Easy Hacks For Getting The Most Out Of Your Makeup Products
We buy each of our makeup products to do one specific thing — lipstick is used to put color on our lips and mascara is for our lashes. However, if you happen to run out of your favorite blush or you've accidentally dropped your lipgloss down a city drain, did you know that your other products can act as a stand-in? Instead of forgoing completing your makeup or frantically running to the nearest department store, all you need to do is get creative with what you have.
Just like substituting an ingredient for a recipe, you can do so with your makeup. You just have to make sure you have plenty of items on hand so that you can mix and match your products. Having various brushes is also a bonus, but if you find yourself away from them, you can always use your digits. If you're in a bind or simply want to pare down your collection, there are plenty of ways your makeup products can act as multi-purpose tools.
Lipstick as blush
Blush isn't one of those makeup items many people carry around — so if you find yourself in need of a touch-up while you're out, look no further than your lipstick. A pink or beige color can double as a cream blush and provides a super easy application right out of the tube. Simply dab two or three dots onto your cheeks and gently blend it in with your fingers or a makeup sponge if you happen to have one on you. Only have a bright red shade in your purse? You can still use the color sparingly. If it's too bright, dust some translucent powder over it to diffuse the color.
If your lipstick is a bit too hard and you're not getting any color deposit, don't rub it into your skin or you'll end up taking your foundation off. Warm the product with your fingers and then apply it to your cheeks. Bonus if your lipstick has shimmer — it'll also act as a highlighter.
Mascara as a liquid liner
Liquid eyeliner is one of those products that's hard to know if and when you're running out. The packaging is often non-see-through and once the formula has dried out, you're plum out of luck. Hopefully, you have a fresh tube of mascara and an eyeliner brush so you can create a winged liner look to your heart's content.
Vlogger and makeup guru Nicole Skyes used this trick to compare using her mascara as an eyeliner with her regular liquid one. She rubbed some of the product from the mascara wand onto her angled brush and applied it to her lid in a winged line. Skyes then applied a liquid liner to her left eye and after wearing both products for several hours, she noticed that the mascara liner was darker than the traditional one. We recommend using waterproof mascara, as it has better staying power and won't run down your face if your eyes happen to tear. However, a non-waterproof formula will do in a pinch.
Concealer as eyeshadow primer
Eyeshadow primers are key to keeping your eye makeup in place as they provide a smooth base for your lids and give powders something to hold onto. They help eyeshadows last longer while also preventing them from creasing. If you find yourself without one, your concealer will work just as well. Maybelline suggests using a lightweight, liquid formula that can glide onto your lids easily without tugging.
Most liquid concealers come in a tube with a doe foot applicator so you can just place a few dots onto your lids and blend it in with your fingers or a flat makeup brush. Your eyeshadow will work as a setting powder but you'll need to apply the colors right away before the concealer creases on your lids. A bonus of using concealer as a primer is that it'll get rid of any dark colors on your lids so that your eyeshadows will really pop.
Eyeshadow in lieu of an eyebrow pencil
Eyeshadows are one of the most versatile makeup products out there. With such a vast color palette to choose from, the possibilities for their usage are endless. You'll be sure to have a range of brown tones in your kit so make the most out of them by using one as an eyebrow powder. If you're usually a pencil user, change things up a bit by giving your brows a beautiful powdered look. All you need is a small angled brush and a shade that's close to your hair color.
The only caveat to this hack is to make sure the brown color doesn't have too much red in it. If you're a brunette, choose a deep brown on the cool side. The same goes for those with blond hair — make sure to pick a light, ashy shade. If you have red hair, you can opt for a warmer color like caramel or chestnut.
Lipstick to contour your face
Contour sticks are often a staple in everyone's makeup bag, but if you can't seem to locate yours, you can use your lipstick to sculpt your face instead. With the resurgence of '90s makeup looks, chances are you have a brown shade on hand. Choose a color that's several shades darker than your skin tone, preferably one that's cool with not too much red in it. Additionally, make sure the formula is matte with no shimmer.
Using lipstick to contour your face is great for getting into those small nooks, such as the sides of your nose and the hollows of your cheeks. Apply it as you would a contour stick and run the lipstick right under your jawline and the top of your forehead. The creamy consistency will also make it super easy to blend. If your lipstick is too hard, first rub it on the back of your hand to warm it up, then apply it to your face.
Eyeshadow as eyeliner
Using liquid or gel liners is incredibly tricky even if you're the most skilled makeup artist. For a softer, error-proof look, use your eyeshadow to line your eyes. If you want a smudged look, apply a thin line along your lash line with a small angled brush. You may have to go over it a few times to get enough pigment on your lids. For a more precise line, wet your brush with water and wipe any excess moisture onto a tissue. Dip your damp brush into your eyeshadow and create a line along your lids, bringing the shade past the outer corners of your eyes for a winged look.
The best thing about this hack is that you can use any eyeshadow color — you don't have to stick to browns and blacks. Take advantage of your bright blues or greens to create a mermaidcore effect. Purples and navy colors are also great for crisp weather days.
Lipstick as a color corrector
It may seem counterintuitive to add color underneath your eyes to get rid of dark circles but it's a trick of the makeup trade that you can do with your lipstick. If you don't have color-correcting concealers, all you need is a red-based lipstick to cancel out any blue or green undertones under your eyes.TikToker @creativelyjenni used a deep red shade and while it was visible after applying a light layer of concealer, the color was completely covered with a foundation application.
While red may be too dark for fair-skinned folks, a light peach or orange shade will do to correct undereye circles. Be sure to apply the product sparingly and layer on more if needed. As with any color correctors, you'll have to apply concealer and/or foundation on top to neutralize the shade. Don't be afraid of using red tones under your eyes — it'll brighten up the area and create a natural-looking glow.
Liquid highlighter as a face primer
If you want a dewy, lit-from-within glow, try pre-highlighting and trade in your regular face primer for a liquid highlighter. After moisturizing, apply the highlighter all over your face and then put on your concealer and foundation as usual. The effect will be a subtle shimmer on your skin that will make it seem as if you're an otherworldly goddess. For those who tend to be oily, you can apply the highlighter on just the areas you want to spotlight, such as the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and brow bone.
Be sure to use a lightweight foundation instead of a full-coverage one or you'll completely mask the highlighter. To really let your skin shine, only apply makeup where needed, such as underneath your eyes and any discoloration you may have on your face. If you want even more of a glow, you can dab more highlighter on after you've applied your foundation.