We’ve all been there, you resolve to do something brave with your beauty look and it goes a little… awry. Or at the worst possible time your skin has a random and violent breakout. Tempting as it might be to hide away with the curtains drawn and the lights down low, help is at hand. We’re sharing our nightmare beauty moments with you and the products we wish we’d known about way back when.
The Nightmare: A Terrible Haircut
Charlotte – Beauty Buyer
I had my hair cut by a local hairdresser for the first time. I mentioned something to do with ‘layers’ and ‘choppy’ all the while picturing a beachy and natural look. Unfortunately for me, she had other ideas and twisted the top of my hair and cut through the twists from the roots. It left me with spikes and tufts that resembled a hybrid of a cockatoo and Rod Stewart (sorry Rod, but not the sexy years).
The Fix
Devastating as a bad do can be, you don’t have to rush out and invest in a new wardrobe of hats (unless you want to in which case go right ahead!). Tame flyaway layers with a smoothing serum like 3 More Inches Lifesaver, just spritz into damp hair and comb through before drying. Keen for it to hurry up and grow? Give tresses a helping hand with Phyto’s Phytophanere Hair & Nail Supplements. They’re packed with vitamins and essential fatty acids that stimulate healthy hair growth.
The Nightmare: The Unexpected Breakout
Anna – Beauty Buyer
To prevent any large outbreaks of spots on my wedding day I started an intensive skincare regime several weeks beforehand. Sadly it had the opposite effect of stripping my skin and by the day after the wedding my chin had erupted in weeping blisters from a bad reaction to the strong products I had been using. Eek! They eventually healed to form a sore scab all over my chin (I looked so attractive on my honeymoon!).
The Fix
To soothe a sore face – and to keep the scab from becoming too hard and uncomfortable – try using regular applications of a gentle face oil. Trilogy Rosehip Oil is perfect and also helps to fade scarring so will prevent any lasting reminders of your breakout! Team with Trilogy’s Sensitive Skin Very Gentle Calming Serum which is amazing at calming sore skin and works well on insect bites too!
Francesca – Beauty Editor
The Nightmare: Over-Plucked Brows
It’s so easy to get carried away when plucking your brows at home (I blame those magnifying mirrors for encouraging me!). A few years ago, after a particularly vigorous plucking session, I stepped back from the mirror to discover – disaster – I’d actually removed most of mine. What was left was a wonky line of wispy hairs that were square instead of softly arched. I looked permanently surprised. It’s no exaggeration to say I spent the next 8 weeks wearing beanies.
The Fix
Sadly, a lot of this is a waiting game but you can help bulk up what you have leftby using a lightly tinted grooming product like Jane Iredale’s PureBrow Gel and applying some careful shading with a good powder or pencil (we love Korres’ Colour Eyebrow Pencil). To help gently encourage regrowth, use a stimulating serum like Talika’s Eyebrow Lipocils, applying to the roots of your brows twice a day for a month.
The Nightmare: An All-Over Red Rash
Annick – Designer
I’ve always suffered with eczema on my hands and body but luckily I now find I can control it much better by using the right products for my skin type. Not so a few years ago when, feeling all adventurous, I couldn’t help slathering on a glittery, highly perfumed shower gel! Of course, my skin reacted with a horrendous, red-raw rash all over my body which I will never forget. Lesson learnt.
The Fix
Aloe vera is your best friend when it comes to inflamed and sensitive skin. Try smoothing on Jason’s Aloe Vera Natural Pure Natural Moisturizing Gel. The natural formula is extra gentle and free from any skin-aggravating nasties. If you’re heading out, it’s time to swap your party outfit for something a little floatier. This season’s maxi dresses, twinned with a lightweight jacket will help give you coverage whilst maintaining the glam. Full-on glitter? Probably still a no-no, but you can get a subtle shimmer with Skin Deep Golden Elixir from This Works. It’s got a twinkly sheen but has the soothing factor with aloe and clary sage. Still really want the serious sparkle? Go for bedazzled fingertips with a shade like OPI’s Pink Yet Lavender or Essie’s Hors D’Oeuvres.
The Nightmare: Fake Tan Gone Wrong
Mel – Manager
Trying on my dress the day before a wedding, I suddenly realised my legs looked really pale. My friend ran to the bathroom and grabbed me her fake tan to use. I slathered it on without much thought (while she helped me get all the tricky bits round my knees) and sat back to let it work its magic overnight. At this point I had no idea that the tube was labelled ‘Darker than dark’! About two hours later, I happened to glance down and my feet were deep, deep orange. Not only that, but really patchy as well! No amount of scrubbing did a thing to budge it and I ended up trying to mute it with a layer of light tinted moisturiser! Luckily my shoes had chunky straps and my dress went to my knees.
The Fix
Removing an entrenched layer of colour does take a bit of time but it doesn’t have to be a drag! One of the best things you can do is soak in a warm bath that’s been laced with skin-softening oils (Burt’s Bees Vitamin E Bath & Body Oil is the perfect blend of hydrating and opulent) before using a scrub to gently buff away stubborn tan. We love Rituals’ Hammam Hot Scrub which has sea salt flakes and a divine ginger scent for a bit of indulgence. There are also a few great tricks you can work with a lemon, check out our blog on the subject for the details!
The Nightmare: The Extreme Manicure
Abbie – Customer Services
I went a bit overboard with a cuticle cutter last year which caused an infection and I was on antibiotics for a week – it was pretty vile!
The Fix
It can be risky trying to trim cuticles yourself but using a softening cream instead of clippers is a great way to keep them under control without the danger. Margaret Dabbs has a fabulous Nourishing Nail & Cuticle Serum that will keep your nails super healthy and cuticles manageable. It’s also infused with tea tree oil to help keep infections at bay.
We’d love to hear about your beauty disasters, plus if you fancy some advice on how to fix a tricky beauty blunder then post in the comments below and we’ll get back to you with our top problem-solving tips.
Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed your Halloween Horror stories, they made me laugh which I needed.