Is scrubbing your face bad? How often should you exfoliate?
Is it bad to have 2 different face washes?
In this detailed skincare post, I go over 20+ skincare mistakes that are most probably ruining your skin on a regular basis (without you even knowing it – Yikes!).
Hi girls, how are you today?
For some people, getting into a consistent skincare routine can be challenging.
I know many girls who have a hard time even taking a moment to remove makeup, let alone do 10-step Korean Skincare Routine.
I get it.
Skincare is all about a daily repetition of steps you have to take, and it can take a good time until any results are apparent.
But what if you are you repeating the wrong steps?
As much of a skincare pro that you are, you could still be making one of these terribly common skincare mistakes.
Keep reading to find out the skincare mistakes you’re making and how to fix them so that you can get that glowing skin, now.
If you’re making any of these skincare mistakes, don’t worry too much
We’ve all been there and that is why today we will go over the top biggest skincare mistakes people make that are probably ruining your skin.
Table of Contents
21 Common Skincare Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Skin
- Neglecting a good diet
- Not Drinking Enough Water
- Leaving Your Makeup On Overnight
- Doing Your Skincare Routine Immediately Before Bed
- Not Properly Cleansing
- Not Exfoliating / Over-exfoliating
- Forgetting/Ignoring SPF
- Not Applying Your Skincare Products in the correct order
- Not Knowing What You Are Applying To Your Skin
- Touching Your Face
- Popping Pimples and/or Blackheads
- Tugging Your Eye Area
- Sleeping on a Cotton Pillowcase
- Not Washing Your Pillows and Pillowcases Frequently
- Not Washing Your Bathroom Towels Often Enough
- Not Getting Enough Sleep
- Not Cleaning Your Phone
- Not Moisturizing Oily Skin Only
- Moisturizing At Nighttime
- Taking Too-hot Showers
- Never Cleaning Your makeup Sponges and Brushes
Now let’s dive into what each of these skincare mistakes mean (and how to fix them).
#1 Neglecting a good diet
Let’s start with one of the most less obvious skincare mistakes. I’m sure you’ve already heard before that ‘’we are what we eat’’ and this is so true.
The occasional pimple that pops up right after a weekend of binge-eating chocolate and burgers is no mere coincidence, my friend.
Studies have shown that sugar and high carb foods may actually spike inflammation, cause breakouts, and even break down your skin’s collagen.
INSTEAD: If our goal is clear skin, try avoiding a high-sugar and heavily greasy diet and see how that impacts your looks.
Incorporate more whole foods to nourish your skin from the inside out, which includes getting your daily dose of vitamins through fruit and veggies.
# 2 Not Drinking Enough Water
Another overlooked method for better skin results is creating the habit of drinking more water.
In fact, drinking plentiful amounts of water is a key factor for keeping skin hydrated, young, and healthy.
Just as I wrote this paragraph, I served myself a glass of cold water to hydrate myself.
Remember, if you reach the point where you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Aim to drink water before you even feel thirsty.
# 3 Leaving Your Makeup On Overnight
You can be forgiven for that one drunken night and for all those years as a teenager barely washing your face, but this CAN’T be a habit.
Indeed, not removing your makeup before going to bed clogs your pore and oil glands, which would make them appear larger.
Plus, if you have acne-prone skin, this may also lead to inflammation and blemishes.
TIP: If you feel sleepy before bed and don’t like getting wet to wash your face (been there), then try and get into the daily habit of prepping your face for sleep as soon as you finish dinner.
This way you don’t feel the obligation of having to do a skincare routine when you feel sleepy.
# 4 Doing Your Skincare Routine Immediately Before Bed
A similar skincare mistake, is doing your entire skin care immediately before going to bed.
It is said to be best to apply your skincare products and acne medications at least 1 hour before bed.
This will allows the products time to get fully absorbed, as opposed to having all your money going directly into your pillowcase and hair
# 5 Not Properly Cleansing
You should wash your face with a cleansing soap and water.
Only removing makeup with micellar water on cotton simply won’t do it for you. Even worse than micellar water in cotton, would be only using wet wipes.
If you want to have the most complete cleansing step to your routine, before washing your face with soap and water, you can do an oil cleanse.
Gently rub your face in circular motions with oil and watch the heavy makeup slide off. Once you’re done, remove the excess oil with warm water, followed by a foam cleanser.
# 6 Not Exfoliating / Over-exfoliating
The list of skincare mistakes could not go on without talking about exfoliating.
Some people LOVE exfoliating (guilty here), others not so much. I find it quite addictive, simply because the results are immediate.
If it depended on my liking, I would exfoliate every day, but that is a big-no-no.
If you exfoliating too much, you can over-dry and irritate your skin, which in turn will cause opposite effect of beauty care.
Alternatively, by skipping exfoliating you are leaving your pores clogged with impurities and dead cells lurking around your face.
Proper exfoliation will remove the barrier of dead skin cells clogging the skin and allowing for fresh new cells below to shine.
This further opens the way for moisturizing products to penetrate more deeply into your skin, which makes the products more effective.
In short, a regular exfoliating routine will leave your skin looking fresh and healthy. Just don’t get excited and overdo it.
RELATED: DIY COFFEE FACE SCRUB
# 7 Forgetting/Ignoring SPF
I am pretty confident there is not one list of skincare mistakes out there that does not mention sunscreen.
Yes ladies, the best way to protect your skin from premature aging, acne blemishes and skin problems in general is by daily protecting your face with sunscreen.
My mother has taught me this since a young age, I have been avoiding tanning my face since my early twenties, and it was the best decision I ever made.
Wear sunscreen every day, and look for one that has an SPF of 50 or higher. It should also shield you from both UVA and UVB ray. Should you discover any unsightly dark spots on your skin, you can use something like this Gundry MD Dark Spot Diminisher to help reduce their appearance over time so that they are barely noticeable and your skin appears smooth and even.
PRO TIP: Don’t forget to apply sunblock to your chest and the top of your hands daily as well.
What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays, you may be wondering?
UVA and UVB are two basic types of ultraviolet rays that reach the earth’s surface. In very simple words:
The UVB rays are responsible for producing sunburn, while the UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin (and thus they play a greater role in premature skin aging changes including wrinkle formation).
# 8 Not Applying Your Skincare Products in the correct order
The reason I got into skincare was that I googled what was the correct order to apply skin products.
I was immediately mind-blown by the 10-steps Korean skincare routine and decided to buy every item for a complete Korean skincare regime.
Indeed, one of the keys to maximizing the benefits of the (expensive) products in your regimen is to apply products with a thinner consistency before the thicker/creamier (no matter the active ingredient).
The reason behind this is that products with heavier consistencies can block lighter-weight ones from penetrating the skin, thus impeding them from doing their job.
RELATED: What is the correct order to apply your skincare products, step-by-step guide
# 9 Not Knowing What You Are Applying To Your Skin
Remember this, girls: Price does NOT mean quality (keep in mind that The Ordinary’s retinols are as cheap as 7 euros). What determines how good a skincare product is for your skin are the ingredients contained within the mixture.
How can you ever truly enjoy great skin if you don’t educate yourself about what you are putting on your face?
There’s been a huge surge in popularity for natural skincare in recent years as people try to avoid synthetic chemicals and artificial ingredients, with many coming to realize that the origins of natural ingredients are easier to trace.
If you are totally lost towards skincare ingredients to look out for, the app Clean Beauty has helped me a lot in the beginning when I was still understanding how things worked (after I had a horrible breakout using Laneige Sleeping Mask)
RELATED: How to Know if a New Skincare Product Will Not Ruin Your Skin?
# 10 Touching Your Face
One of the most overlooked and most common ways to get a breakout: constantly touching your face with your hands.
Here, I don’t necessarily mean extracting blackheads or pimples, I really mean simply touching (such as when you rest your face on the palm of your hand).
The reason for this is because your hands naturally carry oils on them and bacteria which can easy transfer to the skin of your face upon contact.
Think about it: Between touching public spaces, turning doorknobs, and shaking other people’s hands, your hands are prone to carrying dirt and bacteria.
I say this because I noticed I was having more breakouts on my right side of the face exactly in the area where I rested my cheeks to my hands.
# 11 Popping Pimples and/or Blackheads
Sometimes it is irresistible to pop out a tiny blackhead, other times it is a necessity (you can’t go to a party with a massive whitehead on your chin).
Popping pimples without the aid of a professional will most of the times result in inflammation and blemishes, making the situation worse than it ever was. Unless absolutely necessary, resist popping pimples.
A GREAT solution to pimples is wearing a pimple patch. I’m a HUGE fan because not only they help extract the pimple, but it keeps the area protected from bacteria. I always use the one from Koco Star, (they come in different sizes for smaller to bigger pimples).
# 12 Tugging Your Eye Area
This skincare mistake is a big no no, girls. The skin around the eyes area is very delicate and if you pull it often enough, it will get saggy.
EYE MAKEUP REMOVAL TIP
To take off eye makeup without vigorous rubbing, hold a remover-soaked cotton pad against your lids for about 30 seconds before gently whisking it away.
EYE CREAM APPLICATION TIP
It is imperative to apply as least pressure as possible when applying eye creams. For that, simply pat the cream along your contours with your ring finger, which for some reason applies less pressure than your other digits. Keep tap-tap-tapping until the cream sinks into your skin. Don’t pull!!!!
# 15 Sleeping on a Cotton Pillowcase
Cotton pillowcases are super absorbent. This means that they pick up dirt and oil from your skin. When you sleep on the same pillowcase night after night, it can lead to clogged pores and eventually breakouts.
I’d advise you opting for silk pillowcases.
Not only they feel more lush and soft, but they will ultimately result in better skin for you.
# 16 Not Washing Your Pillows and Pillowcases Frequently
If you don’t want to invest in a silk pillow, try at least to wash your pillowcases once a week.
Sleeping on clean linen makes a huge difference to our skin because pillowcases accumulate a buildup of residue from things like hair conditioner and the scalp’s natural oils that can clog your pores on your face over time.
# 17 Not Washing Your Bathroom Towels Often Enough
Another household item that should be washed often, and that could be contributing to breakouts, are fresh towels, especially the ones for the face (which are mostly forgotten during laundry day).
# 18 Not Getting Enough Sleep
This is no mystery: a night well-rested is the best skin care you can possibly have. If you have the tendency to sleep late while also having to wake up early, try to go to bed a bit earlier.
With time, you will see how much better your complexion will appear.
# 19 Not Cleaning Your Phone
Let’s take a moment to reflect on how clean/dirt our phone really is, girls.
Think about all the places that your phone has been in contact with: Kitchen stands, bathroom counters, gym floors, restaurant tables and more. Public places, every inch of your home; probably your kitchen, maybe your bathroom?
Well, did you know your cell phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat?
# 20 Not Moisturizing Oily Skin
It’s a very common misconception that people with oily skin should avoid moisturizers at all costs, and that is far from the truth. Moisturizer adds water to the skin, not oils.
Many people with oily skin want to try out their pores but this is counter-productive for the skin’s health.
In fact, it’s imperative that even oily skin gets moisture because without it, your skin will work faster to overcompensate for the loss of hydration [with more oil], leading to breakouts and uneven skin texture.
# 21 Only Moisturizing At Nighttime
This one is especially important if you live in dry-weather countries. Aim to use a lighter-weight moisturizer in the daytime as well, and leave the heavier creams to be used at night.
# 22 Taking Too-hot Showers
Same as for the above, hot showers can be problematic for your skin, because they can strip your skin of essential moisture and healthy oils. Aim to take warm showers as opposed to hot.
# 23 Never Cleaning Your makeup Sponges and Brushes
So girl, be honest: What was the last time you did a serious deep clean of your makeup brushes and/or sponges?
I myself bought a beauty blender in November that I am pending to wash (and I am pretty sure it was a contributor to my acne breakouts during quarantine).
It is said that makeup brushes and sponges should be cleaned on a weekly basis.
I did a small video teaching how to properly cleanse your makeup brushes here.
I’d advise you to invest in a brush cleaner, especially for your foundation brush. I’ve been using the MAC makeup brushes cleaner for years now and I am very happy with the purchase. Another option would be the Purity Made Simple Cleanser.
Tools That’ll Make Cleaning Brushes A Lot Easier
This helpful beauty blender sponge cleaner, this innovative makeup brushes drying set (I didn’t even know this existed), these super affordable makeup brush cleanser.
Ready to stop making silly skincare mistakes so yo have your best skin ever?
Treat your skin well. It’s part of you and it’s the only skin you get. Be sure to keep an open eye to these common skincare mistakes that are probably ruining your skin on a daily basis without you even knowing it.
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