Since conducting my one-to-one beauty sessions and speaking to so many of you about your skincare and makeup routines, it seems that many of us are making small errors that have a big knock-on effect to our overall look. Beauty mistakes are easy to make and so much more common than you may think, thanks to us all bumbling through and not thinking anything of it. We pick up bad habits, skip parts of our routines and use the same products for years on end - so I've highlighted ten beauty mistakes you may be making without even knowing, in an attempt to fix them as effortlessly as possible.
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Forgetting Eye Cream
The skin under our eyes is the thinnest on our body, so we need to look after it to the best of our ability. Using a great eye cream can help increase volume (which we lose as we age,) reduce the appearance of fine lines, as well as helping to lift tired eyes after a heavy night. Your under-eye area needs care and attention via a targeted cream, rather than just wacking on a moisturiser designed for the rest of your face; one of the first things I check during any consultation is if they're using a specific eye product. A great eye cream can mean the difference between looking fab and feeling drab - so invest in one and start using it, if you're not already!
Concealing Rather Than Brightening
When our eyes are looking a little tired and the thin skin is showing the blood flow underneath more than we would like, rather than chucking on a load of heavy duty makeup in an attempt to conceal it, a touch of light could be the key to success. Applying concealer in an upside-down triangle underneath the eye may seem strange, but the brightening pigments in something such as YSL Touche Eclat or Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light will help reflect the light away from the area and give the illusion of a brighter complexion.
Doing Too Much Too Soon
With so much beauty advice floating around, so many products claiming to revolutionise our skin and so many steps to invest in, it's easy to become overwhelmed. I recently had a consultation with a teenager who was treating their skin like a 45 year old woman's and wondering why it was sending it into haywire. Applying multiple serums, anti-ageing treatments, face masks, oils, exfoliating toners and heavy creams on young skin will simply overload it and more often than not cause excess oil, dryness or texture problems. When your skin is great you just need a fab cleanser, moisturiser and SPF - that's it. Stop doing too much to soon and enjoy your fab skin while it lasts!
Exfoliating Too Often
A little exfoliating in the shower every day may seem like nothing, but over time this can cause serious problems for your skin and remove too much of the surface level. Exfoliation should be limited to two or three times a week, aiding the natural 'shedding' process that helps keep skin looking and feeling fresh; any more than this and you're not only removing healthy skin that's hydrating and protecting your face, but you could make your skin prone to irritation and damage.
Overloading the Under-Eye Area
We have a tendency to overload the under-eye area with thick creams and too much makeup in an attempt to conceal imperfections and puffiness. However, it's often these products themselves that are exacerbating the situation; this delicate skin can only 'hold' so much, so it can appear puffy and inflamed if we attempt to apply lotions and potions to reduce bags. Detox your under-eye area, pat on products delicately and focus on good quality products that will give you a helping hand. Don't overload this delicate skin with more stuff than it can cope with.
Using Too Many Sulfates
Sulfates are not my friend. These foaming agents are found in many shampoos, body washes, cleansers and cleaning products because they help to create a lather and wash away dirt and grime. However, they also have a tendency to strip the skin and hair by washing away the goodness simultaneously, causing dryness. They can also cause irritation and adverse reactions, so wherever possible I'd recommend avoiding them - you can snap up so many affordable alternatives on the high street that there's no need to still opt for a product that's potentially damaging.
Not Making The Most Of Your Beauty Sleep
We (theorectically) spend eight hours of our day in bed doing nothing, so why not make the most of that downtime and cover yourself in as many hardworking products as possible? I love a good night treatment, cream or oil that helps my skin and hair to look fabulous the next day - no effort required. Although you can use your 'daytime' products before bed, you often find night specific treatments are thicker and more suited to work over a period of time. If you don't already have at least a night cream, then make this top of your 'must buy' list.
Avoiding The Dermatologist
If you had a serious stomach issue or broken arm, you'd force yourself to visit your GP. However, when it comes to skin we're incredibly reluctant to seek out professional help. One of my best friends had to get to the stage of being on antidepressants before she would even consider tackling her acne professionally, whilst I've spoken to many readers with serious allergies and intolerances that need much more than a touch of advice from a beauty blogger. If you have serious skin issues, allergic reactions or suffer from breakouts, there's no shame in visiting your GP and asking to be referred to a dermatologist. They'll be able to offer tailored and long-term advice.
Underestimating The Power Of A Primer
If there's one product every woman should have within her reportoire then it's a great primer. When applied over skincare and under makeup it has the power to minimise the appearance of pores, even out skin texture, minimise redness, aid the application of foundation and ensure longevity of performance. So why would you skip such an important step? I frequently get asked how to help makeup last longer, how to reduce the appearance of pores and how to keep oily skin from hating foundation - the answer is always 'use a primer.'
Not Changing It Up As We Age
Although having much loved products and reliable classics to turn to is a comfort, as we age our skincare ane beauty routines require a little update. If you've been wearing the same foundation for ten years, there's probably something more suited to your needs waiting you in the beauty halls. If you've only ever used Nivea and are wondering why you're seeing fine lines around your eyes, maybe it's time to change it up and start integrating some more prescriptive products into your routine. Nobody can use the same products from 18 to 80, so treat yourself to a little update as often as possible.
Are you guilty of making any of these beauty mistakes, or are you a beauty maestro?
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Forgetting Eye Cream
The skin under our eyes is the thinnest on our body, so we need to look after it to the best of our ability. Using a great eye cream can help increase volume (which we lose as we age,) reduce the appearance of fine lines, as well as helping to lift tired eyes after a heavy night. Your under-eye area needs care and attention via a targeted cream, rather than just wacking on a moisturiser designed for the rest of your face; one of the first things I check during any consultation is if they're using a specific eye product. A great eye cream can mean the difference between looking fab and feeling drab - so invest in one and start using it, if you're not already!
Concealing Rather Than Brightening
When our eyes are looking a little tired and the thin skin is showing the blood flow underneath more than we would like, rather than chucking on a load of heavy duty makeup in an attempt to conceal it, a touch of light could be the key to success. Applying concealer in an upside-down triangle underneath the eye may seem strange, but the brightening pigments in something such as YSL Touche Eclat or Bare Minerals' Stroke of Light will help reflect the light away from the area and give the illusion of a brighter complexion.
Doing Too Much Too Soon
With so much beauty advice floating around, so many products claiming to revolutionise our skin and so many steps to invest in, it's easy to become overwhelmed. I recently had a consultation with a teenager who was treating their skin like a 45 year old woman's and wondering why it was sending it into haywire. Applying multiple serums, anti-ageing treatments, face masks, oils, exfoliating toners and heavy creams on young skin will simply overload it and more often than not cause excess oil, dryness or texture problems. When your skin is great you just need a fab cleanser, moisturiser and SPF - that's it. Stop doing too much to soon and enjoy your fab skin while it lasts!
Exfoliating Too Often
A little exfoliating in the shower every day may seem like nothing, but over time this can cause serious problems for your skin and remove too much of the surface level. Exfoliation should be limited to two or three times a week, aiding the natural 'shedding' process that helps keep skin looking and feeling fresh; any more than this and you're not only removing healthy skin that's hydrating and protecting your face, but you could make your skin prone to irritation and damage.
Overloading the Under-Eye Area
We have a tendency to overload the under-eye area with thick creams and too much makeup in an attempt to conceal imperfections and puffiness. However, it's often these products themselves that are exacerbating the situation; this delicate skin can only 'hold' so much, so it can appear puffy and inflamed if we attempt to apply lotions and potions to reduce bags. Detox your under-eye area, pat on products delicately and focus on good quality products that will give you a helping hand. Don't overload this delicate skin with more stuff than it can cope with.
Using Too Many Sulfates
Sulfates are not my friend. These foaming agents are found in many shampoos, body washes, cleansers and cleaning products because they help to create a lather and wash away dirt and grime. However, they also have a tendency to strip the skin and hair by washing away the goodness simultaneously, causing dryness. They can also cause irritation and adverse reactions, so wherever possible I'd recommend avoiding them - you can snap up so many affordable alternatives on the high street that there's no need to still opt for a product that's potentially damaging.
Not Making The Most Of Your Beauty Sleep
We (theorectically) spend eight hours of our day in bed doing nothing, so why not make the most of that downtime and cover yourself in as many hardworking products as possible? I love a good night treatment, cream or oil that helps my skin and hair to look fabulous the next day - no effort required. Although you can use your 'daytime' products before bed, you often find night specific treatments are thicker and more suited to work over a period of time. If you don't already have at least a night cream, then make this top of your 'must buy' list.
Avoiding The Dermatologist
If you had a serious stomach issue or broken arm, you'd force yourself to visit your GP. However, when it comes to skin we're incredibly reluctant to seek out professional help. One of my best friends had to get to the stage of being on antidepressants before she would even consider tackling her acne professionally, whilst I've spoken to many readers with serious allergies and intolerances that need much more than a touch of advice from a beauty blogger. If you have serious skin issues, allergic reactions or suffer from breakouts, there's no shame in visiting your GP and asking to be referred to a dermatologist. They'll be able to offer tailored and long-term advice.
Underestimating The Power Of A Primer
If there's one product every woman should have within her reportoire then it's a great primer. When applied over skincare and under makeup it has the power to minimise the appearance of pores, even out skin texture, minimise redness, aid the application of foundation and ensure longevity of performance. So why would you skip such an important step? I frequently get asked how to help makeup last longer, how to reduce the appearance of pores and how to keep oily skin from hating foundation - the answer is always 'use a primer.'
Not Changing It Up As We Age
Although having much loved products and reliable classics to turn to is a comfort, as we age our skincare ane beauty routines require a little update. If you've been wearing the same foundation for ten years, there's probably something more suited to your needs waiting you in the beauty halls. If you've only ever used Nivea and are wondering why you're seeing fine lines around your eyes, maybe it's time to change it up and start integrating some more prescriptive products into your routine. Nobody can use the same products from 18 to 80, so treat yourself to a little update as often as possible.
Are you guilty of making any of these beauty mistakes, or are you a beauty maestro?
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