Bad Skin Care Habits — and How to Fix Them - by Adnan Shafi

You’ve done every beauty Bible thing: washing your face before bed, creaming every wrinkle with anti-aging cream, switching your skin care routine so often you know all the brands by heart. But you know what the sad fact is? Nothing works. Would you go to extreme lengths to have your skin smooth, soft, and radiant once again?

Question: Do you have the money and want to spend it on complicated medical procedures? Hold it! What if your skin is not the problem, but the way you treat it is?

You probably don’t realize the bad skincare habits you have developed over the years. So we gathered the most popular mistakes that you should stop making if you want your skin to stay healthy and youthful for many years to come. Now, let us see how you were doing it wrong.

You Overdo It on Facial Scrubs

Facial scrubs work to exfoliate and cleanse your face by helping to slough away dead, flaky skin cells while bringing out the smoother, clearer skin underneath. But how much should you use them? And too much may result in flakiness, dryness, stinging, and redness. Proper exfoliation depends on your skin type—what is the solution for one may be detrimental for another:

Normal to combination skin: every third day

Oily skin: five times a week

Sensitive skin: once or twice a week

Stay away from facial scrubs that have ground seeds or shells in them because the jagged edges can cut your skin. Instead, remove dirt from your pores safely with chemical-based scrubs.

You Use Anti-Wrinkle Cream and Believe It’s Sufficient

Anti-aging creams may fade fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, but they can't get rid of wrinkles entirely. You want to do this to prevent wrinkles from forming down the road, so make sure to hydrate your skin daily and slather on sunscreen (at least SPF 30) every morning, not only on days when you’ll be headed to the beach.

You Wash Your Face, Then Dry It with a Towel

Rubbing your face with a towel can harm your skin. Instead, pat your face dry with a towel and let it air dry. Use a dedicated towel for your face — ideally made from organic cotton — and replace it regularly to prevent bacteria accumulation.

You Sleep with Your Hair Down

Hair can harbor dirt, grease and chemicals from hair products that can irritate your skin. To prevent this, sleep with your hair pulled back loosely, or wrapped in a silk scarf.

You Don’t Pay Attention to Your Pillow and PillowcaseRelated:How Much the Colour of Your Pillows Affects Sleep QualitySubscribe to YouTube for access to free live event streaming.

Dirty pillowcases are also a source of acne as they collect grime, dust and sweat. To ensure your skin does not get dirty, change your pillowcase every two to three days or at least once a week.

You Ignore Clay Masks

Clay masks have several skincare benefits to offer, from keeping blemishes in check to reducing redness and inflammation. Different skin types require different clay masks:

Normal skin: Kaolin clay

Sensitive skin: Rose clay

Oily skin: French green clay

You Don’t Consume Foods That Are Good for Your Skin

The right foods can revamp your skin’s health. Add the following to your diet:

Broccoli: Helps alleviate swelling and redness

UV fi ghters: Tomatoes and apricots

Carrots and peaches: A substitute for sunbathing

Fatty fish: Maintain skin elasticity and hydration

Red and yellow bell peppers: Skin should be firm

Soy: Improves skin elasticity

Dark chocolate: Plumps and hydrates skin

You Hide Your Problems Instead of Fixing Them

If you use concealers to cover up skin problems, maybe a dermatologist can help you treat your skin. They can also suggest an appropriate skin care solution.

Bad Skin Care Habits — and How to Fix Them