Shockingly easy beauty solutions

Cakey Foundation

FIX: To repair dry foundation, apply a dab of light lotion to the back of your hand; tap a finger into the moisturizer and dab it over dry areas to smooth.

PREVENT: Coat your face with makeup primer before putting on your foundation. "It creates an invisible barrier that makeup will adhere to more evenly," says makeup artist Mally Roncal. You can also just skip the foundation, Roncal says, and just use concealer on the spots where you need the most coverage (under eyes, along the sides of your nose or over blemishes).

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Oily T-Zone

FIX: In the case of translucent loose powder, the too-much-of-a-good-thing rule definitely doesn't apply. Sweep it on with a large powder brush as needed to absorb oil without affecting the look of your makeup.

PREVENT: "Make sure your moisturizer is oil-free, and use a mattifying primer before applying your makeup," advises Mathew Nigara, makeup artist for NYC New York Color. To decrease slickness overall, do a weekly scrub with oatmeal, which absorbs excess oil. Just add a teaspoon of rolled oats to your daily facial wash.

Chipped Polish

FIX: If your mani gets a chip, dab a bit of polish on the area. Don't try to repaint completely—it will make the lacquer too thick. Once it's dry, reapply a top coat over your nail to seal and even out the color.

PREVENT: Wear gloves while cleaning, type with the pads of your fingers and file nails into rounded edges, says Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, artistic director of OPI. "Pointy nails are more likely to chip since there's less surface area near the tip," she explains.

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Smudged Eyeliner

FIX: In a great mood, but look like you just watched Beaches? With a cotton swab, blot and lift away the smudges and streaks as best you can, says Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. Or embrace it, and use the swab to make a smudgy line along your bottom lashes for a smoky look.

PREVENT: Steer clear of rich moisturizers around your eyes: Emollient ingredients can cause eyeliner to break down and smear. Also, look for gel-based liners, which tend to go on smoother and stay in place, and prep lids with a primer or concealer to help liner adhere better.

Mussed Lipstick

FIX: If your lipstick has migrated, there is an easy solution. Dip one end of a cotton swab in makeup remover, squeeze off any excess, then swipe it over the affected area to remove color. Use the other end to absorb remaining makeup remover. Finish with a dab of concealer to cover up any stray lipstick.

PREVENT: Use clear liner (or one in a shade close to your lipstick) to prevent color from bleeding. And buy matte lipstick, which has fewer slippery moisturizers than creamy ones, so the color is less likely to travel.

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