Let’s face it: we put our skin through a lot every day! The sun, the sweat, the pollutants, the way you rub your eyes really hard. It would seem as though in the barrage of daily skin damage, any skincare is better than none at all. To an extent, that’s true. However, there are a lot of ways that your skincare routine could be damaging your skin, rather than healing it.
You don’t use sunscreen.
This is probably old news to you. But if it’s not, it’s never too late to learn! UV radiation is a key factor in aging, sagging, wrinkled, mottled, and fine lines in skin. (You can read in-depth about this here! The more you know, the better.) There are a lot of ways to heal the damage done by the sun, but an even better solution is to prevent the problem before it happens. In short: wear sun protection. Regular old broad-spectrum does the trick just fine. If you’re looking for some other options, you can browse here for information on all the different types. (Broad-spectrum is key!)
You don’t exfoliate enough--or you exfoliate too much.
Exfoliation in the right amounts (and with the right products) is hugely beneficial to your skin. It sloughs off dead skin cells, dirt, grime, and excess oils. This sounds great, right? So great, you might want to do it every day. Except, don’t do that, please. Over-exfoliation causes skin sensitivity, more susceptibility to sun damage, irritation, dryness, and inflammation. Under-exfoliation creates dullness in the skin, acne, oily buildup, traps toxins, and signs of aging. But exfoliation in the right increments helps your skin stay plump, smooth, healthy, clean, and even-toned. A few times a week, depending on your preferred method and skin type, should do the trick!
You don’t wash off your makeup before bed.
We’ve all done it. After a long day, we come home and flop into bed with a book. We understand. Sometimes even the simple task of changing into your pajamas seems like an excessive effort, let alone make it to the sink and take off your makeup! Let these facts be the motivation you need to take off all that glam before you hit the hay.
Letting your makeup sit on your skin overnight is not only unhealthy--it’s dangerous. Your skin breathes and rejuvenates overnight. (After all, it finally has some time away from the sun!) Makeup inhibits the skin from healing itself by trapping toxins, dead cells, and allergens. It ages your skin by not allowing moisture in (or out) and holding onto the grime of the day.
An evening skincare routine seems like a lot of effort, especially on a dreary Monday. However, that effort is well worth it in the long run. Once you make a habit of treating your skin well, it will reward you with glowing results.
You have a skincare routine, but it’s in the wrong order.
Skincare kits and routines are designed to provide your skin with the benefits of every product. No matter how great your products are, using them in the wrong order can cancel out the good effects. For example, let’s say you cleanse, tone, moisturize your skin. Next, you follow with a healthy dose of weekly exfoliation. As you already know, exfoliation is great--but you just scrubbed out all the magic your previous products were trying to bestow upon your skin. The right steps depend on what skincare products you’re using, so do some research. (We repeat: the more you know, the better!)
You don’t wash the things that touch your face enough.
We kept this category broad because there are lots of things that touch your face. Makeup brushes, pillowcases, your hands, glasses, and more are all included here. Dirty makeup brushes are infamous for having gross and downright unhealthy effects on your skin. A pillowcase in need of a wash is just as detrimental. As for your hands, try to avoid touching your face throughout the day. (And wash them, please.) Anything that touches your face should be kept clean and gentle. Practicing some new hygiene habits will make a big difference in your skin. (You can’t hear it, but your skin is already thanking you.)
At Keelyn Grace, we want all of our customers to have the healthiest, most beautiful skin possible. Our products, as well as our informative blog, are meant to help you do just that!