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Perfect skin is a common goal among many of us. I know I spend a lot more time and money on my skin than anything else! But, did you know that you’re probably making one of these bad skincare mistakes?
I have always been obsessed with skincare. I think mainly because I suffered from bad acne as a teenager and was always trying to fix it. But, I definitely didn’t have the best habits back then, and looking back those habits definitely contributed to my skin issues! I’ve made my fair share of skincare mistakes.
Luckily, I have done a lot of research since then and I am going to share the most common skincare mistakes people make so you can make sure you stop these bad habits!
Not Taking Your Makeup Off
This is one of the biggest skincare mistakes people make. Yes, you do need a separate step to full take off your makeup. Unless you are using an oil cleanser, your face wash is NOT taking off all of your makeup!
Leaving your makeup on all night can cause breakouts, clogged pores and irritated skin. You need to make sure that you are taking off your makeup and then cleansing your face!
If you are using a cleanser to take off your makeup AND clean your face, your face will never be clean! Think about it, the cleanser is only going to remove your makeup that’s on top of your skin. Once your makeup if off, then your cleanser can actually remove the dirt, oil and grime.
Not Washing Your Face Daily
Similar to the above, washing your face correctly will ensure you’re getting off all of your makeup, oil, dirt, bacteria and grime that can lead to breakouts and clogged pores.
Additionally, you really need to double cleanse if you wear makeup or sunscreen. Double cleansing is essentially just using two products to clean your face.
The first step can be an oil cleanser or makeup wipe. Then the second step is an actual cleanser.
If you don’t wear makeup or sunscreen, then you can skip the double cleansing and just use one regular cleanser.
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser– best for combination, dry and sensitive skin
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Foaming Cleanser– best for oily or combination skin
La Roche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Cleanser – best for normal dry and sensitive skin
Using The Wrong Products
Unfortunately, many people are using products that are not tailored to their skin type and skin concerns. No wonder they aren’t seeing any results!
I know picking out skincare products can be overwhelming. There are so many formulations, ingredients and brands. It can be so hard to know what your skin needs.
Luckily, it’s actually pretty easy once you narrow down your skin type and skin concerns.
If you have oily skin, you need to make sure you are using products tailored to oily skin. For example, if you are using a moisturizer that’s for people with dry skin, chances are you have some breakouts and clogged pores from it because it’s too heavy for your skin,
Likewise with dry skin! If you’re using a light gel moisturizer that’s meant for oily skin, then I’m sure your skin is parched and irritated.
Similarly, if you have acne or blackheads and aren’t using the right ingredients to help with these issues, then you’ll never see improvement.
Not Knowing Your Skin Type
If you don’t know your skin type, you don’t have any idea what your skin really needs, and therefore will use the wrong products.
Knowing what your skin type is makes it so much easier to pick out products and know that they will work for you! Your skin type will also help you discern what kind of concerns you might have. For example, oily skin tends to have less wrinkles and larger pores/blackheads etc. So, you can tailor your products to those issues.
Using Bad Ingredients
This is one of the very common skincare mistakes and it’s very easy to make! You think all the products on the market are actually good for your skin. But it turns out, not all of them are.
Many people don’t realize that there are some horrible ingredients in skincare these days. Even from high end, expensive brands! Just because it’s sold at Sephora doesn’t mean it’s the best product ever.
I have complied a list of a few common ingredients that you should STAY AWAY FROM at all costs. Seriously.
- alcohol: specifically, denatured alcohol (or SD alcohol). You know the stuff you use to clean and disinfect? Why would you want to put that on your face?? Denatured alcohol is common in a lot of acne products, unfortunately, so you will have to read labels carefully. The only thing alcohol will do for you is strip your skin, dry it out and wreak havoc on your moisture barrier. And no, it will not help you acne. In fact, it can make acne much worse because it’s so irritating to the skin.
- sulfates: you need to watch for sulfates in cleansers. There are a lot of different sulfates out there, and some of them aren’t terrible, but you should still try to find sulfate free if possible. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are the absolute worst. It’s found in Dawn Dish Soap! There is no reason you need to be cleaning your face with the same thing you clean your dishes with! All it will do is strip your skin, which causes so many more issues! Stick with a gentle, sulfate free cleanser and your skin will thank you for it immensely!
- fragrance: so many products on the market have added fragrance in them, unfortunately. It can be great in things like body lotion or body wash. But, you facial skin is much more sensitive and the added fragrance can be irritating. And irritation can lead to other problems like sensitivity and even acne! So, it’s best to stay away from.
Not Exfoliating Correctly
Exfoliation is one of the best things you can do for your skin! But only if you do it correctly. Well, how do you exfoliate correctly? Make sure you listen to your skin and use good products.
Sadly, there are a ton of products out there that are not formulated correctly and will do more harm than good.
There are two types of exfoliation. Chemical and physical.
Chemical exfoliation uses ingredients like AHA, BHA, Vitamin C and Retinol/Retinoids to exfoliate the skin. These are the best ways to exfoliate skin and will give you the most dramatic results. In short, chemical exfoliants can help with acne, wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, sun spots, hyperpigmentation, oily skin, clogged pores, blackheads and large pores. Read more about chemical exfoliants and how to pick the right one for your skin. But, remember to watch out for alcohol because it’s common in these types of products.
Stridex Maximum Control Acne Pads
Physical exfoliants can be scrubs or brushes, like the Clarisonic, or even a simple washcloth! Physical exfoliation is still very important, but a lot of time scrubs can be too abrasive. If you use a scrub that’s too harsh you can end up doing a lot of damage to your skin and making your skin concerns worse. It’s best to stick with gentle scrubs. Definitely stay away from salt and sugar scrubs for your face. Those are great for your body, but, again, your face is much more delicate.
- microfiber cloth (more gentle than a regular washcloth)
- washcloth
- Clarisonic Sensitive Skin Brush Head
- Paula’s Choice The Unscrub
- Dermalogica Microfoliant
- ACURE Brightening Facial Scrub
Your Skincare Routine Is Too Complicated
No, you really don’t need a 20 step skin care routine to have great skin. In fact, the simpler the better!
I used to use so many products and it wasn’t until I REALLY scaled back that I realized how much you don’t need. My skin improved dramatically once I cut out all of those unnecessary steps and products.
For the most basic skincare routine, all you need is a cleanser, treatment (for whatever your skin concern is) and moisturizer. Of course, you can add a few extra products like toner, serum, sleeping pack, etc depending on what your problems are.
But, the point is, keep it as simple as possible! A few well-formulated products is all you need!
Not Moisturizing Enough
Yes, even those of you who have the oiliest skin on the planet. YOU STILL NEED TO MOISTURIZE. Why? Well, let me tell you something. I used to be you. My skin was so oily people would comment on it. Loads of mattifying primers, oil control powers and sprays did nothing for me.
It wasn’t until I started a new skincare routine that I noticed how big of a difference your products can make! Once I started moisturizing my skin twice a day and switched to a gentle cleanser, my skin transformed. Seriously. Because, as it turns out, my skin was actually dehydrated. So, it was overcompensating by producing a ton of oil! You can learn more about dehydrated skin here and how to tell if your skin is dehydrated (plus, how to fix it!)
Like night and day. I have more combo/normal skin now. I do get a little shine, especially in the summer months, but nothing like it was before.
MOISTURIZING IS A GAME CHANGER.
And if you have dry skin, you DEFINITELY have to moisturize. Twice a day. No negotiations on this one! I’m telling you, your skin will love you for it and thank you for it!
Keeping skin moisturized will do so much more than you think! It can improve skin tone, skin texture, acne, large pores, oiliness and your skin will be so, so soft.
Neutrogena HydroBoost Moisturizer
Paula’s Choice Omega Moisturizer
Wrapping Up Skincare Mistakes
Do you make any of these skincare mistakes? If you do, try changing you habits and see how much your skin improves! Hopefully now you are aware of these mistakes and will fix them so you can have the healthy skin of your dreams!
Brittany
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