Shape Magazine Answers Common Beauty Questions

Shape Magazine's Beauty Director Didi Gluck is in the studio to answer some common beauty questions, including:

1. What's the right way to apply eye shadow?
2. I'm not a teenager anymore, so why am I still breaking out?
3. I'm in capable of drawing an even line with eyeliner. It doesn't matter if I use a pencil or liquid! Any advice?
4. What can I do about the dark splotches on my cheeks?
5. How can I make my manicure last?

For more information, visit www.shape.com.

VIDEO AND ANSWERS AFTER THE JUMP...

1. What's the right way to apply eye shadow?
Answer: Find a light and dark version of the same color; use the first as a "wash" all over your lid and the second as an "accent" in your crease. Play it safe with hues that match and enhance your eye color-or be bold with colors that contrast with your eyes. Apply with a tapered makeup brush.
Recommended Products:
- Neutrogena compacts (for eyes) that are labeled for dummies, $10, drugstores.com in February
- ELF Cosmetics Eye Shadow Brush, $1; eyeslipsface.com

2. I'm not a teenager anymore, so why am I still breaking out?
Answer: Surprisingly, acne affects nearly half of all adult women. If it's flaring up around the time of your period, hormones are likely to blame. To manage hormonal surges, consider going on a birth control pill. Also try cleansing daily with a gentle scrub and applying a topical retinoid at night-both will keep your pores clear and keep breakouts away.
Recommended Products:
- Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser, $8, drugstores.com
- Retin-A Micro, $150, prescription by a doctor
- Tazorac, $120, prescription by a doctor

3. I'm in capable of drawing an even line with eyeliner. It doesn't matter if I use a pencil or liquid! Any advice?
Answer: Try drawing with your pencil or liquid liner angled to the side, rather than using the point, for better control. If you're still having trouble, dab a flat-tip makeup brush onto the tip of the pencil or into liquid. Then simply press the bristles along the base of your lashes for a perfect line every time.
Recommended Products:
- Mac 266 Small Angle Brush, $19, Bloomingdales
- Clinique Brush on Cream Liner, $14.50; Macy's

4. What can I do about the dark splotches on my cheeks?
Answer: Those patches are signs of a skin condition called melasma, which makes your pigment-generating cells overproduce. Melasma is often triggered by sun exposure and changing hormone levels. Try minimizing your sun exposure by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen. To reduce splotchiness, see a dermatologist, who can prescribe a lightening lotion like Tri-Luma Cream, which slows melanin production. A dermatologist may also recommend a trichloroacetic acid or glycolic acid peel or microdermabrasion, to remove the outermost layer of dead, darkened skin cells.
Recommended Products:
- Murad Professional Daily Moisture Charge SPF 30, $100; murad.com or 2020skincare.com

5. How can I make my manicure last?
Answer: The secret to prolonging the life of your manicure lies in preparation and technique. Before applying polish, clean your nails with a cotton ball soaked in non-acetone remover to ride them of oils. Next, apply a base coat, which gives your polish something to bond to. Then paint on color in two even coats, allowing one to try completely before moving on to the next. Keep in mind that darker shades require more time. Finally, brush on a topcoat.
Recommended Products:
- Nicole by Opi Base Coat Plus, $8, amazon.com
- Revlon Nail Enamel in Bewitching Bordeaux, $5, drugstores.com
- Rescue Beauty Lounge Top Coat, $18, treatment system $48, rescuebeauty.com