Beauty Tips: The Rules You Should Break

Forget what you've heard and find your own style.

By LHJ.com — Written on Jul 25, 2013

Don't be held captive by outdated beauty standards. We say forget yesterday's beauty rules! Here, today's realities:

Rule: Redheads can't wear red
Reality: There was something to this beauty rule years ago, when most red lipsticks had a blue base that made them pinkish when applied. The pink in the lipstick clashed with the delicate pink undertones of a redhead's complexion. But today there is a wide spectrum of reds, including golden and brownish-red hues that enhance the natural tones in a redhead's hair and freckled skin, according to makeup pro Bobbi Brown. New reds to try: Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Burnt Red and L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipcolour in Red Hot.

Rule: Oil-free products are the only option for oily skin
Reality: "When you strip oil from your skin's upper layers, it just prompts the skin to produce more oil," says Susan West Kurz, president of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care. Unlike mineral oil, which sits on the surface and can clog pores, botanically based oils can actually help prevent blemishes, as they are quickly absorbed by the skin. This not only softens skin, but helps normalize oil flow. A few choices: Decleor Aromessence Ylang Ylang Purifying Concentrate (use morning and night before moisturizer), Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Normalizing Day Oil (use in the morning as your moisturizer), and Clarins Lotus Face Treatment Oil.

Rule: Don't tweeze above your eyebrows
Reality: Any stragglers above your brows can create a shadow, and as a result, the shape of your brows won't look as clean and defined. For mistakeproof grooming above the brow, New York-based makeup pro Lea Siegel suggests this trick: Brush brows into place, then go over them with a white makeup pencil. Strays above the whitened area can be tweezed without disrupting the line of your brows. Pluck one hair at a time, using a good pair of tweezers. One of our faves: Tweezerman Slant Tweezers.

Rule: The best place to spritz on fragrance is behind your ears
Reality: Fragrance expert Jo Malone, founder of Jo Malone London, says that your favorite scent will be most alluring — and less overpowering to others — when you spritz it down the center of your body, from below the collarbone to between the breasts. The natural body heat you generate in these places warms up the fragrance, which helps it last longer. Try a spritz in your hair, too; your hair's natural oils will help fragrance cling to your tresses. (But don't do this if your hair is highlighted, because alcohol in the fragrance could distort your haircolor.)

Read more rules at LHJ.com: 9 Beauty Rules To Break

9 Beauty Rules You Should Break

Forget what you've heard and find your own style.