Beauty crisis, what beauty crisis?

Panda eyes, cakey concealer, (gasp) clumpy mascara – these aren’t the kind of red carpet claims a lady wants to be making in the week that brings us the Oscars (not to mention the glamorous Glosscars).

Thankfully, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way through mingling with those in the know. So read them, memorise them and never be a damsel in distress again.

Clumpy mascara

Euch, the thought. Sadly it’s an all too common phenomenon with all these fabulous thickening mascaras on offer to us gals. Bobbi Brown’s trick? “Wipe the wand before use; following application, the lashes can be separated with a lash comb.” You can pick up more handy hints from Bobbi in her new book, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual. Word on the street for ladies with time on their hands is leaving your wand to dry for 60 seconds before coating lashes – wet formula is the source of clumps according to some. And the most important tip from experts Nicola and Yolanda? Change your mascara every three months. No exceptions.We’re lovin’ Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (pictured), pop it on your shopping list for March.

Coldsore carnage

They happen to the best of us (just be grateful you don’t have to be papped à la Katie Holmes) but the fastest way we’ve found to dry out a coldsore is with an acetone-based polish remover and a cotton bud. Strange? Yes. Painful? We’re not going to lie. Yes. But it works. (Try at your own risk.) Tools: Sally Hansen Acetone Nail Polish Remover – Strengthening For Weak, Thin Nails and Swisspers Cotton Tips.

Panda eyes

Ever since Breakfast at Tiffany’s started (and Four Weddings and a Funeral and Spiderman followed) we’ve been suckers for a bit of romance in the rain. Our ol’ winged eyes aren’t sharing the love though. If you’re more panda eye than pretty peepers simply pop a small dollop of cleanser or moisturiser on your cotton tip (surely the most handy tool of all time) and sweep under lashes. Alternatively steer clear of wax-based formulas. These are more likely to ‘run for the hills’ whereas a powder-based formula or eyeshadow won’t. Bh recommends: MAC Eye Shadow in Black Tied. 

Cakey concealer

The only thing worse than having bags and / or under-eye circles is poor concealer application that merely serves to highlight said bags and / or under-eye circles that you thought you were being oh so smart and concealing. A tinsy blob (the size of a sweetcorn kernel) of eye cream will help to redistribute the cake-fest. Try: Clinique All About Eyes.

Smudged polish

It’s true, people really do judge you by your shoes. And the same rules (no scuffs or horror of horrors, bits hanging off) apply to your nails. So if you need some quick-fix tricks for your tips, follow Karon McKendrick-Taylor, O.P.I.’s Director of Education’s advice: the lick test –  if you’ve just right-this-second smudged your nails, try using a licked-moist finger to smooth over the smudged nail. Alternatively use the rouge effect – dot some nail varnish remover on the tip of an un-smudged finger and gently smooth over the tarnished nail using minimal pressure, just like you’re applying rouge. Also, Danielle Barr from CND Creative Nail Design recommends a cuticle oil, it’ll work wonders at preventing more smudges as the oil acts as a protective barrier. Nifty. We use: CND Creative Nail Design Solar Family SolarOil.