7 Skincare Mistakes That Could Be Damaging Your Skin

You work hard to take care of your skin, but could you actually be damaging it with one of these bad habits? I sure hope not! If you are, it’s time to put a stop to it so your skin can look and feel its best. Here are seven skincare mistakes that could be damaging your skin… 

1. Over Exfoliating

It’s important to exfoliate because it removes the top layer of dead skin, which can leave our skin looking rather dull. Exfoliation is what helps to return that youthful glow to our faces. However, it is possible to overdo it. Exfoliating too often or being too rough with your skin can actually remove the protective layer we all have. That protective layer is what fights off environmental toxins and sun damage. You should only exfoliate two to three times a week at the most. By exfoliating more often than that, you risk damaging your delicate skin.

2. Picking at Your Face

This should come as no surprise, but you should never pick at your face. While it may be tempting to pop those pesky pimples, doing so increases the chances that you’ll be left with a scar. Pulling at your skin often can also lead to wrinkles in the areas you were tugging on. When it comes to your face, remember to be gentle. If your skin seems unbalanced or you cannot seem to get rid of your acne, find a licensed esthetician to help.

3. Using Dirty Makeup Brushes

Many ladies are guilty of not cleaning their makeup brushes enough and the truth is, it’s damaging our skin. Makeup brushes collect more than just the makeup we put on our faces. They also contain a build-up of dirt, oil, and bacteria it picks up from our skin. Using dirty makeup brushes can lead to breakouts and irritation. Make sure you’re using a good brush cleanser and cleaning them regularly to keep your skin healthy.

4. Not Washing Your Pillowcases Enough

How often are you washing your bed sheets and pillowcases? Probably not as often as your skin would like. We spend all night with our faces buried in our pillows, which accumulate oil from our skin and scalp, residue from our hair conditioner, and more. All of that build-up can cause breakouts on our faces. To prevent this, change your pillowcases and bed sheets at least once a week. If you are acne-prone, you will want to change them more often.

5. Not Wearing Sunscreen, Even When It’s Cloudy

Just because you don’t see the sun shining, it doesn’t give you permission to skip the SPF. Sunscreen should be worn daily to protect our skin from the damaging effects of both UVA and UVB rays, which age our skin. Make sure you never leave the house without your sunscreen on and you’ll be grateful for healthy, youthful-looking skin later in life!

6. Not Moisturizing Oily Skin

Many women who struggle with oily skin think they don’t need to moisturize. However, the opposite is actually true. Everyone should be moisturizing on a daily basis to put hydration back into our skin. When you skip moisturizer, your skin will overcompensate for the loss of hydration by producing even more oil. This is not what you want! More oil production can actually lead to breakouts and uneven skin texture. So, even if your skin is oily, make sure you are using moisturizer every single day.

7. Wearing Too Many Products at Once

When it comes to skincare, less is more. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you need to load up with more than 2 or 3 skincare products every morning and night. It’s best to keep your routine simple, with high quality products. The more products you add to your skin at once, the less effective each of them becomes because they won’t get absorbed correctly.