So Iโm a psycho when it comes to skincare because my skin and I are true frenemies. Some days Iโm thinking weโre best friends, and then some mornings I wake up with small volcanoes all over my chin.
I have extremely sensitive, acne-prone, textured skin. Therefore, taking care of my skin is something Iโve always had to pay attention to. While it definitely sucks, itโs actually forced me to learn so much about skincare over the years. From professional advice from dermatologists to anti-aging and skin regimens from celebrities โ Iโve listened and read it all.

I am by no means a licensed esthetician or dermatologist, so take this with a grain of salt, but Iโve learned so much about skincare. My friends and family have to listen to me police them about their horrible skincare routines or lack thereof.
Much of the information I share and practice is Skincare 101, therefore I find it crazy how many people donโt know the basics of healthy skin. These mistakes lead to skin that is oily, early-aging, and possibly high risk for skin cancer. Which is why Iโm sharing the 5 skincare mistakes that everyone is making, so you can fix them before itโs too late.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means Iโll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you! I only recommend products that I absolutely love, and all of my opinions here are honest. For more information, please readย theย full disclosureย here.
1. Not Wearing SPF Every Day
Weโre starting off strong with the mistake almost every person I know has made โ SPF wearing. People are absolutely horrified when I tell them they should be wearing SPF every day because most people think SPF/sunscreen is only necessary in the summer when the sun is out. Wrong โ if itโs daytime, then you should have sunscreen on! It does not matter if itโs cloudy, if youโre inside, if itโs winter, or if youโre wearing makeup, you need SPF, and hereโs why.
Why: Throughout all of the scenarios I mentioned, the sun is out, even if itโs hidden behind clouds, cold weather, or windows. This is something to be concerned about because the sun will damage your skin, and that comes in different forms, from skin diseases to dark spots to wrinkles. And I really donโt want you to deal with any of those things, let alone a chance at skin cancer!
My Recommendation: I can totally understand that sunscreen can be aggravating, with its weird smell and white cast, but donโt worry, Iโve already tested out every popular sunscreen so you donโt have to! And my number one recommendation is Supergoop!โs Unseen Sunscreen. Itโs made of clean ingredients, safe for sensitive skin, has zero white cast, is cruelty-free, and reef-safe. I personally like the Unseen Sunscreen because itโs matte and clear, but Supergoop! offers other options, like one that offers a glowy dew, and others that have a tint to them like a BB cream. Itโs offered directly at their website, at Sephora, and on Amazon.

2. Putting Moisturizer On Correctly
Did you know that thereโs a correct way to put moisturizer on? I learned a few years ago that after you wash your face, that thereโs a correct time when to put your moisturizer on.
Why: After you finish washing your face, do not dry your face, donโt do it. If you dry your face and then put the moisturizer on, the moisturizer wonโt do its job. The point of a moisturizer is to lock in the moisture on your skin. Thus, if youโre putting moisturizer on when your face is dry, your skin wonโt absorb any of the ingredients in the moisturizer, and it will start to produce its own oils. So if you find that your face gets oily when wearing moisturizer, thatโs possibly why, because your skin is dehydrated by the time you put your moisturizer on.
My Recommendation: Wait no more than a few minutes after washing your face to put moisturizer on, and donโt dry your face!
3. Touching Your Face
This one is pretty obvious and doesnโt take much explanation.
Why: You know you shouldnโt touch your face, because itโs just bringing all of the bacteria from your hands up to the skin on your face, which will give you acne, and acne sucks. Donโt pick at your skin either, itโs so bad! I know people enjoy popping pimples, but donโt do it! It will either make the acne worse or lead to scarring.
My Recommendation: If you find that you canโt stop touching your face, try to make sure youโre washing your hands constantly at least. Something Iโve found that keeps me from touching my face is just putting more effort into my skincare routine. I know that if Iโm putting more effort into my skincare, then I donโt want to do anything to taint it by touching and picking at my face.
4. Using The Same Pillow Case
If you have acne-prone skin, you most likely already know about this skincare mistake everyone is making.
Why: If youโre using the same pillowcase every night, you have a higher chance of dealing with acne. Think about it, if you decide not to wash your face one night, the oils and bacteria on your face are being left on your pillow all day. And the next day youโre going to lie down, youโre putting your face on those oils and bacteria.
My Recommendation: This mistake is an easy fix, just wash your pillowcase 1-2 times a week. Go a step further by totally switching out your cotton pillowcase for a silk one. This is going to sound dramatic, but silk/satin pillowcases have changed my skin and hair for the better. Cotton is actually really rough on your hair and skin and can cause a lot of damage. Buy a $10 silk pillowcase on Amazon, as I did, and your skin will thank you
5. Youโre Not Checking The Ingredients
This is so so important: you need to be checking the ingredients in your skincare products and makeup before you buy them. I know that sounds like a pain in the ass to pay attention to, but donโt worry, I have an easy solution. (And it does not consist of me listing off every ingredient in existence that you must avoid.)
Why: If youโre purchasing products with harsh, stripping chemicals in them, thatโs obviously going to negatively affect your skin. Products with toxic ingredients will not only irritate your skin, give you allergic reactions, put you at the risk for cancer and hormone disruption, but it affects the environment as well. Many toxic ingredients affect our coral reefs, our forests, and test on animals.
My Recommendation: Hereโs how to find out if your current products are safe: ThinkDirty. ThinkDirty is a free app that recommends clean, earth-friendly products. But my favorite thing about it is the scanning feature. You can scan the barcodes on skin and hair products and it will provide you with a rating and why it ranked high or low of cleanliness/dirtiness. Itโs a super cool app, I couldnโt recommend it more! Iโve been using it for awhile and use it while shopping for new products before I purchase them. Have fun walking around your bathroom scanning everything you own for two hours.
Take care of yourself, take care of your skin, and stay hydrated! โก
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