Q-Tips Get a Hip New Look Plus 10 Handy Uses for this Must-Have Beauty Tool

Jun 26, 2009

Here's a funny bit of trivia: Q-Tips were originally called Baby Gays. Heh. Marketed by a baby accessories company in the 1920s, the company eventually dropped the merry moniker and opted instead for the more descriptive Q-Tips name. Practically an American institution, the product hasn't changed much since it first hit the market. Even the packaging hasn't strayed much from the original. You've got your standard economy pack, vanity pack and the purse pack (perfect for travel). But keep an eye out for a groovy new twist on packaging coming soon to a store near you. The company has introduced new vanity packs in four bright colors and designs pretty enough to plop on your bathroom countertop. In honor of the cute new Q-Tips Vanity Packs, we polled the SpaGirl office for our own tips on how we use this versatile little beauty tool. Here are our 10 ways that we use Q-Tips in our own beauty routines.

1. Cleaning up stray nail polish after a home manicure or pedicure. Just dip the tip into nail polish remover (don't oversaturate) and gently rub away polish.

2. Smudging and softening eyeliner. After lining the upper lids, use a swab to gently smudge the liner to soften thick lines.

3. Swiping away powered eyeshadow flakes. Use a fresh Q-Tip to brush away any stray powder around the eye area.

4. Pressing on false eyelashes. Once you've attached the lash to the lip, use the tip of the swab to press and hold the lash in place until it dries.

5. Removing mascara smears or oopsies. Slightly dampen the tip and dab away any stray mascara.

6. Applying lip gloss. Keep your lip brush from getting gloppy with gloss by using a fresh Q-Tip to apply that final glossy finish.

7. Cleaning around your ears. Saturate the cotton tips with your regular facial toner or witch hazel and gently swipe around the inner curve of the upper lobe and for heaven's sake, clean up behind those ears.

8. Spot treating a zit. Dab your pimple potion on the end of the Q-Tip and dot it directly on the breakout.

9. Zapping a whitehead. Don't tell your aesthetician we told you this but when a whitehead is clearly about to burst at the worst possible moment, take a Q-Tip in each hand and gently squeeze upward on each side of the mountain of puss until it makes its way to the surface. We recommend you cleanse the area before and after and then make an appointment with your skincare professional for a deep-cleansing facial.

10. Applying makeup in a pinch. When your makeup brushes are filthy or you're on the road, use Q-Tips to apply concealer, eyeshadow and lip gloss.

The new Q-Tips Cotton Swabs Vanity Packs (285 count) will be hitting shelves soon and will retail for $3.19. Get more tips at qtips.com.