Combat dreaded dry skin by avoiding these 18 surprising skin mistakes we're all making without realising. Beautiful skin with minimal effort required – winning!
With brisk winds and plummeting temps, it’s even more important to take care of your skin during winter to protect against those damaging effects responsible for dry, lifeless skin. And it’s easier than you think. By simply avoiding these dry skin no-no’s, and making simple changes to your everyday routines, you can get your best skin EVER this party season. Amazing skin with minimal effort required? Result!
![[GIF]Doubtfire](http://keyassets-p2.timeincuk.net/wp/prod/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2015/12/GIFDoubtfire-300x169.gif)
1. Sleeping with your make up on
We’re all guilty of doing this during party season, but falling asleep with your make up on can lead to gross bacterial infections and clogged pores, which can result in acne. The residue that stays on your pillow can even make you sick – not good when a hangover already looms. Keep a pack of make-up wipes by your bed to remind you to take it off before you hit the sack.
2. Drinking too much coffee
What would we do without our morning coffee eh? But we’re afraid caffeine is a major culprit for causing dry skin and wrinkles. Cut down your daily intake slowly, and be sure to keep hydrated thoughout the day. Aim to drink at least eight glasses (2 litres) of water each day to keep skin plump.
3. Picking your spots
Picking at the skin on your face will only push dirt and bacteria deeper into pores, resulting in more breakouts, so make a really big effort to stop queezing those spots and touching your face.
4. Skipping meals
Skipping meals can cause skin to age faster and dry out more quickly. For sparkling skin, try to include vitamins C ( found in oranges), B3 (in peanuts), E (found in trendy avocados darling), and A (sweet potatoes) in your meals.
5. Long, hot showers
We know getting out of a hot shower is v. difficult when it’s freezing outside, but hot water strips away the outermost layer of the epidermis, causing scaly and dry skin – not a good look. An indicator that you’ve been in too long is when your skin starts to turn red and itchy.
Long hot showers dry out your skin
6. Not testing your products BEFORE using them on your face
To avoid an unwanted allergic reaction to new chemicals, always test new products like make-up, lotions, and cleansers, on a small patch of skin (like your arm) first before applying to your face.
7. Talking on the phone
Don’t panic we’re not saying it’s time to ditch it altogether (phew!) but try and limit your phone calls, as hours spent talking on your phone can lead to breakouts and rashes along your jaw line and cheek. Eek! Keep some antibacterial wipes or hand gel with you at all times to keep your both your phone and skin germ free.
8. Getting hair products on your face
When fixing your ‘do with hairspray, put a clean towel over your face to protect your skin. We know sweatbands are so eighties, but wearing one when you exercise is a great idea to stop hair products dripping onto your face when you sweat.
9. Yo-yo diets
As if we needed an excuse to quit that diet! Frequent weight gain and loss can cause the fibers in your skin to loosen over time, creating stretch marks and sag. Stick to a balanced diet incorporating all of the food groups for smooth, even skin.
10. Not getting enough Zzzzzs
Aim for the reccommended eight hours a night, and you will look and feel refreshed, as well as replenishing and rehydrating skin and avoiding clogged pores. What’s not to love?
Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep a night for refreshed skin
11. Eating too much salt
Excess sodium in your diet can suck the moisture out of skin, leaving it dry and dull. Bleurgh. Cut back on salty treats like crisps and fast food, swapping them for healthier alternatives such as fruit and nuts or seeds.
12. Waxing too often
We know it can be tempting to get your beautician on speed dial at the first sight of new hairs, but too much waxing can result in raw skin and increased bumps. Leave at least three weeks between each appointment to let your skin regenerate, to avoid any redness or sores.
13. Not remembering your lips
Three-to-five cellular layers of skin rest upon your lips, making them a prevalent part of your beauty routine. Dry, chapped lips causes them to age faster so opt for lipsticks and balms containing petrolatum, dimethicone, and glycerine to help keep your smackers plump and kissable. Now where’s the mistletoe at?
Don’t forget to care for your smackers
14. Dirty pillowcases
Nighttime is when your skin finally gets a chance to rest and shed its dead cells, but they can build up over time on your pillowcase, leaving behind bacteria and toxins. To kill off any nasties, make sure you change your pillowcase at least once every two weeks.
15. Over exfoliating
Over-exfoliating can strip skin of the necessary oils needed to maintain your natural glow. You only need to exfoliate ONCE a week to keep it healthy, so relax with the scrubs.
16. Stress
Christmas can be stressful when it comes to getting everything organised for the big day, but stress is the number one bad skin culprit. It can cause blemishes, dullness, and rashes, not to mention lines from facial movements will also ingrain in your skin over time. Always make time to do something you love like exercise, seeing friends, or relaxing with a copy of Now!
17. Too much sugar
Getting your sugar fix too often hurts the collagen nestled in your skin, leaving you with sag. Keep cravings at bay with sweet tasting fruits like pineapple or mango. Yum!
18. Not getting enough exercise
Love it or loathe it, the benefits of a good workout are endless. It helps increase blood flow, as well as clearing toxins, which are expelled during perspiration, and cleanses dead skins cells to allow new ones to grow. Phew! Better get that spin class booked pronto.
Rose Adams
The post Eek! The 18 surprising things that are destroying your skin appeared first on Now magazine.