Despite our easy access to beauty information we tend to repeat the same beauty mistakes over and over again. We might not realise the consequences straight away, but with time these bad habits could have a serious impact on our skin, hair and nails.
Here are the top five beauty faux pas to avoid.
1. Filing your nails both ways
It might seem like the most natural (as well as the fastest) way of shaping your nails, but filing both ways causes a lot of damage to the nail. Not only can it tear the edge of your nail, but it can also break it or cause peeling. Invest in a good quality glass or crystal nail file and file your nail in one direction, taking care to use gentle movements.
2. Using too much fragrance
When you find a fragrance that you can’t get enough of, it’s easy to fall into the trap of over-spraying. After all, you want the scent to last all day, so a few extra spritzes seem like the best thing to do. The fact is, two to three spritzes is plenty – anything more may leave those around you gasping for breath.
3. Not applying sunscreen every day
The majority of us are guilty of skipping our SPF as soon as the sun isn’t out, but harmful UVA rays can penetrate the skin even on the cloudiest of days. Avoid sunspots and premature ageing by applying a facial sunscreen all year round. We recommend lightweight products that won’t leave an oily residue on the skin.
4. Brushing wet hair
As tempting as it is to brush the knots out of wet hair, it’s best to wait until your lengths are at least 80 percent dry. Hair is at its weakest when it is wet as water weakens the bonds within the strands. Even the gentlest of combs or brushes could break wet hair, so give this bad habit a miss!
5. Picking at spots
When you pick at a spot, you increase the risk of further infection, as you cause trauma to an area that’s already inflamed. Plus, when you break the skin, you increase the risk of scarring. Instead of picking, apply a topical cream containing a powerful anti-acne ingredient such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.