We’ve highlighted a few mistakes that we’re all making and hopefully, we can learn to do better.

Mistake #1 : You brush your hair when it’s wet: Your hair is at its most fragile when wet, which is why brushing or combing just after the shower is a major no-no—it can compromise even healthy hair to the point that it snaps from tension. If you want to get the knots out of your hair before styling and avoid breakage, use your fingers (and a leave-in spray, if necessary) to detangle and part your hair after towel-drying.

Mistake #2: You’re skipping heat protectant: Even if you don’t consider yourself to have damaged, vulnerable hair or you’re rocking your natural fro, your hair is still in need of protection. A heat styling product is an absolute necessity. Not only do they protect the hair from being damage as a result of heat exposure, but they also help to optimize the performance of hot tools, which means you get safer, healthier hair and a better style overall. It’s a win-win, so don’t even think about skipping this step.

Mistake #3: You’re not getting enough sleep: Your quality of life—and whether or not you’re taking good care of yourself—really shows on your face, which is why dull, dry skin is often the result of bad sleeping habits. Your skin needs beauty sleep (!) to rejuvenate itself, and getting an inadequate number of hours can wreak havoc on your complexion.

Mistake #4: You’re using dirty makeup brushes. Dirty makeup tools are the perfect breeding ground for potentially detrimental bacteria that can lead to acne, irritation, and even more serious conditions like eye infections. We’re the first to admit that cleaning your brushes is a hassle, but it’s maybe the most important thing you can do to keep your skin from succumbing to problem-causing bacteria in Breakout City.

Mistake #5: You’re touching your face. Your hands accumulate an alarming amount of dirt every day, and touching your face transfers that dirt and bacteria to your skin, which clogges pores and causes breakouts. Everytime you feel the urge to touch your face unnecessarily, it’s a good idea to remember to think of all the dirt you’ve accumulated during the day and imagine the bacteria sitting on your face Soon enough, it’ll become a habit to keep your hands off your face.

Mistake #6: You’re not washing your sheets and pillowcases often enough. Bedding that’s been slept on one too many times is a guaranteed way to cause breakouts and clogged pores, due in part to the fact that the oils from your skin and hair are lingering on the fabric night after night. You’re then exposing that grime to your face for hours, where it has the opportunity to work its way into your pores.

Mistake #7: You’re applying blush in the wrong area. Place the brush on the apples of your cheeks and sweep outward, blending as you go. Too much blush on the cheeks can create that unflattering clown-like effect, so it’s important to apply it in the same area you actually blush.

Mistake #8: You’re not blending your foundation into your neck. Ever see those photos where the flash comes on and it looks like the lady’s face is a completely different tone from her neck? You don’t want that to be you. The key is to blend, blend, blend.

Mistake #9: You’re using the applicators that came with your eyeshadow. Most eyeshadows come with handy mini applicators, making it easy to apply on the go. However, for a truly blended finish, you should use a makeup brush. A sponge tip applicator provides a lot of pigment at once while a brush allows you to gradually add product and blend as you go.

Mistake #10: You aren’t prepping your lips before applying lipstick. I’m personally guilty of this and tend to wipe and exfoliate after noticing how chapped my lips appear after applying lipstick. Don’t be like Moyo; take the extra few minutes to exfoliate chapped lips and allow lip balm to sink in before applying your lip color. The general perception that lip balm would affect the appearance of your matte lipstains is incorrect. If your lip product is quality, it shouldn’t.  Dryness under lipstick is flattering on no one.

Which of these mistakes are you most guilty of?