Makeup life experience - hacks!

Hi everyone!

Here are some things I've learned from trial and error. I've learned some by practically hurting myself and inviting trouble. Therefore, I hope I can save you from making some stupid mistakes that I made.
When it comes to beauty, I've tried and experimented with a lot of products. Below are some HACKS that I would like to share with you:-

1. Plucking

I pluck my beard. Yes, I get that beard patch on my neck (Gross? No, it's more common than you think). And sometimes, I get it waxed, but it hurts like a b*tch. And if there are only a couple hairs, then I will pluck them. Once, I plucked a hair that was kind of stubborn and that area was instantly swollen. I landed at the emergency clinic (I know, I know!) And I was prescribed an oral antibiotic. I had this huge red bump on my chin. The doctor and I both had a good laugh. So, this is what you DON'T do when you want to pluck. The best way to pluck is right after you take a warm/hot shower. Your pores will be open from the steam and this would be the perfect time to pluck. Moisturize right after you pluck. (Notice: when you get a facial, they always steam your face before taking out your blackheads!) Steam is important!

2. Crusty Lips
If you already haven't read about my easy DIY lip exfoliator, I am going to tell you again. Some brown sugar + honey is all you need. Mix and scrub! I love wearing matte lipstick but I hate the dryness I get from it. My lips crack during the day and it's just not pretty. I like to prep my lips by exfoliating and then applying a drop of Argan Oil before I apply a liquid or a matte lipstick.

3. Free Brow Gel
So, I don't like to spend money on brow gels. I tend to re-purpose my used up mascara bottle to use as a brow gel. I can do that because I have really dark brows. This obviously won't work for lighter brows. When I run out of mascara, the wand usually tends to have a little bit of product leftover and it works perfectly to hold my brows together. I scrub it at night with the rest of my makeup because I use waterproof mascara.

4. Eye Primer
I also don't buy eye primer. I use my concealer as a primer. After owning and using a lot of makeup, I've learned that you can use one product for multiple things. There really are no guidelines. Playing with makeup is so much fun (jumps with joy). I've had the same results with using a primer and a concealer. Both have not creased on my eyes.

5. Moisturizer as Makeup Remover
If you are in a place - restaurant, someone's house etc. and you want to fix smudged liner, here is an easy hack you can use. You don't need a makeup remover and a Q-Tip to fix this. You can use any facial cream or moisturizer on a Q-Tip and it will remove excess shadow or liner from your eyes.

6. Facial Hair
If you have facial hair like me, the one mistake you could be making is using a stippling brush and blending your foundation upwards. If you apply your foundation with a brush stroking it against the direction of your facial hair - you're making them more prominent. You need to smooth them down instead of raising them up.

7. Puffy Eyes
I always have to deal with puffy eyes due to my irregular sleep patterns. For days where your eyes are just not having it, here is what you can do. Prime your undereye area with moisturizer or eye cream. Mix some concealer and a highlighter and apply it. It will brighten the under-eye area immediately. Also, for someone like me with extreme dark circles, I cannot use these products without colour correcting.

8. Mixing Medium
I've been matched wrong multiple times at Sephora and MAC for foundations. Therefore, I invested in a mixing medium from MAC. With this, I can customize other foundations and make them work instead of wasting them or not looking good wearing them. This is also helpful if you frequently apply makeup on your mom, sister, other family members etc. who are different skin tones.

9. Perfume Hacks - I love fragrances!

Ok, if anyone knows me at all - you guys know I love my perfumes. I like to smell good all the time. Firstly, I would like to address the storage of perfumes. You should never put them beside your sink. Perfumes are to be stored in cool and dry places. Mine are stored away in my walk in closet, on top of my drawer unit. Heat, light and humidity break down the fragrance. If your dresser is exposed to sunlight, please don't store your perfumes there.
Secondly, perfume lasts longer when your skin is moisturized because it has something to stick to. I tend to buy perfume in sets because if you get the lotion with the same scent as your fragrance, it lasts longer. Even if you don't do that, you can use any moisturizer or even Vaseline under your perfumes.

I always see that people spray their wrists and rub them together. You're not supposed to rub them. That will make the top notes disappear.

You also want to target your pulse points and warm areas on your body when spraying perfume.

Another way to use your perfume is to use it as a hair mist. I love Victor and Rolf and their hair mist is $70. I can never justify spending that much on a hair mist because you can buy a fragrance with this money. A great tip is to spray your hairbrush with your perfume and then run it through your hair. Works like a charm!

You know the last drop of your perfume in the bottle that you can't spray? You can even utilize that LAST drop by opening the bottle up and mixing it with any unscented lotion. That will instantly make your moisturizer smell great!

Also, another tip... (I know, too many perfume tips, but what can I say - I love perfumes!) is to keep perfume samples in your purse or wallet to keep them smelling great. You know when you're passing by The Bay or Sephora and testing out new perfumes? I will take one of those samples and throw them in my purse. Every time I open my purse, I smell the fragrance.

With this my friends, I have to wrap it up. That is all I have to share with you today. I hope you all have a fantastic week ahead!