We all know the basics of good skincare – avoid too much greasy food, don’t touch your face with dirty hands, and avoid falling asleep with a full beat.
Avoid these bad skincare habits, and your skin will thank you. Pretty easy, right?
Well, the answer is yes, and no. While it’s definitely a good idea to get rid of makeup before bed, many people go overboard on the cleansing.
And while it’s noble that you avoid touching your face and overindulging in greasy meals, these habits aren’t the only things that can prevent breakouts.
You see, contrary to what many believe, skincare goes well beyond simply inhibiting zits. You need to consider all ends of the spectrum – from acne-prone skin to sun damage and even cancer.
We aren’t always keen on it, but the skin is the largest organ, and thus it deserves some TLC.
That said, if you’ve been keen on maintaining your skincare routine but still have breakouts, here are some sneaky little habits that might be ruining your skin’s potential to shine.
Bad Skin Habit #1: Not Washing Your Face At Night
There’s nothing more frustrating than waking up in the morning and rubbing your eyes only o realize that you forgot to wash off the mascara.
Not cleansing your face before bed is harmful to your pores, not to mention the sensitive skin on your eyelids if you went hard on the eyeliner.
So, to be safe, make it a nightly routine to wash your face right after dinner and leaving a bottle of micellar water on your bedside table, just in case.
Bad Skin Habit #2: Over-Exfoliating
Yes, a freshly exfoliated face is confidence-boosting, but it’s essential to keep the ‘less is more’ mantra in mind.
According to skincare experts, too much exfoliation causes skin irritation and can trigger your skin to over-produce oil to make up for the moisture lost, thus causing a breakout.
If you go too hard with the scrub, try limiting your use to once or twice a week and be a bit more gentle.
Alternatively, you can use chemical-based exfoliators like AHAs and BHAs, which deliver the same glowy results but are more gentle on your skin.
Bad SKin Habit #3: Overloading on Products
Sure, layering your face with products can feel like the ultimate luxury, but you need to recognize when you’re overdoing it.
According to several dermatologists, you risk having an allergic reaction, and if you have one, it can be nearly impossible to determine what triggered the reaction.
Moreover, your skincare ingredients aren’t penetrating your skin if you’re layering on too many at a time.
In short, that ten-step regimen could be all for nothing.
So, try cutting down on the lineup by zeroing in on two to five essential products. You can check out this Five-Step Korean Skincare Routine if you don’t know where to start.
Bad Skin Habit #4: Picking Your Skin
No surprise here, but this is one skincare habit that we’ve all done at some point and if you still do it, you need to ditch it, stat.
It can seem harmless at first, but often at times, it ends up being a full-on situation that no foundation or concealer can touch. One word: hyperpigmentation.
Picking pimples can lead to scarring and, if aggressive enough, can trigger the appearance of dark spots.
And, all the pressure you put on a zit that isn’t ready to pop can cause a rupture below your skin, which, in turn, leads to more breakouts.
So, save the picking for the experts, who can extract a pimple the right way.
Bad Skin Habit #5: Using Dirty Makeup Brushes
‘Eh, why bother. It’s not like I use one brush for everything.’
Well, here’s why. Not washing your makeup brushes has been shown to cause clogged pores and various bacterial infections.
You can also wind up with muddled colors and that’s not a good skincare habit nor makeup technique tbh.
So, once every week, soak your brushes in water, lather them up with a gentle shampoo, rinse well, and allow them to dry overnight.
Bad Skin Habit #6: Not Getting Enough Sleep
We all have the best intentions when it comes to sleeping early, but then, life, as in Netflix and Chill, gets in the way.
I know what you’re thinking, what in the world does this have to do with my skincare habits?
Apart from making you cranky, a lack of adequate sleep can lower your skin’s pH, which affects its natural glow and messes with its moisture-retention capabilities.
And if you don’t think sleep does make a difference, try taking a selfie of how you look after two hours of sleep and after getting eight hours of sleep.
That alone will convince you that beauty rest is not a myth.
