I have loved makeup and skin care for as long as I can remember. Okay, it was after my pro-wrestling and JNCO jean phase was over, but I’d rather pretend that didn’t actually happen. I went to school for esthetics six years ago, and have worked with skin, makeup, and waxing ever since. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I have picked up along the way!

Taking care of your skin

Picking at your skin is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE and you should not do it! But, if you are human like the rest of us, you will anyway, so you should take precaution while doing it. I am not a fan of the metal tools a lot of estheticians use, although they can be helpful with blackheads in hard to get areas, they can also leave scarring if used improperly and also hurt like hell. If you are attempting to remove blackheads, wash and exfoliate your skin, preferably after a steamy shower. If you have the time and patience, boiling water and steaming your face by holding a towel over your head to lock the steam in for a few minutes will make a big difference. Wrap your index fingers in tissue and gently rock them back and forth around the blackhead or blemish. Squeezing too hard or using your nails will result in red, irritated skin, so start off gently and take your time with it. Afterward, always use some sort of toner to prevent bacteria from spreading.

When skin is breaking out, it is really easy to want to dry it out, covering it in spot treatment upon spot treatment, but sometimes our skin just needs to be calmed down. If you find harsh acne products are only further irritating your skin, try a gentle cleanser and moisturizer instead. A little Visine for red eyes can help take the red out of a pimple, or a dab of cortisone.

Speaking of cortisone, have a bumpy forehead that nothing seems to help? Little pimples that don’t produce any pus and take weeks to go away are the bane of my existence. Sometimes a little cortisone is the only thing that helps. Use it twice a day for three days, replacing your regular moisturizer. You don’t want to use it any longer as it can thin out your skin.

Getting the smoothest shave

The key to the perfect shave is exfoliation. Whether you are shaving every other day or every other month, using a scrub right before shaving will help to remove any dead skin that would result in a slightly stubbly feeling (this is especially helpful for underarms and dry legs). While shaving, coconut oil or conditioner have proven to be the most skin softening, just be cautious as your razor may slip a bit. It is also extremely helpful to shave opposite of hair growth. Most of us do for legs (easy enough) but for underarms it is usually necessary to shave up and down, and for down-below, shaving side to side will change your life if you have been doing it any other way. Always moisturize after shaving while your skin is still damp from the steam of the shower (I keep my oil or lotion on the bathtub so I don’t forget to use it before getting out). If your skin is sensitive or you’re prone to razor bumps regardless, I recommend a product like TendSkin, which can sting after a fresh shave but is pretty life changing, or Kiehl’s razor bump relief, which is far more gentle.

Making your makeup last longer

The cooler air is coming in and darker lip colors are in full effect. Unfortunately it also brings in dry, chapped lips. Keeping your lips exfoliated (are we seeing a trend? I love exfoliation!) is key when it comes to proper application. You can make a homemade scrub, or use a wet wash cloth or toothbrush to gently remove the flaky skin.

DIY lip scrub: Treat Yo’Self Thursday edition!

For the longest lasting color, fill in your entire lip with lip liner. I would suggest getting a liner that matches closely to your natural lip color rather than the lipstick so you don’t end up with a different liner for each lipstick. Apply your lipstick and immediately blot with tissue. This will add a layer of color while also forcing it to act as a stain. This step can be repeated again if you’re looking for a lot of color intensity. Now apply your lipstick as usual!

If you wear any eye makeup other than mascara and haven’t tried an eye primer, you’re missing out. Aside from it preventing creasing, primer also helps keep eye liner where it should be (instead of underneath your eyebrows – anyone else have this problem?), keeps greasy eyelids at bay and literally lasts until you take it off. Urban Decay is my absolute favorite, but it can feel like an unnecessary expense when it isn’t something you use every day. When I’m not using primer, I always give my eyelids a decent coating of concealer followed by powder. It keeps your eyes looking brighter and extends the wear of makeup. You can also dust powder on your lashes before applying mascara to add a bit of volume.

Got any questions? What are you beauty tips and tricks? Share with us in the comments below!

Written by Sarah Pires
Follow her blog, Adventurously!