Skincare should be simple, but with all the products, different routines to try, and information you'll find online, you are bound to make a few missteps that could very likely worsen your skin instead of improve it. Whether it's breakouts, dryness or dull skin, sometimes, knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do. Below are the ten biggest skincare missteps that you might be making, and how to fix them.
1. Over-Cleansing
Washing your face is always delightful, but if you're rinsing too often, you're probably stripping the natural oils that act as a protection barrier to your skin. Cleansing the skin more than twice a day or using foaming cleansers that can be harsh, will leave your skin feeling tight dry, and often leads to more irritation. Instead, simply wash your skin with an appropriate gentle pH cleanser both in the morning and evening. If you are working out, rinse with water or a gentle cleanser afterwards.
2. Forgetting Sunscreen
Forgetting and skipping sunscreen can arguably be the biggest sin in skincare. UV damage can create more problems than sunburn, and in fact, can age you prematurely and create sunspots. Sunscreen should be a part of your daily regime, not just when the sun is out! Sunscreen for exposure should be broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher and should be reapplied every two hours as directed. And, don't forget all the little places where sun exposure is probably occuring that you may miss such as the ears!and hands.
3. Sleeping with Makeup On
Regardless of your exhaustion, never go to bed with ink still on your face. Makeup can trap dirt and oil, which leads to clogged pores and breakouts. Makeup also hinders your skin’s ability to regenerate while you sleep. The best practice is to always remove your make up with a soft, gentle cleanser or micellar water before going to bed. Your skin will show its thanks in the form of reduced breakouts and a healthy glow.
4. Over-Exfoliating
Exfoliation is helpful to some extent as it: sloughs off dead skin. However, over-exfoliating your skin can even backfire after an initial benefit. Scrubbing your face everyday or using powerful chemical exfoliants too continually can deter from the skin barrier, consequently causing redness, sensitivity, and peeling. It is then best to establish a regimen that exfoliates the face at the most, 1-2 times a week, and avoid harsh and powerful chemical exfoliants unless strictly necessary. Use milder exfoliating products like lactic acid or gentle fruit enzymes instead.
5. Not Knowing Your Skin Type
No product works for every skin type. Using a thick or rich cream on oily skin and/or an alcohol-based toner on dry skin are just two ways to worsen existing problems. Learn early on if you have oily, dry, and/or combination, or sensitive skin to aid your product selection. Using products designed with your skin type in mind will assist the outcome being more effective, flow smoother, or even prevent skin irritation altogether.
6. Popping Pimples and Touching Your Face
It's hard to resist popping a pimple, but this action spreads bacteria, increases inflammation/dissatisfaction, and may leave scars. Frequently touching your face transfers dirt and oil from your hands to your skin. Instead, try a spot treatment containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and allow pimples to run their natural course.
7. Using Too Many Products
Using more products does not result in more beautiful skin. Layering multiple different serums, masks, and creams can result in overloading your skin, leading to breakouts or irritation. Keep your routine very simple—a cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen will cover it. Once you have established the simple routine, you can slowly add in targeted treatments, etc. But please remember to patch test any new products before applying all over your face.
8. Not Moisturizing Enough
Even oily skin needs hydration! If you skip moisturizer as a result of being oily, your skin can easily overcompensate with oil production which will lead to more breakouts. Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that can lock in hydration while not clogging your pores. For dry or mature skin, I recommend looking for something richer that contains ceramides or hyaluronic acid.
9. Neglecting Your Neck and Décolletage
Your neck and décolletage are just as prone to sun damage and the aging process as your face—yet many people forget to use sun protection here. To keep your skin tone even and youthful, extend your cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen down to your neck and chest area every day.
10. Wanting to See Results Overnight
Your skincare results may take a time commitment to see lasting or definitive change. Many people have a tendency to change products too frequently when they don't see results fast enough or expect overnight miracles after switching products. Users must understand that skin takes time for adjustments, somewhere generally between four and six weeks. After this time frame, your skin will begin to show results or responses. The critical components to progressing to results are patience, consistency, and an objective log of how your skin responds to changes over time. Steadiness and commitment to skin will always yield results over time, while variances and immediate change will not.
Conclusion
Our skin is unique and healthy skin is not about perfectionism but balance, attention and standards that are consistent over time. Moving forward in establishing a skincare habit that works for your body relies on establishing a routine, Pare down your schedule to see what appears best for your skin, and allow time for your skin to repair and renew while improving naturally. Don't forget, you need to listen to your skin, treat it to the best standards and principles, and lean into a regimen that nourishes your skin both topically and internally.
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