sticky eyelash glue gets stuck to your real lashes, it’s game over. The buildup and tackiness can make reapplication nearly impossible and cause unwanted irritation. To ensure that our false lashes can be used more than once and our real lashes stay healthy, it’s important to keep ’em clean. For some advice on the best way to do so, scroll down and enjoy!
Tip #1: Use Less Glue From the Start
To prevent a buildup of gunk and glue on your lashes at the end of the day, try to use as little glue as possible during application. My best tip is not to apply too much glue on the false lash to begin with. Think you may have gone too heavy with your glue? Recommended wiping it off and starting from scratch. Not only will this make it easier for you to take off your falsies at the end of the day, but it’s also a way to ensure that too much glue doesn’t get on or around your eyes.
PRIMP TIP: Apply Lash Couture Strip Lash Adhesive on the eyelids like an eyeliner then apply your favorite pair of lashes. Its easier and quicker to apply the lashes plus it is just less messier overall. Lee wished she came up with this brilliant beauty trick but she actually received it from Raye Boyce.
Tip #2: Don’t Pull Them Off
Time to take off your lashes for the day? Don’t start pulling them off, tugging or scrubbing. You won’t get all the glue off your lashes, and you risk getting glue in your eyes. What’s worse? You’re going to end up ripping your own lashes.
Tip #3: Use a Gentle Eye Makeup Cleanser
Instead, to get your fake lashes and glue off cleanly, Lee recommends using a soft and gentle eye makeup remover. For years I’ve been using the Lancôme Bi Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover; it’s the best for getting rid of lash glue. Just pour some onto a cotton pad and dab it over your lashes until the strip falls off cleanly. Plus, you can also use the product to clean glue off your falsies so they’re good as new for reapplication.
If you’re constantly washing your hands and using sanitizer around the clock, your hands are probably dry AF. While it’s important to wash your hands as often as possible, it can wreak havoc on your skin. Your skin is your body’s first defense against bacteria, so you need to ensure you keep your hands hydrated. Cracked, dry hands and damaged skin means a weakened skin barrier, which makes it easier for germs to enter.
Fortunately, we’ve got some easy solutions so you can say goodbye to dry hands, for good!
Find a Nourishing Hand Wash
Many celebrity dermatologists recommends avoiding bars of soap as they can seriously dry out your skin. They explains, “Soaps have a special molecule that finds oils and strips them from the skin. We need our natural oils for retaining moisture.” Therefore, trade-in your traditional soaps for a nourishing hand wash instead. We’re currently using the Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soaps, $8.50, as they’re infused with essential oils, as well as vitamin E to nourish and clean the skin. Plus, they foam into a rich lather that smells so good – it makes washing your hands feel luxurious! Another hydrating soap that’s a little more boujee is the Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, $52. The formula boasts orange, rosemary, and lavender essential oils to cleanse and restore the skin.
If you already have a liquid handwash, you can try adding in a tablespoon of coconut, olive or grapeseed oil, which will help to lock in moisture while you wash. After you wash your hands, try to follow with a moisturizer almost immediately.
If you don’t have any hand creams use oil instead and massage it into your hands. Our favorite oil to use is extra virgin olive oil, a recommendation we got from Julia Roberts. It’s super-hydrating and packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that help hydrate while repairing damaged skin. It’s also suitable for all skin types and is anti-microbial. If you don’t have olive oil in your cabinet, you can use coconut oil (our go-to DIY oil), or any other oil.
If your hands are super dry, create a DIY hand mask by massaging oil into your hands, then put on a pair of plastic gloves. If you don’t have gloves, you can wrap your hands in clingwrap. Try to leave them covered for up to an hour for super soft, hydrated skin.
Apply a Rich Cream or Balm
As you can probably guess, applying hand cream RN is essential. In fact, we’ve gotten into the routine of applying lotion immediately after we use hand sanitizer. You can also keep hand cream next to your sink for easy access after hand washing.
Look for a hand moisturizer that contains rich, hydrating ingredients like shea butter and oils like apricot and avocado oil, as they’re packed with natural goodness that will help seal in moisture and repair the skin. Here are three of our faves:
Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion, $16.26: While this may not be the most luxe hand cream on our list, it’s a household staple. The fast-absorbing formula is clinically proven to heal dry skin within five days. Plus, it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy or tacky.
L’Occitaine Honey Harvest Hand Cream, $29: This hand cream leaves our skin feeling so smooth! The rich combination of shea butter and honey hydrates while strengthening the skin, helping prevent future moisture loss.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, $28: This cream is infused with sesame oil, avocado oil, and olive, which are all packed with essential fatty acids to nourish and repair dry skin.
Bring on the bath bombs, candles and body wash, because taking a bath is one of the best ways to reset, recharge and relax after a day that, TBH, was just way too long. To help you indulge in some much-needed,spa-like self-care, we’re sharing how to get yourself and your tub prepped and ready for the best (and most luxurious) bath of your life. Take it from us, you deserve this.
STEP #1: Set the Temperature Make sure your tub is clean as can be before filling it up with water. We then recommend turning the nozzle to a lukewarm temp so it feels warm and relaxing, but not scalding hot when you step in. Water that’s too hot can strip your skin of essential oils and dry you out, so make sure to test the water with your fingers before letting the bath fill to the halfway point.
STEP #2: Add Essential Oils, Bath Bombs or Body Salts
As the water is running, add in 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils for a soothing scent that will put your body and mind at ease. If bubbles, bath bombs or body salts are your preference, now is the time to drop those in too. We’re currently obsessing over the Bathing Culture Big Dipper Mineral Bath Salts. It’s rich in minerals and melts away stress.
STEP #3: Face Mask Time!
We hope you have one of your all-time favorite masks nearby, because applying a face mask while in the bath is seriously the way to go. Your skin will feel fab after stepping out. Not sure what mask to bring with? We recommend the Kiehl’s Avocado Nourishing Hydration Mask. And hey, if you’re really trying to go all out, place some cucumbers on your eyes.
STEP #4: Candles, Candles and More Candles
Just before stepping in, set the atmosphere by lighting some of your favorite candles, put on some soothing tunes and grab a book or magazine. As tempting as it is to have your phone nearby, we suggest you don’t. Let yourself unplug for a while.
STEP #5: Pick Your Products
Last but not least, make sure your bath is stocked with all the products you need. We suggest a creamy body wash like theKiehl’s Made For All Body Cleanser to keep skin clean and moisturized. If you plan on shaving, make sure to throw in a body exfoliant, like the Ouai Scalp and Body Scrub to slough away dead surface skin cells and prep for a clean, close shave.
STEP #6: Enjoy
Now that everything is prepped and ready to go, step into the tub and enjoy a night of R&R. Just one more thing though, make sure to moisturize once you’re done with your spa-like bath. We suggest lathering on the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion.
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