BAD BEAUTY HABITS that are hard to break!

Try these 5 tricks to help you break the bad beauty habits 

that we all seem to have or at least one of them.         

How many of you really clean your makeup brushes?
A lot of bacteria does build up in your bristles which can lead to clogged pores that's why it's important to ensure your brushes are cleaned properly.  Here we have a great solution: a spray-on sanitizer from Clinique Makeup Brush Cleanser (above), $13.  Product developer Trae Bodge of Three Custom Color Specialists says it instantly kill germs. It's important to clean your frequently used brushes once a week if your skin is oily or combination, and twice a month if skin is dry, says Bodge.
 Courtesy of: Greg Marino/Studio D & Msn.ca

                                                                                                      

Jeannette Graf, M.D.,  an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City says to resist the urge to pop. We all know that squeezing a pimple irritates the skin & causes redness & possible scaring afterwards. Use a different method and place an ice cube in a paper towel, holding it on the spot for a few minutes.  Repeating this process a few times will shrink the cyst & shorten the duration, according to Graf. Once you have completed this procedure begin dabbing on an acne treatment containing salicylic acid.  If it still really bothers you put on a good thick concealer & that should help you get through the day.

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 'Nail biting is a form of self-comfort,' says clinical psychologist Mary C. Lamia, Ph.D. There are several different soothing strategies that have helped her patients quit: When you feel the urge to start biting, simply massage your hands with a lotion that's scented with a smell you love. 'This interrupts the emotional cycle that triggers biting,' she says. So does grabbing your guy's hand, since 'it calms the anxiety,' says Lamia. Nice for him, too!

 Courtesy of: Walter Chin/Trunk Archive & Msn.ca

Cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer says 'If a makeup formula starts to crack or separate, or the colour seems muddy or uneven on your skin, toss it.'  Expired makeup often house bacteria that can lead to many different infections such as eye infections or skin breakouts. Here are some great tips on when you should toss them out & replenish your goodies...

Mascara: Should be replaced every three months.  It is known to have the shortest shelf life, because the wand carries bacteria back into the tube with every use. 

Creams (including shadows, blushes, concealers, and foundations) and glosses: These should be replaced every six months.These formulas all contain a lot of water, which makes them magnets for germs.
Powders and sealed, unopened makeup: Thanks to low moisture levels powder makeup can last for up to two years. And the same goes for any unopened makeup that's been stored properly in a cool, dry place.
Lipstick: Typically good for up to a year. 'But if the formula feels dry or hard, it's conking out,' says Hammer. 

Courtesy of :Greg Marino/Studio D & Msn.ca

You should give your hair a break from blow drying it constantly. 'Blow-dryers and hot tools fry hair and fade colour,' says hairstylist Tommy Buckett, whose clients include Emma Stone and Molly Shannon. 'If you can avoid putting heat on your hair just one day a week, it'll do wonders to improve its health.'

But whatever you do, don't skip your conditioner. A Procter & Gamble-commissioned study found that 71 per cent of women feel that conditioner sometimes weighs down their hair, but 'even pixie-short hair needs nourishment,' Buckett says. If you feel that it flattens your style, try Pantene's new Aqua Light Conditioner (above), $3.99. It contains half the amount of silicone of most conditioners and rinses out nine times faster, so no heavy buildup.

  Courtesy of :Greg Marino/Studio D & Msn.ca