Having a good skin care routine is very important and I cannot even stress enough on this! We are all mostly born with flawless skin but as we age, factors like stress, age, pollution etc. can take a toll on our skin and we have to take measures to maintain the national health of our skin. Skin care does not mean transforming your skin into something really different, it is just a regular routine to maintain your skin’s health and keep it clear. If you have acne prone skin or sensitive skin, you have to do some extra steps to maintain healthy skin. We often do things that we don’t really require or overdo a routine without knowing that it can backlash and can spoil our skin in the long run. Knowing where you go wrong with skin care can help you rectify your mistakes and this is what we are going to look at in this article. Below are some really common top 10 skincare mistakes to avoid –
TOP 10 SKIN CARE MISTAKES TO AVOID –
1. Over Exfoliating
You all know how important exfoliating is. Exfoliation helps buff away dead skin cells and reviews fresh new skin. It is recommended to exfoliate your skin not more than three times in a week. If you are using chemical exfoliation, the duration will depend on what type of chemical exfoliator are you using. Never over exfoliate thinking that it will give you flawless skin because it will just irritate your skin and make it super dry and prone to early fine lines.
2. Not Cleansing Enough
Whether you have dry skin, normal skin or oily skin, you have to cleanse your skin at least once or twice a day. If you have severely oily skin that gets really shiny after 2 to 3 hours of washing your face, you need to do just water rinse 3 to 4 times in a day or use a very gentle sulfate free face wash. Sometimes, we cannot give this step much importance and can end up with clogged pores and pimples. One of the best ways to cleanse your skin is to double cleanse twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime.
3. Sleeping With Makeup On
A good night time skin care routine can help maintain your natural skin moisture and can also keep your skin and its top condition. If you don’t have time to do a long night time skin care routine, at least make sure to remove every bit of skincare and make up that you used throughout/during the day. If you sleep with make up on, it can clog your pores and cause acne and what not. Always double cleanse before bedtime and make sure that you remove every bit of that make up from your skin even if you do not want to follow a long night skin care routine. If you are really sleepy and not feeling like cleansing, at least use a micellar water to wipe off every bit of makeup and grime.
4. Skipping Sunscreen
We often tend to skip this important step that is using a sunscreen. It is really important to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays and using a sunscreen has to be the last step in your skincare routine every morning, be it any season of the year. Using a sunscreen helps prevent early fine lines and pigmentation and prevents sun damage.
5. Not Changing Bed Linen
Now you may wonder how is bed linen linked with skin care! Our bed linen including pillows contain bacteria, dead skin debris and what not that can cause acne while you sleep on it. Always make sure that you change your bed linen every two days if not daily.
6. Layering Wrong Products
Layering skincare products is my favorite thing. I swear by the Korean 10 steps skincare routine but you have to check ingredients in your skincare products before you layer them. Some ingredients in specific product do not go well when used together and can cause skin reaction.
7. Skipping Toner
I do not know how much to stress on this! CTM routine also called as cleansing, toning and moisturizing is the ultimate skincare routine even if you don’t want to follow the long 10-step routine. A toner repairs your skin for the next skin care products that you will use after using a toner and it facilitates good absorption. Using a toner also has a specific skincare benefits depending on what kind of toner you are using.
8. Shaving And Exfoliating Back To Back
Shaving is also a type of exfoliation. While you shave, along with facial hair you also tend to scrape off the top dead skin layer and this is what any other exfoliation method would do. Using a facial scrub before or after shaving or even using a chemical exfoliant before and after shaving is a bad idea and it can cause severe soreness and redness on your skin along with micro tearing.
9. Popping Pimples
We all know how satisfying it is to pop a pimple. It might give you a temporary relief and make your pimples look less inflamed or reduce its size but in the long run it will cause scarring and dark spots. So keep your hands away from your pimples and if you really want to get it extracted, get it done professionally by a dermatologist.
10. Not Sanitizing/Cleaning Mobile Screens
We love talking to our friends and relatives on a mobile phone or even if you are a working professional, you might be taking up a lot of calls throughout the day. Did you know that your phone screen attracts bacteria and it can transfer to your cheeks when you are talking to someone and cause acne in the future. It is a good idea and a good habit to sanitize your mobile screen using a sanitizing spray or wipes from time to time.
