Glow Up Don’ts: 40 Shameful Beauty Practices We Should All Quit Doing
By Jhoana C
This article was originally published on withmyladies
We know everyone expects women to be dainty, elegant, and of course, clean creatures. And while most try hard to maintain some of these expectations, not all women have commendable hygiene practices. In fact, some of them have questionable habits, while others can be downright filthy. They pop their zits, use their fingers to apply makeup, and don’t wash their hair as frequently as they should.Today we have gathered filthy feminine practices every woman, including ourselves, has been guilty of at least once in their life. After going through the list, we expect you to say goodbye to these filthy habits and start anew. We guarantee that you will have better skin, bouncier hair, and even look and feel happier when you eliminate these bad habits.#1 Picking dried mascara
One of the grossest habits many women are guilty of is picking dried mascara off their lashes. What’s worse is that some even flick it off afterward. Why would you do that? Are you just bored, or is it a force of habit?
#2 Popping pimples
As tempting as it can be, popping your pimples is a major no-no. Haven’t we already told you that you should keep your hands away from your face? Leave your pimples and just let them be. If you need them flattened urgently, see a dermatologist who can inject something in them.
#3 Relying too much on dry shampoo
While it’s true that dry shampoo is a lifesaver, it shouldn’t be abused. It may be able to absorb dirt, grease, and oil on your scalp, but you can’t rely on only that for a year. Certain situations require more than dry shampoo.
#4 Not having proper oral hygiene
No matter how attractive a person is, their attractiveness automatically falls to zero if they don’t have proper oral hygiene. There’s nothing worse than trying to have a conversation with someone who has stinky breath. Good luck with having a good time after that!
#5 Scraping your teeth
We all want pearly whites since nothing can be more unattractive than yellowish and stained teeth. Those will quickly drive your admirers away! However, DIY scraping is something that you must avoid at all costs. Scraping helps remove plaque and dirt from your teeth, but it should only be done by a professional.
#6 Reeking of BO
Appalling body odor is one thing you don’t want to greet you during your early morning commute because it will absolutely ruin your day. Similarly, you don’t want to be the person ruining someone else’s day because of body odor.
#7 Forgetting to scrape your tongue
Tongue scraping during brushing has a lot of benefits to offer, including removing excess debris, preventing bad breath, removing bacteria, promoting a better sense of taste, and boosting overall health. Clearly, it is an essential part of oral hygiene that can’t be skipped.
#8 Sharing mascara with friends
Makeup should not be shared with others, no matter how close you are to them. Trust us when we say that it’s not worth the risk. Dealing with an eye infection isn’t fun, especially when you have an important presentation at work.
#9 Using cotton pads more than once
If you need to scrimp on something in your hygiene products, be it anything at all, please don’t do so on cotton pads or Q-tips. These things are meant to be used once and then thrown away, and you have no business reusing them because of GERMS!
#10 Scrutinizing nose and pore strips
If you haven’t bought or used one of the many nose or pore strips available now, you are certainly in the minority because everyone we know has used them. Some brands have products that do an excellent job of ridding your nose of blackheads and whiteheads.
#11 Picking your nose and flicking your boogers
Do we even have to explain this? Not only does this disgusting habit have something to do with hygiene, but it also says a lot about your manners. We doubt anyone would want to be on the receiving end of a flying booger!
#12 Sharing hair brushes
Aside from not sharing toothbrushes, makeup, and makeup brushes, you should also never share hairbrushes. You might think that’s over the top, but hairbrushes can be home to microbes and contaminants that can be transmitted from one person to another.
#13 Not washing your hands before touching your face
If you can’t help but use your hands when applying makeup on your face, like wearing foundation, you better wash your digits first. There’s a reason why you’re advised to keep your hands away from your face, and that’s primarily because they are often filthy.
#14 Biting your nails
If you can keep your hands away from your face, you can also keep your mouth away from your nails. Some people have this unsanitary habit of biting their nails either out of nervous energy or stress, which leads to damaged and ugly nails.
#15 Drying your skin by rubbing it with a towel
Skin is most sensitive on the face because of how exposed it is and the multiple products used on it. Drying your skin is something that comes naturally to many people, and you can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of people dry their skin, even their face, by rubbing it with a towel.
#16 Sleeping with makeup on
This is one of the major beauty sins that a lot of women are guilty of. Never, ever sleep with your makeup on. Your skin needs to breathe and rest at night, and it won’t be able to do that if your face is covered in layers of makeup.
#17 Not organizing your makeup
Yes, this is not as gross as the other things on the list, but hey, if you don’t organize your makeup, you still deserve to be called out. Making sure all your products are in their rightful place will help you save time each morning.
#18 Scrubbing yourself too much
While it’s true that you need to shower and scrub yourself to get rid of dirt and ensure that you are clean, there is such a thing as scrubbing too much. This is a bad thing because it gets rid of the body’s natural oils.
#19 Relying on makeup wipes to thoroughly clean your face
Makeup wipes are a lifesaver when you need to get rid of makeup fast and quickly, but they shouldn’t be substituted for washing your face. Your entire cleansing routine should not consist of only makeup wipes because they aren’t sufficient to clean your face after a day out.
#20 Using expired makeup
Makeup, just like canned goods, has a specific time frame for when it can be used. That date is there for a purpose, so be guided accordingly. The expiry dates on these goods are not just put there on a whim by makeup companies.
#21 Exfoliating too much
People are divided over exfoliation; one group says that it is beneficial since it helps in removing dirt build-up and allows the skin to retain a healthy glow, while the other says it is not necessary and will only irritate the skin.
#22 Using too much heat on your hair
Using too much heat when styling your hair and using it too frequently is going to damage your hair eventually. Exposure to high heat will change the shape of your mane’s keratin strands, which leads to brittle and weaker hair.
#23 Using your fingers to put makeup on your face
Before makeup brushes, people pretty much dipped their fingers into products and used them to apply makeup on their faces. That might sound easier and quicker, but it is not very hygienic. If you don’t want dirt on your face, don’t use your fingers to apply makeup.
#24 Picking chipped nail polish
Getting a manicure is one of the ultimate treats for any girl out there. It always gives our hearts joy when we look at freshly cleaned and painted nails. However, nail polish starts chipping in a week or two, so what do you do when this happens?
#25 Using excessive hair products
Your hair is your crowning glory, and that’s why you must treat it with love and care. As strong as you may think your hair is, it still has a breaking point, pun intended. And this usually happens when you use too much or too many products.
#26 Not cleaning your bathroom
Though we go into the bathroom to scrub ourselves clean, it isn’t always the cleanest part of the house. Just because water runs in the bath, people often think it’s enough to keep the place clean. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
#27 Using makeup testers
Makeup testers allow women everywhere to check if the makeup they want looks good on them or if the product is the right shade. However, they are also breeding grounds for bacteria. After all, countless people use them to check different products.
#28 Using saliva to ‘clean’
Our mothers have done this before, and there’s a big probability that you also do it sometimes. A little spit goes a long way in ‘cleaning’ smudges, crusts, and stains. Well, at least that’s what generations of women before thought.
#29 Not removing eyeliner before going to sleep
The perfect cat eyeliner doesn’t just happen by itself. It takes hours of practice and patience, and the moment you line your eyes perfectly, it can feel like winning the jackpot! Congratulations on your achievement! But no matter how great it looks, you still have to remove it.
#30 Failing to wash your pillowcase for a long time
We have no issues with people using their pillowcases for a long time as long as they wash said pillowcases regularly. But it’s another story if they leave the pillowcase on the pillow for several months before they get to washing them.
#31 Threading your chin hairs
Hair has become something that’s hated in modern times, especially by women. Most advertisements will have you believe that women are supposed to be hairless and that those who have hair on their faces, legs, armpits, and the nether regions should be ashamed of themselves.
#32 Going with the clumpy eyelash look
While some people avoid clumpy eyelashes like it’s the plague, a few prefer that kind of look, and for the love of all that is holy, we don’t understand why at all. Why would you want to leave home with your lashes looking like spider legs?
#33 Not cleaning your ear and earrings
We’re not talking about cleaning the inside of your ears. We are referring to cleaning the holes in your ears where earrings go, as well as the earrings. Why? Because when earrings are left in the ears for a long time, they begin to smell.
#34 Not cleaning your makeup brushes regularly
You’re probably aware that makeup brushes don’t clean themselves; they actually need you to clean them! Gasp! But why are you not doing it still? It doesn’t take a lot of time. You just need a good makeup brush cleaner and less than 30 minutes to ensure they are spick and span.
#35 Using your razors for too long
Because today’s society dictates that women should be as hairless as humanly possible, it’s not unusual to find razors in a woman’s bathroom cabinet. In their busyness and because of the demands of life’s demands, some women forget to even check, much less change their razors.
#36 Trying out all the skincare fads
The internet gives people so much information at the tip of their fingers, and it is quite useful for research. However, you shouldn’t take everything on it as the gospel truth because most of the time, what you see there is not tried and tested.
#37 Prevent crusty lips
Winter can be brutal on your skin, hair, and lips. Lips, especially, tend to get dry the colder it gets. So, it’s important to always have some Chapstick with you and hand cream to prevent dryness on your hands and chapped lips.
#38 Putting off cleaning your brushes
Some people may not think it’s important to clean hair brushes, but it is just as essential as cleaning your makeup brushes. Have you ever seen someone using a dirty hairbrush? Disgusting, right? So, don’t be the kind of person who puts off doing this simple task.
#39 Not letting your beauty blender dry thoroughly
Invented in 2002 by makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, the beauty blender is an egg-shaped tool used to blend makeup. Most women on the planet have heard of it, as it has become an indispensable part of a sensible makeup kit.
#40 Sharing toothbrushes
If you’re guilty of this, then we’re to tell you that you’ve reached the zenith of grossness. How do you even think that the idea of using a brush that someone else has put in their mouth is ok? It’s often said that sharing is caring, but not when it comes to toothbrushes.
Filing Nails In The Wrong Direction
When it comes to nails, different people prefer different lengths. As such, those who keep their longer prefer to leave a large portion of nail care to their manicurists. However, since not everyone can do that, there’s also a significant number of people who do their nails at home.