As a lot of us have a pretty structured skincare routine, little things we do just out of habit. Doing the same steps over and over, day in and day out. Well what if those things aren’t actually helping? What if they’re making things worse?
Here are some of the bad habits that we are probably all guilty of, but are not that great for your skin after all.
Over exfoliating
Over exfoliating the skin does damage by stripping the protective barrier off and leaving the skin exposed to the environmental toxins and sun damage, causing the skin to age. You should only be exfoliating once or twice a week, so it’s not being stripping of the skin’s natural oils.
Going to bed with a full face of makeup on
Falling into bed with your makeup on after a night out can be forgiven. but the damage is done when this becomes a habit. Not removing your makeup will clog your pores and your oil glands, which can cause spot breakouts and acne.
Picking at our faces
We all know that we shouldn’t do this, but we sometimes still do. Oops. This can actually cause more breakouts, as you will only push dirt deeper into your pores. Even just touching your face or resting your hand on your cheek can clog pores, so make sure your hands are nice and clean because your face could be dirtier than it looks.
Cleansing properly
Be on the lookout for a cleanser with the right ingredients, such as salicylic acid to help clear your pores, antioxidants for protection and witch hazel as it acts as a natural astringent. Ones with harsher ingredients could leave your skin irritated. Finding that right cleanser can put your skin in optimal condition for an overnight renewal.
Dirty makeup brushes
A dirty makeup brush can do more damage than we all think. Keeping your brushes clean everyday will ensure that no dirt or old makeup is building up on your skin. Investing in a good brush cleaner will help too, so keep your eyes peeled.
Not applying our products in the right order
To maximise the benefits of the products and the regime we use is to start using products with a thinner consistency before using the thicker and creamier ones, no matter what their ingredients are. Products that have heavier consistencies can actually block the lightweight ones from doing their job. So apply thinner ones first.
Sleeping with your hair loose
Try tying your hair and your bangs back before you hit the sack. Many people will get forehead breakouts due to the oil in the hair and the hair products that we use.
Not washing your bed linen enough
Your bedsheets and pillow cases can accumulate a buildup of residue from the things we use everyday, like conditioner and our natural scalp oils. Over time these things can clog the pores on your face. You should be aiming to change your linen at least once a week or more if your skin is prone to acne. Washing in hot water will kill off those pesky dust mites that can cause allergies too.
Cotton pillowcases
Switch to silk, better yet switch to satin. These minimize permanent complexion issues. Over time, pressing your face into pillow cases can cause trauma to our skin, aggravated by the friction that can cause wrinkles as our collagen breaks down.
Drying out
We all break out in spots, and sometimes we think that we need to dry our skin out and use products that are too harsh for the skin. These can cause irritation and cause further breakouts. Always finish cleaning your face with a hydrating moisturiser.
Bad Food
The quote being, what’s good for your heart will be good for your skin. Eat veggies with a lot of colour, greens are the best ones for your skin. Nature has already colour coded them for us, the more colours you eat, the better your diet and skin!
Not moisturising oily skin
Moisturising will add the water to the skin, not oil. Even oily skin needs moisturising, as without it the skin will overcompensate for the loss of hydration. Use a light daily moisturiser and a heavier one at night.
Hot showers
We recommend warm showers instead of boiling hot ones. As tempting as a hot shower sounds it’s quite problematic for your skin. It can strip away the essential moisture and oils that keep your skin soft and supple.
Overload of products
If your skin has multiple needs then alternate your products, as the more you add the less effective they are. Less is more, as they say.
Overuse of products
Evening cleansing is crucial to removing oil, makeup and dirt buildup. It isn’t essential to cleanse in the morning as the skin produces oils and a hydrating balance during your sleep, so we shouldn’t be washing them away. Just washing your skin with a cotton washcloth instead of a cleanser can really help keep your skin healthy.
Not sleeping enough
Getting a good night sleep helps your skin look and feel its best. When you’ve not had sufficient enough sleep, skin becomes pale and dull in complexion, with the dreaded under eye circles to boot. Get yourself to be early and wake up envirogated.
Not knowing your products
You can’t truly enjoy great skin if you’re constantly educating yourself on what we are putting on it. Learn about the ingredients and what is beneficial in what you are applying. Remember, price doesn’t always determine the quality of the product.
Year round products
During the year your skin will have different needs. Season to season, each should be a reminder to change up your regime. Winter skin will need more hydration. Spring will need cleansings and exfoliating to revive the skin from the winter. Summer will need protection from the sun, and the use of lightweight products. And fall will need an increase of exfoliation from the sun damage you may have gotten from summer.
Smoking
Needing an incentive to quit? Smoking will cause premature aging and wrinkles as well as endangering your health. Your skin would be very thankful if you stopped or even just cut down.
Coffee
Drinking caffeine is a huge culprit when it comes to the magnification of wrinkles and dry skin. Quench your thirst and your skin by drinking lots of water. Adding slices of fruit, like orange or lemon, will enhance the flavour but will also add in additional vitamins.
Feature image credit: Victor Camilo via Flickr.
