SKINCARE MISTAKES When it comes to skincare, we all know that the influx of information can be overwhelming, making it hard to know what to believe (and even harder to know what to do)! Unfortunately, many of us are making common skincare mistakes every single day and likely not knowing it! Here are the biggest skincare mistakes most of us do every day and what you can do instead.
Squeezing pimples Yes, we know this is a really obvious mistake that we’ve been told about countless times, but chances are you might still do it on occasion. Whilst it can be very tempting, try to avoid it at all costs! Picking skin or squeezing pimples can push bacteria and pus into the skin which can result in more swelling, redness and even more pimples. It can also mean you’re left with nasty scabs which can cause permanent skin pits or scars. If you have a pimple that you want to treat, the best thing to do is to leave it. Don’t touch it and don’t squeeze it. If you absolutely must squeeze it, please be gentle. Apply a medium amount of pressure on either side of the pimple and slowly push down with the lightest pressure possible. Do not wiggle your fingers back and forth to try and squeeze it out. Large amounts of pressure or pushing at the skin will create micro tears which can cause scarring. It can spread the bacteria in the pimple further which can create a bigger problem for your skin. Ideally, you’ll avoid touching your face at all, unless it’s to apply a gentle serum after it has been left alone.
Layering too many products A common trend in skincare lately is layering products a la K Beauty style, however if you’re not completely up to speed with how each ingredient can affect your skin, then it’s probably not advisable. Many people don’t realise that some ingredients when layered together can actually cancel each other out (meaning they don’t actually 8
do anything) or worse – cause harmful skin reactions. But before you throw away the entire contents of your bathroom cabinet, consider understanding how ingredients interact with each other and potential risks that can be involved. For example, Vitamin C serum and Retinol work optimally in different pH environments, so shouldn’t be layered on top of each other. Retinol also shouldn’t be layered with AHAs or BHAs because retinoids the combination can cause excessive skin sensitivity, redness and irritation. Also consider the fact that reducing reliance on synthetics which your skin may not really need can help to restore natural hydrating processes, balance PH levels and strengthen the natural protective barrier. Beauty routines that overload the skin with synthetics are, according to Biologi’s research, unnecessary and can damage the protective barrier that protects the body. Traditional skincare products can be packed with toxic ingredients including chemical activators, irritating fragrance, occlusive emulsifiers and even water to dilute natural actives.
