Brits have shared the beauty habits they find most off-putting, with sticky moisturiser and stray hairs topping the list. A survey of 2,000 adults found the most irritating “beauty icks” include tweezing nose or ear hairs, unshaven leg hair, and body lotion that takes too long to absorb.
Survey reveals top annoyances
More than a third (36%) admitted they are guilty of at least one habit they would class as an ick themselves, with Gen Z the biggest offenders. Participants said they feel most “put together” with freshly cleansed hair, a dash of fragrance, and hydrated skin, although one in 10 said they hate how their body feels straight after applying lotion.
The study was commissioned by Nivea to mark the launch of its new body serum range. A spokesperson said: “We all want to look and feel our best, but there are some beauty habits which can be seen as more annoying or undesirable than others.”
Routine and confidence
When it comes to body care routines, 48% said they take more time before a special occasion, while 27% step things up during the summer months. Sweltering weather was identified as the most frequent trigger for a frustrating beauty disaster, according to a third of those surveyed via OnePoll.
The essential morning ritual begins with brushing teeth (61%), having a shower (40%), and putting on face cream (34%). Some individuals refuse to step outside without their final touches – with 15% admitting they have doubled back after forgetting fragrance, and 11% heading home because they had not applied moisturiser.
Moisturising was also the beauty step most prone to being abandoned due to time constraints, despite 25% saying they feel more “put together” when they have applied body lotion. Among the chief concerns, 37% said they want hydration, 36% seek something fast-absorbing, and 32% desire skin to feel silky. Overall, 35% said they feel more self-assured when they have completed their full body care regime.
Top 20 beauty icks
The top 20 beauty icks include: deodorant leaving white marks on clothes, picking food out of teeth, dry or flaky scalp, overgrown leg hair, plucking nose or ear hairs, touching sticky nail varnish too early, make-up sweating off, chipping nail varnish, moisturiser which takes ages to soak in or dry, unblended foundation, sweaty upper lip, mascara on eyelids, running out of product unexpectedly, poking yourself in the eye with mascara, dry shampoo visible in your hair, patchy fake tan, lipstick smudging, plucking eyebrows, uneven or patchy beard hair, and filing feet with a pumice.
A spokesperson for Nivea added: “The survey findings show the impact when it comes to selfcare and finding the right moisturiser. Being equipped with the right tools can build on someone’s confidence, when products are tailored to our different skin types and solve any ongoing irritations, they can be the difference between a good day and a bad day.”
