Common Mistakes to Avoid for Clearer, Healthier Skin
Your skincare routine is essential for healthy, glowing skin, but are you avoiding common skincare mistakes? With so much skincare information and products available, navigating it all can be challenging.
Today’s article will examine the biggest skincare mistakes and our best advice for making the most of your skincare routine to support skin health and clear, radiant skin. Keep reading to learn about the 8 skincare mistakes to avoid:
- Over exfoliation
- Incorrectly cleansing
- Skipping sunscreen
- Incompletely removing makeup
- Choosing products that don’t match your skin type
- Thinking of moisturizing as optional
- Inconsistency with your routine
- Neglecting internal diet and lifestyle factors
Over-Exfoliation
Of all the skincare mistakes that damage your skin, over exfoliated skin is at the top of the list. Exfoliation is the physical or chemical process of removing dead skin cells and impurities that adhere to the skin’s surface and in pores. It promotes skin turnover, allowing new skin cells to replace the old, refreshing the appearance.
Too little exfoliation can make the skin appear dull and lackluster, but too much exfoliation can be irritating and compromise skin barrier health. Like Goldilocks, exfoliation needs to be just right.
What does over-exfoliated skin look like? Signs of over exfoliation include:
- Redness
- Irritation
- Inflammation
- Skin bumps
To avoid an over exfoliated face, start by exfoliating just twice weekly. From there, you can increase as your skin allows. We recommend starting with NassifMD® Detox Facial Pads twice per week for normal or dry skin. Oily and combination skin will likely benefit from more frequent use. For sensitive skin, particularly if you are sensitive to salicylic acid, try NassifMD® Detox Pads Gentle instead. Use the detox pads after cleansing and before the rest of your skincare routine.
The best over-the-counter exfoliator for aging skin is NassifMD® Micro Spa Radiance Resurfacing Peel and NassifMD® Even, Correct & Renew Retexturizing Pads. Incorporate one of these treatments once or twice weekly for best results.
If your skin already suffers from this skincare mistake, heal over exfoliated skin overnight with NassifMD® Hydro-Screen and NassifMD® Pure Hydration Night Cream.
Incorrect Cleansing Techniques
Next on the list of skincare mistakes is incorrectly cleansing the skin. It’s easy to slap on some face wash and call it good, but you’ll want to use the proper products and techniques to remove all dirt, makeup, pollution, and impurities.
Proper cleansing techniques include:
- Using a quality face cleanser twice daily, in the morning and night
- Always begin your skincare routine with cleansing
- Apply a dime sized amount of cleanser to damp skin. Gently massage into the skin and use to remove makeup.
- Rinse with warm water or use a damp wash cloth to remove.
NassifMD® facial plastic surgeon skincare has a cleanser to meet your needs. Try NassifMD® Pure Hydration Facial Cleanser to refresh, soften, and brighten the skin while hydrating and protecting the skin with antioxidants. This cleanser is compatible with all skin types.
We also offer dual action cleansers and exfoliators, with cleansing and gentle exfoliation in a single product. Try NassifMD® Dawn to Dusk AM + PM for a twice daily transformative start to your skincare routine. NassifMD® Purifying Glycolic Facial Cleanser is a non-drying cleanser with alpha hydroxy acids and another effective option.
Skipping Sunscreen
The most consequential skincare mistake to avoid is skipping sunscreen. When you’re young, you may not be thinking about sunscreen to prevent skin aging and cancer; when you’re older you probably wish you had used sunscreen all along.
Sunscreen isn’t just for tropical vacations, it’s for everyday use, even in the winter and on cloudy days. You should even wear sunscreen indoors as UV rays can go through windows. Additionally, choose SPF 30 or higher from a quality mineral sunscreen. When you are on those beach vacations or outside in the summer, be sure to reapply every two hours.
The best way to get the protective benefits of sunscreen is to make it a part of your daily routine. NassifMD® Skincare can help you do just that. Our facial sunscreens are also hydrating moisturizers. Use them as the last step of your skincare routine and before makeup. NassifMD®
Protect & Hydrate is an SPF 44 mineral sunscreen with hydrating ingredients and a universal tint. NassifMD® Simply Hydration is our untinted option. It provides SPF 40 and also doubles as a lightweight, hydrating daytime moisturizer.
Not Removing Makeup Properly
The improper removal of makeup is next on the list of skincare routine mistakes. Makeup settles into pores and can contribute to dull, irritated, and acne-prone skin. A quick bedtime facewash sometimes isn’t enough to fully remove makeup and clean out pores.
Follow the guidance for cleansing and exfoliation as discussed above for clean skin and the best results from the rest of your skincare routine. If you find you’re still missing makeup with your cleansing routine, choose a gentle makeup remover or a DIY version such as coconut oil.
Using Skin Products that Aren’t Right for Your Skin
One of the common skincare mistakes you’re making is using products that aren’t a match for your skin type. Many NassifMD® Skincare products are designed for all skin types, but you’ll want to identify your skin type and choose products that help balance and restore your unique skin.
For example, oily or acne-prone skin will benefit from lightweight moisturizers and oil-free serums, while dry skin will need thicker products with more occlusive ingredients. Oily and combination skin will need more exfoliation than normal skin and even more than sensitive skin.
Adjusting your products to meet your skin type and specific concerns will elevate your skincare routine and skin health. If you aren’t sure where to start, get a virtual skincare consultation today.
Treating Moisturizing as Optional
There are many different skincare routines, from minimalist to complex. Different things work for different people, and there is ample room for personalization within skincare. However, there are a few things everyone needs, and moisturizing is one of them.
The skin loses water through evaporation and a good moisturizer will repair and enhance the skin barrier, reducing this water loss and keeping the skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is healthy, plump, and younger-looking.
While serums help hydrate the skin and pull water in (such as NassifMD® Hydro-Screen), moisturizers seal the moisture. Check out the NassifMD® Skincare line of moisturizers or get a personalized recommendation here.
Picking at Blemishes
It’s very tempting to pick at or pop a pimple, but it can make your skin look worse or lead to infection. Picking at blemishes spreads the bacteria in the pimple or even forces it deeper into the skin. Further, it can create hyperpigmentation, more inflammation, and acne scars.
Resist the urge to pop a pimple and try this instead:
- Try an acne spot treatment designed to dry out the area and heal the skin
- Go to a medical spa for a professional blemish extraction
- Follow a consistent skincare routine to prevent breakouts in the first place
Inconsistent Skincare Routine
One of the top skincare mistakes is inconsistency. New products or unclear skincare goals can lead you off track with your routine. Sticking with a daily routine long enough for you to see the results, typically at least several weeks, is important. Then, you can make changes or additions to your routine.
Never skip the core steps of cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and SPF protection during the day. A basic, streamlined routine can be effective if it contains these steps. For a slightly more advanced routine, add serums!
Along with inconsistency goes making layering mistakes. Applying skincare products in the wrong order can make them less effective or even contribute to skin issues. Learn how to layer skincare products here.
Neglecting Diet and Lifestyle Factors
The final skincare mistake is to assume that topical products are enough. The health of your skin reflects your internal health; skin health is ultimately an inside job. What you eat, your hydration status, sleep habits, stress, underlying medical issues, toxin exposures, inflammation levels, and other factors influence how your skin looks, feels, and functions.
Luckily, the healthy lifestyle habits you engage in to feel your best also help your skin. Begin with a nutrient-dense diet with whole, unrefined foods as the foundation. This eating pattern will provide the building blocks for healthy skin along with antioxidant protection.
Then, ensure you are moving your body, sleeping well, managing stress, and limiting exposure to environmental toxins. Address underlying health concerns with your healthcare provider.
As you build a healthy lifestyle, your inner health will show up as healthy, glowing, radiant skin.
Once you understand the skincare mistakes you need to avoid, you can make minor tweaks and alterations to get the most from your skincare routine. NassifMD® Skincare makes it easy to source quality, innovative, and effective products to fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your skincare goals.
References
- Sander, M., Sander, M., Burbidge, T., & Beecker, J. (2020). The efficacy and safety of sunscreen use for the prevention of skin cancer.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne, 192(50), E1802–E1808.
