I get beauty questions all the time from readers, & I figure why not take some time to answer them?  My mother is a certified esthetician, so skincare / makeup been ingrained in my mind since childhood.  Here are answers to some of the questions I get!

 

-I have acne.  How do I get rid of it?

This is never an easy question to answer for people get acne for all different kinds of reasons.  Me personally, I use Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser; if you’re looking for a daily treatment, Dermalogica’s Clean Start Clearing Kit is good, as well as their Medibac kit.  However, if you have cystic acne (large swollen pimples with visible pus), you will need to see a dermatologist for a prescription.  To read about more acne products, click on Dealing with Acne..

Left to Right: Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser, $8, Dermalogica’s Clean Start Clearing Kit, $30, Dermalogica’s Medibac Kit, $33

 

-How do I get rid of whiteheads?

My acne tends to be more of whiteheads, & the most effective way I find to get rid of is: exfoliate.  While washing my face, I’ll use the Solo Mio exfoliator, which is gentle enough for my sensitive skin!  And afterwards my face feels squeaky clean!

Solo Mio Sonic Face Cleanser & Massage Brush, $38

 

-My skin is dry all the time.  What else can I do for dry skin?

If you have dry skin, (both body & face) you only need to wash your face once a day; ideally at night.  Use a really rich night cream, like Pond’s Dry Skin Cream.  Stay away from hot showers; stick to warm ones.  The heat will dry out your skin.  In the shower use a really moisturizing body wash, like SheaMoisture’s Olive & Green Tea Body Wash or their Super Fruit Complex Body Wash.  Both have added oils / body butters to help moisturize while you wash!  If you live in really dry climate, turning on a humidifier at night will help you out a lot!  To read more, click on How to deal with dry skin.

Top to bottom: Pond’s Dry Skin Cream, $8, Pond’s Dry Skin Cream, $9

 

-And how do you deal with blackheads?

The face wash I mentioned earlier,  Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser, is great for dealing with blackheads as well.  You could use Biore’s Nose Strips to get rid of them for an occasional treatment, but I find Daiso’s Charcoal Peel Off Mask so much better!  Put it on the target areas, i.e. your nose, chin, etc.  Let it dry for 10-15 min & peel it off!  And you will see the blackheads come out with it!  Note:  Do not place over areas where you have hair, i.e. your eyebrows.  For the mask will peel off hair as well!  For more products dealing with blackheads, read How to deal with blackheads!

Daiso’s Charcoal Peel Off Mask, $5

 

-What’s the best way to get rid of bags underneath your eyes?

For instant relief from undereye bags, take 2 tea bags soaked in warm water, & place them over your eyes.  Once cooled, dip them in cold water & place them again.  This is a trick that they use on models at Fashion Week to get rid of under eye circles.  For a concealer I like Garnier’s Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller for it has added caffeine to keep the bags away!  For other tricks, read How to get rid of circles underneath your eyes..

Garnier’s Renew Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller, $13

 

-Is there a treatment I can do at home to soften rough feet?

Warm up some olive oil in a container, for 10 seconds in the microwave.  Place feet into the oil until it turns cool.  Think of this as an at home hot oil treatment!  Then wipe your feet off before stepping onto the floor (or you might slip!).  When it comes to exfoliating, best to stick to foot files vs. pumice.  And the best moisturizer I find (for any dry skin) is body butter!  Exfoliating & moisturizing with a body butter will already make a big difference on your feet.  If you really want a more thorough treatment, you can get Baby Foot!  It’s a treatment from Japan, for your feet that causes the dead skin to fall off!  For more tips, click to read Feet and toes!!

Baby Foot Deep Exfoliation For Feet Peel, $16

 

-I have oily skin.  How can I keep my face matte during the day?

One of the best products that I’ve come across for oily skin is Estee Lauder’s Edit Pore Vanishing Stick, which is basically a roll on serum that keeps your face matte.  For me, it keeps my face matte for a good 5 hours!  However, my mattifying trick (which I’ve mentioned before) is to use The Body Shop’s Drop Of Youth’s Bouncy Sleeping Mask, & NYX’s Studio Finishing Powder.  After washing my face in the morning, I put some bouncy sleeping mask on, & let it dry after a few min.  Then I dust on some of NYX’s setting powder, & it keeps my face matte for 8 hours!  For other tricks & products, read How to deal with oily / combination skin.

The Body Shop’s Drop Of Youth’s Bouncy Sleeping Mask, $32, NYX’s Studio Finishing Powder, $10

 

-What can I do about flaky lips? 

Take a wet toothbrush & gently brush your lips.  If you want a moisturizing treatment, mix some sugar with a teaspoon of Vaseline, rub it on your lips, & then rinse off.  The sugar helps exfoliate, & the Vaseline will help moisturize your lips.  To keep away dry flaky lips, best to put on a rich lip balm right before you go to sleep.

Vaseline, 0.89 oz, $2, Aquaphor Lip Ointment, $4

 

-How can I make perfume last longer?

An easy way would be just to spray your perfume in your hairbrush, instead of your hair.  This way the scent clings to the oils in your hair; allowing you to radiate the smell more naturally vs. drowning yourself in the scent.  Another way is to spray your fragrance into non scented lotion or vaseline, & then rub it on where you would like to radiate the smell.   You could also apply the lotion directly to the skin, & then spray the fragrance.

 

-What’s an easy way to clean out your hair brush?

The easiest way is to get a matching comb, (meaning a comb whose teeth can easily be placed in between the bristles of your hair brush) & place it directly at the base of your bristles, underneath the hair, & then lift!  You can also comb out other loose hairs / lint in your brush by running it in both directions.

 

-How can I give myself a professional blow dry at home?

With a hot air brush, you can give yourself a professional blow dry all by yourself!  No need to multi-task with a brush & hair dryer, this is an all in one tool!

Revlon Shine Enhancing Hot Air Kit, $20

 

-What is the best way to clean a Beauty Blender?  

I’ve tried a bunch of different soaps to clean them, the Beauty Blender or other similar sponges, & through trial & error I find that the best soap is Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap!  I’ve tried hand soap, dish washing detergent, etc.  The problem with most soaps (when it comes to cleaning the Beauty Blender) is that it just sits on the surface of the sponge.  With castile soap, it soaks immediately into it, & you can immediately start squeezing out the gunk from inside!  It makes a great soap to clean makeup brushes as well; but you could always stick to dish washing detergent for your brushes.

Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, 2 oz to 32 oz, $5-$18, The Original Beauty Blender, $20

 

-How often should I clean my makeup brushes? 

You should clean them after 7-10 uses.  However, when you use liquids on your brushes, (i.e. foundation) you should clean those right away.  And never let brushes dry standing up!  This will ruin the ferrule, (the metal base holding the bristles) the integrity of the brush, & cause the bristles to fall out.

 

-How do you get your makeup to last longer?

For special occasions, or during hot weather, you don’t want your makeup melting off your face.  If you really want your makeup to stay on, stick to cream eye shadows / blushes instead of powder.  Always go with waterproof eyeliner, for lips ideally a lip stain, & if you use foundation you should always set it with setting powder to prevent it from cracking.  E.L.F. has a great lock & seal set that helps make your makeup waterproof!  To top it off, you should always spray setting spray, which helps makeup last longer.  For more ways, read How to get your makeup to stay on ALL DAY

E.L.F. Makeup Lock & Seal, $3, Sephora Collection’s Cream Lip Stain, $14, Urban Decay’s All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray, 1 oz, $14

 

-How do I fix dry or damaged hair? 

If you have dry or damaged hair, it’d probably wise to do a hair mask once a week.  So once a week instead of using conditioner, put on a deep conditioning hair mask.  Put it on the lower half of your hair (or all over if your hair is really dry); & comb through with a wide tooth comb for even distribution.  Put your hair up in a shower cap, leave in as recommended, (usually about 20 min) & then rinse out.  If you have split ends, think of getting a trim every once in awhile.  Regardless of what shampoo commercials say, you can not mend them.  If you love long locks, get a mini trim every month or 2.  Keeping your hair healthy & well groomed, will make you look polished, as well as younger.

SheaMoisture Superfruit Complex 10 In 1 Renewal System, $13

 

-Is there an easy way to de-tangle your hair?

Get your hair wet, apply conditioner generously, & then comb through with a wide comb.  This is the best way vs. torturing yourself with knotted hair & a hairbrush.

 

-When is the best time to moisturize for dry skin?

Right after you shower or wash your face!  Damp skin always absorbs moisture better than dry skin.  And for optimal absorption, do it right before you go to sleep.  Your body is doing the most repair while you sleep, & it will have all night to absorb your moisturizer.

 

-Is there a way to wear mascara without drying my eyes out?

Yes!  Waterproof mascaras tend to be really drying, so pick a mascara with added oil to it.  (Yes, they exist!)  Neutrogena, Tarte, make good ones.  If you love the extra lengthening, or volumizing mascaras, you could always layer that on top!

Neutrogena’s Healthy Volume MascaraNeutrogena’s Healthy Volume Mascara, $9 , Tarte’s Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara, $10

 

-How can I clean my makeup brushes when I travel?

Yes this can be a great pain when you’re on the road, for you might not necessarily have the time or the place to let your makeup brushes dry after you wash them.  Either carry a small spray bottle & fill it with rubbing alcohol, & you can spray your brushes in between uses.  (Makeup artists do this all the time by the way, to not cross contaminate, & also to not ruin the integrity of the brushes.)  Or you can get alcohol wipes, which they sell in your local drugstore for $2 or $3, & you can just simply wipe them clean.  I prefer the alcohol wipes because it’s 1 less bottle for me to worry about!

Rubbing alcohol, 32 oz, $2, Travel Sized Spray Bottles, $1

 

Is there a way to make high heels less painful?

There are a couple of ways, but 1 effective way is to tape your 3rd & 4th toes together, with sports or medical tape.  Wearing shoes like i.e. high heels, puts pressure on a nerve that runs in between those 2 toes.  Taping them together eases the pressure.  For more tips & tricks, click to read Ways You Can Make Wearing High Heels Less Painful!

 

Did I answer any of your questions?  Or would you like to submit one?  Leave a question or comment below!