When it comes to skincare, it can feel like a puzzle — one wrong move, and suddenly your glow is gone. But don’t stress! Whether you’re a skincare newbie or a self-proclaimed product junkie, we’re here to help you sidestep the biggest skincare mistakes and keep your skin feeling fresh, happy, and radiant.
Common skincare mistakes you may not know you’re making
This list of common skincare mistakes will help steer you to the right products, techniques, and habits for your skin. Arm yourself with this knowledge to boost your confidence and get that glow from within. After all, skincare is self-care!
1. Using the wrong products for your skin type
If you’ve ever wondered why your skin isn’t looking or feeling great even when you religiously do your skincare routine, it might not be you — it could be you’re using less-than-ideal ingredients for your skin. After all, the worst skin care products for your face are the ones not formulated for your skin type, whether that’s normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive.
Always thought you had dry skin, but recently you’ve been blotting oil by lunchtime? Your normally dewy T-zone suddenly looks dull and flaky? Your skin is always evolving. Blame it on hormones, climate, stress, sleep, age, and a laundry list of other factors, including your home or workplace’s heating and cooling systems. Here’s how to know if your products aren’t vibing with your skin anymore:
- Products don’t seem to be working as promised, or you’re not seeing results.
- Skin becomes tight or greasy soon after application.
- Skin is irritated, itchy, or flaky since starting to use a product.
- New or worsening acne breakouts, rashes, or dry skin.
If a product you thought was designed for your skin type doesn’t seem to be doing its job, consider switching it up. If you’re unsure of your type or suspect it’s changed, you can always double check with a dermatologist or try the day test or wash test methods.
2. Accidentally sabotaging your skincare
Skincare is so much more than what you put on your face. Your lifestyle and everyday hygiene habits, not to mention your environment, genetics, and diet, all affect your skin’s health. And they all have the potential to undo your skincare routine’s hard work.
Hydration habits
Just like true beauty, healthy skincare habits start from the inside out. Your body relies on plenty of water to flush out bacteria, aid digestion, maintain your electrolyte balance, and protect your organs and tissue — all of which affects your skin.
If you’re dehydrated, you might not even know it. Consider upping your water intake if you see these signs:
- Itchiness
- Cracks
- Dullness
- Roughness
- Dryness or flakiness
The daily recommended water intake for healthy adults is about 15.5 cups for men and 11.5 cups for women. Yes — these amounts include water from juice, coffee, tea, and other beverages, as well as the fruits and veggies you eat. But balance it out with good ol’ H₂O — your glowing complexion, not to mention the rest of your body, will thank you.
Wash your face. Every day. No excuses.
This is one of the biggest skin care mistakes, and probably the easiest to avoid. (No judgement here — we’ve all done it!) But skipping a cleanse is like going to bed with yesterday’s problems (literally) sitting on your face. Even if you can’t commit to a full routine, at least swipe on some micellar water before hitting the pillow.
Clean devices + clean hands = fewer skincare mistakes.
Even if you’re religious about cleansing your face and meticulous about your skincare routine, dirty hands can derail it. Think about the list of objects you touch every day. Phone, keyboard, earbuds, or other bacteria-collecting gadgets. Then think about how many times you touch your face after handling The same goes for brushes, applicators, rollers, and other skincare tools: Keep them clean so you can keep your hands (and face) in the clear, too.
3. Bad skincare technique
Skincare isn’t just what you use, it’s how you use it. A great product with bad technique is like a gourmet meal with the wrong seasoning: disappointing. To help your routine do its job, follow this list of skincare tips.
Skincare do’s and don'ts
Do:
- Start with clean skin and clean hands. Dirt and oil on your hands or face throws off your skincare game.
- Spot test before the first use. Especially important if you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts.
- Do the research. Read reviews before purchasing, and check out the ingredients list and intended usage before you even open the bottle.
- Have morning and evening skincare routines. They might be similar and use many of the same products, however the morning should be all about protecting your skin from the elements (hello, SPF). Your evening routine should restore and pamper your skin while you sleep, like repairing masks.
Don’t:
- Forget the applicator. Dipping fingers into makeup or other product jars is a recipe for contamination! Use a sponge, brush, or other applicator, and don’t forget to clean or swap out your tools regularly.
- Get too into it. Roughly scrubbing, rubbing or pulling will do more harm than good. Exfoliating too often (more than one or two times per week) or too harshly (whether it’s with physical exfoliants or acids) strips away your skin’s precious protective barrier and leads to irritation. Remember, gentle is the key word with skincare.
- Using self-tanner too frequently. This can irritate skin or clog pores.
- Wash your face too much or too little. Goldilocks is the goal here. Cleanse your face in the morning and at night to remove makeup and keep your skin’s moisture balance just right. Only wash more frequently if you need to.
- Be noncommittal. Changing your skincare routine constantly can cause chaos with your skin, so try to stick to the plan unless there’s a need to switch it up.
4. Skipping skincare steps
Every basic skincare routine should include cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and sun protection, with other functions added as needed. Once you’ve scoped the right products and mastered your technique, it’s time to make sure you’re doing your skincare routine in the right order. Applying products in the order they’re intended ensures active ingredients have a chance to penetrate your skin and deliver the best results.
Some essential skincare steps that are commonly skipped:
- Moisturizing right after cleansing
- Cleansing skin and removing makeup before bed
- Skipping SPF — a must every day before leaving the house, even on overcast days.
- Applying products to your neck (yes, even SPF!)
5. Storing skincare in the bathroom
It might be your self-care sanctuary, but a warm, humid environment isn’t ideal for skincare products. This can cause them to degrade and become less effective over time. When possible, keep skincare items somewhere cool, dry, and away from sunlight, like in a bedroom vanity drawer (or a beauty fridge? Even better!).
6. Using expired products
It’s easy to brush off skincare expiration dates, but they’re there for a reason! Skincare ingredients are a lot like food and medications: not only do they lose their power over time — they can actively harm your skin if the product’s chemistry has gone bad. Using old products is like drinking week-old coffee — it won’t kill you, but why take the risk? Bacteria also thrive in product containers. That’s a recipe for bad skincare that can cause rashes, irritation, or even infections.
Manufacturers aren’t required to put expiration dates on cosmetics and skincare. If there isn’t one and you’re not sure if a product is still good, watch out for changes in the product’s texture, color, and efficacy. Don’t be shy about tossing a product that’s no longer looking or feeling right.
7. DIYing when you should B-U-Y
There’s a time and a place for do-it-yourself skincare. But before you DIY, keep in mind that products you buy are clinically researched and tested and formulated to be shelf-stable — unlike homemade items.
If you choose to make your own, keep it simple and gentle (for example, an avocado and honey mask or oatmeal scrub) and always use high-quality food-grade ingredients to avoid causing problems with your skin. Also, make sure to spot-test before slathering on any homemade beauty concoctions.
Considering at-home hair removal?
Skincare is personal, and so is hair removal. Some things you can DIY (like a simple sugar scrub), but when it comes to brows, bikini lines, and beyond — trust the pros. Our Cerologists know their way around a wax stick, so you don’t have to.
If you’ve ever tried to wax, trim, and style your own eyebrows, you know it can be tricky. For a fuss-free, quick-and-easy alternative, book a brow session with a Cerologist and rest assured you’ll leave the studio looking and feeling your best. Bonus: our exclusive Kelley Baker Brows products make between-wax upkeep a breeze.
An extra note about sensitive skin: Avoid these common skincare mistakes
If your skin is sensitive, there can be a few extra things to watch out for. Make sure to avoid skincare with potential irritants like fragrances, harsh exfoliants, alcohol, alpha hydroxy acids, and retinol. A great anti-aging alternative is Bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative that helps fight fine lines and wrinkles, fade dark spots, boost collagen production, and more, but with no harsh side effects. Perfect for skin that needs a little extra TLC.
Want to avoid skincare mistakes while getting your glow? Our Cerologists are expertly trained to make you feel your best and help you achieve glowing results — find a service you’ll love.
