20 beauty and skincare hacks that actually work

Skipping face wash is something pretty much everyone does from time to time, but it isn't exactly great for your skin. When you've had a long night out or just aren't willing to do the full skincare routine, use micellar water on a reusable cotton pad to wipe away makeup and grime without all the fuss. 

Keeping skin care products in the bathroom is definitely convenient, but sticking your moisturizers and serums in the refrigerator adds a little bit of luxury to the everyday skincare routine. Don't want to clutter up your food-packed fridge? Score a tiny skincare refrigerator that's designed specifically to hold lotions and potions. 

Makeup brushes range wildly in price, from totally affordable to extremely expensive, but it's possible to skip them altogether — at least when it comes to foundation. Using your fingertips to apply foundation makes for a smooth, natural finish, especially when using a cream-based product. Just make sure to give your hands a thorough washing first to avoid transferring bacteria to your face. 

For some people, simple is always better. There are thousands of skin care products of all kinds on the market, but it isn't necessary to try them all! Pare down your routine by using multipurpose products, like tinted moisturizer and color sticks that can do double-duty as lip color and cheek stain. 

Sugar scrubs are a great way to exfoliate the skin, and they don't have to be pricey. Mix together honey, olive oil, and plain old cane sugar until you get a thick consistency, then use in the shower to exfoliate dead skin from the body. This scrub is a little too harsh for delicate facial skin, but it does make for an excellent (and edible!) lip scrub. 

The ultimate skincare hack is painfully simple: always wear sunscreen. There are few things more clinically proven to prevent aging than sunscreen, and it also reduces the risk of deadly skin cancers like melanoma.

It may look a little silly, but applying a hydrating sheet mask while you're traveling is the perfect way to avoid that parched, flaky feeling that always comes on after a lengthy flight or car ride. Catch a moment of zen in the passenger seat, or apply a sheet mask right after arriving at your destination to ward off any impending dryness. 

Covering up pimples and other blemishes is now ridiculously easy thanks to hydrocolloid patches. These flesh-toned bandages, like Hero Cosmetics's Mighty Patch, are easy to apply, and really minimize the appearance of red, angry pimples. You can even apply makeup over the top for a more flawless finish. 

That foundation might look empty, but it's likely that you can get one more application simply by snipping the top of the container off with a pair of scissors. That's especially true for products in long, skinny tubes — use a cotton swab or makeup brush to remove the last tiny bits of product before running out to buy a new tube. 

Toward the end of a tube of mascara? Add a few drops of warm water and give it a good shake to revive mascara that's nearly dried out. 

Lighted makeup mirrors seem luxurious, but there's nothing better than good old natural light for creating the perfect look. In natural light, it's easier to see when foundation looks cakey or eyeshadow isn't well-blended, which means you won't walk out of the house unwittingly looking ridiculous. 

When applying bright shades of eyeshadows like neons, your natural skin tone may make the vivid colors appear more muted. To avoid that, use a creamy eyeshadow in white to provide a more neutral base for the shadow, which will make it pop. 

There are a wide variety of makeup brush cleaners on the market, but none of them are necessary. Use olive oil to loosen up the makeup in your brushes, then wash away the residue with simple Dawn dish soap. After rinsing thoroughly, allow the brushes to fully dry before applying new product. 

With the vast number of skincare products that many people own, the bathroom countertop is often a place of clutter and disorganization. Invest in a lazy susan, and reclaim your space. A tiered lazy susan will offer multiple storage solutions for products of different kinds and can tuck easily into the corner of the countertop. 

Once you've finished a tube of mascara, don't toss out that wand! Soak it in makeup remover, then dry thoroughly and use the wand to brush out your own lashes when they're looking a little clumpy, or groom errant eyebrows. 

Don't have the right shade of lipstick to complete your look? Peek inside your favorite eyeshadow palettes. Mixing together clear, goopy lip balm and a little bit of pigment can produce a high-gloss balm with the perfect pop of color. 

Dry shampoo is a true hair miracle, especially for folks whose hair tends to be greasy. Instead of waiting for the dry shampoo to rescue your hair from the grease, make a pre-emptive attack — use dry shampoo shortly after washing to give your hair more volume while warding off the greasies. 

Traditional terrycloth washcloths can be damaging to delicate facial skin, thanks to their rough texture. Instead, invest in soft microfiber cloths, like the Make-Up Eraser, for a more gentle cleanse. 

Even though they're a shower staple, loofahs are notorious havens of bacteria. Toss out your loofah and replace it with a silicone body scrubber. They last much longer and can be disinfected every couple of weeks to cut down on bacteria. 

Bobby pins are essential for anyone with long hair, but they can definitely be frustrating. Eliminate some of the slip by spritzing your bobby pins with a little hairspray before pinning your hair. The stickiness of the spray will provide a little extra grip without extra pulling.