We all want healthy, glowing skin, and it’s no secret that your skincare routine plays an important role in this. However, while there’s no shortage of information on skincare musts, it can be easy to skip over which habits could harm our skin.
With that said, here are 12 common skincare mistakes to avoid.
1. Skipping sunscreen
Many of us are good at applying sunscreen on sunny days. But health experts recommend wearing sunscreen every day, no matter the weather. Even when it’s cloudy, research shows that as much as 80% of the sun’s UV rays are still present. Yet, just 26% of regular skincare users in the UK apply sunscreen every day.
Sunscreen helps protect against sun damage which, among other things, is linked with premature ageing and an increased risk of skin cancer. Research suggests that up to 90% of skin ageing is caused by the sun; and, according to Cancer Research UK, up to nine in 10 cases of melanoma skin cancer could be prevented if people enjoyed the sun safely.
For this reason, applying sunscreen every day is one of the best things you can do for your skin. It’s important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
To learn more, check out our article: 11 tips to protect your skin from sun damage.
2. Being too harsh with skin
Our skin is incredibly delicate, so being too harsh with it can lead to irritation, inflammation, and premature ageing.
As a result, useful steps include patting skin dry instead of rubbing, only touching your face when necessary, avoiding rubbing your eyes, and applying skincare products gently with your fingertips. It’s important to be particularly gentle around the eyes, where the skin is more thin and delicate. Applying creams and serums to this area using your ring finger can be helpful in minimising pressure.
It’s also important to avoid picking your skin – especially pimples, cuts, or scabs. Not only can picking cause redness, swelling, and introduce new bacteria, but it can also damage skin structure and increase the risk of scarring.
3. Washing your face too often
Washing your face with a good-quality cleanser is an important step of any good skincare routine – helping to remove dirt, impurities, and dead cells that build up on the skin’s surface.
However, it’s important not to overdo it. Washing your face too often can strip the skin of its natural oils, which can lead to irritation, dryness, and breakouts. Experts advise cleansing no more than twice per day – once in the morning and once at night.
Washing your face with an exfoliator can also help keep skin bright and smooth while improving the absorption of other skincare products. Depending on your skin type, you might exfoliate every few days, while those with more sensitive skin may find once a week is enough. Irritation, redness, sensitivity, or excessive dryness can be signs that you’re exfoliating too frequently or harshly.
Check out this guide to choosing the best exfoliator for your skin type from Beautiful with Brains for more tips.
4. Applying skincare products in the wrong order
The expansion of skincare products beyond the traditional cleanse, tone, and moisturise has made skincare more exciting — but it can be confusing, too. And, beyond knowing which products to use, research shows that the order you apply them also matters.
Applying products in the wrong order can alter results and irritate skin – yet, research shows that only 18% of regular skincare users know how to layer skincare products effectively.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to apply lighter products first and progress to thicker ones. For example, this means using cleansers, toners, and serums first, followed by moisturisers and sunscreen. Check out this in-depth guide to layering skincare from Beauty Pie for more tips.
5. Not keeping skin hydrated
Hydration is key for maintaining a healthy skin barrier and keeping skin smooth, plump, and radiant.
However, many of us don’t keep our skin hydrated enough. This can be particularly true if you have oily skin or suffer from acne, as there’s a common misconception that drying skin out will help. But dermatologists are keen to emphasise that dry skin can worsen acne and increase oil production – often encouraging a continued cycle of breakouts.
For this reason, a good-quality moisturiser should be a staple in your skincare routine. Check out our article, 10 of the best moisturisers for mature skin, for ideas.
6. Using products that clash
Research shows that, when combined, certain skincare products can do more harm than good – even if they have positive benefits on their own.
For example, while retinol is known to boost collagen production and vitamin C helps protect against sun damage, when used together, skin can become irritated. This is why retinol is advised as part of nighttime skincare, and vitamin C is best applied in the morning.
To learn more, check out this guide to the dos and don’ts of mixing skincare ingredients from Software.
7. Neglecting the eye, neck, and chest area
When it comes to skincare, it’s easy to focus solely on your face, forgetting to pay specific attention to areas like the neck, chest, and skin around the eyes.
However, these areas need just as much attention and care – typically experiencing just as much exposure to the sun and other pollutants as the rest of your face. Plus, the skin around the eyes is naturally thinner than on other areas of the body, making it more susceptible to signs of ageing.
Luckily, multiple studies support eye creams as an effective method for improving skin smoothness and appearance. Check out this guide to crafting the perfect eye skincare routine from Mysa for more ideas.
8. Using expired products
Unfortunately, skincare products don’t last forever. Once they’ve expired, products may contain bacteria and lack the active ingredients needed to be effective – often resulting in adverse skin reactions like inflammation, irritation, and breakouts.
However, research shows that half of regular skincare users in the UK are unaware of when products expire – and over one in three (37%) continue using out-of-date products.
Most product labels display their expiration date as a symbol that looks like an open tub with ‘6m’ or ‘12m’ printed on it. This refers to the number of months a product will stay fresh after being opened. Dermatologists also advise looking out for changes to the smell, colour, or consistency – such as curdling or separating – which may indicate that a product has expired.
9. Not washing your face before bed
Throughout the day, dirt, oil, and other impurities accumulate on the skin which, if left overnight, can clog pores and increase the risk of breakouts.
Plus, the skin repairs and regenerates itself during sleep, so leaving impurities on its surface can prevent it from functioning properly and interfere with the natural healing process.
Washing your face before bed is particularly important if you wear makeup. In this nationwide study of over 3,000 UK adults, one in five regular skincare users admitted they often don’t remove their makeup before bed. Wearing makeup at night prevents the skin from breathing and healing, instead encouraging the production of free radicals (unstable molecules linked with inflammation). This process can cause skin to appear red, dull, and clogged.
Wearing makeup to bed is also known to negatively affect skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
10. Using too much of a product
According to research, almost two in three people (62%) use more than the recommended amount of their skincare products.
Aside from upsetting the skin’s natural balance, applying too much of a product is expensive. According to statistics, skincare enthusiasts could save an average of £55 a year by using the correct amount of product. And, as a nation, it would save almost £3 billion a year!
Most skincare products provide instructions on how much to use on the packaging. However, here are some general guidelines according to beauty experts…
- Retinol – a pea-sized amount
- Vitamin C – three to four drops of a bottle with a pipette
- Cleansers – around the size of a hazelnut
- Moisturiser – the size of a 5p coin
- Eye cream – a grain of rice
11. Practising poor skincare hygiene
Even if you’ve got your skincare routine sussed, poor hygiene practices can expose your skin to bacteria that increase the risk of inflammation, irritation, and breakouts.
Simple things like washing skincare and make-up applicators regularly; not dipping fingers into product bottles; and applying products with clean hands are useful steps to take. It’s also best to avoid sharing products with other people.
Most dermatologists recommend cleaning skincare applicators and makeup tools at least once a week – but the more the better! Amazon* has a range of skincare tool cleaners available.
12. Making unhealthy lifestyle choices
Skincare goes far beyond the products you use. In fact, research shows that skin health is deeply rooted in our lifestyle choices.
For this reason, simple changes, such as eating healthy, staying hydrated, quitting smoking, and taking steps to reduce stress levels, can make all the difference to skin health and appearance.
For example, smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients, and doubles the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SSC) – the second most common type of skin cancer. Meanwhile, stress is known to aggravate skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
Meanwhile, this study found that when people drank 2.25 litres of water daily for four weeks, their skin thickness and appearance significantly improved. Another study linked nutrient-rich diets high in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats with better skin health.
Final thoughts…
With such a wealth of information out there on skincare tips and products, it can sometimes feel difficult to separate fact from fiction. However, the good news is that skincare doesn’t need to be complicated and avoiding simple mistakes can make all the difference.
For further reading, head over to our skin health section. Here, you’ll find information on everything from important vitamins and minerals for hair, skin, and nail health to tips for a healthy scalp.
What skincare mistakes are you looking to change? Has anything in our article surprised you? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.