Beauty Fix: What to look for when buying a liquid liner, a safer way to treat breakouts 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 feel like every time I paint my nails, I can’t sit still long enough to let them dry. How can I speed up this process?
I think it’s practically a rule in life that when you’re waiting for your freshly painted nails to dry, you’ll suddenly have an undeniable urge to reach into your purse or pocket. Fortunately, we can usher the drying process along by applying a couple drops of Quo by Orly Dry In A Sec drops ($10, at Shoppers Drug Mart) on each nail. These drops utilize quick-drying silicones to protect the polish from smudging while drying at a rapdi. And keep in mind that when you’re applying your colour, thin, even coats of nail polish (instead of thicker coats) will be your best friend if you really want to reduce your drying time!

How can I make my blush look more natural and less like stage makeup?
The overall goal of blush is to mimic a natural flush found in your skin and the type of formula used can really make or break the achievement of that goal. If you really want a flush that is believable, try a cream blush like Chanel Le Blush Crème ($43, at Chanel counters). Using your fingers, gradually build up colour on the cheeks by applying the cream blush with your ring finger, tapping it into your skin with your middle and index fingers. Because it has a satin finish with no shimmer, this formula appears like a second-skin and as if it’s radiating from within—which is a much better look than the powdery finish traditional blushes can leave behind.

I’m pretty sure the acne treatment I’m using is bleaching my towels. What gives and what can I use that won’t do this?
A breakout is already irritating enough, but to then to throw in the undesired impact of benzoyl peroxide on a favourite towel? Come on! While benzoyl peroxide can be effective in treating blemishes, it doesn’t play nice with the fabrics that come in contact with it. Spare your next set of towels and switch to Yes to Tomatoes Repairing Lotion ($15, at Shoppers Drug Mart). This formula contains all-natural salicylic acid, which is known for its acne-fighting capabilities since it helps eliminate dirt and debris from pores. It also contains ginger to reduce redness and witch hazel to control sebum production—but most importantly it doesn’t contain anything that will bleach your sheets.

I want to try using liquid eyeliner, but I’m not sure what to look for when choosing one. What should I consider when exploring my options?
Liquid liner is such a versatile product: It’s excellent for a lot of different looks ranging from the delicate and dainty tracing of your upper lash line for subtle, everyday definition to attention-grabbing winged eyeliner that’s hard to miss. A felt-tipped pen is best when starting out with liquid liner, because it allows an element of control over where the liner goes versus a brush. (Brushes can be very effective, but are a bit tricky to maneuver for beginners.) A common gripe for pen-style liquid liners is that they can dry out quickly, so opt for Anna Sui’s Liquid Liner ($27, murale.ca), which has a twistable base to dispense additional eyeliner to the calligraphy-style tip. Outstanding!

I can’t stand the smell of most deodorants targeted to women, but I still want to smell fresh. Any suggestions?
You mean you don’t want to smell “powder fresh” or “floral”?! As an olfactory-obsessed person, I get where you’re coming from. You don’t want to smell like a bouquet of (synthetic) flowers, but you do want to wear some kind of scent that masks any odor you may develop throughout the day. If woodsy fragrances are more up your alley, try L’Occitane’s Eau des Baux Stick Deodorant ($24, loccitane.ca), which is technically a men’s deodorant, but it is remarkably wearable for women. It’s a sound option for anyone who is into more atypical scents, such as red peppercorn and cardamom, which warm up this cypress scent. Bonus: the formula is paraben-free and contains no aluminum.

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