You’re not the only one committing a handful of skincare mistakes here and there. Keeping up a great skincare routine isn’t always easy. Time, a lack of funds to spend on luxury skincare, and — well, time again — can keep you from following what you assume is the best possible skincare regimen. But you may be surprised to learn that some of the biggest skincare faux pas don’t involve not using three-figure products (in fact, sometimes the opposite can be true and you could be using TOO many products).
Taking care of your skin now can lead to better outcomes in future years — namely, fewer sunspots, fine lines, and wrinkles. But these “bad” skincare mistakes you’re making now will age you later, according to experts. Good news: here’s what to do instead.
Mistake: Not Wearing Enough Sunscreen
Whether you’re only applying sunscreen at the height of summer or not applying enough SPF (or a high enough one), sunscreen mistakes are the biggest mistakes you can make if you want to avoid wrinkles and discoloration. It takes about 2-3 fingers’ length of sunscreen to adequately cover your entire face — not forgetting your ears and neck, as well. If you’re not applying sunscreen during the winter or when it’s overcast, you’re also missing out on an opportunity to keep your skin well protected.
Do this instead: Wear your sunscreen — every single day. Choose sunscreens that are SPF 30 or higher for your face. And make sure you’re applying enough and re-applying every two hours to keep protected.
Mistake: Over Exfoliating
When performed on occasion and with the right products, exfoliating your skin can remove dead, dry skin cells and helps reveal smoother skin underneath. But over-exfoliating, especially if you’re using harsh physical exfoliant, will have the opposite effect: it can strip your skin of its natural moisturizing barrier and leave you with irritated skin.
Do this instead: Switch to chemical exfoliants that are gentler on your skin. Start off slowly by exfoliating one to two times weekly.
Mistake: Forgetting To Remove Your Makeup
Forgetting to remove your makeup once or twice before bed won’t cause much damage, though you may see a pimple pop up a few days later. But if you make it a habit to routinely sleep in your makeup you’re contributing to a situation where you clog your pores and don’t allow your skin to breathe. Not to mention: neglecting this crucial first step in your skincare routine probably also means you aren’t taking advantage of nighttime actives like retinol and niacin amide.
Do this instead: Even if you’re too tired to engage in an entire nighttime skincare routine, at the very least, apply Micellar water to a cotton pad and use it to remove all of your makeup. Follow up with a moisturizer to soothe your skin and make it look its best the next morning.
Mistake: Using Too Many Skincare Products
There’s a such thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to skincare. If your morning and nighttime routine consist of every product under the sun, you could be overdoing it and mixing serums and moisturizers that don’t react well with one another and can irritate your skin.
Do this instead: Choose a few ingredients and learn how and when to use them. For example, a vitamin C serum is wonderful to use in the morning before moisturizer and SPF, while your retinol should only be applied at bedtime.
Mistake: Neglecting Your Neck and Chest
The thin, delicate skin on your neck is one of the first places to show signs of aging. Yet, we so often forget about it completely when focusing on other areas of our faces. As a result, your neck and chest could show faster signs of aging like sun spots, fine lines, and deeper wrinkles.
Do this instead: Whenever you apply a serum, moisturizer, or sunscreen to your face, don’t forget to drag a bit downward and give a little skincare love for your neck and chest, too. You can even experiment with a moisturizer made especially for the neck!
