We all dream of glowing, flawless, and acne-free skin, but with never-ending advice from the Internet and, it can be hard to find a routine that suits you and your skin type.
No matter how much you think you know, there could be a few bad habits that are preventing you from putting your best face (and body) forward. Here are some of the biggest mistakes to avoid, according to a dermatologist.
We’ve all been there. One spot pops up out of nowhere, then another, and another, and before you know it, you’ve done three separate face masks and an at home steaming treatment to try to get rid of them. Belinda Kehoe, owner of Wexford Skin Clinic explains that we should only be using three main products.
“To get the most out of a skincare routine, you should focus on three main steps. Using a cleanser to wash your face and remove excess oil. A toner or a second cleaner will balance out the natural oils and bring your skin back to its normal complexion,” Kehoe explains, “lastly, you should use a moisturiser to add hydration and keep the skin soft. Using too many products will counteract their effects.’’
There’s a tricky balance to getting this next step right. Ideally, you should use a scrub or mask to exfoliate your skin once a week. This removes the outer layer of dead skin cells and leaves the skin looking fresh and healthy.
It is important to not overuse this step, as too much scrubbing will leave the skin looking rough and can lead to acne scarring.
“A lot of my clients will have had problems with exfoliating their skin. It can be easy to get frustrated at breakouts and keep exfoliating in order to solve this problem quickly. However, in most cases, this does more harm than good.’’, according to Belinda.
After a long day of wearing make-up, or more typically after a night out, it can be easy to fall into bed without so much as a glance at our dear friend, face wipes. Throughout the day, the skin will naturally become clogged with dirt and oils. So after wearing make-up, it’s even more crucial to do a proper cleanse before going asleep.
‘’I can’t preach this step enough. A skincare routine is important no matter what day it is, but one of the most vital steps is to take your makeup off properly. Sleeping with makeup on causes it to soak into your pores, which is how breakouts happen.
Of course, there are millions of things we can do to help our skin. Using the right ingredients, maintaining a healthy diet and knowing our skin type are key to a healthy complexion. By avoiding these common mistakes, we can give ourselves the best chance of glowing skin, and most importantly, looking young forever. Who doesn’t want that!?