The 10 Beauty Commandments You Need to Live By
As an editor, I’m often asked about “beauty rules”—which ones women should follow and which should be ignored. I’ve always thought that the majority of beauty MUSTS are seriously outdated, not to mention exclusionary.
That said, I do believe that there are a few guidelines that everyone should adhere to when it comes to beauty—but they’re probably not what you think. Here are the only 10 beauty rules that you need to follow.
1. Don’t sleep in your makeup.
It’s bad for your skin, bad for your eyes, and bad for your pillowcases—no matter what Kim Kardashian says. If you have time to put makeup on in the morning, you have time to take it off at night.
2. Wear sunscreen.
I’ve talked to many dermatologists, and without fail, sun protection is the number one most important skincare tip they give. Every skin type and tone needs shielding from UV rays—yes, even when it’s cloudy, and yes, even if you’re just sitting in an office. Not only will it lessen your risk of cancer, it also helps prevent premature aging and nowadays, sunscreen comes in practically everything. Slather your skin in SPF and know you’re doing the right thing for your future self!
3. Find what works for you…
Play to your strengths—but more importantly, find what you like in a beauty look and what works best for your life. If you love lipstick, wear the hell out of some bright colors. If you’re all about a super contoured face, beat that face with many blessings. Don’t listen to what other people tell you that you should wear, enjoy or be into; if it’s well applied (and won’t get you fired), do beauty your way.
4. …But don’t be afraid to take risks.
Don’t get so stuck in a beauty routine that you stop trying new things; life is too short to get stuck in a rut like that! Make sure that, no matter how much you love your signature look, you still try new products, colors and techniques. Who knows; today’s crazy risk could become tomorrow’s new product obsession!
5. Be prepared!
Modern life is weird, and you never know when you might run into a beauty (or just a regular) emergency. You should always have a little stash of just-in-case stuff with you: I carry latex gloves (for First Aid), tweezers, bandaids, two safety pins, glasses cleaner, two colors of lipstick, concealer and powder with me at all times—and it’s come in handy more times than I can count.
6. Have a doctor, dermatologist and hairdresser you trust.
These are the people who are going to be instrumental in your beauty life. You need a doctor you can trust to keep your body in good shape. You need a dermatologist you like to give you the straight dope on skincare, and help you handle any major complexion challenges you face along the way. And whether you go in for regular colors or cuts (or both), having a hairdresser who gets both you AND your hair is essential.
7. Get haircuts regularly.
Not only is getting cuts every four to six weeks essential for the overall health of your hair, it’s also the best way to keep your style looking sharp. Plus, the confidence boost you get from a fresh chop and blowout? It honestly can’t be beaten.
8. Don’t stress about getting older.
It happens to all of us, and stressing won’t stop it.
9. Leave your brows alone.
Or as alone as you can stand, because as those of us who lived through the ’90s skinny brow trend will tell you, growing out overplucked eyebrows is a damn nightmare. A little grooming: yes. A total reshape: NO.
10. Love yourself.
It’s cheesy but it’s true: if you don’t love and accept yourself exactly the way you are, with the hair you’ve got, at the weight you are, with and without makeup, with all your complexities, flaws and strengths, you will never be happy with your look. Makeup is a fun way to show the world who you are, not a cover-up for unhappiness—that’s something that won’t go away, no matter how many products you buy. Be yourself, like yourself, don’t compare yourself to others, and it follows that whatever beauty choices you make will ultimately make you happy.
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