Beauty Fix: The best way to indulge in some post-holiday rest and relaxation 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’ve tried to use cake eyeliner before but it never says put. Any tips on application?
Cake eyeliner is a delightfully tidy alternative to its liquid counterparts, and it can be particularly useful for working into your lash line to fake some volume and lusciousness. I don’t necessarily have application tips, but rather an alternative suggestion of what to dampen your cake liner with. If you’ve been using water, you have probably discovered that the finding the perfect ratio can be a challenge: too much water obviously compromises how pigmented the liner will be upon application. However, Laura Mercier Tightline Activator ($25, sephora.ca) is a tiny dropper bottle of fluid that contains polymers that are designed to help your cake liner adhere and stay put on your inner eyelid rims. A drop or two of this fluid will transform any cake liner into a long-lasting look.

What can I add to my bath to de-stress and detox from the holiday hustle?
Now that we’re almost through the season, taking some time to slow down and rest is a grand idea. There are plenty of potions to add to your bath water that go beyond the reliable (albeit a touch predictable) Epsom salts. If a mild detox is called for (who doesn’t indulge a little at the holidays?) grab Fresh Rice Sake Bath ($55, sephora.ca) and pour generously into the tub as it fills. This fruity sake-based fluid will increase your circulation and raise your body temperature, allowing you to sweat out the toxins of the last few weeks. Enzymes in the formula soften and hydrate skin, while ginger extract soothes muscles. You’ll exit the tub absolutely radiating heat, feeling renewed for the holiday homestretch. 

I’m not really into festive makeup, so I’m planning on a cat eye to carry me through the holidays. What should I wear on my lips with such a look?
Festive makeup isn’t for everyone; if winged liner is your look of the season, go for it! Since winged liner has some really retro roots, look to the past for lipstick inspiration. When I think of winged liner, I think of Brigitte Bardot with a cat eye and neutral lips. But since truly nude lips aren’t always the most universally flattering colour, seek out a peachy shade to complete your look, such as Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in “Mischievous” ($10, at drugstores). This matte formula contains shea, mango and cocoa butters for seriously comfortable wear and it’s a twist-up format, meaning no sharpening required. The colour wears well, but even when it wears off, a hint of a lip stain is left behind, making it great for the holidays when eating, drinking and being merry!

What can I use to get sudden breakouts under control?
A big blemish is the last thing anyone wants to fall prey to, especially during the holidays, with looming photo ops galore. As we know, the first step to handling a new pimple is to quite literally not handle it. Keep your hands away from the blemish, since touching it—including any attempts to pop it!—is an absolute no-go due to bacteria transferring and furthering inflammation. It’s always a proactive idea to keep a targeted breakout-eradicating product on-hand to throw on when you first see signs of a blemish popping up. Murad Acne Spot Treatment ($18, sephora.ca) is fast-acting thanks to three per cent sulfur plus salicylic acid, which work together to reduce inflammation, while added zinc and licorice root extract help heal the breakout.

What can I use to plump up my skin?
Finding the right ingredients and product formulations to suit your needs is always a bit of an experimentation process, but that doesn’t mean you can’t streamline your routine as you fine-tune your regimen. Plumping ingredients are often found in serums and moisturizers—and, even better, in hybrid formulations, such as Biotherm’s Blue Therapy Night Serum in Oil ($75, thebay.ca). This uniquely textured serum-oil formula contains two types of algae that help firm and repair skin, diminishing the appearance of fine lines. Apply it every night for a welcome wash of hydration (totally necessary this time of year!) and awake to plumper skin by morning.

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