Secret 1: Use makeup primer for better application and longer wear.

Especially if you have lines and wrinkles, makeup primer is your best friend. It “fills in any fine lines, creating a silky surface for foundation,” writes Jessica Matlin in Allure. Because primer helps to even out the skin’s surface, your makeup will be easier to apply, go on smoother, last longer and look better overall.

Celebrity makeup artists say that primer also helps to fill in acne scars and enlarged pores. Try Peter Thomas Roth UnWrinkle Primer, an oil-free peptide formula that fills in and relaxes wrinkles and pores, creating the perfect surface for your makeup.

Secret 2: Show blackheads no mercy!

No, those little pepper-like specks aren’t dirt. Blackheads are actually pores clogged by oil, which turn black after it oxidizes and hits the air. Don’t try to pick or dig them out with your fingers, as this can cause infection or scarring.

If you already have blackheads, see an esthetician for proper extraction with the right tools. Or, if you must remove them yourself, try special pore strips to lift out blackheads without scarring or causing irritation, suggests Real Simple magazine.

To prevent future blackheads, a scrub with salicylic acid or glycolic acid will help keep your pores clear of oil and dead skin cells. Plus, in Glamour, dermatologist Jessica Wu, M.D., advises using an OTC retinol product every day to boost skin cell regeneration and prevent dead cells from clogging pores. Check out SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0, designed especially for problematic skin, to minimize the look of enlarged pores and blemishes.

Secret 3: Treat skin carefully before and after waxing.

Let body hair grow to between a quarter-inch to a half-inch between waxing. Your hair must be long enough for the wax and strips to grab. Having facial hair waxed? Skip retinol, antibiotics and Accutane for seven days prior to avoid irritation.

To minimize pain, an hour before your appointment, take two ibuprofen, recommends Cindy Barshop, a New York City spa owner, in Allure. Post-wax, opt for a soothing aloe or hydrocortisone product, like Glytone Calming Cream.

Secret 4: Handle hands and nails with care.

We often neglect our hands, which take a lot of abuse from daily tasks and extreme weather. Dry, rough hands can actually add years to your appearance.

Hand model Elisa Sirot advises gently patting hands dry with a towel after washing them – vigorously rubbing them can cause irritation. Apply a rich hand cream, like Jurlique Rose Hand Cream with antioxidant vitamin E and aloe vera, when your hands are still slightly moist. Wear gloves in cold, dry weather to prevent moisture loss and chapping. And always wear gloves when washing the dishes or doing household chores.

Finally, apply “olive oil, vitamin E or soybean oil” on your cuticles daily – the oil will soften them and make them easier to push back, according to Danielle Pergament in Allure. Another trick for the hands – manicurist Elisa Ferri suggests making a paste out of oatmeal and honey. After applying the paste to your hands, rinse off after five minutes.

Secret 5: Don’t pile on foundation and powder.

In an attempt to hide our fine lines and blemishes, we might think the solution is to apply thick layers of makeup. But really, less is more – too much makeup can settle into lines and wrinkles, accentuating them instead of hiding them. Globs of makeup can also clog pores, contributing to further breakouts.

• Dry or mature skin. Renowned makeup artist Bobbi Brown advises applying moisturizer before your foundation. Then, pick a liquid formula with humectants to attract and retain moisture – skip oil-free, matte foundations.
  
• Oily skin. Got shiny, greasy skin? Instead of caking on the powder, reach for blotting papers to remove excess oil and shine, according to makeup artist Kristofer Buckle. Keep Philosophy Supernatural Blotting Papers on hand to keep shine at bay.

And don’t feel like you need to apply foundation or powder to your entire face. Makeup artist Tyrone Taylor puts a dot of foundation in the middle of the forehead, blending it out and down with a foundation brush. This way, problem areas, like the T-zone, are covered without making the rest of the face look overdone.

Secret 6: Balance your makeup.

You can pull off bold lips or dramatic eyes, but not both – this also looks way overdone.

If you’re going to a party, swipe a bright pink lip color on your kisser, according to color expert Kate Smith in Cosmopolitan. But keep your eye makeup soft and natural. To apply the pink lip color, start in the center of your lips, and then apply it towards the corners of your mouth. Try Stila Lip Glaze – Raspberry, a bright pink with glossy shine.

Want to wear bold eye shadow? Makeup artist Michael Marcus says that teal eye shadow looks pretty no matter what your eye color is. Your eyes will really pop with bareMinerals Glimmer Eyeshadow Azure.

Prefer a more subtle but still vibrant look? Try bright teal eye liner along your top and bottom lashes, and then use a soft, neutral-colored eye shadow on your lids. And opt for a natural-colored lipstick or clear gloss to finish off your look.

Secret 7: Zap zits with a visit to the doctor.

For a pimple that suddenly sprouts out of nowhere, you can head to the dermatologist’s office for a cortisone injection to reduce swelling and inflammation in a hurry. Models and celebrities prefer this option when they have an event or a shoot the day of.

Another option? Dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf, M.D., of Mount Sinai Medical Center, advises applying an anti-acne cream containing 2 percent benzoyl peroxide.

Secret 8: Indulge in a mask weekly.

Masks are an important part of your skincare routine because they’re richer, more intense products than your everyday cleansers or moisturizers. Apply your mask after a shower – the heat and steam will open your pores, making it easier to remove dirt, oil and other pore-clogging gunk.

Masks offer up a host of benefits, from deep cleansing to moisturizing to soothing skin and protecting it from environmental damage. The key is to pick a mask with appropriate ingredients for your unique skin type:

• Dry skin. Paul Tchinnis – research and development director at The Max Huber Research Labs – advises applying a mask with sea algae. Esthetician Cerina Silvestro of New York’s Ritz-Carlton Spa suggests a mask with shea butter, silicone, soybean oil, avocado oil or oat-kernel – these ingredients strengthen the skin’s barrier to help it retain moisture. L’Occitane Immortelle Face Cream Mask is rich in shea butter and botanical oils to deliver a mega-dose of moisture.
  
• Oily skin. Makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babian suggests clay-based purifying masks for oily skin. Exuviance Purifying Clay Masque contains kaolin and bentonite clays, plus vitamins A, C and E, to remove dirt and oil.
  
• Sensitive or irritated skin. Particularly in the winter, skin is prone to irritation. In Marie Claire, Portland, Oregon spa owner Marywynn Ryan recommends “weekly at-home calming masks containing soothing ingredients like avocado oil, green tea and calendula.” Matis Reponse Jeunesse Active Hydrating Mask, which contains calendula, moisturizes and calms the skin, leaving your face soft and supple.

Secret 9: Brighten up your eyes by toning down peeper problems.

After a long, sleepless night or too much partying, dull eyes make the rest of your face look tired and worn out. Eyes can be red, bloodshot, puffy or rimmed with dark circles. Using eye drops can make a big difference. They give you a bright-eyed, wide-awake look, especially if you have redness and puffiness from allergies or lack of sleep. But, if you have a history of eye problems, like glaucoma, read the label on eye drops and talk to your doctor first to be sure they’re safe for you to use.

Another trick to make your eyes appear brighter? Line the rim of your eye – around the inner corner – with white eye liner, writes Matlin in Allure.

Secret 10: Keep your makeup brushes clean.

To clean your brushes, use gentle soap or baby shampoo twice monthly, at the very least, recommends Andrea Lavinthal in Cosmopolitan. You might need to clean them more often, depending on how dirty the brushes get and how oily your skin is. Or try a special cleaner designed for makeup brushes.

Cleaning your beauty tools regularly helps to wash off the dirt, bacteria and oil that build up on your brushes. These impurities can be transferred to your skin, causing breakouts or other problems. After washing your brushes, be sure to rinse them well so no soapy residue remains. Then leave them flat to air dry. By keeping your makeup brushes clean, you’ll also help them to stay in better condition and prolong their life, notes Vanessa Craft in More magazine.

Little tips and tricks from beauty pros can have a big impact on your skincare and makeup routines, so use them to your full advantage and look your best!

See more:

10 Healthy Skincare Habits You Might Be Forgetting

How to Banish Blackheads

10 Skincare Secrets from Dermatologists Revealed