10 Beauty Rules I Really Wish I'd Known When I Was in My 20s

The first port of call for most people when choosing beauty products is a personal recommendation. The problem is that everyone's skin and hair is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Sure, we can all swatch an eye shadow and work out if it's pigmented enough. But the moisturiser that works wonders on your friend's dry skin might be useless on your combination. I used a lot of stuff in my early 20s that was recommended by people I trusted but just wasn't right for me. I still ask for (and give) recommendations all the time, but always with the caveat that personal preference is a huge part of choosing beauty products, and we all want different things. When it comes to your own skin, it's down to educated choices followed by plenty of trial and error.

I've fallen for a huge number of fads and tried all manner of strange products and gadgets over the years, and many of them did more harm than good. The biggest lesson I've learned is that if something is fine, leave it alone as much as you can. I am eternally grateful to my grandmother, who told me that under no circumstances was I to tweeze anything other than the very obvious stray hairs from my eyebrows. Now, as so many of my old school friends struggle with overplucked '90s "paisley" brows that won't grow back, I still have a decent amount of hair to work with to get the current power brow.

Newsflash! If you want good skin, you have to make an effort. There are very few people who genuinely have better skin if they just use soap and water, even though you'll seemingly hear about them all the time. My skin needs attention: deep cleansing, a good exfoliator, plenty of moisturiser, and targeted products to tackle blemishes, dry patches, and wrinkles. If I skip a few days or sleep in my makeup, I know about it! Those extra 10 minutes a day devoted to looking after my face make me confident enough to leave the house without makeup, and that's always a good thing.

I tried for 10 years to have perfect long blonde hair before I realised I just don't have the money, patience, or hair type for it. It's either long, or it's blonde, but without hours spent bathing in intensive conditioners and sitting in pain at the salon as two juniors play a game of "who can detangle the fastest," it can rarely be both. Most people with very long hair either keep their natural "virgin" hair colour, opt for highlights or balayage rather than all-over colour, or boost the length with hair extensions. It's rare to find someone who has hair that's long, coloured/bleached, and in good condition (I salute those who do). For now, I'll stick to my midlength, midblonde compromise. Sadly, you can't always have it all.

Unfortunately, many people learn the hard way that there are two things you should always patch test without fail. The first is hair dye. I don't care how many times you've dyed your hair, an allergy can suddenly develop at any time, so you must patch test every single time you colour at home (even when you're using the same brand and colour) and every time you visit a new salon (this goes for lash and brow tints too). We've all read the horror stories, so why take the risk?

It's also a good idea to patch test anything you use on your face, particularly exfoliators and anything with active or particularly strong ingredients. It may seem like a waste of time, but it's not just those with sensitive skin who suffer. I have very tolerant skin, but I've had three bad reactions to three very different products in the past. And beyond testing for an allergic reaction, a patch test also lets you see how well a product works with your skin type before you use it all over your face. You may not get a rash, but what if your skin goes flaky, dull, or breaks out? Catching that on a small area on your jawline or cheeks rather than your whole face saves a lot of heartache!

It took me a long time and many "you're just trying to get the sales commission" conversations with hairdressers to finally realise that cheap shampoo and conditioner is often a false economy. There are some really good bargains out there, but you often use twice as much product with each wash because it doesn't contain such a strong concentration of ingredients, meaning you may as well have bought the expensive stuff in the first place. I'm not loyal to any specific hair products, but I have discovered two or three salon products that give results I've yet to re-create with cheaper products. Sometimes, it's worth splashing out if you know something works.

Because I am pale and naturally flushed, I avoided blusher until I was well into my mid-20s because I thought my cheeks were pink enough. It wasn't until a makeup artist applied it properly on me that I realised what a huge difference it makes to your face and that even very red skin can take it. It pulls a look together, contours the face, and makes you look alive. There is a blush colour for everyone. If you don't believe me and you're scared it'll make you look like a clown, have faith, visit a makeup counter, and have them show you how it's done. For me, the best is still the classic suits-all Nars Orgasm, the one cult product that lives up to all expectations. I like the creamy Multiple formula (£29) the best.

Dry shampoo is a brilliant invention, especially if you live in a city where your hair gets oily quickly or if you have a fringe or short layers that need a quick refresh. It adds texture, volume, and grip. However, dry shampoo is not a replacement for washing your hair (unless you're at a festival), and your friends and colleagues will notice if you've used it as that. Trust me, I speak from experience. I use dry shampoo all the time, and it's made me lazy. The problem with it being such a popular product is that we can all now recognise that telltale matte texture and residue. Nobody will blame you for the occasional spritz, but think of it like a styling product, not a permanent excuse to get 15 minutes longer in bed.

I don't believe one blowout meal or bottle of wine is going to do too much damage long-term, but no woman gets to her 30s without recognising what too many days and nights of excess can do to her skin. I know that what I eat affects how I look. I've seen how dull my skin looks after a big weekend of partying compared to a week of clean eating. So if I notice a change in my skin or hair, I think about what I've been eating and drinking before I start blaming products. And while I will never turn down a glass of wine or a slice of cake for fear of what it'll do to my skin, I am now much more aware of how nutrition and hydration affect the body in more ways than just weight.

I've always been very strict about using sun protection on holiday or when out in the sunshine. I am very fair skinned, and a high SPF is a necessity the moment temperatures rise to avoid sunburn (or worse, skin cancer). But I never truly believed I really needed SPF on my face in the middle of Winter in the UK. How wrong I was. Nothing ages your skin faster than sun exposure, and that doesn't just mean blazing sunshine on a tropical beach. Daily exposure to UVA rays (even through clouds, reflected off snow, or partially passing through glass windows) makes you look old. Listen to Baz Luhrmann, guys. Use a sunscreen daily (the French make the best ones). You'll thank me when you're 50.