Beauty Fix: A new way to apply mascara, how to heal skin that’s prone to scarring and more

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

I find it a bit tricky to get to my corner lashes when applying mascara. How can I reach every single lash?
I’ve certainly jabbed the inner corners of my eyes a handful of times when trying to get mascara on my corner lashes, leaving a mess of mascara smudges behind. (It’s even worse when it ruins a carefully applied eye makeup look.) Mascara junkies rejoice, because Avon Mega Effects Mascara ($12, avon.ca) has a very different brush that is the solution to your corner-lash woes. The adjustable ergonomic wand allows you to line up the brush with your lashes from the front, instead of from the side, so you can apply mascara to each and every lash. If you still feel you can’t get to the corner lashes, turn the brush so that it’s perpendicular to your lash line to brush on the mascara with the end of the wand.

I want to try an at-home gel manicure, but I’m not the best at painting my nails. Any pointers?
At-home gel manicures are extremely appealing for a number of reasons. They can be a huge cost-saver, you’re able to do your nails whenever it’s convenient for you (allowing you to change your nail polish colour when the desire strikes!) and you still benefit from the long-lasting, shiny wear of a gel mani. If your nail painting skills aren’t up to snuff, consider Sally Hansen Insta-Gel Strips Starter Kit ($37, well.ca). The kit includes a mini LED light, quick-cure top coat and 16 real gel polish nail appliqués (to ensure proper sizes for all your nails). The appliqués go on just like nail art decals—so if you can apply those, you can apply these! Just stick them to clean nails, add a thin layer of the included top coat and cure under the mini LED lamp. Wipe down with alcohol after each nail is cured and you’re good to go!

I have skin that’s quite prone to scarring. Is this something I just have to live with?
Skin prone to scarring can be frustrating because the most superficial scratch, graze or blemish can leave a mark well after the abrasion has healed. Decrease your chance of scarring by upping your skin’s defence level. La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 ($20, at Shoppers Drug Mart) is your best bet for doing so. This creamy balm contains provitamin B5 (hence the name), known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as madecassoside, which prohibits bacteria from adhering to the skin, making it an ideal environment for healing. The formula also contains thermal water and shea butter, which will sooth the skin when you apply a light layer. Tip: this balm can actually be used on a number of ailments, such as sunburns, dry patches, cuticles and chapped lips.

Most primers I’ve tried have made my makeup slide off my face or brought on breakouts. What can I use to avoid these scenarios?
Makeup primers are created to add longevity to the wear of your makeup, so finding the right primer for your skin is handy, but also presents a challenge in a sea of options. If you’ve experienced makeup meltdowns in the past, you probably are in need of a mattifying primer. To ensure you’re not putting something on your face that will cause a breakout, consider going the silicon-free route and try Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer ($43, sephora.ca). This formula contains nylon instead of silicon to grab onto your makeup and make it last throughout the day. It also contains witch hazel water and rice starch to mattify skin, and pomegranate extract, which is a powerful antioxidant that skin can always benefit from. Tip: To avoid potential pilling, be sure to tap this primer onto your skin instead of rubbing or swiping it onto the skin.

How exactly do I trim my brows without compromising the shape?
When taking brow matters into your own hands, the first step is to get the right tools. Brow scissors, such as Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors and Brush ($19, tweezerman.ca) are a better choice over regular scissors, because they’re curved, which leads to a more natural shape when hair is trimmed. Regular scissors can actually create a very blunt, unnatural shape—likely not what you’re going for. Brush brow hairs upwards in the direction of hair growth, and anything that extends beyond your brow shape can be trimmed. Repeat the process for the end of the brows, brushing hair downwards to trim anything that falls below the brow shape. Always err on the side of caution when trimming brows: you can always trim more so it’s best to start with small scissor snips and frequently step back to examine your handiwork as you go.

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