There are the beauty habits you tell people about. And then there are the ones you’d rather take to the grave. The good news? Everyone’s guilty. Here’s the proof.

Sleeping in your makeup

You know it’s bad. Every dermatologist on the internet has told you it’s bad. And yet, after a late night out or an evening where the couch has absorbed you entirely, washing your face feels like running a marathon.

We’re not going to lecture you. But we will say: keep micellar water and cotton pads on your bedside table. It’s the lazy solution that actually works. Two swipes and your skin can breathe. Done.

Using the same hair tie until it snaps

That one hair tie on your wrist? The one that’s been there so long it’s basically a tattoo? It’s lost all its elasticity three weeks ago. It’s pulling your hair. It’s leaving dents. And you’ll only replace it when it physically disintegrates mid-ponytail in a moment of great inconvenience.

Swap it for a silk scrunchie or a spiral hair tie. Your hairline will thank you in ten years.

Ignoring your hairbrush until it’s horrifying

You clean your makeup brushes (sometimes). You wash your pillowcase (often enough). But your hairbrush? The one with three months of hair, dust, and product buildup woven into the bristles? That gets a pass apparently.

It takes two minutes to clean. Pull the hair out, soak in warm water with shampoo, scrub with an old toothbrush. Your freshly washed hair deserves better than being dragged through a relic.

Buying products because the packaging is cute

This isn’t even a guilty habit. This is smart consumer behaviour (we’re biased, but hear us out). If a product looks beautiful, you’re more likely to use it. If it’s ugly and functional, it lives under the sink until you forget it exists.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting the things in your space to look good. The key is finding products that are both beautiful and effective—so you’re not choosing between form and function.

The ‘I’ll start my routine on Monday’ loop

Every Sunday night: “This is the week. I’m doing the full routine. Morning and night. No skipping.” By Wednesday, you’re back to a face wipe and vibes.

The trick is to stop aiming for the full routine and start with something so easy you can’t fail. Wash your face. Brush your hair. Moisturise. That’s your baseline. Everything else is a bonus.