Quick Fixes

by Valerie Gladstone — February 18, 2008

Sometimes there's no time to deal with an embarrassing physical problem. That's when it's invaluable to know a few quick fixes. And even if you don't need to make use of them, you can pass on the information to your friends.

Breakouts

What you need: Thick concealer (the kind in a pot or compact) that matches your skin and has yellow undertones to counteract redness; sheer loose powder; small brush with a straight, firm tip (slightly larger than an eyeliner brush).

What you do: Before you begin, accept your limits. You can only camouflage the redness of a pimple; try to disguise the bump itself, and you'll end up with a mound of noticeable concealer. Use a brush to dot the concealer directly on top of the blemish, then dip a small puff or another brush in translucent powder and pat it over the spot to set the concealer and leave a smooth finish.

Leg Veins

What you need: Self-tanner or body bronzer; body concealer; sheer loose powder.

What you do: If the squiggles are relatively light, a coat of self-tanner will be enough to camouflage them. (For a slow--and streak-proof--buildup, try Vaseline Intensive Care Healthy Body Glow Lotion.) A leg bronzer will also mask veins or broken capillaries--and wash off at the end of the day. When you want more serious coverage, blend a concealer on top of veins, painting the makeup on with a brush, and then distributing it evenly with your fingers. Choose something pretty heavy like Dermablend Leg & Body Cover Créme. A few pats of translucent powder will set the color, but you'll still want to avoid water at all costs.

Sparse Brows

What you need: Pencil (one shade lighter than your brows); powder (that matches your brows); small angled brush.

What you do: Overzealous plucking or age can leave brows patchy. Even after you've put away your tweezers, it can take anywhere from 3 months to a couple of years for brows to grow back. In the meantime, fill in only bare spots -- never the whole brow -- with a pencil. If the pencil is too waxy, it will leave a heavy line, so look for one with a drier texture and always use short, feathery strokes. Once the holes are filled, take a brow powder to fill in the length of the arch, again, with short strokes. The powder will adhere more to the penciled-in areas and help bulk them up a bit, while blending in with the rest of the brow.

A Bad Haircut

What you need: Headband; hot rollers or curling iron; patience.

What you do: Nothing makes hair grow faster. Your only recourse after an unfortunate cut is to wait for it to grow out (at a rate of about an eighth to a half inch every month). Until then, experiment with new textures. Use hot rollers or a large barrel curling iron to create waves. If the problem is heavy bangs or harsh layers around the face, invest in a few headbands.

Cellulite

What you need: Self-tanner; self-tanner; more self-tanner.

What you do: Bronzed dimpled thighs are less conspicuous than pasty white ones. Use a self-tanner and for an added slimming effect, make the outer and inner thighs a bit darker. Coat them with self-tanner first, let it dry for about 15 minutes, and then go over the whole leg. You can finish with a layer of shimmer cream, which can help blur bumps and lumps.