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 or ask away in the comments below.

How can I curb shine without powdering repeatedly throughout the day?
There’s obviously an argument in favour of luminous skin in summer, but that usually means being in control of the areas that are radiant and glowing. If your rendition of “radiant and glowing” veers more towards “shiny mess,” then you probably should enlist the help of a product to reduce shine. Powdering your face is a bit high maintenance, and it’s also bound to lead to product build-up if you’re touching up throughout the day. Avoid that heavy look by misting your face with Face Atelier Ultra Matte ($40, faceatelier.com) instead. It can be used before or after makeup to minimize shine. The formula contains silicones that are heat-, moisture-, and sebum-resistant, which eliminates shine while giving skin an optical blur effect that softens the appearance of fine lines and pores. This stuff is a must-have for brides!

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 or ask away in the comments below.

What should I keep in mind when buying at-home hair colour?
At-home hair colouring is a very cost-effective alternative to salon hair colour visits, especially if you need frequent root touchups. Look for a formula that is easy to apply with minimal mess, like L’Oreal Preference Mousse Absolue Hair Colour ($22, well.ca), which is a mousse colour formula that mixes together as it’s dispensing. Given the unique dispensing system, this at-home hair colour is actually reusable, making it ideal for root touchups or a second full application, depending on your hair length. The resulting hair colour is multi-tonal with full root coverage, giving your hair dimension and 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.

Lately, my skin looks dull and tired. How can I make it look more energized?
Fatigued skin looks dull and lacklustre, and that’s usually because it’s lacking proper, restorative rest. If slowing down your schedule to get more rest isn’t an option (it so rarely is!), then make the most out of the sleep you are able to make and try an overnight mask. A substantial layer of a mask such as Lancôme Énergie de Vie Nuit Overnight Recovery Mask ($78, sephora.ca) will work wonders in a short span of time. This particular formula contains hydrating wild yam root extract, rhodiola root extract (helpful for fighting signs of fatigue), and gentiana root extract (radiance-boosting!). A few nights wearing this mask and your skin will appear more energized.

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 brows are well defined, but they are unruly and gel isn’t doing the trick. What else can I use?
If you’re blessed with full brows and have no use for brow powders or pencils at all, consider yourself lucky! If you’re blessed with brows so full that they verge into unruly territory, you probably consider yourself frustrated when hairs stray from your natural shape. If gel isn’t keeping brow hairs in order, try something more pliable that will really grip hairs and keep them together, like Sigma Beauty Brow Wax ($11, sigmabeauty.com). This pencil format means convenient application. Run it through brows, and your body heat will warm the wax up, allowing you to brush it through with a spoolie into your preferred shape.

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.

What exactly is a toning shampoo and what is it used for?
Toner is generally applied to hair that has been bleached in order to bring the colour down to the desired shade. A toning shampoo performs the function of a toner in a shampoo step to refresh and correct the tone of hair that has been succumbed to an undesired shade shift. John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo ($14, well.ca) works to tone hair colour by absorbing UV light and emitting white-blue light so that brassy tones are eliminated and your hair is returned to its former salon-fresh shade in as little as three washes.

How do I protect my hair from overexposure in the sun and keep it healthy?
Our overall efforts related to a healthy life usually incorporate intense hydration and sun protection—hair is no exception to these efforts. Keep hair hydrated with moisturizing hair masques and be sure to protect hair when in the sun either by donning a hat or using products that contain sun filters in their formulations. If you want to rewind the clock, treat your hair as you would for your face and make sure you’re treating hair to beneficial ingredients! Schwarzkopf BC Hair Therapy Time Restore Rejuvenating Spray ($18, at salons) is a leave-in spray that contains coenzyme Q10, a well-known anti-aging mainstay, which stimulates production of two keratin types that usually slow down in natural production over time. This spray will help hair remain shiny, voluminous and healthy.

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 make sure my facial flush lasts when I’m poolside or beachside?
Making makeup last in heat is a challenge every summer. Making makeup last in situation involving heat and water definitely calls for heavy artillery. When water gets involved, definitely opt for more sweat- and water-resistant products, like Cargo Swimmables Blush in “Bali” ($29, murale.ca). This formula will stay in place come high humidity or splashes of water due to silicone-coated powder that adheres to skin better, which means you’ll look glowing and radiant. This soft pink shade in particular is very natural looking and provides such an effortless flush, making it a blush you’ll be reaching for all summer and well into the fall.

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.

What can I use on my dry ends that won’t weigh my fine hair down?
Because there are so many hair oils on the market, each with its own special consistency and blend, it can be a bit of a task to find what works best with your hair, especially if it’s fine. It’s also important to use hair oil sparingly, starting with a small amount and adding more only if necessary. Drybar 100 Proof Treatment Oil ($35, sephora.ca) provides dry ends with a dose of omega fatty acids thanks to Kalahari melon seed oil in a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly. The pump of this hair oil dispenses a small amount with each press, allowing you total control over how much you use—which is handy since a little goes a very long way.

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.

What can I use on my hair to make it feel as though it’s never been coloured or heat-styled?
Hair that hasn’t felt the wrath of a flat iron, blow dryer or dye is usually a distant, fond memory, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. Hair in its natural state—that is, unprocessed—has a lipid layer that exists shaft. This layer is comprised of 21 carbon molecules, which, when we begin heat-styling or colouring our hair, become heavily eroded. The result is hair that has less lipid protection than before, making it prone to damage, dryness and breakage. Certain hydrating hair products are useful in balancing our lipid layer molecule count, which drastically improves the texture of hair. Try a new hyper-hydrator for thirsty hair like Schwarzkopf Professional BC Moisture Kick Beauty Balm ($18, at salons). It contains hyaluronic acid, which has the same effect in hair as it does for skin: drawing moisture from the environment into hair to help replenish and hydrate.

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 love under-eye concealer, but I’m worried about the reverse raccoon look showing up in photos. Help?
The most common culprit of the dreaded reverse raccoon look is a concealer that’s light-reflective. Sure, it’s great for bouncing light into the darker undereye area, but less so in flash photography as it can reflect back the light in a pretty extreme way. A more natural finish is your best bet to skirt this issue. Instead, try a satin finish, like Marc Jacobs Beauty Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer ($38, sephora.ca). This conceraler will provide you with coverage that looks just as flattering in photos as it does in person and the formula is nourishing for skin, containing shea butter and coconut extract. Bonus: the pinky-peach undertones of the concealer act as a brightener and concealer in one, giving you a two-in-one effect in a single product.

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 blowdrying my hair, but don’t love how it looks immediately after styling it. What can I use to give it a more lived-in look?
Sounds like you’re looking to achieve a style that falls right between squeaky-clean and second-day hair, which is surprisingly attainable when you reach for the right product. Try a dab of pomade, but don’t recoil in horror at that term! Pomade is traditionally a little heavier and gel-based, but it’s just a matter of finding a formula that delivers the effect you desire. Try a cream-based pomade, like Drybar The Chaser Shine Pomade ($28, sephora.ca), to give your hair a soft, tousled look after a fresh blowout. This sandalwood-scented formula adds shine and improves the condition of hair thanks to hibiscus extract. Be sure to concentrate your application through the lengths of hair for a piece-y, relaxed style.

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 most serums I come across are meant for anti-aging purposes. Does anything exist for acne-prone skin?
Anti-aging skincare accounts for a significant proportion of the products available on the market, and we’re always told it’s never too early to start exploring the options available to us. However, when you’re preoccupied with acne concerns, it can seem like every advanced product out there is for anti-aging. Not so! Estée Lauder Clear Difference Advanced Blemish Serum ($64, esteelauder.ca) will become a mainstay in your skincare routine because in addition to refining pores, calming skin and reducing redness thanks to algae and caffeine, it will use salicylic acid to stop breakout cycles from reoccurring. The serum works in a gentle way on a daily basis, giving you more even and balanced skin with continued use.

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 do I define my curls without the crunchiness of mousse or hairspray?
If the crunchiness of curls isn’t really your thing it’s definitely time to explore your options. Hairspray and mousse usually contain high amounts of alcohol, which dry hair out. Moisture is a key to softly defined curls, so make sure your styling products hydrate while helping you achieve your desired look. While serums are optimal for smoothing hair, they may not deliver the defined curl you’re looking for. A creme texture, such as Frédéric Fekkai Pot de Crème ($30, at Shoppers Drug Mart), will impart moisture in hair thanks to the high content of shea butter, making soft, touchable curls totally achievable.