Ever wondered why dark spots and pimples are always popping up on your face? They could be your body’s way of crying for help because of your bad beauty habits. Sometimes we won’t notice that we’ve committed a bad habit because it’s already embedded in us but it’s time to break them. See if you’re guilty of any of the eight habits below:
1. Not using SPF at all
Life is a rush and the last thing you want to do is to slap on some sunscreen. But getting a sunburn is never a good feeling and in the long run, frequent sun exposure could damage your skin’s cells, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Remember to put on sunscreen with at least SPF 30 about 20-30 minutes before you go out to protect you from the sun.
2. Sleeping with makeup on
It’s one of the worst things you can do to your face. Not only will the makeup clog your pores, it causes breakouts and premature aging too. If you’re too lazy to double cleanse, try putting makeup wipes by your bedside table so it’s easy to reach and you have no excuse to not clean your face before hitting the sack.
3. Forgetting to wash your makeup brushes
Your makeup brushes can harbour a great amount of germs, dust, dead skin, and dirt. Imagine dipping your brush into your blusher (some bacteria might stop here) then, brushing it on your face (the 2nd batch of germs will stop here) before putting it on your dressing table uncovered (bring on the dust!). Dirty brushes could irritate, cause breakouts, spread germs and shorten the lifespan of your brushes. So wash them at least once a week if you use them often. (Here’s a quick way to wash your brushes.)
4. Touching your face
It’s OK to touch your face with clean hands but if you rest your hands on your face after playing with your phone (one of the biggest germ magnet) then, it increases the possibility of a breakout the next day. Your hands are in contact with a variety of germs that could come from your phone, money, and even your bag. Imagine putting those on your face with just a touch? So do avoid touching your face unless your hands are clean.
5. Sharing your makeup
We enjoy sharing our love of makeup to our close friends but sometimes it’s not the wisest move. Your eyes and lips are the most susceptible to infections such as conjunctivitis and cold sores. Both are contagious from just using the same applicators. If you really want to share your makeup, just remember to wipe the applicators with a tissue or a brush cleaner, or use disposable applicators to make it more hygienic.
6. Using old make-up products
Makeup is not exactly fast-moving consumer goods which is why our obsession with makeup is not helping. Some of them have been sitting in your drawers for more than 2 years because it’s not finished and you can’t bear to part with it. Different makeup items have their own expiry dates so if you noticed your skin breaking out or if you got an infection from one of your products then comes the hard part, time to bin it.
7. Biting and licking your lips
Sometimes when you’re nervous, you tend to bite your lips or you might lick your lips because it feels dry and you assume your saliva will help keep it moist. But as your saliva evaporates, your lips will be drier because more moisture will be lost. Also, dry lips is a sign of dehydration too so always have a good lip balm (with SPF if possible) on hand to rescue your dry lips.
8. Doing gel manicures often
Gel manicures may cost more and last longer than normal nail polishes but recent studies have found that gel manicures dries out your nail, making it more brittle. Add that to the curing process using UV lights, you’re exposing your fingers to risks such as premature aging and maybe even cancer. Try giving your natural nails a break after doing gels to fully recover if it has become brittle.
What you put or don’t put on your skin and body is just as important as what you eat. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and the one that is most exposed to pollution and external damages from free radicals. So it’s time to give some extra love to your outer body!
Are you guilty of any of these bad beauty habits?
Related: Avoid these 8 Sneaky Habits that Can Cause Acne
– Cover Image: www.facesofony.com
