FASHION Magazine

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.

How can I avoid age spots on my hands?
Discolouration and age spots develop gradually over time as a direct result of sun damage. While putting SPF on your face is an easy to remember step in your daily skincare routine, we often neglect to do the same for our hands, which are exposed to the same environmental abuses. If you’re serious about protecting your hands, devise a proactive plan of attack involving sunscreen and a brightening moisturizer. Be sure to apply (and reapply!) SPF daily to hands, especially when outdoors, and enlist a vitamin C-enriched moisturizer, such as Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Dark Spot Hand Cream ($12, well.ca), to even out skin tone and diminish any existing irregularities.

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.

Every time I try to apply mascara on my lower lashes, I make a mess of my undereye area with accidental smudges from the wand. Should I be using a different technique?
More like a different wand, actually! While your favourite mascara may be an absolute miracle worker for top lashes, its large wand can make it an absolute nightmares for bottom lashes. Maybelline Volum’Express Falsies Big Eyes Mascara ($11, well.ca) is likely to be your go-to mascara if coating your lower lashes is an absolute must, as it’s a double-ended mascara with two wands: one wand is slightly larger for optimal volume for the top lashes and the other is a mega-skinny wand for precise mascara application for the lower lashes. This allows you to get right to the lash roots without hitting the skin, meaning you can maximize each and every little lash for ultimate impact.

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.

My sensitive skin seems a bit irritated after cleansing. What can I do to calm it down?
This is a common gripe amongst sensitive-skinned individuals. The level of the skin’s visual irritation may be a fraction of the irritation happening below the surface, so spring into action. Ensure you’re using the correct type of cleanser for your skin. If you have skin that’s not only sensitive but also dry, using a milky or non-foaming cleanser is your best bet since they tend to be gentler at removing dirt and debris without draining the skin of natural moisture. If that’s all sorted, consider using a toner immediately after cleansing. While toner doesn’t necessarily have a place in everyone’s skincare regimen, a calming fluid like Simple Soothing Facial Toner ($11, well.ca), can really make a marked difference in how sensitive skin behaves. The fragrance-free formula contains witch hazel, panthenol, allantoin and chamomile, which tightens pores, restores skin, promotes cell turnover and soothes skin, respectively.

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!

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 stuck to sheer gloss for most of the summer, but I think I’m ready for some fall lip colours. Any trends to keep in mind?
Always! Fall tends to involve a transition to bold, rich shades from a summer season of sheer washes of colour. Make a statement with a velvety matte lip, which was featured in the magnificently regal runway presentation at Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall 2013 show. Makeup artist Pat McGrath actually went through a process to achieve the matte finish featured in the show by applying lip liner, mixing and applying two lipstick shades, blotting the colour down and then powdering the lips to eliminate any shine. For a shortcut to the finished look, try Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in “Rioja” ($32, sephora.ca). It’s a featherweight cream formula containing a high dosage of pigments that then dries down to a powdery finish. Don’t fret about lips looking dry, because the formula consists of edible butters and oils that absorb into lips at varying rates, ensuring smooth lips throughout the day.

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!

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 work in a somewhat conservative environment, but I’m really drawn to metallics for fall. How can I incorporate this into my look without being over the top in the workplace?
Office dress codes are in place for a reason, so let’s not break any rules per se, but rather bend them ever so slightly. When looking at metallic beauty products, the key to finding something that’s agreeable with your office look is usually in the glitter or shimmer quotient of the product. You can easily swap out a creamy neutral nail polish for a shade like Joe Fresh Beauty Nail Polish in “Quartz” ($4, joefresh.com), which is a mid-tone duochrome purple metallic shade with a shimmer that reads as a glow in the bottle. A shade like this is actually quite understated and downright chic when sported on short nails.

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 find it a bit tricky to get to my corner lashes when applying mascara. How can I reach every single lash?
I’ve certainly jabbed the inner corners of my eyes a handful of times when trying to get mascara on my corner lashes, leaving a mess of mascara smudges behind. (It’s even worse when it ruins a carefully applied eye makeup look.) Mascara junkies rejoice, because Avon Mega Effects Mascara ($12, avon.ca) has a very different brush that is the solution to your corner-lash woes. The adjustable ergonomic wand allows you to line up the brush with your lashes from the front, instead of from the side, so you can apply mascara to each and every lash. If you still feel you can’t get to the corner lashes, turn the brush so that it’s perpendicular to your lash line to brush on the mascara with the end of the wand.

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!

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 some dark spots and minor imperfections that I want to treat and cover up. How can I go about doing this?
Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, acne scars, dark circles, fine lines… everyone has something they’d like to diminish while hiding it! Thankfully, recent innovations have resulted in plenty of multitasking products that help treat and hide pigmentation problems. Take a look at Lancôme Teint Visionnaire Skin Correcting Makeup ($60, sephora.ca), which is a two-step makeup that involves a liquid skin-correcting foundation and a spot-correcting concealer in the lid. The foundation formula contains molecules that penetrate through multiple skin layers to correct wrinkles, pores, UV damage and acne marks. The concealer, which is colour-matched to the foundation, contains vitamin C to lighten dark spots while providing full coverage wherever you desire it. Bonus: you can toss the concealer portion of the bottle in your bag for touch-ups on the go!

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 like to give my nails a break from polish every so often, but they look so dull. How can I make them look their best?
While we can all be slaves to the polish bottle, bare nails can be quite modern and, right now, are remarkably on-trend. If your nails have taken a bit of battering after multiple polish changes with minimal breaks in between, using a nail buffer, such as Quo’s Ergo Buffer ($6, at Shoppers Drug Mart), can actually help stimulate circulation to your nail beds. Buffing encourages nails to grow while smoothing out the nail surface, thus making them look and feel healthier. Use the black nail file side of the Ergo Buffer to shape nails, moving on to the blue side to buff nails lightly, and finally use the purple interior side of the buffing tool to bring nails to a smooth, glossy shine.

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.