Taking care of your skin sometimes seems like a full-time job. Here is a list of ten things that people often do that contribute to less than optimal skin health, and I know you don’t want that! All of them are simple and don’t take much time to incorporate into your skin care routine. Give them a try!

1. Neglecting to wear sunscreen. The sun can damage your skin even if it’s cloudy. A good moisturizer with SPF 30 works well. If you’re going to be in the sun for a prolonged period, reapply often!
2. Exfoliating too often. Exfoliation is an essential part of your skin care routine, but applying a scrub more than two or three times a week can start to strip away the top layer of healthy skin.
3. Forgetting to clean your makeup brushes. They hold more than makeup! Dirty brushes with bacteria, skin oils, and dead skin cells can wreak havoc on your skin. In addition to helping keep your skin healthy, clean brushes help you achieve a flawless makeup application.
4. Only moisturizing once a day. Twice a day is a must. A lightweight moisturizer (with sunscreen) in the morning before applying makeup can help your makeup go on smoother. Your skin will also benefit from a nightly treatment like a serum, night cream, or mask. These products contain ingredients that help neutralize the adverse effects of daytime makeup and air pollution.
5. Ignoring your neck. When people see your face, they see your neck as well (unless you’re a turtle!). Treat your neck the same way you treat your face!
6. Not changing your pillowcase often. Removing dust, skin oils, and dead skin cells can make a difference! Together they’re a perfect combination for a breakout.
7. Forgetting to wash your face before bed. After a long day, sometimes it’s tempting to skip your bedtime skin care routine. Washing your face before bed is essential! You touch your face all day long, whether it’s pushing up your glasses or scratching your nose, which transfers bacteria from your hands to your face, possibly making you more susceptible to breakouts. You’ll want to wash it away! Add to that the fact that your moisturizer will work better, you’ll get rid of daytime pollution, and prevent free radical damage, which all help prevent wrinkles, and washing your face before bed makes perfect sense!
8. Washing your face in the shower. Hair products often contain chemicals that make your hair soft and smooth, but aren’t great for your skin. Wash your face in the skin after using these products in the shower to give your skin a clean, fresh look.
9. Applying powder to remove “shine.” Healthy skin always shines, and although powder decreases the shine, it can also clog your pores. A great alternative is blotting papers for oily skin. They temporarily eliminate the shine without stripping your skin of oils, clogging your pores, and adding unnecessary products to your skin.
10. Using too much product. Most products only require a pea-size amount to do the job. More than that is wasteful and can give you oily skin from too much moisturizer or itchy, irritated skin from too much washing to get it off.

A little bit of change can make a lot of difference! Change your practices and enjoy healthier, younger-looking skin!

~Monica