There’s nothing worse than trying to manage a beauty emergency as you’re about to step out the door.
So to help, New York-based Australian Kelly McCarren – a PR and Content Manager at online clothing boutique, Showpo – recently took to YouTube to share her best hacks.
From what to do if your skin is blighted by a blemish to how hand sanitiser can be use to blot an oily complexion, here we take a look at Kelly’s top 10 tips and tricks.
Kelly McCarren, a PR manager and Youtuber recently shared her best tips, tips and hacks for when you have to deal with a beauty emergency
1. Banish a blemish in no time
Skin can be unpredictable in that you might go to bed with your complexion looking radiant only to wake up with an unsightly blemish.
To deal with this, Kelly advises applying a pimple patch as soon as you notice a spot arise.
The brand she says has best results comes with tiny nodules which allows you to press formula into the affected area.
‘When you push it on to a pimple gently, it doesn’t sting or anything, you can just feel it.’
Kelly said the effect of pressing the product into a blemish meant it could potentially work faster to allow anything that’s below the surface to come to the top.
Setting spray applied to a beauty blender is an ideal way to ensure makeup will last the course of the day
2. Prevent aches and pains from high heels
Wearing high heels elevates a party outfit like nothing else. But the downside is the pain that can ensues.
Rather than smother your tootsies in Bandaids in a bid to stop aches, Kelly suggests applying numbing cream to sore spots and then covering these with a spray bandage.
To prove her hack works, Kelly said tried this trick when she recently attended a wedding in brand new high heels.
‘I walked to the wedding, I danced all night. And yes, my feet were a little bit sore at the end of the night but I didn’t think at any point I needed to take my shoes off.’
3. Making your makeup last
If you need to step out looking your best but don’t have time to reapply – there’s a trick to help your makeup lasts the course of the day.
Kelly recommends using a setting spray – her preferred product is one by Makeup Forever, priced at $43 from Sephora – and applying this with a beauty blender.
She advises using a blender which is slightly damp, then spraying it with the setting spray and then ‘pushing the product into your skin’.
4. Managing a mascara mishap
Wrangling mascara can be tricky business.
If you get a clump on your face and you wipe it away, chances are you’ll end up with a black streak.
Thanks to Kelly though, this needn’t be a problem.
She suggests waiting 10 minutes for the mascara to dry then using an old spoolie, simply flick the mascara off your skin.
Kelly recommends this brand of setting spray from Makeup For Ever, priced at $43 (left) and advises using hand sanitiser as a way of dealing with oily skin (right)
5. Liquid lips with perfect lines
Liquid lipsticks pack a punch but applying these to your pout requires some skill if you don’t want to end up with a smudgy mess.
The right tool for the job, advises the makeup pro, is an angled brush.
‘For lips, an angled brush is perfect because it really gets into all the lines and nooks and crannies of your lips to create a really perfect and cut snatched lip.’
6. Freshen up in seconds
If you need to freshen up in a matter of moments but don’t have time to shower, there is a simple solution.
‘Baby wipes,’ said Kelly. ‘If it’s natural and good enough for a baby’s bum then it’s natural and good enough for me.’
‘Wet wipes to freshen up your pits and your bits every time.’
Liquid lipsticks pack a punch but applying these to your pout requires some skill if you don’t want to end up with a smudgy mess
7. Make bronzer your best friend
Bronzer is a multi-use product, said Kelly, especially if the one you own is a universal shade.
‘It can be used to bronze skin, contour and as an eyeshadow or you can use it on your brows.
‘There are so many uses for bronzer, it is actually amazing.’
Amping up the glam factor: Kelly suggests adding a dab of lip balm to your cheeks for a natural, dewy highlighter
8. Add a touch of pizzazz using lip balm
There are few products in your makeup kit more versatile than lip balm.
If you’re stuck for a lip colour, Kelly suggests mixing a little lip balm with some eyeshadow and pressing this into your lips for a one-of-a-kind colour.
The same mixture can be used as a cheek tint.
Lip balm can also be applied to the high points of your face for highlighting if you want to create a natural, dewy effect.
Kelly has shared all manner of tricks including how to blot oily skin using hand sanitiser
9. Refresh oily skin with hand sanitiser
There’s nothing worse than skin that’s become too oily over the course of a day.
But rather than resorting to blotting papers or extra powder, Kelly suggests a sweep of hand sanitiser.
Her hack involves rubbing the product between your hands first, then pressing this into your T-zone or whatever area needs attention.
If you’re short on time and you’ve just painted your nails, there’s a way to ‘set’ them using ice so they don’t smudge
‘Whatever it is that’s in the formula actually helps you soak up all of that grease and oil so you’ll end up looking a lot less oily.’
Another good use for sanitiser is as a deodorant. Kelly recommends using a wet wipe first to cleanse your armpits, then adding a little bit of hand sanitiser.
‘It will kill all the bacteria which is what causes body odour and it will keep them a little bit fresh.’
10. How not to smudge freshly painted nails
If you’re short on time and you’ve just painted your nails, there’s a way to ‘set’ them fast so they don’t smudge.
Kelly’s hack simply involves plunging nails into a bowl of water filled with ice.
‘Put your nails in that icy water, leave it there for one minute. When you pull them out, they will be perfectly dry.’