1. Nibbling on Your Cuticles

Reason: Torn cuticles lead to hangnails and infections

Cure: Keep the skin around your nails moisturized. You can also try a bitter-tasting nail polish designed to discourage the habit.

2. Going to bed before washing your face

Reason: Sleeping with mascara and eye makeup on can cause you to wake up with puffy bags and maybe even an infection. Layers of foundation, concealer and blush will stop your skin from breathing and clog up your pores, making your complexion acne-prone and dull-looking. Even if you didn't wear makeup during the day, your skin accumulates oil and dirt, both of which can also lead to pimples if not washed away in the p.m.

Cure:  Keep a pack of pre-moistened face wipes next to your bed or try a Make-up remover (liquid or wipes).

3. Frequent Heat on Hair

Reason:  Wielding a hair dryer, curling iron or flatiron daily (or a combo of any of the above) will dry out your locks, leaving them dull, frizzy and weak.

Cure: While blow-drying, stick to a medium heat and speed setting and keep the nozzle a few inches away from your hair. When using a flatiron, quickly slide the iron down a section of hair in one smooth motion. Any pauses along the way will create dents that will require another run-through with the iron to fix. If you're curling your hair, release the coiled section after no more than five seconds. It's also a good idea to keep your heat-styling sessions to a minimum, only blasting your locks with a dryer a couple of times a week instead of daily.

4. Over Tweezing Your Eyebrows

Reason: The biggest mistake people make is to tweeze too much. Avoid over plucking as it can take months for brows to grow back.

ALSO: Never shave your eyebrows for a quick fix. You will regret it later when they all start growing back in. It will look obvious, and require constant maintenance. Depilatories (a chemical used to remove hair) are not a good idea to use around the eye area and there's plenty of room for mistakes. This can irritate your skin and your hairs will also grow back much quicker than waxing or tweezing. Waxing your eyebrows is best done professionally, however there are many kits on the market that come with step-by-step instructions to simplify the process.

Cure: The space between your brows should be equal to, or a little wider than, your eyes. To find where your brow should take a long eye shadow brush or pencil and hold it parallel to the side of your nose. Where the brush meets your brow is where your brow should begin.

5. Using Makeup Testers

Reason: Although the chances of contracting herpes or pinkeye from the bacteria and germs found in the testers at a makeup counter, are slim to none, theoretically it could happen.

Cure: Make sure the store where you're shopping practices safe makeup sampling. Look for disposable applicators, sponges, cotton swabs, tissues, disposable mascara wands and rubbing alcohol for disinfecting makeup brushes. And it is imperative that you don't double-dip into the master container. If you're not sure how to handle the testers, ask for help. Any reputable store should have well-trained sales associates. Also, wash your hands when you are done.  

6. Popping Your Pimples

Reason: Messing with a pimple can extend its staying power to seven to 10 days instead of the normal two to three, since the dirt from your fingers can force bacteria into your pores and cause an infection. Also adds to the scarring and risk of infecting the area.

Cure: Be patient and apply either a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid potion twice daily, which should help with the healing within three days. You can also try squirting a cotton swab with redness-reducing eye drops, place it on your pimple, and follow with a dab of concealer.

Take The Empressmag.com Survey. We Would Love To Know What You Think!!

Click Here