Band-Aids for wrinkles, deodorant before bed, and sugar packets to thicken hair. What other secret tricks did the 100 experts we consulted divulge? Read on ...
1
GET UNSTUCK
Nail polish cap won't budge? Wrap a rubber band around it for a better grip.
--Julie Kandalec, L.A. manicurist
2
FAKE A NOSE JOB
Draw a line with cream shimmer down the bridge of your nose. The highlighter reflects light, creating the illusion of a straighter sniffer.
--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel, L.A. makeup artist
Nars the Multiple in Copacabana, $37; narscosmetics.com.
3
SOOTHE IRRITATION
After plucking ingrown hairs, crush two aspirins (an anti-inflammatory) into powder, then add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply over tender area and let dry.
--Peter Kopelson, L.A. dermatologist
4
MAKE YOUR MANI LAST
Remove polish with acetone polish remover; wash each nail with soap and dry well. Wipe again with remover. This gets rid of any oils that prevent polish from adhering completely.
--Jaimi Brooks, L.A. manicurist
REESE WITHERSPOON
5
CREATE LIVED-IN CURLS
To get the most natural look, alternate between using a small and a large curling iron. This creates tousled waves that vary in size.
--David Babaii, L.A. hairstylist
6
PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS
Dab your pout with peppermint oil. It's an instant lip plumper, setting off a small allergic reaction that causes swelling.
--David Bank, Mount Kisco, N.Y., dermatologist
7
FIND YOUR BEST BLUSH
Choose a shade that matches the pink of your knuckles when making a fist.
--Dustin Lujan, N.Y.C. makeup artist for Le Métier de Beauté
8
PREVENT WRINKLES
Affix adhesive butterfly bandage closures to facial lines before bedtime to stop yourself from frowning in your sleep.
--Francesca Fusco, N.Y.C. dermatologist
Band-Aid butterfly closures, $2/10; drugstore.com.
9
ENHANCE YOUR CONDITIONER
Warm it in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds. The heat helps open up the hair cuticle, causing the conditioner to penetrate more deeply.
--Tippi Shorter, N.Y.C. hairstylist
10
MIX YOUR OWN DRY SHAMPOO
A fast and inexpensive fix for greasy hair: Combine equal parts baking soda and baby powder, sprinkle over hair, and then brush. The baking soda helps remove buildup, and the baby powder soaks up excess oil.
--David Babaii
11
BLOT OIL ON THE GO
It sounds crazy, but toilet seat covers make perfect blotting papers. The thin tissue absorbs oil like a sponge.
--Bruce Grayson, L.A. makeup artist
Johnson's baby powder in Cooling Cucumber Melon, $4; at drugstores.
12
APPLY DEODORANT BEFORE BED
Your body temperature is higher at night, so the deodorant will permeate more deeply into the sweat ducts. It will block wetness the next day, even after you shower.
--David Bank
13
BOOST LASHES
Before putting on mascara, dust lashes first with a translucent powder to add instant volume.
--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel
Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder, $34; sephora.com.
EVA MENDES
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DARK NAILS
14
TAKE YOUR TIME
Rather than polish the whole nail in one fell swoop, break the process down into at least three strokes: First, paint the center, then swipe along each side, keeping the coats thin to prevent chipping.
--Bethany Newell, N.Y.C. manicurist
15
STAY IN THE LINES
For a finished, professional look, always leave a small space between the cuticle and the polish line.
--B.N.
16
STOP THE COLOR FROM BLEEDING
Before removing polish, brush cuticle oil on each nail to avoid staining the base of the nail or fingers. The oil creates a barrier that keeps the color from penetrating the skin as you rub it away.
--Tabitha Belesis, N.Y.C. manicurist
17
KEEP COLOR REAL
If you really like the way lipstick looks in the tube, prime lips with a touch of foundation before applying. That way, you start with a blank canvas and the color appears more true.
--Anthea King, N.Y.C. makeup artist
18
DIY HAIR SPF
Don't dare go in the sun without first misting your hair with a mixture of equal parts water and sunscreen--it will keep color from fading and hair from drying out.
--Giselle, N.Y.C. colorist
19
ZAP FRIZZ
Wrap wet hair in a towel that's been soaked in ice-cold water. This seals the shaft, so as hair dries, it will stay frizz-free.
--Ursula Stephen, N.Y.C. hairstylist
20
AMP UP YOUR LASH CURLER
Warm it with a blow-dryer up to a maximum of three seconds before using it on your lashes. The heat will open up the cuticle of the hair, boosting the curl.
--Christy Coleman, L.A. makeup artist
Shu Uemura eyelash curler, $19; shuuemura-usa.com.
21
SAY "SEE-YA" TO BRASSY HAIR COLOR
Wash with a mixture of grape Kool-Aid powder (just a pinch) and four tablespoons of your regular shampoo. The purple blue cancels out the brassy gold orange in overprocessed hues because it's on the opposite side of the color spectrum.
--Tippi Shorter
22
REDUCE REDNESS
Spritz a small amount of nasal decongestant on red areas to decrease the color in a flash. The spray, which lessens the inflammation that triggers nasal congestion, will do the same for a pimple.
--David Bank
23
THICKEN HAIR
Add two sugar packets to a 20-ounce bottle of water to create a natural volumizing spray.
--Oscar Blandi, N.Y.C. hairstylist
24
GUARANTEE A PERFECT SHADE
When coloring hair at home, start your timer as soon as you begin applying the dye, not when you finish. Otherwise the first sections you do (front, hairline, and nape of the neck) will be overcolored. If the rest of the hair isn't timed perfectly, it doesn't matter as much because it's not as visible.
--Rita Hazan, N.Y.C. colorist
25
TAME UNRULY BROWS
Comb mustache wax onto eyebrows. The wax coats each hair and locks it in place.
--Troy Surratt, N.Y.C. makeup artist
Clubman Moustache wax, $5; drugstore.com.
26
PUNCH UP NEON POLISH
Apply an opaque white polish before your neon shade. The flat base brings out the pigment of the color and illuminates it from underneath.
--Patricia Yankee, N.Y.C. manicurist
OPI matte Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, $9; ulta.com for stores. Zoya nail polish in Paz, $6; zoya.com.
27
CURTAIL A BLEMISH
To dry up oily secretions, spray a makeup sponge with clear antiperspirant and dab it on the pimple before putting on your makeup.
--Jake Bailey, L.A. makeup artist
Secret antiperspirant and deodorant aerosol spray in Powder Fresh, $5; at drugstores.
THREE SURPRISING USES FOR DANDRUFF SHAMPOO
28
WASH AWAY DRY SKIN
Clean your face with anti-dandruff shampoo to decrease flaking. It reduces the yeast levels that cause scaly skin.
--Elissa Lunder, Wellesley, Mass., dermatologist
29
BRIGHTEN HAIR COLOR
Lather your tresses with a flake fighter and let sit for 20 minutes. This revives color and even removes the green tints that may result from chlorine.
--Sean James, L.A. hairstylist
30
FIGHT BACNE
Shampoos that contain salicylic acid can also help with breakouts on your back.
--Monica Schadlow, N.Y.C. dermatologist
Kérastase Bain Gommage, $39; kerastase-usa.com.
31
WAKE UP TIRED EYES
Apply black mascara, then tip the ends of your lashes with a mascara in plum or navy to make the whites of your eyes look brighter.
--Brett Freedman, L.A. makeup artist
Diorshow mascara in plum and black, $24 each; sephora.com.
32
ATTACH FALSE LASHES WITH EASE
To get the clearest view of your upper lash line, hold a hand mirror below your chin and look down.
--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel
33
THIN OUT CLUMPY MASCARA
A drop of Coca-Cola will reinvigorate your mascara's consistency. The syrup in the soda adds just enough moisture without making it watery.
--Brett Freedman
34
PREVENT ACNE
Keep separate hair and face towels so the oil from your scalp doesn't cause breakouts.
--Amy Wechsler, N.Y.C. dermatologist
35
HEAL DRY HANDS
Rub the inside of a lemon directly onto the backside of your hands. Lemons have high concentrations of citric acid and vitamin C, which stimulate connective tissue production. The sting lasts a few seconds, but it's worth it.
--Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, N.Y.C. dermatologist
36
SAFEGUARD SKIN
Slather on sunscreen before every flight, and choose aisle over window seats. There's a greater level of UV rays at high altitudes than on the ground.
--Elissa Lunder
Aveeno Positively Ageless sunblock lotion SPF 70, $10; drugstore.com.
37
ADD OOMPH TO LIPS
Always keep a sheer golden lip gloss in your makeup bag. It instantly warms up any lip color and gives you a brand-new shade.
--Anthea King
L'Oréal Paris Colour Juice lip gloss in Golden Splash, $9; ulta.com.
38
SHIELD UNDEREYE AREAS
Don't forget to cover the area beneath your eyes when spreading on sunscreen. The skin around your eyes is thinner, making it more susceptible to damaging UV rays.
--Jeanine Downie, Montclair, N.J., dermatologist
39
HARDEN NAIL POLISH FASTER
Once they're partially dry, run nails under cold water. The icy temperature will speed up setting your polish.
--Bethany Newell
40
AVOID BREAKOUTS FROM BRUSHES
Wash your makeup tools regularly with a clarifying shampoo to rid them of product buildup that can cause blemishes.
--Tasha Reiko Brown-Joval
41
CONTROL SHINE
Tea is a natural astringent. To reduce oil, splash your face with cool black tea, but do not rinse.
--Peter Kopelson
ONE PRODUCT, THREE WAYS CUTICLE OIL
42
HALT SMUDGES
Drop cuticle oil on each nail just after polishing. The oil makes nail surfaces slippery, serving as a buffer between the lacquer and any object that might tarnish it. This works for pedicures too: Immediately after applying top coat, add cuticle oil; then slip on sandals for a flaw-free trip home.
--Jaimi Brooks
43
FIX SMEARS
Oops! Already spoiled your freshly painted manicure? Brush cuticle oil onto the nail and gently rub out the crease with fingers.
--J.B.
44
REFRESH DULL POLISH
A spot of cuticle oil adds a nice sheen to lackluster lacquer. It hydrates nails, while sinking into every nook and cranny to smooth out imperfections.
--J.B.
Jessica Phenomen Oil intensive moisturizer, $14; jessicacosmetics.com.
45
RECYCLE CRACKED POWDER
Crush broken blush in a bowl--the back of a spoon will do the trick--until it's a fine powder, then blend with a lip balm for a perfect cream blush.
--Fiona Stiles, N.Y.C. makeup artist
broken powder blush + lip balm = cream blush
Sue Devitt Silky blush in Los Angeles, $20; ulta.com. Chapstick lip balm SPF 4, $2; drugstore.com.
46
ERASE NAIL STAINS
Soak fingers in denture cleaner for about three minutes. The liquid's oxidizing agents will help remove stains.
--April Foreman, L.A. manicurist
47
HELP YOUR SKIN TURN BACK TIME
Dip a washcloth in soy milk and rest it on your face for 10 minutes once a week. Soy is a skin brightener and contains phytoestrogen, a plant-derived estrogen that is thought to help prevent wrinkles.
--Debra Luftman, L.A. dermatologist
JULIANNE HOUGH
48
GET NO-BUDGE SHADOW
For a creamy eye shadow that won't crease, use waterproof eyeliner pencil. Draw over the eyelid, then blend with finger.
--Jake Bailey
Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Champagne, $17; sephora.com.
49
TEXTURIZE HAIR
Clear liquid soap adds great body to hair. Plus, it comes out easily when you wash it out.
--David Babaii
50
CREATE LIQUID LINER
Add a few eyedrops to dark eye shadow. The drops are mess-free and sterile, which means you won't introduce dangerous bacteria into your makeup.
