Style

16 Bizarre But Brilliant Beauty Hacks You Never Knew

by Emily Estep

Everyone gets sick of their everyday beauty routine once in a while — especially when the same hang-ups and time wasters keep happening, like eyeshadow fallout or messy nail polish. That’s the time to read up on some brilliant beauty hacks, which come in handy to make things faster, easier, and way less frustrating. For instance, once I discovered the power of eyeshadow shields, there was no going back. I will never again put myself through the misery of shadow-infused foundation.

These hacks make your makeup go on a little easier and a little better — and coming from someone who has dealt with their fair share of dry skin and cakey foundation, I can appreciate that. Beauty hacks can also save you some of your most precious commodity: time. Who knows what you can be doing with those extra minutes? Options include but are not limited to: sleeping in, spending more time with pets, or even — gasp — getting more exercise.

Plus, how many times have you been late because you thought, "really, this will only take me five more minutes." Maximize your beauty rituals with new ideas that can save you loads of time, put some extra cash in your wallet, and improve your makeup application.

1Fix Eyeliner Mistakes With A Makeup Remover Pen

Julep CTRL Z Eye Makeup Eraser, $10, Amazon

Creating the perfect wing just a got a whole lot easier, thanks to this makeup erasing pen. Its precision tip is filled with eye makeup remover, so you can erase mistakes and even carve out designs. Plus, it's formula is made with jojoba oil and chamomile oil, soothing your eye area instead of irritating it.

2Keep Your Makeup Sponge Sanitary With This Holder

IBEET Beauty Makeup Sponge Blender Holder, $6, Amazon

Beauty sponges can get kind of gross after a while, especially if you don't have a designated place to put them in between uses — if it's just sitting in your makeup bag, that damp sponge can get mildew fast. This gilded holder rack keeps your beauty sponges elevated and away from dirty surfaces, allowing it to dry quickly.

3Seal Eyebrows In Place With This Long-Lasting Product

Model In a Bottle Long Lasting Eyebrow Sealer, $14, Amazon

You put a lot of time and effort into your eyebrows, so why not get a brow sealer that keeps them in place all day? This eyebrow sealing product comes with two brushes, doesn't clog pores, and truly sets your eyebrows in shape while drying clear. No workout, rainstorm, etc. will be able to move your eyebrows with this sealant. Reviewers who have sparse or no eyebrows and draw them in especially swear by it.

4Lengthen Eyelashes With This Fiber Mascara

Mia Adora 3D Fiber Lash Mascara, $20, Amazon

This 3D mascara kit has two products: the wet magnifying mascara gel increases the length of your natural lashes (and seals the fibers), and the dry microfibers to create massive amounts of volume. Both products are completely smudge proof and waterproof, and you'll have voluminous eyelashes without extensions or false lashes. People really love this mascara kit: "And, as cynical as I am about things, this product even has ME sold -hook, line and sinker! In fact, I have yet to shut up about this little 2-step wonder."

5Blend Makeup Seamlessly With These Odd-Looking Flat Brushes

Duorime Black Oval Makeup Brush Set, $10 (7 Pieces), Amazon

A flat oval brush blends products fast and effectively, and this oval brush set includes a variety of sizes for different applications — perfect for eyeshadow, blush, contour, and foundation. The synthetic bristles are super dense, picking up and distributing makeup smoothly and with less waste. One Amazon reviewer writes, "They allow me to use less foundation and don't make my face look caked up."

6Apply Facial Oil Before Makeup For A Natural, Hydrating Glow

Julep Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil, $36, Amazon

If you have dry or dull skin, then this rosehip seed facial oil can make a huge difference in your complexion, not only moisturizing skin but also protecting against free radical damage. It's got rosehip, vitamin E, and bergamot — which brightens and protects skin. Mix it in with moisturizer in the morning and apply makeup for a glowy, bright look to the skin.

7Remove Makeup With Just Water And This Cloth

Miracle Face Erase Microfiber Face Cloths, $12 (2 Pack), Amazon

If you often forget to wash your face before you go to bed, or just like to keep your routine super simple — these microfiber face cloths will change your life. Just add water, and they completely remove makeup, oil build-up, and the rest of the day's weight from your face for clear, glowing skin. This product even comes with hair ties to keep your hair dry during use.

8Refresh Makeup Throughout The Day With Rose Water

Mario Badescu Facial Spray, $14, Amazon

Sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon, especially if you suffer from dry skin or live in a particularly arid climate, which is when this facial spray by Mario Badescu can come straight to your rescue. It's made with aloe herbs and rosewater to nourish while it soothes, hydrating your skin without moving around makeup or encouraging oil production.

9Enhance Your Lips With Natural Ingredients

Nubyen Nude Lip Plumping Serum, $29, Amazon

This nude-colored plumping serum is formulated with chili powder and cinnamon essence to encourage lip volume and plumpness, giving you fuller-looking lips with natural ingredients. Of course, this also means it will make your lips tingle, so proceed with caution if you hate spicy foods. One Amazon reviewer raves, "It plumps in a matter of 2-3 minutes and the gloss sheen stays practically the entire day."

10Try A Sunscreen That’s Tinted Like Foundation

Dermalogica Sheer Tint SPF 20 Sunscreen, $34, Amazon

Sunscreen application is an absolute must in any daily skincare routine, protecting your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays, and this tinted sunscreen will save you time and space on your vanity — because it's got some pigment in it, making it an easy choice if you want minimal coverage and sun protection. It comes in three shades (light, medium, and dark), and it has olive and walnut seed oil to improve skin texture, too.

11Remove Color Instantly From Your Brushes With This Sponge

GooMart Makeup Brush Cleaner Sponge, $7, Amazon

This cleaning sponge makes dramatic eyeshadow looks a lot easier — place a brush in there and it'll take off the excess powder and color, allowing you to use the same brush for different eyeshadow or blush shades without having to wash the brush. It can be cleaned easily, too, meaning you'll have this handy tool for a long time.

12Prevent Eyeshadow Fallout With These Shields

The Original Shadow Shields, $7, Amazon

These shadow shields protect your undereye area and your upper cheeks from eyeshadow fallout, which can truly ruin your foundation and concealer — especially when you're working on a smoky eye or something with dark shadows. You can use them before or after foundation, too.

13Get Every Bit Of Makeup Product Out With This Device

Spatty Daddy Extend Your Beauty Tool, $13, Amazon

This innovative spatula-shaped tool (as seen on Shark Tank) is designed to get every last bit of foundation, lotion, and serum out of any bottle or squeeze tube, so that none of your precious product (aka money) is wasted. It's long handle ensures it can get to the bottom of any product, and it's BPA-free and safe for the dishwasher, too.

14Dermaplane Your Face For Smoother Foundation Application

Shiseido Facial Razors, $9 (6 Pack), Amazon

Dermaplaning — or the act of exfoliating away the top layer of dead skin on your face — is all the rage right now, creating the smoothest canvases possible for excellent makeup application and the promotion of cell turnover. These facial razors are the ultimate dermaplaning tools, gently exfoliating away baby hairs and shaping eyebrows, too.

15Try A Lipstick That Adapts To Your Lips

Lipstick Queen Frog Prince, $20, Amazon

If you just can't choose a lip color, maybe you should let your lips choose for themselves. This "frog prince" pH lipstick color appears green, but once you apply it to your lips, it adjusts to a shade of pink that's correlated to your skin's pH level. The shade is always flattering to your skin tone, and it takes out the guess work and planning in your routine — and it's perfect for a flushed, natural look.

16Get Perfect Nails At Home With Latex Tape

Magique Easy-Peel Nail Polish Barrier, $14, Amazon

These polish barriers protect your cuticles and the skin around your nails from the many layers of nail polish, nail glitter, and nail stickers that go into your fabulous nail art. Once your latest design is completed and dry, all you do is peel the barriers away, revealing a flawless manicure. It also doesn't have a strong scent and dries quickly.

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