Little Makeup Fixes Every Woman Should Know

It’s 8:05 A.M.—and you’ve got a [expletive deleted] mascara smudge. Don’t stress! Any flub-up can be erased with these under-$10 picks and tricks.
My eyeliner is never neat. Have tips for a wiggly hand?

 

My handwriting’s terrible—on paper and on my eyelid. But I’ve found I can get a straight line if I rest an elbow on my bureau to steady my drawing hand and hold my lid with the other. To even out any wobbles, I smudge powder liner on top. Or sometimes I line my lids with shadow and an eyeliner brush, which is easier to control.

Pimples look so obvious when I try to cover them up. What’s the right way?

 

 Use a concealer that matches your skin exactly (not lighter), says makeup guru Gucci Westman. Then think Monet and apply it with little brushstrokes. Tap with fingers to blend.

I tried smoky eye makeup but ended up looking like I’d been in a fight. Help!

Blame too-dark shadow. Instead stick with softer shades like gray or brown, says makeup artist Jeffrey Paul. Following your lash line, sweep color just along the rim of your eyes, ending a bit past the outer corner. Then apply a slightly lighter shade to the entire lid, blend, and smudge past your crease. Line your bottom lid with the lighter shade. Pretty!

 When I use shimmery stuff, I feel like I look too shiny. What’s the best way to wear it?

 

 The trick: Spotlight just one feature; don’t light up your entire face like a disco ball! Try sparkly eyeshadow with matte lipstick, or vice versa. Or just do glowy skin by sweeping highlighter along cheekbones and down the center of your nose. Put on too much? “Dust translucent powder on top to tone it down,” says makeup pro Tina Turnbow.

I always pick the wrong colors at drugstores. Ugh.

All that plastic packaging can make colors appear duller than they really are. Branching out into new hue territory? Go sheer, says NYC makeup artist Jessica Liebeskind. You can always layer on more.

What’s the least annoying way to deal when you’ve smudged your nail polish?

I cornered manicure pros from CND during Fashion Week for these quick fixes: If the polish is still wet, brush cuticle oil over the smudge and lightly smooth it out with your finger. If you notice the goof when your polish is dry, work it over with a nail buffer and put on a shiny topcoat. Or just apply a matte topcoat—it will camouflage the nick and look trendy.