Hack your face! Wait...

I kind of think the trend of “hacks” for everything has gotten pretty ridiculous. Hack your chores! Hack your hair! Hack your sack! "Hack" is defined as a rough cut, the act of gaining unauthorized access to a computer, or a person or horse who does menial work. I fail to see how that applies to tricks for anything and everything. But we can lead, follow, or be dragged down the long and winding path of linguistic evolution, as we ever have and ever will. So here’s me getting on board and giving you five makeup hacks anyone can use.

• Extend and soften lipstick or gloss (and give your lips a moisture boost) by adding coconut oil. Obviously dipping your lipstick in coconut oil is not terribly helpful, but if you have a color that you love that is a bit dry or you’re just trying to get every red cent’s worth, try this. If it’s a molded lipstick, dig it out of the tube and smoosh it into a palette tray or small pot, then mix in coconut oil. Start with just a couple drops and add in tiny increments until you get a consistency you’re happy with.

• Stretch mascara by adding a drop or two of saline solution. Again, this will thin it out a bit, so it’s useful for getting the last bit out of the tube or smoothing a clumpy formula. Don’t try to save old, dried out mascara, though - if it’s more than three months old, toss it and start fresh.

• For long-lasting lip color, set with powder. Swipe on your shade, lay a tissue over your mouth to blot gently, and then dust translucent powder over it to set the color. You can add a second coat of color for even more staying power.

• Perfect your Cupid's bow by drawing an "X" on your upper lip first as a guideline. Using a liner that matches your lip color (or your color on a fine lip brush), draw a line from each peak to the bottom of your lip underneath the opposite peak.

• Conceal dark circles and puffy eyes the right way by creating a triangle with your cover-up. That U shape you’ve been dotting on under your eyes isn’t doing you any favors. Using an alternate lighter shade of foundation, fill in a triangle that goes from the nose bridge to the upper cheekbone, then to the lower cheekbone towards the lips.