Did you ever wonder that all kinds of magazines and blogs keep sharing the same tips on skincare over and over again? The explanation is not that editors lack imagination but that most readers really don’t follow the basic advice that is being given.
We take our skin for granted when we are young. We stay out all night, bask in the sun, and do not use the most suitable products on our face and body. All of this can produce dry, acne-prone skin that looks dull, tired, and far too old for our age.
The issue is that the longer our skin needs are overlooked, the more we wreck it and the older we appear. It is never too late to start taking care of your skin if you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy for as long as you can.
Calling It A Night With Your Makeup On
It is tempting to skip the nightly face wash when you are really exhausted and all you want to do is fall into bed. It is not a good idea for your skin though, especially when you are wearing makeup. Not removing your makeup for the night will build up a lot of oil, bacteria, and dirt that will all stay on your face for the entire night. This will then clog the pore and oil glands. When the makeup stays in the pores, it makes them appear larger. When the collagen levels decrease, the pore won’t snap back as easily once it has been expanded. Plus, this results in acne, breakouts and oily, dirty skin with whiteheads, blackheads, and even inflammation.
An equally bad idea is to use makeup remover wipes as your regular face wash every single day. Only use these when you are in a hurry or really sleepy, but not as your regular washing method.
The simple solution is to stick to the double-cleansing method even if you are exhausted. Your skin will thank you with a beautiful, clear, and healthy complexion.
Using a Harsh Cleaning Regimen
Did your parents ever told you to wash also behind your ears and then checked if you really done it? No doubt we’re somewhat obsessed with cleanliness, but that obsession can damage our skin. There are some products that are very harsh to your skin among the countless available cleansers. After all, soaps work by stripping the skin of oil and dirt, and some of the stronger ones can even leave it dry and itchy.
Also, you are setting your skin up for disaster, if you also use harsh astringents and alcohol-based toners. Indeed, too much cleaning action can cause some rebounding effect, causing your skin to ramp up oils production to combat dryness.
However, hard cleaners are just a part of the problem. When winter approaches, few things can be as enticing to fight off the cold as a hot bath or a shower. Yet the dry indoor and winter air are a bad mix for your skin. Both are dehydrating and can cause your skin to itch.
Overexfoliating with mechanical scrubs
Especially when your skin is feeling dull or dry, it is easy to overuse exfoliation scrubs. In the long run, it is highly damaging to buff away too much of your top skin layer. Exfoliation can cause tiny tears in the skin and damage the skin’s normal skin barrier. In other words, you are buffing away the protective barrier that your skin has. Once removed, the skin is exposed to environmental toxins and sun damage, causing aging.
Still, in moderation, exfoliation is essential. You can try a chemical exfoliant made with acids like AHA and/or BHA, instead of a physical scrub. Only use these for a few times a week.
Picking Your Face Or Popping Pimples
This can be a tough habit to break. When you oft keep touching your skin with unclean hands, this can quickly transfer bacteria and dirt to your skin. You cause damage and create irritation, scars, and wrinkles every time you pick or pull on your skin.
When you have acne, you will only aggravate the situation if you pick at your zit, because then you transfer bacteria from your fingers to the rest of your skin, in the process making your acne even worse than it is. Do your best to break this habit, in our current health situation, it has additional benefits not to constantly touch your face.
Skipping Sunscreen
It would seem that anyone who cares about a youthful appearance and staying healthy has understood the value of sunscreen. But while a lot of us use UV protection even in the city on sunny days and not just on the beach, many will still forget about sunscreen on cloudy or rainy days.
UV light causes harm by penetrating deep into the skin. It damages DNA, destroys collagen and depletes the outer layer of essential nutrients like vitamin A.
UV exposure also results in wrinkles, discoloration of the skin and aging over time, adding years to your appearance. You need to make sure you use sunscreen properly for it to effectively protect your skin from damage. For a start, look for a sunscreen that provides wide-spectrum protection, meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreens with a higher sun protection factor (SPF) will block a higher percentage of UVB rays. An SPF 45 sunscreen, for example, filters out about 99 percent. You need to make sure to reapply the sunscreen evenly and regularly.
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