Beauty Fix: How to make neon nail polish look brighter 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 go through cardboard nail files so quickly. Is there a more durable type I should try?
Too many times I have rummaged around for a nail file only to find one and discover it’s dull and essentially not usable. Not only that, but old nail files can be full of bacteria, especially cardboard files, as it’s hard to completely and effectively disinfect them—so discarding entirely is usually the safest bet. Luckily, Revlon File ‘N Peel ($5, at drugstores) has changed all that. This file is double-sided, so it offers both shaping and smoothing capabilities (standard stuff for a nail file), but it actually has three layers on each side, so that once a layer has been dulled down, you simply peel it away to reveal a fresh file ready for use! It’s the ideal solution for anyone who prefers cardboard files to glass or metal, but hates how easily cardboard files can get worn out.

I know curling my lashes is an instant eye opener, but I can’t seem to do it without pinching my eyelids. What gives?
This is probably the number one reason more people don’t give eyelashes a boost with an eyelash curler—fear of pinching! It’s definitely an unpleasant sensation when it occurs, but here’s why it does: No two eyes are shaped the exact same, and that applies to the same set of eyes on any individual. I actually have no issue curling lashes on my right eye, but my left always gets pinched, no matter how much time I take to get the curler lined up. Eye shapes also vary depending on ethnicity. If you find that your eyelash curler continues to pinch your lids, try something designed for a less rounded eye shape, such as Shu Uemura’s Eyelash Curler ($24, shuuemura.ca), which is an ideal choice for flatter eye shapes.

I have large pores and feel like they’re magnified by the fact that my face is oily and shiny. What can I use to decrease the amount of shine and visibility?
Mattifying your skin certainly decreases the level of visibility of larger pores, so you’re not imagining that your pores seem larger due to shininess or excess oil. Kick up your skincare before applying makeup by enlisting Philosophy Total Matteness Oil Free Mattifying Pore Eraser ($40, sephora.com) to reduce shine, clean out pores and decrease visibility (thanks to bamboo extract, salicylic acid and lentil seed extract, respectively). Then, swipe on Maybelline New York Fit Me! Shine-Free Foundation Stick ($11, at drugstores) to any areas needing coverage and shine reduction, buffing out to a smooth, satin finish.

I love wearing bright nail colours, but so many neon shades apply dull. Is there any way to make them brighter?
The colour of our natural nail beds doesn’t always result in true-to-bottle colour payoff. The shade we see on our nails also depends on the polish’s formulation, as not all polishes are made to be opaque, even after several coats. Try starting off with a pure white coat, such as Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear in “White On” ($4, well.ca), on your nails before delving into brights and neons, like Ceramic Glaze Nail Lacquer in “Exotic Dragon Fruit” ($11, at Shoppers Drug Mart). The white coat base will result in colour payoff that is much closer to the bottle shade!

What’s a way to define my eyes if I’m prone to most eye makeup traveling all over my eye area?
For starters, definitely look into long-wearing eye makeup. There are a slew of products out there that have 24-hour claims attached to them, so definitely explore those options. If you’re still apprehensive about makeup traveling to other areas of the eye, keep what you wear relatively simple. All you need are a few liners to add definition to your eyes, such as Sigma Beauty’s Extended Wear Eye Liner Kit in “Neutral” ($33, sigmabeauty.com). Take the matte black liner, dubbed “Boost,” and run it along the lashline, smudging it with the brush included in the kit, and tightline with this shade as well, running it along the inner rim of your upper lid. It’s a creamy formula with no shimmer, so it won’t irritate your eyes. Line the bottom lashline lightly with “Balance,” a chocolate brown shade with a hint of shimmer. Finally, sparingly trace the inner corners of your eyes with “Enlighten,” a soft gold pencil, to serve as an eye-opening highlight.

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