Five Reddit beauty hacks that’ll change the way you use everyday products

Doctor hopping (a tenth opinion never hurt), self-intervention (read: Self-medication), a WhatsApp support group titled ‘Been There, Done That’... as a former beauty editor, there’s not much I haven’t tried when it comes to my skin, hair, body and beyond.

More recently in my beauty hack exploration journey, I landed on Reddit. Safe to say, it did not disappoint. Toothpaste—or spit—on your zit was perhaps the most benign advice on offering, and while I haven’t gotten the chance to test-drive each and every one, I certainly plan to. I’ll try, regret, and maybe try again. But it’s the “why didn’t I think of that?” epiphany I’m living for. After spending the wee hours on the platform, here’s a beauty hack cheat sheet I’ve saved for later. No more gatekeeping. (Disclaimer: At your own risk!).

Hey there, all-rounder

Turns out good ol’ petroleum jelly can fix... uh, just about everything? From taming flyaways to extending the life of your fragrance (dab along your pulse points), it’s indisputably the OG. It also doubles as an eyeshadow primer, highlighter, to bulk your brows, or to wipe off stubborn makeup. Take it from Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist, Mario Dedivanovic, who told a leading celeb publication: “I pat it (petroleum jelly) right along the cheekbones, which gives you the most alluring, gorgeous glow.”

Clump check

I’ve been wearing contact lenses since I was ten, but I was today years old when I learnt that the “solution” to clumpy mascara had been collecting dust in my drawer all along. Reddit rumour has it that pouring saline solution sparingly into your mascara tube could dissolve all clumps. “Just a few drops in your dried-out, clumpy mascara and it’s as good as new! This trick has saved me so much $,” a Redditor revealed.

Bedhead fix

Turns out, we’ve been doing it all wrong. Dry shampoo used the night before effectively soaks up excess oils, leaves little to no white residue, and lends just the right bounce. A Redditor says, “I give my hair a quick spray and brush through. When I wake up and run my fingers along (my hair), it feels fresh and bouncy.” So before you hit the hay, remember to spritz.

Grease control

Desperate times call for desperate measures—and you are, indeed, desperate if you’re having to use a toilet seat cover as blotting paper. Tried and tested by dozens of Redditors, it’s a hack they swear by when on the move. One said, “I just rip some off from the dispenser while I’m on the toilet and dab it on my oily spots. It works perfectly.”

Blow set

Redditors have another beauty hack up their sleeves that will “blow” your mind. “Sometimes I blow-dry my face in the medium setting after doing my makeup... it ends up looking super natural,” one confesses. All you’ve got to do is put your dryer on cool and blow from a distance to speed up setting time. 

Lead image: Shutterstock 

This article first appeared in Cosmopolitan India's September- October 2025 print edition.

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