If you spent the early ‘00s plucking your eyebrows into an almost non-existence, if you’ve ever overdone it with the fake tan in a bid to look healthier, or you’ve heated your eyelash curlers with a hairdryer for extra-long eyelashes, chances are you’ve followed some bad beauty advice in your time. We’ve all been there and with the beauty world being full of conflicting information, it’s hard to know who or what to believe. Plus, beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all and what works for you may not work for someone else with a different skin or hair type. From the radical to the ridiculous, here are ten basic beauty tips you should ignore.
USE COCONUT OIL AS A MAKEUP REMOVER
Coconut oil has been hailed as something of a multi-tasking miracle beauty product in the past few years – something that can be used on everything from your skin to your hair – but beauty experts have warned against it being used as a makeup remover. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it can’t penetrate the pores, and can lead to everything from dry skin to clogged pores and breakouts, particularly for those with acne-prone skin.
SKIP MOISTURISER IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN
While many people think that having oily skin is reason enough to skip moisturiser, it can actually have an adverse effect on your skin, as skin produces excess oil when it’s dehydrated. Whatever your skin type, using a balancing day care cream will not only help hydrate your skin, it will also provide protection against the environmental aggressors and help smooth skin.
Woman applying moisturiser to face
SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR TWICE
When lathering up in the shower, shampooing your hair twice is only strictly necessary for those who use a lot of products and gels; otherwise a single – and thorough - lather with a nourishing shampoo will do the job just fine.
LIGHTEN YOUR SKIN WITH LEMONS
Since lemon juice has a highly acidic quality, using it in your skin isn’t a good idea. As well as causing skin irritation, lemon juice can lead to hyperpigmentation and sensitivity to the sun. After luminous-looking skin? Opt for a skin brightening cream instead.
WEAR A LIP LINER THAT’S A FEW SHADES DARKER THAN YOUR LIPSTICK
One of the ‘90s most memorable make-up trends was a nude lip paired with a much darker liner, and while the look has since phased out, many remain unsure of what colour liner to wear. Beauty experts recommend that the golden rule is to choose a liner that is just one shade darker than your lipstick, for a perfectly plump finish.
DAB TOOTHPASTE ON PIMPLES TO DRY THEM OUT
An age-old method that many people think helps get rid of spots, applying toothpaste to the effected area can actually cause redness and peeling. Products designed specifically for use on acne and facial skin are a much safer bet.
HEAT UP YOUR EYELASH CURLER WITH A HAIR DRYER
While heated eyelash curlers are used by many for some added va-va-voom in the lash department, heating your eyelash curlers with a hair dryer can damage your lashes and may even cause them to fall out. Stick with a lash-lengthening mascara for some extra lash appeal.
EXFOLIATE EVERY TIME YOU CLEANSE
While cleansing should be a key part of your daily skin care routine, exfoliating every day can strip the skin of natural oils which can in turn lead to break outs. If your skin is normal or oily, exfoliate two to three times a week with a gentle formula such as our Daily Exfoliating Cream; if it’s sensitive, just once a week is enough.
FAKE A TAN WITH A DARKER SHADE OF FOUNDATION
Wearing a darker shade of foundation to give the impression of a tan is a big beauty no-no. If you want to create a sun-kissed glow, beauty experts recommend matching your skin tone to your foundation and building up deeper colour with a good quality, mineral-based bronzer.
USE COCONUT OIL AS A MAKEUP REMOVER
Coconut oil has been hailed as something of a multi-tasking miracle beauty product in the past few years – something that can be used on everything from your skin to your hair – but beauty experts have warned against it being used as a makeup remover. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it can’t penetrate the pores, and can lead to everything from dry skin to clogged pores and breakouts, particularly for those with acne-prone skin.
SKIP MOISTURISER IF YOU HAVE OILY SKIN
While many people think that having oily skin is reason enough to skip moisturiser, it can actually have an adverse effect on your skin, as skin produces excess oil when it’s dehydrated. Whatever your skin type, using a balancing day care cream will not only help hydrate your skin, it will also provide protection against the environmental aggressors and help smooth skin.
Woman applying moisturiser to face
SHAMPOO YOUR HAIR TWICE
When lathering up in the shower, shampooing your hair twice is only strictly necessary for those who use a lot of products and gels; otherwise a single – and thorough - lather with a nourishing shampoo will do the job just fine.
LIGHTEN YOUR SKIN WITH LEMONS
Since lemon juice has a highly acidic quality, using it in your skin isn’t a good idea. As well as causing skin irritation, lemon juice can lead to hyperpigmentation and sensitivity to the sun. After luminous-looking skin? Opt for a skin brightening cream instead.
WEAR A LIP LINER THAT’S A FEW SHADES DARKER THAN YOUR LIPSTICK
One of the ‘90s most memorable make-up trends was a nude lip paired with a much darker liner, and while the look has since phased out, many remain unsure of what colour liner to wear. Beauty experts recommend that the golden rule is to choose a liner that is just one shade darker than your lipstick, for a perfectly plump finish.
DAB TOOTHPASTE ON PIMPLES TO DRY THEM OUT
An age-old method that many people think helps get rid of spots, applying toothpaste to the effected area can actually cause redness and peeling. Products designed specifically for use on acne and facial skin are a much safer bet.
HEAT UP YOUR EYELASH CURLER WITH A HAIR DRYER
While heated eyelash curlers are used by many for some added va-va-voom in the lash department, heating your eyelash curlers with a hair dryer can damage your lashes and may even cause them to fall out. Stick with a lash-lengthening mascara for some extra lash appeal.
EXFOLIATE EVERY TIME YOU CLEANSE
While cleansing should be a key part of your daily skin care routine, exfoliating every day can strip the skin of natural oils which can in turn lead to break outs. If your skin is normal or oily, exfoliate two to three times a week with a gentle formula such as our Daily Exfoliating Cream; if it’s sensitive, just once a week is enough.
FAKE A TAN WITH A DARKER SHADE OF FOUNDATION
Wearing a darker shade of foundation to give the impression of a tan is a big beauty no-no. If you want to create a sun-kissed glow, beauty experts recommend matching your skin tone to your foundation and building up deeper colour with a good quality, mineral-based bronzer.