There have been a lot of things I’ve seen in the beauty world that made me cringe. Like, a lot.
There are also some things I have done that made me shake my head because I knew better. Either way, there’s certain things that we just shouldn’t do in terms of beauty and hygiene. I’m pretty sure that you already know what a couple of these things are, but for the sake of bringing everyone up to speed, class is in session. With the wealth of knowledge at our fingertips, I’m concerned that people are still doing things that are wildly unhygienic and even dangerous! Here’s what you shouldn’t be doing:
1.) Using hair glue for false lashes
- *SIGH*…people have been doing this for a very long time. I once was a part of that number, but when you know better, you do better. Point blank, the very sensitive skin on your eyelids is much different than your scalp. Therefore, any products formulated for the scalp is not optometrist/ophthalmologist tested and can, very likely, be damaging to the eyes! Just because you’ve been doing it for a while and haven’t had any adverse reactions doesn’t mean that it will never happen. Who wants to take that risk? One of the main reasons I’ve heard as to why people still prefer hair glue is because of the “formula” and the price point. There’s a lash glue on the market very similar to the look and feel of hair glue that costs just a few dollars more. I promise, spending a few extra dollars is worth it to save your eyesight.
2.) Stacking lashes without proper care
- Emphasis on the “proper care” part! Sure, you can stack lashes. However, stacking lashes because the previous pair is so riddled with glue and mascara that you can’t get it off your eyes, is a big no-no. Seriously, I was presented with that situation before. I’m not sure if hair glue was initially used or not. What I do know is that there was a layer of glue, mascara, and makeup so thick at the base of the lashes that I did not feel confident the removal of the old lashes could be done safely and effectively without hurting the client and damaging the natural lashes. After explaining this, I was told to “not worry about” taking the old lashes off and to just put the new ones on top. I tried to educate her about why that wasn’t a great idea, but at the end of the day, that client did what she wanted to anyway. Another “no” is repeatedly stacking lashes without thoroughly cleansing your eyes (or the false lashes) of the debris from the last go ‘round (refer to the previous story). You have no idea how much debris and bacteria are lurking within those areas near your lash line and how improper care could be a threat to your health. Have you ever heard of demodex (a.k.a. lash mites)? Google it.
Note: If you are a lash fanatic and just can't live without them, consider going with lash extensions. Yes, the initial investment is pretty steep compared to strip lashes, but the overall benefits make it worth it. Please, take a minute to look at this post from a good friend of mine who is a licensed aesthetician and lash expert. In this particular post, she passionately expresses the dangers of cutting corners and having bad lash habits.
3.) Using craft glitter as eyeshadow
- Speaking of products not meant for the eye area, stay away from craft glitters! If you want to go all out on an editorial look, then go for it. But keep it away from your eyelids! Those are chunky particles and can cause a world of trouble if a piece gets in your eyes. How does a scratched cornea sound? Painful? Yeah, I thought so.
4.) Never washing your makeup tools
- This should be self-explanatory. Listen, I know that we can become somewhat lazy as it pertains to our own beauty routines, but please, make it a habit to wash your makeup tools at least once a week. The longer you let those soiled tools sit around (especially those housed in the bathroom) the more bacteria can grow. And then you’re putting that on your face. Whew. Once I became hyper aware of my personal skin issues, taking proper measures to do all I can to take care of it became top priority. I quickly realized how I was not helping my situation at all by letting my makeup tools remain soiled for an ungodly amount of time. Not only was I putting all the bacteria from the brushes onto my face, but also spreading around the bacteria from any active acne present on my skin! That’s completely counterproductive to my efforts of getting and maintaining clear skin. Therefore, I made time to create a routine of washing my tools. Truthfully, I don’t wash all my brushes as consistently as I should, but the ones that are explicitly used on my face are deep cleaned every few days. If I’m using my beauty blender sponge, I’ll wash it after every single use. This only takes an extra minute or two. That way, there’s approximately 24 hours of drying time and it’s always clean when I need it to be.
Note: Using a brush cleaning spray is not quite the same as shampooing or deep cleaning your brushes. The spray is acceptable for daily use like a quick cleanse to minimize product buildup but will not be enough for deep cleaning. Consider using a brush soap or a shampoo at least once a week. After shampooing your brushes, make sure to reshape them and lay them flat on a paper towel to dry in a well-ventilated area to avoid damaging the glue and prevent mold from growing in the ferrules. Make sure to keep a beauty blender ventilated after washing as well, and sponges should be replaced at least every three months. With either brushes or sponges, make sure they are completely dry before putting them in any protective covers/cases.
5.) Sharing makeup and makeup tools
- Do I really have to explain this one?
6.) Never discarding old and expired makeup
- On almost every beauty product, there’s a cute little symbol that will let you know how long said product is good once the seal is broken. This information is provided for a reason. After the stated amount of time has lapsed on a product, the ingredients that are present are no longer stable. It’s very likely that it won’t work as well, there will be settling and separation of ingredients, and can cause skin irritations. Of my personal products, I have been able to keep powders a little bit longer (although, if used frequently, the product will be gone before the allotted time runs out), but I wouldn’t dare keep liquids and creams beyond the recommended time frame.
7.) Trying on makeup without properly sanitizing
- I once worked for a major cosmetic retailer. The amount of people that did this is truly...traumatizing. I'm sure that this is the nightmare that contagion movies are made of. Just please...stop this. NOW.
8.) Using dirty fingers to dip directly into product
- Whether you’re in a makeup store or at home, just think about how many things you touch constantly and how many germs your fingers encounter. Now, think about dipping those same fingers into your products. Guess where those germs live now? I’m not saying that you must wash your hands every five seconds, but the goal is to be as conscious of your hygiene practices as possible. If you just don’t have the time to wash your hands or grab the sanitizer, then maybe consider keeping a handful of mini disposable spatulas nearby to use as a scooper.
9.) Using the wrong exfoliants
- Yes, you should make exfoliating a habit. However, you must be careful when choosing a physical exfoliant to use on your face. It’s best to seek out products that contain natural exfoliants such as diatomaceous earth, as they gently buff away the dead skin. The “bad” exfoliants are the ones that use plastic beads that when used can cause tiny, microscopic tears on the skin which can cause infection and scarring. Not only can those plastic beads wreak havoc on your skin, but also the environment as well! Just be mindful.
10.) Sleeping with makeup on
- I’ve encountered a lot of people who’ve attested to sleeping with their makeup on and their skin be perfectly fine. To that I say this…there will always be an exception to every rule, but that does not mean that you’re in the clear! For the love of unclogged pores and clean bed sheets, do not sleep with makeup on! Let’s put aside the disgusting pillowcases and bed sheets that you’ll *hopefully* end up washing every single time you decide to sleep in makeup. Let’s think about the larger issue at hand: your skin. I’m having heart palpitations thinking about the clogged pores and ungodly number of pimples lurking after a debacle such as that. Not to mention, you are constantly shedding dead skin. So, not only do you have makeup clogging your pores, but also layers of dead skin cells. Again, I know that there are some things that people seem to get away with without any consequence. I implore you to not try your luck!
There's plenty of other things that probably need to be a part of this list. However, I would say they're more of a nuisance rather than immediate health hazards. No matter what, your health should be a priority. We only get one body and we have to do what we can to take care of it. Wouldn't you say that we have enough to deal with? Aging alone is all the trauma we need. Let's not add more to the plate.