It’s actually pretty easy to make skincare mistakes because formulating the right regimen and routine is a relatively tricky task. Pairing the right cleanser, moisturizer, serum, and whatever else you have is truly a piece of work.
What order do you even put all the products in? Am I even using them correctly? Yeah, skincare mistakes are a dime a dozen around here, but luckily, that can be fixed.
While there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach that guarantees success for everyone, there are a few things we all should steer clear of. Here are 3 skincare mistakes you’re likely making, and how to avoid them.
Skincare Mistake #1: Unknowingly using multiple exfoliants at once.
Exfoliating your skin is absolutely necessary. Regularly removing dead skin ensures your pores don’t get clogged, which ultimately keeps things like rough, dry skin and breakouts at bay.
However, there can be too much of a good thing when it comes to exfoliating. You see, a lot of us use products formulated with acids such as salicylic, glycolic, and lactic, and don’t even know that those are exfoliants!
Now, can you imagine using a physical exfoliant like a face scrub on top of a cleanser and moisturizer with exfoliating chemicals in the ingredients? Whew, girl—disaster. The simple solution to this is to choose one or two ingredients or methods.
Do your research and figure out what acid and exfoliating method works best for your skin type, and then choose that one. Most of us do have unique skin types, so you may find yourself alternating from week to week.
Skincare Mistake #2: Thinking every “all-natural” product is good for you.
Over the last decade, all-natural beauty alternatives have truly taken over—especially in skincare. The coconut oil moisturizers, apricot scrubs, and DIY skincare recipes have been some real fan favorites, but are they really any better than other formulas? Nah, not really.
The truth is that, some of us can get away with using nothing but natural ingredients like shea butter, witch hazel, coconut oil, and the like—but a whole heap of us cannot. The wording of it all kinda freaks us out a little bit.
For an example, someone may see “citric acid” as an ingredient in of their favorite products and might assume that it’s harmful or not natural. When in reality, it’s an organic acid naturally found in the fruits and vegetables we eat. See? That’s not bad at all.
Know that a good skincare brand is not going to give you a mix of ingredients that’ll harm you. Research the brands you’re interested in, look up ingredients you’re unfamiliar with, and you’ll find that they are far more helpful than harmful.
Skincare Mistake #3: Skipping out on sunscreen when it’s not warm out.
The terms “sunscreen” and “sunblock” can be a little misleading because they’re not aiming to deprive you of the benefits of being in the sun—they just want to block the effects of harmful UV rays.
And because UV rays are present all day long (even if it’s cold, cloudy, or rainy), you should be wearing sunscreen all day, everyday. Extended exposure to UV rays can cause burns, wrinkles, sun spots, and even darkened hyperpigmentation.
And no, wearing makeup or other skincare products with SPF in it isn’t always enough. The general rule of thumb is to wear sunscreen that’s at least SPF 35 and move up. It’s also important not to overdo it, either.
Sunscreen is absolutely not necessary at night or before you go to bed. Like all other skincare products, sunscreen can clog your pores if you layer it on too much or too often. To prevent this, thoroughly wash it off at night and start fresh in the morning.