Fast Fixes for Holiday Beauty Blunders

Here’s the good news: The holidays mean more socializing and not just on screens! The bad? The festivities often collide with unanticipated skin, hair and makeup mishaps. Sometimes you do get a little advance notice, like a botched haircut the day before a party. Other times it’s a last-minute blooper like cake-y makeup or a smudged manicure just as you’re out the door. Perfecting imperfections ASAP is my specialty. As a veteran beauty editor, I’ve picked up the tricks that work like instant Photoshop. Get your looks back on track fast with six DIY tips. If your ...

Left to right: Herbivore Jade De-Puffing Face Roller ($32, sephora.com); Neutrogena Hydro Boost + Caffeine Eye Gel Cream, Fragrance-Free ($16, walmart.com); Olay Regenerist Ultra Rich Hydrating Moisturizer, Fragrance-Free ($42, walgreens.com); Artnaturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($13, target.com)

Sephora; Neutrogena; Walgreens; Target

1. Skin is acting up.

Your face looks dry, lined, puffy and your 10X magnifying mirror is not exactly helping things. This is not the time for heavy spackle. In fact, a soothing 15-minute facial massage right before doing makeup is the secret to reviving a healthy glow and reducing puffiness. All you need is a double-sided jade or rose quartz face roller, your usual face serum (if you use one), your moisturizer and an eye cream. Chill the roller in the freezer or fridge for 15 minutes prior to beginning. Cleanse and blot your skin. Apply and massage each product separately (serum and then moisturizer), using the wide end of the roller for face serum and cream, the small roller for under the eyes. Start the face massage at the jawline and keep rolling in an upwards and outwards movement following facial contours from inner face towards sides. Use light pressure. The silky texture of the products provides “slip” for the roller to slide over your skin. No roller at hand, and you’re puffy and late? Rinse an ice cube briefly under the cold-water faucet and run it gently over your face and under eyes before applying skin care and makeup.

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Clockwise from left: J. Crew Women Oversized Faceted-Crystal Drop Earrings ($40, jcrew.com); Winona Ryder with a layered shag hairstyle; a woman with a bob pulled back into a tail with a sparkly barrette; By Anthropologie Rosette Hair Claw Clip in Grey ($12, anthropologie.com); Garcelle Beauvais wearing a sparkly hairband; Michelle Williams wearing a sparkly barrette with an asymmetrical bob

J.Crew; Theo Wargo/Getty Images; Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images; Anthropologie; Leon Bennett/WireImage; Steve Granitz/WireImage

2. Hair had a disaster cut.

You went in for a trim and you got bangs you never asked for, too many shaggy layers or a bob when you wanted a lob. Don’t panic. This is a poorly timed — but temporary — situation.  Break out the rollers (Velcro, sponge or heated), mousse, statement earrings and hair accessories, and get creative with what you have. Add volume, waves, curls or more texture to instantly blur the shape of any cut and give it charisma (or “rizz” as the kids say). For example, you can turn a flat pixie into an edgy crop by adding lift at the roots and tousling the crown, flick out layers for a piece-ier effect or build them up with rollers for a sexy modern update on Hollywood glam. Use hair accessories to change or control the shape and length — from tortoiseshell clips to elegant jaw clips for pulling hair back or up — and hairbands to make bangs vanish in seconds. Can a mature women wear this? You bet. And what if you’ve just left the salon and have five minutes at home? Put on your biggest and best statement earrings to draw the attention there. Sometimes the worst chops at 5 p.m. become favorites by midnight once the “love your hair” compliments start pouring in.