10 Skincare Mistakes That Make Your Acne Worse & Sensitize Your Skin

The most fundamentally skin-damaging mindset is not trusting your skin enough. Remember, your skin is smart. It knows how to restore and repair itself!

Mistake #1: Aggressive Cleansing Habits

• Aggressive cleansing habits include cleansing your skin too often, for too long, and using harsher cleansers. What do these habits have in common? They can all damage your skin barrier.

Mistake #2: Physically Abusing the Skin

• Even though it might feel instantly gratifying, overusing cotton pads, makeup wipes, and cleansing cloths can really hurt your skin. If you have to use cotton pads, be as gentle as possible. Also, if you can, skip towel drying!

Mistake #3: Leaving Cleansing Water on the Skin

• Remember to gently rinse cleansing water off your face after you use it! Even though cleansing water contains milder detergents than a typical foam cleanser, it’s still a surfactant that will dissolve the natural oils and lipids in your skin that you want to protect.

Mistake #4: Treating All Areas of the Skin Equally

• Understand the different areas of your skin, and tailor your skincare according to what your skin needs. For example, only apply clay masks and drying ingredients where you’re oily—no need to use it all over your face!

Mistake #5: Using a Full Range of Active Ingredients

• A lot of people with acne believe that every single product in their routine should be geared toward acne-prone skin. Use active treatments here and there only when you really need it. From your teens through your early 30s, hydration and moisturization is most important!

Mistake #6: Not Moisturizing Oily Skin

• Though it may seem counterintuitive, hydrating and nourishing oily skin actually brings it back into balance. If you’re scared of moisturizing your oily skin, a great place to start is a lightweight, refreshing gel moisturizer!

Mistake #7: Using Way Too Much Acne Medication

• It’s true that acne medication such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can work and deliver results overnight. However, rather than using these products every single day, try giving your skin a little bit more time to repair and recover on its own.

Mistake #8: Using Way Too Many Products Than What Your Skin Needs

• Identify what your skin craves. Your routine doesn’t have to be minimal, but do make sure that each skincare product serves a specific purpose and function. More is not necessarily better!

Mistake #9: Starting Anti-Aging Skincare Way Too Early

• Starting anti-aging skincare too early can unnecessarily stress out skin. The best way for people in their teens and twenties to maintain their youth, bounce, and glow? Make sure your skin is hydrated and use sunscreen every day!

Mistake #10: Using a Cotton Pillowcase

• Switch your pillowcase to silk! Silk pillowcases are more hygienic and regulate temperature better. It’s great for your skin, hair, and overall health.