Makeup hacks: How to get the most out of your mascara

By Katie Visconti

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Skillfully applied makeup and the right hairdo can transform even the plainest Jane. But beauty products and accessories applied improperly can turn a natural beauty into a hot mess.

Here are solutions for several common beauty problems and some tips to help keep you looking your best.

• Self tanner that stains your clothes and bed sheets. Apply self tanner early in the day and give it plenty of time to dry. Once it’s dry, use a large makeup brush and baby powder to “set” the tanner. This will help it stay on your skin rather than rub off onto your clothes or sheets.

• Frizzy hair that sticks up near your forehead and scalp. Spray a clean toothbrush with hairspray, then run it over your fly-aways to lay them flat without looking like you’ve got too much product in your hair. The tiny bristles from the toothbrush will help subdue even the smallest broken hairs.

• Clumpy mascara. First, check the expiration date. Mascara typically lasts only about six months. Using it for longer can make your lashes clump and flake. Also, before applying mascara, be sure your lashes are free of yesterday’s makeup. Clean them with a baby wipe, then put a tiny amount of vaseline on your fingertips and run them lightly across your lashes. This will darken, separate and define your lashes before you apply mascara.

• Tan face, white neck. If your foundation leaves a line, the color may be too dark or you might not be blending enough. Match your foundation to your neck rather than your face by testing shades on your inside forearm, not the back of your hand. Necks get far less UV damage than faces, so skin tends to be lighter there. Also, be sure to buff foundation on with a foundation brush using circular motions.

• Clean your brushes. Regularly cleaning makeup brushes will keep them soft, supple and bacteria-free, which is good both for your health and for your look. Experts recommend brushes be washed at least once a week.

1. Pour a drop of baby shampoo or mild household liquid soap into the palm of your hand and add warm water, using your hand as the cup.

2. Use your finger to agitate the mixture until it bubbles, then swirl your brushes in your palm until they are clean.

3. Rinse well, then gently squeeze excess water from the brush and let air dry. Don’t soak brushes in the sink. Too much time in water can loosen the bristles and ruin the brush.

• Perfume that loses its fragrance by midday. Be sure to apply perfume to your skin, not to your clothes. Spraying clothing can stain and give items an unpleasant smell. Instead, spray perfume on your wrists, behind your ears and on your neck. Targeting those pulse points will help fragrance stay on longer.