We all love the idea that rules are meant to be broken, but when it comes to your beauty routine, it can be a crime to commit some beauty sins.
Maybe you’re too tired, can’t be bothered, or you just simply forget. We’ve all been there, right? But some bad beauty habits can affect your body more than you think, resulting in further beauty hassles down the track such as breakouts and premature ageing.
Check out our breakdown of the top seven bad beauty habits to see what beauty crimes your guilty of committing, and why you need to stop STAT!
#1: Not taking your make-up off before bed
You’ve heard a million times that you need to remove all of your make-up before going to bed, but I bet that you’ve slipped once or twice and hit the hay donning a full face. Am I right? Naughty! Not only does sleeping in your make-up give your skin a one-way ticket to Breakout Town because your pores are blocked with dirt, oil, make-up and pollution, it can also have long-lasting effects on your skin. Think premature ageing, the on-set of acne, and a dull complexion. Just like cleaning your teeth before bed, make it a priority to spend two minutes washing your face with a cleanser that will remove your make-up. No excuses!
Try: People for Plants White Tea, Witch Hazel Cleanser & Makeup Remover, Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
#2: Popping pimples
Does the sight of a nasty looking whitehead on your chin have your fingers itching to get popping? While it may seem like the fastest solution to getting rid of it, popping a pimple actually increases the healing time of a spot, can spread the infection, and even result in scarring. Instead, zap it in a matter of hours with a whizz-bang pimple cream that’ll absorb oil, reduce redness and kill bacteria.
Try: Botani Rescue Acne Cream, Formula 10.0.6 Rescue Me! Treatment, Original Formula
#3: Forgetting to use primer before applying make-up
Do you wish your make-up would smooth easily onto your skin, look flawless all day, and last without budging into the wee hours of the morning? Your prayers have been answered with one simple product – primer. After moisturising and before applying your make-up, use a clean foundation brush or your fingertips to smooth the primer over your entire face, making sure you don’t miss areas like around your nose and your jawline. Just let it sink in and your make-up will apply like a dream. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
Try: Face of Australia Face Base Primer, Australis Cosmetics Primer
#4: Not cleaning your make-up brushes
Answer honestly – have you ever cleaned your make-up brushes? If you answered yes, how often do you clean them? If it’s once a week, then go you! If it’s less often than that – or worse, you never have – then listen up! Each time you use your make-up brushes, make-up, dirt, bacteria and oil get trapped in the bristles. If you don’t wash them often enough you could end up with clogged pores and breakouts. Keep them clean by rinsing them under lukewarm water, then gently wash them in a bowl of warm water mixed with brush cleaner solution, rinse them under warm water again, and lay flat on a towel to dry.
Try: Models Prefer Brush Cleaner, Artiste Brush Cleaner
#5: Not using an SPF day cream
Think SPF is just for the beach? Think again. Applying sunscreen to your face and neck every day (yes, even when it’s cloudy) is essential. Studies have found that 80 per cent of ageing that dermatologists see is due to excess sun exposure. The sun’s UVA rays can break down the elastin fibres in the skin causing lines, and can also cause the over-production of melanin, which can lead to brown-spots and pigmentation. All you need to do is make sure your day cream contains SPF 15 or over and apply it on your entire face, neck and décolletage before you walk out the door.
Try: QV Face Moisturising Day Cream, Natio Ageless Daily Moisturiser UV Protection SPF 30+
#6: Neglecting to moisturise your body
Hands up if you spend plenty of time and effort taking care of the skin on your face that you forget about the rest of your body? Although at this time of year our bodies are wrapped under layers and layers of clothes, your skin is suffering more than any other time of the year. Cold air, indoor heating, and hot showers strip your skin of much-needed moisture, so it’s up to you to pay it extra attention. After hopping out of the shower, pat your body dry, then quench its thirst with an all-over moisturiser. Let it sink in, put on your clothes, and you’re good to go.
Try: Neutrogena Body Lotion (Sesame Formula), Vaseline Intensive Care Spray Moisturiser
#7: Not applying foundation to your neck and décolletage
Ever noticed someone’s neck was a few shades lighter than their face? Unfortunately she’s probably forgotten to blend her foundation from her jawline down to her décolletage, leaving her skin a little miss-matched. We’ve all been there. So how do you avoid it? Make an effort every morning to smooth your foundation all the way down your neck and chest until it disappears. Easy and embarrassing looks averted!
Try: Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation, Maybelline New York FIT Me! Liquid Foundation
Are you guilty of committing any of these beauty sins? What are your bad beauty habits?
