Bad Beauty Habits to Break

6 Bad Beauty Habits to Break Now

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Hi everyone, Whether it's not always washing your face or not always washing your brushes, we are all guilty of a few bad beauty habits that we know we ought to break. What better time than the start of a new year?

See why clear lip gloss is a makeup lover's must have

Here is a list of the six bad beauty habits that I challenge everyone to break in 2012. And yes, I am guilty of some of the things on this list. (Hey, nobody's perfect! We all need to try harder!) See them all below.

1. Not removing makeup
This one is pretty basic, but it still needs to be said. Taking off your makeup before you go to sleep at night is so important. When in doubt, reach for the extra virgin olive oil! 2. Not wearing sunscreen
Apply a sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF everyday to protect it from the sun. Your face (and health) will thank you later.
3. Not drinking enough water
Soda does not count as water.
4. Using bar soap to wash your face
*Shudders*.
5. Using moisturizer on the eyes
Use eye cream!
6. Wearing foundation that does not match your skin tone
If you'e unsure about what foundation you ought to be using, try a couple out at a cosmetics counter and have one of the makeup artists help you to find a formula and color that accurately matches your skin's tone and texture.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Shampoo less, we dare you.About 90% of Americans shampoo daily. One hundred years ago, people only washed their hair monthly, and in the 1950s, it was customary for women to have their hair washed and set once a week at the salon.

Related: Eight Things Your Hair Says About Your Health

A clean head of hair feels fresh and smells great but over-washing can turn one's healthy locks into a pile of straw. The average person's hair grows less than half an inch per month so long strands that have been subjected to a lot of shampooing (as well as chemical treatments, blow drying, and the elements), tend to get dried out and dull at the ends and even break off. Dirtier hair-gasp-also holds a style better.

How often you need to shampoo depends on how oily your scalp is and your hair's texture. Oil-known as sebum-travels more easily down smooth, straight hair, making it look greasier faster. Sounds a little gross, but sebum helps moisturize and waterproof the hair shaft. This is one reason why curly or coarse hair is drier. When you wash every day, you typically strip off this natural moisturizer and then have to slather it back on in the form of commercial conditioner.

 Shine that shampooing a couple of times a week is plenty. "If you can't stand a being a little oily, then coat your wet hair with conditioner up to the ears to protect it and then just wash the scalp." On gym days, try simply rinsing with water instead of shampooing and finish with a light conditioner to detangle. Another tip is to "spot clean around the hairline with a little dry shampoo. It will also help stretch the time between blow outs."

Shampooing does stimulate the scalp, which brings blood flow and healthy nutrients to the hair follicles. As an alternative, of a gentle daily scalp massage and regular brushing with a good quality hairbrush.

People with flaky scalps may be inclined to shampoo frequently, but dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology, Nia Terezakis, MD says this can actually exacerbate the problem. "When you have a flaky scalp its not dirty, its dandruff or a form of psoriasis,"! Shine. "Use a shampoo formulated for dandruff and let it sit on your scalp for 20 seconds before rinsing." You can follow up with a separate shampoo and conditioner of your choice, "But don't scrub," she advises. "It will flake even more."

When you choose a shampoo, Terezakis says to pick a product that is made for your specific hair type whether it be oily, dry, limp, curly, etc. "Companies spend a lot of money on cosmetic chemists and different products really do work." One exception: "Baby shampoos aren't necessarily gentle on adult hair," she warns. "They are made because babies squirm. They don't sting the eyes but they can be drying."

If you are used to washing your hair daily, it can take a few weeks to get used to a new routine. You may be over producing sebum to compensate for stripping the scalp. Gradually increase the days between shampooing and see if your hair becomes healthier and takes more time to appear dirty as a result.

Ali Larter NEW HAIRCUT

New mom, new haircut! Ali Larter recently freshened her hairstyle, debuting a brand-new bob on the red carpet earlier this month. “Ali was looking for a totally re-vamped look,” salon owner Andy LeCompte, Larter’s hairdresser and a Wella Professionals celebrity stylist, tells PEOPLE. “Cutting your hair is a big step for a lot of people, and Ali has had long hair for years. She was excited and ready for the change.”

Thankfully, the actress has no regrets. “She really had a strong idea that she was ready for a fresh new look and was not uncertain at all,” LeCompte shares. “Ali is loving her new cut! She loves the freedom and ease of it.”

In fact, it’s quite easy for the star to transform her hairstyle in a matter of minutes. “She can take her look from every day to the red carpet by adding something as easy as a deep side part, or adding texture with a product like Wella Professionals ocean spritz beach texture spray,” LeCompte explains.
And the style works well for new moms like Larter, too. “Shorter hair is great for fuss-free styling, which complements the busy lives of moms everywhere — not just in Hollywood,” he shares. “I also think new moms experience this newfound confidence and find it liberating to not hide behind their hair.”
LeCompte predicts that other trendsetters will likely follow in Larter’s footsteps soon. “For so long the ideal hair for a woman was long, flowy and down to your hips,” he shares. “Women are experimenting more and are realizing that you don’t have to sacrifice your femininity if you cut your hair.”

The Secret to Getting Ultrahot, Hot-Roller Hair

Thanks to the overly hair-sprayed bouffants of the '60s (not to mention the winglike side flips of the '70s), hot rollers have often gotten a bum rap. "I think that that's the nightmare that you don't want — that you suddenly have these two huge, voluminous, poofy sides all going backwards, when in reality you're looking for that ultraglam, fluid movement". So dust off that old hot roller set, and see Joey's tips for making this classic hairstyling tool fit into your modern needs. Just keep reading for more.

Take part: "So that you don't end up looking like you need to put a pair of hot pants and roller skates on, focus on wearing your hair where it's parted," "If you have a part on the left side of your head or vice versa, try to keep the rollers all going in the same direction."
Around the clock: "When you get to the other side of your head, the roller direction is under, and on the opposite direction it's over. Basically, you're going counterclockwise, and the rollers are all going in the same direction," 
All set: "What you end up with is something more glamorous — very Veronica Lake — and when you brush it out, it will be so sexy!"  "What's great about that is that it looks really fluid and both sides aren't Farah Fawcett-ing back." And that's how you look more hot damn than granny-glam.

Picture Perfect Beauty Finds

Silicone Primer and Matte Foundation
Primers containing silicone improve skin's texture by softening fine lines and disguising pores. A matte foundation evens skin tone while keeping shine to a minimum, which a camera flash can really exacerbate! The Make Up For Ever HD Complexion Starter Kit offers incredible versions of both of these products, along with the HD Microfinish Powder, which adds a soft-focus finish.

Make Up For Ever is the same brand that made waves last year when they released a cosmetic ad with no retouching. These products are the special sauce they used to perfect the model's complexion.

Long-Lasting Lip Stain
Lip color frames your smile and keeps you from looking washed out in photos. I used to attempt re-applying lipstick every time someone pulled out a camera, but these days favor a lip stain that I can apply and forget about. Stila Lip & Cheek Stains have serious staying power, and come in both natural and vibrant shades.


Steam Rollers
Large, full, loose waves look good on most women. That's why they're the standard Victoria's Secret model hairstyle. Plus, voluminous hair can have a slimming effect. Steam rollers are a great way to get the look, but a good set can be hard to find.
Fortunately, Pro Beauty Tools recently partnered with the Twilight film franchise to create the Sparkle Ionic Steam Hairsetter. The set uses ionic technology for extra shine, and is much gentler on my hair than my regular hot rollers. I use mine EVERY DAY and I hate the &%$#@! Twilight movies. They're that good.



Highlighting Under Eye Concealer
Nothing ages you in a photo like dark circles. The best disguise is a concealer that both covers and brightens the under eye area. Maybelline's Dreamlumi Touch is currently my highlighting concealer of choice. It's a highly pigmented, gel-based formula with impressive staying power, and it's mercifully affordable.

Blemish Control
Most acne products are too drying for my adult complexion, so I stick to those that contain Glycolic and Salicylic Acids, like my beloved Cane + Austin Acne Treatment Pads. They gently exfoliate pore-clogging dead skin cells and increase skin's cellular turnover, leaving skin clear and glowing. And they work on chest and back acne, too.

 

A Smile
Seriously. It's an instant facelift. Say cheese!

Waterfall Ponytail: Tress Trend

International hair artist Vivienne Mackinder's "Lady of the Manor" collection included the classic look with blunt ends. Kim Kardashian celebrated her 29th birthday in the cascading pony. And I remember sporting a waterfall ponytail in the eighth grade when I was crowned Miss Model United Nations. However, my stylist was heavy-handed with the gel and holding spray.
Want to recreate this ponytail? Do Cho's five steps:
1. Spray Dry Shampoo directly at the root. Use a blow-dryer to work in excess powder and brush through before styling. Insider tip: Second-day hair is perfect to hold this style.
2. Section off hair around the crown, and then tease to create volume.
3. Use a brush to smooth the hair on the sides and back. Pull the back of hair into a ponytail and secure with an elastic.
4. Take one side and wrap around the ponytail and secure with a bobby pin. Take the opposite side and also wrap around the pony. Lightly brush back the teased crown over the ponytail.
5. To finish, work a dime-size amount of Shine Serum into the palms of your hands, and then delicately smooth ponytail hairs to eliminate flyaways.
To make this look more casual and ready-to-wear, the pro stylist recommends using less volume on the top of the head. Or add a modern touch by twisting or braiding the sides to add a textured element without distracting from the overall feel of the ponytail.

Michelle Williams poses for American GQ Magazine