HEALTH & BEAUTY

So you have your skincare routine all set and you’re being diligent, following the steps each day and night. Yet, you’re not seeing differences and your skin might even be showing new signs of ageing. Our everyday habits can make or break our skin health. Sometimes, without us realising. Here, we share some common mistakes to avoid so you can get the most out of your skincare products and achieve the healthy, glowing skin you’re after.

SLEEPING WITH MAKEUP ON
As tired as you are after a long day or night out with your friends, remember to thoroughly remove your makeup before your well-deserved slumber. Having all that foundation, blush and mascara on for all those hours can clog your pores, cause breakouts, accelerate the ageing process and even lead to inflammation. So be sure to let your skin breathe and renew itself throughout the night.

FOCUSING ONLY ON FACE
Sure, taking care of the face is important. After all, that’s what we’re usually referring to when we speak about skincare. But, remember your skin is all over your body. When applying products such as moisturisers and sunscreen, go beyond the jawline and give your neck and chest some love too. You might even want to pick up some good body products to give the rest of your skin the protection and care it needs.

OVER-EXFOLIATING
If you’re scrubbing your face every day with harsh physical exfoliants, you might want to take a step back and think about whether it’s damaging the skin. Try using chemical exfoliants containing AHA or BHA (alpha and beta hydroxy acid, respectively) for a gentler alternative. Also, keep in mind to exfoliate at most, two to three times a week.

NOT CLEANING YOUR PHONE
From the office desk to the kitchen counter, your phone comes into contact with all kinds of surfaces throughout the day, picking up germs everywhere it goes. To keep those nasties off your face when you’re making a call, use a disinfecting wipe to clean your phone when you get home.

SKIPPING THE SUNSCREEN
Be it rain or shine, never forget your sunscreen as those shining rays of light can speed up the ageing process. We repeat: sunscreen is not just for beach holidays or when the sun is out. For the most effective protection, look for sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in its ingredients list. It should also be a broad spectrum, helping to shield you from UVA and UVBrays.

NOT USING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS
Everyone’s skin is unique. This means everyone’s skin may have unique needs, with different skin types and concerns. Before buying a much-raved-about product promoting a host of benefits, find out what type of skin it is formulated for and if it is suitable for you.

NOT APPLYING PRODUCTS IN RIGHT ORDER
You may have all the right products for your skin but if you’re not using them correctly, they may not be as effective. One of the key tips to getting the most out of your products is to apply them in order from lightest to heaviest formula. This helps ensure the richer, heavier products won’t block the lighter ones from penetrating the skin and delivering the good stuff.

NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
There’s a reason we call it ‘beauty sleep’. While we know it’s important to get seven to nine hours of shut-eye each night for overall health, sleep is also crucial for skin health. Sleep deprivation can cause increased levels of stress hormones and inflammation, make the skin look dull and pale, and play a role in the development of wrinkles, sagging skin and dark circles under the eyes. All the more reason to rest up!