Beauty Fix: How to do a bubble-free nail sticker application, sensitive skin cleansing cures 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.

My sensitive skin seems a bit irritated after cleansing. What can I do to calm it down?
This is a common gripe amongst sensitive-skinned individuals. The level of the skin’s visual irritation may be a fraction of the irritation happening below the surface, so spring into action. Ensure you’re using the correct type of cleanser for your skin. If you have skin that’s not only sensitive but also dry, using a milky or non-foaming cleanser is your best bet since they tend to be gentler at removing dirt and debris without draining the skin of natural moisture. If that’s all sorted, consider using a toner immediately after cleansing. While toner doesn’t necessarily have a place in everyone’s skincare regimen, a calming fluid like Simple Soothing Facial Toner ($11, well.ca), can really make a marked difference in how sensitive skin behaves. The fragrance-free formula contains witch hazel, panthenol, allantoin and chamomile, which tightens pores, restores skin, promotes cell turnover and soothes skin, respectively.

Hangnails are a recurrence for me. How can I deal with them instead of picking at them?
A hangnail is a piece of torn cuticle, and if that sounds unpleasant, that’s because it generally is! A hangnail is generally a result of dried-out cuticles, but picking at or biting nails can also contribute to this sometimes-painful scenario. Increase your hand cream application to avoid Sahara-like nail beds if hangnails are a recurring nightmare for you. In order to remove hangnails, try Tweezerman’s Satin Etched Zebra Cuticle Nipper ($36, tweezerman.ca). The hand-filed blades offer you serious precision when it comes to removing hangnails and dead skin from your cuticles, and can be sanitized in order to use on both hands and feet.

I’m not the best with nail art, so nail stickers have become my go-to, but I still seem to end up with air bubbles when I apply them. Am I doing something wrong?
Nail art stickers have made getting a glam manicure easier than ever, but there is a slight learning curve to achieving a flawless application, so I turned to Leeanne Colley, Revlon Canada’s nail expert. Revlon just launched their stunning Revlon by Marchesa Nail Art 3D Appliqués ($9, at drugstores), so Colley had plenty of tips at the ready:
– When sizing the appliqué to your nail, find one that looks like it’s the best fit and then go up one size. This will take the sides of the nail into consideration and ensure proper fit.
– If the appliqué isn’t quite the right fit for your nail bed, feel free to trim it to fit with manicure or brow scissors (tiny scissors will be more accurate than a larger pair).
– If you have shorter nail beds, you can potentially get the most mileage out of nail appliqués and use half an appliqué on each nail. 
– When applying, remove from the backing and centre it on the nail, pressing the middle of the appliqué down to start adhering it to the nail.
– Stretch the appliqué towards the tip of the nail and with firm pressure, start pressing and smoothing the appliqué down from the centre of the nail to the sides.
– Use a cuticle stick to smooth out any air bubbles that may have formed and to ensure all the edges of the appliqué are adhering properly to the nail. 
– Using a nail file, gently file away the excess, being sure to only file in one direction since using a sawing motion can rip the appliqué. 
– When it comes time to remove the appliqué, use a nail polish remover to loosen the appliqué from your nail bed, as peeling the appliqué off can potentially damage your nails. Better to be safe than sorry!

I have short lashes and find most lengthening mascaras are wet and weigh my lashes down. Do I have any alternatives to these heavy formulas?
You’re on the money when you say most lengthening formulas are a bit on the wet, runny side and most volume-building mascaras are on the drier side. In my research (aka mascara addiction), I have come across a lengthening formula that elongates without the weight: Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara ($9, at drugstores). This slightly drier formula lengthens lashes with microfibres and the brush is superb for clump-free application (a feat considering this is a fibre mascara) and while sculpting lashes upwards for a dramatic shape. Bonus: it’s boosted with a hair growth serum, keratin and antioxidants in order to strengthen lashes and prevent lash loss with daily use.

My skin has been feeling a bit itchy and dry post-shower. Is there anything I can use to counteract this itchiness?
As always, many variables can contribute to dry skin, but one that can often be overlooked is hard water. Hard water is the result of minerals in tap water. The mineral content of hard water makes cleansing particularly challenging because the minerals prevent proper lathering and rinsing, leaving a film on skin. This film can prevent moisture from penetrating our skin, leading to dry skin and dermatitis-like symptoms, or it can congest skin and cause breakouts. Next time you’re in the shower, try smoothing a few drops of La Roche-Posay Lipikar Oil ($16, at Shoppers Drug Mart) onto moist skin to counteract the drying effects of hard water. The lipid-rich oil will help rebuild the skin’s moisture barrier, making it an ideal addition to your shower routine.

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