Top 5 Bad Habits You Need to Break

As a regular DC on Heels reader, I trust you’re savvier than most when it comes to diligently following a skin care and beauty routine. However, you could be unwittingly sabotaging your efforts if you have developed any of the following five beauty-destroying habits, which I will deplore in the following paragraphs in the hope of leading you to desist from these naughty practices.

Sleeping with your makeup on is bad for your face and your sheets. (Photo: Tara Moore/Cultura)

Sleeping with make up on

I know that you know that you shouldn’t do this, yet so many people still pass out after a night out with a full face of makeup on. Nighttime is an important time for skin rejuvenation and having the entire day’s accumulation of makeup, debris and oil clogging the pores can impair this process. Skin that is unable to breathe and regenerate is more prone to breakouts, dullness and dryness that can lead to premature aging.

Not only does this habit damage your skin, it’s terrible for your bed linens (or upholstery if you prefer to recline on your divan). Always remove your makeup thoroughly with a cleanser suited to you skin type and apply a toner to remove the last traces of makeup before retiring for the evening. Otherwise you may be in for a fright when you face your reflection in the mirror the following morning.

Tugging on your face could tear or damage your skin. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pulling and tugging on your face

It never fails to astonish me how rough people are on their skin when applying or removing their makeup.  Facial skin is extremely delicate and is susceptible to dermal tearing and damage. Each time you pull and tug at your skin, you’re loosening tissue and stretching the elastin and collagen fibers.

The skin around the eyes is especially thin and vulnerable to damage caused by rough handling. Always use a light touch and a mild eye makeup remover when cleansing. Apply eye cream gently, using your ring finger and for heaven’s sake, don’t rub the skin around your eyes.

When applying makeup don’t use unnecessary force. I like to use a foundation brush, which is easier on the skin than one’s hands. When washing your face, avoid scrubbing too vigorously with a washcloth as this can provoke irritation, degrade elasticity and even stimulate melanin (which can produce brown spots). Treat your skin delicately!

 Neglecting your neck

Most of us take great care to apply moisturizers and treatment serums to the skin on our faces, but all too often we stop at the jaw line, leaving our necks unattended. But think about it — what do the great beauties who are widely regarded as exemplars of aging gracefully have in common: a smooth, swan-like neck—as seen on the ever stunning Iman, Kristin Scott-Thomas and the late Audrey Hepburn.

Iman looking gorgeous at 55. (Molly Riley/Reuters)

Your neck, like your hands, is one of the first areas to show age.  Do not neglect to moisturize your neck and protect it with sunscreen. Apply moisturizer to your neck in an upward and outward motion to gently stimulate the skin and counter sagging. Be careful of strong cleansers or treatment serums as the skin on the neck is drier than facial skin and is more sensitive and prone to irritation.

Drinking though a straw often can cause vertical wrinkles around your mouth. (Photo: Thinkstock)

 Drinking with a straw too often

You know those unsightly vertical lines that show up prematurely around the mouths of smokers? Unfortunately you don’t even need to smoke to develop these lines. Repeated facial expressions such as pursing your lips to whistle or use a straw can cause these lines to form over time.

If you must use a straw (and it does help prevent your teeth from staining when drinking certain beverages), try to not strain the orbicularis oris muscle around your mouth by keeping the straw to the side of your mouth and not puckering up.

Popping pimples can cause scarring (Photo: Lauren LeVine)

 Popping pimples and picking at your skin

This is another no-brainer. Sadly, many of us can’t stop picking away at our faces. It is tempting to squeeze and pluck away at blemishes, but this can lead to scarring, and the oil and bacteria from your fingers only exacerbates the problem. This can be a difficult habit to break since many do this automatically, and it can be a symptom of nerves.  I reiterate: refrain from touching your face unnecessarily — this can trigger acne and the skin sagging associated with excessive pulling and tugging of the skin.

If you pick and pop compulsively out of sheer nervous tension you might want to try Renée Rouleau’s No Picking! Twisty Toy to keep those idle hands busy and away from your long-suffering face.