Stop Making These Common Skincare Mistakes

Most of us do the best we can for our skin. However, it's easy to end up doing things that put all our efforts to waste.

Here are some common skincare mistakes you might be making every day without even noticing. Once you rid these common mistakes from your skincare routine, you can finally pave the way to healthy, radiant skin.

#1: Not Using the Right Skincare Products for Your Skin Type

Every good skincare regimen is made up of the following products: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Instead of just choosing any product, select with care, ensuring to pick the ones formulated for your skin type.

Do you have oily or acne-prone skin? You'll need products formulated with ingredients that target breakouts, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Is your skin more on the dry side? Choose products formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

When you use the wrong products for your skin type, you can end up doing more bad than good. Dry skin fed oily skin products will only get drier, while oily skin fed dry skin products will only get oilier. See where we're going with this?

If you need help distinguishing your skin type, visit a dermatologist to get their professional opinion.

#2: Not Exfoliating Regularly

Exfoliating your skin helps remove dead skin cells, excess oil, and decongests clogged pores to help prevent acne. Regular exfoliation will also help your skin absorb products in a better way for improved effects.

To keep skin smooth and fresh, exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week using either a sugar-based scrub or chemical exfoliant.

Try Rainbow's Glow Serum to gently dissolve the build up of dead skin. It's made with glycolic acid and bakuchiol to illuminate skin.

#3: Applying Moisturizer to Dry Skin

According to dermatologists, one of the best ways to apply moisturizer is within one minute after cleaning. Your skin can quickly become dehydrated after cleansing, which is why it's essential to apply your cream while skin's still damp. 

Applying moisturizer immediately will eliminate dryness and seal in moisture for hours of dewy hydration. 

#4: Falling Asleep in Your Makeup

Not removing your makeup before bed is probably the worst thing you can do for your complexion. Besides suffocating your skin, you're welcoming in pimples, fine lines, and wrinkles with open arms.

Over time, wearing makeup to bed will make you look older than you are, leaving you with dull, lacklustre skin and puffy eyes. 

To prevent your pores from getting clogged and wrinkles from etching on your face, start making a habit of cleaning your face thoroughly before going to bed. If you wear a lot of makeup, be sure to double cleanse so that you get every inch of it off. It's an important step that must not be missed if you're seeking a clear and youthful complexion.

#5: Forgetting the SPF

Besides swerving skin cancer, wearing sunscreen every time you go out protects your skin from UV rays that contribute to fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and sagging.

Not wearing sunscreen on cloudy days is one of the most common skincare mistakes there is. That's because people think where there's no sun, there's no risk. But there is a risk because there is sun. 

To save your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays, start applying sunscreen every day before leaving the house. If you plan to hang outside for a couple of hours or more, remember to re-apply the SPF every two hours.

#6: Applying Products in the Wrong Order

It's an easy mistake to make, but one that could cost you the desired effects of your products. To get the most from your skincare products and their active ingredients, start applying them in the right order.

As a rule of thumb, it's best to start with your lightest products like toner, mist, and serum followed by your heaviest products like oil and lotion. You should apply eye cream before moisturizer as it may not be able to penetrate the skin through a layer of heavy cream.

Be sure to add in an antioxidant like vitamin C serum to brighten, fade discoloration, and plump out fine lines and wrinkles. 

Rainbow's Smooth Serum is a power-packed anti-aging formula made with vitamin C and vegan collagen to reveal blemish-free, glowing skin. 

#7: Over-Exfoliating

Just like under-exfoliating can lead to a build up of dirt and dead skin cells, exfoliating more than necessary can cause skin irritation, dryness, and redness -- especially in sensitive skin types.

Many people think the more, the better when it comes to exfoliation. The problem is, it places a lot of stress on the skin, causing flareups of everything from breakouts to dryness.

Stick to exfoliating 2-3 times a week if your skin can handle it. Those with sensitive skin should avoid exfoliating more than once a week.

#8: Not Changing Your Pillowcase

Think about it: your face is in contact with your pillowcase each and every night. If you haven't washed your pillowcase for a couple of weeks or more, just think how much dirt and oil you're exposing your skin to.

To maintain clear and healthy skin, try switching your pillowcase at least once a week. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, make it every 2-3 days. 

And if you can switch to a silk or satin pillowcase, even better! These materials are known to help prevent wrinkles.

#9: Touching Your Skin

Whether you do it at your desk, over the phone, or while watching TV, skin touching is a common yet detrimental habit that can lead to breakouts and possibly even acne scars if you turn that touching into picking. Avoid making this skincare mistakes to maintain blemish-free skin.

Are you guilty of making one or more of the above skincare mistakes? Don't worry about it. The most important thing is that you acknowledge the mistake and attempt to fix it. Once you do that, you can look forward to a lifetime of luscious skin.