Top 10 beauty mistakes revealed

Zara Baker looks at the 10 most common beauty mistakes and simple tips to put things right

You may have your daily beauty routine down to a fine art, whether it’s a short fix before the school run or a two-hour prep before a big night out, but there may still be things you’re doing ‘wrong’. This isn’t about wearing the wrong shade of lipstick for your skin tone, or wearing eye shadow that belongs (and should stay) in the 1980s. These are every day grooming mistakes that we make almost daily. These aren’t just fashion faux pas, these are beauty errors that can leave your skin and hair in a worse state than before. Spend five minutes reading this and save precious time – and money…

In a new study by professional hair care website, Hairtrade it’s been found that nine out of ten British women admit to making grooming mistakes almost every day. Despite being easy to rectify, many of the women claimed they’d always done things this way so mistakes became habit. One woman commented: “I always washed my hair every day until about six months ago when my hairdresser told me to stop. I’m now an every other day hair washer – not only does it save me time in the morning, my hair looks a lot healthier too.”

Without further ado, the ten most common hair and beauty mistakes in women ages 25-40 are…

1. Washing your hair too much

Many people believe that by washing your hair every day you’re keeping it squeaky clean and in top condition. YBut frequent washing means you strip hair of its natural oils and are actually doing more harm than good. Try washing your hair every other day then, over time, stretch it to every three days. You’ll find your hair looks healthier – and you’ll get an extra half hour in bed in the morning.

Top tip: Extend the time between washes with Batiste Dry Shampoo or have a pony-tail day the second day after washing.

2. Applying too much conditioner

Most us apply conditioner all over our hair, just as we do with shampoo. The hair at our roots is new, healthier growth, however that at the tips is older and more likely to be damaged. So concentrate on the tips of your hair – it will save you conditioner and leave those ends looking great.

Top tip: When you next visit your hairdresser, ask for a hair prescription. A salon professional conditioner will go a lot further than your pharmacy bought brand, and the right product can be matched to your hair type and lifestyle.

3. Not using a heat protector

There really is no excuse for not protecting your hair when you use hairdryers and straighteners most days. Blasting your hair with all that heat without shielding it in someway will leave it dry, frizzy and in poor condition.

Top tip: Use a multi-functioning product: we love Uniq–One Hair Treatment. Try it – you’ll never look back!

4. Tying your ponytail in the same place

If you always wear your hair up in a tight ponytail, then try not to tie it in exactly the same place every day. It can cause too much tension on the hair and over time can weaken it.

Top tip: Take inspiration from Fashion Week 2014 and experiment with a sporty look high pony, a no-nonsense smooth low pony, plaits and more to prevent breakage in one area.

5. Forgetting to wash make-up brushes

It’s one of those jobs you know you should do but just can’t be bothered. If you fail to give your brushes a good clean then not only will you have mixed colours, you’re also allowing bacteria to build up. Aim to give your brushes a clean once a week.

Top tip: Fill the basin with warm water and add shampoo to the brushes. Soak and then rinse thoroughly. Lay them flat in the airing cupboard over night to dry out and voila! Good as new. For more tips on products and application visit Brighton Make Up School.

6. Neglecting your neck

As part of your daily skin care routine, do you cleanse and moisturise your neck? Thought not. Don’t stop at your chin, make sure you carry on and take care of the thin, delicate skin on your neck. This area can be prone to sensitivity so it is really important to look after it.

Top tip: The neck is often neglected, making it an age giveaway, no matter how youthful your face looks. Cleanse and moisturise morning and night when you’re dressed in your underwear, so you pay attention to the neck and décolletage areas often missed.

7. Over-treating and over-covering spots

It’s too easy to apply every spot cream you have to your face as soon as you have a breakout, but don’t. They work on your skin for hours so make sure you always follow the pack instructions to the letter. Likewise, don’t cake them in make-up. Your skin needs time to breathe.

Top tip: No matter how bad the blemish (that always seems to appear at the most inappropriate time), other people won’t notice it as much as you – honest! Go easy on the coverage. Bare Minerals Blemish Remedy is out go-to saviour.

8. Applying foundation before moisturiser is dry

Moisturiser needs time to dry so give it a minute before you start applying your foundation. The creaminess of moisturiser can cause make up to thin out, so if you apply too quickly you’ll get a streaky look.

Top tip: When you don’t have all the time in the world to let products sink in, opt for L’Oreal Paris Youth Code Luminize BB Cream. It provides moisturisation, illuminates skin, minimalises pores and evens the skin tone for a healthy complexion.

9.Plucking eyebrows too close to the mirror

If you pluck too close to the mirror you find yourself looking at every hair rather than looking at the overall shape of your eyebrows. This can leave you with thin, uneven brows. Instead use a large mirror and take a couple of steps back so you can see your whole face, not just your eyebrows.

Top tip: Don’t do it yourself. Plucking the stray hair won’t do any harm, but for the perfect shape opt for salon perfect HD Brows at The Lanes Health & Beauty

10.Yellow nails

If you love nail art and never leave the house without a new design or colour on your talons, then you could be prone to yellow nails. Constant decoration can change the natural colour of the nails. The answer? Always apply a base coat and this will help prevent the stains.

Top tip: Sally Hansen’s Double Duty strengthening base & top coat is your new best friend.