40 Unexpected beauty hacks that could change your life

While this may look complicated, it really does the job.

We have heard it a thousand times: NEVER go to sleep with makeup on! If there were a Beauty Bible, that would be like the first commandment. But, what if you ever come home after a long day of work (or a long night of partying) and realize you ran out of makeup remover or cleansing towelettes? Well, reach for your shaving cream. Yes, your shaving cream!

This hack really works at leaving your face really clean. Just apply some shaving cream on your face using your finger tips and wipe your face with a wet towel. However, don't use it on your eyes, since the skin around the eyes is very delicate and sensitive and shaving cream might be too harsh for that area, according to New York City-based dermatologist Sejal Shah.

Shaving cream also works to remove makeup stains from clothes!

The juice of the onion has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness and swelling. Also, onions are rich in sulphur, which can help treat some skin conditions, including acne, and has a healing effect on scars, due to its ability to increase collagen production. So, to get rid of those unwanted pimples, grate a small onion to release the extracts and apply liberally to your pimple throughout the day.

That’s right ladies, this anti-chafing balm apparently leaves skin super smooth and ready for makeup application. And the reason for this is that its main ingredient is dimethicone, which is also found in many foundation primers. "It also contains Vitamin E and aloe, and it's fragrance-free and formulated to let skin 'breathe,'" wrote beauty and lifestyle writer Petra Guglielmetti, who tried this hack and loved it.

This hack works, and the reason is very simple: orange and red tones cancel out the blue and green shadows that appear under your eyes. So the orange helps cover under-eye dark circles better when you apply concealer over it. But instead of a color-correcting concealer/primer, which could be very expensive, some beauty bloggers are now applying an orange/red lipstick under their concealer, and it really works!

I know this sounds crazy; I thought the same when I first saw this being done at a Dominican hair salon. But it really works. The same way that dish soap gets rid of grease on your dishes, it will help get rid of oil in your hair. Fashion and beauty expert Courtney Mina tried this method and she loved it. "After I finished shampooing, I could already feel the difference in my hair — it was extremely squeaky when wet, and felt a lot 'lighter' on my scalp. I finished off by putting an intense conditioner on the ends (to save them from the super-strength of the dish soap), then gently towel-dried my hair before blow-drying it," she wrote on Bustle.com.

However, this is not to say that you should just go and replace your regular shampoo with a bottle of dish-washing soap! You should only do this "if you ever happen to develop greasy hair that just won't wash out with your regular shampoo," Courtney advises.

The activated charcoal trend took over the Internet in 2017. From using it in face masks to get glowy skin to applying it on their armpits to get clear underarms, people all over the world swear by this product for just about any beauty woe. And, while it may seem counterproductive because it is pitch black, people are also using activated charcoal to whiten their teeth, and it really does leave teeth whiter!

After brushing your teeth with regular toothpaste, dip your toothbrush in some activated charcoal powder. Scrub your teeth for 3-4 minutes, then rinse with cold water… and smile!

As you can see in this video by Savvy, a dryer sheet can help you get rid of frizzy hair and, at the same time, leave your locks smelling really clean and fresh.

This is another hack from one of our favorite beauty vloggers, Farah Dhukai, who has like the most amazing hair ever. 

"Whipped cream has an ingredient in it derived from seaweed! It is EXTREMELY moisturizing and helps to smooth the hair cuticle and help make your split ends smoother… it is the BEST conditioner ever!!" she writes on YouTube. "Cream is full of FAT and PROTEIN and is so hydrating, which again, helps smooth the hair and skin and give both the love they need. It also contains lactic acid, which is great for gently exfoliating your skin to give you a beautiful radiant glow."

This may sound crazy, but some beauty editors and bloggers are using baby powder to make lashes look fuller. Start by applying one or two coats of mascara to your lashes. Then, dip a cotton swab into some baby powder and apply to the lashes. Finish up by applying another coat of mascara from roots to tips. The trick here is that the powder sticks to the lashes and make them look thicker. Try it and you may never need to buy fake lashes again!

There's a reason why the cat-eye has remained a beauty classic. The genius technique instantly widens eyes and perks up the face. But here's the downside: It's a freaking nightmare to pull off! Finding the most flattering angle at which to draw takes me forever. But now there's a much easier way to master a winged liner, all thanks to Instagrammer @MakeupBySugar, who has figured out a fool-proof way to create this using dental floss. Yes, dental floss!

Makeup artist/beauty vlogger Mayra Isabel swears by this method, which, as you can see on this video, does give a flawless foundation application.

The same way that Listerine kills the germs that cause plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath, it is believed to help keep away the bacteria that causes underarm odor. You can either dampen a cotton ball with Listerine and swab your armpits with it, or pour some in a small spray bottle and spray that area.

I'm pretty sure you've seen this on Instagram or YouTube. And, if you're still skeptical about using turmeric to brighten your smile, like I was at first, I have news for you. Despite its yellow-orange color, turmeric has been proved to whiten teeth, while also cleansing and removing any bacteria that might be present in the mouth, thanks to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties found in this spice. So give this hack a try!

Mix 1 tbsp turmeric powder with 1 tbsp organic coconut oil. Mix well until forming a paste. Apply on your teeth and leave on for about five minutes. Try using a new tooth brush just for this treatment because it will stain the tooth brush. Finish up by brushing your teeth with your regular tooth paste.

Beauty vlogger Raye Boyce tried "baking" her makeup with baby powder instead of translucent loose powder and she loved it! Would you give this hack a try?

Rubbing some Vaseline or colorless lip balm on your pulse points before spraying your perfume will make the scent last longer. "The ointment, which is occlusive, will hold the fragrance to your skin longer than if you were to spray it onto dry skin," according to Cosmopolitan's Senior Beauty Editor Brooke Shunatona.

Instagram/YouTube star Farah Dhukai applies Pepto to her entire face to target acne and larger pore areas. She also claims that this gives her an instant glow and makes he skin feel tighter! 

"Beta hydroxy acid tightens, shrinks and unclogs pores, the aspirin in this is also good for a spot treatment for acne. Pepto Bismol has salicylic acid, which gives your face an instant glow after you wash it off! DO NOT do this everyday! This is just a quick fix for when your pores are looking larger than life (like how mine were) — 3 days in a row MAX. DO NOT do this if you have an allergy to aspirin," she wrote on Instargam.

The matte lipstick trend is not going anywhere! You can make any lipstick matte following these steps: Apply your old lipstick or gloss and blot your lips with a tissue to absorb the gloss or shine. Then, apply some translucent powder on your lips using a small brush or cosmetic sponge. Smack your lips together, and you have gotten yourself some matte lips! Instead of translucent powder, you can also use some blush or eyeshadow.

I first saw this heatless waves hack on Instagram and decided to give a try. I was so happy with the reults that I have since ditched the wave wand, and this has become my go-to method for getting beautiful loose waves without damaging my hair.

There are so many great DIY body scrub recipes you can mix up at home that will help you get rid of dead skin cells. This one is the simplest and cheapest! Just mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar with 1/4 cup of hair conditioner and voila! I actually buy an extra bottle of inexpensive conditioner, such as Suave, and use it just to make this scrub at least once a week. It leaves my skin feeling so smooth without hurting my wallet. You can also add some essential oil, such as lavender or coconut oil, if you so wish.

Do you find that your mascara dries up really quickly? Well, one reason could be that you're pumping the wand instead of swirling it. I know, I'm guilty of this too! Pumping the wand introduces more air into the tube, which dries out the mascara pretty quickly. But there are ways to revive your dried up mascara. Put the tube inside a mug of hot water, and leave it in for a few minutes. The heat will soften the dried mascara and give you smooth application again.

"Apple cider vinegar rinses help restore the pH on your scalp and remove build up left behind by shampoos, conditioners and other hair products," NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Fran E. Cook-Bolden, MD, told Essence. 

To make an apple cider vinegar rinse, choose an organic, raw, unfiltered brand of ACV. Mix some raw ACV with water, using a 1-3 ratio (for each cup of ACV, add 3 cups of water). After shampooing and rinsing your hair, pour the ACV rinse on your hair and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly. This ACV rinse should act as a conditioner. However, if you want to, you can apply some conditioner to the ends and then rinsing thoroughly.

That beautiful red, orange or pink lipstick you love so much can now become your favorite cream blush! Simply swipe a few small lines or dots across your cheeks and blend with your fingers.

Turn your broken pressed makeup into cream makeup by mixing it with some organic coconut oil or your favorite face oil! Take the broken pieces of makeup, place them in a small container, and crush until it become a fine powder. Then, mix it well with some organic coconut oil until forming a soft, creamy paste.

Find more ideas on how to fix broken makeup on Refinery29.

Another effective hack to revive your dried mascara is by addig a couple of drops of contact solution or eye drops.

And I don't mean by drinking a cup of coffee (although that might help to wake you up), but by applying ground coffee under your eyes. Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants and, because of the caffeine found in it, when applied to the skin it improves blood flow, which improves the appearance of under-eye dark circles and wrinkles. 

Mix 1 tsp ground coffee with 1 tsp of either vitamin E or K oil. Apply under your eyes and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Once you rinse this off, you will notice that the skin under your eyes look brighter and smoother.

Walking around with greasy hair is not pretty. So, to get rid of excess oil in your hair in-between wash days, sprinkle a little baby powder on your roots and rub it through your hair shaft until it's all blended. Just make sure you blend it very well, so you don't end up with some white powder spots.

Want a quick and natural way to plump your lips? Place a couple of drops of organic peppermint oil into your favorite lip gloss. Mix well by pumping and swirling the wand, and apply!

Get that natural, no-makeup look that is so in right now by creating your very own lightweight tinted moisturizer. Simply add some drops of liquid foundation to your facial moisturizer and apply all over your face. You will look effortlessly flawless in 1, 2, 3.

If you ever find yourself needing to shave and realize there's no more shaving cream, don't panic and grab some hair conditioner. The same way that it hydrates and softens your hair and scalp, conditioner will provide a slick surface on your skin and will soften your body hair. And the best part is that you don't even need to get an expensive hair conditioner. Any inexpensive brand will do. I swear by this hack and I honestly do not remember the last time I bought shaving cream.

If this photo looks puzzling to you, you are not alone. When I try to do this type of contouring, I end up looking like a crazy clown. Let's face it. You aren't a celebrity makeup artist. There's no need to contour your entire face with several color palettes. Instead, go with one shade that's slightly darker than your natural skin tone. Make a number 3-shaped sweep starting at the top of your eyebrow, going down your eye crease and circling the apples of your cheeks.

Sea salt works wonders in defining curly hair. But I find that some sprays weigh my curls down or dry them out. So, I have been using this DIY sea salt spray, courtesy of NaturallyCurly.com. 

In a plastic spray bottle, add 75 ml filtered or distilled water, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, a couple drops of the essential oils of your choice (such as lavender or jasmine and 75 ml rosewater. Apply this spray to damp hair for beautiful, tight curls.

I've been doing this for years and find that my face powder works much better than any of the eyeshadow primers I have used. It really helps eyeshadow stay on all day and prevent creasing. Just dab some powder (either pressed or loose) on your eyelids using your fingers or a small brush before applying your eyeshadow.

Tea tree oil is my go-to natural acne spot treatment. It dries pimples really fast, without leaving a scar.

"Tea tree has antibacterial properties that can help reduce acne flares when used on specific lesions," dermatologist Carlos A. Charles, MD, told WellAndGood.com. "Apply a dab of Tea Tree Oil as a spot treatment in the morning after cleansing, and be careful when using as it can cause irritation on [sensitive] skin types.]"

Olive oil contains vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant that's excellent for the skin. So, besides helping remove all of your eye makeup without irritating the skin around your eyes, olive oil will also help hydrate that area and smooth under-eye wrinkles, according to New York dermatologist Dr. Doris Day.

Just dip your eyeliner brush into your tube of mascara and apply as regular liquid eyeliner.

To avoid a melty lipstick, store your favorite shades in the refrigerator. It will also increase their lifespan.

Here's yet another hack using your mascara! Cover your gray roots in-between hair coloring appointments using a black or brown mascara, depending on your hair color. Just be really careful not to get any mascara on your scalp, and if you do, clean it with a tissue, wipe or cotton ball.

If you ever run out of eyebrow gel or simply don't feel like spending the extra $20 buying one, you can just use some lip balm. Apply a little bit of lip balm on your eyebrows with a finger and then comb the hairs with a brow brush.

Create a really delicious DIY lip stain by simply dampening your finger and pressing it in some Kool-Aid powder. Then, rub your finger over your lips and finish up by smoothing out any clumps with a wet Q-tip.