5 Common Skin Sins To Avoid

Updated May, 2021

We all make mistakes, and when it comes to personal care such as skin care, you could potentially be damaging your skin without even realizing it. Despite your good intentions, you may be doing more harm than good. Continue reading to find out what skin care practices you may be doing that actually yield results that are the opposite of what you intended.

Sometimes half the problem with our skin issues are simply due to using the wrong facial cleanser. For instance, if you have dry skin, using a daily foaming cleanser would be disastrous! Foaming facial washes are designed for people with oily skin.

You may choose this particular cleanser because it makes your skin feel 'extra clean' due to the tight feeling you get after using it. But this is over-stripping your skin of natural oils. The result? Your skin over-compensates by producing more oil than it really needs. It leads to clogged pores and breakouts.

Therefore, it is important to know your skin type- whether you're oily, combination or dry. Once you know your skin type, you can then select an appropriate facial cleanser for you.

Consult with a Licensed Esthetician at a local spa for a skin analysis and she (or he) will recommend the right home care products for you. You can also book a free online appointment with our in-office esthetician so she can help figure out your skin type.

It is widely common to either over-exfoliate or under-exfoliate. For instance, the electronic cleansing brushes are all the rage now and they do in fact contribute to a deeper clean, which is great.

However, most people use cleansing brushes every day (yikes) and over-exfoliate the skin and compromise the moisture and lipid barrier. It is best to use it no more than three times a week if your skin is on the oily side, or no more than twice a week if your skin leans toward dry.

On the other hand, a lack of exfoliation can lead to a couple of things: bumpy, congested skin or dry, rough skin.

When one neglects to exfoliate, the dead surface cells can accumulate, leading to dry, dull skin. This dead skin cell build-up can create somewhat of a barrier on the skin, which won't allow proper skincare product penetration.

You can incorporate an at-home microdermabrasion in your skincare routine to make sure you are getting an even exfoliation. You can use it 1 to 3 times per week, depending on how well your skin can tolerate it.

Avoid using facial scrubs with micro beads because those create micro tears in your skin that can lead to uneven skin tone and sometimes, skin infection.

But, if you are using topical retinoids or retinol, skip the physical exfoliation (facial brushes and microdermabrasion). Again, you do not want to over exfoliate and damage your skin barrier!

This mistake leads to premature aging and wrinkling. Many people wrongly assume that sunscreen is only required when basking out in the sun on a hot summer day.

The truth is, the Ultra Violet rays are present all year round- even on overcast days when you can't see the sun- therefore it is crucial to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen all year round to prevent signs of aging (which is by the way primarily caused by the sun). SPF 30 should be enough but make sure you re-apply as needed.

Pardon our nagging on face cleaners, but we HAD to mention this skin care felony since it is so incredibly common. We can't tell you how many people we've encountered who happily chirp that they use bar soap on their face. Yikes!

It strips the heck out of your skin, leaving it extremely dehydrated and pH un-balanced. There is a time and place for bar soap- such as on your body, but no, not your precious face. The facial skin and body skin are completely different and need to be treated accordingly.

Please, please, save the body wash for the body and use a quality facial cleanser for your face.

This 'skin sin' is so common, that it makes Estheticians want to weep (for those who are doing such a disservice to their skin!). We find that the vast majority of people who skip using a moisturizer are those who have oily and/or acne-prone skin and they are literally terrified that using a moisturizer will exacerbate oil and breakouts.

We understand the fear, but not moisturizing the skin will actually do exactly what they are trying to run away from: the skin will become even oilier since the skin's oil glands will kick into overdrive and produce more oil to compensate for a lack of moisture.

And when there is more oil, that's when breakouts occur. See my friends, oil and moisture are two entirely different things. Moisture is water and oil is oil. Our skin is like fish and it NEEDS moisture (water) for survival.

If you have oily and/or acne-prone skin, choose an oil-free moisturizer. That way you're getting the proper hydration your skin needs without compromising anything.

So there you go. For you to choose the best products that will work for you, you need to know your own skin type. You can search for skin type quizzes online or take our own skincare assessment to give you a head start.

Make sure you are not using a bar of soap for your face! Look for good quality facial washes that won't wreak havoc on your skin. Exfoliate once up to three times per week. But if you are using retinol, don't over-exfoliate! Always use a moisturizer, even if you have oily skin, and never ever skip your SPF.

If you avoid these common skin sins, you will most likely have a better complexion.

And again, if you want to speak with a licensed esthetician, book a free 15-minute appointment with us here. 

PS. Before you follow a trending skincare hack on TikTok or anywhere online, do your research first! Charcoal peel-off masks do not remove blackheads. And they hurt. A lot.