Beauty Fix: Why facial mists are worth trying, the best concealer for darker skin 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 have really thick calluses, but pumice stones and foot files don’t seem to be helping. Is there a safe alternative?
Thick, hardened and dry skin is often the result of repeated friction, pressure or irritation from movement. While they may be unsightly, calluses can serve a purpose in protecting and cushioning our feet during daily activity, so complete removal of calluses isn’t that advisable or beneficial. If pumice stones and foot files aren’t minimizing the appearance of your calluses, please steer clear of foot razors! They make your feet vulnerable to a whole realm of potential bacteria. Opt for a safer alternative, such as Emjoi’s Micro-Pedi Callus Remover ($40, micropedi.ca), which is a battery-operated gadget that uses spinning micro-mineral rollers to gently but effectively buff away dead skin. It’s actually remarkable how much smoother this buffer makes your feet feel!

 
I know glycolic acid is beneficial for my skin, but I’ve tried different products that contain it all have been irritating to my skin. What can I use to gain the benefits of glycolic acid without the burn?
Glycolic acid is a fantastic skincare ingredient that aids in reducing the appearance of age spots and encouraging cell turnover, resulting in smoother skin. Everyone’s skin is different, so what works for one person’s face may not agree with your skin at all, and vice versa. Often, it’s a matter of trial and error to find a product that’s compatible, but doing a bit of research can be your best ally in such a hunt. For instance, Elizabeth Grant Skin Care Exclusive’s Wonder Effect Glycolic Mask ($50, elizabethgrant.com) contains 10% glycolic acid derived from sugar cane that’s actually enveloped by a moisture compound to gently exfoliate skin, and also contains hyaluronic acid to round out the hydrating factor of the mask. 

 
I love the berry and plum shades of fall, but don’t feel that comfortable wearing them on my lips for a day look. What’s another way to incorporate this shade into my makeup?
A purple pout isn’t for everyone, so take your penchant for plum and blend it onto your cheeks. Blush is an excellent way to incorporate a stronger colour into your look for a softer effect. Using your ring finger, lightly tap Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in “Plum Wine” ($10, well.ca) just below the cheekbones (but not quite in the hollows). Blend out with your index and middle fingers in a tapping motion. The beauty of a cream blush formula is that it is incredibly buildable, so feel free to add more if you so desire. A simple dash of liner, a swipe of mascara and you’re effortlessly paying homage to one of fall’s best shades! 

As a woman of colour, I have darkness around my mouth and chin area that looks ashy when I try to cover it with foundation. What am I doing wrong?
This is incredibly common—I personally experience it as an East Indian woman, and it can definitely throw off my whole face, but rest assured, it can be managed! It all goes back to colour theory, my dear. If you have a foundation that matches your skin, but an area of your face is slightly darker, that foundation shade will appear grey and ashy since the foundation is too light for that area. Counteract darkness with a colour corrector such as the apricot shade found in Make Up For Ever’s 5 Camouflage Cream Palette ($45, sephora.ca). Apply this corrector with your fingers (since it warms up the cream to blend easier) in a tapping motion to any areas with darkness. The idea at play here is that you’re cancelling out any purple-toned darkness with a orange-toned corrector, and these two colours sit opposite of each other on the colour wheel. Tap your foundation over top of the areas you have corrected, being sure not to swipe or buff foundation on since it will disturb and remove the corrector you just applied. Be sure to set your foundation with a light dusting of powder. Bonus: this corrector can also be used in the under eye area, and the palette contains other shades that can be mixed to conceal or contour the face. Quite the value!

 
Do facial mists have much in them to make them worth using? I usually feel like I’m just spraying scented water on my face. 
I hear the skepticism, and I have been in your mindset before, but rest assured, facial mists have more to them than a bit of fragrance plopped into H20. These sprays contain ingredients to soothe skin, prep your face for makeup or skincare and revive your look mid-day. Urban Decay’s B6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray ($39, sephora.ca) actually managed to pack a stabilized form of vitamin B6 into the formula, which minimizes redness, pore visibility and absorbs oil. It also contains vitamin E, an soothing antioxidant that skin just adores, and willow bark (a source of natural salicylic acid—thank you, Mother Nature), which is excellent for encouraging exfoliation of the skin. That’s a lot of stuff in a fine spray, and it can be used just about any time you feel like you need a little boost. It doesn’t disturb your makeup and it can be a great substitute for a facial primer in a pinch!

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