15 Skincare Mistakes to Avoid If You Want Better Skin

If you’re reading this you probably already have a set skincare routine, with products you know and love. But skincare is not only about the products you use on a daily basis. Other factors can be involved in you not getting the results you want! I’m not going to talk about diets or drinking more water (because if you’re interested in skincare you probably already know that what you eat can affect your skin). Before starting, I would like to disclose that if you’re having serious skin problems, always consult with your dermatologist.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

1. Over Exfoliating

The skincare industry has given us many options when it comes to exfoliating the skin; AHAs, BHAs… Therefore, most of us have added them to our routines. It’s tempting to use exfoliants all the time as they make our skin feel amazing and soft, but it’s very important we use the recommended amount because they can be damaging to our protective skin barrier if over-used. Each product has a smaller or larger percentage of exfoliating acids, so you should check the recommended use for each one. Usually, the suggested use is between 1-2 or 2-3 times a week. Remember not to mix certain products on the same day as this can also result in over-exfoliating. Additionally, always patch test before using a new product!

Try The Ordinary Lactic Acid for mild exfoliation.

2. Not Cleansing Properly

Aka, not removing your makeup properly. It’s quite obvious and we should all know by now; if you wear makeup you should always make sure you remove it properly before going to bed! The recommended way to remove makeup or dirt accumulated from the day is by using the double cleansing method. Using this method, you will make sure your skin is clean before going to bed. You would usually use an oil-based cleanser first, followed by a water-based cleanser.

My favourite cleanser of all time is the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

3. Blindly Using Products

Everyone has different skin types, so when using products you should take this into consideration! Firstly you should get to know your skin; is it oily? dry? sensitive? Research what products and ingredients are best for your skin type. Additionally, not everything works for everyone, so if you’ve been using something for a while and you feel it doesn’t work for you, (even if it’s the new rage in skincare) ditch the product!

4. Not Giving Products Enough Time To Work

This one goes hand-in-hand with the last one since you might be thinking ‘Oh I’ve been using this for two weeks and It does nothing for me, I should probably ditch it’. Well no! You have to give a product time to work before giving up on it. It’s easy to make this mistake since there are so many skincare products to try in the market & we want them to give us fast results. Some ingredients work faster than others, so as I said before, it’s important to do research on what you are using.

Check out this skincare haul I did of some skincare products I use.

5. Never Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes

You’ve probably heard this one before, but I’m here to remind you to CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES! Just. Do. It. If you don’t have a specific product just use a delicate shampoo. You can purchase this makeup brush cleaning matt which can be very handy and easy to use. I don’t have to tell you what happens when you never clean your brushes, so remember to do it often!

6. Not Wearing Sunscreen Every Day

The best protection against skin ageing is sunscreen. And no, don’t just use it for the beach! Incorporate sunscreen into your everyday routine, you have to protect your skin from UV rays. I use SPF 50 every single day, even if it’s cloudy! Sunscreen can not only help to prevent skin ageing, but it can also help with skin discolouration, as Sun damage can produce dark spots.

Check out this TULA Probiotic Skin Care Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen

7. Not Washing Your Sheets, Pillowcases and Towels Frequently Enough

This is just as important as cleaning your makeup brushes. Sheets, pillowcases and towels are things you use every day. They can buildup grease and bacteria that can clog your pores. I especially recommend this if you have oily skin or hair, you’ll see a difference! Also, keep a separate towel for your face. Don’t use the same one you have to dry your hands!

8. Wearing Makeup Under Your Mask

I know, the struggle is real. You want to wear makeup, but then you remember you’re going to have to wear a mask over it. Maybe it’s time to switch to a no-foundation makeup routine! You can still apply your makeup every day, but you could adapt your makeup look to your mask! Focus your attention on doing a bomb eye makeup look, for example. If you still want to apply coverage, (I do it 50% of the time) maybe you could try a lighter formula like a BB cream or a tinted moisturiser.

Try the BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel

9. Touching Your Face Too Much

A big no-no is touching your face, picking on pimples, scratching, etc, without having clean hands. I’ve never seen a post where someone recommends touching a pimple, so we all know it’s something you shouldn’t be doing. But I’m begging you, if you are going to do it, at least wash your hands before doing it! Funnily enough, wearing makeup helps me with is, as I don’t touch my face too much so I don’t mess it up!

10. Using The Wrong Order Of Products

Skincare experts say we should be using our products in the right order, with it being products with a thin consistency first, and following it up with your thick ones. Also, your sunscreen should be the last product you use!

11. Skipping Moisturiser

One of the most common mistakes is not using enough moisturiser. This happens especially to people with very oily skin, who think they don’t need it or it’s going to make their skin oilier. Truth be told, when your skin is lacking moisture, it may overcompensate by creating excess oil. No matter what your skin type is, moisturiser is a must in a skincare routine! It can help your skin regulate its natural oils.

This is one of my favourite moisturisers.

12. Using Too Many Products

If you love skincare (& shopping) this one is probably a difficult one for you. No, you don’t need 20 products in your daily routine to make your skin glow. In fact, 20 products are probably way waaaay too many and can actually be the reason you are breaking out or having other skin issues.

13. DIY Skincare

Now, I’m not saying ALL DIY skincare is bad. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about DIY skincare, mainly having to do with the thought of: “It’s good because it’s natural” or that products you buy have too many chemicals in them and will actually be bad for the skin. A properly formulated Do It Yourself skin product CAN be beneficial, but there are a lot of recipes and tutorials out there and some of them can cause more harm than good. For example, a common ingredient used in these tutorials is sugar to make an exfoliant which can result in creating damage to the skin as it can be too harsh for it. If you are going to make your own product with things you have at home, just make sure you do your research on each ingredient and if it’s actually going to be beneficial for your skin.

14. Drinking Alcohol & Smoking

I know, I know. I said earlier I wasn’t going to talk about diets or telling you to drink more water. But… I feel like people forget about this one even though we all know heavy drinking and smoking is not good for us. Alcohol makes the skin dehydrated, leaving it dry, dull and ashy. It can also lead to accelerated ageing and inflammation. The effects that come from smoking can be seen immediately and also in a long-term manner.

15. Forgetting Your Neck

I’m definitely guilty of this one. I used to never touch my neck, not even to remove makeup! This skincare mistake is easy to correct. Basically, everything you do to your face, also do it to your neck! Cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, sunscreen…

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We all make mistakes, hell, I used to remove my makeup with wipes without even washing my face after! *Cringe* I find that the most important thing when it comes to skincare is doing the right research, and creating a routine that you can keep up with. You don’t need the most expensive products out there, there are plenty of affordable brands that will give you great results. And as I said before, If you’re having issues with your skin, or you’re afraid you might get an allergic reaction to a product, please consult with a dermatologist!

What other skincare mistakes you think are common and that we often make?

Comment down below! 🦋

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