WRONG DAILY BEAUTY ROUTINES
Looking beautiful on the outside is one thing, maintaining your skin to keep it smooth and beautiful is another. Dermatologists reveal minor tweaks to your daily beauty habits that can save you money and time and result in smoother, younger-looking skin.
Applying Sunscreen Before Applying Makeup
You shouldn’t apply sunscreen before foundation. If you use sunscreen first, and then an anti-aging product then a moisturizer, and finally makeup, you’re disturbing that sunscreen film. Applying other products on top of sunscreen removes some of the SPF, leading to uneven coverage. Instead, apply a thin layer of sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to your skin before you apply makeup.
Depending on your makeup’s SPF for sun protection
A tinted moisturizer or foundation with SPF is better than one that doesn’t offer sun protection, but most people don’t apply enough SPF-containing makeup to adequately protect themselves from harmful UV rays, according to Health magazine, and you often miss your ears and neck. Also, your makeup’s SPF may only protect you from UVB rays and not UVA rays (both increase your skin cancer risk and aging). Instead, apply both your SPF-containing cosmetic products and a separate broadspectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Scrubbing with a washcloth
Cleaning your face with a towel isn’t the best way to remove the dirt, grime, and oil. The fibers in your washcloth can irritate your skin and tear at its protective layer, which can contribute to the development of fine lines and dryness. Instead, use your hands to rub in or wash off products and cleansers.
Including toner in your routine
If you don’t have acne and you use a mild face wash (or other drying products, like a retinol cream), chances are you don’t need toner. Toners clean the skin and minimize pores, and you risk over-drying if you’re already using a myriad of other products. Unless you have particularly oily skin, reserve toner to treat an occasional breakout.
Trusting an anti-aging cleanser to reverse the clock
At the first sign of a fine line, it’s natural to grab anything with an “anti-aging” label, but cleansers don’t have the ability to turn back time. Cleanser stays on your face for about six seconds—no antiaging ingredient can affect your skin in six seconds. Instead, use an anti-aging moisturizer or an overnight retinol cream.
Removing polish with acetone-based products
Acetone-based nail polish removers make removing that stubborn glitter polish a breeze, but the harsh ingredient can dry out your nails and the surrounding skin. This dryness could weaken your nails, and cause breakage. Try a non-acetone remover with less aggressive solvents like ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and propylene carbonate.