Beauty Fix: Everything you need to know about eyelash extensions and more answers to your beauty questions

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 recently cut my hair short and it’s at that point of growth where the ends flip out. What can I do to deal with this?
You’re preaching to the choir! I’ve been battling that old-school Carol Brady coif for a few weeks now, and let me tell you, it is a stubborn scene. Your best bet is to smooth the ends under when hair is still damp. After applying a heat protectant spray, aim the blowdryer nozzle downward on the hair shaft and grab a natural-bristle round brush to help decrease split-ends and breakage. Ideally, the brush should be small enough to use on shorter hair lengths, such as Raincry Professional Small Natural Bristle Brush 45mm ($48, raincry.com), to wrap the hair around the brush to curl the ends under in the opposite direction, working in sections and starting with the bottom layers of your hair. This method takes a bit more time, but ultimately, it’s less damaging to hair than the direct heat of a flatiron every time you wash your hair.

What’s the easiest way to achieve a monochromatic look?
Monochromatic makeup is a bit of a spinoff of the season’s extensive “no makeup” makeup trend. It’s actually a really welcomed way to streamline one’s makeup routine when time is tight and the desire to look pulled together remains! The easiest way to achieve a monochromatic makeup look is by using a multi-purpose product on eyes, lips and cheeks, such as Nars The Multiple ($46, narscosmetics.ca), shown above in “Malibu,” a rosy brown shade with soft shimmer that will make you look polished in a few swipes and a bit of blending.

I’ve been thinking about getting lash extensions, but I’m not really sure about the impact on my lashes after the fact. What should I know?
While lash extensions are an excellent way to add both length and volume to your own lashes, there are definitely things to consider before committing to a half or full set of lash extensions. The process of wearing extensions means that you’re freed from lash curling and mascara, but you have to be careful to keep makeup and skincare products from coming in contact with the extensions. The oils from these products have a tendency to cause the adhesive bond to break down prematurely. It’s also possible that the adhesive used to attach the lash extensions to your own lashes can irritate your eyelids, which is less than awesome considering lash extensions tend to stay on for up to a month, falling out with your natural lash growth/loss cycle. And finally, if the lash extensions used are too wide (greater than 0.2 millimeters), you can risk damaging your natural lashes, especially if your natural lashes are already on the weak side. If these points of interest don’t sound like your cup of tea, consider a mascara like LOréal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara ($13, at drugstores), which has a lash-hugging brush that deposits a killer lengthening formula along each and every lash, maximizing the span of your lashes without any upkeep!

If I have oily skin, should I still use moisturizer?
Absolutely! While some people feel their skin is so oily that they need to constantly remove excess sebum from their face and avoid adding any moisture whatsoever, that notion is actually counterintuitive. In reality, your skin will produce more oil if you don’t moisturize your face, so break the cycle and start applying one that will not only moisturize your skin, but also treat any existing blemishes with salicylic acid. A great one to try for anyone who glistens more than they care to admit: Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturizer ($9, well.ca).

I’m looking for a foundation that can be worn sheer or built up for more coverage, but I don’t know where to start. Any guidance?
Looking for buildable coverage is actually quite common when seeking out a foundation for purchase, mostly because everyone appreciates a bit of flexibility when it comes to coverage level for different occasions. Foundation is a bit of an infatuation for me, so let me say I’ve done the legwork and have tried liquids, creams, mousses, powders and just about anything in between. I found a wax-based formula, such as Kett Fixx Crème Makeup Compact foundation ($30, kettcosmetics.com), tends to fit the criteria of being worn sheered out (applied with a damp sponge) or built up for more coverage (when buffed in with a dense foundation brush). Bonus: the formula is waterproof, so it’ll be quite the practical product once temperatures rise!

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