6 Makeup and Beauty Bad Habits to Break

Do you peel your nail polish? Rarely clean your makeup brushes or replace bath puffs? Skip sunscreen on cold, cloudy days or for the entire winter season? These bad beauty habits and more are common among otherwise informed and well-groomed people. Some behaviors are just icky, others are potentially dangerous, but all sabotage your looks, which is reason enough to kick them to the curb. Here are six beauty habits to drop today and what to do instead. Do you …

(Left to right) Versed Day Maker Microcrystal Exfoliator; Tatcha The Rice Polish Gentle Foaming Enzyme Powder; Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Target; Sephora; Ulta Beauty

1. … exfoliate your skin too aggressively?

Sometimes too much of a good thing is bad. Take exfoliation. Cell turnover — your skin’s natural exfoliation process — slows with age, which contributes to a dull dry texture, stubborn cakey makeup application and an inability for serums and creams to penetrate effectively. If your face is looking red and irritated or is experiencing a burning or stinging sensation, that’s an alert to drop your chunky scrub or chemical peel and make a change. Many exfoliators are too abrasive or potent and designed for thicker, oilier, acne-prone youthful complexions — not mature skin that’s thinner, drier and more sensitive. Look for gentle water-activated microfine exfoliating powders and scrubs (also known as physical exfoliators) such as the Versed Day Maker Microcrystal Exfoliator ($17, target.com) and Tatcha The Rice Polish Gentle Foaming Enzyme Powder ($68, sephora.com) that rely on your fingers and light circular movements to polish away surface debris. For another option, try a mild chemical scrub such as the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser ($15, ulta.com) with alpha hydroxy acids buffered by skin plumping hyaluronic acid for the same effect. No need to put muscle into it, this is your face, not the kitchen floor! Once a week (twice max) is enough to get smoother skin and more glow. On a cautionary note: Those with very reactive skin, rosacea or eczema should avoid exfoliation completely and see your doctor for pro care.

(Left to right) L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment; Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap; Conair InfinitiPRO Smooth Wrap Hair Dryer with Dual Ion Therapy; John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner

CVS; Walmart; Amazon; Target

2. … fry your hair with hot tools?

Is your hair super-dry, dull or the texture of cotton candy? Is it suffering from breakage and split ends? That’s heat damage and a signal to change your drying and styling habits. Though air-drying hair sounds like a good idea in theory, it isn’t practical or desirable for most women — especially those with medium-to-long hair. Instead, drop the flat irons and curling irons and go back to a basic blow dryer such as the Conair InfinitiPRO Smooth Wrap Hair Dryer With Dual Ion Therapy ($42, amazon). After showering, blot freshly washed hair in the Turbie Twist Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap ($29 for four, walmart.com) to absorb excess water. Apply a leave-in conditioner and heat protectant such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment ($8, cvs.com) or John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner ($9, target.com) to avoid further damage and give hair a silkier texture whether it’s straight, wavy or curly. Then “rough dry” hair until it is partially dry (60 to 70 percent). Simply bend at the waist and use your opposite hand to tousle and separate as you dry. This will add plenty of body, but be sure to keep the dryer moving and not concentrated on one spot or section. For extra shape or polish, throw in a few Velcro rollers at the end for a few minutes. Dial down the washing and heat styling to once or twice a week.