We Answer The Most-Googled Beauty Questions Of 2019

From ‘how to get rid of stretch marks’ to ‘how to apply false eyelashes’, Google has revealed the most searched for beauty-related terms of 2019. And we have the answers… In no particular order, here’s how to… 

Stretch marks are super common and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having them (embrace your body!), but if you still feel self-conscious about your lines you can minimise their appearance (nothing can get rid of them completely). Stretch marks form when skin is stretched and collagen is moved around. When skin returns to its former state, the collagen remains damaged. The best thing to do is exfoliate (this stimulates collagen production) and apply collagen-boosting serums and moisturisers like Elemis’ Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend. 

Beautyblenders have become a makeup bag essential but learning exactly how to use them requires a few tips. As a rule, soak your beautyblender in water and squeeze it out before putting your foundation onto the sponge and then applying to your face in soft bouncing motions. The water stops the sponge from absorbing liquid makeup and the bouncing action helps to ensure an even and streak-free finish.

Big lips were undoubtedly a defining trend of the decade – call it the Kardashian effect. If you want long-term results, you could try a lip plumping serum like NIOD’s Lip Bio Lipid Concentrate but there are also some pretty simple makeup techniques that you can employ to create the illusion of a fuller pout. Find a lip liner that matches your natural lip colour and line ever so slightly outside of your natural lip line, then fill in your lips with a matching lipstick and add a touch of gloss to the centre. You won’t believe how much difference this makes. 

This one is easy enough. Gather lashes, lash glue, mascara, tweezers and a steady hand, then click here and read our top tips for applying false lashes. Even a newbie will get it right every time.

We’re not surprised this was one of the most googled beauty questions of 2019 – achieving clear skin is no mean feat, and unfortunately, there is no short answer. If your 2020 goal is to get your skin on track, good products and a consistent routine are the safest options. Follow our advice on how to build a skincare routine to suit your skin type, and don’t go off track – it can take months of consistent use to see results from products.

We all experience dandruff from time to time, don’t worry. Grab a helping hand from products specifically designed to look after your scalp (this is a common concern, so there are lots to choose from). An exfoliating scrub like Briogeo Scalp Revival Exfoliating Shampoo will remove flakes and buildup while a soothing serum like Gallinee’s Prebiotic Scalp & Hair Serum will restore balance to prevent dandruff from reoccurring.

We’ve definitely typed this one into Google a few times. Everyone knows at least one person who washes their hair every day, and another who can go up to a week without reaching for the shampoo – so it can be hard to know what’s the right thing to do. According to the pros, less is more. Washing hair too often is drying and damaging, and will strip your hair and scalp of the natural oils they need to stay healthy. As a general rule hair shouldn’t be washed more than 2-3 times a week. Want to get into the habit of washing less often? Use dry shampoo to keep your clean hair going longer.

Our go-to solution involves a balance of exfoliation and hydration. That way you remove the dry skin from your face and prevent it from coming back. Exfoliate with a chemical exfoliant like glycolic or lactic acid, then apply a hyaluronic acid serum (this clever ingredient acts like a magnet to draw moisture into skin), before sealing it all in with a ceramide-rich face cream. Ceramides help to repair and strengthen skin’s moisture barrier to prevent future moisture loss.

There’s a reason this consistently shows up in lists of most-searched for beauty questions. Applying eyeshadow isn’t nearly as easy as Instagram selfies would have you believe, and there are so many different ways to do it, it can be hard to know where to start. The best method depends on what you want to achieve. If that’s a one-wash wonder, use a fluffy blending brush and apply an even layer all over. If you want to dry something more complex, as a rule start by applying lighter colours and layer darker ones on top – our Colour Theory palettes work on this principle and break down which colours to apply in each place. 

Again, there are so many different ways to apply lipstick, dependent on the result you want and the product you’re using. Most of the time, applying straight from the bullet works just fine, but what about when you want your lipstick to last all day? Most MUAs will advise that you start by prepping you lips with a lip scrub and balm, lining them with a lip liner, and then using a lip brush to first trace the outline of your lips and then fill in the centre. To ensure longevity, blot your lips with tissue then reapply a second layer of lipstick.