The human skin might seem durable, but it’s very sensitive and if you don’t have a #healthyskincare routine, you can easily damage it without even knowing. Which does beg the question, what mistakes are most of us making when it comes to our #dailyskincareroutine? Well, let’s find out!
1. Using the same moisturizer for night and day
One thing to consider here is that you can’t use the same moisturizer for daytime and nighttime. This is a big no-no. There are moisturizers that have SPF built-in, and that makes them ideal for day time use. However, at night you should choose a thicker, heavier cream. That’s extremely important to keep in mind if you want to use the right moisturizer.
But finding the right product for your skin is only half the battle. Like anything else in life, it’s all about your delivery.
While working at Spa Sciences I was introduced to a game-changing product that seriously took my morning and evening skincare routine to a whole new level. It was my first week of work, and one day my boss walked over to my desk with a handful of products in hand. And like mana from the God’s, the first thing he hands me is the ISLA *release the doves and que the singing angels*. The ISLA is Spa Science's answer to the health and beauty industry's outcry for a skincare revolution. It’s the world’s first and only sonic face and body contouring ice and heat roller, and comes with detachable, medical-grade stainless steel treatment globes. I'll be writing even more about the ISLA soon, don't you worry!
2. Not cleaning your phone screen
Your phone is filled with bacteria, and you’re touching it many times during the day. A research firm known as Dscout reported that the typical person touches their phone around 2,617 times a day! BUT that's just the average user. The study found that extreme cellphone users — meaning the top 10% — touch their phones more than 5,400 times daily (omg, what?)! That’s why you need to clean your phone at least a few times a day. If you are the kind of person who is always on the go, then using a makeup or disinfectant wipe will help you keep the bacteria off your phone and away from your face.
3. Sleeping with your makeup on
Your cosmetics can be very problematic for your skin. A night of sleeping in your makeup can take a serious toll on your “poor pores'' (come on, that was fun to say and you know it, lol).
Microcomedones are the very beginning of an acne lesion. They occur when the sebaceous duct and corresponding pore opening become blocked by excess sebum and dead skin cells. This is also what attracts acne-causing bacteria to your pores. No, thank you!
4. Not washing those makeup brushes
If this last year has taught us anything at all, it is that we need to be more aware that increased hygiene is key. For those of you that don’t think cleaning your makeup brushes is that big of a deal, I’ve got news for you...dirty brushes can wreak absolute havoc on the skin.
Think about the very function of the brush you are using on your face. It’s designed to collect and hold your makeup until you apply it to your face, right? Well, it definitely does that, and more. In addition to collecting copious amounts of product residue, dirt and oil from your skin, makeup brushes are a breeding ground for complexion killing bacteria. If you haven’t been as diligent as you should’ve been cleaning your brushes, and have noticed your skin has been acting up more than usual in the form of acne breakouts or even unexplained rashes, this is a good indicator that your complexion might be compromised. See what happens when you get lazy?! This is why we can’t have nice things !
It doesn’t stop there, either. Dirty makeup brushes can also cause far more serious infections, such as fungal infections, E. coli and staph infections, and more. These types of infections can quickly become very serious threats to your health.
I think that is one of the things I love most about working for Spa Sciences. They truly are a revolutionary company in that they always seem to be one step ahead of everyone else, and constantly on the lookout for any and every foreseeable issue their customers might encounter, and using their creative minds to brainstorm hacks that bypass these issues altogether.
Let’s look at the dirty makeup brush issue we talked about. Spa Sciences saw this issue, and responded with an Antimicrobial Sonic Makeup Brush with MicroDust™ Technology...they gave us the ECHO. And with the ECHO came the antimicrobial LIFE protection of this makeup brush, meaning it guards against 99% of the types of bacteria known to grow on other cosmetic brush heads. Now you can blend and buff your mug like the best of them to achieve that flawless, airbrushed quality. So you don’t feel like being bothered to take even more time out of your hectic day to clean makeup brushes, even if it is for the sake of your skin’s health. If we were any other brand, we would tell you that having to constantly clean your makeup brushes so that your skin doesn’t take a hit
But, to protect your skin and kill any harmful bacteria that lingers in your regular makeup brushes, it’s a good idea to wash your brushes every 7 to 10 days.
To clean your makeup brushes, dermatologists recommend the following tips:
- Rinse the tips of your brushes under lukewarm, running water to remove residual makeup. Only rinse the tip, as submerging the whole brush head will eventually dissolve the glue that connects the brush head to the handle.
- Fill a bowl with lukewarm water and a tablespoon of either gentle shampoo or clarifying shampoo. Using plain soap and water can dry out the bristles.
- Swirl each brush tip in the bowl. For a good lather, you can also massage each brush tip in the palm of your hand.
- Rinse the brush tips under running water.
- Continue shampooing and rinsing each brush until the water runs clear from the brush.
- Squeeze out excess moisture with a clean, dry paper towel.
- Lay your brushes flat to dry on a towel with the tips hanging off the edge of the counter. Do not dry your brushes upright in a container, as this will cause the water to run down the brushes, loosening the glue that connects the brush head with the handle.
At a time when skin infections are on the rise, never share your makeup brushes with anyone else, and wash them often.
5. Not staying properly hydrated
Proper hydration is crucial for keeping your skin healthy and happy. Adequate hydration levels help the skin plumpen itself up, and improves its elasticity, making it less likely to crack, become irritated, or develop blemishes.
Now, if you’re sitting there wondering how much fluid an average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate needs in a day to stay hydrated, I’ve got the answer for you. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluid a day for men, and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
What other things does drinking enough water do for your skin? Well, drinking enough water will also improve your skin’s tone. When you are maintaining sufficient hydration levels, you are also helping your body flush out toxins, which in turn gives you healthier skin. Researchers say that drinking just two cups of water [1] can increase blood flow to your skin, giving it a nice, even tone.
Because the benefits of drinking water, both for your skin AND your overall health, are both vast and many, check back next week for an entire post dedicated solely to discussing the that role water plays in our skin’s health!
6. Not changing your pillowcase often enough
When we neglect to launder or regularly change our pillowcases, they can accumulate vast amounts of dirt and oil from our environment, as well as all the unwanted stuff left behind from our own skin and hair as it touches the pillow while we sleep at night. These things begin to build up in the fibers of the fabric when we fail to change out our pillowcases over time, and are eventually transferred back to our skin as it makes contact with the soiled fabric. When this happens, it can clog our pores, resulting in blemishes. Just stop to consider how much time your face spends in direct contact with your pillowcase...for many people, we are talking about the better part of eight hours every night!
In fact, just this year, Dr. Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC, a double board-certified dermatologist, stated in an article he wrote for facingacne.com, that, in some cases, diminishing troublesome acne is just a matter of remembering to change your pillowcases.
If you are wondering how often you should be changing out your pillowcases, the answer really depends on the fabric and the individual skin or health issues you have, as these may affect how frequently you are supposed to change the pillowcase. However, the general consensus amongst medical professionals is that you should be changing out your pillowcase every 2 days if you are a reasonably healthy individual. For those of you with skin or health issues, however, it is actually recommended that you change your pillowcase EVERY DAY! Like you do your clothes! If you are stubborn enough to think you can just “turn the other cheek” and ignore the direct link between your dirty pillowcase and that sudden, stubborn, lingering bout of acne you can’t seem to get under control, then sadly, even the best #correctiveskincare routine won’t be good enough to help your skin woes!
If you won’t do it for your skin, then perhaps consider doing it for your overall health. A dirty pillowcase harbors tons of bacteria in addition to a buildup of dead skin, dirt, oils and sweat, which all become embedded in the fibers of your pillowcases fabric. GAG. A lot of people don’t actually know it, but their hair holds more dirt in it than anywhere else on our entire bodies (I tend to think of the human head as being a lot like a giant makeup brush because it collects dirt the same way our makeup brushes collect product).
Studies show that 99% of people have allergens in their bedroom, such as dust mites, and 74.2% of people have three to six allergens in their bedroom, which contribute to allergies and illnesses to those susceptible to them. By not taking care of your pillowcase, you are subjecting yourself to particles that can get into your respiratory system and not only trigger an issue for people like asthmatics, but also other forms of illness noone wants to deal with, asthma or not. And not only that, but anyone with allergies should remember that residual pollen can make its way onto your pillow after it's hitched a ride on your clothes, skin, or in your hair. What this means to the allergy sufferer is that they are going to be breathing in that allergen all night long, creating a situation in which that person’s allergies are exacerbated significantly.
Lastly, It is important to mention that if you do decide to follow through and change your pillowcase out every couple of days, when you go to wash the dirty ones, make sure you do not use any fabric softener or dryer sheets, as these are known to leave a waxy residue on your pillowcase that is notorious for clogging pores! This even applies to the fragrance-free softeners, as it is not the fragrance, but rather the softener agents that are the problem for your pores.
7. Using harsh scrubs
When you exfoliate, you may FEEL like you are taking care of your skin, but I regret to inform you that this is not the case. Trust me, I totally understand the appeal of exfoliating. Nothing beats that all over clean, fresh feeling you’re left with after a good, vigorous scrub. The fact that I have naturally very oily skin only makes it that much worse, since the only time I actually don’t feel like I’m a walking grease-bag is just after I’ve extracted all the oil from my skin using a coarse sugar exfoliate.
But the truth is, all we are doing when we exfoliate is damaging our skin. All that scrubbing removes the outer layers of skin on your face and bod,. which is actually removing an important barrier between your glands and the world outside of your body. And sure, my skin might feel like it is oil-free for the moment, and that is because, for the moment, it is. However, when we take all of that oil away from the skin on our faces, this effectively stimulates our glands to produce even more oil to compensate for the overly dry skin we’ve just created. The real issue comes into focus when we start talking about routine exfoliation on a daily or weekly basis. What this does is it generates a sort of seesaw effect by creating a cycle of imbalance our skin gets stuck in, swinging back and forth between too oil and too dry.
Rather than using harsh scrubs in vain, it's better to follow a #skincareroutine that works for you. The best skincare routine for your skin is going to be the one that promotes balance. Don’t overdo it with your skincare efforts. Use a gentle, but thorough, cleanser morning and night, remembering that the benefits of your cleanser do not extend beyond two washes a day (hence morning and night). Every time you wash your face, follow it up with a light moisturizer if washing in the morning, and a slightly denser one if washing in the evening.
For many of us, including me, have been conditioned by all the advertisements we’ve seen, and all the product lines that tell us we should be aiming for that dry, clean feeling. But balance and consistency are where it’s at when it comes to your complexion and figuring what works best for you.
8. Not wearing SPF everyday
The use of sunscreen on a daily basis is one of the best, not to mention, the easiest ways, to protect your skin’s appearance and health at any age. When used regularly, sunscreen helps prevent your skin from being sunburnt, helps prevent skin cancer and premature aging. SPF protection is crucial because it defends your skin against the damaging effects of UV rays. Sunscreen blocks these rays, greatly reducing the likelihood of a sunburn. Wearing SPF 30 daily will help lower your risk of skin cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., in addition to preventing premature aging and maintaining an even skin tone. Without this protection, and in the absence of the right #skincareessentials, you are robbing your skin of the vital defenses it needs to keep from being damaged.
9. Not sleeping at least 7 hours per night
So we’ve all been there before. Normally we have fairly decent looking skin, we do our best to keep up with our daily routine, and at the end of the day, we clean up well with a bit of makeup, some time, and the right lighting. And then we ruin it all with one late night out.
Whether you were up all night studying for a big test, working a double, out with the girls getting tore up from the floor up, or you were caring for someone, lose
that one night of sleep, and you’ll see your skin exact its revenge on you when you wake up the next morning looking like the crypt keeper. A study in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found that people who slept seven to nine hours a night had skin that was more moisturized and that could protect and heal itself better after being exposed to ultraviolet light compared to those who slept five hours or less. It’s imperative to get a good night’s sleep if you want to look and feel amazing. This is skincare101, you have to sleep 7 to 9 hours per night to ensure your body, brain and skin all get their required amount of rest. Your skin’s ability to retain moisture, protect and heal all combat the signs of premature again.
Your skin carries out much of its restorative functions while you sleep at night. So you scale back the amount of time you typically give you skin to repair, this can have an impact on the way you look. Your skin cells regenerate more at night! And as your skin’s cells regenerate, they produce the collagen which gives your skin its volume and elasticity. So missing out on your beauty sleep can leave you looking more swollen, with dark circles (racoon eyes), more wrinkles, a change in the look and texture of your skin, and create a much sadder look about you.
10. Changing products too often
Of course it’s never necessary to stick to a specific skincare regimen every a.m. and p.m., but you see most consistent results if you follow a regimen with products regularly. Never take the value of an amazing #dailyskincareroutine that is already working for you for granted. You might find an interesting new product on the market that catches your attention, but you need to take a step back and remember to tell yourself, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it”. In an earlier blog, I wrote about how best to introduce a new skincare product to your daily routine. In that post, we discussed the length of time it took for you to really know if any given product is working with you, or against you.
A safe route to go when it comes to using products on your face, and a method I have stuck with my entire life, is to use one skincare line to make certain the products you are using are working together, in harmony with one another, rather than irritating your skin. Don’t forget that you should always give your body time to react to the ingredients in any product you are using in your skincare lineup. If it’s a basic skincare product like a cleanser or a moisturizer, it’s often best to find a few staples and stick to them. What you want to do is to use a set of products for at least a few months. Then, once you’ve given your body time to adjust to these products and their ingredients, you assess the situation and see what works for you and makes you feel good. Anything that doesn’t seem to be working or just doesn’t really make you feel your best, probably isn't for you.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of mistakes we are likely all guilty of making in our daily lives. But now that we can see how these little oversights can spell big trouble for our skin, it's up to YOU to use what we’ve learned and apply it to our overall approach to healthier, happier skin.
Knowledge is a beautiful thing. And in this case, knowledge could actually be the key to the beautiful skin many of us spend our entire lives pursuing. Maybe it doesn’t need to be so difficult after all. Maybe, just maybe, for you, the answer is as simple as changing your pillowcase, drinking more water every day, or making sure you get to bed a little earlier each night. You’ll never know until you try. Leave no stone unturned!
Until next time, stay beautiful!
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