You spend big bucks on skincare products to keep yourself looking youthful and blemish-free. But you may be guilty of a bad habit that’s sabotaging your beauty regime.
Yes, you may be damaging your skin daily by doing some of the most harmful “don’ts” to your delicate skin. Your skin is like a sponge, so whatever you do will have lasting effects. Skincare doesn’t have to be complex or costly. But it should involve habits that keep it healthy and glowing. Here are the five biggest sins of skincare. Thou shalt not:
1) Pop pimples. It’s tempting, but avoid it all costs. You are wounding your skin, then spreading bacteria and making the pimple worse by pushing that bacteria back inside the pore. And you could be leaving a nasty scar behind.
TIP: If you must pop, use a hot compress first to bring the pus to the surface. Pop using clean fingers, and immediately wash your face when the deed is done. Better yet,use a zit extraction tool. Or, better still, let a dermatologist or esthetician do the job.
2) Worship the sun. Exposing your skin to the sun’s harsh UV rays can cause premature aging, lines, wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skintone, damaged skin collagen and skin elastin and — even scarier — skin cancer. ”Sun exposure is the cause of up to 80 percent of premature aging,” says senior therapist Katherine Bell in a MSN article. “Whilst we often see the effects of the UVB rays through reddening on the skin, the UVA rays often don’t show themselves until later in life. These rays have an effect on the deeper layers of our skin where our collagen and elastin are found, and it’s collagen and elastin that help to keep our skin firm and plump.” Think Donatella Versace’s leathery look.
TIP: Wear at least SPF 15 sunscreen daily, and don’t avoid reapplying because a product promises to be waterproof, sweatproof or even “long-lasting.” Sunblock is just like any other product – it wears off your skin during the day.
3) Forget your neck and chest. A tell-tale sign of aging in many women is the appearance of their neck and chest skin. “The skin on your neck can be thinner and more sensitive than the skin on your face and just as prone to changes in pigment, elasticity, and texture ― and, yes, to wrinkles,” cautions an article in Real Simple.
TIP: Skincare doesn’t stop at your face. A separate neck and chest cream is not necessary. Anything that goes on your face should be applied under your chin as well.
4) Get dehydrated. Water is a primary ingredient of skin. It will plump your skin, hiding fine lines and wrinkles. It also clears your body of the bacteria and impurities that cause pimples. Lack of water leaves skin dry, itchy and flaky.
TIP: The old adage to drink eight glasses of water a day doesn’t necessarily ring true anymore. But water is important for your health. Use the color of your urine as a guide to whether or not you’re drinking enough.
5) Put harsh chemicals on your face. If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true. Often products tout a “mystery” formula, like a “secret” ingredient, miracle breakthrough or guaranteed cure. This often means chemicals. Chemicals can be harsh on germs and bacteria, but absolutely brutal on your face and skin.
TIP: Only use natural skincare products. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t put it on your face.