Skincare definitely has a learning curve. There is so much to learn, and always new information about the proper way to wash your face and prevent breakouts. The thing is, most of us are accidentally hurting our skin without even realizing it. Make sure you avoid these skincare mistakes!
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Common Skincare Mistakes You Need To Stop Doing
While skincare mistakes seem to go hand in hand with skincare, there are a lot of them that you don’t even realize that you’re doing. When you take the time to keep these tips in mind, you’ll notice that you have healthier, more radiant skin than ever before.
Only exfoliate twice per week
I love a good face scrub. Body scrubs are even better! However, when you exfoliate too much, you accidentally scrub away the top layer of your skin. This can be harmful to both you and your skin! Instead, stick to once or twice per week.
Moisturizing at night only
I used to be guilty of this. The myth that moisturizing during your morning routine will make your face oily and mess up your makeup has since been debunked. Your face needs a dose of moisture during both your morning and night skincare routine.
Forgetting to apply sunscreen
This is one of the biggest flaws in my skincare routine. I always seem to forget to apply sunscreen. Now, I have freckles and darker spots. Those early signs of aging have definitely snuck up on me over the past few years. I’ve started putting my sunscreen next to my eye cream, and I have another one in the bathroom now to make sure that I don’t forget. If you don’t apply sunscreen daily, it’s time to start.
This is a wonderful moisturizer to start with! It’s oil free and has an SPF of 30.
Not cleaning your makeup brushes regularly
You should be cleaning your makeup brushes at least once per week. You don’t just need to clean them, either. They should be disinfected properly.
When you use them, your makeup brushes hang on to tiny bacteria. Then, that bacteria continues to multiply. Imagine what you’re putting on your face if you never clean them…
Primarily using face wipes
Face wipes are an amazing thing. In seconds they wipe the makeup off your face before bed. However, that comes at a cost.
When you use face wipes, they simply wipe the dirt off the skin. Proper face cleansing, however, gets the dirt and grime off your face that you can see. It gives your pores the deep clean that they need after being filled with makeup all day. Washing your face can also help restore balance. That doesn’t happen when you stick with only using face wipes.
Thinking that applying too much moisturizer gives you oily skin
Applying too much of any product is going to give you negative results. Too much of an exfoliant will give you irritated, red skin. Too much moisturizer will make you think you have an oily skin type. When using products, always remember that less is best. A pea sized amount of everything from cleansers to moisturizers will be the perfect amount.
Applying products in the incorrect order
As a general rule of thumb, you should apply products from the thinnest to the thickest or heaviest. That means that moisturizers are typically last. This helps your skin absorb all of the ingredients so that you can get the most benefits from your skincare routine.
When you apply them in the wrong order, they’re simply not as effective. For example, imagine that you put moisturizer on before eye cream. Your eye cream would have to penetrate through your moisturizer to reach your skin, and it might not be able to do that. This would lead to you thinking that it doesn’t work.
Having the same skincare routine for morning and night
Your skin needs different things during different times. For example, you apply sunscreen in the morning, but it’s pointless to do this at night. At night, you want to double cleanse your face, but only have to cleanse your face once in the morning. Having a good skincare routine to meet your skin’s needs for both morning and night is essential for healthier skin.
Not having a morning skincare routine
Morning skincare routines get thrown on the back burner when we oversleep. However, if that’s every day, it’s a problem. Over time, it’s going to start to show. Instead, try going to bed earlier. Pick up products that you can use quickly to make your routine more efficient. Whatever you have to do to implement a morning skincare routine, do it.
Not double cleansing at night
It was a long time before I learned that you need to do this, so don’t feel bad if you’re just now figuring it out. The first cleanse is to remove your makeup. The second one is to get the rest of the dirt and prepare your skin for your nighttime skincare routine. We only wash our faces once in the morning because we don’t wear makeup to bed.
Choosing any product
I spent my teen years sticking to one product and one exfoliant that I adored because it smelled good. They were also horrible for my skin and I had random pimples throughout my teenage years.
If you’re still doing that or picking any product with rave reviews, it’s time for a change. First, you need to identify your skin type. Then, make sure that you select a product that is designed specifically for your skin type. Last, pay attention to the ingredients to make sure that you’re not doing more harm than good with your cleansing routine.
Sleeping in your makeup
I get it. We’ve all had those nights that involve us crashing into bed and saying screw skincare. I’ve had them. However, that’s also why I keep facial cleansing wipes by my bed. There is also a mirror to make sure that I don’t sleep with eyeliner smeared across my face. It’s important to let your face breathe.
Facial cleansing wipes should not replace a proper skincare routine, but they are better than nothing at all.
Not washing your hands first
When we touch our face, bacteria can spread from our fingertips to our faces. This is why it’s one of the best tips to help reduce random pimples. While we do put soap on our hands to wash our faces, chances are that you’re not using an antibacterial facial cleanser. (No one does because it’s not really good for your skin.) Pick up some antibacterial hand soap to make sure that your hands are clean before touching the delicate skin on your face.
Using cold water to wash your face
Most of us know that hot water isn’t good for the skin, but neither is cold water. You shouldn’t even rinse your face with cold water. Instead, stick with lukewarm water. Test it with your wrist to make sure that it’s not too hot or too cold.
Not changing your hand towel
If you use a towel to pat your face dry, it’s important that it get changed on a regular basis. These towels are exposed t bacteria that can do a lot of harm. This is also true if people use the same hand towel to dry their hands in the bathroom and don’t wash them properly. Make sure it gets washed.
Not knowing that oily skin is also dehydrated skin
If you have oily skin, you usually want to avoid adding more products to it. However, that is just a myth. Your skin is dehydrated, so it produces more oil to compensate for the lack of hydration. Make sure to hydrate your skin from the inside by drinking plenty of water. Don’t skimp on the products simply because you have oily skin either.
Using products you no longer need
I’ve been guilty of this in the past. You still have half a bottle of acne face wash, so you might as well use it, right? Wrong. This can be harsh on your skin if you don’t have acne. Make sure that you stick with products that are designed for your skin type and your skincare needs.
Not cleaning your cell phone
I didn’t know this one for a long time either. Your fingers constantly touch your cell phone, which then rests against your face. Because of that, it’s important that you wipe it off with disinfectant wipes to eliminate the transfer of bacteria.
Not listening to your skin
It can be easy to stick with the same products. It can be even easier to want to try out the latest trends. That is not a good idea.
Instead, you need to listen to your skin. If it’s not oily, there’s no reason for you to do anything that is for oily skin. Every season, your skin needs will change as should your skincare products.
Final Thoughts
Skincare is definitely a learning curve. With these tips, you can get one step closer to having clear, healthy skin. For an amazing skincare product, check out this awesome review!
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