We need to talk about your bad skin habits. This is a safe space, and we’re not here to shame anyone, but if you want to have celebrity-perfect skin, you’re going to need to stop mistreating your face. Here’s a list of the top super common bad skin habits and how you can combat them.
- Not washing your face.
Ok, we’re about to blow your mind with this one. According to dermatologists, “countless” people don’t believe in washing their faces. We can’t even with that. Even if you don’t wear makeup, the amount of environmental stressors like grime and smoke seeping into your skin is enough to damage it prematurely. Not to mention sweat and dirt. Of course you need to wash your face every day. Not washing your face will absolutely contribute to fine lines, wrinkles, and the dullness that comes with old skin cells.
- Picking zits.
You’re definitely not alone in this one. There’s nothing more tempting than popping a juicy whitehead (alright, just made ourselves mildly sick with that image), but it’s not the best option for getting rid of zits. When you pop a zit, you’re introducing bacteria from beneath your fingernail and on your finger itself into what is essentially an open wound. Not to mention you’re causing an open wound. Popping that zit will almost guarantee a scar and doesn’t allow your skin to take care of yourself. We get it’s difficult to resist, but try changing this bad skin habit and give yours skin a chance to take care of that pimple on its own.
- Skipping the lotion.
It’s a long day. The kids have worn you out, your boss is an idiot, the traffic was terrible, and you haven’t had a quesadilla in at least three weeks. No one can blame you for foregoing lotion before bed, but if you take the time to clean your face (which, uh, see #1), take a few seconds more to at least dab some lotion on it. Lotion is important to keeping skin moisturized and helping it counteract fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it feels good.
- You skip sunscreen.
Say it with us: SPF is mandatory every.single.day. Are you tired? Suncreen. Stressed? Suncreen. Filled with ennui? Sunscreen. There is absolutely no excuse not to put SPF on in the morning. Besides lotion, it’s the top thing you can do to protect your skin and stop premature aging. You’re also preventing skin cancer and skin discoloration caused by sun exposure. Don’t make us come over there: start slathering on the SPF.
- You’re a sugar addict.
This is one we’re all guilty of, and if you live in America, it’s almost impossible to avoid sugar. But a diet rich in sugar and starches can contribute to premature aging. Lean into fruits and vegetables, which are high in antioxidants and help combat signs of stress and premature aging. Try cutting down on the sugar and you’ll see how much better you feel and how much better your skin looks.
