The 7 Deadly Sins Of Skincare: Mistakes You Need To Avoid At All Costs

Ever since the pandemic, skincare has got a whole new meaning, and of course, a whole new fanbase. Thanks to a boom in social media and the availability of products, people have now become more aware about the benefits of following a skincare routine. This sudden pique in interest has proven to be both a good and a bad thing. While taking care of your skin is always a boon, the ill-advised and half-baked information that comes along with it can be quite misleading –– and it can be pretty counterintuitive to what your routine actually aims to achieve. Without even realising it, you end up committing skincare sins that have a ripple effect on your skin’s overall health. These mistakes are bigger than touching your face or popping that zit! Scroll down to see the seven deadly sins of skincare and everything you need to avoid to make your routine far more efficient.

#1 – Skincare Before Sleeping

A nighttime skincare routine is always a good habit, however there’s one thing you need to be wary of. If you carry out your PM routine just before slipping into bed then you should know that your efforts are going to waste. Always do your nighttime skincare routine an hour before you hit the pillow. This way you allow time for the product to be absorbed into your skin and prevent most of it from rubbing off on your pillow.

#2 – Removing Your Makeup Wrong

When you remove your makeup, do you use the same wipe or cotton pad to take off everything at once? If you’ve answered yes, then you’re committing a rather grave skincare sin. Always treat the removal of your eye makeup as a separate entity –– this is mainly because your eye makeup tends to be a lot thicker than the rest of your face, and requires a little extra time and effort to come off. Plus since the skin around your eyes is a lot thinner than the rest of your skin, rubbing it and calling it a night isn’t the best way forward. Begin by focusing on your eye makeup and then moving on to the rest of your face, lips, and neck.

#3 – Skipping Sunscreen

Rule of thumb: when there’s sun, there should be sunscreen. Whether you’re stepping out of the house or staying indoors, whether it’s sunny outside or there’s an overcast, the general rule is to always protect yourself with an SPF. Slather on two fingers worth of cream or lotion and apply it 15 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun. Make sure you top up every two to three hours, as sunscreen starts to lose its strength after being exposed to sun, sweat, and water. Remember, even when you’re indoors, UV rays can penetrate through your windows and damage your skin. Skipping sunscreen means exposing your skin to all the damaging effects of UV rays –– premature skin ageing, pigmentation, and even worse, skin cancer are all part of the consequences of making this mistake.

#4 – Drying Out Your Skin

This is one of the biggest mistakes people with acne prone or oily skin make –– removing all the oil from your skin isn’t the healthiest option. While it may seem like the ideal scenario, drying your skin out actually makes your acne and oiliness a lot worse. When your skin is stripped off its natural oils, it tends to work in overdrive to replenish them. Overactive sebaceous glands cause skin to become extra oily, increasing the chances of clogged pores and breakouts. This applies for dry skin too! Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised ensures that you’re balancing your sebum production amongst other things.

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#5 – Not Applying Products In The Correct Order

Repeat after us: skincare goes on thin to thick – we’re talking about consistency here! Not applying your products in the right order can reduce the efficacy of the formula. For example you cannot expect your thin and runny serum to penetrate through a thick layer of rich moisturiser, if the moisturiser is applied first. Applying skincare products randomly can affect the potency of the products and the efficiency of your skincare routine.

#6 – Removing Your Sunscreen Wrong

Sunscreen doesn’t function like your other skincare products –– it doesn’t get washed away with a little bit of cleanser and water. Sunscreen is stubborn and just face wash isn’t enough when it comes to removing every little trace of it. That’s why it’s important to double cleanse. By this we mean opting for a gentle oil cleanser or micellar water, and then following it up with your normal face wash. This way you’re able to break down the sunscreen’s formula and wash off all traces, leaving skin free from any product. Double cleansing also helps remove makeup, as well as dirt and grime within your pores.

#7 – Forgetting Your Neck

Why does your neck get the step-child treatment in this beautiful skincare love story? Your neck is an extension of your face, and is also a minefield for skincare woes, especially ageing. As a matter of fact, it is one of the first areas to show signs of premature ageing. So it’s important to remember that your entire skincare routine extends to your neck and chest as well –– anti-ageing serums and moisturisers too!