7 Skincare Mistakes You’re Making (And How to Fix Them)

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With advanced skincare regimens and 10-step Korean skincare routines taking the beauty world by storm, achieving #flawless skin is no doubt the end goal for all beauty lovers. But, as much of a skincare pro you are, you could still be making one of these oh-so-common skincare mistakes. Keep reading to find out the 7 skincare mistakes you’re making and how to fix them so that you can get that glowing skin, like now.

Skincare Mistakes You Have to Avoid

1. Neglecting a good skincare diet

One of the less obvious skincare mistakes: you are what you eat. Ever notice a blemish come through after a weekend of binge eating pizza, candy, and ice cream? Turns out, sugar and high carb foods actually spike inflammation, cause breakouts, and break down collagen. Yikes!

Try this instead: Avoid a high-sugar and heavily greasy diet (aka cut down on the Mickey D’s). Incorporate more whole foods to nourish your skin from the inside out, which includes getting your daily dose of vitamins through fruit and veggies. Most importantly, keep your skin hydrated. Drinking plentiful amounts of water is a key factor for keeping skin hydrated, young, and healthy. If you do have a sweet tooth and prefer getting that sugar fix, ditch the sugar for healthier sweeteners instead. Personally, I love stevia. It takes a few tries to get used to the taste, but once you do, it tastes ah-mazing in coffee, homemade lattes, and more. You can find my personal favorite type of stevia here – it’s called Truvia. (That’s how you can enjoy delicious lattes on the regular – guilt free 😉). And if you don’t like stevia, you can try out a few other natural sweetener options like this 100% raw and unfiltered honey or Blue Agave All Purpose Sweetener.

2. Leaving your makeup on overnight

Worst. Skincare. Mistake. Ever.

Clogged pores, oily skin, (and not to mention ruined pillow cases) prove that all signs point to no-makeup slumbers. In 2013, the Daily Mail conducted an experiment where one woman volunteered to not wash her makeup off for an ENTIRE MONTH, and continued to reapply on top of it every morning. The result: Her skin aged by 10 years.

That’s right. 10 YEARS.

Dirt and makeup trapped in your skin can cause acne, premature aging, complexion issues, and so much more.

We’re so passionate about this one, we did an entire feature on why sleeping with your makeup on overnight is the worst.

Try this instead: Take off ALL of your makeup every single night before you go to bed with a makeup remover (cleanser, oil, or wipe) and be sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin until there’s not residue of makeup left. It might be hard to get into the habit of removing your makeup if it’s not something you’re used to, but trust us – it’s one of the biggest faux pas skincare mistakes you can make.

3. Overdoing it with the skincare routine

It’s so important to have a good skincare routine that incorporates cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing your skin. But just like everything else in this world, you can’t overdo it.

If you’re using your Clarisonic on full force every morning and night, in addition to harshly exfoliating your skin on the daily, your skin won’t be happy. You’ll start to break down your skin’s protective barrier, causing dry skin, as well as potential breakouts due to the exposure.

Try this instead: Cleanse your skin, but don’t overdo it with the exfoliation. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week at most. If your skin is feeling dry and super sensitive, try moisturizing with a light moisturizing face oil. Or, treat your skin to a hydrating mask. Here are some great, easy DIY face masks for glowing and hydrated skin!

4. Touching your face

One of the easiest and most common ways to get a breakout: constantly touching your skin. Your hands naturally carry oils on them, which can easy transfer to the skin of your face when you’re touching it. Between touching your computer keyboard, turning door knobs, and shaking other people’s hands, your hands are also prone to carrying dirt and bacteria – a big no-no for your skin.

Try this instead: Don’t touch your face. And we mean, don’t. If you notice a habit of resting your face on your palm, or dabbing your fingers on your face – be conscious of it and seriously try to avoid it. Be sure to wash your hands on the regular to keep the dirt transfer to a minimum.

5. Not cleaning your cellphone

Before we go into one of the most common skincare mistakes, let’s take a moment to reflect.

Think about all the places your phone has been: kitchen counters, gym floors, restaurant tables and more. Public places, every inch of your home; probably your kitchen, maybe your bathroom? Well, did you know your cell phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat?

Gross. 

We’ve become so immune to bringing our phones with us everywhere, that we forget just how many surfaces it’s touched before placing it upon our beautiful skin…only to experience a breakout shortly after.

Try this instead: Get in the habit of wiping down your phone with a microfiber cloth, or a baby wipe. Just be careful not to damage your phone in the process. Another way to avoid those filthy cellphone germs on your face is to use your headphones to take calls.

6. Avoiding SPF

One of the biggest contributors to aging skin is caused by sun exposure. But even worse, too much unprotected sun exposure can lead to different types of skin cancer, which is why it’s extra important to wear sunscreen before going out into the sun.

Try this instead: Find a moisturizer that has SPF in it that you can apply before wearing your makeup. Or, if you’re spending the day in the sun, find a foundation that has SPF in it, so that you can be sure to keep re-applying. SPF wears off in 2 hours or less, depending on the SPF number, so be sure to re-apply on the regular.

7. Never cleaning your makeup brushes & sponges

When’s the last time you did a serious deep clean of your makeup brushes and sponges? And, when was the last time you did it before that?

If you answered more than a week to either of those questions, then you’ve got to start cleaning those brushes, pronto! Tons of oil, grease, and bacteria build up on your makeup brushes on the daily, so cleaning them on the regular is so key.

Try this instead: Makeup brushes and sponges should be cleaned on a weekly basis. If you’re guilty of skipping out on a weekly cleanse, you’re putting your skin at serious risk of a breakout. One-time sponges are another great alternative (not the most environmentally friendly, unfortunately), but can be great for when you’re in a rush and simply don’t have enough time to clean your sponge. You can clean your brushes at home with soap, but to take extra care of them, try cleaning them with a makeup brush shampoo like this one — paraben free and entirely plant-based!

Are you guilty of making any of these skincare mistakes? Let us know in the comments below! #nojudgmentzone