A decade is a long time, with a whole host of opportunities to make a beauty mistakes... we're thinking 2000s brows, cakey foundation bases and way too orange fake tan! But during this time, we're sure you've had just as many chances to learn some new beauty tricks.
So, as we're feeling a little nostalgic and want to reminisce on the good (and bad!) trends of the past 10 years, we've asked Team Glossy to share the beauty lessons they've learnt. From overplucking eyebrows to finding lip colours that are their perfect match, they've all shared their dos and don'ts, to help you avoid making the exact same mistakes for yourself!
Team Glossy’s Beauty Mistakes and Best Beauty Advice From The Past Decade!
These are Team Glossy's best bits of beauty advice - as well as a couple of not so fun things to avoid - that they so desperately wanted to share!
Holly James, Beauty Writer
The best thing I’ve learnt is that less is more when it comes to skincare, and that results don’t happen overnight! Finding what works for your skin and sticking to it long term drives better results than constantly trying out new products too. This is something I’ve learned from experience, using too many different products (both a blessing and a curse of working somewhere where you get a lot of free samples!) to try and improve my skin over the years.
I would also write some products off far too quickly without letting them show their full effects. This is because I’d be expecting instant results which isn’t realistic, as the skin can take up to six weeks to fully react to the benefits of a product.
Janet Osayande, Beauty Writer
Last year, a beautician told me, "eyebrow trends change often and your eyebrows can't keep up with them". I wish someone had told me that when I first started plucking my brows 10 years ago. Growing up, I put my brows through hell, and even though I've left them alone to do their thing in the past few years, the damage has already been done. So, the best you can do is leave your brows alone and simply tidy up any unwanted hairs. Don’t change their shape with every new trend as it’s hard to come back from it!
Grace Walker, Beauty Writer
Wow, I honestly have so many lessons to share... But the one that really stands out for me is making sure you find products that are suited for your skin type! When I was younger, I was just buying products based on what my family and friends were using, because they all had lovely, soft skin. Which meant I thought, if I used it, it would do the same for me. How wrong was I? But when I started reading into all the products I was buying, checking they would suit my skin, I started noticing a massive difference with my complexion and how it was reacting better to products. I’m now super cautious - I read all labels on products and check out the ingredients as well. And my skin has never looked so good! After all, the only thing that doesn’t lie is the ingredient list!
Emily Cotton, Beauty Editor
The most important lesson I've learnt over the past 10 years is to properly remove makeup before bed! When I was younger, especially at university, I'd often go to bed with half my face still on, mainly out of laziness or not wanting to be seen without makeup on. But, as expected, my skin wasn't happy about it. Since crafting a skincare routine that works for my skin - which involves double cleansing and removing all makeup and dirt before I sleep! - my skin has never been better. Plus no more waking up with panda eyes! My favourite right now is likely everyone's staple, Garnier Micellar Water, followed up with the ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm!
Megan Hutchins, Campaign Executive
In the last 10 years I have had a couple of beauty mishaps, the majority of them being my hair when I've decide to dye it bright colours. My worst mistake once was bleaching my hair at home two to three times in one session to remove brassiness... It caused my hair to become damaged and horribly frizzy. I ended up cutting it into a pixie like cut soon after! My advice, if you want to bleach your hair at home (which I don’t recommend!) is to do your research first, to see if it's safe for your hair type. And to definitely give your hair time between sessions to repair, with hair treatments.
Sophie Page, Beauty Writer
This year I'm celebrating ten years of knowing my best friend, Jenny - and Jen is known as the red lipstick queen! She taught me that you should always invest in a good signature red lipstick. Contrary to belief, this shade of lippie is so versatile. Firstly, it can give you the confidence in many different work situations - a strong red lip can make you feel powerful and unstoppable. It's also the best accessory to a monochromatic 'going out' look and the perfect seductive lip look for a date night.
Jen also taught me how to pick the right shade of red for the right occasion. A bright red for date night, a coral red for holiday and a classic red for work. It’s the best beauty lesson I've been taught. It's been my go-to lip look on date night with my boyfriend for eight years and it's helped me snag a job promotion. Well, that could have been me, but my red lip gave me the confidence I needed to go for it in the first place! So, the next time you're getting ready - wear that red lipstick and have a fearless, unforgettable day!
Beth McCrave, Head Of Glossy UK
The best beauty lesson I have learnt is that Hyaluronic Acid is your skin's best friend! It was a discovery that changed my life (honestly!), and is just like a tall glass of water for your face. It's been a true saviour on my driest skin days and is a staple in my everyday skincare routine now. My go-to is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, which is an absolute bargain, especially when I buy it from LookFantastic and use my Glossy Credits!
Meg Rolfe, Influencer Manager
The best beauty lesson I've learnt is a hard one...! My top two would be to use a colour corrector under your foundation and to tint your brows! A no makeup, makeup look is my go to every day look - and having a clear completion and neat brows is the best combination! My worst beauty mistake would be when I was younger, before I'd discovered waterproof eyeliner... Combine a hot, yet rainy day with hayfever and you'll turn into a panda! Not my finest makeup look but definitely taught me to never go for the cheapest product available!Molly Lucas, Beauty Writer
Over the last 10 years, I would say the best beauty lesson I’ve learned is how to do my eyebrows correctly! When I started using makeup, I would make my eyebrows a lot darker and thicker than I should have done! But through watching tutorials on Instagram and YouTube, I picked up some useful tips on how to create a more natural-looking brow...
My number one tip would be to grab a spoolie brush, add a small amount of brow wax and brush through your completed eyebrows to help blend any excess product, and to make your brows look lighter at the head and darker at the tail - as this creates a more natural brow! This simple but effective beauty tip has massively helped me improve my makeup routine because, as they say, eyebrows are the frame of the face!
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