The Beauty Spy: fast beauty fixes

Handle beauty crises with these great tips and products.

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You won't see her, but she's there, in the salons, spas and shops, and she's happy to share her secrets on fast beauty fixes.

There are some things that every woman should know: how to change a tyre, how to change a man and how to change your hair colour without going to a salon. The tyre part can be mastered. The man part is simple: tell him what you want him to do, reward him when he does it, ignore him when he doesn't. The hair part is more tricky and the know-how even more valuable to avoid or correct beauty disasters.

Fate is a cunning beast and we all know that beauty crises happen at the most inconvenient times: when running late, on your way to a wedding, a job interview or a date, and you simply don't have the time to battle with chipped nail polish or smudged eyeliner. But when doing your make-up in quick time or on the hoof, making a beauty "oops" is often guaranteed and inescapable. My advice is to always have some emergency survival products on hand for when things go pear-shaped. Plus, there are plenty of tricks you can use to avoid having to redo your whole regime.

Smeared mascara has never been a good look - not even for Marilyn Manson. But if a sudden jolt sends your favourite black goop all over your carefully created smoky eye, don't panic. Firstly, try to wait out the storm for at least a minute. Rushing to grab a cotton bud and dabbing it off immediately will remove the excess mascara but also the rest of your eye make-up, setting you back even further. Wait for the culprit to dry and then gently dab some foundation on the area and swipe away. Runny mascara could also be from your eye cream or moisturiser, so here's a tip: apply translucent powder underneath your lashes before applying mascara.

Over- or under-doing your blusher can ruin its performance. As a rule, if you can see the colour's edges, you've applied too much. The solution is all in the blending. Grab a big brush, a make-up sponge or a rolled-up tissue and in large circular motions, blend the blush into the skin. Failing that, try adding a little liquid foundation to your skin to downplay the colour.

Smudging your mani/pedi on the way out the door must be up there with one of life's biggest annoyances. If you have nail polish remover handy, use your fingertip to apply a tiny amount over the smudged area to smooth out the colour. Quickies Nail Varnish Remover Pads should be a handbag staple.

Other essential items for fast beauty fixes include blotting tissues (to soak up oily skin), concealer (hides blemishes and under-eye circles) and Vaseline (tames stray eyebrows and smoothes cuticles). Failing that, the easy way to treat a beauty crises is with smoke and mirrors, or at least a sense of humour and paper bag.

3 of the best

Unclog your pores and get your skin deep-down clean with these hot cloth cleansers

LIZ EARLE CLEANSE & POLISH HOT CLOTH CLEANSER, DH84 Award-winning for a reason. This gentle cleanser with a rich, creamy texture works on every age and skin type. Ideal for dull skin that needs a lift.

EVE LOM CLEANSER & MUSLIN, DH399 Fans swear that when you try Eve Lom's signature product, you'll never go back. A thick balm that shifts everything without drying. Use before bed and your skin will look better in the morning.

SOAP & GLORY THE FAB PORE HOT CLOTH CLEANSER, DH112 Containing sweet almond, orange and lavender oils, this cleans, smoothes and melts away make-up. It comes with its own muslin cloth too.

M loves

AN EASY FIX At first, this looks more like a jar of traditional, tinted cold cream than a foundation. But looks can be deceptive. Rich in shea butter and evening primrose oil, the Bobbi Brown potion sinks into parched complexions beautifully. It moisturises and firms the skin while giving a sheer, natural, dewy finish. What's not to love about a product that ticks off two skincare steps in one?

Bobbi Brown Repair Foundation SPF25, Dh292, available at Bobbi Brown counters across the UAE