There’s no denying that the skincare industry is a minefield. With too many products to choose from, differing opinions from experts and a host of skincare myths in constant circulation, it can be hard to know what’s best for your skin. However, a great place to start is by looking at what not to do. Below, Biologi Dermal Specialist Lucy Macdougald details the top five skincare mistakes you’re probably already making.
GETTING INTO A ROUTINE RUT
Have you been applying the same products, in the same way, for months or even years on end? Well, if you’re not having any issues with your skin, chances are you’re onto something good. But if your skin isn’t where you want it to be, it might be time to get out of that routine rut! The important thing to know is that the skin can become reliant on products and sometimes almost immune which can then mean those products don’t work in the way they should.
At Biologi, we suggest implementing a practice called “Intuitive Beauty.” This is where you start listening to what the skin really needs, rather than just mindlessly applying products. Intuitive Beauty looks at the way skin cells function on their 28-day life cycle and shows that throughout this cycle, the skin might become drier than normal at any point, or experience changes cause by hormones. Intuitive Beauty allows you to be intuitive about your own skin and your skincare choices, meaning you choose specific active ingredients based on what the skin really needs.
LAYERING TOO MANY PRODUCTS
You can’t be blamed if you’re in the habit of layering your skincare products if we consider some of the trends that have surfaced in the skincare realm the last couple of years. Trends like 10-step routines or K Beauty have encouraged this practice but thankfully these trends are starting to decrease in popularity. The reason layering too many products is bad for your skin is because you’re not only increasing your toxic load, but you’re putting your skin at risk when we know that some skincare ingredients can actually react with each other in a negative way, posing harmful effects on the skin.
The best way to try and eliminate the practice of layering your skincare products is to ask yourself, “does my skin really need this?” Products like toners, mists, day creams, night creams, sheet masks, and son. usually do little more than just increase the toxic load. While most people have become accustomed to lining the bathroom shelves with moisturizers, lotions, masks, and thick creams, the truth is that less really is more in skincare. An effective skincare routine really only needs four products: A good cleanser, a multiuse serum of choice like Biologi’s Bd Face Luminosity Serum, an exfoliant, and a hard-working sunscreen. That’s it!
STRIPPING THE SKIN VIA CLEANSING OR OVER-EXFOLIATING
Each day our skin is exposed to a myriad of toxins and particles from the environment, pollution, and the makeup we use. The best way to rid of these toxins is by cleansing and exfoliating, however, what happens when we do this too much? Or worse, when we do it with the wrong products? In my opinion, this is one of the biggest skincare mistakes that we can make. Over cleansing or using harsh scrubs can strip the skin of its natural oils which can then cause a host of skin issues.
Ideally, you’ll want to do a light cleanse in the morning with a gentle cleanser or warm water on its own, followed by a double cleanse in the evening using a microfibre cloth and gentle cleanser, then exfoliation up to twice a week. Makeup wipes, cleansers and exfoliating products formulated with irritating surfactants can strip the skin’s natural oils leaving the skin dehydrated and dull. The tight skin feeling is never a good thing for your skin—it’s basically your skin telling you it’s unhappy and desperately needs moisture.
Avoid choosing abrasive cleansers or scrubs and instead, opt for a gentle option like Biologi’s Complete Exfoliation Bundle which includes everything you need for cleansing and exfoliation—without stripping the skin. In this pack, there’s Biologi’s Bc Refresh Cleanser, Bx Reveal Exfoliant, 2 x Biologi Microfibre Cloths, and a Biologi Wash Bag.
NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER
The skin is the body’s largest organ, so it makes sense that we need to drink a lot of water to keep it hydrated! We recommend drinking a minimum of two liters of water every day to support the skin’s natural hydrating processes. Water helps promote the skin’s natural hydrating processes to strengthen cells and help our complexions become more hydrated, brighter, and dewy. The more H2O you drink, the less the skin relies on irritating formulations and occlusive ingredients for artificial hydration.
Unfortunately, if skin cells become dehydrated, it can irritate and damage the cells, leading to an array of problems in the skin. When it comes to the skin’s hydration levels, another thing to be mindful of is what can cause dehydration. Substances like alcohol and caffeine are well-known diuretics and are best to be avoided if you want ultimate hydration for your skin. Unfortunately, consuming too much of either increases urine production as the liver works to eliminate the toxins from the body. This process depletes the skin of natural moisture which will then show signs of dehydration as the result.
NOT REAPPLYING SUNSCREEN
If there’s one thing you need to do all year round, it’s to protect your skin from harmful UV rays emitted by the sun. While most skincare lovers know that applying sunscreen every day is an absolute must, unfortunately, many people do not reapply. Even if the sky is cloudy, the sun’s rays can still penetrate delicate skin cells leading to dehydrated skin and premature aging. Another mistake that is often made is relying on sunscreen in makeup or skincare products. You need to apply a broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen on its own and not a diluted version through your makeup products. We love brands like Ultra Violette or Naked Sundays who have just launched an innovative SPF 50+ sunscreen spray that can be sprayed over your makeup.
Elsewhere in beauty, here are five skincare myths broken down by an expert!
