5 Common Skin Care Mistakes to Avoid

Beautiful skin isn’t necessarily a result of expensive serums and spa treatments. In fact, all the expensive treatments in the world won’t help skin that’s being largely neglected. You have to have a regular skin care regimen that supports basic cleaning and moisturizing, both of which are the foundation of skin health. If you avoid these common skin care mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to soft, healthy, glowing skin.

Common skin care mistakes

No sunscreen

Absolutely no excuse for not protecting yourself from the sun with everything we know about how UV radiation causes aging and skin cancer. At the same time, you have to be careful about what skin-protectants you use so that they don’t clog your pores.

If you’re fair-skinned, just accept that your porcelain complexion is what the fates have graced you with, and that tanning is going to do you more harm than the temporary bronzing is worth. And dark skin beauties, don’t buy the myth, you do need sunscreen during long periods of sun exposure to keep that chocolate coated goodness looking young and supple.

Over washing

Using the same soap on your face that you’re using on your body, you’ve already got one strike against you. Some of these body washes contain ingredients that disrupt the lipid barrier in your skin, quickly drying it out.

And, as we know, dryness is the enemy of skin health. Use a more delicate soap or cream wash that are right for your skin, and you’ll eliminate oil and dirt that can clog your pores without leeching too much moisture.

For those with oily skin, it is a myth that constantly cleansing your skin can help manage oil production. Over cleansing can actually worsen oily skin because it drains the skin of its natural oils and the skin reacts by overproducing oil to compensate for what was lost. It is best to cleanse at least once a day and no more than 3 times a day.

Working out in your makeup

I blame fitness magazines and romantic comedies for making girls feel like they need to get all dolled up when they go to the gym. Don’t do it! When sweat and oil is trying to exit the pores on your skin, the worst thing you could possibly do it have a layer of foundation caked over your face.

That’s a recipe for clogged pores and irritation. Wash your face before and after you work out so your skin can sweat the way it needs to and cool down your body properly.

Not cleansing the face enough

Morning and night are the bare minimum for keeping your face healthy. I’d even recommend intermittent washing throughout the day if you get an oily build-up. You have to clear away the dirt, dust and oil that your skin is constantly generating, even if you can’t feel it.

If you don’t was before bed or — worse — don’t even remove your makeup, your skin is going to be generating oil all night underneath that layer of gunk that’s already sitting on it. Periodic washing is the key to regulating your skin’s moisture level and preventing blemishes; keep your regimen like clockwork.

Not moisturizing

Some people moisturize entirely too much for their skin type, constantly slathering on heavy layers of lotion or cream throughout the day, which itself disrupts the skins ability to regulate its own moisture level. But not moisturizing at all is by far worse for your skin.

And while you might pay plenty of attention to moisturizing your face, your feet are likely to stay out of sight and mind, leading to dry, calloused and cracked skin on your feet. Moisturize, head-to-toe, every time you get out of the shower and as needed throughout the day.