I've been writing about beauty for almost two decades, and in that time my fervent search for hacks and groundbreaking advice has had two goals: speed up my routine and achieve a better overall effect.
In recent years my weekly columns for the Guardian have taken that quest to the next level. I've tried every viral beauty trend. TikTok in particular is flooded with DIY beauty tips to make our lives easier.
Honestly, I'd say 80% of what I've tried has been complete nonsense, and was actually designed to attract attention because it was bizarre. But amid all the trial and error, there have been a few hacks that are actually useful.
Lately, I've been answering your pressing beauty questions on a weekly basis, and it's clear that people are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of products and treatments on offer - a sentiment I share even as a beauty editor.
I've also been floored by the responses I've gotten every time I've written about my struggle with eczema - which, at its worst, can feel unmanageable, painful, and with no end in sight. It's clearly a topic that resonates because it affects so many people, and yet it's rarely talked about in the mainstream press (the same goes for conditions like psoriasis or rosacea). Through trial and error, I discovered Meitrend Natural Face Cream (€11.99), a steroid-free product using traditional Chinese medical herbs, which helps me manage flare-ups, and Avène's Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream for Sensitive Skin (€21) soothes my skin. skin too.
The readers have been so honest with me, which I have always appreciated. I know as well as anyone the shame that can come with being unhappy with your appearance and have written about it in my book Ugly: Why the World Became Beauty-Obsessed and How to Break Free. In our age of supposed inclusivity and body positivity, we still struggle to fit into the beauty standards our generation grew up with. Many of the questions I have received are from readers who are very concerned about what others think of their appearance and who are asking for ways to navigate the aging process - which is unfortunately impossible to solve in a weekly column of 300 words.
One of the things that has helped me reduce the toxic messages surrounding aging is filling my life, TV screens and social media with people who are aging on their own terms, from their clothing and beauty choices to braving social and gender expectations. of what 50, 60 and 70 "look like" - people like actors Chloë Sevigny and Poorna Jagannathan and fashion icons Michèle Lamy and the late Iris Apfel. That has helped alleviate some of the pressure to freeze time and age backward.
So as my Beauty Q&A column comes to a close, it feels like this is the right time to share my truly top tips: these are the products and tricks that are truly worth your time and money.
The key to perfect coverage...
Should you apply foundation with a straw? It will come as no surprise that the answer is a resounding no. What has changed the way I apply my foundation and concealer, however, is using the "patchwork" method, which is the way professional makeup artists like Lisa Eldridge, who coined the term, apply it.
Instead of smearing foundation all over your face, which can look dry and cakey, use your foundation products with a small brush in the smallest amounts and apply them only to the areas of the face that you think need need. Leave the rest of your skin natural and blend until the patchwork of real skin and made-up skin is seamless.
Every time I've done this, I notice that I look measurably fresher in both photos and in the mirror - although it may take a little longer than the "slather and go" method.
...and how to keep it out of your clothes
Be sure to spray your clothes with hairspray to protect them from makeup transfer. I was thrilled when I discovered this hack.
Don't be influenced by other people's opinions of you
Makeup is an incredible way to express yourself. That's why I also appreciate the idea of 'unapproachable makeup', from the TikTokers who use bold makeup as a 'man repellent' to subvert the traditional idea of beautiful makeup aimed at the male gaze.
I believe that makeup should be expressive and feel joyful, rather than used to cover up or conceal. But if a bold look turns off someone of any gender because they're judging your appearance, then that's an added bonus.
The ethou-makeup trick that gives Sophia Loren glamour
One of the hacks I'm still in love with is the "siren eyes," TikTok's version of the ever-popular winged eyeliner look. Instead of a tightly drawn wing, applying your eyeliner with an eyeshadow or pencil to create a soft, elongated line looks softer and is much easier.
I use an Estée Lauder Waterproof Gel Eye Pencil (€17.95) and then blend the edges out with a good eyeliner brush, like Bobbi Brown's Ultra Precise Eyeliner Brush (€29), before the liner sets.
The hack I share the most in real life
If you're bothered by strong-smelling sweat and body odor, using Acnecide, an antibacterial face wash (£10.99), in the shower can kill all the underarm bacteria that make our usually odorless sweat smell bad.
Reframe your routine
According to TikTok, we should all have an "all-purpose shower," a weekly time to blow it all up at once: optional hair removal, exfoliation and a face mask, etc. I've always done this on Monday nights as a regular routine, but naming it is nice - certainly better than the depressing 'beauty admin hour', which I had in my agenda as before.
LED masks: my verdict
I get a lot of questions about LED face masks, probably because they are an investment purchase. I have definitely seen a difference since using one regularly; they help soothe my eczema, and I like that you can multitask while wearing one. Current Body has an LED mask (€482) that covers your face, neck and chest, which is excellent, but Beauty Pro has a good basic model that is cheaper (€195).
When should you spend...
My opinion is that you should spend money on treatments such as massages, facials and hair and nail sessions to ensure that you get good treatment and that the people doing this for you are treated and compensated well.
If the employees seem fearful of their employer and appear anxious or distressed - if they are not allowed to talk to each other and/or if tips are communal - that may be a sign that you should investigate the establishment and possibly contact the police .
When it comes to aesthetic procedures, you get what you pay for in terms of safety, expertise, and the ability to resolve any complications. But no matter which clinic you choose, if you get ripped off or feel uncomfortable or bad about your appearance in any way, that's a huge red flag.
...and when to budget
Everything else - makeup, skin care, fragrance - is available in price ranges to suit everyone. A few cheap but excellent products I like are Beauty Bay's eyeshadow palettes (£15.00) in a huge range of shades; Maybelline's Sky High Mascara (£12.95); and elf's Halo Glow Liquid Filter (£15) for a gorgeous skin tone and glow booster. Anyone with dry skin should use CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (£13.60); the ceramides soothe and restore the barrier function of the skin.
Get the curl without the heat
As a vintage beauty obsessive, I have long been a fan of heatless ways to curl hair, as people did in the past. But instead of pin curls and sleep rollers, socks and robe belts have taken over TikTok as ways to create curls while you sleep. Those two methods didn't work that well for me, but I do get a nice wave from Silke's Heatless Curling Iron Set (£42), which I've even seen people carrying on planes.
The hack that works on stray hairs
Another hack worth trying is using dryer sheets or dental floss as a hair softener. They are covered in wax/conditioner, which flattens stray hairs. Viral got2b's Brow and Edges Gel (£5.50) is good for smoothing baby hairs.
The best way to become nail gel free
I give my nails a rest after years of removing the gel polish have made them weak. If you're in the same boat, use CND Rescue RX (£25.95) to strengthen them, then use nail oil to maintain them. L'Occitane's Shea Nail and Cuticle Nourishing Oil (£15.50) fits in a handbag, and there's plenty of joy too in Dior's Crème Abricot Strengthening Nail Care (£29). I stick to easy-to-wear shades like Nails Inc Glowing Out polish (£9) which enhances the natural colour.
How to perfume cheaply
As a fragrance enthusiast, my biggest takeaway is that a "dupe" generally does not have the same effect as the original scent. So if you like a particular scent, my money-saving hack is to see if there's a body mist or hair perfume version. These cost less, but it's the same scent, just in a less potent form. For example, Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle as a perfume costs £122 for 100ml, but the body mist costs £46 for 100ml. And if you use a moisturizer or a little Vaseline under the scent, it will last longer on the skin because it evaporates more slowly.
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Ugly: Why the World Became Beauty-Obsessed and How to Break Free by Anita Bhagwandas is published by Blink (£10.99). To support The Guardian and Observer, order your copy at Guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
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