For Glamour, by Beth Shapouri.
You don’t want to start off your day on the wrong foot in the skin care department, right? Right. So the fact that there are sneaky things that might be sabotaging your complexion — without you even realizing it — is a need-to-know situation. Here’s a list of some of the morning mistakes that could be wrecking your skin on the regular. Take note, your A.M. strategy might just change forever.
Mistake #1: Over-cleansing (for sensitive types) If your skin gets red and blotchy after washing your face in the morning, you could be stripping away your natural protective oils. “When we overwash, it looks like our skin is broken out, but it could really just be irritated, peeling and inflamed,” dermatologist Gervaise Gerstner, M.D. told us. The solution? Skip the face wash and rinse away any dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria you accumulated overnight with plain water or a micellar water.
Mistake #2: Using the same old washcloth If a washcloth is part of your routine, Kelly A. Reynolds, Ph.D., an environmental health science professor at the University of Arizona, says you need to toss it in the laundry daily. “Washcloths typically become soaked and heavily soiled during use,” she says. “When used to scrub skin, soils from makeup or dead skin cells can rapidly accumulate. Being wet and not just damp means there is a longer dry time. This lengthy condition of moisture creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to grow to unacceptable levels.” Ew.
Mistake #3: Going in the wrong order According to New York City dermatologist Jennifer MacGregor, M.D., there’s a correct order for your skin care products, and here it is: After cleansing, put on serum (so it can fully absorb), then sunscreen, then moisturizer, and finally, eye cream. All the reasons why here.
Mistake #4: Cocktailing too many products There are plenty of skin-nourishing ingredients out there, but trying to go for them all at once could be messing up your face. “Piling on multiple active ingredients can often lead to redness, inflammation, and peeling,” says Santa Monica, Calif., dermatologist Sonia Batra, M.D. . And while it’s true that antioxidants work best when combined (vitamins C and E are an especially powerful duo), retinols paired with acne treatments and alpha hydroxy acids are a recipe for disaster. Her rules for minimizing irritation: Introduce one new product at a time, wait a full minute between layering products to buffer interactions, and go for formulas that are fragrance-free.
Mistake #5: Not putting your eye cream around your lips “Always apply eye cream to your upper lip,” Matt Leavitt, D.O., of Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in Florida advises. They’re known for having the most nutrient-rich ingredients to treat collagen production, wrinkles, and elastin because eyes are typically one of the hardest area on the face to treat. And since your lips tend to age faster than the rest of your face, they can use the help.
Mistake #6: Not using the right motion when you cleanse Explains NYC epidermologist and facialist Isabelle Bellis, you need to “glide your fingertips, covered with cleanser, up over your nose, onto your forehead, around the eyes, and down the cheeks until you reach your chin. Kind of like doing mini breaststrokes on your face.” This increases circulation as you wash, which will make your face look like you got an extra hour of sleep.
Mistake #7: Waiting too long to product-up Don’t dilly-dally when it comes to your skin. Apply whatever products you use (toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer) within a few minutes of cleansing, while your skin is still damp and pores are open, says Santa Monica dermatologist Sonia Batra, M.D.
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