Going to a new hairstylist can strike fear into even the most hardened of hearts. Will they give you a hack job? Will they take off too much? Will they talk your ear off? There are so many questions that can make you super-nervous as you head to the salon — but we all know that as long as your stylist knows what kind of cut works with your face shape, everything is all good. Unfortunately, not all stylists know what's up when it comes to this arena, which is bad news bears if you have a round face.

Instead of leaving your fate in the hands of your new hair person (who is most likely fabulous), it's best to do a little research about what will work best for you before you even sit down in the chair. We've got some pro tips, featuring advice from hair expert Karen Shelton of HairBoutique.com.

First, is your face really round?

Before we even discuss some great styles for you, you need to know how to determine the shape of your face. To find your real face shape, measure it with a tape measure or ruler. Take (and write down) the following:

• Measure your face across the top of your cheekbones, then measure across your jaw line, between the widest points.
• Measure across your forehead at the widest point. Generally the widest point will be somewhere about halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
• Measure from the the widest point of your forehead to the bottom of your chin. (Remember that you are measuring your face — not your entire head — and mid-forehead to chin will usually do the trick.)

There are lots of other ways women have used to figure out this shape — from outlining the face on a mirror with lipstick to draping it with a towel and asking others to help figure out the structure.

You can try any of these tips or use the steps outlined above. Whatever your method, do remember that this is more about art than science! (And the fact that nobody really has a round-as-a-basketball head.)

More: How to Do the Ultimate French-Twist Updo on Every Hair Type

Round face dimensions

If you have a round face, it will be about as wide as it is long. This may vary a little where your face is not quite as wide as it is long, but it's usually pretty close.

You will have fullness at and below your cheekbones. People with round faces also tend to have wide hairlines, less-pronounced chins, and their necks often seem short.

Below are the most common face shapes besides round. Most people will fit into one of the major categories, which also include:

• Oval Face - Length equal to one and a half times width.
• Long - Longer than it is wide.
• Heart - Narrow at jawline, wide at forehead and cheekbones.
• Square - Forehead, jawline and cheekbones are almost equal in width.
• Diamond - Wide cheeks, narrow forehead and jaw line.

Hot hairstyles for round faces

There really is no one "perfect" hairstyle for a round-shaped face; many things factor into the total equation. For example, the length of your hair, its texture and weight, your age and lifestyle requirements all play a part in what is ultimately the best.

There are good general guidelines that you can follow, but the best solution is to find a style that works best for you and all your beauty needs.

If your face is round, the best hairstyles generally include:

1. Layered bangs rather than straight or heavy bangs.
2. Short styles which give height.
3. Styles that add length.
4. Styles that keep the sides of your hair short or close to the face.
5. Curls around the crown -- but never near the cheeks -- to create height. Keep the sides of your hair short with a curly style.
6. Longer to very long styles, with bangs and a graduated shag or layers so that the face and the neck are given a slenderizing shape.

Next Up: Find the best hairstyle for your round face shape

Updated by Sarah Long on 8/4/2017.

Consider your facial features

• If you have a double chin, keep the hair around your face above chin level to draw the eyes upwards. The back may be grown a little longer -- a bob would be ideal.
• If you have a short neck, a short cropped style will make a shorter neck appear longer. Long hair worn up will give the same effect. Well-placed highlights will also slenderize the face. Highlights that are woven around the face in an "angel halo" effect will also help an overly round face appear thinner.
• Long hair can be worn just as easily as short or medium-length hair as long as you wear your hair "forward" onto your face to create a more "oval" appearance. Don't be afraid to wear your hair any length that you like!
• While you select your style, be sure to take into consideration the texture of your hair. If your hair is thick and coarse, you would do well with a style that benefits from the "bed head" look around the crown.
• If you have curly hair, you can use the curls by letting them add height at the crown. You can also wear your curly hair longer, with the bulk of your hair pulled back behind your ears, or with just a very few ringlets along your face to minimize the fullness.

Breaking the rules

Camryn Manheim is a classic example of someone letting her hair be the way she wants it to be and not following the strict rules for a round face. And remember Baby Spice? Her very round face is often coiffed in styles that would not normally be considered the "perfect" style for her face shape — but they still work!

One great way to find the best style for your face shape is to buy fashion, beauty and hair magazines and look through them for examples of hairstyles that you like and think would be flattering to your face shape and hair texture. Make a special hairstyle scrapbook of the styles you like best and then take the entire book to your stylist and ask them to advise you on some styles.

More: Do Hair, Skin & Nail Vitamins Really Work: The Final Answer

What makes you comfortable is more important than what's trendy

One thing to keep in mind is to find a style that you enjoy. There is no point is selecting "the perfect style" if it is impossible to maintain, it feels unnatural, or you just don't like wearing it. One trend that is definitely emerging in the hair and beauty industry is individuality. If you see a style that you love and it doesn't fit the "rules," wear it anyhow — or modify the style slightly so that it works well for your face.

The bottom line is to have fun with your hair. If you love your look — whether it fits the rules or not — you will look better because you'll be happy with yourself!

Read on to the next page to see how actresses with round faces rock their hair.

Next Up: Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta Jones elongates the look of her round face with an updo. Any type of hairstyle with some height will lengthen the look of your face and be flattering for those women with round face shapes.

Catherine Zeta Jones also looks beautiful with her hair left long. With her curls at the bottom, it lengthens the look of her neck to give a slenderizing appearance to her face.

Next Up: Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci looks fabulous with short hair and bangs. Though she has a bit of a heart-shaped face, this hairstyle works well for her because it is shorter than chin level.

Christina Ricci's hair pulled away from her face makes her round cheeks a little more pronounced. With her pointed chin, she may fare better with a hairstyle that is a bit closer to her face.

Next Up: Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore

Here you can see Drew Barrymore's ponytail look from the side. Drew has worn her hair in almost every way possible. She's so cute that most hairstyles look flattering on her. If she wanted to slenderize her face, an updo with some height would work well rather than a slick ponytail.

Next Up: Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin has round cheeks and a pointed chin. With a chin-level hairstyle like this, it widens the look of her chin, balancing out her face. The sideswept bangs are also quite flattering.

Next Up: Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has a bit of a square face which is softened with her side-part. One haircut you should avoid if you have a square shaped face is a straight chin-length bob with blunt bangs.

Next Up: Kara Tointon

Kara Tointon

Kara Tointon slenderizes the look of her round-shaped face with her beautiful shoulder-length hair. Hairstyles shoulder-length and longer with layers elongate the look of your face, toning down the roundness of your cheeks.

Next Up: Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson has an oval shaped face with a slightly pointed chin. Oval faced women are lucky because hairstyles both long and short can look great.

Next Up: Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst's layered modified bob adds length to her round face. To avoid that cherub-like look, layered bangs like Kirsten's are normally best for round shape faces, rather than heavy bangs.

Next Up: Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus' messy updo provides some texture and draws the attention away from her round cheeks. Graduated, wavy layers like Miley's hair takes the emphasis off the roundness of your face, making it appear more slender.

Next Up: Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has very round cheeks but a pointed chin. Her face is what you would call a rounded heart shape. Her long and gorgeous curtain of hair helps to slenderize her face.

Next Up: 4 hairstyle trends that are a godsend for round faces

Long bangs for round faces

Long, sideswept bangs and long layers slenderize a round face. Avoid heavy bangs and short layers around the cheeks if you want to give the appearance of a longer, slimmer face.

Long layers for round faces

Long or extra long straight hair is an ideal hairstyle for women with round faces. If you want to have bangs, sweep them to the side rather than leaving them blunt and heavy.

Wispy layers for round faces

Long, wispy layers draw the eyes downward, lengthening the look of your neck and face. This hairstyle is a great look for women with round faces. For special nights out, it's also easy to pull this style into a high updo -- which is also a terrific hairstyle for round shaped faces.

Messy bob for round shapes

A messy bob can be flattering to some women with round faces. The key is to avoid a bob that is too short and adds width to your face. Add little pomade and give your bob cut a little texture and height up top. Another tip to slenderize the look of your face with a bob hairstyle is to add a pair of dangling earrings.

Perky bob for round faces

If you have a round face and short hair, try to keep the sides close to your face. This hairstyle flairs out too much on the sides, adding even more width to an already round face.

Next Up: Flattering hair cut techniques for round faces

Pixie cut for round face shapes

Don't think you can't have short hair with a round face. A pixie cut with a little spiky height at the top and layered bangs can actually slenderize the look for your face. If you have curly hair and a round face, keep the curls on the crown and away from the cheeks.

Textured layers for round faces

A terrific hairstyle for women with round faces is shoulder length hair (or longer) with razor cut textured layers. The length of the hair slenderizes the look of your face. Also pulling hair back away from the forehead can add a slimming effect.

Short bob for round face shapes

Many women with round faces steer away from short bobs, but you have to figure out what works with your own face. This hairstyle is very cute because of the textured layers. If the bangs were a little longer and swept to the side it would balance out the round face even more.

Razor cut bob hairstyle for round faces

If you have round cheeks and a slightly pointed chin, you can balance out your face with a razor cut chin-length bob. By keeping the sides of your hair close to your face, you can take the emphasis off of your cheeks.

More: Thinking of Going Short? 4 Questions to Think About

Face-framing bob for round face shapes

A smooth, face-framing bob can work well with a round face and short, straight hair. However, you should avoid this style if you have a round shaped face and curly hair. The curls near your cheeks will make your face look even rounder. Also by pinning your bangs to the side, you can open up your forehead and elongate the look of your face

Next Up: More flattering hairstyles for round faces

Rounded bob for round faces

Should a round faced woman wear a rounded bob? Not usually. But it can work if it's the right length. A short bob that hits above chin level and bangs that are swept to the side will add the right angles to balance out a round face.

Accent curls for round face shapes

To draw the attention away your round cheeks, you want to put the emphasis on the length or the height of your hair instead. With this hairstyle, the soft layers and curly ends of the hair provide a slimming effect by drawing your eyes downward to the curls.

Outward bend for round faces

Layers are the name of the game when you are trying to slenderize the look of your face. If you have a round shaped face, soft layers with an outward bend and choppy bangs can add dimension and texture to your look. This is a fabulous hairstyle for shoulder length hair and longer.

Long layer hairstyles for round faces

A round shaped face looks more slender with sweeping bangs and long layers. This hairstyle is very flattering for round shaped faces with a slightly pointed chin. Since it's just below chin-level, it draws the attention downward (slenderizing the face) as well as adds some needed width to the chin area.

Tapered cut for round faces

Many times women with round faces avoid short hairstyles. But if you love short hair, go for it. Just experiment until you find the right style for you. A tapered cut with sweeping bangs can work well for a round faced woman with straight hair.

Confessions of a nail polish addict: When I take off my beloved OPI Lincoln Park After Dark, my nails are a hot stained mess. Acetone remover can literally peel paint off the walls and put hair on my chest, but it ain't doin' nothin' for my nails after they've been baked with a dark polish for a couple of months.

Something tells me you've faced the same problem. Before we resign ourselves to a lifetime of acrylics, there are a couple of tricks to get our poor stained nails all bright and shiny again.

More: The 7 Best (& Super-Easy) At-Home Facials to Give You Perfect Skin

In preparation for our at-home hacks, let's talk about some other things that can because yellow, discolored nails.

So what causes yellow nails?

Most commonly, yellow nails are caused by our beloved nail polish. The darker polishes especially take a toll on your nails, leaving them stained with leftover dyes. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is by always using a clear base coat. Not only does a base coat increase the life of your nail polish, but it also seals and protects the nail plates from staining. We love Salon Manicure Smooth and Strong Base Coat (Sally Hansen, $9).

Holly L. Schippers, CND Education Ambassador and Empower Nail Art Lead Educator at FingerNailFixer®, agrees that the best anti-yellowing tip by far is prevention, saying, "Using a base coat with polishes that need them and the daily application of a high-quality nail oil containing jojoba or squalene will protect the nails from staining."

The next biggest cause of yellow nails is the tar and nicotine from cigarettes. If you are a smoker, the best way to stop the yellowing of your nails is to stop smoking! OK, we know quitting is difficult, but we can't change the facts.

More: 10 Things You Absolutely Need to Know Before Getting a Spray Tan

If none of these shoes fit, there could be a medical factor at play, meaning that you may need to get yourself to a dermatologist posthaste. RealSelf Contributor Dr. Joel Schlessinger explains, "Fungal infection is one of the most common causes of yellow nails. Other symptoms include flaking and peeling of the nail, along with an unpleasant odor. As the infection worsens, the nail bed could retract, causing nails to thicken and crumble." He adds, "A change in the color of your nails can also be a sign of something more serious. Thyroid, liver and lung diseases can all cause yellowing of the nails, as well as nutritional deficiencies like low iron or zinc."

While there are over-the-counter treatments for yellow nails caused by fungal infection, Dr. Schlessinger recommends visiting your dermatologist first of all. Prescriptions are far more effective than OTC, he says, "Plus, by seeing a medical professional, you’ll get a proper diagnosis and the best treatment for your needs."

How to fix your yellow nail problem

Besides ditching the cigs and using a base coat, keep these tricks up your sleeve:

• Lemon juice: Soaking your nails in lemon juice will get rid of those yellow stains. Soak your nails for 10 to 15 minutes each day until you are happy with the results.
• Peroxide and baking soda: Mix 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with 2-1/2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl. Using a cotton swab, cover your entire fingernail with the paste. Leave this mixture on for three minutes, then rinse. This treatment should be repeated every six to eight weeks. If you don't have baking soda on hand, Dr. Schlessinger says water can work just as well: "You can try mixing one part hydrogen peroxide in three parts water to whiten nails. Place the mixture in a small bowl and soak your nails for 10 minutes. Be sure to rinse your nails really well afterward and apply hand cream or cuticle oil."
• Whitening toothpaste: In order to get rid of immediate nail stains such as pink nails from wearing red nail polish, try scrubbing a whitening toothpaste on your nails using a nail brush. Remember, this is not for long-term stains.
• Light buffing: The top layer of your nails is where the yellow stains are. By buffing your nails you will get rid of the top layers, removing some of the stains. While this method may work, buffing your nails is not recommended because it can lead to weaker nails. "This removes layers of the nail plate and can lead to splitting and peeling," says Schippers. If you choose to buff your nails, try using a clear strengthening polish after. We recommend OPI's Nail Envy Nail Strengthener Original Formula (Ulta, $18).

Updated by Sarah Long on 8/4/2017.

By: Erin Lukas

Broken capillary are those thin, spidery, ribbon-like lines that populate on the lower half of your face, such as around your nose, cheeks and mouth. While covering them up so your complexion looks truly even is a temporary solution, enlarged capillaries are so stubborn that even using makeup on them can be tough. To find out what the options are for a permanent fix along with what causes broken facial capillaries in the first place, we turned to Dr. Sameer Bashey, cosmetic dermatologist at Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverly Hills.

First things first: Why do capillaries become enlarged in the first place? "Broken capillaries on the face and around the nose can be caused by a variety of conditions. Most commonly, the cause is sun damage," explains Bashey. Over time, the sun's rays thin out the dermis of the skin, causing a decrease in collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. "As this occurs, blood vessels become slightly more obvious and emerge close to the junction between the epidermis and the dermis." These slightly enlarged spider veins are usually small dysfunctional capillaries.

More: How to Conceal Broken Facial Capillaries With Makeup

People who suffer from rosacea can also develop broken capillaries. These capillaries aren't always necessarily broken, but blood vessels that have a rosacea-induced increase in production and open and close as a response to environmental and emotional factors. "This is what causes people with rosacea to feel excessively hot or flush," says Bashey.

Proper sun protection is the best way to prevent broken capillaries from forming. Along with wearing sunscreen and following a consistent skin care routine that targets whatever your concerns are, whether it's aging or acne, Bashey suggests adopting a few lifestyle changes like wearing a hat outdoors and avoiding tanning or laying out in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when its rays are the most potent. These steps are extra important to those with rosacea, who are more sensitive to the heat and sunlight.

For a permanent solution, there are a few ways you can treat broken capillaries at the dermatologist's office. Lasers are one option, and there are a few different ones that will get the job done. Pulse lasers "target anything on the face that is red and spares surrounding tissue that does not have its target, which is hemoglobin," explains Bashey. There are two settings to this laser: one that bruises and one that doesn't. "The non-bruising (non-purpuric) setting is less effective and will require more treatments, but essentially does not have much downtime at all," says Bashey.

Capillaries that form around the nose are usually treated with a 1064 nd: YAG laser. "This laser is often used for capillary formation around the nose," explains Bashey. "It is often the laser to go to when the pulse-dye laser fails. It works through a similar mechanism as the above-mentioned laser, but acts deeper in the skin due to its long wave."

More: How to Reapply Sunscreen Without Ruining Your Makeup

Finally, as an alternative to laser treatments, you can opt for a IPL device. This minimizes the redness caused by capillaries forming as well as pigmentation from sun damage.

While all forms of treatment may irritate and cause tenderness during the procedure, aside from bruising, depending on the laser setting your dermatologists use, there are no side effects or downtime following it. However, Bashey warns that deeper skin tones might experience pigmentation from the heat-based devices used for treatment.

Afterward, Bashey says you can go back to your usual skin care routine and lifestyle. He does suggest applying sunscreen immediately following treatment and avoiding the sun for a few hours.

Originally posted on InStyle

Two months ago, I purchased two exquisite Oscar de la Renta dresses for a third their original prices at the brand’s sample sale in New York City. In the process, I lost my favorite bra.

While mercilessly searching for that treasured Gap undergarment, I bumped into three soon-to-be-brides who happened to be walking around the small space (overcrowded with both hideously ugly and award show-worthy gowns) while holding their own future wedding dresses. Their gowns were also heavily discounted compared to their cost if purchased at a brick-and-mortar Oscar de la Renta store (or Saks or Bergdorf Goodman or just about any other shop that offers customers full-length mirrors and all the time and space they might need while in a fitting room).

More: 31 Cool Summer Outfit Ideas to Copy This Month

Given the outing’s goal — either to save a boatload of money on something you definitely need or to spend not-as-much on something you definitely don’t — and our collective success that day, I began to think: Did Mr. de la Renta price his offerings knowing they’d likely be purchased on sale? Does anybody buy anything at full cost anymore? Are sample sales even deals, or are they masked overpriced affairs? Most important: Are the psychological and financial implications of attending a sample sale (and the loss of my precious bra) even worth the effort?

“It really depends on what type of shopper you are,” says Laura DiGiovanna, the marketing director at 260SampleSale, a third-party company that provides brands with the space, security, maintenance, marketing and overall organization needed to set up a sample sale, when asked if sample sales are ultimately more rewarding than traditional shopping experiences. “You have to weigh the pros and cons. For the shoppers that want that love and attention, that catering, we do that to the best of our abilities […] but there are, like, 700,800 people down there.”

Home to between 10 to 20 recorded sample sales on an average month, New York is the undisputed capital of buying high-end fashion pieces on a budget. This city-specific quality has a dual source. On the one hand, New Yorkers love the thrill of the hunt and the score of a deal (who doesn’t enjoy winning?). Simultaneously, the city “was [always] the epicenter of where [dress] samples would pile up and need to be liquidated,” explains Assaf Azani, vice president of 260SampleSale. Logistically speaking, the various “leftover” pieces are already in the city — why not try to make a last-minute profit off at least some of them?

“Sample sales have changed so much over the years,” says an experienced sample-sale associate who leads two major sales each year. She’s agreed to speak on condition of anonymity given her extensive contacts in the retail industry. “I remember when […] it was a true ‘sample’ sale. Meaning a rack of samples and damaged items with markings that could definitely not be sold in a store.” Given the success of the sales, the events began shifting in quality in order to attract an even greater variety of customers that could potentially liquidate an even bigger roster of pieces that would likely not be purchased otherwise. As brands began recognizing a buyer’s greater psychological disposition to purchase an item when confronted with the word “sale” — especially in a do-or-die situation — the sample sale shifted in nature.

“I think all brands mark up their prices with the intention of putting it on sale,” says the associate. “I think now these brands are taking advantage and sell one rack of samples at true sample prices and the rest is just leftover stock at department store prices or online sale price. [You go to the sample sale and see] brand new merchandise in plastic and on hangers as if in a stockroom of a department store.” The sample sale is still a sale, but not just of samples.

“No, not at all,” says Steven Dann, owner of two eponymous high-luxury boutiques on Long Island when asked whether he believes that brands whose products he sells price their items knowing that they will eventually be sold at a discount during a sale. He also runs sample sales at the end of each season, trying to organize them when “there are only one of each item left,” clearly preserving the aura of exclusivity that has always defined high-end (and high-price) products.

“We always try to get the most competitive pricing,” says Azani while discussing the process involved in pricing each piece. “In fact, when most clients come with a very aggressive price, we’re not ones to dissuade them. If anything, those are the sales that are the most memorable. Those are the sales that people go back to the office with two huge shopping bags and start talking to their co-workers about what they found for $25.” 

Yet, unsurprisingly, the steepness of the sale price doesn’t deter shoppers from asking for even more discounts. DiGiovanna mentions quite a bit of haggling during the events, “but we have a strict policy: The price that our client sets is the price we sell it for.” All leftover merchandise is eventually returned to the client on the final day of the sale.

Emilia, one of the brides who found her dress at the Oscar de la Renta sale, echoes Azani’s feeling toward the everlasting memory of a really good sale. “I went to a wedding salon and tried on a few dresses, but the prices for the dresses that I liked and I would want were really high,” she remembers. “My mom had told me that a sample sale was coming up so I went into [the wedding salon] knowing that I would end up buying the dress at a sale.” The gown she purchased at the Oscar de la Renta sample sale came with a 90 percent-off price tag.

More: 13 Boho Wedding Dresses We’re Head Over Heels For

Sure, brands may price their offerings knowing that they will eventually host a sample sale. “The department stores have been undercutting full price retail [too],” says Azani. And it’s common for consumers to wait until coveted merchandise goes on sale at stores like J.Crew, Gap or Aritzia — because it will. (All of those stores declined to comment on this story.) But from a customer’s perspective, what would the other option be? Not own the piece at all? “There’s a barrier to entry for a lot of brands,” comments Azani when discussing what he believes to be the ultimate appeal of a sale. “I think a lot of customers may know of a brand but never actually bothered walking into the store or touching the product or thought of buying the product because it is out of their [price] range. So, the minute you bring it to the sample sale, it’s piquing everybody’s interest.”

Azani’s logic is, well, logical. You will never be able to afford that full-price Balenciaga bag — but once the sample sale hits, whether the price of the bag is inflated or not is beside the point. What counts is that the bag is now within your budget.

Dann begs to differ. “In my opinion, your typical sample sale is the worst thing that has happened to fashion,” he says via email. “Don’t get me wrong, I know the people who can’t afford retail are thrilled for a sample sale, but these have hurt the business as a whole.” As way of explanation, the boutique owner mentions the status and exclusivity involved in being able to afford an expensive item. “The full price client now thinks twice about spending $6,000 on a Nancy Gonzalez bag at Bergdorf Goodman,” he says. “Because she knows that her friend bought the same bag she bought last season, two months later for 60 percent off.”

Given the laws of supply and demand, Dann’s argument follows logic. The cheaper the product, the greater the number of potential buyers. The greater the number of potential buyers, the lower the value of the object. The dramatic result? Poof, no more high-end fashion industry. Whether the outcome is ultimately bad or good, whether the happiness of the averagely salaried American trumps that of the rich American (who wants to be the only one to ever be able to afford that $6,000 Nancy Gonzalez bag) is a matter of opinion and perspective. But one thing is for sure: Putting that Oscar de la Renta gown on knowing that I paid a fraction of what Mr. de la Renta originally asked me to pay, albeit bra-less, feels oh-so-sweet… considering I just spent $600 on a pair of Gucci loafers — at a discount!

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Close your eyes and try to remember a time when your freshly washed curls dried into frizz-free perfection. Drawing a blank? Yup, us too, and after resisting way too many urges to rip every strand of hair out of heads, we’re ready for some real solutions. If we had a nickel for every time we’ve heard that curly hair needs moisture, we could buy a small yacht and sail to a land where frizz doesn’t exist (though, the ocean mist will probably make our hair frizzy). With summer’s intense humidity and harsh, moisture-stripping products, our heads have slowly become a magnet for unruly flyaways.

More: Using Texturizing Spray on My Wet Hair Gave Me Perfect Beach Waves

And with an insane number of shampoos (all claiming to combat frizz) on the market right now, it’s difficult to find the formulas that leave you with touchable, bouncy curls — instead of a poufy nightmare. And lest we leave you to test and try every formula yourself, we combed through every single curly hair-friendly shampoo to find the seven best products that truly keep frizz at bay: These shampoos contain ingredients like smoothing coconut oil and protective argan oil among others for insanely moisturized curls. Shop all seven below, and prepare for the feather-soft curls you’ve only dreamed of.

Aquage SeaExtend Silkening Shampoo

Aquage SeaExtend Silkening Shampoo (Ulta, $54)

L’Oréal EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo

L’Oréal EverCurl HydraCharge Shampoo (L'Oréal, $7.99)

Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo

Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Shampoo (Walmart, $6.97)

OGX Coconut Curls Shampoo

OGX Coconut Curls Shampoo (Target, $5.79)

Ouai curl shampoo

Ouai Curl Shampoo (Sephora, $26)

Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo

Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo (Ouidad, $26)

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo (Target, $9.99)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

In theory, we should hate August. It’s hot as hell, humidity is peaking and it’s a buzzkill of a reminder that weekend getaways and summer Fridays are coming to an end. But instead of going into mourning on July 31, there was literally only one thing the beauty-obsessed could think about: the start of any month means that Sephora is unloading brand-spanking-new arrivals.

More: 12 Alternatives to Retinoids That Are Safe and Effective

Yup, Sephora’s new August beauty products are officially here, and they’re so good they’re making us forget about our end-of-summer woes (for a minute, anyway). And in case you don’t have time to sort through the massive selection of new skin care, makeup and hair products, we sifted through every one to scope out the seven you can’t pass up — all of which are under $20. It’s a tough job, but we’re not complaining.

See our seven top picks ahead, including a frizz-taming serum from Kiehl’s and a caramel-scented lip balm from Fresh. And while you’re at it, make a mental (or Google Calendar) note to check this space next month for our September favorites.

Kiehl's Silk Groom Serum

Kiehl's Silk Groom Serum (Sephora, $18)

Sephora collection clay mask

Sephora collection clay mask (Sephora, $8)

Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm

Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm (Sephora, $18)

Amika Keep Your Color Conditioner

Amika Keep Your Color Conditioner (Sephora, $19)

Benefit Cosmetics Hide & Sheen Concealer and Highlighter Duo

Benefit Cosmetics Hide & Sheen Concealer and Highlighter Duo (Sephora, $14)

Marc Jacobs Beauty Reinvented Lip Duo

Marc Jacobs Beauty Reinvented Lip Duo (Sephora, $20)

Peace Out Acne Healing Dots

Peace Out Acne Healing Dots (Sephora, $19)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Something funny — well, it wasn’t so much funny as it was curious — happened recently. I got Botox for the first time last month, but unless I told you (I told everyone), you’d have no idea. It was just a tiny pinch in between my brows where I tend to furrow my brow in casual judgment and a bit underneath each eye near the tops of my cheekbones — and just like dermatologist Jeannette Graf promised, I woke up looking, well, better. I was pretty shameless about it, and confessed — if you want to call it that — to anyone who would listen.

But let’s rewind. When I got home from the appointment, my skin slightly red and splotchy from injecting it with a needle, my boyfriend just shook his head at me. He’d tried to talk me out of getting Botox a few days prior, telling me (genuinely, it should be noted) that he loves me just how I am and that it would be vain to get Botox at age 29 — even if it was just “preventative.” I figured he was a dude and just didn’t get it and didn’t he want me to spend less time getting ready?

More: 3 Unexpected Alternative Uses for Botox

Then, when I casually mentioned it to my friends — many of whom have no problem lying in a tanning bed a few times a month and Instagramming about it — they shrieked in disdain. I heat-froze my fat once a week for a month and got a pimple injected with cortisone without so much as an eyebrow raise, but apparently, they draw the line at Botox. Complaints ranged from “You’re not even 30! You don’t even need it!” to “IT’S SO BAD FOR YOU!” — and my favorite, “Now you have to get it all the time!”

But here’s the final straw. When I got to work, a co-worker Slacked me (which, for the uninitiated, is the office equivalent of G-chat), asking me how the Botox went. We have a pretty modern and nontraditional setup, so I just turned around and basically yelled across the office about my injections, somehow prompting her to apologize because she wasn’t sure if I “wanted everyone to know.” We openly discuss sex positions, orgasm shots and chemical peels — so why would Botox be secret territory?

Then it hit me. Should I be embarrassed that I got Botox? Is it something I should lie about and instead tell anyone who asks that I’ve just been using some magical serum? Why did everyone insist on whispering when they asked me about it? I know I’m not the only millennial who’s gotten it, so when will the stigma wear off?

More: Is This Weird Body Contouring Treatment Worth all the Time and Money?

“I’m getting younger and younger patients,” says Graf, who was outraged when I told her about the backlash. “In fact, we’re noticing that people who are getting [Botox] younger and younger don’t need it as frequently and can avoid getting lines. You can stop anytime.”

As of 2015, 64 percent of facial plastic surgeons saw an increase in Botox in patients under 30, and just about half a million of those getting Botox last year were between the ages of 19 and 34 — the difference of half a generation. In 2014, Botox was the most popular procedure for patients under 30, up 6 percent from 2013.

Dermatologist Joseph Eviatar, who also works out of Omni Aesthetic in NYC, stepped in to back me up too. Many of his patients are as young as their early 20s, and for some, it’s less about blurring the fine lines that haven’t even appeared yet. “One of my patients is 22, and she just wants to see what she can do,” he says, referring to injectables. “And it wasn’t about making her look younger, it’s about making her look great.”

Sure, I could discuss the merits of a good concealer. What’s so bad about waking up looking great?

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

I've said it before and I’ll say it again: My hair sucks. I mean, after I mask it, wash it, blot it, heatproof it, blow-dry it, straighten it, curl it, spray it, Powder Play it and then tousle it with no fewer than three products, it’s fine. Good, even. But anything short of that, and it’s a limp, thin, probably greasy mess that looks blah. And if I dare skip Powder Play — my absolutely favorite volumizing product ever — my hair mostly just lies there, flat against my head.

More: Gorgeous Summer Hairstyles That Hide Frizzy Hair

But this isn’t about my love for Powder Play — not this time, anyway. This is about the new trick I taught myself one awful morning while in a zombie-like stupor after spending the night tending to my 1-year-old nephew who thought crying every half-hour on the half-hour was a joint idea of a good time. (Side note: Every single new-ish parent deserves an award just for showing up to work.)

In any case, I got myself up and showered, and in my haste/Twilight Zone-like daze, I sprayed my texturizing spray — you know, the step that usually comes after your hair’s dry — on my damp hair. I immediately sulked. My morning was already shot, so could stringy, piece-y hair really make it that much worse? But when I was done blow-drying my hair, it was already perfectly beachy in that I-just-got-out-of-the-ocean-and-it-totally-dried-like-this way, no additional product cocktailing needed.

Honestly, I chalked it up to some higher power — it must have known that a bad hair day would just sink me into a depression at that point — so it blessed me with gorgeous, tousled, easy beach waves. So I tested it again the next morning when I was better-rested, and yep, it was true. A little spritz of texturizing spray — I vacillate between Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray and IGK Beach Club Texture Spray — on towel-dried hair lends itself to a texturized-but-not-crunchy vibe that can be hard to get if it’s your last step. Three weeks later, it still works like a charm, and I’ve tested it with a few shampoo-conditioner combos since. It seems my hair takes to it best when I use Sachajuan Ocean Mist Shampoo with Grown Alchemist Volumizing Conditioner or Kristin Ess’s Signature Conditioner.

And if you’re really committed to the beachy look — hey, it is summer — skip the round brush and rough-dry it with just your fingers. Finish with a little cream or oil on the ends for some dimension (I like Sachajuan Finish Cream or Ouai Hair Oil). Good hair days ahead, people.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Are we the only ones who feel as if we’ve spent all of our earthly dollars on beauty products this summer? From humidity-fighting sprays to powerful SPFs, the last few months have called for a ton of skin care and makeup products, and our bank accounts are officially crying for mercy.

But just as we were about to practice complete self-control and rein in the spending (at least until fall), Ulta went ahead and dropped its newest August arrivals. Spoiler alert: Bye, budget goals.

More: 10 Best Ways to Wear Pink Lipstick Tonight

After reviewing Ulta’s entire new arrivals section, we’ve got good news and bad news. First, the bad: We found so many excellent products that every ounce of self-discipline has gone out the window until further notice.

Now for the good news: We've narrowed down our top five under-$15 products, including a creamy highlighter from Soap & Glory and a lightweight matte lipstick from Tarte. And because there’s no way we can actually hold back, don’t forget to stop by next month for our September favorites.

Soap & Glory Wonderbronze Highlight & Sculpt Cheek Stick

Soap & Glory Wonderbronze Highlight & Sculpt Cheek Stick (Ulta, $12)

Essence Colour Correcting Stick

Essence Colour Correcting Stick (Ulta, $4.49)

Essie Fall Nail Lacquer Collection

Essie Fall Nail Lacquer Collection  (Ulta, $9 each)

Sleek Makeup I’m Conditional Mascara

Sleek Makeup I’m Conditional Mascara (Ulta, $8.99)

Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint

Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint (Ulta, $12)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Halloween really is the best time of year for nail art lovers. We're totally down to go crazy with our nail creations year-round, but when October hits, the possibilities are really endless. I mean, it's kinda hard to pull off Halloween-esque pumpkin or monster nails in July. But then again, this glow-in-the-dark Halloween design is pretty sleek and chic — we probably wouldn't even mind wearing it into November.

The glowy eyes in this nail art give it that special Halloween touch. These nails are perfect if you're looking for a last minute costume, too. Just throw on an all black outfit, and you're good to go!

More: Forget Witches & Ghouls — We're All About This DIY Cupcake Halloween Costume

Supplies:

• Small brush
• China Glaze's Liquid Leather
• Essie's Blanc
• Sinful Colors' Innocent
• Glow-in-the-dark polish

Directions:

Step 1

Begin with 2 coats of black for a super-dark base.

Step 2

Using the small brush, paint on a variety of eye shapes with the white polish.

More: Praise Be to the Fall Gods! Halo Top Releases Low-Cal Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream

Step 3

Wait for the white polish to dry, then follow up with a coat of green over the white area and let dry.

Step 4

Paint 2 coats of glow-in-the-dark polish on the eyes, waiting for the first coat to dry before applying the second.

Step 5

Using the black polish, paint the pupils on each of the eyes. Some you can make look scary by painting them at the top of the eye, others you can turn into cat eyes by painting a slit down the center, or you can make them look like they're spooked by something off to the side by painting the pupils on the left side of the eyes.

Step 6

After they dry completely, finish with a top coat. Now the fun begins: testing out how they look in the dark! Expose them to a bright light for a minute and then turn out the lights and see the eyes glow!

Originally posted October 2015. Updated August 2017.

Y'all we love Halloween, but let's get real here for a minute — it's also a huge pain in the butt. Between decorating the inside and outside of the house and trying to exercise massive amounts of self-control in order to keep from eating all the Halloween candy, we don't have much energy to spend on putting together a costume. But, on the other hand, we also want to win every costume contest out there. Enter some magical makeup that'll transform you into a mermaid faster than you can say "under the sea."

Yes, #MermaidMakeup has been huge on Instagram, but not everyone is ponying up all the details on how to get the look. Until now. This makeup tutorial is super easy to master — as long as you've got a spare pair of fishnets on hand. Stockings, that is! No fish were caught or harmed during the making of this tutorial.

Finally, you can bring your mermaid dreams to life in way less time than it takes to shop for Halloween costumes online.

1. Begin by placing fishnet pantyhose or a wig cap over your face

You will look like the ugliest version of yourself during this step. It's worth it, I promise.

2. Start creating the mermaid scales

Using a sponge or your fingertips, tap a blue cream shadow like Maybelline ColorTattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Tenacious Teal at your temples, forehead and tops of your cheekbones. (Maybelline, $7)

3. Give the scales an ombré effect

Next, take a green cream shadow like Maybelline ColorTattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Edgy Emerald, and apply below your blue areas, moving closer to the center of your face. (Maybelline, $7)

More: The 7 Coolest ‘How-To’ Makeup Kits With Built-In Instructions

4. Highlight the scales with silver cream eyeshadow

Using a silver cream shadow like Maybelline ColorTattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Silver Strike, tap on top of the high points of your face as highlights. (Maybelline, $7)

5. Remove the fishnets to reveal your makeup mermaid scales

Now, the fun part! Remove the fishnet, and see the scales you've created!

6. Apply blue cream eyeshadow

Using the same blue cream shadow and a synthetic brush or fingers, apply to the entire lid. Elongate the shape at the outer corners if you wish.

Next up: Make sure you blend the shadow

Originally published October 2014. Updated August 2017.

7. Make sure you blend the shadow

Using a synthetic crease brush, blend out the top edge.

8. Line under your lower lashes

Using a metallic teal eyeliner like Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Deep End, line your lower lash line, and extend beyond the outer corner. (Urban Decay, $20)

More: A Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Nail Design Anyone Can Do

9. Line the rim of your lashes with a different shade

Use a mint green or aqua liner to line your waterline. Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Turquoise is my favorite! (Stila, $22)

10. Make sure you extend the line beyond your eye

Extend the line beyond the outer corner, below the teal line.

11. Seal your eye makeup with glitter adhesive

Dip your finger into glitter adhesive and loose blue glitter. Press onto the lid.

12. Add some glitter eyeliner for extra sparkle

Using a silver glitter liner, apply to the top lash line.

Next up: Finish your mermaid eyes with mascara

13. Finish your mermaid eyes with mascara

Apply mascara to your top and bottom lashes. I'm liking L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga. (L'Oreal, $8)

14. Add glitter to your brows, because why not?

For an extra touch, apply loose silver glitter to brows.

15. Apply false lashes (optional)

You can apply false lashes or simply some feather accents to the corners.

16. Start creating your mermaid lips

Line lips with the teal eyeliner, leaving the center open.

More: Katy Perry Is Turning Women Everywhere Into Mermaids

17. Give them an ombré effect

Take the mint green liner, and fill in the center of the lips, creating an aqua ombré.

18. Yes, more glitter

Highlight your cupid's bow with the silver liquid liner.

19. Apply even more glitter

Press loose silver glitter onto the center of your bottom lip for extra dimension.

Now swim off, and have a happy Halloween!

There are two kinds of people in the world: Those that love to spend days, even weeks, DIYing the crap out of an intricate Halloween costume, and the rest of us. Most of the population tends to procrastinate choosing a costume until the last minute and are left scrambling to throw something together — it's like we thrive on the drama.

Luckily, it's actually pretty easy to put together a pretty awesome costume at the 11th hour. Chances are you have a LBD, black fabric and some hot glue chillin' in your closet somewhere — and if you do, you've got yourself one adorable bat costume.

This DIY bat costume is super-simple to make, and no one will know you threw it together at the last minute:

Materials needed: 

• 1-1/2 yards black fabric (cotton, jersey knit or even lace or sequins work)
• 6 inches of 1/8-inch elastic (any color)
• Headband
• Thick black fabric (leather, felt or even a thick black cotton work)
• Hot glue

Directions:

Bat wings:

More: How to Totally Master Instagram's Halloween Mermaid Makeup

Step 1:

Fold your 2 yards of black fabric in half and cut inverted scallops on the diagonal, as shown.

Step 2:

Cut 2 (3-inch) sections of elastic and loop them, as shown. Sew each loop onto the ends of the bat wings using a straight stitch, and go back and forth a few times to secure it.

More: 7 Ridiculously Easy Halloween Costumes Using Only a Bedsheet

Bat ears:

1. Cut 4 identical triangles of your thick black fabric.
2. With right sides of the fabric together, sew up the sides of the triangle, leaving the bottom open.
3. Repeat for the second ear.
4. Turn your bat ears right side out.
5. Hot glue onto a headband. Let dry, and you're done!

Now pair with your favorite little black dress, a pair of strappy black heels and some dark lipstick!

Originally published October 2014. Updated August 2017.

We love Halloween, but if we're being honest, we're not so in love with how complicated finding a costume can get. Not to mention the fact that Halloween costumes can start looking really tacky in a heartbeat.

That's why we are pretty much swooning over these black cat nails. They're clean, chic and not complicated at all. They're just an adorable twist on a classic french manicure. And they're also the perfect complement to a black cat costume, if you like to keep things simple. Just follow this amazingly easy tutorial, throw on a black dress and some ears and you are good to go.

More: A Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Nail Design Anyone Can Do

Supplies

• China Glaze's Liquid Leather
• Spa Ritual's Joy
• Orly's White Tips (not pictured)
• small paint brush
• nail tip stickers

Directions

Step 1: Base

Start with a nude base coat. We used one that has a subtle sparkle.

More: How to Totally Master Instagram's Halloween Mermaid Makeup

Step 2: Second coat

Take one of the rounded nail tip stickers and place across the top part of your thumbnail. Paint the bottom part of your nail black and peel off the sticker.

Step 3: Get catty

Using the small paintbrush, paint two triangular ears.

Step 4: Face on

Once the black polish is dry, add the face details with white polish and the small paint brush.

Step 5: Tips

Place a nail tip sticker near the tip of the rest of your nails and paint black. Remove the sticker, and wait for everything to dry.

Step 6: Top coat

Finish with clear top coat.

Give it a go and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!

Originally published October 2015. Updated August 2017.

We're all about Halloween nail art, but it's not like we want dark black nails all October long. So what are you supposed to do when you totally want to keep your manicure in the spirit of Halloween, but also want to avoid dark colors, fake blood and glow-in-the-dark designs? You make a cute rib-cage design with a tiny pink heart, that's what you do.

More: A Glow-in-the-Dark Halloween Nail Design Anyone Can Do

Try this lighthearted and understated design on your nails for Halloween — your friends will die of cuteness overload.

Supplies:

• Essie's Blanc
• Essie's Lovie Dovie
• SquareHue's Lincoln Road
• Small brush
• Dotting tool

Directions:

Step 1:

Begin with a gray base coat.

Step 2:

Using the small brush, paint a white stripe down the center of the nail. Then make a swooped line off either side of the center line, coming up a bit toward the side of your nail. This is your "rib." Continue making these lines all the way down the nail. Repeat for each nail and let dry.

Step 3:

Using the dotting tool, make three pink dots in a triangle just to the right of the "spine" on your ring finger. Fill in the rest of the heart shape with either the dotting tool or the small brush. Let dry and follow with a top coat.

More: Black Cat Nails Are a Fun Twist On a French Mani —  & Purrrfect for Halloween

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Whether you’re using cleansers, toners or moisturizers as part of your daily skin care routine, we all share the collective goal to clear away our impurities and have smooth, acne-free skin. But there’s one thing that we’re all using that may actually be the cause of our skin problems in the first place: tap water.

Unless you’re super-rich and have the time to wash your face using bottled water, you’re most likely rinsing your face using the tap water from your bathroom sink. Trouble is, that could be the source of breakouts.

More: Moringa Oil Is the New Must-Have Ingredient for Perfect, Clear Skin

Racked interviewed NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross, who said that heavy metals such as iron, copper and zinc, all found in tap water, are free radicals (unstable, reactive molecules that damage living cells), which can destroy collagen, causing wrinkles, inflammation, acne and rosacea.

But don’t worry. There is a way to continue your skin care routine without avoiding water. After you wash your face, be sure to use products with high levels of antioxidants, Gross said. A couple of options? La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios AOX Daily Antioxidant Serum (Ulta, $42.50) packs sunscreen in with the skin-boosting ingredients; on the pricier side, SkinCeuticals’ Phloretin CF Gel (SkinCeuticals, $165) adds vitamin C to the mix.

Dermatologist Dr. Julie Russak, also interviewed by Racked, suggested adding a micellar water to your skin care routine, like the cult classic from Bioderma (Dermstore, $10.50).

More: 7 Amazing Oil-Free Moisturizers — Because, Yes, Even Oily Skin Needs Hydration

“It’s a great option, as it is a no-rinse makeup remover that gently cleanses makeup, dirt and debris without stripping the skin, so it maintains the skin’s moisture balance,” Russak said.

Thanks for the heads-up. We’re going to go stock up on micellar water now.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

To some, makeup and skin care obsessions might seem a little superficial, but the truth is that beauty isn’t just about shopping and product-hunting. Sure, feeling good about your looks can give you confidence, but beauty routines can also provide a creative, fun outlet for self-expression that can lift you up during tough times. Yesterday, we discovered a super-inspiring thread on Reddit’s MakeupAddiction that proved we’re not the only ones whose feelings about makeup go more than skin-deep.

The thread started when a user asked how beauty has played a role in people’s physical and mental health, and within hours, the comment section was loaded with Redditors sharing moving, personal stories. People opened up about how makeup and skin care helped them cope with issues like depression, anxiety and chronic illness, explaining that beauty brings positivity and confidence to otherwise dark, overwhelming situations.

"[Skin care and makeup] gives me a sense of control I never had as a little kid."

We chatted with eating disorder therapist and body image expert Temimah Zucker for her thoughts on how beauty routines can support people’s emotional wellness. “I encourage clients to find meaning in makeup,” she says. “Perhaps a bold lip color represents how powerful your words and thoughts can be. Or maybe concealer is less about concealing oneself, and more about being mindful that some people will see all of you and others might not.”

Zucker also notes that the creative aspect of makeup can be a natural mood-booster. “By cultivating different looks, blending, mixing and experimenting, you can practice creativity and art, which are often much-needed and encouraged pastimes for those struggling with mental health.”

Below, we rounded up six insightful, moving highlights from the thread for an important reminder that beauty is anything but frivolous.

Taking back control

“I grew up really controlled, and my appearance was definitely a part of that control. My mother picked my clothes for me through middle school (and trust me, I wasn’t inept at picking my own clothes). Later, my parents used to make comments on how I looked without any sort of guidance. So now that I have disposable income and free time, I’m SO particular about how I look and what I use … I relish in the luxuriousness of my skin care and makeup. Overall, it gives me a sense of control I never had as a little kid. And I like being known for being good at this kinda stuff too.” — Gotohela

Treating yourself

“The self-care of my skincare routine (almost clear skin now from acne!) and the self-esteem boost of adding colour to my face (eyeshadows) makes me feel accomplished. I have mental health issues too (depression/anxiety/recent severe panic attacks) and it’s a great way to be nice to myself.” — AmyPond808 

Overcoming challenges

“I have severe depression and also lots of issues with chronic pain (hooray fibro!). Most of the time I have a very hard time having the motivation to not look like absolute garbage, even with my work being business casual. Being into makeup has helped me through a lot. I may sometimes get frustrated with having very shaky hands and never being able to wing my liner, but it is worth it to me for the compliments I usually get when I manage to get some makeup on.” — Tikappu-kitsune

More: 12 Safe, Effective Alternatives to Retinoids

Embracing your own skin

“I struggled to come to terms with my femininity for a long time. I went to a religious K-8 school that treated girls as second-class citizens. It really fucked up my ideas about gender, gender roles, and just generally what it meant to be a woman. I completely rejected everything remotely feminine for a long time. It’s been a long hard road to where I am now, comfortable in my own skin. Exploring makeup has been a part of that journey.” — Pomme_dor

More: The 7 Best Products to Shop at Sephora in August

Taking time out

“Those 15 [minutes] in the morning that I put on make up is my “me” time before taking on the day. I get to pamper myself and also be creative and play with colors and different finishes. I get to decide how I want to look for the day: Clean and simple? Colorful? Vampy? Dramatic? Pin up? Soft and easy? It’s whatever I want, and no one gets to dictate it. Also, if I know it’s going to be a hard day, or I feel like I need that extra boost of confidence, I’ll go a little more dramatic—a deep lip, or a metallic eye, or an extra-bold winged liner. It’s my war paint when I feel I need an extra layer of armor, so to speak.” — Klar971

Getting out of your head

“Makeup definitely helps me conquer anxiety and depression. My mind is constantly engaged in worry/negative thinking, and putting on makeup for fun is a time where I can get away from that. Pretty difficult to speculate about how my life is falling apart when I’m playing with my glorious hoard of makeup.” — Gudegudegg

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Coined by the beauty geniuses of the world, de-potting is more or less a creative way to organize your favorite eye shadow singles into one ginormous super-palette, aka the Z palette. Experts recommend using MAC’s Pro Palette, large which, for reference, can be used to combine three Urban Decay palettes into one. Amazing, right? And if having your go-to shadows in one convenient place isn’t reason alone to jump on the de-potting train, it’s also great as inspiration for new color combinations.

More: The Exact Hair Products Rihanna Uses — Courtesy of Her Longtime Hairstylist

Figuring out how to de-pot your eye shadows isn’t an easy task, but luckily for you, we already scoped out the best de-potting tutorials out there so you can try out all sorts of techniques, such as using heat to remove the glue under the pan with a hair straightener or going heatless with a string of floss. Below, check out these insanely easy tutorials and start de-potting your way to an epic collection of shadows.

Using a lighter

Using rubbing alcohol

Using a straightener

More: 7 Best Makeup Priming Sprays That Won’t Leave Your Face Extra Oily

Using an X-acto knife

Using floss

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Face masks may not be new to the beauty scene, but lately, I’ve become borderline obsessed. After a long day, the only thing I look forward to is cleansing my face, throwing on a mask and chilling out for 30 minutes. And unlike my facial cleanser, which I use day and night, face masks give me the chance to switch up my routine — do I want to go for something über-hydrating? Brightening? Clarifying? Name any skin concern, and there’s a mask for it.

More: The 10 Coolest Nail Colors to Try This Fall

Though the versatility of face masks is what makes them so appealing, it makes the hunt for your perfect formula a struggle. So, I decided to do a bit of digging at the place everyone goes to try a new skin care routine: Sephora. After scouring the best-selling and top-rated masks, I found seven that are so freaking good, you’re required to try them immediately, including a $6 pomegranate-infused sheet mask and a super-creamy overnight treatment. Shop all seven, below, and prepare to enter a state of pure bliss.

Herbivore Brighten Instant Glow Mask

Herbivore Brighten Pineapple Enzyme + Gemstone Instant Glow Mask (Sephora, $48)

Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask

Fresh Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask (Sephora, $62)

Skin Laundry Wrinkle Release Facial Sheet Mask

Skin Laundry Wrinkle Release Facial Sheet Mask (Sephora, $12)

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment (Sephora, $22)

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask (Sephora, $34)

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (Sephora, $25)

Sephora Pomegranate Mask

Sephora Pomegranate Mask (Sephora, $6)

Originally posted on StyleCaster.

Whatever Jennifer Aniston is preaching, we’re listening. As someone who ruled the hair game for an entire decade in the ’90s, the 48-year-old actress is a certified beauty expert in our eyes. So, when we heard that the Friends star has been using the same $3 face wash for the past 30-something years, our ears perked up.

More: Jennifer Aniston Shows Up on the Red Carpet in Leather Dress

In a recent interview with Refinery29, the Emmy winner dished on the beauty products she buys in bulk. In addition to her love for L’Oreal’s Lash Out Mascara, the rom-com veteran fawned over a particular Neutrogena face soap. “I love the L’Oréal Lash Out Mascara. And Neutrogena soap. I switch up my hair products a little bit, though,” Aniston told the mag.

This isn’t the first time the star has gushed over Neutrogena’s face soap. In a 2010 interview with the Daily Mail, the actress revealed that she has been using the product as her go-to morning face wash since high school. (If you calculate it, that’s 30-plus years of Neutrogena love.)

“I’ve been using it since high school. I wake up and wash my face with Neutrogena face soap. I use a serum and then a Dr. Hauschka day cream — that’s it!” she said.

More: Jennifer Aniston: ‘For the Record, I Am Not Pregnant. What I Am Is Fed Up’

Though the soap comes in both liquid and bar form, the Daily Mail confirmed that Aniston’s favorite is the transparent facial bar. As far as specifics, the product is fairly basic. It’s fragrance-free and its main component is glycerin, a common product in soap that comes with anti-aging and hydrating qualities.

Clearly, less is more for Aniston — in both price and ingredients. BRB as we head to the drugstore immediately.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.com

If we had a dollar for every time someone asked us what we’d do with a million dollars, we’re pretty sure we’d have that million already. If we did have a milli lying around, we’d probably spend a lot of our disposable income at Sephora to be honest. But unfortunately, we’re somewhat responsible adults with things like rent and cable bills to pay, which leaves little to set aside toward our makeup obsession, because (spoiler alert) fairy godmothers who grant us our every makeup wish don’t exist. *Sigh*

More: A Simple Guide to Selling Your Clothes (& Making Big Money) on Instagram

Not all fairy tales are dead, though, because magic lives on in the form of a Reddit community called MakeupRehab, where real-life wizards grace us with money-saving beauty hacks that won’t leave us feeling left out from the latest palette craze. And yes, their tips are worlds better than the ones you’ve already heard, like signing up for every newsletter or insider reward program — we’ll assume you did that years ago. Ahead, we rounded up our favorite tips and tricks from Reddit to help you save money.

Go through your entire makeup collection

No, seriously. Do it. We know it’ll likely put a major dent in your weekend, but block it off; it needs to be done. Once you have your entire collection laid out on whatever surface was big enough to hold it all — try doing it on an old top sheet to keep any glitter residue from staining your carpet — we recommend organizing according to the type of product. And if you’re really feeling the new organized you, it might even help to separate what you use regularly from what you don’t, which will come in handy for some of the tips to follow.

Put together a grab bag

You know all that makeup that you just determined could use a little more attention? Throw it all in a grab bag, hide it out of sight, and absolutely do not open it until Christmas. Just kidding. But whenever you’re feeling bored with your usual routine, instead of heading to the store, pull out your grab bag and shop what you have. (Just make sure you don’t hold onto anything that’ll expire — trust us on this one.) We recommend only taking out one product at a time, but that really depends on your willpower.

De-pot your eye shadows and make new palettes

Instead of splurging on that new palette you’ve been eyeing, recreate it with what you already have. If you’re anything like us, you have a ridiculous number of barely touched eye shadow lying around, and the likelihood of having the exact colors you need to recreate the palette of your dreams is pretty high.

Repurpose your makeup

Honestly, makeup is so magical for the sole fact that one product can be used in more ways than one. So instead of throwing away products you don’t like, give them a new purpose. The experts on MakeupRehab shared all their favorite repurposing secrets, such as melting down lipsticks and mixing them with Vaseline to create a tinted lip balm, or mixing a highlighter you weren’t feeling with body lotion to make a body shimmer.

More: These 10 Primers Will Get You the Dramatic Eyelashes of Your Dreams

Research before you buy

We all know what happens when we walk down the makeup aisle without a game plan. It’s like walking into Target and expecting to come out with the one thing you went in there for — yeah, that’s not going to happen. Before heading to the store, research what products are best for your skin type and tone, and you’ll avoid wasting money on products that aren’t a good fit. Know which questions you need to ask, and then let any aggressive salespeople know that you’re there for a single reason — and you’ll ask for help when you need it. That way, you can’t be talked into buying $150 of lipstick and nail polish that’ll never see the light of day again.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.