At this point, it feels like if you’ve read one article of beauty tips, you’ve read ’em all. Of course, it’s for a reason—tried-and-true hacks like using a bobby pin for eyeliner and swatting down frizz with a dryer sheet do work—but they don’t exactly leave us excited nor do they inspire to go out there and make things easier. So we went back to the drawing board, and grilled the Glamour editors we see looking consistently fabulous to learn just how they do it. The words “Tell us your secrets” may have been used (it wasn’t overtly aggressive, but we got answers). Here, we’ve stockpiled the tips that will actually change your beauty routine for the better, and that you haven’t read 200 times before.
The Best Hair Tips
Tuck straight hair behind your ears while it air-dries.
“I picked up this trick from Harry Josh, the stylist behind Gisele’s iconic waves, years ago and haven’t looked back. My hair is flat and fine and rarely holds a bend, but doing this makes it air-dry into an easy wave with just the right amount of movement—it doesn’t even need any product to stay. It’s saved me on countless mornings when I run out of time to do my hair.” —Lindsay Schallon, senior digital beauty editor
Swap an old T-shirt for your hair towel.
“Teddi Cranford, who cuts my hair, once told me I needed to start using a clean T-shirt (instead of a regular towel) to wrap my hair after I shower; it cuts down on frizziness and breakage. I employed that trick (with much success) until I got my hands on this genius Aquis microfiber turban towel. While one is $30 and the other one is waiting for you in your closet, they deliver the same end result: softer, shinier curls.” —Simone Kitchens, associate beauty director
But for beachy waves, try paper towels.
“When I went to get my hair beach-wave permed, the hairstylist Jean Oh told me to use a paper towel to help air-dry my hair and keep my curls intact. Instead of crushing the curls with a heavy towel or blasting them with hot air, I scrunch up my damp curls with a paper towel, and they spring to life. In the mornings I wet my hair a bit and do the same thing, then let it air-dry. I hardly ever use a blow-dryer now.” —Erin Reimel, weekend writer
For more defined curls, master “squishing.”
“I read through the most nuanced curl regimens ever while doing a story on Reddit hair routines, but the one thing that’s stuck with me? Move your hair products to the shower and get them in right after you turn off the water. It doesn’t seem like it should make a huge difference to put product in when your hair is still wet—or as Reddit calls it “squish to condish”—but I notice a marked change when I do it. Bouncy, defined, frizz-free curls always follow.” —Rachel Nussbaum, beauty writer
A strainer works surprisingly well as a diffuser.
“Since I don’t drag myself out of bed on time with enough consistency to drop money on a diffuser, I use a pasta strainer whenever I want glossy blow-dried curls. It’s crazy-easy: Just flip your head over into the strainer (wash it first or spaghetti residue will make it look like you’ve got dandruff) and blow dry up into the strainer. Just pile sections of your hair into it and boom: shiny, frizz-less curls.” —Amber Rambharose, beauty editor
The Best Makeup Tips
Dust powder on your eyelids twice to help makeup stay.
“I have what very well may be the oiliest lids in the land, and on my hooded eyes, that means even waterproof liner ends up smudged on my crease. I’ve dubbed it the banana look. I’ve tried every shadow primer, but the only thing that’s made a difference is sweeping on a shadow brush of loose powder before and after I start my eye makeup. It doesn’t alter the colors at all, but soaks up oil—and keeps it that way.” —R.N.
For natural-looking lashes, try a tiny brush.
“Thick mascara brushes just don’t work on my lashes. Meaning, they always, without fail, make the product clump and stick together, no matter what formula I use. Still, I like the look of a tint, so I’ve taken to using Clinique’s Bottom Lash Mascara on my top lashes. The brush is tiny and thin, and it deposits a little product without making me look spidery or overdone.” —Perrie Samotin, digital deputy editor
Instead of brushing mascara on, wiggle the wand.
“I apply mascara by wiggling the brush across my lashes from the bottom and working my way up with the same motion. It sounds silly, but I noticed a big difference in my lashes after I learned this tip on a shoot. My mascara used to clump; now each lash looks fluttery and defined.” —Halie LeSavage, fashion features assistant
Tap on gloss for high cheekbones without highlighter.
“For a daytime highlight, I’ll put Too Faced’s clear Melted Latex lipstick on the high parts of my cheekbones for a subtle, more natural glow. It’s great for layering my crazy highlighters on top of after wearing makeup all day.” —Khaliha Hawkins, digital administrative assistant
Wing your cat eye upward, not outward.
“This may seem obvious to fellow liner lovers, but it didn’t really register for me until I met cat-eye master Daniel Chinchilla, who’s Ariana Grande’s makeup artist. He explained that a common cat-eye mistake is drawing a line that goes out straight toward your ear—which can make your eyes look droopy—rather than up toward the ends of your eyebrows. Since making this slight adjustment to my technique, I’ve gotten my cat eye down to a science. I just follow the upward direction of my lower lash line, instead of the downward direction of my upper.” —Jennifer Mulrow, assistant beauty editor
Trace brown liner under your top lashes for more definition.
“I wear winged liner every day, but before I do that I always tight-line my upper lid. I just lift my eyelid a little and very gently line under my lashes. My eyeliner—I use Stila—is black, but I use dark brown for the tight line, Marc Jacobs’ Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon in (Earth)quake. It makes a really noticeable difference, making the final look bolder and my eyes seem bigger.” —Azadeh Valanejad, social producer
Brushing your brows up makes a huge difference.
“Backstage at Rosie Assoulin this past spring ’18 season, James Kaliardos explained to an eager group of editors how a little grooming can make you look instantly put together. The easiest way? By brushing your eyebrows. Midinterview, in fact, he asked if he could brush my eyebrows right then and there. (Do I even want to know how long he’d been waiting to ask that?) It’s safe to say I haven’t left the house without brushing my eyebrows since. All you need is a regular spoolie, but clear gloss will keep them in place longer.” —J.M.
The Best Skin Care Tips
Caffeine on your makeup sponge is just crazy enough to work.
“I drink a black iced coffee every morning, and sometimes I’ll sprinkle a little on my Beautyblender to dampen it while I’m applying foundation. The following claim is obviously self-substantiated, but I swear the caffeinated liquid wakes up my skin and gives me a glow. Whatever works, right?” —P.S.
Put eye cream around your lips.
“So many people have told me they think eye cream is bullshit, but I’ve spent enough time around aestheticians to know better: The right eye cream in the right spots can make a world of difference. I put it on with my ring finger (it has the lightest touch and won’t drag your skin) all around my eye area including the skin between my eyes on the sides of my nose, right between my eyebrows, and around my mouth. The latter sounds weird, but your skin there is also delicate and prone to wrinkles, especially if you smoked for years, like me. Yeah, I know….” —L.S.
Add balm or oil to makeup if you have dry skin.
“My face skin gets flaky-dry in the winter, so I mix a rich balm or face oil into everything—foundation, primer, concealer, you name it. My current favorite is the Healing Balm from Max & Madeleine. I wouldn’t recommend it for oily skin, but if your face gets chapped or reptilian-looking when it’s cold, please do yourself a favor and swiftly mix a drop of balm with whatever else you’re putting on your face at about a three-to-one ratio.” —A.R.
Mix sugar and Vaseline to cure dry, flaky lips.
“I am a self-proclaimed lipstick addict, and if I didn’t give my lips a treatment every once in a while, they’d probably fall off. Or they’d at least be really cracked and sore all the time. Instead of buying a lip scrub, you can just mix sugar and Vaseline together to help smooth your lips when they’re feeling dried out and tired.” —E.R.
Wash your face before you exercise.
“I go to the gym before work every morning—well, most mornings—and I always give my skin a good rinse with my Clinique cleanser before getting started. Washing my face before ensures that my pores won’t get clogged from a gross sweat-dirt-oil mix while I’m working out. I have oily, acne-prone skin to begin with, and I noticed that I was way less prone to post-exercise breakouts after I started doing an extra wash beforehand.” —H.L.
Related Stories:
–10 Easy-to-Pull-Off Beauty Looks We’re Actually Copying From Fashion Week
–This Quick Contouring Trick Will Make Your Life So Much Easier
–I Don’t Wear Concealer Anymore Because of This Highlighter Trick
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