I’ve always loved playing around with skincare and makeup products, and over the years I’ve developed some habits that I absolutely swear by. Today I thought I’d share these with you guys in the form of ‘The 10 Commandments of Beauty’. I hope you find it useful!
01. THOU SHALT NOT GO TO SLEEP WITH THY MAKEUP ON
When I was younger I almost always went to sleep at night with my makeup on. Then I read an article in a magazine that mentioned how sleeping in makeup can cause clogged pores, breakouts, irritation and rough skin texture as well as leading to premature aging. And I’m not going to lie – it frightened me to death! I dread the thought of my skin looking old before its time so now I always take my makeup off before hitting the sack.
Top Tip:
These days balm cleansers make removing makeup quick and easy and they can even take off stubborn eyeliner and waterproof mascara in just seconds! I definitely recommend having some to hand.
02. THOU SHALT WASH THY MAKEUP BRUSHES REGULARLY
Washing your makeup brushes regularly will help prevent the dirt, grime and dead skin they harbor from transferring to your skin and causing nasty spots or infections. And it can help extend the life span of your brushes too. Ideally, you should wash your brushes after every use. But I doubt very few of us have time to do that, so I always aim to clean mine once a week.
Top Tip:
The Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Mat makes brush cleaning a breeze – just stick it in your sink, add soap and water, then swirl your brushes over the textured surfaces until the water runs clear. Simple!
03. THOU SHALT NOT SHARE MAKEUP WITH THY NEIGHBOUR
Makeup is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Everything from its formulation to its dark containers can help germs to procreate. It can even cause diseases to spread or transfer. And while your friend or co-workers face might not be affected by certain germs on their skin, you might not be so lucky. And vice versa. So keep everyone looking their best by keeping your makeup to yourself. It isn’t worth risking your heath and the health of those around you just to try out a new product!
04. THOU SHALT NOT WEAR CHIPPED NAIL POLISH
OK, so I guess this one is all down to personal preference, but I like to have my nail polish beautifully in tact or I don’t tend to bother with it at all. But when I was younger and going through my Emo stage I would paint my nails black, and be over the moon when they chipped. I thought it made me look quite Rock ‘n’ Roll. See – personal preference! These days perfectly painted nails that last for weeks are quick and easy to achieve thanks to all the beautiful gel polishes that are available. And I for one love them!
05. THOU SHALT REPLACE THY MASCARA EVERY 3 MONTHS
Since mascara touches your eyes, it’s important to replace it regularly to prevent bacteria growth. Cosmetics brand recommend you throw away your mascara once it’s been opened for 3 months and replace it with a new one so you don’t end up with nasty eye infections. And if your mascara has gone dry or has started to smell, it’s well past the point of safe use!
Top Tip:
Don’t have too many mascara’s on the go at once. I try to open no more than 2 at a time, no matter how badly I want to give the latest releases a try!
06. THOU SHALT CHECK THY FOUNDATION SHADE SEASONALLY
For the majority of us, our skin will change colour over the course of the year. It will usually be at its lightest during the winter months, and at its darkest throughout the summer. During those times of year, update your foundation by selecting a shade that disappears into your cheek when applied. If you don’t, it’s likely you’ll end up using a shade that doesn’t match your skin-tone for at least half the year. Eek!
07. THOU SHALT ALWAYS WEAR SPF
Did you know that 90% of visible aging is actually caused by sun damage?! That’s a really high number – and super scary when you think about it. Many people only use sunscreen on warm and sunny days. But in reality, we should be wearing it every day without fail. Why? Because it’s the ultraviolet rays that causes damage to our skin, and these rays can penetrate clouds with ease. So even on overcast days the sun is doing damage that we can’t see. And let’s not forget that sun exposure can also cause skin cancer. With so many different sunscreens on the market these days, there’s no excuse to not use use them. Remember, prevention is better than the cure.
08. THOU SHALT LEAVE THY SPOTS ALONE
I’m not going to lie. I’m the world’s worst when it comes to picking at spots. But this year I’m going to make a conscious effort not to touch them. Because let’s face it, picking at them is only doing more harm than good! Pick at a spot and it just becomes inflamed, making it look ten times worse than it did before. And of course you run the risk of spreading the infection from it across the rest of your face, so you’ll be spottier than ever. It’s better to just leave them alone!
Top Tip:
Rather than picking at your spots, use a medicated spot treatment on any pimples you may have, then cover with a little concealer. I find Collection’s Lasting Perfection Concealer does the trick!
09. THOU SHALT STAY HYDRATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Drinking plenty of water throughout the day does wonders for your skin. It will help keep your skin hydrated, which in turn gives you a healthy-looking glow and also prevents wrinkles. I reckon it’s probably the best anti-aging treatment around! Of course, there are loads of other great reasons to drink plenty of water, but I’ll be covering them in a future post.
10. THOU SHALT NOT HAVE LESS THAN 8 HOURS SLEEP PER NIGHT
And last but not least is probably the most important beauty commandment of all – try to get at least 8 hours of quality sleep per night! My skin has never looked as dull and lacklustre as it does at the moment, and I know that’s down to lack of sleep. This year I fully intend to change our night time routine and hopefully start getting a full 8 hours sleep. I’m sure I’ll look and feel so much better for it!
Top Tip:
Use silk pillowcases to prevent wrinkles and change them every few days so any dirt and oils from your face and hair aren’t transferring back to your face and causing problems such as clogged pores or breakouts.
And there you have it – my 10 commandments of beauty! I hope you enjoyed it.
Do you swear by any of these? Or do you have some of your own?
Let me know in the comments below!
See you next time.
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