We asked Dale Abadir, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Rye Brook, New York to help list the ten skincare mistakes that would be easiest to fix for the holidays.
1. Not Removing Makeup Before Bed
Many women are guilty of this mistake. Your face needs to be makeup-free before you go to bed, or you risk causing breakouts or even premature aging of the skin. Use reusable makeup pads to remove it all and wash your skin with soft warm water to open up your pores. Some terrible things can happen if you sleep in your make-up. Dr. Abadir mentioned, “It’s also a good idea to apply retinol or glycolic acid before bedtime.”
2. Not Washing Your Bedding Enough
Nobody likes making the bed or washing the sheets, but if you’ve got big trouble if you avoid washing them each week. Your pillowcase has more bacteria than your toilet seat if you don’t wash your bedding because each night your body sheds up to 15 million skin cells. These dead skin cells quickly become a tasty treat for dust mites and their feces produce proteins that can give you acne. Also, don’t allow your pillowcase to become a giant makeup wipe, because it all transfer back onto your face, clogging your pores.
3. Wearing Too Much Makeup
The internet is littered with “Makeup Fails” and although it’s obvious, you should only apply the necessary amount of makeup onto your skin. Throughout the day this makeup can seep into your pores and clog them easily after some time. Avoid makeup with oils, so always check the ingredients of your makeup.
4. Over Washing Your Face
Washing too frequently can cause over-drying and damage your skin’s oil barrier which can cause premature aging. In young people with oily skin, over-washing can cause an oily rebound as the oil glands work harder. This can increase the risk of acne breakouts.
5. Following the wrong diet for your skin
As with all diet advice, if you eat healthy – your skin will be healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Antioxidant-rich foods seem to have a protective effect on your skin. These are skin-friendly foods:
• Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables
• Spinach and other green leafy vegetables
• Tomatoes
• Berries
• Beans, peas, and lentils
• Salmon, mackerel, and other fatty fish
• Nuts
6. Not cleaning your phone
Studies have found that many phones carry ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats. This bacteria may lead to acne – many people don’t even think about their phones being a culprit in this. Cleanse your phone with a squirt of alcohol every morning before you start using it and try to wash your hands before, and after you touch your phone.
7. Using The Same Body And Face Towel
We have all done this at some point, but this is a bad habit that may damage your skin. Bacteria and fungus accumulate on your towels after being used. And also the products you apply to your body should not come in contact with your face. Use a small separate towel for your face and wash it after every use or use a paper towel.
8. Using Rough Scrubs for your Face
Harsh scrubs or loofah sponges can damage your skin. These scrubs have jagged surfaces that can cause micro-tears that leave your face vulnerable to bacteria and inflammation. All this can aggravate your face and lead to acne problems. Use your hands and a mild chemical exfoliant when washing your face.
9. Not Enough Sleep
Your body needs time to heal, and your skin needs time to repair itself from inflammation and damage. Try to get 6-8 hours of sleep every day – make time for your health.
10. Don’t Smoke
You already know smoking is bad for your lungs. It’s equally damaging to the skin as some ingredients in cigarettes can halt collagen production which leads to premature aging. This includes secondhand smoke as well, so avoid any tobacco products if possible.