beauty tricks

There's nothing quite like a really freakin' good beauty trick. Here are the best that I've come across over the years (from fellow beauty editors to celeb hairstylists to my dear mother), and the ones that I use most often - because they WORK. Enjoy!

1. To dry nails faster, dip them in ice water for a few seconds. Works even better than blasting them with air.

2. To dry self-tanner quickly, blast your blow-dryer on the self-tanned areas, pressing down the cool shot button as the air flows out.

3. Got hair that's hard to curl? After using your curling iron, release the hair into the palm of your hand while keeping it "coiled". Hold it there for three seconds, then release it. (a lot of people don't know hair retains its shape as it's cooling down - not heating up.)

4. Vaseline or baby oil are great for removing eye makeup and moisturizing cuticles.

5. Most people only need conditioner on the portion of hair that's below their earlobes - it's the oldest and probably the driest.

6. Dab Visine on a pimple to really get rid of redness.

7. Boar-bristle brushes are best for straightening and blow-drying curly or wavy hair. Metal or plastic bristles don't pull the hair taut enough to really smooth it.

8. No deep conditioner? Plain old olive oil will really soften brittle hair. Apply some to the ends right before bed.

9. Apply pink highlighting cream to the inner corners of your eyes and the very top of your cheekbones to look awake and glowy.

10. If you're extra pale and find bronzer too intense, use a peach blush to warm up your entire complexion (Benefit Georgia is a great peach for pale skin)

11. If you literally have only a minute or two to get ready, apply dark brown liner to your upper and lower lashlines, then smudge with a Q-tip. When your eyes stand out, you need very minimal makeup everywhere else. And, unless your lashes are really pale, you don't even need mascara. Finish with a swipe of lip gloss or lip balm.