Pimples happen. Roots happen. Tired eyes happen. That’s life! But on those days when you’re not feeling your freshest, you can still look like your fabulous self.
A beauty emergency kit is something we all need, a toolbox of magical little products to have on hand when the need arises. We’re talking elixirs to brighten your eyes, clear up skin discoloration, calm inflammation, promote hydration, and more. Read on for our picks of seven emergency beauty essentials to always have in stock.
1. Vitamin K Serum
If you have rosacea or sensitive skin that’s prone to redness a serum formulated with vitamin K is a must because it instantly quells inflammation and irritation. It’s also perfect for use pre- and post-injectables because it helps prevent and resolve up any bruising.
BUY: Revision Vitamin K Serum, $59, amazon.ca
2. Colour Correcting Palette
This invaluable little colour wheel can conceal anything, from dark under eye circles, bruising from injectables, red acne patches and post-breakout discoloration. Stacked with five corrector shades that neutralize and conceal imperfections, this iconic Canadian beauty must is something you’ll find in the kit of countless makeup pros.
BUY: Lise Watier Portfolio Professional Correctors, $45, watier.com
3. Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline is the OG and has been going strong for over 150 with good reason years (read The Story Of: Vaseline here). This beauty hero is a loved for its healing properties and is a soothing cure-all for so many issues including severely dry, cracked skin, chapped lips, sunburn, irritated skin, and minor cuts. It’s also a gentle makeup remover and can improve the appearance of new scars by easing redness.
BUY: Vaseline, $8, shoppersdrugmart.ca
4. Pimple Patches
We’re always told to never pop a pimple, but it’s *so hard* not to pick and prod when one blows up and is angrily staring back at you in the mirror. Pimple patches painlessly and effectively solve the problem. When you stick a hydrocolloid pimple patch on top of your zit, it forms an air-tight seal around it and over the course of a few hours, draws out all the gunk leaving you with a deflated red spot where the eruption once was which will resolve in a few days.
BUY: Hero Mighty Patch Duo, $13, shoppersdrugmart.ca
5. Brightening Eye Drops
Tired, red eyes are something that hits us all (hello allergies, late nights and insomnia), but restoring sparkle is easy: one drop of this whitening and illuminating formula in each eye will clear things almost in an instant. The secret ingredient? A low dose of brimonidine tartrate, an ingredient that constricts the veins specifically in the eyes and provides redness relief.
BUY: Lumify eye drops, $33, shoppersdrugmart.ca
6. Blue Eyeliner
We know, this sounds pretty niche be a beauty basic, but it truly is a secret weapon. Blue eyeliner is one of the quickest ways to brighten your eyes. Soft shades can make the whites of your eyes appear lighter, while darker, metallic hues add a hit of playfulness and drama, and will make your eye colour pop. Princess Diana loved a smudge of blue eyeliner along her water line which gave her royal everyday look a playful unexpectedness.
BUY: Charlotte Tilbury Rock N’ Khol in Sapphire Nights, $44, charlottetilbury.com
7. Root Cover Up Powder
For those in-between hair times when your roots start to poke through, the easiest and most effective way to deal is with a few deft brush strokes of root cover up powder. This allows for a super precise application and these powders are built to last—colour stays put until your next shampoo and can even withstand a dip in the pool. Dapple powder on dry roots; for richer coverage, take a layered approach to your application technique.
BUY: ColorWow Root Cover Up (available in eight shades), $47, sephora.com
