Beauty tips and tricks: A gizmo to cut shoes right down to size

Important news has reached us here at the tips department: the answer to at least one of your shoe-related problems might be afoot. Sizers, an Irish-owned, London-based company, produces innovative little widgets that can be used to reduce your shoes by up to one whole size. They are perfect if your friend with that incredible shoe collection has bigger feet than you or if a beloved pair has stretched. These insert cushions will adjust the size and fit of closed-toed shoes (they cannot be used with sandals or other open-toed footwear). They're already a favourite with stylists. shoesizers.com

[ thetwodarlings.com ]

Petroleum jelly aka Vaseline is a handy eye make-up remover to bring if you’re going on holidays. It doesn’t count as a liquid, and you can also use it to increase the longevity of your perfume by dabbing some on your pulse points before you spritz.

When applying concealer to the area under your eyes, do so in a V shape and blend: light reflects upwards, and this will reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eye.

• Email your beauty tips, tricks, must-haves, secrets, products of yore and up-to-the-minute recommendations to beauty@irishtimes.com