Magazines, TV shows and advertisements always seem to be telling us what to buy and what to do to help us look younger and more beautiful. But there are arguably just as many things we should not be doing—things that cost absolutely nada—which can help us achieve similar results. So here's a quick list of 6 beauty don'ts that might just help improve your already amazing good looks.

Don't scrub your skin with harsh soap. If you lather up until you've reached that squeaky clean feeling, you've gone too far. This holds true for both skin and hair. Your body's natural oils are there for a reason—no need to strip them away entirely only to replace them with inferior man-made products (which we all use but just sayin').

Don't touch your face. Aside from your morning and/or bedtime beauty routine, try to keep hand-to-face contact to a minimum. This means no pimple popping, no extracting black-heads (gross, but we all do it), no nervous picking or pulling or tugging. I'm convinced that messing with your skin just makes it worse and can even lead to scarring. Your hands also carry germs and oils that you're spreading to your face which can potentially lead to breakouts.

Don't skip sunscreen in the winter. We need sunlight to help our bodies produce vitamin D, elevate our moods and set our biological clock, but too much sun exposure speeds signs of aging and all that bad stuff. The sun's harmful rays are always present to some extent, so use a moisturizer with sunscreen in the fall and winter, too.

Don't let yourself get dehydrated. When it's cold out, we sometimes tend to forget to drink enough water but it's obviously important to do so year-round. You don't have to chug gallons a day, just make sure you stay hydrated with delicious, filtered tap water.

Don't buy expensive beauty products—especially ones that make too-good-to-be-true claims. Makeup is fun, I get it, but the truth is you don't have to spend a fortune on quality, effective products. The drugstore or health foods store has everything you need to enhance your natural beauty. Remember, just because you pay more for something doesn't mean you're getting more.

Don't wear antiperspirant every day. I am not a medical doctor (duh) but something tells me it can't be healthy to apply a chemical that prohibits your body from naturally perspiring every single day, for years on end. I'm not saying antiperspirant has been linked to any types of diseases or cancers, but I think common sense dictates giving your skin a breather (literally) every once in a while is probably a good precautionary measure.

What don'ts would you add to this list?

If you're planning a trip to Aspen this winter, be sure to pack your Moncler "Mel" Hooded Parka Puffer, $1,275 at Bloomingdales.com.


Staying closer to home, or trying to stick to a realistic budget? Check out the outerwear at American Eagle and get a similar look for less with the AE Puffer Coat (shown here). It's available in orange, white, navy or silver birch for $119.50. AE also has some sporty puffer vests in cool colors like silver or lime yellow as well as a long quilted parka to keep you extra cozy. Thanks to reader Stacy P. for the tip!

Moncler's luxe ski jackets are worn by the rich and famous on ski slopes and city streets alike. Celebrity fans include Christina Aguilera, Rihanna and Mariah Carey. And you'd need their incomes to afford one of these: The Moncler Alpes Jacket shown above costs $1,245 at Ssense.


If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative, Forever 21's Bubble Sheen Jacket is a great buy at $32.80. Confession: I bought one yesterday and I love it. Wool peacoats are great but sometimes you just need something with a little more attitude, and this jacket is it.

After weeks of wearing hot pink polish over the summer, I was ready for a change, and going dark seemed a natural choice. While waiting in line to check out at Forever 21, the impulse bins worked their magic on me and I ended up buying a bottle of L.A. Girl Flare Bright Delights Nail Lacquer in Indigo. Best $2.80 I've spent in a long time! I love the glossy ink-blue hue that reads like black in low-light settings. I'm wearing one coat in the photo shown here; two coats gives you a slightly deeper, darker blue. L.A. Girl's Indigo nail lacquer is the only accessory I need on a chilly day (besides fingerless gloves and a plush scarf) to remind me that under all those layers of heavy winter garb lives a fashionable girl.

What color nail polish are you wearing (or wanting) for fall?

Forever 21 is giving visitors of their website a sneak peek at their soon-to-launch cosmetics line, Love & Beauty. The new makeup line promises to be made from "the highest quality ingredients" and will include everything you need to get gorgeous on a budget, from smokey eye kits to shimmering lip glosses.

Details on the exact launch date and time are not available, but judging by this special offer, I'm guessing select Love & Beauty products will become available as early as Sunday, November 8 (that's tomorrow)—so keep checking their site!

From 11/8 to 11/14, use code MAKEUP10 to get 10% off all makeup from the Love & Beauty collection