We all want great skin, but we might be making skincare mistakes that we have no clue about. Thus, hindering our results.
Skincare is a personal journey, so a product or routine that works for one person may not work for the next. However, there are general mistakes and rules that if you’re aware of and correct will improve your skin!
Take a look at the list of 12 skincare mistakes below!
12 SKINCARE MISTAKES
1. NOT KNOWING YOUR SKIN TYPE
If you don’t know your skin type, then you can’t properly take care of your skin! The number 1 most important thing to do when starting your skincare journey is to discover your skin type.
Let’s say you’re using products that target dehydrated dry skin, but your skin type is oily; you’ll be making matters worse and will continue to wonder why your skin isn’t improving.
Once your skin type is known, you can begin using products that are formulated to work for your skin. Your skin type can be oily, dry, normal, combination, or sensitive. You can take different skincare quizzes online or ask a skincare specialist to figure out what your skin type is!
2. NOT HAVING A SKINCARE ROUTINE
A skincare routine is an absolute necessity because it keeps your skin healthy and in good condition. The right skincare routine can slow down the effects of aging, prevent acne, add hydration, smooth the complexion, and improve the overall look of your skin.
The good thing is that it’s never too late to start a routine and see the results.
It’s easy to get intimidated by skincare routines that have 50 steps to them, but your routine doesn’t have to be complicated with a bunch of steps.
You can easily start a routine with just a cleanser and a moisturizer a few days a week. After that, you can move to a daily routine adding more products if needed. You will love the improved look and texture of your skin by creating a skincare routine.
3. USING PRODUCTS WRONG OR IN WRONG ORDER
Skincare products can get tricky, especially when you start adding in Alpha Hydroxy Acids, (AHA’s) Beta Hydroxy Acids, (BHA’s), Vitamins C, exfoliators, retinol, etc. You have to be sure you are using these products correctly or you can cause serious harm and irritation to your skin.
This also includes the right time of day. It is recommended for retinol to be used at night, so it can repair the skin, and vitamin C during the day since that’s when it has the most benefit, like fighting off free radicals. It’s also not advised to use retinol with your active ingredients like AHA’s or BHA’s.
When using different products and layering it is advised to do so from the thinnest to thickest, but also be certain that the products you are putting together work well together and won’t cause more skincare issues.
Exfoliation is recommended about 2-3 times a week depending on your skin type.
4. NOT CLEANING YOUR STUFF: MAKEUP TOOLS, FACE TOWELS, PILLOWCASES, & CELL PHONE
This one is so easy to miss. You think you’re doing all the right things with the actual skincare products but forget this one small (but BIG) thing! Our tools get so dirty and hold so many bacteria that cause fungal infections, staph infections, and E. coli.
It’s recommended to clean your makeup brushes after every use, but this is unrealistic for most people. Shoot for at least once a week if you can.
Between our cell phones, face towels, pillowcases, and other items we put against our faces it’s no wonder we have so many breakouts! Think of all the places we lay our phone and how dirty it is, we then put it directly to our face while using it. Be sure to wipe down cell phones daily.
Pillowcases are another big one that can be forgotten. Wash your pillowcases at least once a week to ensure your freshly cleaned face is not lying on your dirty pillowcase.
5. USING TOO MANY PRODUCTS AT ONcE
Thanks to social media a million skincare products are being introduced and pushed to us daily. With so many products on the market and a love for skincare it’s easy to want to try them all…at the same time!
But this is not good for our skin and can disrupt the skin barrier. All products do not work well together and can cause severe irritation and breakouts.
Skincare is personal and what works for one person may not work for another. It’s ok to try different products to see what works best with your skin, but it’s better to introduce new products one at a time and a few days apart. This way if you try something that doesn’t agree with your skin you know exactly which product it is and can eliminate it from your routine.
6. NOT WEARING A DAILY SUNSCREEN
This is one many people miss because they assume if they are not going outside directly in the sun then it’s not needed, but this is not true. The sun still emits UV light even when it’s cloudy out and those rays are usually higher.
Another big misconception is that darker skin tones don’t need sunscreen, due to the melanin in our skin, but EVERYONE should be wearing a broad-spectrum SPF daily. Sunscreen protects our skin from the sun damage that leads to premature aging, with the look of leathery, wrinkled skin.
7. NOT REMOVING MAKEUP BEFORE BED
As we sleep, our skin regenerates and repairs itself. When we leave our makeup on overnight the skin cannot breathe and is unable to repair.
Sleeping in our makeup can cause dull skin, and premature aging, like wrinkles, crow’s feet, and more acne!
8. POPPING PIMPLES/ PICKING SKIN
Popping your pimples and picking at the skin drives bacteria and dirt further into your skin which, causes more of a scar once gone.
Although hard, try to keep your hands off your skin, and be patient in the healing process.
Related Article: HOW TO PREVENT ACNE SCARS?
9. NOT STAYING CONSISTENT
Not staying consistent and giving the products enough time to work can hinder your skincare results. We live in a society of fast results and sometimes we think a product isn’t working for us when in reality we haven’t given them enough time to work.
Experts recommend that to see a noticeable change in your skin, it will take about 30 days because that’s how long it takes for skin cells to form, by 3 months you should see a significant change in your skin.
If after this time you see no difference, it’s safe to switch up your routine and products!
10. NOT MOISTURIZING OILY SKIN
Another misconception for some with oily skin is that they shouldn’t use moisturizer. This is 100% not true! The opposite is true.
If you don’t use a moisturizer your skin will work to produce more oil to combat the lack of moisture.
You can find a lot of really good lightweight moisturizers for oily skin that are non-comedogenic, which means it does not clog pores. Moisturizer (for any skin type) is one of the most essential steps in your routine. Moisturizer hydrates softens and replenishes the skin.
Related Article: Oily Skin: 5 Step Routine to Combat Oily Skin
11. NOT CLEANSING PROPERLY
An overlooked skincare mistake is the way we clean our skin. It’s not enough to just cleanse, we need to cleanse our skin properly. Otherwise, we’re wasting our time…and our product. It is recommended to wash your face twice a day with lukewarm water for about 60 seconds each time.
Double cleansing, which is the process of cleaning the skin twice, is also a popular method used to make sure the skin gets completely clean.
The first cleanse is to break up the oil, dirt, and bacteria, typically done using micellar water, or a facial oil. You then go in with your usual cleanser and complete your routine.
12. DIY SKINCARE
Leave the DIY for your arts and crafts! DIY for skincare is not safe or effective.
Lemons, baking soda, and toothpaste are all ingredients we’ve heard about when talking about home skincare remedies. However, over the years these have been proven to cause irritation, disrupt the skin barrier, and many other concerns.
This also includes experimenting with different procedures, like DIY microdermabrasion and chemical peels. These treatments are best to be done by a professional and can cause more harm than good if not done properly.
IN CONCLUSION -SKINCARE MISTAKES
Good skincare is essential and once you’re aware of the skincare mistakes being made you can easily make changes and see the difference in your skin! The more knowledge we have about the things we are putting on our faces the better we’ll be.
So don’t forget to read the labels and ingredients so you can put your best face forward!
Please share below some skincare mistakes that you have made and learned from.
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