5 Bad Skincare Habits To Break Today
Bad habits can be hard to break - especially when it comes to your skincare.
While you may feel like your daily skincare routine is checking all the right boxes for a flawless, glowing complexion, there’s a chance that you may be doing some things that are jeopardizing the health of your skin barrier and are leading to a number of issues such as dryness, acne, scarring, and more.
The road to clear skin is a holistic one, so let’s take a closer look at six skincare bad habits that we need to kick right away for healthier skin.
Skipping the SPF
Not protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays can lead to unwanted and even dangerous consequences such as skin cancer, sun spots, and wrinkles.
You should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ each and every day, no matter the season. Even if it’s cloudy or rainy, the sun is still out there, so it’s important to protect your skin. If the sun is shining in through a window when you’re at home, in the office, or in the car, UV rays are making contact with your skin, exposing you to a significant amount of UVA.
By making sunscreen a part of your morning skincare ritual, you can minimize and curb the damaging effects of prolonged UV exposure. And while makeup with SPF is a good compliment to your routine, you should still use a standalone sunscreen product as your last step before applying foundation.
Sleeping with Makeup On
Letting your skin marinate overnight in a concoction of makeup and a day’s worth of oil buildup is the perfect recipe for clogged pores and pimples. When we sleep, our body temperature increases slightly, enhancing the absorption of whatever is sitting on the skin’s surface.
By washing your face each evening with a natural facial cleanser and following a skincare routine of toning, spot treatments, and moisturizing, you can ensure that your skin is soaking in only beneficial ingredients overnight.
Removing Makeup with Wipes
While reaching for a makeup wipe after a long day seems like the best option for an expedited nighttime routine, those convenient disposable wipes may not be as effective as they claim to be. Using a wipe may be a better option than not washing your face at all, but it is far from ideal.
These wipes don’t remove makeup entirely and often leave a chemical residue behind. Since they contain a high concentration of surfactants, they often lead to irritation and dryness. There’s also a potential for skin breakage since the PH balance of the skin can get disrupted; it opens you up to the risk of micro-tears.
In addition, disposable wipes can be harmful to the environment - as the ingredients do not break down easily and end up in landfills and waterways.
Neglecting Your Chest and Neck
Commonly known in the beauty industry as the “décolletage,” the neck and chest area is often overlooked when it comes to skincare routines, though it’s an area that is frequently on display.
Like the skin on the rest of the body, your décolletage is susceptible to sun damage, premature aging, and other issues when not properly cared for. In fact, the skin is so delicate in the neck and chest area, that it is often one of the first areas to show signs of distress.
When you’re moisturizing, toning, and applying SPF, be sure to extend the product down to the neck and upper chest area as well!
Not Washing Your Makeup Brushes
Makeup tools gather more dirt and acne-causing bacteria than you may imagine if not properly washed. Brushes and puffs should be deep cleaned every 1 - 2 weeks, while sponges should be cleaned on a weekly basis. To cleanse your tools, you can make a homemade face wash and warm water solution. Simply swirl your brushes in the solution and agitate them to help loosen up any dried product and grime. Then, rinse thoroughly with clean, warm water and pat dry. Be sure to let the products fully air dry on a clean towel. For sponges, you can get them, add some cleanser, and gently massage them under warm water until it runs clear. Allow to completely air dry fully before using.
Touching Your Face
Please, please, please do not touch, scratch, poke, squeeze, or pick your skin. Throughout the day, our hands come in contact with millions of germs, bacteria, and allergens from doorknobs, cellphones, keyboards, etc. Now think about transferring all that ick to your face each time your touch it throughout the day. Gross, huh?
Picking at blemishes can spread germs and dirt from your hands to the affected area; it can also cause the bacteria to spread and intensify existing breakouts. Excessive popping and touching can even lead to permanent skin scarring, inflammation, and discoloration.
Instead of popping and picking at imperfections, consider using a spot treatment or pimple patch to help you resist the urge.
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