These Were the Best Instagram Beauty Hacks That 2016 Gifted Us

Say what you will about the debacles that this past year has brought us, but you have to admit that 2016 has given us some gems despite it all. From the Gilmore Girlsrevival (we’ve already re-watched it twice) to Chrissy Teigen’s Halloween fashion show with baby Luna, we can’t help but reminisce on the good times, even if they were few and far between. Of course, our beauty-obsessed brains agree. We reviewed the last year and realized that for every WTF beauty moment on Instagram, there was a “Whoa, that’s kind of genius!” moment too. Here are just a few of our favorite Instagram beauty hacks from 2016.

Hair

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Get a fuller ponytail with this quick hair hack! #flawless #DIY #diply #ponytail #instabeauty #beauty #instaglam #glam #tutorial #hair #hairhack #beautyhack #pony

A post shared by Flawless by Diply (@diplyflawless) on Dec 21, 2016 at 4:50pm PST

1. Faux Long Pony: A little trickery can help you score a fuller ponytail. Simply stack two separate ponies on top of each other for added length and volume. Boom.

2. Instant Root Volume: Fake fuller roots with some clever zig-zag combing skills to make everyone think you have magically voluminous roots. Who knew zigzagging could be so impactful?!

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I was born with the most uneven hairline of life so sometimes I like to fill it in with powder when I do a tight ponytail 💁🏽 Products: 🔹 Stila in the light palette 🔹 @sedonalace brush in EB 09 🔹 @pantene anti-humidity hairspray (prevents the powder from transferring) 🔹 @eyerisbeauty lashes in Cleopatra (my favourite) 🔹 @misaki_cosmetics lenses in grey Shoutout to @naildecor who likes to poke my bald spot and yell, "WITH THE POWER INVESTED IN ME!" 😂

A post shared by A S H N A (@klumsyclosett) on Jun 10, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

3. Faux Hairline: Achieve Kim Kardashian West-level hairline when you fill in your sparse spots with matte eyeshadow. This may seem like a lot, but for special occasions this move is clutch.

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Colour melt and faux bob 🍃🌻

A post shared by @ hairbyrubymay on Nov 28, 2016 at 7:12pm PST

4. Lob Hack: Girls with layers can rock a faux bob (or lob) to test drive short hair before committing to a full-on chop. Hide longer strands in a low bun and roll it up in toward your scalp. Secure with bobby pins.

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Can't find your hair diffuser ? Not a problem just get one large foam cup make holes under and use it as a diffuser to dry your look and still keep the shape looking flawless #mustafaswaves using @brazilianblowout blowdry

A post shared by Mustafa Avci ™ (@mustafaavci) on Sep 9, 2016 at 6:36am PDT

5. Hair Diffuser Hack: Lost your diffuser? Not a problem, thanks to Instagram. MacGyver one in seconds by poking a few holes into a styrofoam cup. Who knew?!?

Makeup

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Anyone remember salad fingers?! 😂😂 (Last post of the day) #saladfingers #rustyspoons #spoonhack #cutcreasehack #cutcreasespoon #mua #boomerang #blogger #beautyhack #cutcrease #eyeshadow #eyetechnique #urbandecay #morphebrushes #glitter #wakeupandmakeup #

A post shared by Kelly Hyndman MUA (@kellyhyndman_mua) on Nov 24, 2016 at 5:01pm PST

6. Eyeliner Hack: Use the edge of a spoon to master the smoothest transition between your eyeshadow and eyeliner that you ever did see. This trick is perfect if you want to play with color blocking.

7. Dried Makeup Hack: Talk about good ’til the last drop. Bring dried-out stick makeup back to life by warming it up with a flame.

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COLOUR CORRECTING+MAKEUP HACK Tag a friend👇🏽 Keep in mind color correcting isn't something for everyday , do it when you know you gonna take pictures or for big occasion - as it's loads of makeup for everyday. Plus I showed you guys how to revive dry mascara with just eye water or eye drops! 💋 Products used: @smashboxcosmeticsme Master Class Palette : Lighting Theory @hudabeauty Liquid Matte 'Flirt' @lorealmakeup Infallible Foundation 'Golden Beige' @tartecosmetics Smooth Operator Finishing powder ---------- #dubai #makeupvideo #makeuptutorial #makeuphack #hudabeauty #tartecosmetics #shophudabeauty #allmodernmakeup #hairmakeupdiary #shimmycatsmua #peachyqueenblog #glameljammi #makeup #colourcorrecting #colorcorrectmakeup #dubaiblogger #dubaivlogger

A post shared by 🇦🇪 🇦🇿الجامي (@eljammi) on Nov 11, 2016 at 6:22am PST

8. Last Bit of Mascara Hack: All good things must come to an end, but we refuse to say goodbye to our tube of DiorShow before we have to. This trick will help you use the very last bit. Revive drying mascara with a few eye drops or drops of contact solution.

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by @buzzfeednifty #huck #beautyhack #cosmetics

A post shared by girls will like it 💇💅👄 (@took_good_look) on Dec 19, 2016 at 12:01pm PST

9. Powder Rehab Hack: Dropped your beloved powder blush? It’s the *WORST.* We’ve all been there. Put your powdered makeup back together with just a few drops of rubbing alcohol.

10. Smokey Eye Save: Secure sticky notes under your eyes before doing a heavy eye look to catch fallout and keep your under-eye concealer intact.

Tools

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DIY Lip Plumper with 3 simple ingredients that you probably have at home... PRESS PLAY 🎥 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Cinnamon, Coconut Oil and Honey lip mask! It plumps lips instantly and give you the smoothest, softest lips making the perfect lipstick base! The plastic is a piece of cling film!!!••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #plumplips #biglips #exfoliate #cinnamon #beautyoil #skincare #makeupbrushes #dermaroller #lipfiller #pout #collagen #skincareroutine #microneedling #skincaretips #beautytips #makeuptips #beautyhack #makeupjunkie #makeupvlog #vlogger #bbloggers #diybeauty #lipmask #coconutoil #happywednesday #humpday

A post shared by The Beauty Scriptures (@thebeautyscriptures) on Nov 2, 2016 at 10:10am PDT

11. Derma Roller Double Duty: Get more use from your derma roller by rolling them over lips to plump them.

12. Makeup Brush Cleaning Hack: Why buy expensive products when you have the answer right at home? Use a hot water bottle as a washboard for your makeup brushes and you’ll cut down on cleaning time.

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Beauty Hack! I can say this works well as I’ve did this in a pinch for applying my strobe! #makeupbrushes #beautyhack #tipsandtricks

A post shared by Keri Dawn (@keri.dawn) on Dec 3, 2016 at 12:25pm PST

13. One Brush, Two Ways: Fake a fan brush with just a bobby pin — perfect for traveling! Minds. Blown.

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The next beauty trend is here!! BOOB BLENDER beauty hack by hudabeauty katanya hasilnya much better dari pada menggunakan sponge brand lain loh girls ;) so safe your money and try this beauty trend. #beautyhack #boobblender #boobsiliconeblender #beautytrend #beautytrick #hudabeautyrosegoldpalette #jualhudabeautyrosegoldpalette #jualhudabeauty #jualhudabeautylashes #jualhudabeautyliquidmatte #jualhudabeautyeyeshadowpalette #hudaeyeshadowpalette #rosegoldpalette #jualhudabeautyori #hudabeauty #rosegoldeyeshadow #jualeyeshadowpalette #jualbrandedmakeup #jualanastasia #jualmac #jualstila #jualsephora #jualtarte #mikae #mikaeshope

A post shared by MAKEUP SKINCARE SUPPLEMENT ORI (@mikaeshope) on Dec 15, 2016 at 3:38am PST

14. Instant Silisponge: If you can’t get your hands on the always-sold-out Silisponge, give your silicone bra inserts a go instead. (No, seriously.)

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So I'm on a no buy for probably the next 6 months to a year. My beautyblender started looking haggard (you know how it starts to look when it gets old.. holes everywhere.. starts breaking off pieces) well I decided to do a little experiment (I do have a new one but I didn't want to bust it out yet.) I took my eyebrow scissors that has long blades.. I started slowly snipping away the top layer that is all crumbly looking and I did this all over trying to maintain the same shape and I came out with this! This is washed and dampened but girls.. it works just as good!!!!!!! Even though this beauty blender isnt 100% smooth like a new one.. my foundation looks the same as when I use a new one. Meli 1 - Sephora taking my money 0. #nobuy #savingmoney #beautyblender #beautyblenderhack #makeup #mua #makeuphack #montrealbeauty

A post shared by Melissa Del Duca MUA (@makeupbymelidelduca) on Feb 7, 2016 at 7:27am PST

15. Beauty Blender Fix: If your beauty blender is looking ragged, stained and cracked, don’t toss it out just yet. Give it a second life when you snip off the top layer to reveal a fresh new layer that works like new.

Looking for even more beauty hacks? Visit us on Pinterest!

(Featured photo via Huda Beauty)