The lazy girl's guide to being good

Let’s face it – we all know the right things to do when it comes to our beauty routines. It’s just that sometimes, well, tiredness/laziness/lack-of-timeness makes us not care about doing the right thing. Like how you’ll go to bed with your make-up on because you actually just can’t be bothered for your whole cleansing-toning-moisturising regimen.

I’m not here to judge. I’ll admit I’ve done the same. I’ve very consciously done the wrong thing when I’ve known perfectly well what the right thing was. Which is why I thought I’d share some words of wisdom with you about how you can do the wrong thing in the best possible way. So if you’re going to commit a big beauty sin, here are the ways you can do it to make yourself feel less sinful.
 

POPPING YOUR PIMPLES

How many times have you been told to just not do it? That you’ll be spreading bacteria and maybe causing scars and just totally wrecking your life forever? Well, that is all true (except for that wrecking your life thing, that was a little dramatic), but if there is a pus-filled white pimple residing on your chin that you simply can’t ignore, then you can deal with it.
Side note: be aware that if the pimple is red and inflamed, you really will have to leave it until it forms a white head.

First, wash your hands. Very thoroughly. Maybe even wash them twice. It’s also a great idea to make sure your skin is clean, too. This will minimise the chance of bacteria getting into the open wound and will help your skin heal quicker.

Then, grab a tissue and use it to cover the tips of your two forefingers. This will prevent your nails from breaking the skin. Next, place one forefinger on either side of the white area of your pimple and push underneath it, so that you’re pushing the whitehead up and out. Wipe away the fluid with your tissue and keep repeating this action until the pimple seems to be drained. If you see blood coming out, stop and apply an antiseptic solution over the top.

PEELING OFF YOUR NAIL POLISH OR GEL POLISH

Once your manicure starts chipping (or in the case of gel polish, growing out), it’s incredibly tempting to pick at the polish and peel it off until your nails are free of any colour. The trouble with this, especially if you’re sporting a gel mani, is that you’re compromising the quality of your nails and you could end up with thinner, more brittle nails.

But you already know this, don't you? But you also know that the acetone is in the other room and that’s just simply too far. So if you are going to peel off your polish then be prepared to make up for the damage this causes.

Once you’ve done the destructive work and your nails are bare, wash your hands and dry them. Then get ready to give your nails and cuticles a giant dose of hydration. Using a nail serum (we love: Revitanail Keratin Strengthening Serum), massage your nails and cuticles for a good few minutes. This will help give your weakened nails the nourishment they need while helping to strengthen them right up.
 

GOING TO BED WITHOUT WASHING YOUR FACE

We ran a survey recently and we found that a whopping 77 per cent of respondents admitted to going to bed with their make-up on – mostly because of tiredness and a few too many drinks. And did you know that 58 per cent of those who went to sleep with all of their make-up on noticed negative effects on their skin? No surprises there, because, as you already know, when make-up, dirt and sweat clog your pores, your skin suffers (mainly in the form of pimples and congestion).

So what should you do when you stumble home and want to face-plant on to your pillows but also don’t want to deal with blemishes? Use a face wipe. A really good one that’ll remove every single trace of make-up and care for your skin, too (we love: WOTNOT Naturally Nurturing Facial Wipes for sensitive skin.)

Use one side to do the heavy lifting by giving both eyelids and all lash lines a good wipe clean. Once your eye make-up has been removed, use the other side to thoroughly wipe from forehead to chin, ear to ear. You are now free to face-plant to your heart’s content.

What are your biggest beauty sins? Do you have any other beauty shortcuts?