So you’re doing everything right for your skin, right? Unfortunately, you might be surprised. The following are 7 things you could be doing that are sabotaging your skin, wreaking havoc for years to come.
Over-Exfoliation. To prevent a buildup of dead cells on the surface of the skin, a good scrub or chemical exfoliation once or twice a week is essential. But less is more in this case. However, if done more often, inflammation, irritation, redness, and increased wrinkles can result. And if you have oily skin, your oil glands can actually launch in to overdrive to compensate for the lack of oil caused by the over-exfoliation.
An Overly Complicated Skin Regime. Starting any new routine can be daunting, and a new skincare regime is no exception. Start with a good cleanser and moisturizer, and add on as necessary to avoid confusion and getting discouraged with too much, too soon. In addition, if one product doesn’t work for you, this way you’ll know which one it is.
Using Your Cell Phone Without A Headset. Cell phones provide a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. All the makeup and oil that gets trapped in the phone keys and screen gets pressed against the skin on your face and pushed into your pores, causing myriad skin problems. Used a headset, bluetooth or a speaker. If you must hold your phone to your face, clean the phone’s surface with an alcohol wipe first.
Putting Acne Medication Everywhere. Acne medication needs to be used on only the acne spots. If used all over, it can dry out the healthy parts of your face, and its application on the rest of the face can result in overproduction of oil, breakouts, and/or redness and irritation.
Not Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes. Washing your makeup brushes weekly is an extremely important part of keeping your skin and makeup bacteria-free and sanitary. Each time you use your brushes, you are loading them with dead cells and oils from your skin. Use a mild shampoo regularly to keep your brushes, and especially your skin, healthy and in good condition.
Not Using Sunscreen. Need I say more? The use of a good sunscreen is probably the single most effective way to keep your skin looking younger for as long as possible and prevent skin cancer in the process. And now that we’re able to buy sunscreens that actually feel and smell good, it’s not a chore anymore to use them!
Using Cleansing Wipes Rather Than Face Wash. It’s tempting, after a long night out, to just run one of these wipes over your face and call it a night. And while it’s better than going to bed in full makeup, these wipes can only remove the most superficial makeup and dirt. They leave a lot of residue behind that can cause clogged pores and breakouts. To get your skin truly clean, double cleanse with an oil-based makeup remover, followed by a cleanser that is suited to your skin type.
Make healthy changes. Avoid sabotaging your skin, and see your skin therapist regularly to keep your skin looking and feeling wonderful.