Sometimes the little things make big differences. Here are some mistakes you might be making in your beauty routine (don't worry, they're all easy fixes).
1. Not cleaning your makeup tools
We're all guilty of not cleaning our brushes as often as we probably should. Unclean makeup tools can harbor bacteria, which can lead to breakouts. Beautyblenders especially should be cleaned regularly because their spongy quality means they can be an absolute breeding ground for bacteria. It's recommended that your brushes and tools are cleaned each time you use them, but because we're unlikely to clean them nearly every day, once a week is more of a realistic goal. You can use specific brush cleaner or you can mix some baby shampoo or castile soap in warm water and then swirl your brushes around, leaving them to soak for a little bit. Afterwards, rinse them out and then set them out to dry and you're good to go.
2. Not using a primer
Primers are one of the most important steps in makeup application, both for the face and eyes. Most face primers contain glycerin, which is a key ingredient that gives the makeup something to stick to, thus lasting longer. Some face primers can be expensive, but there are plenty suitable drugstore options, like famed the Nivea for Men Aftershave Balm (courtesy of NikkieTutorials). As far as eye primers, they're important for preventing your eye shadow from fading and creasing. If you're in a pinch, you can use concealer as a primer. It's also helpful to set your eye shadow primer with a nude matte eye shadow or powder so that it makes blending easier.
3. Not setting your under eye concealer
Many people have issues with their under eye concealer creasing and the way to stop that is to immediately set it with powder. You'll see all the beauty bloggers doing this on YouTube because it actually works. After you've applied concealer, take your Beauty Blender or a brush and pat some powder on top of it. Don't be afraid to use a lot because the more you use, the more heavy duty it will be. I prefer to use loose powders, but you can definitely use a pressed one, too!
4. Sleeping in your makeup
I cringe whenever someone says that they are wearing last night's makeup, no matter how good it still looks because not taking your makeup up off is certainly not beneficial to your skin. It can clog your pores and lead to breakouts. When people ask me what I do to keep my skin in good shape, the number one thing is taking my makeup off every night. A clean face at the end of the day is a happy face. I personally use a cleansing oil and micellar water after using a makeup wipe to take off most of my eye makeup.
5. Not getting enough sleep or not drinking enough water
When you don't get enough sleep, your skin can look dull. Getting those 7 to 9 hours is key to giving your skin the time it needs to rejuvenate. Similarly, drinking an adequate amount of water every day will help your skin keep its moisture balance and elasticity. Getting enough sleep and water also helps reduce breakouts in the long run.
6. Not wearing sunscreen every day
Wearing sunscreen every day is super important and helps prevent your skin from wrinkling at an early age and also from the obvious threat of skin cancer. Even though you may not always be able to see it, sun damage is there and just because your moisturizer has SPF 15, doesn't mean that that's enough protection. More often than not, you need something higher than that for daily wear. I usually mix in an SPF 30 or higher face sunscreen with my moisturizer in the morning. You also shouldn't forego sunscreen when it's cloudy because you're actually more likely to get more sun damage on those days than sunny days, thanks to the rays reflecting off the water droplets in the clouds.
7. Pulling wet hair into a ponytail or brushing it too harshly
Hair is most vulnerable when it's wet because it's more elastic and therefore susceptible to breakage. When you use your normal brush and pull it through your hair too roughly, you risk stretching and breaking the strands. The same goes for wearing your hair up when it's wet. To prevent damage, use a wide-tooth comb to get tangles out of wet hair and get it mostly dry before you try to put it up.
Hope you learned something new today! Stay beautiful, my friends.
