Break Your Bad Beauty Habits

Break Your Bad Beauty Habits


Part ways with your beauty sins

They may seem harmless, but your bad beauty habits aren’t so beautiful. In fact, they can even be dangerous to your health. Here’s how to stop them in their tracks:

Stop biting your nails

It may seem like an innocent way to unleash your stress, but when you chew on your nails, you run the risk of ingesting the nasty bacteria that linger underneath. (Not to mention the cracked, split nails and painful hangnails you’ll pick up along the way.) Kick the habit by treating yourself to a manicure. If your nails are pristine and polished, you’ll have a harder time taking out your stress on them. Not the polish type of girl? Tuck a travel-size nail file in your purse for on-the-go weak moments.

Don’t leave home without sunscreen

Sunscreen and summertime always go hand in hand but the winter months pose similar sun threats. Any sun exposure without adequate protection is a direct cause of premature aging, including increased wrinkles and age spots. Extensive sun damage also increases your chances of developing various skin cancers. To break this unhealthy pattern, make sunscreen a part of your morning routine by using a daily facial moisturizer with an SPF already built in (I like Dove’s Deep Moisture Day Lotion with SPF 15).

Don’t pick at pimples

It may be the most satisfying part of your beauty routine, but popping and prodding your pimples will do you no good. Indulging in this nasty habit can leave you with permanent scars, infection, and in a lot of cases, squeezing a pimple will actually push the bacteria and oil even deeper into the glands. Break the habit by using this DIY spot treatment: crush an ibuprofen and create a thick paste with some water. Apply directly to the pimple, let dry, then wash off for reduced swelling and redness.

Not taking your eye makeup off before bed

You just got home from a night out and the first (and only) thing you want to do is head to bed. But leaving your eye makeup on overnight can cause major eye irritation and inflammation while blocking your skin’s natural ability to repair itself. Other awful side effects include clogged glands, dry skin and eyelashes more prone to falling out. If time is your biggest issue, skip the cleanser and invest in some moist makeup remover wipes, which will take off the day’s grime in seconds.

Touching your face constantly

Touching our face is a beauty crime we’re all guilty of doing. The trouble is that you transfer excess oil and dirt from your fingers to your pores, which can cause breakouts and even worse, infection. This habit is especially hazardous during the cold and flu season, when bacteria and viruses are widespread and likely to be on your hands. It may be tricky to break the pattern, so carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse to disinfect your hands before you primp.

Beauty Bad Habits That Make You Look Older

Beauty Bad Habits That Make You Look Older



These bad habits can sabotage the way you look

We have all heard it before: if you don’t want your skin to shrivel up like a raisin, guard yourself from excessive sun exposure. Now that summer has come and gone, relief sinks in. But whether the sun is beaming or forever hidden behind the clouds, there are other aspects in life that can bear the same aging effects on our skin. Here are ways to reduce these problems before they take hold:

Stress
When it comes to creases in our skin, stress is not only the outcome, but also an underlying cause. Medical studies have proven that ongoing stress can expose one to wrinkles at a younger age (yikes!). But if you sleep through the buzz of your alarm and are frantic to get to work on time, don’t fret; stress is a normal part of life. Just make sure you don’t let it get the better of you.

How to deal:
Learn to cope with stress in a positive way. If you feel your anxiety rising and on the verge of bubbling over, turn down the temperature. Whether this means going on a 15-minute walk or listening to soothing music, taking your mind off the issue can help to shed some perspective.

Alcohol
We are well-aware that an over-consumption of alcohol can cause extensive harm to our liver, but your appearance too? Yes, it’s true. Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which can result in brittle bones. In other words, your physique may appear frail long before you hit your eightieth birthday. Alcohol can also lead to aging skin and weight gain. Just remember, for every unit of alcohol consumed, you need to walk a mile to fully ditch those calories.

How to deal:
The sad truth: It takes longer for women to process alcohol than it does men. So as tempting as it may be to prove you are capable of drinking just as much as the next guy (no matter how likely the case) resist the urge. Yes, we have all been subjects to those cringeworthy “what happened last night” evenings, but for the most part, drink in moderation. Before you know it, you will be clinking your glass to rejuvenation.

Smoking
Since alcohol is known to generate aging effects, it’s no surprise that smoking falls under the same category, only worse. A combination of both could be deadly. Apart from sun exposure, smoking cigarettes is the second leading cause of skin damage. Women who smoke regularly tend to notice deeper wrinkles and discolouration in the skin in their early 30s. So not only will you be throwing away money on packs of cigarettes, but on tubes of anti-aging cream.

How to deal:
Even if smoking the occasional cigarette is intended to be a social act, do not be deceived. The nicotine concentration in tobacco acts as a stimulant, which is the reason they become highly addictive. The best solution: quit before it becomes a problem. Aging effects are only one of several damaging outcomes.

Pollution
The last three aging agents may have been predicted, but one typically doesn’t expect to get wrinkles from living in a prosperous city. If you live in a larger urban area, one big downfall is the amount of pollution. Toxins produce free-radicals (highly chemically reactive molecules), which can accelerate the aging process.

How to Deal:
As much as ordinary wrinkle creams can create miracles, most are not formulated to protect against environmental pollution. Yet another reason to benefit from the pureness of nature: avoid walking through highly-polluted areas when possible. You can also purchase a Phase-2 antioxidant, which is to be applied on the skin every morning before stepping outside.

As the years pass us by and we begin to get older, the natural process of aging is inevitable. Just make sure that when the time arrives, your wrinkles are a product of your stage in life and not poor life choices.

Summerize Your Beauty Routine

Summerize Your Beauty Routine


Weather changes have the ability to affect more than one might think. Frizzy hair, dry skin, or even those pesky bug bites that not only itch, but are bright red and puffy -- all of these things can be caused by even the slightest of temperature changes. But rather than panicking each time the weather man calls for a little rain or a raise in temperature, nip these seasonal problems in the bud. If you live in the heat, you know the disasters that summer can cause. Follow these tips for the upcoming heat to be most prepared at any temperature.

Face
Use a daily moisturizer with an SPF, especially for those who are light-complected. Ensuring facial skin, which is also the most sensitive, is protected will reduce chances of burning and more serious health problems later on.

Scents
Avoid using sweet-smelling perfumes, hairsprays, or lotions that will attract bugs. These products (minus the perfume) come in unscented versions that will get the job done without bringing in unwanted critters.

Bug Bites
And when the bugs do bite, help subdue the swelling and itch by dabbing on a little hairspray (pray a finger first and then dab the bite; spraying the entire area will cause sticky skin). Hairspray seals the bite and keeps it from getting any air. Still itchy? For those super-stubborn bites, paint on a little nail polish. It's thicker than hair spray and works wonders on chigger bites. Have a drawer full of colors? Clear will do the trick -- blue or sparkly dots might look worse than the actual bite itself.

Makeup
When it comes to summer, the lighter the makeup routine, the better. Heavy make up will look cakey and unattractive in the heat and will often crease or smear. Use powder foundation; not only will it help hide the summer stress, it will look more natural. For those who are self conscious about their skin, powder foundations come in varying stages of coverage, so there's no need to worry about problem skin. Powder eyeshadows are a must as well. And when it comes to lipstick, stick to a tinted lip balm or gloss; these products will stay in place through the heat.

Hair
Hair should get the summer treatment as well. Next time at the salon, be brave and try a short summer cut, such as the bob. Or if that's a little too daring, try the extra healthy trim -- just an extra few inches will make a huge difference in the heat. Another way to take out some of the body is by a simple thinning; it take out the heaviness without taking the length. And for those who just can't part with their long hair, try some new summer up-dos. Get some fun hair clips or ponys and make a hairstyle into a fashion statement.

Use these tricks throughout the upcoming summer months for a fresh and fun update to a mundane beauty routine. Following these tips will not only provide a fashionable look, but they will ensure a healthy and fresh summer routine.

Detox Your Skin

Detox Your Skin

Remedy post-holiday skin with these complexion savers

Much like hitting the gym is a New Year ritual to counteract holiday excess, our skin also needs some TLC to detox from an over-indulgence of alcohol, rich foods and late nights during the holiday season – all of which leave skin dull, puffy, dehydrated and prone to breakouts. Here are some solutions:

Maximize moisture

Drinking a lot of booze during the holidays can zap moisture from the skin, making fine lines more apparent and skin less radiant. The biggest offender is red wine, especially to those people who are prone to redness and rosacea. It can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, resulting in flushed, irritated skin. To boost your skin’s moisture levels and combat redness add a hydrating, fragrance-free face mask to your nighttime moisturizing routine. Wear the mask for at least 15 minutes to allow the benefits to reach the skin. Follow it with a hydrating serum and rich moisturizer to lock in softness.

Try: Dermalogica Multi Vitamin Power Recovery Masque.

Boost radiance

Skin can look dull after piling on a full-face of makeup night after night (and admit it, most of us get a little lazy about removing it before bed). To revitalize skin and make sure pores don’t get clogged, try an at-home chemical peel that has lactic acid or glycolic acid. These ingredients accelerate the skin’s natural exfoliation process to clear pores and reveal fresher, smoother and more radiant skin underneath. For optimal and long-lasting results, incorporate a peel into your skincare routine about twice a week for one month.

Try: MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel or Neostrata Peeling Solution.

Eye spy

Lack of sleep due to late-night holiday parties takes a toll on your eyes. To combat puffy eyes and dark circles use a moisturizing eye cream both morning and night that contains anti-oxidants like vitamin E and C. A good trick to reduce puffiness and darkness is to actually store your eye cream in the refrigerator. The cooling action will help to constrict blood vessels and minimize any obvious circles or puffiness.

Try: Lancôme Génifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate

Sun damage RX

If you’re like many sun-starved Canadians who escape to tropical destinations over the holidays, chances are your skin needs to detox from UV rays. UV rays cause free radical damage to the skin, resulting in discoloration and premature wrinkling. Load up on antioxidants in your moisturizer, like vitamins A, C, E and green tea. If you have experienced a severe sunburn, your skin needs time to repair and heal so stay away from microdermabrasion and glycolic peel treatments. These could potentially further damage tender skin. Instead, soothe skin with fragrance-free lotions or a simple aloe vera gel.

Try: Consonant Organic Body Lotion.