10 Skincare Mistakes To Stop Doing Right Now
A skincare routine doesn’t have to be intimidating if familiar with your skin type and skin needs. Have you picked up some unhealthy skin habits you saw online? Or are have you been making them all your life?
Let’s discuss the top skincare mistakes you may be making that ruin the condition of your skin! Unfortunately, these errors can also mess up the effectiveness of your skincare products!
Keep reading to find the most common skincare mistakes, and find out to properly take care of your skin!
Mistake #1 Deciding on the Product after One Try
Skincare products with active ingredients, such as AHA, BHA, retinoid and others, require time to work. So you can’t expect life-changing results after you apply them one time.
Some Youtube stars are known for tossing the products after one try if the product doesn’t fulfil the expectations!
So before you toss away any skincare product for the lack of results, research what time is required for the ingredients to show their effects on the skin?
For example, some people swear by skincare products with niacinamide, but it needs up to four weeks to show the difference. Retinoid needs six months!
Switching the products too soon and not staying consistent not only provides you with no beneficial effects, but it can often be harmful. It can cause irritations and mess up your skin’s natural barrier.
Mistake #2 Poor Cleansing Routine
The three most essential steps in your skincare routines are:
- Cleansing
- Moisturising
- Sun protection
If one of them isn’t good, your skin will let you know. Cleaning is a fundamental step that allows you to get rid of surface dirt on your skin, bacteria, and everything else that can irritate the skin, clog pores and affect the look and health of the skin.
Cleansing isn’t only required on days when you wear make-up and sunscreen. It would be best to clean your skin every day to remove the oils and piled up dirt.
However, it is essential to find balance. Some people don’t cleanse enough, while others cleanse too much, using harsh ingredients and causing skin distress.
Therefore, you need to find the cleaning products that soothe your skin and match the needs of your skin type.
Additionally, consider the double. Cleansing technique. It consists of the first step using cleaning oil or balm cleanser meant to break the make-up and sunscreen, and the second hydrating cleaner, designed to clean the pores thoroughly.
Mistake #3 Using One Towel for Several Days
What do you wipe your face with after cleansing? Most people use the same towel for several days and don’t even think about how harmful it can be for their skin.
Here is the thing. When you hang a towel anywhere in the bathroom and leave it for days, it is a fruitful location for bacteria to develop because bathrooms are humid, favouring bacteria and mould development,
especially in a wet towel.
Some sources even suggest that one square inch of a towel holds more than 160.000 bacteria. Do you want that on your face? Of course not. Be sure to use a fresh dry towel to prevent reapplying bacteria to your skin.
Mistake #4 Not Changing Sheets Frequently
You are probably wondering what sheets have to do with skincare. How often do you change your pillowcase? If you don’t change it every few days, you aren’t changing it frequently enough!
A pillowcase can be the same harmful thing as the wet towel in the bathroom. While you sleep, the saliva from your mouth drips, and the pillowcase collects it. The human mouth is full of all sorts of bacteria, even if you have good oral hygiene. Do you want all bacteria from your mouth to get on your skin?
Change the sheets at least once a week, and change the pillowcase every other day. Soon, you notice fewer pimples and irregularities on your cheeks!
Mistake #5 Applying Products with Dirty Hands
Some people repeat the same mistakes, such as applying products without previously washing their hands. Washing your hands before touching your face is essential to maintain reasonably healthy skin.
Consider washing your hands even before you wash your face to remove the dirt and prevent it from getting on your face.
If you apply your moisturiser with dirty hands, the dirt will mix with the product, and no one knows what kind of reaction you can expect when dirt and skincare ingredients mix.
Applying products with dirty hands might be the reason why some skincare products don’t seem to work for you.
Mistake #6 Applying Skincare Products too Fast
If you are a fan of a more complex skincare routine, which includes multiple products, there is a correct way to apply them to ensure you get the best results.
Applying a layer one after another without waiting for the products to be fully absorbed in the skin will prevent the products from penetrating the skin and doing what they are supposed to do.
Also, the products you put on top of other products dilute the previous one, which minimises the benefits. Additionally, some ingredients may react with others, and you can harm the skin.
Therefore, if your skincare routine comprises several products, apply one product at a time. Consider waiting for several minutes before you put the second product on top of it.
If you are in a rush, it is better to apply only the moisturiser until you have enough time to put every product correctly.
Mistake #7 Washing your Face under the Shower
Most people are guilty of this mistake! Even though it might seem like a convenient thing to do, washing dermatologists don’t recommend the face under the shower.
People who enjoy hot showers and wash their face under the shower risk drying their skin and worsening skin conditions, such as rosacea.
The best water temperature for face cleansing is mild to cold and not hot.
Mistake #8 Not Wearing Sunscreen or Not Wearing Suitable Amount
Sunscreen is an essential step in preventing skin cancer and
premature aging. Your face is exposed to sun rays every day, not only when you are on the beach! Therefore, sunscreen should be a daily step in your skincare routine.
Unfortunately, some people don’t reapply sunscreen or apply only a tiny layer of it, which doesn’t do much for your skin. The optimal amount of sunscreen you should use is the size of two grains of peas. That should be enough to cover your whole face and neck!
During the day, you should reapply sunscreen, especially if you sweat, wear a mask, blow your nose, or wash your face.
You can purchase sunscreen in a spray and keep it in your bag for quick reapplication. It will ensure your face is always protected!
Mistake #9 Using Dirty Make Up Brushes
If you wear make-up, please inspect your brushes. When was the last time you cleaned them?
Make-up brushes are a terrible source of bacteria and dirt and require frequent and thorough cleanings, like everything else that touches your face.
You should wash and disinfect your face make-up brushes after every use. You can purchase easy to use spray bottles from your favourite make-up retailer. Make sure to do the same for the eyes and lips brushes after every couple of uses.
Mistake #10 Wrong Exfoliation Routine
Exfoliation is essential for removing dead skin cells and cleansing the pores. But, not every skin type can handle physical exfoliation. While the optimal exfoliation frequency is two times per week, it is still too often for sensitive skin.
Dry skin might enjoy mild physical exfoliation, but not more often than three times per week. Avoid using harsh scrubs and brushes for exfoliation because those can cause micro bruises in your skin.
Further, bacteria can pile in those bruises, and the skin can get infected.
You may need to test your skin to see physical exfoliators are beneficial or your skin prefers chemical exfoliants. If you prefer chemical exfoliants, start with low concentration to see how your skin reacts and leave the greater attention to dermatologists.
How to Take Good Care of Your Skin?
Taking good care of your skin requires a gentle approach, consistency, and the right products for your skin type. A good skincare routine doesn’t have to be expensive. It can consist of just a few products. You need to adjust them according to your age and current skin condition.
If you aren’t sure about the order of products and correct application, stick to the most straightforward possible routine until you are ready to upgrade!
Listen to your skin, drink plenty of water, practice the hygiene of your make-up tools and sheets, and consult a doctor if these steps don’t help improve your skin.
Sometimes the problems with your skin are only an external manifestation of some internal health problems.
What mistakes from my list are you guilty of?
