5 Common Beauty Mistakes Among Collegiettes

For college students, it is a known fact that we are always rushing, staying out too late, and falling in and out of routines as the weekends come about.  Throughout my time working at Ulta Beauty Salon, Cosmetics, and Fragrance, I have seen my fair share of both good and bad beauty moments.  In my experience, these common mistakes are the five most important rules to obey in order to keep our skin looking fresh, without always getting our necessary beauty sleep.  Here are my a few beauty rules that every girl should live by:
 

1) Don’t skip the primers.
The one type of makeup most commonly overlooked is primer.  This is expected without an understanding of the true importance of this product.  Not only do primers even out skin tone and hold makeup on resulting in extended wear, they also come in an array of products including color-correcting, hydrating, brightening and more.  Although the most important is foundation primer, there are also eye shadow and lip primers.  Eye shadow primers help prevent creasing and hold shadow on longer; lip primers help prevent lip sticks and glosses from drying out lips in addition to giving a long-lasting wear.  After trying a number of primers, my favorite has to be the Smashbox photo finish foundation primer.
 
2) Don’t skip the products.
I had never been a big fan of hair products prior to working for Ulta, but my sister has always kept our bathroom stocked.  After becoming envious of her shiny, straight locks, I began sneakily using her products and was shocked at the difference in my hair’s texture.  Here are great products for any texture.  For curly or wavy hair, DevaCurl has an excellent line of products to give perfect frizz-free curls.  Cleanse with the DevaCurl No-Poo, hydrate with DevaCurl One Condition, and style with DevaCurl Angel – otherwise known as doing the “Deva 3-Step.”  For straight, shiny hair, try Alterna Hemp Organics Straightening Balm which should be applied directly to towel dried hair.  When blow-drying or straightening hair, one should always apply a heat protectant first to damp, towel-dried hair.  My current product of choice is Sebastian Trilliant Thermal Protection and Shimmer Complex.  Not only does is prevent damage from the blow-dryer, straightener, and curling iron, but it also leaves hair voluminous and shiny.
 
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3) Don’t sleep in your makeup.
The most common, yet damaging, mistake among college students is sleeping in makeup.  When strolling in late and exhausted from a night at the bar or a night at the library, it is easy to forget to wash your face.  The bed is always calling your name and a clean face is never a priority.  Not only does sleeping in your makeup clog your pores, it also causes unwanted stys, and worst of all: premature aging.  I suggest leaving a pack of face wipes next to your bed; now when you crawl into that oh-so-comfortable bed, you can quickly wipe off your makeup and keep skin in tip-top shape.  My favorite skincare line is, without-a-doubt, Philosophy, which is why there is a pack of Philosophy Purity Cleansing Cloths sitting on my own night stand.
 
4) Don’t be afraid to get color matched.
With the seasons changing and tans fading, it is important to make sure we make the correct switch in foundation shades.  Unfortunately, we have to put down the medium or dark shades and go back to relying on self-tanners and bronzers.  It is often difficult to decipher what shade you may be, but that is precisely why you should get color matched.  I recommend using Bare Minerals matte foundation.  The color families help guide you to your color whether it is fair, medium, tan, dark, or deep.  From there you can find your true match using your skin undertones referred to in the Bare Escentuals guide as “neutral, pink/red, or yellow-olive.”  Next time you are struggling to find your perfect foundation, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
 
5) Don’t forget to clean your brushes.
A common mistake among collegiettes is that they either don’t realize their brushes need to be cleaned in the first place, or they are unaware of how often they should be cleaned.  Makeup brushes easily collect bacteria and dirt; this is why the recommended amount of cleaning for a brush used every day is about every two to three weeks.  The amount a brush should be cleaned can vary depending on the usage, but I personally like to clean mine frequently as a result of having sensitive skin.  For BareMinerals or PurMinerals brushes, I recommend using Bare Escentuals Quick Change Brush Cleaner.  For other brands and brushes, I recommend the ULTA Brush Cleaner. 

Stay lovely, ladies!