Beauty Fix: How to wear a strong fragrance without overdoing it 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 can’t stand the feeling of false lashes on my eyes, but could use little lash boost every so often. Is there anything I can use that won’t feel so heavy on my eyes?
False lashes are not for everyone, that much we know. I personally can’t get over feeling like caterpillars just resting on my eyelids when I wear them. No thanks! I do, however, enjoy a dramatic lash for a special occasion here and there, but that’s when Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Nylon Lash Extension System ($46, sephora.ca) comes into play. This system is designed to mimic the effect of false lashes without the fuss (or discomfort!) of false lashes. Begin by applying the mascara to establish a base for the nylon fibres to stick to, then apply the white nylon fibre formula to your lashes and finish with another coat of the mascara. The final step melds the fibres into what you can essentially consider lash extensions, but they’re easily removed at the end of the day without any harm to your natural lashes. Finally, a happy medium!

I’m drawn to oriental fragrances, but I know they can be really overwhelming for people around me. How can I wear a headier fragrance without the cloying factor?
I think it really depends on the scent itself, as well as the format of the scent you choose to sport. An oriental fragrance in an eau de parfum format is not only heady, but also inherently strong in concentration, so avoid that if you’re trying to exercise a bit of restraint. If you’re concerned about your fragrance overwhelming those around you, go for a more modern oriental fragrance in a very understated formula. One to try is Chanel Coco Noir’s Foaming Shower Gel ($57, at Chanel counters). Hear me out on this one: this shower gel is beyond fragrant, containing notes of bergamot, geranium rose leaf, tonka bean and patchouli, and the wild thing is the scent really lingers on the skin well after you lather up. Follow up with the Chanel’s Coco Noir Moisturizing Body Lotion ($61, at Chanel counters) if you just can’t get enough of this enchantingly intoxicating scent.

Is it just me or do darker lip colours dry my lips out?
It does seem like this more often than not, doesn’t it? The reality is that any lip colour will look dry on lips after a bit of wear through the day, particularly if you’re consuming caffeine, which is dehydrating to our bodies—skin in particular. Prepping lips prior to application of lip colour can help, but also being mindful about selecting a hydrating lip colour formula will work in your favour. A creamy formula that is incredibly pigmented and applies like a dream is Urban Decay’s Revolution Lipstick ($26, sephora.ca). Each bullet is packed with cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil, so that your lips remain supple and smooth throughout the day. Pigment reaches full potential in a single swipe, so a little goes a long way, and the shade range is stunning!

Sun protection wasn’t really a habit for me until recently. Is there anything I can do to address sun damage in my eye area?
Lesson learned, right? It’s always good to hear that you’ve realized the importance of wearing SPF, donning a hat or sunglasses and being more away of sun damage and its impact on skin. In regards to sun damaged skin in the eye area, in addition to sun protection, consider adding an antioxidant serum to your routine. It’s key to be mindful of concentration levels of active ingredients when using anything in the eye area since the skin there is far more delicate than the rest of the face, so avoid using a facial antioxidant serum in this area. Instead, try SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel Antioxidant Eye Treatment ($80, skinceuticals.com/canada), which contains 5% L-ascorbic acid, known for stimulating collagen synthesis, preventing oxidative damage and correcting signs of damage. The formula is actually a serum-in-gel creation, which enables active ingredients to properly penetrate the skin without sacrificing the product’s emollient texture. A dab blended in under each eye will result in refreshed skin with even more benefits in the long run.

My acne scarring doesn’t seem to fade and hyperpigmentation seems to make it stand out even more. What can I use to diminish past acne scars?
Acne scarring is problematic for every skintone imaginable, so know that you’re not alone in this quandary! The primary reason to not pick at any blemishes or breakouts is because it can lead to scarring and demarcation of the skin. Even if we’re well-behaved and don’t pick at skin, each skintone has its own irregularity issues. Fair faces are concerned with redness in their skin, medium skintones are concerned with sallowness, and deeper skintones are concerned with blemishes. Trying a corrective treatment, such as Lancôme DreamTone Customized Skintone Correcting Serum ($110, lancome.ca), can help with excess irregular patches of melanin concentration. This serum range is developed to target each skintone’s concern mentioned above while restoring epidermal homeostasis (aka the regular functionality of skin) at a molecular level that goes beyond the superficial layers of skin, meaning results you see will not be fleeting. The serum itself contains pink and copper pigments that impart a healthy glow to skin to reflect a more even tone in the meantime!

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