Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to thrive on routine, but it’s important to take a look at your routine every once in a while and ask if it’s filled with good or bad habits. Many habits are hard to form, like getting into a consistent workout routine or drinking enough water throughout the day, while others are even harder to break—smoking, late night snacking or biting your nails, to name a few.
Your skincare routine is habitual since you do it every day, but are parts of your routine damaging your skin? We’ve rounded up some of the best skin care habits to incorporate into your daily regimen, and some of the worst to kick to the curb.
Best: Daily Sunscreen
Every day, rain or shine, harmful UV rays come streaming through the windows in your office, home, and car—and nothing damages skin quite like the sun. The best way to combat this damage? Daily application of sunscreen to exposed skin (don’t forget your neck and hands!). Be sure to wear a minimum SPF of 15 and since it’s a product that you’ll use every day, choosing a mineral-based sunscreen with UV filters that don’t absorb into the skin is your safest bet.
Best: Incorporating serums
Serums are highly concentrated formulas that help you target specific skin concerns and are one of the best skin care habits you can form. If you’re not sure where to begin on your serum journey, you can address multiple concerns by using a vitamin C serum in the morning and vitamin A serum before bed. Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection and helps improve the look of hyperpigmentation, while Vitamin A encourages skin’s natural renewal process and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Best: Regular visits to a dermatologist
Just like choosing a primary care doctor, seeing the same dermatologist on a regular basis helps create a history of your health, and in the case of your dermatologist, your skin’s health. Having an expert on your skin helps keep track of changes to your skin, which means their recommendations and your routine can change as your skin does. Your dermatologist will also be able to identify your ever-elusive skin type and what ingredients to reach for and which to avoid.
Best: Switching up your products with the season
Your skin has different needs from season to season. When temperatures and humidity shift, so should your routine. For instance, as summer ends and fall begins, you probably need to focus on exfoliation that will help address summer sun damage. Once we move into winter months, it’s all about hydration—moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! If dry skin season is getting the best of you, try adding in products with hyaluronic acid to boost skin’s ability to retain moisture.
Worst: Over (or under) exfoliation
Trying to step up your exfoliation game? Utilizing a physical or chemical exfoliator is crucial to addressing sun damage and keeping skin decongested and primed for hydrating products as the weather shifts. Keep in mind, there is such a thing as too much exfoliation. Incorporating this fruit enzyme scrub 2 to 4 times per week ensures you’re reaping the benefits while giving skin time to recover. When using a physical exfoliator, scrubbing hard won’t solve your skin issues and may actually make them worse— a gentle, circular massage is where it’s at.
Worst: Not using an eye cream
The skin around your eyes is thinner and much more delicate than the skin on the rest of your face, so incorporating a specialized eye cream into your routine is the best way to treat this area. Eye creams and gels can be switched up morning and evening to address different needs. Reach for nutrient-packed, age-defense eye creams at night and creams with antioxidants and caffeine to wake eyes up in the morning.
Worst: Going to bed in your makeup
Your skin is exposed to all sorts of pore-clogging impurities throughout the day. Makeup and pollution are the biggest contributors; add in sweat from your workout and you’ve got a face full of impurities. Use a sugar cleanser on your face before bed to remove the day’s grime and clear the way for your nighttime routine, giving your skin a chance to soak it all up and renew while you sleep.
Worst: Not cleaning your makeup brushes
Since you went to bed with a cleansed face, you don’t want to muddy it up first thing in the morning with old makeup and product residue from dirty makeup brushes. Makeup and product residue can start clogging pores and congesting skin, so it’s important to regularly clean these applicators. (Not sure how? Learn how to clean makeup brushes naturally.)
What other skin care habits do you want to start (or break)? Tell us about them in the comments!