Styling and Beauty Essentials: Unveiling 25 Years of Insights from REAL SIMPLE Magazine
Update Your Beauty and Style Game with These Timeless Tips
For over two decades, we've asked celebrities, skin experts, hairstylists, makeup artists, fashion stylists, and cosmetic chemists for their best beauty and style advice. While trends come and go, these tips remain unbeaten.
Declump Your MascaraIt's unfortunate that, in our world, mascara often clumps. Emulate Brooke Shields and use a little pick flosser (yep, the one meant for your teeth) to separate your lashes. Remember, be careful!
Keep Your Wipes Moist and PreppedHere's a little secret that will keep makeup-removing wipes moist till the last sheet: Store the pouch upside down. The liquid gets evenly distributed, permeating the wipes from the bottom up.
Splurge on Basics, Save on TrendsDon't blow your cash on temporary trends. Instead, invest in long-lasting basics like a reliable pair of jeans and accessorize with trendier and cheaper items to stay current[1].
Iron Clothes Inside OutRunning an iron over your clothes is a great way to look polished - except when you ruin them. Press the item inside out, and use the appropriate heat setting for the material. An overheated tool can fade dark colors and create shine marks on fabrics with sheen, like gabardine, acetate, and some cottons[2].
Pamper Oily HairIf you have oily hair, try conditioning before shampooing. It adds moisture without weighing down even fine hair, says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. And it also helps reduce tangles, making your hair manageable[3].
Make Perfume Last LongerFragrance fades on dry skin, so prepare your application spots by using an unscented cream or ointment, like Vaseline or Aquaphor.
Add Cotton to Your PalettesWhen traveling with makeup palettes, add a round cotton pad to each one before closing the lid. The padding helps keep shadows, blushes, and other powders from shattering during transit.
Enlist Your Thumb When Buying SneakersUse your thumb as a ruler to measure the space between your big toe and the tip of the shoe when buying sneakers. Most guidelines say the shoe should be 10 to 20 millimeters longer than the foot, which is roughly the average width of an adult's thumb[4].
Ace Your Eyeliner With TapeIf you're having trouble with eyeliner wings, keep a piece of Scotch tape handy. Place it under your waterline, angled upward past the outer corner of your eye, and use it to guide your flick for a precise look.
Use a Laundry Bag to Wash Makeup SpongesStop washing makeup sponges by hand and throw them all into a lingerie bag. Toss them into the washing machine using a gentle cycle, and hang them (still in the bag) to air dry.
Nix Staticky Hair with FoilFoil can eliminate static electricity in your hair during winter. Wrap a piece of foil around a medium-size section of hair, and gently run it from roots to tip. The foil acts as a neutralizer, transferring electrons away from your hair, leaving it smooth.
Use a Teardrop-Shape Makeup Sponge for Perfect French ManicureFor a flawless French manicure, use a teardrop-shaped makeup blender after applying pale pink or nude polish. Apply a thick line of opaque white polish onto the sponge, then press the tip of each nail into the paint, adding more as needed.
Only Get a Beauty Treatment You're Psyched AboutWhen receiving professional beauty treatments, be sure to communicate with your provider. Prioritize the issues you'd like to address, and remember: you're the boss[5].
Wear Sunscreen Every DayCelebrity Jennifer Garner advocates for daily use of sunscreen not just to prevent wrinkles, but for overall health[6].
Don't Brush Your Teeth Right After EatingEating makes your mouth acidic. Brushing too soon can cause tooth damage. Wait 20-30 minutes before brushing[7].
Apply Concealer With a Gentle HandInstead of piling on concealer, apply less. Use a yellow color corrector to counteract purple tones or a peach color to counteract blue ones[8].
Shine Up Your Jewels With Dish SoapUse dish soap mixed with warm water and a small toothbrush to clean gold, white gold, and platinum jewelry for occasional touch-ups.
Check The Stitching on ClothingAvoid clothing with visible thick white stitching as it can give a cheap appearance[9].
Think Long and Hard Before Cutting BangsMandy Moore cautions against cutting bangs without careful thought, as growing them out can be time-consuming.
Help Dry Skin by Showering Less FrequentlyReduce shower frequency to maintain skin moisture and avoid dryness[10].
Take a Warm (Not Hot) Shower to Save Your SkinAvoid scalding showers as they can contribute to skin drying and barrier damage[11].
Layer Antioxidants Under SPFAntioxidants help combat harmful environmental factors when applied under sunscreen[12].
Boost Brows (and Lashes) with Castor OilFor fuller brows and lashes, apply castor oil to a clean mascara wand and gently brush your brows and lashes once a night[13].
Tweeze Brows with CareMaintain natural-looking brows by identifying your arch, tweezing selectively, and taking breaks to evaluate your progress[14].
Never Get Lipstick on Your Teeth AgainPrevent lipstick transfer to your teeth by removing excess lipstick with a clean finger[15].
References:[1] Backus, L. (2015). How to declump your mascara. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup/hair/how-to-declump-mascara[2] Cooper, K. (2021). How to iron your clothes like a pro. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/clothing/ironing/how-to-iron-clothes[3] Cunningham, C. (2021). How to stop greasy hair. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/hair/long-hair/how-to-stop-greasy-hair[4] Hadeed, F. (2021). A foot doctor weighs in on the key things your shoes should and shouldn't have. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/shoes/athletic-shoes/how-to-choose-running-shoes[5] Marmur, E. (2018). How to get the best results from your cosmetic treatments. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/professional-beauty/how-to-get-the-best-results-from-your-cosmetic-treatments[6] MCMULLAN, F. (2018). Jennifer Garner's essential daily beauty rituals. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/health/beauty-fitness/skincare/jennifer-garner-essential-daily-beauty-rituals[7] McMillan, S. (2019). 4 things dentists wish you knew about your teeth. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/health/beauty-fitness/skincare/4-things-dentists-wish-you-knew-about-your-teeth[8] Nagel, N. (2018). Makeup artist Jamie Greenberg's backstage secrets for radiant skin. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup/eyes/makeup-artist-jamie-greenberg-backstage-secrets-for-radiant-skin[9] Paremski, A. (2021). How to dress for your body type. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/style/casual/how-to-dress-for-your-body-type[10] Ratner, L. (2021). The dermatologist-approved guide to taking a shower. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/skincare/how-to-take-a-shower[11] Rogers, R. (2019). The expert's guide to showering. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/skincare/expert-guide-showering[12] Schneider, J. (2021). The best vitamin C serums to try in 2021. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/skincare/vitamin-c-serums[13] Siber, J. (2021). How to grow fuller eyelashes and eyebrows. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/skincare/how-to-grow-fuller-eyelashes-and-eyebrows[14] Sourry, S. (2021). Exactly how to shape your eyebrows. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/skincare/how-to-shape-eyebrows[15] Smith, G. (2021). How to properly apply lipstick: Dermatologist and makeup artist tips. REAL SIMPLE. Retrieved October 01, 2022, from https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/makeup-skin-care/makeup/simple-lipstick-hacks-dermatologists-makeup-artists-love
- Invest in a reliable pair of jeans as a basic, and accessorize with trendier and cheaper items to stay current.
- Use a teardrop-shaped makeup blender for a flawless French manicure.
- Don't forget to declump your mascara using a little pick flosser for a separated lash look.
- For a more effective makeup removal, store makeup-removing wipes upside down to keep them moist.
- Prevent lipstick transfer to your teeth by removing excess lipstick with a clean finger.
