10 Beauty Hacks From the Pros

Professional makeup artists, beauty gurus, and skincare CEOs are definitely on the ball when it comes to beauty tricks and creative solutions. We obviously want to know them ALL and share them all with you, but some of the best-kept secrets remain, well, kept. For now, we rounded up 10 experts to dish on their favorite hacks, approaches, and solutions. We’ll always be searching for more. Until then, keep reading…

Jen Atkin, celebrity hairstylist, on photogenic hair:

We trust anything that hair goddess Jen Atkin, founder of OUAI and Mane Addicts, suggests. “I keep a brow palette and eyeshadow brush in my kit to fill in any sparse areas of the hairline or part to make the hair appear full in person and in photos. Works every time.”

Mary Phillips, celebrity makeup artist:

Not one to ever look less than beautiful and bright, Mary Phillips shares what she always keeps on deck to maintain. “I always keep a few green tea bags in my kit. If you drop them in some ice water and place them on the eyes after, it’s a great fix for puffy eyes. Also cortisone cream is a must in my kit to spot treat a stubborn pimple. Put the size of a pea on your pimple for about 20-30 minutes, and it should shrink your pimple significantly.”

Andrew Fitzsimons, celebrity hairstylist, on keeping things high and tight:

The perfect summer ‘do? A super snatched pony. If you feel like you spend all day trying to brush down the flyaways, Andrew Fitzsimons has got you. “A lot of people really struggle with achieving a super smooth snatched ponytail free of any bumps, particularly if they have thicker hair. To make it easier, have a hair tie handy and divide your hair into two sections, starting at one ear just under the crown to the other ear, so you have top and bottom sections. Using a flat boar bristle brush and hairspray, smooth the top section into the desired ponytail shape and tie it off. You can either leave it there for a half-up, half-down look, or do the exact same smoothing process with the bottom section, combining the two. This will eliminate those annoying bumps and lumps and give you an easy-to-achieve, celebrity-inspired snatched pony.”

Ashunta Sheriff, celebrity makeup artist and beauty educator, on her favorite DIY glow:

Ashunta Sheriff is no novice to high-end skincare and makeup, but she goes au naturale when it’s glow time. “When my skin feels dull, I use aloe vera mixed with olive oil and lemon and apply like a mask. Aloe brightens and smooths skin tone and complexion. Aloe also detoxifies the skin, helping to gently exfoliate and give it a glow.

I usually mix it in a bowl—about two tablespoons of aloe gel, one tablespoon of olive oil, and half a lemon, juiced. Mix together, then apply to the face if you feel skin is dull and needs a deep cleanse. It’s nice to leave this mask on and use a facial steamer for deeper cleansing and to help the natural ingredients to penetrate deeper. Rinse with warm water and voilà! Brighter skin will be revealed.

You can use the plant itself or the gel in bottles, as long as it’s 100% aloe gel and no other ingredients. I prefer Lily Of The Desert brand at any health food store or online.”

Christina Kassi, beauty and wellness enthusiast, on easy glam:

If precision makeup isn’t exactly within your skillset but you still want a going out look, Christina Kassi has your back. “Apply lipstick with your fingers instead of straight from the tube for a blotted lip effect.

If you’re not confident doing a wing, put on your mascara first, then do a baby wing by following the line of your outer lashes. It just elongates the eyes a tiny bit and gives you a feline look in seconds.”

Melanie Graves, beauty enthusiast and content creator, on hair and traveling light:

Melanie Graves knows a thing or two about keeping your toiletries bag minimalistic without sacrificing your look. “When I’m in a rush, or just want to pack light for trips, I’ll use my bronzer as my eyeshadow to add some depth to my eyes without pulling out a whole palette. It also works great as a quick wash of color, and makes me feel more pulled together with fewer products! Also, I have quite smooth, slick hair that doesn’t always hold pins well, so I spritz some hair spray on the bobby pins before styling and then insert them before the spray fully dries—it holds in my hair so much better!”

June Chow, self-proclaimed skincare addict, on what she is never without:

June Chow is definitely onto something with her tried and true, natural beauty hack. Don’t just bust out the aloe once a year when you’ve had some irresponsible sun time. Keep that thang on you so when irritation pops up, you’ve got a solution in a pinch. “Aloe vera gel is my go-to. I always have some with me wherever and whenever. I use it to moisturize skin and treat burns, irritation, and redness. It’s like an all-in-one lifesaver. And, it’s super affordable.”

Katonya Breaux, founder of Unsun Cosmetics, on solving natural deodorant issues:

Katonya Breaux knows that we’re probably all familiar with using baking soda to whiten our teeth. But there are more uses than we can count on one hand for this household staple. Now that we’ve all (hopefully!) switched over to natural deodorants and are no longer corking our delicate glands with carcinogens and chemicals, sweat stains are real, especially in summer. “I use baking soda to remove sweat stains from my white tees, it’s the BEST way to do it, hands down.”

Sara Dudley, CEO of The Sunscreen Company, on getting your SPF on:

Sara Dudley knows a think or two about sun protection, and it shouldn’t be an afterthought but the very first thought. To make sure you’re fully covered, strip down and lather up. “My mom, who is a dermatologist, taught me the best way to put on sunscreen if you are going to be getting a lot of sun is to apply it naked first thing in the morning. That way you don’t miss any spots, you don’t get funny burn or tan lines, and if you change clothes midday then you are covered! This is also great for applying sunscreen to your kids. They are so wriggly, it’s easier to make sure they are covered from head to toe.”

Annagjid “Kee” Taylor, businesswoman and hair extraordinaire on buildup:

Annagjid Taylor is a salon owner, author, celebrity hairstylist, and CEO of the Shear Genius Collection, keeps it old school with this tip.

“If you have a lot of persistent buildup, use baby powder! Apply a little bit directly at the scalp and let it sit for about three to four minutes. Massage it in well and then you can wash it out. It will help really clear off buildup and debris!”