No matter how dedicated you are to a beauty regime, nobody’s perfect when it comes to skincare. It’s likely that you’re guilty of doing at least some of these everyday activities which are incredibly damaging to your skin, so read on and confess to your skincare sins!
1. Not drinking enough water
We know that water is great for our health and skin, but let’s be honest – how many of us actually the recommended two liters every day? The thing is, if you make the extra effort to drink enough water you’ll be amazed at how much brighter and fresher your skin looks.
2. Sleeping on cotton pillowcases
Although cotton pillowcases don’t seem particularly rough to the touch, it can cause collagen to break down in the skin if you persistently sleep on it every night and rub your skin against it. Silk or satin pillowcases are much kinder to the skin, so be sure to make the switch.
3. Not sleeping enough
Our bodies are able to rest and rejuvenate when we sleep, and the same goes for our skin. Lack of sleep causes bags under the eyes and can make skin look really dull. Be sure to get a regular seven to eight hours every night to stay looking fresh.
4. Sleeping with makeup on
There sure are a lot of rules about sleeping, but this one is really important. Leaving your makeup on all night leaves pores clogged and increases the chances of breakouts. It can also cause general skin irritation and redness, so be sure to always, always thoroughly cleanse the skin before bed, no matter how sleepy you feel.
5. Squeezing pimples
Speaking of acne, if you’re someone who can’t resist popping pimples then you could be doing untold damage to your skin. Improper popping technique can force the infection further into the skin, making the pimple bigger and more inflamed, and it can cause enlarged pores or even scarring. Resist popping as much as possible; when the pimple is ready to drain, it will do so naturally simply under the pressure of washing your face with a washcloth.
6. Overusing skincare products
It can be tempting to slather on as much skincare products as possible in an effort to maintain healthy skin, but this can actually be damaging. Too much moisturizer, for example, could clog your pores and lead to breakouts, while other skincare products can cause skin to become red, irritated or flaky. Use only small amounts of product as advised on the packaging.
7. Applying skincare products incorrectly
To allow all your skincare products to adequately penetrate the skin, you should go from light to heavy products. So, serums and light lotions first, and thick creams last. Doing it the wrong way around will mean you won’t get all the benefit from all the products.
8. Using harsh cleansers
People who suffer from very oily skin are often the most guilty of doing this because they feel that they have to really deeply cleanse in order to rid oils from their skin and prevent breakouts. The thing is that if all oils are stripped from the skin, the skin will overcompensate by producing even more oils, which will in turn block the pores and cause more breakouts. Use a gentle, daily cleanser and be sure to moisturize – even if you have oily skin – to replenish the moisture lost during the cleansing process.
9. Contaminating skincare products in jars
Skincare products can easily become corrupt when exposed to air or light, which is why they should always be kept in the packaging you bought them in. Plus, jars mean that if you use your fingers to pick up product, you risk contaminating all the rest of the product before it is used, which could cause skin irritations of breakouts. Stick with tube or pump-bottle based products.
10. Passing bacteria when on the phone
It sounds crazy, but spending too long on the phone could make you breakout – that’s if you don’t make sure your phone is clean. Our cellphones become exposed to lots of different types of bacteria on a daily basis, and then we hold them up to our cheeks for extended periods of time. Use antibacterial wipes on your phone regularly and try to use speakerphone where possible.