Skin
1. You’re using the wrong cleanser. Does your skin have a squeaky-clean feeling after you splash away your face wash? You may be overdrying your complexion by stripping away its natural moisture. Only the oiliest skin types should use foaming cleansers or washes with scrubbing beads. If your skin is dry (and most of us get drier as we age), choose a moisturizing cream cleanser. Combination skin can handle a little bit of lather, but opt for a gentle formula that won’t irritate dry patches.
2. You’re sleeping on your side or stomach. Just like making the same facial expression over and over can lead to lines, squashing your face against a pillow night after night can cause what dermatologists call “sleep wrinkles.” If you can’t retrain your body, try minimizing the damage with a satin pillowcase or a wrinkle-preventing pillow such as the Juverest, which has a design that reduces the contact your face makes with the pillow.
3.. You’re forgetting to apply sunscreen under your eyes. Applying too close to the eyes can be painful, especially when sweat causes sunscreen to travel, but the skin around the eye is actually the thinnest on the body. “It also happens to be a common site for non-melanoma, sun-induced skin cancers, like basal cell carcinomas,” says dermatologist Dr. Fayne L. Frey, MD. Since many formulas contain fragrances that irritate the eyes, Dr. Frey suggests applying a fragrance-free sunscreen stick or balm around the eyes that are formulated with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
4. You’re over-exfoliating. Exfoliation helps skin layers turn over faster, which can make your complexion look younger and more glowing, but too much exfoliation messes with the skin’s barrier, causing it to lose moisture and even be more susceptible to redness and acne. It’s easy to overdo it when you’re using a mechanical exfoliant, such as a scrub or washcloth. Instead, opt for a weekly gentle-strength chemical exfoliant or peel, which loosens dead skin cells using an acid (glycolic, salicylic, lactic) or enzyme. Always moisturize and use sunscreen after exfoliating, and avoid scrubs made with particles such as seeds or crushed shells; these exfoliants have jagged edges that create microscopic tears in the skin.
5. You’re neglecting your neck. Our necks are exposed to the same aging effects as our faces the skin there is similarly sensitive and sees sunlight almost year-round (turtlenecks notwithstanding). When applying your moisturizer and SPF, don’t stop at the jawline.
6. You’re washing your face wrong. “Many people are confused about the correct way to cleanse their skin,” says celebrity dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD. “Whether you are in your teens, 20s or have mature skin, the basics are the same: To avoid irritation, stay away from scrubbing grains, abrasive pads/washcloths, alcohol-based toners and astringents. These can disturb the normal skin pH and produce inflammation and dryness that will age and damage the skin.”
7. You’re relying on the SPF in your makeup. Unless you’re really caking on the coverage, the sunscreen in your makeup isn’t enough to protect your skin from the sun. “It would require seven times the normal amount of foundation to provide enough coverage, so it’s important to wear a separate moisturizer that offers SPF protection,” says Dr. Howard Sobel, dermatologist and founder of DDF Skincare. Layer a lightweight liquid sunscreen under your makeup and double up on protection with an SPF foundation or BB cream.
8. You’re washing with hot water. Whether you’re showering in it, splashing it on your face, or rinsing your hands with it, hot water strips your skin of its natural oils and leaves it parched. Rinse with warm or cool water instead.
9. You’re using mineral oil-based moisturizers. Lip balms and moisturizers made with mineral oil or petrolatum don’t get absorbed; instead they create an occlusive barrier on skin’s surface. This helps trap moisture in, but doesn’t hydrate skin that’s already parched. Instead, try a product with hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or even an oil, all of which penetrate skin to moisturize beyond the surface.
10. You’re using expired sunscreen. Sunscreen’s shelf life is three years. After that time, ingredients start to separate and become less effective. Not sure if the tube in the back of your drawer makes the cut? Look for the new Drug Facts label, which has been required since late 2011 and means your SPF is less than two years old.
11. You’re falling asleep with your makeup on. “The more you sleep while wearing your makeup, the greater the damage there is to your skin,” says dermatologist Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, NY. “Our skin, like the rest of our body, functions on the circadian rhythm. At night the skin’s most important function is to renew itself. Wearing makeup and foundation at night prevents the renewal process, causing damage to the skin.”
12. You’re not tending to your skin type. Don’t just settle for any old cleansing, toning, and moisturizing routine—addressing your specific skin type and concerns is a must, because using the wrong products for your skin can exacerbate the problems you already have. Pay close attention to what you’re buying, and really choose your products carefully rather than sticking to that same so-so cleanser you’ve been snagging at the CVS checkout counter for years.
13. You’re washing your face too frequently. Once in the morning, once at night may even be too much for some people, and forget about any more than that. Unless you’re working out, there’s no reason to wash your face with the full-on cleanser and water routine more than once a day, in the evening. It’s super important to get rid of makeup and the day’s grime each night, but in the morning, your skin is fresh from a night of sleep, not dirty. Splash with water and follow with moisturizer instead, or use a micellar water for an extra clean feeling.
14. You’re not getting enough sleep. Your quality of life—and whether or not you’re taking good care of yourself—really shows on your face, which is why dull, dry skin is often the result of bad sleeping habits. Your skin needs beauty sleep (!) to rejuvenate itself, and getting an inadequate number of hours can wreak havoc on your complexion.
15. You’re drying out your skin with too many acne treatments. Over-treating is very real, and bringing out the big guns on breakouts isn’t always the best thing for your skin. Acne-fighting ingredients are intended to dry out blemishes, but using too much or using them too frequently can cause the opposite reaction and dry skin out to the point that it begins to overproduce oil. Limit yourself to one application in the morning beneath makeup and one at night, and stick to one treatment rather than layering or experimenting.
16. You’re picking at your skin. Well, duh—picking, squeezing, and popping is the nemesis of your complexion. Attacking a zit can even turn a pretty minor breakout into a permanent problem. We know that keeping your hands away from your face is easier said than done, but keep the negative long-term effects in mind. If you have a whitehead that looks like it needs to be addressed, use a Q-tip to squeeze rather than your hands to limit the likelihood of bacteria entering the wound when your skin is trying to heal.
17. You’re using dirty makeup brushes. Dirty makeup tools are the perfect breeding ground for potentially detrimental bacteria that can lead to acne, irritation, and even more serious conditions like eye infections. We’re the first to admit that cleaning your brushes is a hassle, but it’s maybe the most important thing you can do to keep your skin from succumbing to problem-causing bacteria in Breakout City.
18. You’re not eating right. What goes into your body shows on your skin, and subsisting off a diet of junk food and Diet Coke isn’t going to give you the radiant, glowing, fresh as a daisy complexion you so desire. We’re not saying you shouldn’t treat yourself once in a while, but maintaining a relatively clean diet that focuses on healthy fruits and vegetables is key for keeping skin flawless.
19. You don’t really know what you’re putting on your skin. The ingredients list is there for a reason—check it! The truth is that brands can put anything they want into their products, and some are less cautious than others. Unfortunately, there’s a wealth of ingredients out there that will do way more harm than good, so educate yourself on what works for your skin and what doesn’t.
20. You’re trying to scrub away pimples. It can be tempting to try and buff away raised breakouts, but you’ll only wear away the top layer of the skin, resulting in more breakouts. It’s a vicious cycle, so treat your skin gently.
21. You’re only wearing SPF in the summer. Word to the wise: get into the habit of applying sunscreen each and every day. Sun protection isn’t just important for preserving the quality of your skin and preventing premature aging, but there are real health concerns that go hand in hand with sun damage. Cloudy, rainy, cold, snowy, what have you—you’re not safe from the sun in any weather, so sunscreen is a non-negotiable.
22. You’re not moisturizing properly. Too much moisturizer, too little moisturizer, not moisturizing at all—each of these variables can affect your skin for the worse. Skin can only absorb so much moisture, so slathering on tons of cream will cause clogged pores since the product is just sitting on top of your skin. Even if you have oily skin, moisturizer is a must: drying out your skin only results in more oil production, so it’s important to replace the moisture you’ve lost from washing no matter your skin type.
23. You’re washing your face without removing makeup. Some cleansers are meant for makeup removal as well as deep cleansing, but others are meant to cleanse the skin after you’ve removed your makeup. Using a makeup remover first ensures your cleanest skin possible, as you’re less likely to leave residue behind—and you’ll avoid rubbing makeup further into your pores as you cleanse.
24. You’re working out with makeup on. No judgement—we all like to present a united front, even at the gym—but working out with a full face of foundation is a good way to accumulate clogged pores and irritation. There’s also the fact that using your hand to wipe away sweat from your face mixes perspiration and makeup, which certainly won’t do your skin any favors. If you must wear makeup to the gym, opt for a non-comedogenic tinted moisturizer and a dab of concealer where necessary.
25. You’re washing your face before your hair in the shower. Many ingredients in conditioner can cause clogged pores if it touches your face, so if you’re noticing breakouts around the hairline, sides of your face, or neck, your conditioner could very well be the culprit. Instead, switch up your showering routine and wash your face after you’ve rinsed out your conditioner to ensure it won’t linger on your skin.
26. You’re not exfoliating enough. There’s a delicate balance between exfoliating too much, exfoliating too little, and exfoliating just right. Your skin type should indicate how frequently you exfoliate—super sensitive types can get away with a scrubdown once a week, while oily complexions can stand to do it every other day. The buildup of dead skin cells can result in dull, sad-looking skin, so if you start to notice your skin becoming a little lackluster, it may be high time for some exfoliation.
27. You’re not putting on enough sunscreen. Sunscreen should not be used sparingly, regardless of where you’re applying it. A thin layer isn’t enough to sufficiently protect the skin from the sun, so be sure you’re generous with your application.
28. You’re using alcohol-based toners. Using alcohol topically can wreak havoc on your skin: in toner, it’s responsible for that tight feeling that’s often mistaken for just being really, really clean. Not so! Alcohol is so drying, so even if you have oily skin, avoid it at all costs—zapping your skin of moisture will only result in more oil.
29. You’re touching your face. Your hands accumulate an alarming amount of grime each day, and touching your face transfers that dirt and bacteria to your skin, clogging pores and causing breakouts. It’s a good general rule to keep your hands off, whether you’re picking at something (don’t!) or just leaning your face on your hands.
30. You’re not washing your sheets and pillowcases often enough. Bedding that’s been slept on one too many times is a guaranteed way to cause breakouts and clogged pores, due in part to the fact that the oils from your skin and hair are lingering on the fabric night after night. You’re then exposing that grime to your face for hours, where it has the opportunity to work its way into your pores.
31. You think you’re too young for anti-aging products. While there’s no need to bring out the big anti-aging guns at 25, using anti-aging skin care can never hurt. Prevention is key.
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