Department store makeup counters carry a special allure. It’s difficult to steer clear of that shiny counter with neatly lined up makeup products. For most women, it’s too much to handle!

Beware, however, because these counters aren’t all glitz and glam!

Germs, Germs, Germs!

Yes, germs are absoltuely everywhere. Depsite the sanitary appearance, many women are testing makeup, sticking their fingers in makeup and everything else. Gross! There’s bacteria everywhere. While most brushes are cleaned regularly, there’s no substitute for using your own brush.

You Can Return Pretty Much Anything

Many department stores have extremely lax return policies. Even if you’ve used a product multiple times they will accept a return on the product.

They’re Going to Compliment You!

Yes, the salesperson is going to tell you that you have great this or that. But guess what? They compliment everyone! They want you to feel special. They want to boost your self esteem. And when doing so they greatly increase your chance of buying their products.

Everyone wants that golden glow. We were conditioned to think it’s a sign of health and wealth. However, sun is really the last thing you want on your skin, for the most part.

Cumulative sun exposure over the course of a lifetime can cause leather-like skin and even cancer. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear about people in their 20′s getting skin cancer these days.

• You need to minimize your exposure to the sun. It’s that simple. Whenever you go outside, even in the winter, you should be wearing an spf 30. Yes, you may not be as glamourously brown year round, but your skin will stay beautiful far into old age if you take care of it. You should take particularly good care of your neck, hands and other areas that are more sensitive to the sun.
• Avoid tanning booths at all costs. No, they are not safer than natural sun. In fact, they are far more dangerous. Use a self-tanner instead.

Moisturize Your Skin

If you have oily skin, you have no need for moisturizer. If your skin is particularly oily, use a foaming moisturizer. If your skin is dry, use a soap-free cleanser and apply it to damp skin.

In short, your best bet for healthy skin for a lifetime is staying out of the sun. However, staying active and healthy often requires that you’re outside often, so make sure you’re using a high quality suntan lotion to block harmful UV rays.