8 Small Things You’re Doing That Are Actually Harming Your Skin

You’re probably already familiar with the primary causes of skin damage, such as excessive sun exposure and chemical irritants in laundry and cleaning products. However, there is a good chance that you also have seemingly innocent habits that are silently harming your skin.

From forgetting to wear sunscreen to overusing hand sanitizers, here is a list of daily habits that can pile up and cause permanent damage to your skin.

1. Skipping SPF

While it’s great to feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, too much ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Even if it’s chilly and cloudy outdoors, or you don’t think you’ll be outside for long, it’s important to wear sunscreen every day. UV rays can pass through clouds and glass and bounce off of water, sand, and snow.

Seek shade, wear proper clothing to protect your skin, and apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from both UVA and UVB radiation.

2. Using the Wrong Skincare Products

It is critical to use the appropriate skincare products regularly. Applying products that are not tailored to your unique needs will, at best, be ineffective and, at worst, aggravate existing problems and cause irritation.

Make sure you’re using the right cleanser for your face. Your face is significantly more sensitive than the rest of your body, and it requires a gentler cleanser. For your face, choose a soft, non-abrasive cleanser free of alcohol.

Oil cleansing is beneficial for all skin types, depending on the type of oil used. It’s effective because it does not strip the skin of its natural oils and can be used on dry, oily, acne-prone, or even extremely sensitive skin. Just be sure to avoid common mistakes when oil cleansing, such as combining cleansing oil with water and not completely rinsing.

3. Sleeping in Makeup

The desire to skip washing your face and just go straight to bed is completely understandable, especially after a long, hard day. Unfortunately, leaving the night’s makeup on can cause problems for your skin in the morning.

Makeup can trap pollutants and free radicals that can cause damage to skin cells and collagen, resulting in premature skin aging. Leaving your makeup on overnight can result in clogged pores, acne outbreaks, and dry skin.

Keep your skin clean and clear by using a mild cleanser that contains glycerin or botanical oils. If you’re too exhausted to make it to the sink, use some facial wipes to remove all the makeup and grime from your face.

4. Inadequate Sleep

Your skin rejuvenates while you sleep, allowing it to recover from the stresses of the environment, such as sunlight, pollution, and extreme heat or cold. A good night of rest helps keep your skin smooth, supple, and free of blemishes.

Lack of regular, quality sleep weakens your skin’s ability to repair and revitalize itself, resulting in eye bags and puffiness, dull skin, wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity.

5. Sleeping On One Side

Sleeping on your side can cause wrinkles and creases in your skin. Whichever side of your face is pressed against your pillow every night can develop deeper wrinkles or creases that can become permanent over time.

The best way to avoid getting these sleep wrinkles is to try alternating which side you sleep on or sleeping on your back.

6. Excessive Use of Hand Sanitizers

Hand sanitizing is effective at killing germs, but it does have some drawbacks. Overusing hand sanitizers can cause dry, cracked skin, flaking, redness or discoloration, and sensitivity to touch. 

If you wear rings, keep in mind that excessive use of hand sanitizers can damage your skin as well as your jewelry. The chemicals in hand sanitizers leave a residue that may dull the luster of your rings, or even loosen their setting, over time.

7. Pressing Your Phone Against Your Face

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that your phone isn’t quite sanitary. Consider this: you carry it with you practically wherever you go, you hand it over to your friends when showing them photos or directions, and you’ve undoubtedly dropped it a few times—then you pick it up and press it against your face to make a call.

When you hold your phone to your face, any bacteria on its surface mixes with your makeup, sweat, and oils, creating the perfect environment for acne and other skin problems.

Clean and disinfect your phone regularly to get rid of dirt and bacteria that may cause acne. Alternatively, instead of pressing your phone against your face, use the speakerphone function.

8. Consuming Too Much Sugar

Having too many sweet treats like cakes and ice cream may lead to skin brittleness and loss of elasticity. Instead of reaching for the cookie jar, prepare a skin-friendly meal with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. To maintain optimal skin health, make sure you get enough vitamins and minerals from a well-balanced diet.

Put an end to these bad habits that keep you from achieving the radiant, clear skin you desire.  While you’re at it, avoid repeatedly touching your face and picking at your skin, too. Instead, always apply sunscreen, cleanse, moisturize, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. A solid skincare routine is the foundation for healthy, beautiful skin.

Featured Image by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels