Beauty shack

“If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.
—Audrey Hepburn

Weekend Beauty Hack: 9 Tricks for Perfect Eyebrows

1. Lighting is everything.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that bad bathroom lighting is the natural enemy of amazing brows. Shaping your eyebrows under the influence of fluorescents is just begging for a bald spot. You should only ever tweeze your brows in natural light. Not only will you be able to see stray hairs you’d never notice otherwise, but you’ll have a more accurate idea of how your eyebrows are actually looking as you’re shaping them. No more post-plucking surprises!

Pro tip: For those of you who drive, keep a pair of tweezers in your car to take advantage of all that natural light streaming through your windshield and the well-positioned flip-down mirror. Just make sure to never tweeze stray brows while the car is moving, and take off your sunglasses before you shape. Trust us.

2. Avoid crazy magnification.

Stay away from those insane magnification mirrors. We mean it—avoid them like the damn plague. They may seem like a good idea, but when you’re staring at your face blown up to three times its normal size, you’re way more likely to get obsessive and over-pluck. For optimal shaping success, use a regular mirror that’s about the same size as your face and don’t spend all your time staring super-closely at your brows. Take frequent steps back—we’re talking at least a foot—to get the full effect of your grooming efforts. Eyebrows look different at a distance, and that’s how most of the world is going to see you, so don’t forget to check that angle out.

3. Let eyeshadow be your guide.

Instead of using white eyeliner to mark out where you’ll be tweezing, use damp white eyeshadow instead. Eyeliner is waxy and pushes down brow hairs onto the skin, which makes rogue hairs easy to miss. Damp white eyeshadow, on the other hand, adheres to the hair, making even fine brows stand up a little so that they’re easier to see.

Pro tip: Use a small brush and apply the damp eyeshadow against the hair’s grain to make sure that they’re really visible.

4. The ultimate brow-trimming tool.

We all know that keeping your brow hairs at a uniform length is crucial. And the best way to do this? Nose hair–trimming scissors, like these from Tweezerman ($12.50, drugstore.com). No, we’re not crazy—the rounded tip means that you can guide them along your skin without poking yourself, and the super-sharp blades are inside so there’s no danger of accidental cuts. Amazing.

Pro tip: To trim your eyebrows without ending up with unfortunate bald spots, brush your eyebrows straight up with a dry toothbrush or spoolie brush, then trim along the upper arch. And this goes without saying, but do clean your scissors with rubbing alcohol after each use, especially if you’re using them in, ahem, other places.

5. Symmetry is overrated.

Don’t stress if your brows don’t match one another exactly. Eyebrows are meant to be sisters, not twins—so a little bit of variation in the width, arch and length is totally normal. Trying to force your eyebrows into perfect symmetry is a recipe for overplucking, or worse, Instagram brows. Don’t let it happen to you!

6. Master the brow fade.

When filling your brows—whether you use a pencil, pomade or gel—don’t make them a single, consistent shade from end to end. As you can see above, eyebrows in their natural state are lighter at the inner corner (where the hairs are thinner) and get darker towards the “tail” end; mirror this with your makeup to avoid a harsh look. You can either apply less product at the inner corner, getting more intense the further out you go, or use two shades—a light color for the inside, and a darker shade for further out—that you blend into one another.

7. Be creative with products.

Looking for a great way to fill in or tint your brows? You probably already have an amazing eyebrow product in your makeup case! Use a dark brown mascara for a subtle brow tint with a little bit of hold, or mix contact lens solution with a matte eyeshadow for more dramatic, long-lasting definition. And if you’re looking to hide bare patches caused by overplucking, use a liquid eyeliner in brown or gray, and draw very small, feathery strokes to fill them in. We love LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liquid Liner in Charcoal or Brown ($23, ulta.com) for this; the fine tip makes the end result look incredibly natural.

8. Choose the right shade.

The right color can make or break your brow game. You never want to match your hair exactly. Instead, the general rule of thumb is that if your hair is light, you should make your brows one shade darker. If your hair is dark, go one shade lighter. If your hair is red, use a light to medium neutral brown. And if your hair is black, try using a very dark gray or brown instead of jet black.

9. Stay cool.

While we’re on that subject, you should always choose a cool-toned shade for your eyebrows. Thanks to the oxidizing effects of your skin’s natural oils, eyebrow makeup will almost always become a slightly warmer color over time—and if you start from a red, orange or yellow-based place, your brows will be blazing by the end of the day.

15 Quick, Life-Changing Self-Care Hacks That Don't Cost You Anything

Here are 15 quick, life-changing, and cheap habits experts say you should try to incorporate into your life to take better care of yourself.

1. Walking
Exercising is a form of a self-care, but sometimes working out isn't seen as the most enjoyable, stress-free activity. However, walking can calm the brain without taxing the body, and it's easy to fit in no matter how busy you are. Walking is free, it can feel meditative, and it can boost your mood, both in the moment and long-term, according to multiple sources.

2. Stretching
Try stretching before bed to relax, repair, and rejuvenate the body. "Mobility work is excellent for recovery and injury prevention, plus it can help boost sleep," health and fitness coach Josiah Novak tells Bustle.

3. Reading A Book
"When was the last time you lost yourself in a good book? Take 15 minutes before bed to read a chapter out of your favorite book," health and lifestyle strategist Misty Shaheen tells Bustle. Library cards are generally free, which means you have plenty of material at your disposal. Reading can benefit your mental health by reducing stress, making you more empathetic, strengthening your brain, and even helping you sleep better, according to multiple studies.

4. Organizing Your Space
It might seem like an annoying task, but once you organize aspects of your life, it's usually followed by serenity and a feeling of relief. "Clearing up old emails, old notes, and straightening up your work area will clear your head and boost productivity," says Shaheen. "Take 15 minutes at the end of each work week, before you leave for the weekend. This is even more important if you work from home."

5. Dancing
You don't have to be a hip-hop master to break out some moves and let loose. Whether you're alone in your room or hanging out with friends, put on some music and bust out. Beyond just getting in some physical activity, dancing helps to decrease anxiety, increase self-esteem, and improve our psychological wellbeing, according to research from the journal PLoS One.

6. Sipping A Hot Beverage
Enjoy that cup of coffee or tea and take a moment for yourself — or better yet, for the cheapest option, sip on cup of hot water. "Without paying a dime, you can experience many positive benefits from drinking hot water, such as decreased anxiety and improved digestion," wedding Doula Elizabeth Su tells Bustle. "It’s the easiest and cheapest trick in the book."

7. Spending A Few Extra Moments In Bed
"Instead of grabbing your phone first thing (which definitely can start your day off with stress), take a few moments while you're still in bed to see how you're feeling," Suzanne Brown of Mompowerment tells Bustle. "Acknowledge how you feel, and make any necessary adjustments. It can also help you be more intentional with your day. It can make a difference with how you deal with those in your household and on your team at work."

8. Practicing Positive Self-Talk
It's easy to get caught up in a cycle of negative thoughts, but this leaves us feeling defeated. "Oftentimes, we're not even aware of our negative self-talk and its effect on our behaviors," nutritionist and lifestyle coach Lindsey Joe, RDN, LDN tells Bustle. "Negative thoughts can become habitual, and the only way to stop them is to come back at them with positive thoughts." If you don't know where to start, begin by writing down things you like about yourself or come up with motivating statements encouraging you to take on your goals. Then try repeating those statements every morning to lift your mood.

9. Writing Down Your To-Do's Before Bed
Before you go to bed, write down your schedule, to-do's, or goals for the following day. This is another task that might seem like a pain at first, but the results are worth it. "One major benefit is that once you write it down, it goes out of your head and onto the paper, allowing you to sleep like a baby and not worry or dwell on what you have to do tomorrow," personal development coach Casey Moran tells Bustle.

10. Practicing Gratitude
Focusing on what you are grateful for might seem simple, but many studies show it can have a big impact. Regularly expressing gratitude is linked with better physical and psychological health, improved relationships, and even better sleep. "I recommend keeping a weekly journal that you write in once or twice a week," life coach Zakiyya Rosebelle tells Bustle. "You can also write it in at random times when you experience a feeling of joy or gratitude for something that occurs. It can be something as simple as 'I am grateful for waking up another day to enjoy the wonders of this world' to something more intricate like 'I am grateful for the quality time I spent with my family watching the new Disney movie.'"

11. Sitting Outside
Sit outside and bask in nature. "In Japan they call this Shinrin Yoku, or 'Forest Bathing,' and there's a growing body of evidence that this practice can help reduce stress, lift your mood, and boost immunity," holistic health coach Katerina Pozzi Baratta, LAc, MSOM tells Bustle.

12. Drinking More Water
Sure, there are plenty of fancy herbs and natural foods that can boost your energy, and improve your wellbeing, but there's an alternative to these products that won't cost you a penny: water. Even just mild dehydration can cause fatigue, issues focusing, and irritability, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, so load up on that water to feel better all around.

13. Meditating
Meditation seems to a buzzword recently, and for good reason. It can not only reduce stress with issues such as anxiety and depression — but it can also help manage physical conditions such as chronic pain, headaches, and even sleep issues, according to Mayo Clinic. "One free way to learn mindfulness is to simply type "Mindful Meditation" into YouTube, and you'll be flooded with videos," yoga health coach Elise Marie Collins tells Bustle. "I recommend starting with short breathing exercises or guided visualizations and working your way up to longer meditations."

14. Repeating Positive Self-Talk In The Mirror
Get in the habit of thinking positive thoughts, and repeating uplifting phrases when you look at yourself in the mirror. "Train your eyes to focus on your [favorite] features, your goodness, and your talent," says Rosebelle. "Instead of bringing yourself down with thoughts and worries about how others will judge you, shift your attention to all of the wonderful things about yourself."

15. Journaling
Writing down your thoughts can do wonders for your wellbeing. Multiple studies show that journaling can help you cope with negative feelings, reduce stress, improve your relationships with others, and even boost your immune system.