9 genius alternative ways to use your beauty products

These hacks will blow your mind

We all love a beauty hack and as beauty journalists, bloggers, vloggers and celebrities become more savvy with their make-up, we get more and more access to new innovative and alternative ways to use our make-up, skincare and haircare products. 

Think you already have quite the beauty arsenal? Wait until you see what else it can do… 

1. Lipstick as an eyeshadow base

If you have a nude lipstick lying around, try using it as an eyeshadow base. It has a similar consistency to concealer, so powders will stick to it and last on your lids longer. You can also use any coloured lipstick as a cream eyeshadow and because it’s malleable, you can create sharp shapes or rounded edges with a lip brush. 

2. Old mascara wands to clean fine jewellery

Get to all of the hard to reach spots with an old mascara wand. The fine fibres will pick up any dust your diamonds have collected over the months and because they’re quite stiff, they can rub off the grime too.

3. Lipstick as a blusher

This is an old trick, but it’s still a good one - especially during the summer months when you want to create more of a dewy look (or simply don’t want your powder blusher caking on your face). Plus, it’ll tie your whole look together, so you end up with a softer version of matching blusher to your lipstick.

4. Eyeliner and vaseline as eyeshadow

Love an eyeliner colour but can’t find it in an eyeshadow form? Colour in your eyelids (softly - so you don’t poke your eye!) and then rub vaseline or a lip balm over the top to create a malleable consistency. This also works wonders if you want a smokey effect. 

5. Lipstick to contour

Can’t find your contour palette, but have a nice shade of brown lipstick handy? Simply draw it where needed and then use a makeup sponge to blend in. It honestly works just as good as a contour creme and won’t budge all day long. 

6. Hairspray to keep flowers fresh

Sure, hairspray is great for keeping your hair in place, but it’s also a dream when it come stop preserving fresh flowers. Simply remove your flowers from the vase, and spray them with hairspray, holding the can several inches away from the petals. Then, hang them upside down to dry before returning them to the vase.

7. Lipgloss as highlighter

Just as lipstick can be used as a contour stick, lipgloss or even metallic lipsticks can be used as a great highlighter. Draw along the high points of your face - your cheekbones, cupid’s bow and just above your temples and then blend with a make-up sponge or drum your fingers along the area to blend out the edges. 

8. Blush as matte lipstick

If you want a super matte finish to your lipstick, brush over your lips with blusher. The light reflecting particles will pick up any reflection to make your lips look bigger, without having to go glossy. 

9. Lipstick as a concealer base

You’ve probably seen bloggers and vloggers worldwide painting under their eyes with red lipstick to hide dark circles. Why? Because lipstick has a very similar consistency to concealer and the red acts as a colour correcting base to counteract dull skin. It works best on darker skin tones though, so try with caution.