We answer the most Googled beauty questions of 2014

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Stylist Team

As we say goodbye to 2014 we take a look at the most Googled beauty problems and how to solve them. This list gives us a fascinating insight into the concerns that women have had over the past year .

From how to get rid of acne prone skin to applying the perfect foundation, we've enlisted the help of various experts, as well as the beauty team on Stylist to ensure we answer every question. 


1. What is BB cream?

Garnier BB Cream

Essentially, BB creams are known as either Blemish Balms or Beauty Balms. They are there to make your skin look great but provide it with added protection that your foundation doesn't, such as more moisturisation and an SPF. 

Stylist’s beauty editor Sam Flowers recommends Smashbox and Garnier for fairer skin and Sleek for darker skins: “Garnier were the first to bring BB creams to the UK market and it still lives up to my criteria  - it gives a glowy finish whilst giving a fair amount of coverage.”

2. How do I get rid of stretch marks

Stretch marks on a woman

This is a tricky one. The truth is the majority of women have stretch marks.Whether they were acquired during puberty or pregnancy, they are a reality of being a woman.

There are many treatments on the market such as cocoa butter but when we spoke to Marie Claire Mexico's beauty editor Beatriz Portuguez she said that Mexican women swear by Almond oil to prevent those fine lines. Getting rid of them proves a much harder task.

However, there's nothing that should stop us from embracing our bodies.


3. How often should I wash my hair?

Woman having her hair washed

This often depends what kind of hair you have. Tom Gallagher, creative director at the award-winning Oribe Hair Care, says "your hairdresser can advise how often you should be washing – it depends on how active your scalp is in producing oil". 

But according to New York-based hair stylist Dan Sharp, whose clients included Kate Winslet, Hilary Swank and Charlize Theron, "tour hair's natural oils are designed to condition and protect your tresses, so when you shampoo daily, it strips these vital oils away. It creates a vicious cycle of over-production of oils and a need to shampoo very often. Ideally, to keep your hair healthy, you only need to wash two to three times a week, max." So there you have it. two to three times a week max.

Read more about the golden rules of hair care on

4. How do I finally get rid of acne

Women squeezing spot acne

Acne, rather than just a break-out of spots is a real problem and 80% of people who suffer with adult acne are women. Clearly it's important as it was one of the most Googled beauty questions this year. Refinery 29 have put together a very comprehensive look at the treatments that are available to treat bad skin and what products actually work. 

5. How do I apply foundation

Woman applying foundation

Back in October we spoke to celebrity make-up artist Gucci Westman on how to apply the perfect foundation. If you want to find the ideal shade of foundation, we also have a handy guide on that too.

6. How can I get rid of those bags under my eyes?

Woman with bags under her eyes

There are many things that cause bags, and it's not always a simple case of just getting more sleep, although that does help. We''ve found a couple of guides on how to deal with those pesky puffs under your eyes from two makeup artists; Ashley Rebecca's step-by-step solution on Refinery 29 to Wayne Goss' video make-up tutorial.  

You might also like this guide on how to do contouring with your make-up

7. How can I minimize my pores?

Skin pores

There isn't a quick fix solution here, as Stylist's beauty director Joanna McGarry discovered in her quest to find poreless skin. Here you can read about the methods that worked and that didn't to get rid of the "tiny holes, plugged with specks of coal" on her face. 

8. How do I clean my make-up brushes?

Tanya Burr
Beauty blogger Tanya Burr

There are many pieces of advice on how to do this fairly boring task but it is important if you want to keep your make-up looking fresh and your skin looking clear. Some advocate washing them every two weeks but it usually comes down to how much you use your brushes. So, how do you wash them? When we spoke to beauty blogger Tanya Burr she recommended using MAC's brush cleanser. Although others, such as Lauren Conrad, suggest using shampoo, you don't want to use any products that will irritate your skin or ones that you wouldn't usually put on your face. 

See more of Tanya Burr's tips here

9. What are freckles?

Gisele Bundchen
Gisele Bündchen

Caused by clusters of concentrated melanan, freckles are common with people who have fair skin. Over last season's fashion week, we discovered that the secret to supermodel Gisele Bündchen's youthful look was applying a face full of freckles to the skin

Five of the best speedy hair and beauty tutorials when you need to get ready quick

10. How do I shape my eyebrows?

Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne

From Brooke Shields to Cara Delevingne, it's fair to say we've had somewhat of a love affair with the eyebrow and especially how we shape them. Here is a rather useful infographic on how to shape you brows according to the shape of your face. 

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