Archived Post

Are there any beauty rules you strongly follow/believe in?

Are there any beauty rules you strongly follow/believe in? If so, share!

For our Bobbi Brown giveaway, I asked you what your favorite beauty rule to break, so now I’m curious to see if there are any that you adhere to! I follow the match-your-neck philosophy of foundation shade selecting.

Got a question idea? Submit yours here.

92 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Altea Avatar

Same for me…I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woman with a foundation that was too light for her.

I think it depends on culture anyway. In most western countries the “must” is tan skin all year, so girls tend to “fake a tan” using a darker foundation and way too much bronzing powder. But i.e. in Japan or India a pale skin is considered beautiful, so maybe they choose paler shades on purpose 😛

Ms Lelee Avatar

I second that notion… I look at how beautiful my mother’s skin is at 62 and thank God for genetics but through the years I have always seen my mom with a face an eye cream in her skin care regimen… she always emphasises to moisturize! And 62 years later her black still hasn’t cracked… LOL

jane knox Avatar

for ME, i dont like strong lips if i have strong eyes, or vice versa. less is more.
i do that in fashion too, leggs or cleavage, not both, or minimal of each.
oh and glitter only in moderation.

Cris Avatar

I believe that face lotion is absolutely important! You have to have a well hydrated face. I actually drink tons and tons when I am applying makeup because I do not want my skin to dry out. Thanks! Cris.

Meredith Avatar

I believe strongly in only emphasizing one area at a time (whether it be eyes, lips, cheeks, etc). I think strong makeup can easily look clownish when applied everywhere.

leah Avatar

I also follow the foundation color rule to avoid lines. A few other basics are wearing sunscreen daily and always applying lipliner with bright lipsticks.

Karlin Moen Avatar

I also follow the match-your-neck philosphy of foundation shade selecting, this is sooo important. I hate seeing girls with orange faces and white necks. LoL.

But I also follow the rule about not wearing blue eyeshadow and pink blush or lipcolor, just because on me it doesn’t look good. I prefer to use a peachy blush and nude/peachy lipcolour when I wear blue shadows on my eyes.

Sarah Avatar

I don’t always follow it but I do believe it’s better looking for a look: Bold eyes/light lips, light eyes/bold lips. I just find it generally looks better. Also, don’t over-do the damn bronzer!!!! That drives me nuts, I will re-do my entire face if I feel I over did the bronzer even a touch.

Arantzazu Avatar

Actually, there are 3 that I follow as a religion…
1. Remove all my makeup before going to bed.
2. Moisturize the skin every day.
3. The one you said, Christine. Match my neck with the shade of foundation.

Katie Avatar

I always, always fill in my eye brows because I think it ties the whole look together. Another one is to apply foundation to my whole face, rather than ‘where it’s needed’. I know this doesn’t apply to everyone, but I have a pretty uneven skin tone so that’s a big must for me.

Cynthia M. Avatar

-Always, always wash your face before going to bed. I NEVER leave makeup on when going to sleep and do my routine of washing and moisturizing my face at night.

-Also, always put moisturizing face lotion at night and before putting on makeup (or in the morning). When i didn’t do that before i knew better, i noticed a major difference and now have clearer skin and my face is more hydrated. Makeup also applies better 🙂

Marinella Avatar

I always use primer on my face and eyes before putting on anything else, it’s something I always need to do, this one is my makeup rule.

Ana G. Avatar

Two beauty rules I always follow: do a facial deep cleaning with a professional twice a year – spring and autumn; never ever ever go to bed without taking my makeup off.

Teresa Avatar

I also follow the match your foundation with your neck when I am looking for a foundation shade. I also put foundation on my neck just so the foundation looks more blended. This is another rule I want to break just so I can save foundaion 😀

Nina Avatar

This might be the same for many people but I strongly believe in double cleansing in the evening. I never never never not remove my make up thoroughly. I am not so particular on make up but I am very particular on skincare. So though it might take a while longer than usual, I always remove my eye make up first, followed by a cleansing oil and then cleanser. And of cos lotion, moisturizer yada yada will follow after.

mars Avatar

Your face ends at the decollette not the jawline. That means your skincare & especially your sunscreen should be applied to the neck & chest as well as the face.

Lauryn Avatar

Beauty rules I strongly believe in.. yes. Althought I’m a rule-breaker for the most part, there is a sense that some things, are non-negotiable:
1- Remove thy makeup- every night.
2- Wash thy brushes/sponges etc
3- Thou shalt NOT share thy cosmetics.
4- Thou shalt apply sunscreen EVERY DAY.

other than that? who cares!

Mary Beth Avatar

– Do not wear shades of orange and shades of purple on your face at the same time.
– Find out what colors look great on you and wear them. Find out what colors look terrible and don’t wear them.
– Wear clothes that accentuate your look and don’t wear ones that accentuate your flaws.
– Don’t wear micro mini skirts after 40.

DolceAria Avatar

Using balance/complementary colors to pull off unusual makeup that doesn’t match your undertones? I’m neutral, but almost EVERY look, I find myself pairing a pretty even mix of undertones.

The other day? Warm hot pink and coral, paired with cool pink blush, and neutral HOT PINK lips. The day before? Cool neutral browns, with warm coral blush, and cool pink lips with a gold shimmer. Before that? Warm wine and spring green, with cool pink blush, and cool dark wine lips.

I feel like that rule lets me wear almost any color, without people being able to tell it’s “off” on me, even though some colors ARE too warm or too cool for my complexion.

Rachel Avatar

I know it’s not technically a rule, considering it’s trendy this season, but I WILL NOT wear dark eyes with bold lips. I cannot stand the look.

Nic Avatar

I’m not too big on rules when it comes to makeup, but there are a few I think are worth following:

– Make sure your foundation is properly matched.
– Don’t overline your lips. I can’t tell you how much I hate the way this looks. Even if your lips are thin, resist the urge!
– And, of course, always remove all makeup before bed.

Sally Avatar

Don’t wear bronzer all over your face, use it where the sun would hit and under your chin to define your jawline.

Blue eyed girls can only wear blue eyeshadow when mixed with a neutral shadow (otherwise, its 80’s revival or Mimi from Drew Carey!)

Always curl your eyelashes

Those are my 3!

Annie Avatar

Moisturiser! Every morning, it’s so important. I have the good genes on my side already, so hopefully when I’m the age my mom is now (49) I’ll have skin as smooth as hers.

Tiffany Avatar

1. Wash all makeup off before bed and moisturize.
2. Apply sunscreen daily.
3. You are what you eat. The healthier you eat, the nicer complexion you will have!

Anitacska Avatar

I think my rules are the same as the majority of people’s here:
* remove make up every night, wash face and moisturise
* moisturise in the morning
* eyeshadow primer when wearing eyeshadows
* always wear mascara (not so much a rule, but a must do for me)
* always wear blush and lipstick/lipgloss when wearing eye make up (otherwise it just looks wrong)

That’s all I can think of right now.

Kathy Avatar

I follow a lot of rules, such as matching my foundation, always wearing an eyeshadow base/primer, washing my makeup off at night, never forgetting to moisturize my face, etc.

Abril Avatar

Foundation matching! Hands Down! Oh! And not using three shades lighter concealer to cover dark under eye circles… To make them look white! Seriously! Shame on you (people with white concealer)! Haha!

Jessica Avatar

I agree the with make sure that your foundation matches your neck but if your like me then you have to break the rule a little. My neck is super light and my face is kinda dark and my chest is kinda dark so if i match my face to my neck then they look totally unnatural compared to the rest of my body sooo…. I have to match my neck to my face, it’s just a variation of the same concept. I also wash and moisturize my face every night and morning religiously unless I’ve been really oily then I just wash and do eye cream at night. Isn’t it funny how we seem to know how our skin works and get into a routine? I always find that interesting.

lisa Avatar

For sure it has to be a moisturizer with sun protection that is a must when i go out during the day because the number one cause of wrinkles is sun damage so i try to prevent it!

Ashley Avatar

I always have to moisturize before applying my makeup and after I wash my face. If I don’t, I’ll get dry spots like CA-RAZY so it’s a must 🙂

Nadia Avatar

Mine is also matching foundation to my neck!! Actually Christine…I have a question for you about this. My neck is lighter than my face. So even though my face might look good in NC 30…when I swatch NC30 foundation on my neck, it definitely does not blend in. NC20 however (!!) blends into my neck. So I use NC20. MAC girls always look at me like I’m nuts when I tell them I’m wearing NC20 because they tell me I’m NC30. But if I wear NC30 on my face and I add contour and blush…by the end of it, my face turns quite a bit darker than my neck (most obvious in natural daylight). I find that NC20 starts off a tad light but by the time I’m done adding my bronzer/contour, my blush and with a bit of oxidization as the day goes on, it blends perfectly with my skin. So perfectly that the MAC girls have a hard time believing I’m wearing NC20!

Do you have the same problem? Do you see any other way around it? Should I be getting NC30 and dragging it down to my neck?

Christine Avatar

If NC20 looks natural to you, and if they can’t believe you’re wearing NC20… go for it!!

I find that layering a loose powder in a slightly darker shade (say NC30 over your NC20 foundation) also seems to work for me. Maybe NC25 would be a happy medium? But really, if it looks good, that’s all it needs to do!

Roxanne Avatar

The Ten Commandments of Makeup:

TEN: Thou shall not give in to temptation. Often.
NINE: Thou shall not wear eyeliner without mascara. It just looks weird.
EIGHT: Thou shall not use 8 coats of mascara.
SEVEN: Thou shall never pack on bronzer/powder. THE LORD COMMANDS YOU, PEOPLE!
SIX: Thou shall never mismatch your foundation (although I must admit I haven’t found my mister Right either).
FIVE: Thou shall wash and sanitise your tools.
FOUR: Thou shall protect your skin from sun damage and cancer and stuff (in other words: apply sunscreen).
THREE: Thou shall apply moisturiser daily.
TWO: Thou shall remove your makeup – come day or night.

And ONE: Thou shall put no other woman above or beneath Thee! Holla.

adrianne Avatar

It’s a tie between eyebrows and foundation. It doesn’t matter how good your makeup looks, if your eyebrows are a mess, it ruins the entire picture imo

Loquita Avatar

My personal rules:

Always wash off *all* makeup before bed;
Wear sunscreen everyday (on face & hands);
Avoid blow drying your hair whenever possible…I have dried my hair perhaps once in the past year and it has never looked better!

Other than these three, I don’t believe in any other makeup rules. They bore me, and exceptions are inevitable.

margo Avatar

I never go to bed with out washing my face. Even if dead tired I will continue to get all makeup off my face. I always use an eyecream even if I do not use a moisturizer on my face………………

WithIt Avatar

Take care of what you have!
1. Face SPF every day (I use MyChelle Sun Shield. It’s natural, paraben free, non-whitening). Applied to face, neck, back of neck, and chest (if the sun will hit it).
2. Cleanse and moisturize face (and eyes) day and night.
3. Research the ingredients in the products you use.
4. When wearing makeup, do what makes YOU happy and wear it with confidence! 🙂

Gabriella Avatar

Wearing the right color foundation is important if you don’t want to look like you have a mask on. Other than that, I’m not really into many rules when it comes to beauty or fashion really. If you feel like wearing bright purple lipstick and super dark black eyes one day, and light pink lips and neutral shadow the next, why not?!…if it makes you happy/feel good about yourself, go for it! Makeup is creative, it’s supposed to be fun, you should have fun with it! 🙂

Miss Silver Avatar

Follow the shape of you brow; don’t try to draw it on. It’s the natural shape for a reason; it’s what came with your face! Pluck the stray hairs, yes, but maintain the shape!! I can’t have thin brows, I end up looking very drag.

Funny story; my mum took me to a salon once for a transgender beautician to thread my brows. She thinned it so much I looked more like her than I did me. I think it’s a transgender beauty ideal; thin brows make you look feminine. but I have a square face for a girl, it does not work!

And foundation matching, yes, that is a must. I always see photos of women where their faces look ghostly white. It’s not a good look.

And blend the foundation to the neck; I’ve seen women with foundation on their faces and the edge of their neck and face looks obvious, the idea of looking natural is completely lost.

Miss Silver Avatar

And… (sorry for flooding but I have to add this!!) ALWAYS wash your face before bed. Even after removing make up with a remover. Moisturise with something light. Otherwise…. zitsville!

Kat Avatar

The ones I follow are just the basic ones. Taking of your makeup before bed, wearing sunscreen, moisturizing, and just having a consistent, simple skincare routine is so important! For makeup, foundation matching, non clumpy lashes, and not overplucked or drawn on eyebrows are really important, in my opinion.

Other than that I think it’s whatever feels good to you.

courtneyseaa Avatar

I stick to the beauty rule of washing your makeup off your face every night! A lot of my friends sleep in thier makeup, & it drives me crazy!

Naheeda Avatar

I always care about skincare so always take your makeup off before you go to bed!
I always think if i dont then i feel skincare is damage! lol

Elizabeth Avatar

Exfoliate! I love putting on makeup on the mornings I exfoliate. My skin really does look brighter and makeup applies so much easier.

Tina Avatar

If I am going to do an intensely made up eye, then I go neutral with my lips. If I am going to do intense lips, I do neutral tones on my eyes. I don’t do intense on both because I feel it looks overdone.

Lauren Avatar

My one rule is that my eyebrows have to be spot-on perfect or the rest of the look will never look right. So, eyebrows have to be intricately manicured and taken care of! I also do not believe in over-plucking or letting my eyebrows become hairy caterpillars.

Ugly eyebrows are a BIG pet peeve.

MAChostage Avatar

I.HATE.BEAUTY.RULES.

I believe that a person should use/apply/wear whatever they want, however they want. It doesn’t or shouldn’t matter what others think, it’s all about the individual. One of the things I hate is the popular definition for “daytime” makeup. Of course this is all dependent upon what your daytime consists of, but I work in an office environment and refuse to use only the neutral colors in my collection from day to day!

Peggy M Avatar

– perfect foundation matching, i hate two-tone head and neck syndrome!
– Never wear a bold lip and a bold eye-make-up, unless your goin down the runway ;P.
– Make sure you dont get make-up in your hair!

XOXO

Stephanie Avatar

I really believe in taking your makeup off before bed, ALWAYS wearing sunscreen outdoors and don’t EVER have makeup tattooed on. I see women with tattooed lip liner, eye liner and eyebrows all the time and it ALWAYS looks HORRIBLE!!!

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!