Sometimes in our daily makeup routines we take shortcuts. There are tons of beauty rules circulating that range from old wives tales to some with scientific backing. Let’s face it; rules were meant to be broken. Here are beauty rules we break along with our reasons why it’s ok to be a repeat offender.
Rule #1: Always Wash Your Face Before Bed
Rationale for this Rule: As you sleep, makeup can clog your pores and cause unsightly acne. With a layer of foundation on it is hard for your skin to breathe and repair itself over night.
Why We Break it: Sometimes, after a long day all you want is to fall right into bed and call it a day. The extra step of washing your face is the furthest thing from your mind and the one thing that stands between you and some glorious sleep.
How to Break it: Keep makeup remover wipes on your bedside table and use them when you just can’t muster up the energy for a more thorough cleaning. They will clean away all of your makeup and moisturize your skin.
Rule #2: Throw Your Makeup Away When it Expires
Rationale for this Rule: Makeup comes into constant contact with your face and has the potential to be a breeding ground for bacteria. Harboring bacteria is arguably the worst part but as makeup ages it also loses pigment and the formula changes. After the expiration date your favorite mascara may not give you the same full and flared lashes it once did.
Why We Break it: The biggest reason we don’t throw makeup away is because we simply don’t know that is has a shelf life. It’s not advertised and not really common knowledge. Additionally, makeup can be expensive and it is hard to part with the $70 palette that we still haven’t been able to use.
How to Break it: We don’t encourage breaking this rule but we have some ways to make sure that you toss them in time. Go to an office supply store and buy colored labels or dots. Use the labels to write the month that you purchased the item and when you should get ready to let it go. For more information on beauty product expiration dates click here.
Rule #3: Drink lots of Water
Rationale for this Rule: Staying hydrated has so many benefits. Your skin elasticity improves, you look more youthful and your overall body function in better.
Why We Break it: Truthfully, water can get kind of boring. We end up looking for more flavorful, bad for you, sugary sodas and sports drinks as alternatives.
How to Break it: If taste is what you crave then opt for drink mixes like Crystal Light. This particular company makes over 30 flavors that you can pop right into your water. They provide a power push without adding too much unnecessary sugar.
Rule #4: Don’t Wear Blue Eyeshadow
Rationale for this Rule: We’re not exactly sure where this rule originated but we have a feeling that it had to do with over-the-top, cakey 80′s makeup. It has the tendency to make you look clownish and dated, but only if its not applied correctly.
Why We Break it: Please, break this rule! Eye makeup is all about experimenting with new colors and applications. Sure, it is inevitable that on the road to perfect eye makeup you may have a few missteps but half the fun is trying.
How to Break it: We recommend lining your waterlines with an electric blue or teal gel eyeliner then apply directly to your lash line. The liner really makes your eyes pop and adds a surprising splash of color. A dark denim blue shadow can be worked into your crease and blended out towards your brow bone for a sultry smokey eye while a lighter translucent blue can be applied all over your lid with eyeliner and mascara for a day look.
Rule #5: Wash Your Makeup Brushes
Rationale for this Rule: As with makeup, your brushes can harbor a ton of bacteria if not cleaned properly and often.
Why We Break it: Most women don’t know how to or how often to wash their makeup brushes. It’s a boring task that isn’t performed as often as it should be.
How to Break it: Makeup brushes should be washed once a week. You heard it, once a week. By this we mean a full on deep cleaning and then laid out to dry overnight. To get around this spot clean your brushes every couple days by spraying a small amount of makeup brush cleaner on a tissue paper and work the brush back and forth on the spot. This removes a lot of the makeup build up without saturating the brushes. The brushes will dry very quickly so you’ll be able to use them almost instantly. Be advised that you should still try and deep clean your brushes when you can. For directions on how to clean your brushes click here.
Rule #6: Always Use Heat Protectant
Rationale for this Rule: Blowdrying, flat ironing and curling: beauty takes a toll on your hair. Daily use of heat tools dries, damages and strips hair which results in dry, brittle locks.
Why We Break it: For those of us who don’t like our natural hair, the use of heat tools allows us to create styles that we love. Not enough women use heat protectant and it is due to the fact that we simply don’t know how important it is.
How to Break it: If you don’t have heat protectant on hand then try to be as gentle with your hair as possible. Wait until it is 50% dry before blowdrying and 100% dry before applying direct heat with a curling or flat iron. Finally, invest in tools that are made from ceramic or tourmaline. These materials distribute heat much more evenly and are better for the hair.
