Beauty editors talk a lot of talk. The real question, however, is do they walk the walk? When the computer screens are closed and the lipstick comes off, are those trusted beauty authorities practicing what they preach? At MDC, we'd like to think we're all virtuous beauty connoisseurs, free of bad beauty habits. But in the interest of journalistic integrity, we're here to confess we too commit our fair share of beauty sins. Before you start accusing us of false representation, give us a chance to explain ourselves.

The Sin: I am guilty of a beauty sin we all may have committed here and there: the half-finished blow out. The problem is that I am regularly guilty of this. I have extremely thick hair, so a proper DIY blowout can take me more than 45 minutes. Sometimes I just don't have time or energy for the full process. I've suffered through many subpar hair days simply from laziness.

The Defense: Thank goodness for products like and to provide shine and hide frizz to get me through those days. And for the braid - my go-to hair style for any and every day my hair is not cooperating.

The Sin: I'm guilty of one of the most basic beauty sins there is - taking extremely hot showers. I know this parches my skin, strips my hair of its natural oils and leads to an array of other beauty no-nos, but there is nothing better than getting into a hot shower. A good shower can make or break my day (we're talking the difference between happy campy and your worst nightmare), and since I'm cold about 70 percent of my life (yes, I live in Los Angeles and there is no reason for this), the 10 minutes I'm showering in extreme heat warms me up and somehow gives me a rush of calm to start my morning.

The Defense: But all of that drying and striping aside, I've found ways to combat this damaging habit. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I use a nourishing body wash like Fresh Nectarine Milk to hydrate my skin. When it comes to my hair, I go for extra protection. I apply a healing oil treatment to my strands daily and absolutely, like clockwork, do a deep conditioning mask once a week.

The Sin: To say I have an unhealthy relationship with my cuticle scissors would be the understatement of the century. They come with me everywhere - literally everywhere. When I'm in my apartment and I go from the living room to the bedroom, they make the (very short) trip with me. I don't want to say I abuse the cuticle scissors. Personally, I feel every nip and snip is totally justified. However, my fingertips and certainly any manicurist would beg to differ. But I simply can't stay away.

The Defense: Although my cuticle scissors never leave my side, I also keep hand lotion (My favorite is Jack Black Industrial Strength Hand Healer, but any lotion will do) and cuticle oil (, to be specific) very near at all times. I try to be as diligent at moisturizing as I am at what I like to call "cuticle maintenance."

The Sin: I'm very, very guilty of one big hair no-no: brushing my strands when they're wet. And I'm not talking about gently detangling with a comb - no, I have a tendency to attack (if you think that's a hyperbole, I can assure it's not) my hair with a brush right when I get out of the shower. No matter how many times I get told that doing this can lead to breakage, split ends and weakened strands, my impatience wins every time. There's something about wet, tangled strands that fills me anxiety - I want those tangles out and I want them out now, even if there are casualties along the way.

The Defense: But I've recently started using Matrix Heat Resist Iron Tamer Smoothing Lotion and it's seriously a game changer - I originally used it to protect my hair before blow drying, but then started noticing it works as a leave-in conditioner too. Running it through my hair somehow magically gets rid of knots and tangles. I'm obsessed. And I'm sure my poor, abused strands are grateful.

What's your worst beauty sin? Spill it below!

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