They’re harmless but I get it—skin tags can be uncomfortable to live with and look at. It’s hardly surprising that people want the best numbing cream for skin tag removal at home. For one, not everyone can afford (or in some cases, have easy access to) a doctor who can handle the removal in a professional setting. Two, it’s simply more affordable.

To that same point, I don’t want to downplay the importance of seeking professional help if you can get it. Historically speaking, skin tags aren’t harmful to your health, but if you’re dealing with a questionable-looking mark that could also be a mole or wart, it’s best to find out what you’re actually dealing with first. This ensures that if it is something more serious, you can treat it properly.

However, if you’re most definitely dealing with a skin tag and it’s small, at-home removal isn’t completely off the table. There are dozens of brands that sell skin tag removal patches, pens, and gadgets you can safely use on their own. Creams like HaloDerm are also viable options. And then there are those who get really DIY with their methods by using essential oils or floss. The latter isn’t exactly comfortable, which explains how numbing cream for skin tag removal is becoming more and more popular.

Should you decide to go this route, read labels thoroughly and tread lightly. (Fun fact: numbing cream is also a popular must-have for at-home waxing and microneedling if you have especially sensitive skin.) Check out some of the most popular numbing creams below.

Dr. Numb.

Dr. Numb Topical Anesthetic Numbing Cream

This top-rated, hypoallergenic cream starts working within 15 minutes and last anywhere from two to four hours. The formula is also completely cream-based, so you don’t have to worry about a greasy, oily finish.

Buy: Dr. Numb Topical Anesthetic Numbing Cream $45

Ebanel.

Ebanel 5% Lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream

Kiss pain, itching, and soreness goodbye if you apply this lidocaine formula to the affected area before use. Water-based and doctor-recommended, the numbing solution also targets dryness with hydrating and soothing ingredients, including aloe vera, vitamin E, and allantoin.

Buy: Ebanel 5% Lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream $16.50

Everyday Medical.

Everyday Medical Numbing Cream

In just 15 minutes, this 5% lidocaine ointment numbs the skin for skin tag removal, microneedling or other at-home treatments, while also providing skin relief with aloe vera, tea tree oil, and jojoba.

Buy: Everyday Medical Numbing Cream $19.99

Numb Master.

Numb Master

Here’s another numbing solution made with lidocaine and ingredients that hydrate and soothe. However, the numbing effects of this cream start in just one to two minutes before reaching “maximum numbing effect” in 20-25 minutes and lasting for an hour or two.

Buy: Numb Master $15.99

Topicaine.

Topicaine 4% Lidocaine Gel

Unlike most numbing creams with a 5% lidocaine formula, this equally effective option tones things down a notch with just 4%. The non-oily gel consistency is also easier to apply and quick-absorbing.

Buy: Topicaine Lidocaine Gel $11

Pureauty Naturals.

Bonus: Pureauty Naturals Skin Tag Mole And Wart Cream

Okay, so this isn’t a numbing cream, but it’s too good to pass up. If you prefer a more natural approach, but aren’t necessarily into tea tree oil, here’s a moisturizing cream powered by a unique set of active ingredients that target skin tags for gradual, pain-free removal without scarring or drying out the skin.

Buy: Pureauty Naturals Skin Tag Mole And Wart Cream $18.45

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

At its most basic, an annuity is a contract where you give an insurance company a sum of money and they promise to pay you an income stream for a specific period of time, often your entire life.

There are tons of flavors, however. This article is not intended to discuss all the various types of annuities and the associated riders and options within the various types.

This article also will not help you determine if an annuity is right for you.

This article will make you aware of annuities out there that do not pay commissions – that is, if you have determined that an annuity is right for you.

Traditional Sales Model

Annuities have typically been sold by insurance-licensed salespeople. In fact, this is still the most common way people buy annuities. Under this model, the agent usually earns a commission of around 5–10% on the amount you put in depending on the type of annuity.

Because of this up-front charge, there is usually a surrender period in which you would pay a penalty if you left the annuity contract. This penalty allows the insurance company to recoup the commission they paid to the agent.

There are also ongoing fees in an annuity. All annuities have some cost, which the industry calls Mortality and Expense (M&E). In addition to M&E, there can be costs for additional riders, administrative costs, and underlying fund costs.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there, and you might not be aware of all possible costs unless you know where to look for them.

No-Commission Annuities

More and more companies are beginning to offer annuities that do not pay a commission to an agent. A lot of people haven’t heard of them because they are newer and the annuity agents have a strong economic incentive to not tell you about them.

There can be a few benefits to these no-commission annuity policies. The first is that there is usually no surrender period because no up-front commission was paid to a salesperson. This means you can change your mind without penalty.

Although not always the case, the ongoing fees on these policies can also be lower and/or have more favorable terms.

Already Have an Annuity?

Should you go ahead and switch to these newer annuities if you already own an annuity? Not so fast! You may still be in a surrender period, which means you could owe a hefty fee if you leave the contract.

Also, some older annuities have benefits that do not exist anymore, such as the ability to take income from a rider without decreasing your account value.

Other times the income rider could be at a point where it can provide more income than other alternatives. You could be harming your finances by getting out of these types of situations.

Like most things in personal finance, the correct course of action depends on your specific and unique circumstances. A fee-only advisor that doesn’t have a commission conflict and has a legal obligation to work as a Fiduciary at all times can help you make this decision.

Tax Implications of Switching

Let’s imagine that you already own an annuity and have decided you’re going to get rid of it. Your tax consequences depend on the type of account that holds the annuity.

If you have an IRA annuity, you can move that to another IRA annuity or IRA investment account as a direct rollover, and there will be no tax consequences.

Some of you may own what’s called a “non-qualified” annuity. This account type is not a retirement account and any gains would be taxable as ordinary income if you surrendered it.

Thankfully, there is a solution. The IRS allows you to do a 1035 exchange, which means you can “exchange” your annuity for a different annuity without incurring any tax on the transaction. No-load annuities can be a great solution for these types of “annuity rescue” situations.

You are also able to do a 1035 exchange of your annuity into a long-term care insurance policy. This can make sense if you are okay with the tradeoffs of an asset-based, or hybrid, long-term care policy.

Annuities may or may not make sense for your situation, but they can be a great tool in your retirement tool belt. Now you know about these newer no-load annuities in case they are more beneficial for your circumstances, or you need to exchange your existing annuity for a better one.

Download Robert’s e-book 9 Mistakes to Avoid When Retiring Solo for more retirement guidance from a Fee-Only advisor.

What do you know about annuities? Do you have one? Would you trade it for a different type of contract? Please share your thoughts and experience below.

The battle of how to make fine hair look thicker has been going on since the dawn of time, and I’m here to help you win the war. This might sound just a bit dramatic, but as most know, those with fine, seemingly lifeless hair know this is a serious struggle—and rarely do we ever come out on top. Fortunately, with a decent amount of willpower and a few key products, there are plenty of beginner-friendly ways to get the thicker, super-full, and bouncy strands of your dreams.

Whether a Victoria’s Secret blowout is your idea of serious body or you simply want to up the volume for a special occasion, here are the habits well-worth mastering so you can see (and feel) results sooner than later. Some are a little old school, but all of them are almost impossible to mess up.

Volume Begins With Cleansing

Though root-lifting products are almost guaranteed to uplift flat strands, getting longer-lasting results requires going beyond your styling routine. And by beyond, I mean making smarter choices about the type of shampoo you use. Generally speaking, you should opt for a more invigorating shampoo that will really get the follicles on your scalp to perk up.

OUAI.

In the case of fine hair, anything with volumizing benefits will suit your hair best and make the job of your mousses, texturizing sprays, and curling irons a whole lot easier. To that same point, a lot of volumizing shampoos may not have ingredients whose benefits are tied directly to adding volume; some simply cleanse the hair without adding weight. So products made with heavier nutrients, like butters and oils, should be avoided.

Avoid This Conditioner

To that same point, conditioners that claim to have “hydrating” or “smoothing” benefits on the bottle most likely have oils in them that will keep your hair from gaining volume. If you must condition the hair every day, apply to the ends so you can still detangle.

Unwash.

Buy: Unwash Dry Cleanser $24

However, steer clear of the roots as that will definitely weigh down the entire strand. Dry shampoo is also a great alternative that will make your hair feel more full and fluffy.

The Blow Dry

The wash-and-go technique seems easy and effortless in theory. We assume that once our hair is dry, they’ll be soft beach waves you can run your fingers through. Instead, your fingers keep getting stuck in random knots as you attempt to detangle your sticky, matted hair on your lunch break (trust me—I’ve been there.) For this reason, blow-drying is quite literally a godsend if done correctly.

BIOLAGE.

Buy: BIOLAGE Styling Thermal Active Spray $17

As with all other hair textures, those with finer strands should always use a heat protectant before grabbing the blowdryer. After that, be sure to flip your head over, and start blow-drying with a round brush. After the dampness is gone, flip the hair back over, and begin to blow dry the rest in sections. Make sure to have a diffuser on the end of your dryer to separate and lift the strands as you continue to style. Lastly, giving the hair time to cool before you run out the door will also give it lasting power.

Roll It Up

If you have the time (and patience) for adding even more volume, you can keep it old-school and set your hair with velcro rollers and clips after blow-drying. However, no need to set the entire head; roll the front pieces for about 20 minutes and that will be enough to deliver the illusion of thicker hair all over.

Tease It

Teasing the roots of your hair is another extra step that will amp up the results of your old school roller set or give your root-lifting stylers a head start. Simply take a rat tail comb or small brush, lift a pre-determined section of hair (size is up to you) and wiggle the brush/comb back and forth between the hairs closest to your scalp.

Lift at the Root

After teasing, spritz a small amount of root lifter in your hair to make sure your roots stay up. This can be in either mousse or spray form, but just make sure not to put in too much product.

Bumble and bumble.

Doing so will work against you—and weigh hair down in the process. Also, if you’re using more than one styling product, use just one at a time instead of cocktailing, another technique that cuts your styling time down, but will also trap your strands and keep them from lifting.

Spray It

Hairsprays, the finishing look for most styles that emphasize volume, should have thickening or volumizing agents built into them. Use them to set your overall look and like your conditioner, avoid the ones that are made with heavy oils.

Briogeo.

Though they may not feel as sticky, they’ll damage all of the hard work you just did to put the style in place.

Add Layers

In addition to your everyday styling tricks, a haircut with layers also creates texture with no effort on your part. Just remember that as with all haircuts, dedication to maintenance is required.

Don’t Over-Brush

Don’t brush your hair too often; this stimulates oils from the scalp, which will make your hair flat. If you must fix your hair with some sort of tool, opt for a wide-tooth comb.

Get Dirty

You’ve probably heard this about 3,000 times, but do not wash your hair every day. Pulling back on how often you wash your hair will allow for fuller-looking hair at the roots. In-between washes, use dry shampoo.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Over the years, I’ve received a lot of e-mails from ladies wondering whether they should still be using eyeliner as they get older. Well, it’s completely up to you.

The reason I continue wearing eyeliner is that the definition in my eyes has faded as I’ve aged, and I want to put some of it back where it belongs.

One thing that’s changed though is that I don’t put on the flick anymore because my eyes have aged differently, and the flick makes that more obvious.

So, let me walk you through the different types of eyeliner and how to use them to your advantage.

Types of Eyeliners and Application Techniques

There are several different types of eyeliners on the market. Whichever one you choose, make sure to apply it before mascara.

Pencil Liners

The classic pencil liner has come a long way since it was first introduced. It’s one of the easiest liners to apply and comes in lots of shades which is a nice benefit. Nowadays though, I use the hybrid Gel Pencil Liner, which is really easy to apply as it practically glides on the lid without the need to tug or pull on my eyes.

One thing you need to remember when using a gel pencil liner is to sharpen it before every use. Not only will this give you a sharpened point to work with, but it also helps keep the pencil hygienic.

To apply pencil liner, hold a high magnification mirror slightly under your chin. This position gives you a nice angle to work from without pulling or tugging on your eyes. Take your pencil and hold it horizontally, then use feathery strokes to apply the liner along the base of your top lashes.

Don’t take the liner right to the end of your lashes as you did when you were younger. Now that you have some years on you, your eyes have likely drooped, and taking the pencil further out will emphasize that, making you look sad or tired.

Instead, just stop slightly short of the end of your lashes for an uplifting look. If you want to soften the line you can using your finger, a cotton bud, or a soft brush.

If you like some definition underneath your eye, you can use the liner there as well. To do that, hold the mirror in front of you, and, holding the pencil vertically, run it softly along the base of your bottom lashes.

Felt-Tip Pen Liners

Felt-tip liners are great if you want to accomplish a very thin line. They give you more definition, but they don’t come in many shades. If you’re going for impact, you can use the felt-tip liner on top of the pencil.

To apply this type of liner, you can use your bathroom mirror. Tilt your head back so that you are looking up your nostrils. Hold the pen horizontally and tap the tip along the base of your top lashes. Using this technique makes the eye lashes look fuller.

Note: A felt tip liner looks too harsh on the lower lashes.

Liquid Liners

Liquid liners (along with pencils) used to be the classic commercial liners. They come with a fine brush applicator and though they don’t offer a large variety of colours, liquid liners give the most definition.

Before applying a liquid liner, make sure you have all the excess off the brush – otherwise you can get a big blob, and it will put you off of liners altogether.

Using a mirror on the wall, hold the brush horizontally and tap the tip of the liner along the base of your lashes. The technique is the same as that used with the felt-tip liners. Liquid liners give great definition because the color is a lot denser and makes the eye lashes look fuller.

Gel Liners

Gel liners are great because you can use them as both eye liner and eyeshadow. They come in a pot, though you need to supply your own brush, and they offer a good selection of colours.

For the application you can use either mirror method described above. I prefer a thicker brush because I want a fuller line. You can smudge the line if you want to soften the look. Because the effect of gel liners is quite strong, I wouldn’t recommend them for the lower lashes.

Powder Eye Shadow Liners

Finally, one of my favourite choices is using powder eye shadow as eyeliner. This is a great way to match your liner to your shadow as you can use any colour or type of shadow.

To apply powder eye shadow as eyeliner I use an angled brush. Dip the brush in a tiny bit of water or liquid solution then go into the very corner of the shadow container. Don’t go right in the middle of the powder in case you want to use it as shadow again.

Using the mirror method you prefer, edge the brush along the base of you top lashes, stopping before you reach the end of the lid.

With this type of liner I can go along the base of my lower lashes as well as it gives a lovely pop of colour.

To finish your eyes, use mascara and enjoy your good looks!

For all Sixty and Me Ladies, Ariane offers 15% OFF their first Ariane Poole order plus 10% OFF any following orders. Simply put in 15SIXTYFIRST and 10SIXTY in the coupon box at the checkout.

Are you afraid to use eyeliner now that you have advanced in age? Which type of liner is your favorite? Which one is easiest for you to apply? Please share your comments and questions below!