By BR Tabatha
Beauty tips can be a bit like trends, they come and go, and what might work now may well not work in a year. Things like where and how to contour, the best places to put highlight on your face, hair colouring techniques, how and where to apply eyeliner. However there are some beauty tips that hold true no matter the era, the time of year, or where we're at in our lives. Check out these five...
Don't pop your zits. It's tempting. Especially when there's a big ol' angry one sifting around under the surface, with the beginnings of something squeezable breaking through. But much like an iceberg, the top may be little, but there's a whole lot more going on underneath. By giving that popper a press you can send bacteria down, which can make the pimple worse and increase healing-time, it can also lead to more pimples appearing in the same area. No. Thank. You. It goes without saying (so we're going to say it anyway...) that there's also the potential for scarring. The best thing you can do? Use your patience and let time work her healing magic (and if you're desperate to speed the process up spot-treat it with a good clay mask or pick up a pimple patch - we love the ones from Cosrx.)
Who doesn't love a steaming hot bath or shower? Easing away your aches. Releasing your mind from a worrisome day.... As lush as they are, they're not all that great for your bod and face. Alas, it's better for us to avoid steaming hot water. Why? It strips your natural oils and weakens the protective barrier, leaving skin dry, and at times itchy and irritated. So if you want to keep your skin naturally hydrated and in great condition, keep your water lukewarm, and keep your bath and shower time short.
Fancy mashing bacteria into your skin? Feel free not to clean or replace your beauty tools. However, if the idea of grimy greebers setting up shop on your face gives you a case of the shudders, then you'll want to clean your makeup brushes regularly. And don't forget to replace sponges every three months (assuming you clean them regularly).
Even if it's a twenty minute walk around a park or popping on the tele and loading up the dance app for fifteen minutes, there's such power in a bit of exercise. First up, it gives your skin a natural glow. Always a good thing. The release of endorphins that comes from exercising can also work to pull you out of a bad-day funk*, replacing a frown with a smile and adding a youthful bounce to your step. Lastly, it promotes better sleep - and the term 'beauty sleep' doesn't exist for nothing.
(*If your funk is of the long-lasting kind, please see a health professional.)
The last tip? One we bang on about on the regular? Wear sunscreen. All year round. Yes, even in winter. Future you will love you for it.
In a nutshell... keep your mitts away from your zits. Keep your water warm. Take care of your beauty tools. Get a body wriggle on regularly. And slap on sunscreen. Five simple things that will instantly help you rock your most beautiful self.
Always drink more water - which I'm terrible at doing.. there's water in coffee right?!