So I’m a psycho when it comes to skincare because my skin and I are true frenemies. Some days I’m thinking we’re 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 I’ve always had to pay attention to. While it definitely sucks, it’s 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 – I’ve listened and read it all.
I am by no means a licensed esthetician or dermatologist, so take this with a grain of salt, but I’ve 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 don’t 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 I’m sharing the 5 skincare mistakes that everyone is making, so you can fix them before it’s too late.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll 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 read the full disclosure here.
1. Not Wearing SPF Every Day
We’re starting off strong with the mistake almost every person I know has made – 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 – if it’s daytime, then you should have sunscreen on! It does not matter if it’s cloudy, if you’re inside, if it’s winter, or if you’re wearing makeup, you need SPF, and here’s why.
Why: Throughout all of the scenarios I mentioned, the sun is out, even if it’s 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 don’t 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 don’t worry, I’ve already tested out every popular sunscreen so you don’t have to! And my number one recommendation is Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen. It’s 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 it’s 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. It’s offered directly at their website, at Sephora, and on Amazon.
2. Putting Moisturizer On Correctly
Did you know that there’s a correct way to put moisturizer on? I learned a few years ago that after you wash your face, that there’s a correct time when to put your moisturizer on.
Why: After you finish washing your face, do not dry your face, don’t do it. If you dry your face and then put the moisturizer on, the moisturizer won’t do its job. The point of a moisturizer is to lock in the moisture on your skin. Thus, if you’re putting moisturizer on when your face is dry, your skin won’t 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, that’s 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 don’t dry your face!
// Related Post: Becoming “That Girl”: the Healthy Lifestyle TikTok Trend
3. Touching Your Face
This one is pretty obvious and doesn’t take much explanation.
Why: You know you shouldn’t touch your face, because it’s just bringing all of the bacteria from your hands up to the skin on your face, which will give you acne, and acne sucks. Don’t pick at your skin either, it’s so bad! I know people enjoy popping pimples, but don’t do it! It will either make the acne worse or lead to scarring.
My Recommendation: If you find that you can’t stop touching your face, try to make sure you’re washing your hands constantly at least. Something I’ve found that keeps me from touching my face is just putting more effort into my skincare routine. I know that if I’m putting more effort into my skincare, then I don’t 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 you’re 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 you’re going to lie down, you’re 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. You’re 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 don’t 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 you’re purchasing products with harsh, stripping chemicals in them, that’s 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: Here’s 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. It’s a super cool app, I couldn’t recommend it more! I’ve 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! ♡
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Living life, and writing about it as I go.
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