30 Beauty Commandments to Live By

Elle

By Justine Harman

Because sometimes, these things are just cut and (blow) dry.

Apropos of absolutely nothing, ELLE.com beauty and features editor Justine Harman lets you in on a little beauty secret-well, 30, to be precise.

Without further ado, here are 30 beauty commandments to live by:


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1. Never underestimate the power of drugstore brand cold cream.

2. Q-tips are, by far, the most important life instrument.

3. Visine gets your whites whiter. And helps your runway-inspired makeup lewks pop.

4. Buy products you love, like face lotion, in multiples. Just do it.

5. Never mess with a zit before "it's time." (One ELLE editor swears by the drying properties of this clay powder to dry the bugger out.)

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5a. Sometimes it really is worth shelling out the money for a cortisone shot. New Yorkers: For $85 big ones, the Tribeca Skin Center does a bang up job.

6. Never get the "updo" option. You will hate it.

7. Always leave the eyebrow trimming to a professional.

8. An ankles-only shave is always appropriate.

9. A knuckles-only shave is not.

10. Don't use your boyfriend's deodorant on a stressful day. The unusual scent will endlessly confuse your senses.

11. Double down on Aquaphor. Its uses are innumerable.

12. Clear mascara can be used to tame brows, unruly hairs, and, in a pinch, to lend a kewpie effect to tired eyes.

13. Never paint just your ring finger a contrasting color. It sends a weird message.

14. Tell your hairstylist if it feels like it's burning. That's just never a good sign.

15. Hung over? Take Butcher's Broom to reduce all-over puffiness.

16. It's okay to wear the same gym pants several times in a row. However, only you know when they've reached the tipping point.

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17. Never use liquid eyeliner when you're over-caffeinated.

18. Floss.

19. Buy a foam roller. They are tremendous.

20. Have a signature scent. Your loyalty will be rewarded in the form of a loved one telling you that something "smells like you" and when you take a whiff of it yourself, it smells good. I wear this stuff. Now you can smell like me!

21. Have product convictions. There's a power in thinking you've found the perfect exfoliator.

22. Change your pillowcase-even if you're too lazy to change the sheets.

23. Sweat. There are healing, glowing, angelic benefits to getting it all out.

24. Mix a radiance agent into your foundation or tinted moisturizer. This stuff is magic.

25. Stop panicking. Some days we look not-so-hot, but it's scientifically proven* that a self-loathing session in front of the mirror has a negative impact on your overall quality of life.

(*No scientist has verified this claim, but I feel reasonably comfortable making myself the authority on the matter.)

26. Breathe. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Game. Changer.

27. Invest in CE Ferulic. It will even out your skin tone, protect you from damaging free radicals, and make you feel like you're an adult who has her shit together.

28. Drink water! Bucket loads of the stuff.

29. When in doubt, curl your lashes.

30. Never say "prune" in photographs. This trick only works for Olsens. Sorry.


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