What is that old saying, “necessity is the mother of invention”? I’d like to put a twist on this and put forth that “a broken nail is the mother of a beauty hack.” Being stuck at home here the past year, I’ve come to rely on some out-of-the-box DIY beauty hacks from nails, to makeup, to pore strips. Here are a few tried, tested, and some others just attempted at-home beauty hacks.

The hack that started it all, the tea bag nail trick! For a broken or weak nail or two, take the fabric from an unused tea bag, trim it into a nail shape, and place it over the broken area of your nail bed. Paint on a clear coat of nail polish; once hardened, file down and apply your tinted polish with no one the wiser. Once you’ve painted all your nails, soak your hand in ice water for a faster dry time.

Breaks aren’t limited to nails. Eyeliners and lip liner can often fall victim to breakage, and even worse melting, especially with the warmer weather. For a quick and easy repair, pop your pencils into the freezer for 15 minutes or so once you notice them crumbling. If you wanted to be proactive, store your pencils in the fridge, this will keep them from breaking when you sharpen them. After chilling out, your makeup will be almost as good as new and save you the pain of having to find and re-buy your favorite shades.

Speaking of shades, a great color shouldn’t be limited to one type of makeup. Many times, lipsticks can do double-duty for both the perfect pout and a ruddy cheek. Instead of buying a brand-new cream, powder, or liquid blush, just go ahead and use your favorite pink lipstick. Simply rub some onto your fingertips and dab across the apples of your cheeks for a natural flush. You CAN use red lipstick, but a little goes a long, so apply with caution.

Another great and unexpected hack is using a glue stick on your eyebrows. If you’re low on eyebrow wax or gel, grab that art class staple from elementary school to tame and shape your brows. Swiping a white or clear glue stick will comb out your brows and keep them from getting wispy throughout the day.

If you’re truly in dire straits, another glue-tastic solution for DIY beauty conundrums is using craft glue as a pore strip. Obviously, I’m not recommending you do this often, but sometimes if you’re in a pinch, this hack will get the job done. So, if you find yourself out of pore strips or just beyond the pale in blackheads, let a thin layer of Elmer’s dry on your nose, then peel off.

Baking soda is another everyday product that has beauty-related applications. If you’re running low on shampoo or want a natural cleansing remedy, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with water to form a paste. Rub that into your scalp and split ends, then rinse, lather, and repeat. Baking soda is also ideal for whitening your teeth. Again, mix a tablespoon with water to form a paste, apply to your toothbrush, and brush as usual.

Once your hair is washed and your teeth are clean, don’t forget to exfoliate your lips.

There are special scrubs out there for this part of your beauty routine; however, a warm washcloth will work just as well. Gently rub a damp cloth over your lips to remove dead skin particles. Nothing kills a lipstick look like dry, flaky lips. So, in addition to a quick scrub, be sure to use Chapstick or Vaseline gel to keep lips moisturized. I also like to use some Vaseline on the tip of my nose and around the nostrils. This helps keep dried flaking skin at bay, especially during the colder months.

Lastly, I’ve been experimenting with different hair techniques; let’s just say it’s been a long time since my last haircut. With longer hair, I’ve been deploying ponytails, buns, center-parts, and headbands. I’ve found that utilizing a few bobby pins by inserting them halfway inside the elastic tie and facing downward toward the crown of my head keeps my ponytail looking fuller and less droopy.
For center parts, try dusting eyeshadow along your part to slightly shade the scalp for thicker appearing hair.

A good beauty hack can really refresh and renew your beauty routine. And if that hack comes with a minimal-to-no cost, all the better!