Your skincare routine should work harder, not irritate, sensitise, or compromise your skin. From using a dropper to apply serums to over-exfoliating and using water that’s too hot, small daily habits can make a difference to your skin’s health. Says editor Trudi Brewer.
Image Instagram
Don't take a dropper to your cheek
New York dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, took to Instagram to "set the record straight" about what he calls a skincare mistake influencers make every day on social media. "If you're applying a skincare product that uses a dropper, do not take that dropper and apply it directly to your cheek," he advises. "You may like how it looks in your video, but you're contaminating the tip of the dropper that you are putting right back into the bottle. Instead, open the bottle, put a couple of drops on your palm or the tips of your fingers and then apply it to your face."
Wipe down your product bottles and jars
Elizabeth Lampell is an aesthetician at Biologique Recherche Los Angeles, strongly supports the above and offers this advice for non-dropper skincare: "Never dip your fingers directly into your product containers. Instead, use a cotton tip, a small spatula, or a makeup brush to apply thick face creams. She says. "Also, get into the habit of frequently wiping down the outside of your products that you are constantly picking up. Clean products help avoid spreading bacteria on the skin, which cause breakouts."
Don't use hot water
Another tip from Lampell. Avoid using hot water on your skin, and if possible, wash your face in the sink rather than the shower, Lampell advises. "Hot water can cause sensitivity, inflammation, dryness and can loosen the skin's elasticity." A quick shower cleanse is always rushed, and that's when you can be rough on your skin. Also, don't use clean towels to dry your face. Not the community face towel hanging on the heated towel rail. It might sound like a no-brainer, but Lampell says she sees it all the time. "When drying your face, reach for a clean towel, a reusable cotton pad or a single-use cotton face towel."
Don't go overboard
Multistep skincare routines may be the rage, but skincare expert and aesthetician Alicia McKeithan isn't a fan. "Less is always more. Using too many products can irritate the skin and increase sensitivity, leading to chemical burns, rashes, or textured skin. A simple routine is cleansing, a serum, and a moisturiser day and night, with SPF on top during the day.”
Don't wait to feel the burn from active skincare
"Products should never irritate or burn when applied to the skin," McKeithan says. "That can indicate the product is too strong or the skin barrier is compromised." So stop using it.
Don't drag your skin downward
Be gentle with your skin, especially with cleansers and masks. McKeithan says, "When removing these products, don't drag on the skin; it can result in premature ageing and irritation.” Use a clean face towel or cotton wipe and wipe upward and outward; be gentle under the eyes, it's the thinnest skin on your face.
Stay in order
Besides not applying products consistently, not paying attention to your skin type, and using products that aren’t suitable for you, New York dermatologist Jody A. Levine, says a big miss is applying products in the wrong order. (For example, applying sunscreen before serum.) "It is very important to consult with a board-certified dermatologist to make sure that you have a regimen of products and a routine that is suitable for your skin," she advises.