Beauty
17 Genius Uses for Q-Tips You’ll Want to Use All the Time
You know you’re not supposed to use cotton swabs to clean inside your ears (right?), so here are more uses for that bathroom staple.
For better skin
Creams like acne treatment and wart medication can be overly drying. Using a Q-Tip to apply them will keep a light layer over your target, rather than rubbing the product into the surrounding skin, which could cause excessive dryness. (Related: Check out these surefire ways to get rid of acne once and for all.)
For makeup application
No need to redo your eye shadow if you end up with mascara on your eyelids. Wait for the mascara spot to dry so it doesn’t smear further. Then spin a cotton swab clockwise on top of the smudge until it disappears. The mascara will be gone, but your eye shadow will stay. Here are other makeup mistakes make you look sloppy.
Lighter travel
Eye shadow tends to fade, but lugging around a full palette for touch-ups can be a hassle. Get portable shadows to tuck in your purse by coating the ends of a cotton swabs with the colors you’ll want. Stow them in plastic baggies, then use them like travel-size eye shadow brushes when you need to add pigment. Check out these other great ways to pack makeup for travel.
Easier chores
Soak a Q-Tip in isopropyl alcohol, then rub it over your computer, phone, and tablet. The tiny shape makes it especially easy to navigate between the keys on your keyboard. Wipe down the battery contact inside too—built-up dirt could keep your phone or laptop from holding a charge, killing its battery life.
Look more alert
Dampen a cotton swab with water, or dab it in eye cream, and put in a freezer bag. Leave in the freezer overnight, then roll it under your eyes to reduce swelling under your eyes.
Prettier makeup
To keep the color from smearing out beyond your lips, dip a cotton swab in translucent powder. Outline your mouth with the Q-Tip to create a barrier that will seal in your color. Here are makeup artists’ tips for your beauty routine.
Light a candle
When the wick is getting short, use a cotton swab to reach down to your candle safely. Dip the tip in alcohol to light it on fire, then hold it over the wick to get it to glow. Drop the used swab into a glass of water to extinguish it.
Easier cleaning
Built-up lint in the back of your hair dryer could be blocking the airflow, making your hair tool less effective and even become a fire hazard. Bring it back to its original condition by cleaning out the filter. Use a cotton swab to dig out all the lint that’s stuck inside. (Related: Don’t miss these clever uses for your hair dryer.)
Prettier skin
Face makeup has a tendency to dig in to fine lines, making them even more prominent. Get rid of any cakeiness by applying a bit of moisturizer to the end of a cotton swab, then rubbing it over your foundation to blend. Don’t miss these other makeup mistakes that age your face.
Thwart a wardrobe malfunction
If you’re tugging at a stubborn zipper with no progress, a bit of lubrication could help it pull through. Dip a cotton swab in shampoo, oil, or lip balm and smooth it over the zipper to unstick the jam. Check out these other brilliant tricks for fixing wardrobe malfunctions.
Do art projects
Polka dots seem simple, but that nice round shape is deceptively hard to make with your typical paintbrush. Dip a Q-Tip into the paint of your choice, then poke it against the surface you’re painting for a simple way to create a dotted pattern. (Related: Here’s what your polka dot obsession and more things about your house say about you.)
Apply eye makeup like a pro
Create a bold, sultry eye look with the help of a Q-Tip. Line your whole eye with kohl eyeliner, then use a cotton swab to smudge the color, creating an effortless smoky eye.
Perfect your eyebrows
In place of eyebrow gel, glide petroleum jelly over your brows toward your ears using a Q-Tip. The product will keep unruly hairs in place.
Smell better
You probably don’t want to lug around a bulky bottle of perfume in your bag, but you can still freshen up your scent when it starts to fade. Soak the ends of cotton swabs with your fragrance, then stash them in a zip-top bag to lock in the scent. Pull out a cotton swab and run it over your wrists, neck, or behind your ears to reapply your perfume as needed. Here are other tricks to make your perfume last longer.
Avoid the hair salon
Cover up grown-out roots when you don’t have time to get to the salon. Dip a Q-Tip in an eye shadow that matches your hair color, then dab it over the spots where your natural color is peeking through.
Teach painting
A toddler might be too small for a full-sized paintbrush, but your kid can use a cotton swab instead. The Q-Tip is a good size for small hands during arts and crafts.
Relax anywhere
Saturate a cotton swab with essential oil to have aromatherapy on hand anywhere you go. Lavender can help you relax on a plane ride, while peppermint could help perk you up at work.
Sources: Sources: cosmopolitan.com, onegoodthingbyjillee.com, realsimple.com, dailymail.co.uk, themommy-files.com