How Not to Suffer for Beauty And Still Look Great

No pain, no gain, right? Wrong! Many of us are guilty of suffering for beauty, but what if we told you you don’t have to? Today we break down some of the most notoriously painful things we do for beauty, and how you can skip the pain and still get all the gains.

Eyelashes and Eyebrows

We’ve all experienced a nip or two from an eyelash curler, but if you’re using a ton of products on your brows and lashes daily, the ouch factor can stack up fast. From plucking and waxing, through to bacterial infections from bad mascara or cheap eyelash extensions, it’s a wringer of pain- but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s some top ways to keep your brows on fleek without suffering for it:

Use quality makeup brands for everything around the eye area, and change them regularly. Old mascara, particularly, is a bacteria trap that can lead to painful eye infections.
Don’t cheap out on fake eyelashes, eyelash glue, or extensions, either. While it may look like a steal at first, it can soon become an ordeal of pain and infection. Always choose trusted brands, only wear them according to manufacturer recommendations, and give your eyes a break regularly.
Eyelash serums can boost natural lash length, but they’re not all created equally. But a quality product without ingredients that can be problematic around the eyes
Be careful when using tools like eyelash curlers, and don’t overdo them or pinch delicate skin
If you use retinol products, consider switching from waxing to threading. Waxing can pull off additional layers of skin when combined with retinoids. Threading will give the same results with less stress on the skin. If you prefer to pluck, be careful, and don’t pinch the skin.

Windows to the Soul

Our eyes take a lot of abuse in the name of beauty. From sticking your liner pencil into your eye, to aggravating the eyeball while wearing contacts, it’s a trade-off in long-term health for short term beauty. No one wants bleary, damaged, and bloodshot eyes, or to lose long-term vision health just to look great in a selfie. Here’s some things to consider:

If you wear color contact for a pop of added beauty, make sure you’re buying a high-quality color contact brand with strict quality control. Have them professionally fitted by a trained optometrist, and if they’re prescription, make sure it’s up to date and right for you.
Additionally, only ever wear contacts as long as recommended by your eye doc or the manufacturer. Even the best quality contacts reduce oxygen to the eyeball, so use lubrication drops for extra comfort, and take a day off regularly for your eyes to recover.
Contacts can be daily, monthly, or weekly. Don’t wear them past the end of their life, as they can begin to disintegrate and irritate the eye
Only ever use optometrist-approved cleaning and storage solutions. Water will ‘pop’ the cells in contact lenses, again creating fit issues that can abrade your eyeball (ouch).
As we mentioned above, use only quality brands around the eye area, avoid serums with irritating ingredients close to the eye, and make sure liner pencils are splinter-free and properly sharpened before use. Plus be careful and concentrate when you’re using them!

Love the Skin You’re In

Peels, serums, and creams… oh my! While a strong beauty regime is a great way to keep your skin fresh and healthy for life, overdoing activities is a one-way ticket to prickling, burned skin that looks worse than ever. Sometimes, more is better doesn’t apply, girls!

Don’t overdo it! We can’t stress this one enough. AHA, BHA, acids, peels, retinol and tretinoin…they’re all fantastic products, but using too many, too often, or too much is a big no-no if you want to stay healthy and pain-free. Build up tolerance, don’t go balls to the wall out the gate, and make sure you’re not overdoing it, too.
The same goes for exfoliating products. Exfoliation should only be happening 1-2 times a week, and you don’t need to take a sander to your face to look great
Patch test. If it’s a new serum, or even a new brand, patch test on the inside of your wrist for a few days so you don’t find out you’re allergic or will react the hard way.
Don’t forget the SPF! Many acids and retinols need you to take extra care in the sun, as you will burn more easily.

Here and Hair

Luscious locks look delicious, but many of our go-to hair strategies do more harm than good. Too-tight ponytails can cause traction on the scalp, leading to headaches and even baldness. Heavy accessories can snap hair and pull on the scalp, and over-dyeing your hair can cause breakage and hair loss.

Dye smartly: The further you want to drift from your natural hair, the more upkeep it takes, and the more damage that will happen getting there. Olaplex, keratin treatments, toning shampoos and more can help, but remember- less is more in the processing department
Be Honest: Your hairdresser isn’t asking about treatments and box colors to shame you. It’s critical information they need to know, or your tresses could melt off in the coloring process. Always be honest, even if you feel a bit bad
Antique Lace: treat your hair gently, don’t rip and tug at it. This causes damage and pain. Additionally, watch out for snags, missing pin caps, and rough patches in your go-to hair accessories and tools
Skip the heat: Long term, heat processing takes an immense toll on our hair. Rather learn to style with less heat, and don’t cook your locks under a hairdryer. Your skin and hair will be happier for it.

A beauty regime that’s pain-free is easier than ever to achieve, so don’t feel you have to hurt to look great. These top tips will help you shine like the star you are, without hurting yourself in the process.