7 Skincare Mistakes You Make Every Day Without Realizing

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Our skincare obsession has definitely stepped up a notch over the past two years – our beauty cabinet is stashed with effective serums, well-formulated cleansers, and more sheet masks than a die-hard K-beauty fan. But, as meticulous as your skincare regimen may be, you could still be guilty of making one of these common skincare mistakes. It could be the only thing coming between you and your healthiest skin EVER. Here are seven skincare mistakes you don’t want to be making:

1. Overusing Skincare Products

With so many “miracle” products on the shelves, it’s hard to know which ones to use and when – surely the more the better, right? Wrong! Sometimes you can overuse products and overload on active ingredients. For example, if you’re using multiple products containing AHAs or BHAs, you could be over-exfoliating your skin, disrupting the skin’s protective barrier, which could lead to redness, uneven texture, or even breakouts. When it comes to active ingredients, try to stick to this rule – the stronger the ingredient, the less you should use it. Take salicylic acid as an example, it’s a super potent exfoliator so you should only need to use it a few times a week, and not in conjunction with other exfoliating formulas, like retinol. Find out other ways you may be overwhelming your skin here.

2. Neglecting Your Neck

While we apply layers and layers of glow-getting formulas to our face, too often we skip our neck, which is a huge mistake as our neck is prone to sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. Ask any skincare pro and they’ll insist that you should be applying your entire skincare regimen all the way down to your décolletage so that in 10 years’ time it will be just as radiant, plump, and firm as your face. Remember to be gentle and never pull your neck downwards, instead move in gentle upwards motions.

3. Layering Incorrectly

Knowing how to layer your products is another essential skill in any beauty lover’s repertoire. If you layer them incorrectly, you could prevent the formula from being absorbed properly into the skin. The general rule to follow is: apply the most lightweight formulas first so they’re not blocked by the heavier creams. You should also wait a couple of minutes between applying each product to give it the opportunity to sink in. This will also prevent your products from piling – when those tiny little balls form on the surface of your skin when you’ve used too much product.

Also keep in mind, your morning and evening routine will not necessarily be the same. In the daytime, your focus should be on lightweight hydration, antioxidant protection (vit C or niacinamide) and SPF. For nighttime, you want to focus on thoroughly cleansing away any dirt, makeup, or pollution from the day, and use richer formulas that keep your skin protected while you sleep. Nighttime is also the best time to use your more intense formulas, like retinol and acids. Check out our guides to how to layer your morning routine (above) compared to your evening routine (below).

4. Neglecting your Upper Lip

Often when we apply our lotions, our cheeks get all the love, but there’s one area that definitely doesn’t get the TLC it deserves; the upper lip. Your upper lip is actually mega important since your lips age faster than the rest of your face. This is why we recommend applying your eye cream to your upper lip as they contain ingredients to boost collagen production and strengthen and tone the skin.

5. Not Applying Your Products Correctly

One of the biggest mistakes you can make (and we’re pretty sure we’ve all made it) is pulling or tugging your skin while applying skincare products. You need to be super gentle with your skin, in fact, we like to apply our skincare product in upwards motions – try to avoid excessively pulling downwards!

How to apply creams correctly: Glide your fingertips across your face, using light upwards motions from the inside to outside of your face. Then using small gentle strokes, glide the product along your chin. Finish with the eye area, using soft tapping motions – our fave K-beauty method. This will help increase circulation and boost lymphatic drainage, which will help tone your skin. We’re also loving the new Face Gym facial massage techniques that accompany their ew skincare lineup. Check out their facial workouts here and stay tuned for our full skincare review.

6. Not Drinking Enough Water

If you ask any model what their number one skincare rule is, it’s to drink A LOT of water. We know it’s one of the most basic rules out there, but the sooner you realize what’s going on on the inside reflects on the outside, the better your skin will be. If your body, and consequentially your skin, is dehydrated, it’ll look dull, your pores will be enlarged, and your fine lines will be more pronounced. So, make sure you drink at least two liters of water a day – we love starting our day with a cup of hot water and a wedge of lemon to cleanse our digestive system.

7. Not Wearing SPF

Wearing SPF every day is non-negotiable if you want healthy skin. While products that contain SPF are great and will provide that extra ounce of protection, we’d still recommend wearing a stand-alone SPF 30 (or higher) with a 5-star UVA rating, every. single. day. Simply apply it after you’ve completed your skin care regimen and before you apply makeup. During the summer months, when you’re in direct sunlight, it’s also important to re-apply every two hours, even when you’re wearing makeup. Also, never forget it takes sunscreen 20 minutes to activate. Check out our fave sunscreens to apply over makeup here.

Let us know if you’re guilty of any of these skincare mistakes in the comments below.