From The Straits Times    |

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#1 Hair conditioner tends to make my fine, short hair look flat and limp. Do I really need to use one?

A daily conditioner is important as it helps to repair and treat hair, says a Kerastase educator.

A shampoo isn’t nourishing enough. Just avoid oil-based conditioners that weigh down the hair, and apply only on hair ends

#2 No matter how careful I am, my nail polish chips within days. How can I make my manicure last longer?
We use our hands all the time so it’s hard to prevent chips. Hide them instead, by applying a coat of clear polish containing glitter.

It camouflages a less-than- perfect manicure instantly.

#3 I accidentally sprayed on too much perfume. How do I tone down the scent?

Douse a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and swipe it over your skin. Applying a fragrance-free hand sanitiser directly on skin also works.

#4 The hair around my forehead always becomes limp and greasy after a facial. How can I freshen it up?

June Ng, styling director of J’s Salon, says: “Get a warm, damp towel to dab off the grease, then blow-dry it for fuller hair.”

Or use a dry shampoo to absorb the excess oil and add volume to hair roots.

#5 I break out when I use cream moisturisers, but gel-based ones don’t seem to hydrate well enough. What should I use?

Stick to a gel-based moisturiser, but use a skin softener after cleansing to boost the moisturiser’s efficacy.

Arica Sen, senior trainer at Shiseido, says: “Pick a softener that’s more nourishing so you get intense hydration.”

#6 I have reached the bottom of my serum bottle, how do I get the last drops out?

Remove the cap, then use a clean coffee stirrer to scrape the sides and bottom of the bottle. Store the remnants in a clean, airtight cosmetic jar.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to open up airtight pump bottles.

#7 Is there a better way to tone down blusher without applying translucent powder over it? It makes my face look cakey.

Makeup artist Larry Yeo suggests: “Moisten a clean powder brush with a hydrating toner mist, buff it into your palm to distribute the moisture, and then swirl it over cheeks to take some colour off.”

#8 I want to grow my hair out, but it’s at that length where it’s not short or long. What’s the best way to style it?

Get a perm with soft-textured waves, says June. The curls last just three to six months, enough time to tide you over the difficult growing- out stage, where your hair tends to stick out at irregular angles.

If you don’t want a perm, you can also curl your hair ends inwards with straightening tongs.

#9 I double cleanse every night, but I still have clogged pores and blackheads. How can I get rid of them?

Double cleansing gets rid of superficial dirt but you need a weekly deep purifying mask or peel to loosen the oil and impurities trapped inside your pores, says Jean-Claude Barbotte-Goralski, international education manager for Lierac.

Dr Madeline Ho, consultant dermatologist at the National Skin Centre, says skin doctors can prescribe creams that treat stubborn whiteheads and blackheads.

These contain vitamin A derivatives, which increase skin cell turnover.

#10 My body lotion takes a long time to absorb. What can I do to enhance its absorption?

Scrub skin once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells and surface impurities, advises Ryan Lau, regional education manager at Nuxe.

Lightweight formulas also slip into skin faster than creamier textures.

#11 My lips peel, even though I use lip balm. How can I solve this?

Try this home remedy: Twice a week before bedtime, mix a pinch of sugar with a pea- sized amount of butter, and gently rub lips with the mixture in a sideways motion.

Rinse off, then apply a generous layer of lip balm for the night.

#12 When I apply eyeshadow, some of it falls and smudges on my cheeks. How can I prevent this?

Alan Huang, a makeup artist at DFS Galleria Beauty Hall, says: “Use a fan brush to sweep the pigments off.”

Or dust on extra loose powder over the top of your cheeks before you apply eyeshadow; extra eyeshadow pigments will fall on the loose powder and they can be dusted off easily with a makeup brush.

#13 My eye cream makes my wrinkles less obvious, but I’m starting to get milia seeds. What should I do?

Your eye cream may be too rich, says Elizabeth Arden’s regional training manager, Angeline Lim de Silva.

Don’t try to remove milia seeds on your own as it could cause scarring. See a dermatologist, who can recommend surface laser treatments or medication for it.

#14 I always smudge my nil polish by accident. How do i tell if it is completely dry?

Eva Lim, owner and manicurist at Blissful Nails, suggests you gently tap your nail beds against each other – if they are still wet, you will feel a sticky resistance when you pull them apart.

#15 My skin tends to break out after using blotting paper. How else can I reduce the shine? 

Blotting paper strips away the skin’s protective lipid layer; your skin then produces more oil, which can lead to breakouts, says Ryan.

Instead of blotting, gently press a tissue over skin to remove excess oil.

#16 My glasses make me look like I have too much eye makeup, or none at all. Help!

Wear eyeliner to define your eyes, says Giorgio Forgani, international makeup artist for Pupa.

Match your eyeshadow colour to your glasses – light, neutral shades for frameless or light-coloured glasses; darker shades for bolder frames.

Or try eyeshadows with fine shimmer; they draw attention to your eyes without you having to overload on colour intensity.

#17 How do I treat sun- induced redness and skin discomfort immediately?

Apply a cool compress, says Mah Mei Hui, managing director and pharmacist at The Skin Pharmacy. Then, apply a lightweight hydrating serum or moisturiser to soothe skin.

This article was originally published in Simply Her July 2012.