10 Clever Hacks We Learned From Sephora Reviews
by Faith Xue
Allow us to describe what we at Byrdie HQ describe as a “Sephora black hole.” You’re going about your business, catching up on your daily beauty reading, and find a product that catches your attention. You click the product to shop it, and you land on Sephora.com. You check out the ingredients list, the description, and scroll down to read the reviews section. Fast forward half an hour and you’re suddenly on page 20, ravenously consuming every word of every review and taking it as gospel—after all, these are real women, your very own peers, who have no reason to cushion their feedback. Hours later, you’ve finally made up your mind, and you either excitedly add the product to your cart or click out of the screen, relieved your fellow beauty aficionados warned you the buzzy pick was just sub-par. Resume this cycle every few days; repeat as needed.
If this sounds all too familiar, you’re not alone. As beauty editors, we get to try so many products first-hand—and yet, we constantly find ourselves reading reviews online to see if other peoples’ reactions match our own, or if the product only worked for our specific skin type or hair texture. Along the way, we started noticing something: There are some smart beauty tips in the reviews section. And we’re talking about truly ingenious and clever—these aren’t your average run-of-the-mill, universally known hacks. Some of them have changed our lives—our wallets are forever grateful for the self-tanner wipe tip—which is why we’ve compiled some of our favorites all in one place for you, dear reader. From primer mixing to a clumpy mascara cure, keep scrolling for 10 of the best beauty hacks in Sephora’s reviews section!
The product: Kate Somerville 360 Tanning Towelettes
The user: harmony1977
The hack:
If self-tanning towelettes are your jam, you’ll be glad you know this tip: harmony1977 says she cuts these luxe towelettes into four to six smaller squares, then stores them in a Ziploc bag. That way, you can use each small piece at a time for your body and face, and store what you don’t use. This tip is also perfect if you prefer your faux tan a deeper color—cut the towelette in half and use half, store the rest, then follow up with another application the following day.
Related: 9 Clever Self-Tanning Tips You’ve Never Heard
The product: Dior Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation
The user: katedoggg
The hack:
People swear by spray foundations for their dewy, even coverage—and the fact that you can spray directly on your face without blending. However, it can get a little messy, which is why user katedoggg suggests using a damp Beauty Blender ($20) to apply Dior’s version instead. The effect is sheerer and more natural—perfect for days when you don’t need a full coverage finish.
Related: Make Your Foundation Look Airbrushed With This Easy Hack
The product: Make Up For Ever Brow Seal Transparent Eyebrow Gel
The user: jem1 and melissa929
The hack:
Any thick-browed girl is lost without her brow gel, and people rave about Make Up For Ever’s version. But there other secret ways to use this brow gel in your beauty routine, too. User jem1 says she applies it over her brow pencil to lock it in all day, then over her mascara to prevent “raccoon eyes.” Meanwhile, melissa929 says she uses it to tame flyaways and baby hairs along her forehead, especially when pulling her hair into a ponytail. Genius.
Related: The Most Common Brow Shaping Mistakes Women Make
The product: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water
The user: nicnacbeauty
The hack:
Smashbox says you can use this magical spray three ways—to prime your face for makeup, to set the makeup, and throughout the day to refresh your makeup—but user nicnac beauty says she uses a fourth way, too. “I also use it by spraying a little on my brush before bugging on my foundation and it works like a charm,” she says in her review. She swears this helps the product lock in her makeup all day—and we’ll be trying it out immediately.
Related: How I Finally Got My Stick-Straight Lashes to Hold a Curl
The product: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion—Anti-Aging
The user: MacBeth7
The hack:
It’s no secret we’re obsessed with Urban Decay’s various Eyeshadow Primers—and so is the majority of the beauty world. Only thing is, the toothpaste-esuqe packaging means there’s often a lot left over that we can’t squeeze out. Luckily, Sephora user MacBeth7 has a genius solution: once you near the end of your supply, just take scissors and cut off the bottom of the tube, scoop out everything inside, and store it in an old eye cream jar.
Related: 6 Super-Flattering Makeup Tutorials for Brown Eyes
The product: Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil
The user: JuneViolet
The hack:
Whether or not you’re a fan of cleansing oil, you should probably add one to your beauty routine. Why? Because you can use it for facial massage, obviously. JuneViolet says she uses Josie Maran’s version not to wash her face, but to massage her face for 20 minutes each night. “I recommend you do this at least three times a week,” she says. “It’s the secret to never-aging skin.” For a visual guide, we’ve got you covered with four anti-aging exercises to do instead of facelifts.
Related: Why Oil-Cleansing Your Hair Is a Game Changer
The product: Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat
The user: Wombatsma
The hack:
Nothing is more satisfying that painting your final layer of high-shine topcoat after a painstaking manicure. That glory can be short-lived, though, when your nail polish starts cracking a few days later. Wombatsma has an easy solution: just wait until the following day to apply your top coat. This will ensure your nails are completely dry, and prevent any shrinking and peeling after applying top coat.
Related: Same Polish, 5 Different Topcoats—See Which One Lasted
The product: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
The user: jackie1894620
The hack:
Clumpy mascara? Try user jackie1894620’s trick and add a few drops of contact in—it’ll smooth out the formula in a pinch.
Related: The Best Drugstore Mascara, According to the Internet
The product: Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation
The user: courtneyolsen
The hack:
People rave about Kat Von D’s cult foundation for its full-coverage, last-all-day finish, but—as with all full-coverage foundations—you run the risk of a slightly cakey finish. Courtneyolsen says she remedies this by mixing the brand’s water-based Lock-It Featherweight Primer with the foundation. “It helps thin out the thick foundation and gives a beautiful finish,” she says. “It also lasts me about 14 hours without oxidation, separation, or oiliness.”
Related: The Best Full-Coverage Foundations for Oily Skin
The product: Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Hair Mist
The user: girloncanvas
The hack:
Ever find that your hair perfume either makes your ends greasy or gets overpowering, smell-wise? Try this trick girloncanvas shared: spray it underneath underneath your hair, near the nap of your neck. That way, your body heat will allow the scent to lightly disperse, without leaving a super-strong perfume trail (a good tip if you’re planning on wearing hair perfume at the office, or during the day).
Related: The Fragrance Guide for Women Who Don’t Want to Smell Like Everyone Else
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