9 Beauty Rules That Don’t Apply to Everyone

By Jennifer Tzeses

They've stood the test of time, handed down from one generation of women to the next. Those age-old beauty commandments-"Thou shalt shampoo daily," "Thou shalt slough away dead skin"-have been faithfully followed for years without question. But did you ever wonder how these universal decrees could possibly apply to all of us? Here, we give you the lowdown from the pros on who really needs to follow these rules and who can-and even should--break them.

Rule 1: Wash Your Hair Every Day

You may be trained to cleanse your mane like clockwork, but you could actually be causing your tresses unneeded distress. "Generally, only women with fine or oily hair need to wash it every day to prevent strands from getting too greasy or weighed down," says Nexxus Creative Director Kevin Mancuso. Those with dry or coarse hair can usually wait a few days before lathering locks, he says, as this helps your scalp's natural moisture rebalance itself and keeps color looking fresher for longer. To keep hair looking clean between washes, try Psssssst Instant Spray Shampoo ($6.99; Drugstore.com), which refreshes strands without water.

Rule 2: Cover Your Entire Face with Foundation

A flawless face doesn't have to mean painting it with a heavy coat of product. Unless you have an allover uneven complexion or acne scars, you can simply cover the areas that need a bit of camouflaging, like undereye circles and the occasional pimple, and leave the rest of your face au naturel, says Stila Pro artist Sarah Lucero. Using a foundation brush, concentrate on the place you want to cover and stipple--which means lightly dab-product into the skin so the formula melts away and your complexion looks uniform, she suggests. For a perfect finish, try Stila's One Step Complexion Brush ($32; Sephora.com), which makes application a cinch.

Rule 3: Cut Your Nail Cuticles

This is a big no-no for just about everyone, says New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, MD, Director, Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "Cuticles protect the nail matrix (where the nail grows) from exposure to bacteria, and the more you cut them, the more you expose your nails to infection," she says. If you have a piece of cuticle sticking out or a jagged edge, then it's OK to snip it. But even in these cases, just the bit of loose skin should be gently clipped, says Dr. Waldorf. The next time you're faced with a nip-happy nail technician, have her push the cuticles back instead. Also, try applying a daily moisturizing cream to keep cuticles hydrated and looking their best. If your cuticles are already in bad shape, mend them with the Maximum Growth Cuticle Pen from Sally Hansen ($6.49; Walgreens.com), which nourishes and moisturizes the area quickly.

Rule 4: Get Your Hair Trimmed Every Six to Eight Weeks

Talk about urban legends--if your hair is healthy, you can go three or more months without needing a trim, says Mancuso. The only women who should abide by this rule are those with short cuts that require maintenance to preserve the style, or women with severe damage from over-bleaching, relaxing or perming hair. Frequent trims aren't going to help your hair grow any faster, since hair grows from the root. But if you have split ends, trims will keep them from splitting all the way up the hair shaft and causing more damage, says Mancuso. To help mend split ends and reduce the frequency of trims, try Nexxus ProMend Split End Binding Overnight Treatment Crème ($17.49; RiteAidOnlineStore.com). The formula strengthens ends to protect against future splits and leaves hair looking vibrant.

Discover 10 beauty rules that should be broken.

Rule 5: Exfoliate Your Face to Get Rid of Dead Skin

For most of us, reclaiming that youthful glow isn't a matter of sloughing off skin. Only women with dry, flaky or sun-damaged skin on their faces need to use an exfoliator, says Dr. Waldorf. "Cell turnover happens naturally and more effectively on its own when skin is in good condition," she says. "Exfoliation can irritate an otherwise healthy complexion." Women with sun damage or extra-dry patches who need an exfoliating boost once or twice a week to help them shed dead, sallow skin should opt for a gentle exfoliating face cleanser, like Olay Professional Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser ($19.99; Amazon.com).

Rule 6: Keep Eyeliner Off Your Bottom Lids

The only women who should heed this advice are those with close-set or small eyes, says Lucero, since lining bottom lashes has a tendency to make eyes look even smaller. Contrary to popular belief, the rest of us can rim top and bottom lashes. "Doing so adds more drama, defines the shape of your eyes and creates the illusion of fuller lashes," she says. Powder shadow, applied with an angled brush, has a more subtle effect, while liquid liner lends a smoldering look. For color that won't budge, give Revlon's ColorStay Eyeliner ($6.48; Walmart.com) a go-the waterproof formula will ensure that your look lasts all day long.

Rule 7: Take a Shower Every Day

Cleanliness may be a virtue, but unless you're prone to body odors or have exercised until you're dripping with sweat, you don't have to lather up daily, says Dr. Waldorf. Actually, getting too squeaky-clean can cause your skin to become parched, especially if you're using an antibacterial soap. Furthermore, the dryness from overwashing can create tiny openings, which make your skin more vulnerable to bacteria. A hydrating body wash will replenish moisture while keeping you fresh. Try Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash ($8.99; Drugstore.com) which contains nourishing Nutrium Moisture to help hydrate your skin.

Rule 8: Use Shampoo First, Then Conditioner

Believe it or not, this morning mantra applies only to women with dry or coarse strands. Those with fine or oily hair should actually condition before they shampoo, recommends Mancuso. "This still hydrates and cleans the hair, but it also washes away any excess product that might otherwise weigh hair down," he says. Plus, you're giving those limp locks an added boost of volume. By going the more traditional route and applying conditioner second, you let more moisturizing ingredients remain in the hair, which benefits dry hair. Try L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Volume Conditioner ($6.99; available at drugstores nationwide).

Rule 9: Skip Shimmer Shadow if You're Over 40

Not only can shimmery shadow give your eyes their shining moment by making them stand out, these shadows can also detract from fine lines and imperfections by deflecting light away from the eyes, says Lucero. Want to try some shine? Check out Physicians Formula Shimmer Eye Shadow ($9.34; Target.com), which offers a palette of complementary shades. However, if you're tired or have droopy eyelids, opt for matte powder formulas instead-since a shimmery shadow will highlight eyes, it can draw more attention to saggy lids.

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com

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