Are you unknowingly dehydrating your skin? Are you letting bacteria run amok? Have you been sabotaging your skin care regimen? I recently wrote about some common skin care mistakes we can’t afford to make. Here, some additional #beautyfails you need to watch out for.
1. You’re not hydrating oily skin
Just because you have oily skin doesn’t mean you don’t need to hydrate it. Even oily skin can be dehydrated — after all, hydration is the amount of water in your skin, which is different from the amount of oil in your skin. In fact, stripping your skin can cause an overproduction of oil, says Valerie Grandury, founder of skin care line Odacité, while using the right oils, like grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil, can help dissolve excess sebum, balancing out oily complexions.
IF YOU’RE OILY, TRY:
Elemental Herbology Harmonising Cleanse, $70, elementalherbology.com
Dr. Hauschka Clarifying Day Oil, $45, dr.hauschka.com
Odacité Pure Elements Gr+G Grapeseed Grapefruit Serum Concentrate, $32, odacite.com
2. You’re letting bacteria proliferate
Bacteria buildup on makeup brushes and beauty blenders can lead to breakouts. Clean them at least every other week with a gentle cleanser; anti-microbial microfiber cleaning pads and ultrasonic brush cleaners make the job easier. In between cleanings, minimize impurities with a blending sponge embedded with medicinal bamboo charcoal.
CLEAN IT UP WITH:
Artis Premier Brush Cleaning Pad, $55, artisbrush.com
BrushPearl Cosmetic Brush Cleaner, $99, brushpearl.com
Earth Therapeutics Precisso Cosmetic Blending Sponge, $6, kohls.com
3. Your lighting is off
You may have the makeup skills of a pro, but with that dim bathroom lighting, you can end up looking like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat. Invest in a high-tech LED mirror, like one from Simplehuman, which more closely simulates natural, dim or even office lighting and utilizes the full color spectrum for a more real-life reflection.
BRIGHTEN UP WITH:
Simplehuman Wide-View Sensor Mirror, $400, simplehuman.com
4. You’re over-exfoliating
Regular exfoliation helps with dullness and clogged pores. But with the proliferation of facial brushes, scrubs and acids, we can end up over-exfoliating, which can result in dehydration, redness, even hyperpigmentation. “Rubbing the skin every day with a brush or scrub is irritating and can aggravate skin or acne,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kally Papantoniou. “I prefer chemical exfoliation, such as a glycolic or salicylic acid pad, which is actually more gentle on the skin and is more effective in evening out skin tone.”
WE LIKE:
Elizabeth Arden Skin Illuminating Retexturizing Pads, $56, elizabetharden.com
5. You’re missing out on the most important time of day: night
Nighttime is when your skin’s restoration processes are in high gear, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Craig Kraffert. And with a recent Yale study showing that UV damage incurred during the day continues to proliferate at night, it’s even more important to infuse skin with free radical-fighting antioxidants. Dr. Papantoniou recommends incorporating retinol, an antioxidant serum like Skinceuticals Phloretin, and a good moisturizer with hyaluronic acid into your nightly regimen.
TRY THESE:
Cosmedicine Night Duty Perfected Overnight Resurfacing Serum, $220, cosmedicine.com
Estée Lauder NightWear Plus Anti-Oxidant Night Detox Crème, $55, esteelauder.com
Originally published in Composure Magazine.
Excellent tips. I have combination skin, and sensitive, so i realized that scrubbing and exfoliating each day (I did for three consecutive days) my skin was red and especially because i used a product that i know i shouldn’t use it. We tend to forget that sebum doesn’t mean scrubbing all the time. But i learned the lesson some time ago now. Thanks for this great article. The prices are high in some sections. But … well, it will be a good investment, when it will be possible 🙂 especially the brush cleaner.
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Thanks so much! I know, I’m correcting my own skin care mistakes all the time. That’s what’s fun about beauty — I’m constantly learning! And the brush cleaner is not cheap, but I’m super lazy when it comes to cleaning my brushes, so it’s a good investment for me. (Worth it to keep bacteria off my face!) The mirror is definitely an investment piece, and I’ve used cheaper light up mirrors that work just fine.
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Yes, that’s also what my Asian Beauty Blog is too, Learning Learning all the time. The mirror.. is awesome! I am dealing with this round mirror bought at Walmart with those round plastics on the back to hang on a wall but , hahaha it always falls. I find it practical but in any way excellent or consistent. I need a mirror with a lamp. I saved this article for future reference. Yes, I cheaper mirror is also good, I had one but without lamp and it broke. Thanks for this , again. Have a great day.
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