Stop Believing These 7 Lies the Beauty Industry Has Told You

Somewhere along the way, companies that were marketing mineral powder used terms like "all-natural" and "fragrance-free." Women started to buy it in droves, because finally there was a foundation that was "so good for you that you can even sleep in it."

Women suddenly felt like they had the green light to fall asleep on the couch at night and not take off their makeup. This is simply not true. While many people with sensitive skin, allergies, or skin that is prone to breakouts will find that they have fewer skin problems when they wear mineral-based makeup, there is nothing better for you than cleansing and moisturizing before bed.

Besides, what must your pillowcases look like? If taking off your makeup at night is so difficult for you, invest $4 in the Up and Up Cleansing Towelettes from Target ($4), and leave them on your nightstand. Give your face a swipe, throw the towelette on the floor, and go to bed knowing you aren't aggravating your precious skin.

This is a horrible rumor that I am constantly trying to end. Women — sometimes as young as their 30s — often request all matte shadows or blushes, because they claim they "heard that women over a certain age shouldn't use anything with sparkle."

First of all, this broad generalization based on age alone is not accurate. Women should choose products that best accentuate their skin and their features regardless of their age. Secondly, the technology in cosmetics has come a long way so that many products that feature a shimmer or a glow can be absolutely gorgeous on mature skin types.

Do not limit yourself to those boring taupe matte shadows for the rest of your life, just because you read it once in a magazine 20 years ago. My go-to for all ages is the Laura Mercier Lustre Shadow in shade African Violet ($25). This gorgeous subtle purple shade is infused with just the right amount of gold fleck, so it works for every woman in the world.

No. You simply cannot do this. Whenever I touch a client's face and realize that it is dry, I ask her if she is moisturizing regularly. Many times women will tell me that they use a "tinted moisturizer" in the morning and something heavier at night. This is a common mistake.

Tinted moisturizer is in fact a very sheer foundation. It feels and looks light, and it is hydrating to the skin, so its name reflects these properties. By no means is this product meant to replace your regular daily skin care. Women should use a moisturizer in the morning as well as a primer underneath tinted moisturizers to ensure that these very sheer products won't dissolve into skin throughout the day.

If you feel like daily face cream coupled with tinted moisturizer is too much, opt for a very light moisturizer in the morning. My go-to for clients who don't want to feel like they have too much hydration on their skin is Clinique Moisture Surge ($39). It is a lightweight aloe and water-based moisturizer that will soothe and hydrate the skin without feeling greasy.

If I had a dime for every client who told me that she used a certain drugstore face scrub at night to take off her makeup, I would be a rich woman. As a makeup artist, I enjoy wearing a lot of makeup during the day. I have been known to keep adding throughout the day, and I am also oily, so there's no better feeling than taking off all of my makeup at night.

I, too, am guilty of abusing my face scrub in my youth, but the fact is these exfoliants can be damaging to the skin if used too often. And most importantly, they don't always work as a makeup remover or cleanser. I especially enjoy the gritty feeling of a scrub to get that squeaky-clean feeling to my skin, but I have since switched to the most amazing cleanser ever.

Mario Badescu makes a Glycolic Foaming Cleanser ($8) that will change your life. It works to remove dull dead surface skin without harsh scrubbing and also will remove makeup and oils from the skin, leaving you feeling clean as a whistle.

I can spot a coconut oil user a mile away. Their skin is very rarely hydrated properly and can sometimes even be dehydrated to the point of flakiness. When I ask them what their skincare routine looks like, they will happily tell me that they use coconut oil to remove their makeup, for lip balm, for their day and night cream, they use it for everything!

I am so happy for you that you have found a product that is safe to use and has multiple purposes, however, I have found that most of my clientele is left with dry, undernourished skin when they dump all of their skin care in the garbage and replace it with this one jar of dense oil.

If you want to feel good about what you are putting on your face at night, try Shea Moisture Daily Hydration Overnight Face Oil ($9). Made with fair-trade, all-natural ingredients, this night oil promises hydration and skin renewal using coconut oil as one of its main ingredients.

Women often swipe foundation or concealer over their lids to minimize darkness and to create a base for their shadows and liners. This is a bad idea.

First off, you never want to put anything on your eyelid that is not meant to go on the eyelid. The soft tissue and skin that make up the eyelid are sensitive and can be easily penetrated, so you should always be sure that whatever products you use on your eyes are safe.

Second, foundations and concealers are often creamy and luminous, which means that instead of helping your eye products to stay on longer, they will actually dissolve and melt shadows and liners quickly. Use a light-weight eyelid primer like Benefit Stay Don't Stray ($26) to ensure that shadows stay put.

I am shooting myself in the foot here as a makeup artist and beauty writer, but one thing that you will always hear from me whether you are my client or my reader is: choose what works for you! You cannot take blanket beauty advice and apply it to yourself without considering certain details. These details include — but are not limited to — your skin type, your lifestyle, your budget, and your facial features. When all else fails, look in the mirror, and make the best decision that suits your face!