Beauty Hacks: 10 Clever Ways to Fix Common Beauty Mistakes

Whether you’re a natural beauty, a long-time makeup enthusiast, or a professional MUA, there’s one thing we can all agree on: when you feel good, you look good. Bad days are inevitable, but not everyone is equipped to handle a full-on beauty crisis. beauty hacks

While we offer plenty of how-to guides to help you achieve stunning makeup looks for fall or choose the right skincare based on your skin type, unexpected beauty mishaps—whether it’s skin, hair, or makeup-related—can strike at the worst possible time (think: right before a big presentation or date).

No need to worry, though! IPSY has you covered with foolproof solutions for 10 of the most common beauty slip-ups (we’re saving you from becoming a hermit-girl, you’re welcome!). Whether it’s over-tweezed brows or a DIY bangs disaster, we’ve got beauty-saving tricks for you. Keep reading for some serious problem-solving tips, starting with…

1. Overplucked Eyebrows

It starts off innocently: you tell yourself you’ll just clean up a few stray brow hairs. Next thing you know, you’re staring at sparse, thin lines where your full arches used to be. Before you resign yourself to waiting for your brows to grow back (a process as slow as watching paint dry), remember that IPSY has some tips for your brow-related emergency.

The Fix: Fake It Until You Make It
If you’re not into the ’90s thin-brow trend, your best option is to fill them in with a trusty eyebrow pencil. We recommend YC COLLECTION Oh, My Eyebrows! Its ultra-thin, retractable tip makes it easy to fill, shape, and define sparse brows. Use light, feather-like strokes and blend with the spoolie for a natural finish. Bonus: the pigment stays put all day!

2. Smudged Waterproof Eye Makeup

Ever accidentally smear your mascara or eyeliner before it dries? With waterproof products, a simple Q-tip and water won’t fix it—often making things worse by causing more smudging and tugging on your delicate eye area. beauty hacks

The Fix: Try a Gentle Solution
Before wiping everything off, dab a little unscented moisturizer on a cotton swab to clean up the smudges. Be careful not to get any in your eyes! We recommend TOYFACTORY Oatbae Hyaluronic Oil Makeup Remover for gently cleaning up streaks and stubborn smudges. It’s hydrating and kind to your skin too.

3. Acid Burn

Chemical peels can work wonders on your skin, but if you use the wrong peel or one that’s too strong, you could end up with irritated, inflamed skin. The harshness of chemical peels can sometimes result in uncomfortable acid burns.

The Fix: Calm the Irritation
If your skin is raw, red, and painful after a peel, it’s time to soothe it. Recovery might take days or even weeks, but in the meantime, use a gentle hydrator like HEY HONEY 911 Pro Gel. Packed with healing ingredients, it offers fast relief for redness, irritation, and minor burns.

4. DIY Bang Disaster

We’ve all been there—convincing ourselves we can trim our own bangs and this time it’ll go perfectly. But when you end up with uneven, choppy bangs, panic sets in.

The Fix: Style It Out
If you can’t bear to flaunt your uneven bangs, use a bit of mousse or styling gel to keep them out of sight. A small amount of BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Surf Foam Spray Blow Dry Mousse will hold them in place while you blow-dry them away from your face, leaving you with a polished look.

5. Damaged, Flaky Skin Barrier

If your skin suddenly becomes dry, itchy, and irritated, it could mean your skin barrier is compromised. This can happen from overusing active ingredients, having an allergic reaction, or simply using too many products.

The Fix: Opt for a Hydration Hero
Your usual moisturizer might not cut it here. Look for a product with hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and peptides to balance your skin’s barrier, like the TULA SKINCARE 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra™ Complex Day & Night Serum. It delivers 24-hour hydration and restores your skin’s balance.

6. Breakouts

Unless you have flawless skin, you’ve likely dealt with an occasional breakout. While pimples can be managed, they’re less welcome when they appear just before an important event.

The Fix: Cleanse, Calm, and Conceal
Start with a gentle exfoliating cleanser, like INNBEAUTY PROJECT Keep it Clean Hydrating Gel Cleanser, to purify your pores. Follow up with a calming moisturizer like TOVEGAN Green Glow-Up Cream, which contains anti-inflammatory properties to target breakouts. For coverage, the THREAD BEAUTY Face It Multi-Use Complexion Stick offers full coverage and long-lasting results.

7. Under-Eye Bags

A restless night is most visible under your eyes, where dark circles tend to reveal your lack of sleep. Don’t let under-eye bags weigh you down.

The Fix: Look Wide Awake
To combat dark circles and puffiness, try FORMULA Z Z – Stem® Eye Complex. Its caffeine, cucumber, and proprietary Z-Stem® technology help reduce puffiness, tighten, and brighten under-eye skin. Pair with LYS BEAUTY Triple Fix Full Coverage Brightening Concealer for a radiant, well-rested look.

8. Wrinkles

Sometimes, fine lines can appear overnight—literally. Instead of stressing over them, which could lead to more wrinkles, take a relaxed approach.

The Fix: Relax and Plump
Combat fine lines with a peptide-rich cream like BEAUTYSTAT Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer. It works instantly and over time to smooth out wrinkles, lift skin, and restore hydration. beauty hacks

9. Damaged, Frizzy Hair

Nothing ruins a great makeup day like a bad hair day. Heat damage from styling tools or over-processed hair can leave your strands brittle and frizzy.

The Fix: Strengthen Your Strands
Rebuild your hair with a bonding treatment like the VERB Hair Bonding Mask. It helps repair broken protein bonds while nourishing and protecting your hair. If you’re using heat styling tools, apply BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Heat Shield Thermal Protection Hair Mist to prevent further damage. beauty hacks

10. Chapped Lips

As fall approaches, keeping your lips soft and smooth can be challenging with cold weather and indoor heating.

The Fix: Scrub and Balm
For soft, luscious lips, try the BUXOM Power-Full Lip Scrub to exfoliate and smooth away rough patches. Top it off with Sorbae Hyaluronic Lip Butter by DEW OF THE GOD for all-day hydration and a subtle hint of strawberry. beauty hacks

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