Body & beauty

10 Ways To Solve Annoying Beauty Problems

Fix common make-up dilemmas in a flash

If you always get… Mascara on your eyelids

“This happens when applying mascara to your bottom lashes when your upper lashes haven’t dried, or if you’re putting too much on,” says cruelty-free make-up artist Justine Jenkins (justinejenkins.com). “To remedy this, dab excess product on a tissue and start with your bottom lashes. Then, look down into a mirror to do your upper lashes. Work a finger from roots to ends to remove clumps, or use a lash comb. If you do smudge, remove it with some cleanser.”

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, £16, lizearle.com

If you always get… A white film on your lips

“If you have chapped lips, your lipstick will not apply as smoothly or evenly, nor will it last as long and you run the risk of the dreaded white film lip,” says Bridget O’Keefe, make-up artist and founder of Blush and Blow London (blushandblowlondon.com). “To prevent this, exfoliate with a lip scrub and then apply a hydrating balm before putting on lipstick. Hydration is key, so be sure to drink plenty of water as this also helps dehydrated lips.”

Tropic Skincare Lip Love Balm, £5, tropicskincare.com

If you always get… Smudged nail polish

“To avoid this, be careful not to overload the brush,” says Justine. “Place it three quarters of the way up the nail bed and, in one movement, gently push forward towards the cuticle, then sweep the brush down to the nail edge. Repeat until the nail is finished. This gives you more control, preventing you flooding the cuticle and smudging your colour. If you do make a mistake, remove it with a pointed cotton bud dipped in nail polish remover.”

Fresh Therapies Natural Nail Polish Remover, £11.99, freshtherapies.com

If you always get… Dried-out eyeliner

If you’ve spent a lot of money on your favourite eyeliner, only to find it dried out when you come to use it, don’t despair. “With a gel liner, put a few drops of your choice of natural oil into the palm of your hand,” says Bridget. “Dip your liner brush into the oil and then work it into the gel liner. Close the jar tightly and in a matter of minutes, your gel will be restored!”

Sister & Co Raw Coconut Oil, £7, sisterandcompany.com

If you always get… Over-plucked eyebrows

Think you’ve gone a bit over the top with the tweezers? “If you’d prefer not to seek professional help, use a good brow pencil or brow powder to fill in sparse areas and to help achieve a desired shape,” says Chermaine Kyriacou, trainer at Browhaus (browhaus.com). Worried they won’t return at all? “You can use castor oil to help them grow back faster, but if your brow follicles aren’t damaged, they’ll grow back, no matter what.” Phew!

Lily Lolo Eyebrow Duo in Medium, £9, lilylolo.co.uk

If you always get… Too much product in your hair

Realising you’ve applied too much product after styling your tresses is annoying, but there are ways to fix it sans shower. “To deal with excess serum, use dry shampoo to absorb the oil and dry your hair with low heat,” says Manjul Treohan, founder of So Me Beauty (so-me.me). “If you’ve used a lot of gel, again apply dry shampoo and blow dry while brushing with a paddle brush. If you’ve applied too much dry shampoo, use a protein spray in the area and dry.”

Tabitha James Kraan Dry Shampoo Compact for Dark Hair, £19, tabithajameskraan.com

If you always get… Peeling nails

“Give yourself a break from gel polishes and acrylic tips which involve filing down the natural nail,” Bridget advises. “These cause brittleness and dryness, leading to thin nails which often peel. Apply hand cream and cuticle oil regularly to promote growth, and if your hands are often in water, be sure to wear gloves. This is important as nail beds absorb water and expand, then as the moisture evaporates they contract, creating weak talons.”

Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail and Cuticle Oil, £26.50, dr.hauschka.com

If you always get… Creases in your eyeshadow

Having your perfectly applied eyeshadow shift and crease after a few hours is frustrating. “Be sure to apply an oil-free primer, or press powder to your lid before applying make-up,” Bridget recommends. “I often apply gel liner all over the eyelid (yes, really!) and then blend it with my finger as the base for my eyeshadow for extra staying power.”

Jane Iredale Jelly Jar Gel Eyeliner in Brown, £19.95, janeiredale.com

If you always get… Cakey foundation

“This occurs when you apply too much foundation, concealer or powder, making you look overdone,” says Gaynor Matthews, founder of makeup app Wow How (wowhowapp.com). “Choose a foundation that suits your skin tone and type and apply evenly with a brush or sponge. Use a primer to create a smooth surface for easier application, and build up your base slowly, leaving a few minutes between layers to let the foundation absorb. Finish with setting powder to remove shine.”

Balance Me Instant Lift Primer, £22, naturisimo.com

If you always get… Bleeding lipstick

Lipstick that’s migrating away from your lips will detract from the rest of your look, which is where lip liners come into play – but remember to choose a shade close to your lipstick. “Lip liners act as a barrier to stop your lipstick from smudging, so apply it first and then your preferred colour,” advises Bridget. “Blot your lips with a tissue after applying lipstick to get rid of any excess.”

Inika Certified Organic Lip Liner Pencil in Dusty Rose, £14.50, inikaorganic.com