Hacks That Hold Up
Viral hacks are fun to watch. These are the ones that still work on day ten, with ordinary products, in ordinary light — sorted by eyes, lips and base.
Pick your area
Each hack lists the time it takes and the skill it needs. "Beginner" means you can do it the first time without practising. "Intermediate" means expect two or three tries before it looks right.
- 01Tape-free wing guide2 min · IntermediateRest the edge of a business card along the line from your nostril to the outer corner of your eye. Draw along it, remove, connect to the lash line. Steadier than tape and won't tug skin.
- 02Spoolie before mascara30 sec · BeginnerComb lashes up with a clean spoolie first. It separates and lifts so you need one coat instead of three.
- 03Brown pencil as shadow2 min · BeginnerScribble along the lash line, smudge with a fingertip. A "shadow" with no palette and no fallout on your concealer.
- 04Concealer as lid primer1 min · BeginnerA thin layer, set with a dusting of powder, stops shadow from creasing on oily lids.
- 01Blot-and-press stain2 min · BeginnerApply a bold lipstick, blot hard on tissue, then press a fingertip of the same colour into the centre. Lasts through coffee far better than a single glossy coat.
- 02Liner all over1 min · BeginnerFill in the whole lip with liner before gloss or balm. The liner stays when the shine wears off.
- 03Darker edge, lighter centre2 min · IntermediateThe cherry-cola effect: deep liner around the edge, softer tint in the middle, blended with a fingertip.
- 04Lip tint as blush1 min · BeginnerTap it on cheeks quickly before it sets. Matching cheeks and lips read as "done" in sixty seconds.
- 01Concealer in a dot, not a triangle1 min · BeginnerThe big under-eye triangle uses more product and creases more. A dot at the inner corner and one at the darkest spot is usually enough.
- 02Damp sponge rescue2 min · BeginnerPatchy base? Press over it with a damp sponge instead of adding more product.
- 03Mix foundation with moisturiser1 min · BeginnerTurns a full-coverage foundation into a skin tint for daytime, so one bottle covers two looks.
- 04Powder only the centre1 min · BeginnerForehead centre, sides of the nose, chin. Leave cheeks alone to keep skin from looking flat.
The three-item touch-up bag
Most of us carry far more than we use. After a month of tracking what actually came out of our bags, the list was short: a lip tint that doubles as blush, a pressed powder with a mirror, and a few blotting papers. A cotton bud in a zip bag is a bonus for fixing smudged liner.
- 01Blot first30 secPowder on top of oil goes cakey; blotting removes it first.
- 02Press powder, don't swipe30 sec
- 03Re-tint lips and cheeks1 min
Hacks we stopped recommending
Some popular tricks look great on camera and fail in real life, and a few are risky. We don't recommend using craft glue, household adhesives or anything not made for skin near the eyes — cosmetics regulators like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 set safety rules for products meant for your face for good reason.
We also dropped "baking" heavy layers of powder for everyday wear. It can look smooth under studio lights, but on most skin types it settles into fine lines by lunchtime, and it takes five extra minutes. A light press of powder only where you shine does the job.
Finally, spit-wetting a brush or sharing mascara with friends is a quick route to irritated eyes. Bacteria travel easily, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology advises against sharing eye makeup. A damp sponge and your own tube are worth the thirty seconds.
Ready to put a few of these together? Try them inside one of our trend routines, or check what to swap in Same Finish, Smaller Spend.