Taking care of your skin is one of the most important things you can do. Your skin changes as you age, so it’s important to take steps to protect it and keep it youthful. Small habits can make a world of a difference in five to ten years- both good and bad. Making a few lifestyle changes, and altering bad habits can help slow the aging process and reveal glowing skin. Here are five habits that are bad for your skin and what to do instead.
5 Habits That Are Bad for Your Skin & What To Do Instead
1. Exfoliating with Harsh Products
When done properly, exfoliation is very good for the skin. It removes dead skin cells, creating a brighter complexion and allows products to penetrate more deeply. However, if you exfoliate too roughly or use harsh ingredients, it can cause disruptions in the skin barrier. It can cause micro tears in the surface of your skin, allowing for bacteria to enter and cause inflammation, clogged pores, and scarring. It’s pretty easy to tell if you’re overdoing it on exfoliation as your skin will be irritated, red, and inflamed. Eventually your skin can become dry and flaky and you may even develop a rash-like texture.
What To Do Instead
Skin should generally be exfoliated one to two times per week to help boost cell turnover without causing damage. If you have super sensitive skin and notice that exfoliants make your face red and itchy, skip exfoliation altogether. There are two types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. It’s really important to figure out which one works best for your skin type. Physical exfoliation employs a tool or face scrub to remove the dead skin cells, while chemical exfoliators use AHAs or BHAs to dissolve the sticky glue that holds these cells together. Scrubs have the potential to create small tears in the skin, so it’s generally recommended to use chemical exfoliators these days (Paula’s Choice Salicylic Acid Exfoliator is a favourite). If you do use a scrub, the finer the particle the better.
2. Leaving Your Makeup on Overnight
We’ve all been there- having a few too many drinks, getting home and scrolling Tiktok before drifting off to sleep. But one thing you should never do is sleep with your makeup on. It can lead to consequences like premature aging and collagen degradation, acne flare-ups, dry complexion, inflamed eyes, and irritated skin. During deep sleep, there’s a boost in healing hormones like growth hormone and melatonin, resulting in rapid rates of cell turnover and repair. Sleeping with makeup on can hinder these processes, and repeatedly doing so can compound the issue.
What to Do Instead
Always make sure to remove your makeup with micellar water before bed and put on your nightly skin care. Even if you’re too tired to do your full nighttime skin care routine, at least remove your makeup and apply a moisturizer. This will give your skin a chance to recover and repair itself after a day of accumulating oxidative stress. Free radicals from the environment remain on the skin if you don’t wash your face properly at night, leading to collagen breakdown and premature aging. It takes two minutes to take your makeup off, and it’s so worth it!
3. Staying Up Late
You may think staying up late just makes you feel tired in the morning, but it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Your skin can become imbalanced, leading to a dehydrated, sallow complexion, acne, and redness. Sleep deprivation causes stress which can aggravate all skin conditions, and inadequate sleep also accelerates the aging process. During deep sleep, growth hormones help damaged skin cells repair. When you don’t get enough sleep, the daily breakdown in your skin doesn’t get a chance to repair overnight, leading to more visible signs of aging.
What to Do Instead
Turns out, beauty sleep is a real thing. Make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of sleep each night- seven to nine hours, and that you’re going to bed at a reasonable time. Sleeping on a regular schedule is key to boosting your health and energy levels, not to mention your skin. Sleep lowers your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and also boosts the production of collagen, which prevents sagging skin and wrinkles. Create a relaxing nighttime routine including things like reading, taking a bath, and doing meditation.
4. Drinking Alcohol
We love a good happy hour just as much as the next person, but when it comes to your skin, the less alcohol the better. Alcohol is actually one of the worst things for your skin. It causes dehydration, as alcohol saps your skin of fluid, and it also leads to inflammation. Alcohol inflames the tissues, and systemic inflammation to the skin caused by alcohol creates flushing of the skin. After some time, this can become prominent facial redness.
What to Do Instead
We’re not here to ruin all your fun. Having the occasional cocktail or glass of wine is totally fine, the problems creep up if you’re drinking alcohol everyday (or most days of the week). Ideally, you’re drinking alcohol once to twice a week, or less- the lower the intake, the lower the damage to your skin. It’s also important to stay hydrated while drinking alcohol. Have one glass of water for every cocktail or glass of wine- this will increase the diuretic effect and get it out of your system quicker.
5. Touching Your Face
If you feel like you touch your face a lot, you’re not alone, and there’s a reason we all do it. Touching our faces is an unconscious habit. It’s a form of communication, and is also a coping mechanism that calms us. But when you touch your face, whatever is on your hands transfers to your skin. Your hands come in contact with dirt, grime, and lots of other things you likely don’t want anywhere near your face. The same can be said for holding your cell phone up to your face while you take a call.
What to Do Instead
Try your best not to touch your face with dirty hands. Wash your hands often and minimize contact with your face. Make a conscious effort not to touch your face throughout the day, and if you notice yourself doing it, take your hands away as quickly as possible. When it comes to your phone, it’s best not to have it near your face at all, even if your screen is clean. Simply leaning your face against it can cause friction and heat, which can make you break out. Talk on speaker if you can, or use wireless headphones.
If you’re guilty of these bad skin habits, it’s time to make some changes and get on the right track for your skin!
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