We are always so focused on skincare essentials. We know all the steps we should be taking and the routine we should be following to get the best skin possible, but what about all the things we should not be doing?
Whether these things are just what we are used to doing, or we thought they were good for us, there are some steps you may be taking that are doing your skin much more harm than good.
Have you been making these skincare mistakes? Take action before you do irreparable damage to your skin.
Not wearing SPF every day
If you are only using SPF when on vacation, you are not using it often enough. Not only is sunscreen protecting you from the harsh UV rays, skin cancer, sun spots, and wrinkles, but being at the pool or the beach is not the only time you are at risk. When you walk from a far parking spot, go for a jog, and even shovel snow in the winter, the sun is there, even when it is dark and cloudy.
If you’re exposing your legs in a sundress or your shoulders in a cold-shoulder sweater, lube up those areas as well. You may not be able to see the damage the sun is doing now, but in a few years, those oh-so-cute freckles will be age spots and wrinkles that are permanent.
It is so much easier to prevent skin damage than to try to repair it later. So pick up a body SPF as well as a facial SPF.
Washing your face in the shower
If you wash your face in the shower, you are not doing it right. It is convenient and easy and seems so relaxing. But, all of those factors do not make this action worth it.
It is all bad, from the chemicals in your shampoo interacting with your skin to the hot water dehydrating you and even drying your face with your body towel.
When you shower, more likely than not, the water is nice, hot, and steamy. And although it may feel great, it isn’t perfect for your skin.
Your body already shouldn’t be exposed to it, but the skin on your face is much more sensitive. And all that steaming hot water is going to dry out your skin, leading to uncomfortable dryness and, potentially, wrinkles.
Washing your face with cool water in the sink is not as annoying as it may seem. You’ll get used to it, and your skin will be happy you did.
Too much skincare
Face masks are all the rage. But just like cheese fries and donut holes, everything in moderation. Masks are excellent for clearing out your pores or adding a surge of moisture to the skin. But if you go too crazy with face masks, your skin could have a terrible reaction.
Have you ever noticed that most face mask directions say to use 2-3 times per week? Well, that does not mean you should use a different mask the other 4-5 days.
Multi-masking is a great way to use all the masks you want without going overboard. That way, you can get all the benefits you want, but only where your skin needs it. If you apply the potent ingredients that masks contain to your skin daily, your skin can get overly dried out or even go into freak-out mode from trying to adjust to too many products.
Squinting
You may not think this has a skincare issue, and maybe it seems like more of a retina issue. But special glasses are necessary more often than just during an eclipse.
When you forget to wear sunglasses while driving, while riding a train, or just taking a walk, you could be aiding your future wrinkles in their deepness.
Squinting, especially for a long time, distorts your face and increases forehead wrinkles as well as crow’s feet. It can also cause the skin under your eyes which is already delicate and prone to sagging, to become thinner and more susceptible to harm and damage.
So whether you go for Ray-Bans, Dior, or pick up a pair of sunglasses on your next Target run, your skin will appreciate it.
Drinking
And last but certainly not least, happy hour is brutal on your skin. Alcohol dehydrates your body. That is certainly not news to you, but when something dries out your body, your skin goes right along with it.
One night of excessive drinking might not throw your skin out of whack, but make it a habit, and in 10 years, you’ll be wishing you thought of this.
Both the amount you drink and the type of alcohol you choose can affect your skin. Alcohol causes inflammation and acne, leading to scarring and wrinkles. Not to mention, alcohol releases an excessive amount of free radicals into the body all at once. The damage free radicals do to your body is equivalent to intense stress, leaving your skin looking highly unhealthy.
To prevent these effects, drink in moderation, balance your alcohol intake with water, and try to choose alcohols without additives or added sugar.
Once you adopt these changes into your skincare routine, your beauty products will begin to work like they never have before. Your serums should absorb better, your inflammation and dryness should balance out, and your beauty will radiate.
These little actions may seem like harmless habits, but in reality, your skin was screaming out for help every time you left the house without SPF, squinted into the sun, or blasted your face with hot shower water.
