We talked to beauty expert Victoria De Los Rios, a MAC-certified makeup artist who has appeared on TLC's Say Yes to the Dress and Four Weddings, to help us identify some of the beauty habits you should ditch after you turn 30. Here are seven of them.
1. Using heavy foundation
Caking on the foundation is a no-no for the 30-and-over set. For one thing, it clogs your pores and it's bad for your skin. For another, it can create the illusion that you're older than you really are. And who needs that? "Once we get past a certain age, less is more — so stop using heavy foundation," De Los Rios says. "Heavy foundation can really get into lines and wrinkles and make you look older."
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2. Skipping moisturizer
A major beauty "don't" at any age, but especially over 30. Why? Because your skin gets drier as you get older. "Once you’re past 30, you need to be putting something on your face every day," says De Los Rios. "Your skin is starting to lose its natural oils and elasticity, so you need to start replenishing it with a specific type of moisturizer that will work for you."
3. Washing and blow-drying your hair every day
It's not only our skin that gets more brittle as we age — it's our hair too. So avoid daily washes and blow-dries after 30 to keep your hair from drying out. "You're losing the oils in your hair," De Los Rios explains. "The more you wash it, the more dry it gets, and we're trying to preserve the oil in our hair as much as possible." She recommends washing your hair every third day, or two to three times a week, once you turn 30.
More: 7 Hair hacks for when you don't have time to wash it
4. Wearing heavy eye makeup
Heavy eye makeup typically just accentuates a woman's age and will add years on rather than making her look young and fresh. So if that's been your thing in the 20s, now's the time to kick the habit to the curb. "Avoid very heavy, smoky eye makeup and super exaggerated eyeliner," suggests De Los Rios. "Focus on bringing out your natural beauty and working with what you have."
5. Tanning in a salon
Are you a tanning junkie? The 30s are the time to give up that guilty pleasure for good. "Once you're past 30, you should not be lying in tanning beds," says De Los Rios. "It's just speeding up the aging process." If you like that sun-kissed glow all year-round, opt for spray tans instead, she suggests.
6. Using oil-controlling skin care products
"If you have oily skin, stop using oil-controlling products," De Los Rios says, referring to skin care line brands like Clearskin, Sea Breeze and Proactiv. "By the time you’re in your 30s, hormonally they don’t work anymore, so you’re creating more wrinkles for yourself."
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