Strengthening your skin barrier and achieving radiant, youthful skin is a dream for all of us. There are countless recommended care products and routines to achieve this. Therefore, you may be unknowingly weakening your skin barrier and experiencing a variety of skin problems due to mistakes you believe are right. While the right skincare routine varies depending on many factors, such as skin type, age, and lifestyle habits, the mistakes are fundamentally the same.
Let’s take a closer look at the most common mistakes in skin care and how to avoid them!
1. Washing the face too often.
It’s a fact that proper skin care comes from establishing a regular, thorough cleansing routine. However, overwashing your face falls far short of providing the cleansing your skin needs. Unnecessary face washing not only dries out your skin but also weakens the skin barrier, opening the door to new problems. Generally, thoroughly washing your face twice a day, morning and evening, is sufficient to maintain your skin’s pH level and maintain healthy skin. Of course, it’s also crucial to avoid using soaps and products that aren’t suitable for your skin type.
2. Not knowing your skin type very well.
Speaking of skin type, another common problem stems from not knowing your skin type well or using products that aren’t suitable for it. This is because skincare formulas are tailored to different skin types, such as oily, combination, and normal. Because each skin type has different needs, choosing the wrong product can be more harmful than beneficial. Considering that even different parts of the face exhibit different skin types, it’s crucial to be mindful of the products you choose.
3. Laziness
Masks are essential to any skincare routine. However, products designed to remain on the face for extended periods, such as masks, are often removed prematurely out of laziness. This means the ingredients haven’t had enough time to interact with the skin, rendering them ineffective. Similarly, prolonging the time can sometimes exacerbate dryness and irritation. Therefore, it’s important to apply each product according to its individual instructions.
4. Skipping sunscreen.
While sunscreens are often found in our closets during the summer months, these products, which strengthen the skin’s barrier, should be used year-round. Harmful UV rays from the sun are effective both in summer and winter and significantly damage the skin. Therefore, not adding sunscreen to your daily care routine can trigger many skin problems, such as sagging, premature aging, and blemishes.
5. Touching the face too often.
Unconsciously touching your face too much throughout the day means you’re transferring dirt and bacteria to your face. In some cases, this simple habit can be the root cause of many skin problems, including acne, uneven texture, and inflammation. Therefore, keeping your hands away from your face is beneficial in every way.
6. Sleeping without removing makeup.
Most makeup products are designed to stay on the skin for extended periods of time. Therefore, leaving makeup on can lead to numerous problems, including pore blockages. While makeup may be light and natural-looking, sleeping without removing it prevents the skin from breathing for extended periods. This can lead to numerous problems, including blackheads, acne, and weakened collagen. Therefore, one of the most important steps in daily skincare is to always thoroughly remove makeup before going to bed.
7. Incorrectly adjusting the peeling dose.
Exfoliation is crucial for deeply cleansing the skin, removing dead skin cells, and rejuvenating the skin. However, both too little and too much exfoliation are actually harmful. Inadequate exfoliation can lead to clogged pores and accelerated skin aging, while over-exfoliation damages the skin’s sebum production and can lead to problems like irritation and dryness. Therefore, it’s crucial to avoid using exfoliating products more than twice a week.
8. Using products incorrectly.
There are a variety of different skin care products available. Each product has its own unique ingredients, textures, and effects, requiring different application methods. Therefore, to get the most out of every product included in your skincare routine, proper application is essential. For example, gently rubbing creams and oils into the skin, gently moving them around the eyes, and avoiding direct application of products that will be warmed in your hand are just a few tips.
9. Ordering products incorrectly.
Just like using products incorrectly, using them in the wrong order is also quite harmful. The interaction between some formulas on the skin can be affected by the products used before and after. Sometimes, combining two different formulas can lead to an undesirable reaction and, consequently, unwanted skin problems. To avoid this problem, it’s important to correctly sequence your skincare products, allowing the necessary time between each application. A general rule of thumb is cleanser, toner, serum, care oil, and cream.
10. Thinking that oily skin doesn’t need moisture.
Healthy, radiant skin owes its power to moisture. However, those with combination or oily skin may hesitate to use moisturizer. However, oily skin also needs extra moisture. This moisture simply needs to be met with the right products and formulas. The best products for this step are lightweight, oil-free, water-based formulas.
The multitude of skin care products is confusing. With dozens of categories, brands, and product lines on the market, choosing the right one is no easy feat. Adding budget to the equation can lead to very poor product choices. Skin problems can quickly escalate due to inauthentic, low-quality formulas. Therefore, no matter what the product, thoroughly researching the products used and only purchasing from reputable platforms is a crucial step
