We’ve all come home late one night and neglected to take our makeup off. Perhaps we were out of nail polish remover, so peeling off nail polish served as the perfect solution. Maybe you haven’t washed your makeup brushes…well, ever. Any way you look at it, we’re all guilty of at least one beauty crime.
While things like this won’t do much harm if done infrequently, they can begin to take a negative effect if this beauty crimes become habits. Here are the top bad beauty habits that you should work on breaking, and why:
Bad beauty habit #1: Going to sleep with your makeup on
Since we’ve all been here once or twice, it’s safe to say that sleeping with your makeup on very occasionally won’t cause too much damage (although you might find new zit or two in the morning). If done routinely though, this can cause some seriously problematic skin.
How to break it: Make sure to always keep makeup remover wipes handy by keeping a pack on your bed stand, and a pack in your handbag. You’ll be able to remove your makeup in a few quick swipes – a great thing when you’re too tired to wash your face or aren’t able to.
Bad beauty habit #2: Picking off nail polish
It’s easy to pick at nail polish. People do this all the time out of boredom, just for fun, or as a nervous habit. This is extremely damaging for your nails, though, as it causes the top layer of your nail to peel off with the polish – which leads to dry, rough, and brittle nails.
How to break it: Nail polish remover! If nail polish remover seems like too much of a hassle to you, try purchasing instant nail polish remover that comes in a tub with a sponge inside to simply insert your finger. This saves the hassle of using cotton balls.
Bad beauty habit #3: Not washing makeup brushes
Surprisingly, many women don’t know that they are supposed to wash their makeup brushes and tools. We use these things on our face everyday, so of course they collect dirt and oil over time. Brushes should be washed at least once a week to minimize breakouts from old dirt and oil, but once a month should suffice if you find yourself on a tight schedule.
How to break it: Get into the habit of washing your brushes regularly. This is easy to do if you take a small amount of shampoo on the palm of your hand and massage your brush in a circular motion, then rinse the same way. Be sure not to soak the base of the brush since it will have a hard time drying, and don’t be too rough on the brushes or they will not keep their shape.
Bad beauty habit #4: Popping zits and squeezing pores
Hands off! We may think that we’re doing a good thing by getting rid of a zit by popping it, or getting oil out of our pores by squeezing them. However, it is easy to create redness on the face this way that will unfortunately last for days. Over time, doing this can create some serious, irreversible scaring.
How to break it: Try using a clay-based mask once a week to remove dirt and oil from your pores naturally without any abrasiveness. Your skin will feel tight, fresh, and clean afterwards and your pores will be clear!
Bad beauty habit #5: Washing your hair everyday
For those of us with oily hair, washing your hair everyday seems like an absolute must. Although hair looks greasy, these natural oils are actually working to keep our hair protected and moisturized. Daily washes can dry out and damage the hair over time, making it more prone to breakage and split ends.
How to break it: For chronic, everyday-washers, try skipping a day here and there. Although your hair will seem oily for the first few weeks, eventually your hair’s oil production levels be in sync with how frequently you wash.
While you can’t get rid of a bad habit overnight, you can make a change today. Do you have any other beauty faux pas to share? Don’t worry…your secret’s safe with us!