We all want clear, healthy skin but unfortunately, many of the habits and routines we think are ‘essential’ are in fact doing our skin more harm than good.
Here are some of the worst (and most common) skincare mistakes people make all the time and how you can avoid these to improve your complexion.
1. You don’t wash your face before bed
| Excuse | I'm tired and it's too much effort |
| Problem | Dirt and oils build up throughout the day and need to be flushed to avoid build-ups that bacteria and microbes feed on. Your skin will breathe easy and recover from the day's exposure. |
| Solution |
It only takes two minutes and if you don’t, we're sure you’ll be spending a lot more time later trying to fix the appearance of your skin. Start with a warm water rinse to loosen debris and dirt, then apply a gentle organic face wash that gives your skin the boost it needs and balances your complexion before bed. Wash with cold water to tighten skin and apply a drop or two of sunflower or coconut oil before bed to prevent drying out. |
2. You wash your skin ALL the time
| Logic | You can never be too clean right? Besides, didn’t you just tell me to wash my face before bed? |
| Problem |
Like most things in life, balance is key. Excess washing dries out skin and can aggravate conditions such as eczema. On the flip side, it can also trigger an overproduction of sebum that leads to oily skin, blackheads and acne breakouts |
| Solution | Wash your face no more than twice a day, morning and night. It removes any build-up during the day and lets your skin find its natural balance. |
3. You exfoliate with too much force
| Logic | The harder I scrub, the more dead skin cells I will remove. |
| Problem |
Wrong. Your face is not a block of wood that needs sanding. Scrubbing too hard damages healthy skin tissue and will leave your skin feeling raw and sensitive. It can also cause micro tears and abrasions that will leave your skin red and irritated and lengthen the time needed to for skin to recover. |
| Solution |
When it comes to exfoliating its not about how hard you scrub but for how long you scrub for. Rather than a short hard scrub, aim for gentle exfoliation for over a minute. Use upward circular motions and be delicate around soft skin near the eyes and let the ingredients do the work instead of the force of your hands.
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4. You use products filled with harmful chemicals
| Logic | Big-name brands spend millions developing these products so it must be good for my skin right? |
| Problem |
The truth is, most companies care more about their profits than they do your skin. They focus on fancy packaging, air-brushed models with perfect skin and other marketing gimmicks to make you think you’re getting the best quality products. In reality, they often use as little of the effective natural ingredients that actually work as they can get away with. That can be as little as 1%. The other 99% is made up of cheap thickeners, volumizers, artificial chemicals, colors and fragrance that has no real benefit for your skin at all. That junk also gets absorbed directly by your skin and can cause you a lot of problems. Read more here. |
| Solution |
Read your labels, keep it simple and use natural organic products and ingredients that give your skin the nutrients it needs with none of the harmful junk. If you’re looking for a quality face wash that works, check out our shop for our range of handmade cold-processed organic face washes that are 100% vegan and cruelty free. With a 60-day money back guarantee you really have nothing to lose. You'll also get 15% off your entire first order - pretty sweet right? |
5. You use products that suffocate skin
| Logic | I thought only some make-ups did that? |
| Problem |
It’s not just make-up but many lotions and serums that are filled with comedogenic ingredients (substances that block pores and prevent skin from breathing naturally). This means toxins, dirt and oils build up in your skin, leading to blackheads, breakouts and an overall dull and blemished appearance to your skin. |
| Solution |
Try natural alternatives to lotions such as sunflower, argan or almond oil. It may take a few days to find the right volumes to apply on your skin (usually a drop or two) but once you do, you’ll notice how much fresher your skin feels and looks. |
6. Your shower temperature is too high
| Reason | Who doesn’t love a long hot shower on a cold winters day? Or any other day for that matter. |
| Problem | Using excessively hot (above 110F / 43C) can strip your skin and hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and delicate. It might feel good but it won’t be a good look for your skin in the long term. |
| Solution |
Ideally the water should be just above lukewarm. If your skin is getting red or you feel a bit stifled, it’s probably too hot. Try shorter showers till you adjust to cooler water and splash your face with some cold water after you’re done to tighten your skin before bed. |
7. You try several treatments at once
| Reason | I need results FAST - so the more products I use the faster I'll get them. |
| Problem |
The fact is, skin takes time to adjust to new treatments and is influenced by a lot more than whatever skincare product you are using. Be patient and give it at least 6 weeks to see if helps before making a change. Mixing products and routines could also make the skin worse, especially if you are using artificial solutions that are being absorbed by your skin and could react with each other. |
| Solution |
Keep a regular routine and do not mix products so you can see which one is working best for you. Stick to one face wash, one exfoliator, one lotion etc. at a time. |
8. Touching your face too much
| Reason | Most of us have a subconscious habit of touching our faces when we are bored or idle. We also tend to over ‘examine’ our face whenever we see the slightest imperfection. |
| Problem |
Think about all the places your hand comes in contact with aside from the obvious places like the bathroom. Think sink sponge, kitchen towels, shoes, food items etc. We don't always wash our hands after each (and should be careful not to over sanitize anyway) but that bacteria and grime wasn’t meant to spread onto your face either. |
| Solution |
Work on being conscious of when you touch your face most often - at your school lecture, at your work desk or when you are stressed and cut down the contact where you do it the most. If you crack it here, chances are you'll be doing it less elsewhere as well. If your hands get fidgety try using a stress-ball or hand massager for some instant stress relief and something to keep your hands occupied. |
9. Not changing pillow cases often enough
| Excuse | Isn’t once a month enough? I don’t sweat that much and they look pretty clean. |
| Problem |
If you sleep 8 hours a day your face is on your pillow for 56 hours a week. Think how many dead skin cells, sweat and oil residues from your products builds up during the month. Microbes and bacteria that feast on these and can spread back to your skin. |
| Solution |
Rotate your pillow covers every 2 weeks and give it a soak in hot water to keep it fresh and clean. A great tip is to flip your blanket and pillow each morning so it can air out and stay fresh for longer. |
10. Not cleaning makeup brushes
| Excuse | I thought brushes apply makeup, not collect dirt from my skin. |
| Problem | Unfortunately, it’s a two-way street. Brushes collect bacteria, skin oils and cells and trap them in the brush where bacteria colonies can thrive. This can lead to acne breakouts, rashes and bad reactions, particularly if your skin is sensitive. |
| Solution |
Gently wash your brushes in warm soapy water after every 2-3 uses and let them air dry to prevent bacteria build-ups. |
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