12 Tips to Avoid Harming Your Skin
For many of us, our dream is to have clear, flawless skin that glows, making us look young, vibrant and full of life all year round. Sometimes, however, it seems that no matter what we do, our skin will never be as clear and bright as we would like. You may already have what you consider to be a good skincare routine, regularly washing and moisturising your skin, and staying away from things known to damage your skin like sunbeds – but even with all this care and consideration, you still can’t achieve your dream of perfect skin.
What many people aren’t aware of, however, is that there are a number of everyday habits that could be harming your skin without you even realising it. So for all you know, certain habits you have which you wouldn’t think would affect your skin could actually be causing you harm. But don’t worry, as we’re here to help! The following are 11 of the most common, everyday habits you need to watch out for which could be damaging your skin.
1) Sleeping with your makeup on
After a long day at work, or a night out on the town, sometimes removing your makeup is the last thing on your mind – all you want to do is collapse in bed and get some much-needed rest! Going to bed with your makeup still on can actually cause your pores to become blocked, and this can in turn cause spots or pimples to develop, or even lead to bacterial infections. So next time you are about to go to bed, make sure you remember to remove your makeup! It’s also important to clean or replace your makeup brushes regularly, as dead skin cells will have built up on these over time.
2) Touching your face
Did you know that the average person touches their face thousands of times every day? Now just take a minute and think about all the other things you touch with your hands throughout the day. This means that throughout the day you are potentially transferring all sorts of dirt, grease and bacteria onto your face. Try to refrain from touching your face too often, and especially from squeezing, picking, or scratching spots. While this is incredibly tempting, it can cause more harm than good.
3) Having long, hot showers
Everyone loves a nice, long, relaxing, hot shower, but did you know this is damaging your skin? Spending too long in the shower and having the water too hot can cause your skin to dry out – try to shorten the amount of time you spend in the shower and lower the temperature of the water.
4) Wearing sunglasses
Just like with your hands, over time, bacteria will build up on your sunglasses, especially around the lens and over the bridge of the nose. Make sure you give your sunglasses a clean regularly to remove any bacteria or built up grease.
5) Talking for too long on the phone
It is said that our mobile phones have 18 times more bacteria on their surface than a toilet! Perhaps consider investing in a Bluetooth headset, or try using your headphones for your next call. If this isn’t possible, try not to leave your phone pressed against your face for too long.
6) Not drinking enough water
Hydrating your skin is vital to maintaining a youthful appearance, but the majority of us still don’t drink anywhere near enough water. Make sure you are drinking lots of water on a daily basis to keep your skin looking bright and clear.
7) Not getting enough sleep
For those with busy schedules, getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always a top priority. Sleep is important for skincare though, as it gives your skin time to rejuvenate, so remember that next time you think you’ll have a late night!
8) Using the same pillowcase for too long
While you’re asleep, your skin will shed dead skin cells, which over time will build up on your pillowcase, as well as dirt and bacteria. Try to change your pillowcase on a weekly basis so you can give your skin the rest it deserves!
9) Over-washing your face
Now this may seem contradictory but is true. “But surely washing my face is important?” I hear you cry, and you would be right. However, washing your face too frequently can strip the skin of its natural oil protection, making it more vulnerable to breakouts. Try to give your face a proper wash twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. The only additional times you should be washing your face is if you have done something to work up a sweat or have something that you need to wash off.
10) Overestimating your sun protection
Everyone knows that it is important to protect your skin from the sun, but many of us are greatly overestimating our level of sun protection. You may put sun cream or an SPF moisturiser on before leaving the house in the morning and think that’s enough – you actually need to reapply this throughout the day to ensure maximum protection.
11) Licking your lips
For some people, licking your lips is strangely addictive, and many of us don’t even realise how often we do it. Contrary to what you may think, licking your lips actually causes them to dry out and become cracked.
12) Frowning
The constant movement of the muscles around your mouth when you frown can cause lines and wrinkles to appear, so remember to smile and be happy!
