Beauty

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit: you leave mascara on your lashes today, you forget to wash your face tomorrow and before you know it, going to bed with a full face of makeup becomes a normal part of your life.

Sleeping with makeup is probably one of the most common bad beauty habits out there – next to nail biting, that is. But just because these habits are common, it doesn’t mean you should carry on biting your nails or sleeping with makeup on like it’s okay!

Here are some of the worst beauty mistakes you should never fall victim to:

1. Using dirty brushes

Now when I say dirty, I don’t mean that you can physically see dirt on your makeup brush (that would be pretty bad). What I’m talking about is the brushes that don’t get washed as often as they should. Using unclean brushes on your face spreads bacteria all over it. As well as that, makeup doesn’t apply so smoothly when you use an unclean brush so if you want a flawless finish, be sure to use a clean brush! Here is a quick guideline for cleaning your makeup tools.

2. Using old products

Since cosmetics aren’t required to have a sell by date on them, it is always a good idea to make note of when you first opened your beauty products.  This way, you’ll have some sort idea as to when you should replace your products. But, even without little reminders, a bit of common sense can tell you when to dump out a face cream that has been lying on your shelf for years. If it looks funny or smells funky, then dump it!

3. Biting nails

Although biting nails can be a sign of nervousness, a lot of people do it out of boredom. Apparently, there are more bacteria under your nails than there are under a toilet seat. In other words, you’d be better off licking the toilet seat than chewing your nails – apologises for the mental image. If biting nails is one of your bad habits then maybe you should consider getting a nail varnish that helps with nail biting. There are plenty of these available on the market at the moment. They work by simply putting a vile taste in your mouth every time you bite your nails – genius!

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4. Licking lips

There’s nothing worse than licking your lips in the hopes that it’ll keep them moisturised. If anything, it’ll only cause you to want to moisturise them even more. When your lips are dry, use a lip balm (preferably with an SPF), balms should be your only go-to when it comes to keeping your lips nice and moist, not saliva. My favourite is the Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm as well as the Nivea Fruity Shine Lip Balm in Cherry  – it actually looks like gloss!

5. Skipping the SPF

Without a good SPF, your skin becomes more sensitive to sun spots, aging and wrinkles. If you think it’s too much hassle using a sunscreen as well as a moisturiser, then you could always try to get a moisturiser that has an SPF of some sort,  even if it is just 20. In my books, sunscreen is what keeps you young looking – as well as a good diet of course!

6. Face touching 

This habit is pretty hard to break as most of us do it without even noticing. But it definitely is a habit that you should attempt to break if you want to avoid unpleasant breakouts. All the touching, scratching and rubbing is one of the worst ways to spread dirt, oil and bacteria on your skin.

7. Sleeping with makeup on

It can be very tempting to fall asleep without giving your face a good clean. But, if you don’t want to wake up to any unpleasant surprises in the morning, then be sure to cleanse your face before going to bed. Clogged pores can cause breakouts on your face, and a deeply cleansed skin help your night cream work a lot better!

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We’re often told to go for products with certain ingredients. If you dry skin, you’re told to go for a moisturiser with an emollient and if you’re at the other end of the spectrum and have oily skin, then a cleanser with salicylic acid is your winning ticket. But what do these ingredients actually do? A clear understanding of how certain things function can help you make better choices when it comes to skincare products.

Here are a few popular words that you might have come across before and probably didn’t care to research because you ‘heard’ it was good:

E for Emollients

Emollients generally hold moisture in the skin. They keep the skin looking soft and supple. Some very popular and effective emollients would be avocado oil, shea butter and glycerine. If you have dry skin then always go for a moisturiser that has an emollient.

A for Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

AHA’s are naturally occurring acids found in milk and fruits. Generally, they help speed up the exfoliating process. This improves the texture of the skin and helps unclog nasty pores. Glycolic acid is one of the most commonly used AHAs.

A for Antioxidants

You’ve probably seen this word a couple of hundred times at this stage! Without getting too scientific, antioxidants keep the skin protected from harm caused by free radicals (damaged cells that can be problematic). Vitamins A, C and E, green tea, beta-carotene, and grape seed extracts are all highly effective antioxidants.

E for Exfoliators

I love a good exfoliator! They are designed to help remove dead cells from the skin and help whatever you put on your face afterwards become for effective. As a rule of thumb, always look for an exfoliator that is designed especially for your face. Body scrubs are far too harsh to use on the delicate skin of la visage.

H for Humectants

Humectants absorb water from the air and help the skin retain moisture. Some very effective humectants include glycerin, algae extract and lactic acid.

B for Balms

Balms are super-rich moisturisers like shea butter or avocado extract that help target dry patches of the skin. They’re usually designed for people who have super dry skin but if you want a subtle glow on your face, you could warm some balm in between your hands and pat your cheeks after you’ve applied your makeup.

C for Collagen

Collagen is a fibrous protein that is present in the skin. When someone has high levels of collagen in their skin, it appears nice and firm. (I bet you just thought of someone there). As we age, the level of collagen declines and wrinkles begin to form. That’s why some older women – and even men – like to get injections, as they temporarily replace lost collagen.

R for Retinoids (Retin-A, Retinal, Renova)

Retinoids are derived from vitamin A. They are used in beauty products to fight acne and help build collagen to reverse the visible signs of aging. Since using retinoids makes the skin more sensitive to the sun, it is important to use an SPF. Some natural sources of retinoids include tomatoes, melon,fish-liver oils and leafy green vegetables.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

My favourite  S word! SPF measures  the degree of protection a product provides against harmful UVB rays from the sun. A lot of people are under the impression that an SPF should only be worn in the summer, however, it should be worn all year around.

S for Serums

Serums are corrective skin treatments that are highly concentrated and packed with ingredients to target specific skin problems. Uneven skin tone and dullness are usually it. Common ingredients found in serums would be vitamin C and green tea extract. They are generally applied after cleansing and before moisturising.

Vitamin K helps promote faster healing of swelling, bruising and skin irritation. A beauty product that contains this vitamin would be ideal for people with sensitive skin.

Vitamin E provides antioxidant protection. It protects the fatty acids in the skin which help keep the skin firm and young looking. Not many people know that vitamin E can act as a mild sunscreen as it has an SPF factor of 3.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that reduces the pigmentation of scars, making them less noticeable. High doses of vitamin C helps create a more even skin tone. Natural sources of this vitamin include oranges, red peppers and kiwis.

Next time you go shopping for a new beauty product, you will be able to see if it has the ingredients you need for your skin. I hope you found this useful! 🙂

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