by Afton Williams
With the changing of seasons, we often strive for that “out with the old, in with the new” mentality. We clear our closets of never-worn summer clothes to start making room for our favorite fall fashions, and switch out our silk sheets for our favorite flannel. Yet we tend to stick to our same old tried-and-true makeup routine. What you may not know is that your cosmetic regimen is likely filled with bad little habits that need to be thrown out with your tired old clothes this season. Here are some poor practices to quit now, just in time to make some room for your favorite fall trends. Keep scrolling to see them all!
#1: Blowing On Your Brushes
We’ve all done it. You swipe your brush a little too heavily into product and then thoughtlessly blow on the bristles to get rid of the excess. It’s almost like we were taught this technique. Unfortunately, blowing on brushes creates a playground for bacteria growth. The bacteria can build and build with each innocent blow and then transfer to your pores to promote unsightly breakouts. Instead of blowing, try tapping your brush against your arm, a compact, or the edge of your counter or vanity. You’ll get the same result you’re used to, but without all the pesky bacteria.
Pictured: Marc Jacobs Beauty The Face I – Liquid Foundation Brush No. 1 ($48)
RELATED: Makeup Artist Magic: The Best Pro Tricks We’ve Learned (So Far)
#2: Not Cleaning Your Brushes
You know how after some time, the bristles of your brushes start to seem stiffer, clump together, or fall out and stick to your skin? That’s probably because you’re not cleaning your brushes enough (or at all). For routine maintenance, dip or spray the ends of your brush in a good cleaner (my favorite is Cinema Secrets Brush Cleaner, $24, which leaves your brushes smelling like vanilla!). Then carefully swirl the brush on a towel until all the product pigment in the bristles is gone. For a deep cleaning, shampoo your brushes once every month or two; you can use any bottle you have in your stockpile. Hold your brush bristles down, apply shampoo, and rinse just as you would your hair. You don’t want any water to get into the base of the brush, which can cause bacteria to grow, so always, always hold the brush bristles down under the faucet. Once the water runs clear, lay your brushes on a towel with the bristles resting off the edge of the counter, or hang them to dry.
#3: Falling Asleep With Makeup On
I am so guilty of this one, no matter how many times I tell myself enough is enough. It’s been a long day, and all you want is to fall straight into bed and go to sleep. However, leaving makeup on your skin is the quickest way to undo any skincare regimen you practice. Not only does leftover makeup cause breakouts, but it can also settle into pores and lines to create an uneven and unclean surface for your next application, even if you remove it the next morning. If you’re really in a rush, keep your favorite makeup wipes on your bedside table so you can mindlessly freshen up your face before it hits the pillow.
Pictured: Koh Gen Do Cleansing Water Cloths ($39)
RELATED: 5 Makeup Tricks That Will Take Years Off Your Face
#4: Not Applying Moisturizer Before Foundation
Moisturizing before applying makeup is one of the most important steps in your beauty routine. Without this step, your skin is uneven and dry, which allows certain spots to stick or cling to makeup differently. By applying moisturizer, you are creating a clean and even canvas to begin building your face. I like to use a moisturizer with SPF to kill two birds with one stone, protecting my skin while I prep.
Pictured: Murad Perfecting Day Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ ($49)
#5: Matching Your Eye Shadow to Your Outfit
This was our favorite thing to do in high school. But times have changed, and the whole matchy-matchy look signals that you may be a makeup newbie. Instead of matching your shadow to your dress, try choosing a shade that suits your eye color. Create contrast to make your eyes pop by choosing a shade on the opposite side of the color wheel. For instance, green eyes look beautiful in bronzes and coppers. Blue eyes love warm shades of orange and brown, and brown eyes tend to pop with cool undertone colors and taupes.
Pictured: Honest Beauty Eyeshadow Trio ($25)
RELATED: 5 Ways to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger With Makeup
#6: Using Your Hand to Match Foundation
You’re browsing through your favorite makeup stands while attempting to find the right shade of foundation for your face. Your first instinct is to smudge a foundation onto the back of your hand to see if it matches your skin tone. The problem is that foundation is going on your face, not your hand (duh?). Always spot-test foundation in at least two places on your face; the two best spots are on your cheekbone next to your ear, and along your jawline. You’ll be more likely to find a complementary shade when you match these areas.
Pictured: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation ($39)
#7: Improperly Blending Foundation
When going with full-facial foundation coverage, we often stop the application at our chin or jawline. The problem with this technique is that it often creates the illusion of a makeup mask. People will wonder why your face doesn’t match your neck or if you’re even wearing the proper shade of foundation at all. To break this habit, always blend your foundation down your jawline and into your neck. You can use bronzer on your neck, along your jawline, and around the edges of your face to create a more seamless foundation finish.
Pictured: Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush ($26)
RELATED: Make Your Foundation Look Airbrushed With This Easy Hack
#8: Applying Concealer Without Locking It In
You did it! You concealed those under-eye circles and unsightly red bumps. Now, onto foundation or eye shadow, right? Wrong. Forgetting to lock in your concealer almost always leads to its most common problems: creasing, caking, pigment transfer, and sliding. All of these issues can be put to rest with the simple step of locking in your concealer. Always dust a light layer of translucent or packed powder over the areas you’ve concealed. This will also prevent your blushes or other colors from sticking to the still-wet concealer spots.
Pictured: Nyx Cosmetics Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder ($10)
#9: Pumping Mascara to Get More Product
We often pump our mascara wand into the tube in hopes that it’ll pop out with even more product on it. The truth is that pumping your mascara pushes more and more air into the tube, causing the product to dry out faster. This means that each time we pump, we create less product for our next application. Instead, try gently swirling the wand inside the container, or just simply pull the wand out once and apply multiple coats of mascara.
Pictured: Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes Mascara ($29)
RELATED: 10 Clever Hacks We Learned From Sephora Reviews
#10: Using Lip Liner Only to Line the Lip
How often do you ask your friend to keep an eye on your pout so your lipstick won’t fade and leave you with a harsh lip line? I know I’ve been there. This is probably a sign that you’re applying your lip liner wrong. When lining your lips, apply along the upper and lower lip lines and then blend the color into the middle of the lips. Before taking your next step, you should basically be filling your lips in as you would with lipstick. This will keep your lip color more even and natural, make your lips pop, and allow longer-lasting color.
Pictured: MAC Lip Pencil ($17)
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Does your eyeliner constantly crumble while putting it on? Our friends at You Beauty recommend leaving it in the freezer for 15 minutes prior to applying your makeup. It should glide along your lash line seamlessly after that.
If you’re out of shaving cream, lather your legs with conditioner instead of soap. Conditioner will soften the hair on your legs making it easier to shave (and it will leave your skin feeling extra silky).
Source: You Beauty
Rinsing your hair with beer helps restore moisture to your locks while using vinegar will up the ante in shine. Soak your hair in either liquid (not at the same time) for a few minutes, then rinse with cold water.
Source: You Beauty
For curlier, flirtier lashes, the experts at You Beauty recommend heating your lash curler with a hair dryer for five to eight seconds before curling them.
The experts at You Beauty recommend massaging an ice cube over your face until it melts. Do it every night before bed and keep fat cells, acne and wrinkles under control.
Before applying nail polish, wipe nails with an acetone-based cleanser. Essie Weingarten, founder of Essie Cosmetics, told the pros at Redbook that cleaning excess dirt, oil or moisturizer from your nails will ensure that the polish adheres properly.
Follow the rest of these tips at Redbook and your perfectly polished manicure will last for a week and a half.
Apparently Pepto-Bismol isn’t just a stomach soother, it can also be used as a facial mask. It contains bismuth subsalicylate, which is commonly found in facial creams. In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks, recommended spreading two teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol on your face, then letting it dry for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine. Even when it’s cloudy. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 per cent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays pass through the clouds.
It’s easy to forget about your elbows, but they need just as much protection and care as other parts of your body. Cure dry elbows by massaging Bio-Oil onto them daily. You’ll see and feel softer elbows in at least two days.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Popie Poulos, hairstylist and owner of The Salon, recommends rinsing your hair with a mixture of chamomile and fresh lemon juice instead of conditioner to permanently lighten your tresses. Allow your hair to dry while sitting in the sun or use a blow dryer — the heat will lighten your locks.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Dr.Frances Jang, a dermatologist at Skinworks recommends using raw potato slices to soothe your eyes. She says they are astringent which means they help decrease water retention and they also contain the enzyme catalase which helps lighten dark under eye circles.
First, wash and peel a potato. Cut two slices and place one on each eye for 10 minutes. Lay down, relax and let the potatoes work their magic. Rinse the eye area gently with lukewarm water when you’re done.
We love walking out of the salon with a fresh blow out, but how do you prevent your locks from going limp in the days after? The experts at Allure say plan early. Your hair naturally secretes oil so be two steps ahead and spray your roots with dry shampoo before you start producing oil. This way the dry shampoo will absorb any moisture before it weighs down your tresses. Also make sure you protect your hair from moisture (rain is sure to ruin your mane) and touch up your blow out in the morning using a hair dryer and round brush. It will give you an instant boost of volume.
The trick to achieving a chiseled celebrity-like face is to contour (Angelina Jolie cheekbones, anyone?). Your face is three dimensional so applying foundation in a single tone will only make your face appear flat. Add a highlighter to areas of your face that would usually catch light but create enough shadow to emphasize your jaw line and cheekbones. For tips on how to contour your face according to its specific shape, visit Total Beauty.
Makeup sponges help you apply make up, but not without a cost. They usually soak up more liquid foundation than what ends up on your face. The result? You’re wasting foundation and constantly buying new sponges. The fix? Get a foundation brush. You waste less foundation and it allows for a more even and precise application than a sponge would.
Giving yourself a natural glow avec blush is an in look for spring. But you’ll want to avoid brushing on too much (lest you look like a clown). So always start your blush line two finger widths away from your nose and only apply it on the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you create a natural glow without going overboard.
Spritz an old toothbrush or a clean mascara wand with hairspray, then brush brows and style them as desired. Even the most hard to tame brows will fall in line with this trick.
Source: Yahoo Shopping
Adding extra eye fringe amps up the glam instantly. First, take your falsies and loosen them by gently flexing the eyelash band, then curl your natural lashes to make sure your falsies line up with your actual lash line. Apply glue on your falsies using a Q-tip. Using tweezers (or finger tips if you feel that gives you more control), place your falsies as close to your lash line as possible. Let your lashes dry for a minute before you add a coat of mascara (this is optional).
Source: Makeup.com
You’ve heard it before — don’t pop your zits! The folks over at Daily Glow suggest applying a bit of toothpaste to a pimple before bed and washing it off with warm water when you wake up in the morning. They say that toothpastes draws impurities out of clogged pores and dries the skin with shrinks the pimple. Opt for organic toothpastes rather than gel toothpastes which don’t work as well.
Do you start the morning with matte, fresh-looking skin only to find that by the time 5 p.m. rolls in you’re a shiny mess? If you have oily skin then blotting papers are a beauty godsend. Don’t use powder to soak up the oil. Using too much periodically throughout the day will make your skin appear cakey because you’re just layering makeup on top of more makeup. Opt for blotting papers instead. They will soak up all the oil. We love We love Sephora’s blotting papers.
If you’re out of makeup remover, use body lotion to get rid of makeup. It works especially well on tough mascara.
If you’re tired of having thin, pursed puckers, extend your lip line using a neutral-toned lip liner. Then apply lipstick over top. Be careful though — don’t extend your lip line too much.
Curl your lashes both before and after applying mascara for longer lashes. You may want to re-curl them throughout the day to get some extra lift, just remember to be gentle when you apply pressure with your curler.
No, no, no! Don’t pop your zits. Not only does it increase the chance of scarring, it’s also likely that you will worsen the blemish and spread bacteria to other places on your face which could give rise to another breakout.
If you’ve just had your hair dyed, the last thing you want is for the colour to fade. One surefire way to prevent such a mishap from happening is to use a deep-conditioning treatment once a month. This will help lock in colour and has the added benefit of staving off dry and damaged locks.
Flat irons are amazing tools with multiple uses. Not only can you use it to straighten your hair, you can also create tight curls or soft romantic waves.
Dry, flaky, chapped lips are the worst canvas for lipstick. To ensure that your puckers are in perfect pout condition, the experts at The Beauty Department recommend exfoliating your lips. To do this, apply lip balm to your lips, then using a toothbrush or clean mascara wand, scrub your lips (don’t be too rough). Then, use a tissue to wipe away excess flakes and voila! You’ll have a perfect pout in no time.
Who doesn’t love a spa day? If we could go every day, we probably would, but that would also put a dent in our wallets. A quick, easy and cheaper indulgence is to put your favourite lotion in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Make sure the oils in your lotion don’t separate and that it isn’t too hot. Apply it on to your skin and enjoy!
Source: Bella Sugar
Exfoliation is an important and easy way to buff away the dead skin cells that cover up your skin’s natural glow. Use a light exfoliator, like the Daily Microfoliant from Dermalogica, to freshen your face daily.
When choosing a foundation, test a product on the skin near your jawline. And be sure to do it in natural light. This will ensure the foundation tone you choose for your face isn’t too different from the natural shade of your neck. We really love Makeup Forever’s Invisible Cover HD Foundation because it comes in so many shades.
Don’t throw away your old mascara wand, it’s still got a few uses left. Clean it and use it as a brow brush instead. You might even find it handy around the house — use it to unclog sinks or clean tough to reach areas in your home.
Source: A Thrifty Mrs
What’s worse than having to wear a skirt with absolutely no time to shave your legs? We’ve all been there. The hassle free fix for this is to wearing pantyhose or tights (try a patterned pair for something new). It will disguise stubble as well as any blemishes on your stems.
Before you tweeze, make sure you soften your skin by dabbing a cotton ball soaked in warm water or cream. When you start tweezing, do so in the direction of your hair’s growth.
Source: Yahoo Shopping
If you want to camouflage some strands of grey hair on the go, the folks at Real Simple suggest using mascara if you have dark hair. For blondes or redheads try dusting your roots with bronzing powder.
Save money on your beauty routine by taking care of your feet on a daily basis. Simply scrub your foot with a pumice stone each morning in the shower. Once you step out and dry off, apply a moisture cream to your feet. This will increase the amount of time you can go without a pedicure and will keep your toes healthy and fungus-free.
We absolutely love dry shampoo, especially Klorane (we use this brand religiously). It absorbs excess oil on your strands and scalp and keeps your mane looking clean and fresh. If you don’t have dry shampoo, try washing just the top of your head (or wherever there is oil), with regular shampoo followed by a quick blow dry. Your tresses will look as good as new.
Be beautiful and environmentally savvy while you’re at it. Recycle your old beauty products by shipping them to Terra Cycle (you can download their pre-paid UPS shipping packages online so it’s completely free). They’ll take your old beauty products and transform them into something new.
The experts at Beauty Is My Duty say that you should never pump your mascara (i.e., moving the wand up and down in the tube really quickly) because it will only allow air into the tube which will cause your mascara to dry (and ultimately shorten its lifespan).
Before applying bronzer or self-tanning lotion, mix a drop or two of the solution with moisture cream. Blend using your finger or a Q-tip then apply to skin as you would regular moisturizer. This will ensure the cream blends in — and covers skin — evenly.
This probably sounds crazy, but using an oil-based product to remove makeup or excess dirt from your skin can actually improve your epidermis’ condition. Why? Over-cleaning stimulates the sebum glands, which causes skin to over-produce oil. Using oil-based products will have the opposite effect.
There are only two options for your nails — with nail polish or without. Do not allow your nails to be caught somewhere in the middle (there is nothing worse than nails donning chipped red nail polish). Even if you think no one else will notice, trust us, someone will.
Sometimes less is more. Don’t slather your face with moisturizer because it will take 10 minutes or more to be absorbed by the skin before your face is ready for makeup. In an interview with Real Simple, Susan Evans, a dermatologist, said the best way to apply face cream is to blend a dime-sized amount on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead instead of moisturizing heavily.
Make sure you clean your makeup brushes regularly to avoid a buildup of makeup residue and bacteria. You can purchase makeup brush cleaner from a drug or beauty store, or you can simply use shampoo and conditioner to clean your brushes as you would your own hair. Clean brushes guarantee a super smooth and even makeup application every time.
Apply a product containing azulene or witch hazel to help reduce the swelling and redness that’s associated with ingrown hairs. From there, coax the ingrown hair from its location with a pair of tweezers (don’t pull it out, though — this will only make the ingrown hair regrow in in the same way later).
Don’t rub your hair dry with your towel; it will cause your hair to frizz. Instead, before getting out of the shower gently squeeze excess water from your hair. Then, wrap your hair in a towel and pat it dry to absorb any remaining moisture.
Do you really need all those supplements? It’s true the healthier you are, the healthier your skin and hair will be. But popping supplements without discussing them with your doctor can do more harm than good. Why? Because mixing certain vitamins and minerals can have the opposite effect of what you’re hoping. Talk to your physician before popping any pills.
If you run out of nail polish remover, you can remove cracked or chipped nail polish by applying a clear top coat to the nail and removing it promptly with a cotton ball.
Don’t douse yourself with perfume before you leave the house (you don’t want to bombard other people’s nostril with strong smells). Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean other people won’t be able to. If you wear it every day, chances are your olfactory sense has just become desensitized to the scent. Only spray or dab perfume on select spots like your knees, wrists, base of throat, and behind your earlobes.
Add a top coat to freshly painted nails, and then again once they are dry. This makes your nail polish less likely to chip and will ensure it lasts longer.
In order to remove product build-up from locks, use a clarifying shampoo once a week. This will also help prevent dandruff and other annoying hair/scalp conditions.
Our best beauty tip? Smile! It’s the most beautiful asset you have. Where it every day.
Our best beauty tip? Smile! It’s the most beautiful asset you have. Where it every day.
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