Five Make-Up Myths Debunked + Win a Body Shop at Home Pack

Five Make-up Myths Debunked with Becky Heffernan, Independent Business Owner with The Body Shop At Home™

Make-up tips and tricks are forever changing and it can be hard to keep up. Establishing what is a tip and what is actually a myth is key to knowing how to avoid make-up blunders like annoying breakouts and smudged eyeliner.

Applying make-up should always be a fun routine. However, following all the rules can sometimes turn applying make-up into a chore. Stress less, here are some old age make-up myths, debunked to help you out:

1. Make-up will last for years

Expiration dates are not something that you usually associate with make-up, but most products have one and you should take note! For example, mascara has an expiration date of about three months as bacteria can build up in the wand over time. Most products will display a used-by-date and often use the letter M to denote months and Y for years. If you see 12M on your foundation this means it should be thrown away 12 months after being opened.

2. Make-up causes breakouts

Make-up is not always the cause for breakouts and annoying acne, most of the time it is due to a bad make-up routine. Falling asleep with your make-up on, using out-dated products or not using clean brushes and sponges when applying your make-up are key things to avoid, as they will contribute to the likelihood of a breakout.

3. Applying foundation and face creams in upward strokes will help you avoid wrinkles

Sadly wrinkles are one of the great surprises that life throws at you, whether you like it or not, and applying your make-up in a specific way is not going to stop their formation. The good news is that your skin is elastic; therefore it will bounce back when stretched. No amount of applying foundation carelessly will cause wrinkles. In fact, it is actually better to apply foundation and face creams in a downward motion as this follows the natural direction of hair growth and will ensure a smooth finish.

4. Pump your mascara to get more out of your product

Using your mascara to the last drop, whilst cost effective, will not do any favours for your product or for your skin or eyes! Pumping your mascara wand can bring air into the tube, which will promote the growth of bacteria (see point 1). It can also cause the product to break down faster and dry it out. Try twisting the brush gently as you pull it out to avoid adding unwanted air to the tube and remember, if you aren’t getting enough product on the wand it’s probably a good time to throw it away!