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I received many emails from you wonderful readers about makeup and skin care do’s and don’ts. And I have sensed frustration in some of the emails about how to get the right look without making mistakes.
We all make mistakes. If you think about it, most of us never got “beauty lessons” when we were younger and just got by on what we heard from our mothers, friends, or magazine articles. Some of us are probably doing the same beauty routines from when we were 18 years old. However, times have changed, and what used to be sound skin care and cosmetic advice from 20 years ago may not hold true anymore. The following are the top 7 biggest beauty slip-ups that women make today.
1. Scrubbing your face until it’s squeaky clean. Using harsh and abrasive face cleansers not only strips the face of essential moisture, but also can exacerbate oily skin. If you wear heavy makeup during the day, use a makeup remover or makeup removing towelettes before you wash your face. Oily skin types should stick with an oil-free and alcohol-free cleanser- there are many good cleansers for oily skin at drugstores or department stores- which will leave your skin feeling fresh and clean without overdrying.
2. Not wearing a moisturizer with SPF during the day. If you spend time outdoors or even if you’re running errands in the car, you need to be wearing sunscreen daily. Just because you’re not baking in the sun on the beach doesn’t mean the sun’s damaging rays aren’t affecting your skin.
In your 20s and 30s, sun damage isn’t as apparent, aside from the few freckles that may pop up on sunny days. As you get older, you may notice spots that don’t fade or premature wrinkling, which are both signs of sun damage. At this point, a dermatologist should determine what steps to take. So to prevent all of this hassle, use SPF 15 everyday. But if you are exposed to the sun frequently, bump it up to SPF 30 and wear a hat.
3. Brushing your hair 100 times at night. Hair brushing helps to disperse natural oils from the scalp to the ends and helps to keep the hair tangle-free. However, over-brushing can be damaging. In some cases, brushing the hair too frequently can lead to split ends and weakened strands.
4. Wearing one makeup product in excess and not wearing anything else. For some women it's eyeliner, for others, it may be lipstick or mascara. If you absolutely love black eyeliner and mascara, by all means, wear it. But a polished look is all about balance. If you cannot leave the house without mascara, add a little liner and lip color to balance it out. If you love red lips but don’t wear eye makeup, add a little blush. You might say to yourself, “I don’t look good in blush.” Ask a friend or relative what her honest opinion is. You might not be used to seeing yourself in a certain way, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look good. Trying something new isn’t always a scary thing, but do it one step at a time.
5. Wearing the wrong foundation color. You may think it’s a better idea to wear a foundation that is darker than your natural skin tone to make you look tan, but it’s actually just making you look orange. If you love that sun-kissed look, use a foundation that matches your skin tone exactly and dust a bronzer on top. It may add another step to your makeup routine, but you’ll have better results.
6. At-home hair color. If you want to cover up a few grays or touch up your roots, there’s no reason why you can’t do it at home. However, if you’re planning to go from brunette to blonde or blonde to redhead, don’t attempt it as do-it-yourself project. Drastic color changes require a professional, so spend the extra time and money and go to someone who knows exactly how to mix the perfect color for you. I asked Pari, a color and hair expert for more than10 years, about changing hair shade at home, and she said, "Chances are, if you do go ahead and try something like this at home, you’ll be heading to the salon for a fix anyway."
7. Ring around the mouth. A dark lip liner with a super-light lipstick is probably the biggest beauty mistake I’ve seen in the past 10 years. While this look was hot circa 1993, it is now taboo. It also accentuates thin lips and fine lines around the mouth. If you like light lipstick, choose a liner that is the same color of the lipstick or one that blends with it. If you want a highlight/contour effect, choose a pencil that is slightly darker than the lipstick and blend well.
Remember, makeup is all about your personal expression and creativity. Of course it’s also about maximizing your features, but don’t forget it’s your own uniqueness that makes you beautiful.
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