Top 5 Skincare Mistakes
Skincare is extremely important and with so much information available, it's hard to know how to find your way through the information. First and foremost you must know your accurate skin type, but also where you live matters. No two people have the same skin - climate, pollutants, diet, genetics, products you use, etc. all contribute to your skin and its needs. Not every skincare product type or machine is suitable for you; so, we've created a list of the 5 most important things to steer clear for generally clearer skin.
#1 Don't pick your face
I know, this is a hard one. Picking a breakout can cause more damage than the satisfaction is worth, and sometimes it cannot be repaired. Squeezing a pimple might feel like a relief, but if you're successful in the pop a few things have happened. First, you're spreading the bacteria to surrounding areas, causing additional breakouts (don't want that!). Also, by pressing into the blemish you are damaging the skin surrounding it, leaving you with hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and scarring (in some extensive cases pitted skin). My advice, if you want to pick, choose ice instead. The ice won't aid the breakout in going away; however, it will help to eliminate the itch, and any inflammation that may be occurring.
#2 Wash your face before bed
We dove a bit into this last week on why washing your face before bed is extremely important. Leaving the days pollutants, excess oil, sweat, makeup, and other dirt and grime you encounter on your skin causes a dull appearance, increased breakouts, aged skin, inflammation and in some cases infections.
#3 Not applying enough moisture
Oily skin people this one is for you. Did you know that your skin might be over producing oil because you aren't applying enough moisture? I see so many of our clients that are fooled by there skin, believing they have oily skin, when it is actually dry. They avoid putting moisturizes on because they don't want to add to the oil, but you're actually causing an imbalance in the skin. Ensure that you have a healthy balance of oils and moisturizers in your routine to aid the skin!
#4 Applying sunscreen only in the summer
Summer is a reminder of the heat waves and damages that can come with the sun. However, those damages occur year-round. The UVA and UVB rays know no season, and reek havoc on your skin even when it seems blissfully cool outside. Whether you stick to an at home skincare regimen, or seek professional services for your skin (or fall somewhere in between) all of your efforts for good skincare are out the window without SPF. Check out our previous blog for a comparison between chemical and mineral sunscreens (link below).
#5 Inconsistency
A consistent skincare regimen is the key to results. Washing your skin, treating it, moisturizing and protecting it is supporting the skin's natural process. When you aid the skin by washing away pollutants and irritants, treat it by restoring lipids to the skin to boost collagen and elastin, moisturize the skin to regulate its oil production, and protect it from environmental factors through SPF or repairing products at night, results will follow with consistency. If you are not consistent the skin will compensate where it is lacking, and that increase in oil may cause breakouts, collagen and elastin production won't be supported and you'll see a dull and aged appearance.