Ever since the beauty community started giving emphasis to skincare, there have been so many methods, products, and steps that were introduced for various skin types. Different brands have come up with formulas that would cater to skin needs, and people cannot get enough. The rise of the 10-step Korean skincare routine, glass skin look, and other different types of procedures made people obsess over taking care of their skin.
While all of this can be good, especially since we are now more aware of how important our skin is, it is important to remember that each skin type is different, and all methods will not directly apply to us. In fact, piling up all of that product and aggressively attacking your skin, thinking that this will sort it out, can actually be damaging your skin.
According to skincare expert and beauty vlogger Liah Yoo, the most fundamentally skin-damaging mindset is not trusting your skin enough. Therefore there is a thinking that you need some sort of miracle fix from topical skincare solutions. You go and attack, being all aggressive to your skin—thinking that this is needed in order to fix your skin issues.
Wrong.
Your skin is smart. It is a functioning living organ that knows how to repair and restore itself, knows how to regulate cell turnover and shed all the dead skin cells, and also knows how to regulate sebum production when needed.
All your skin might need is some basic hydration and a comfortable environment for it to function.
Aggressive cleansing
Cleansing abrasively and aggressively includes washing your skin so many times a day, and opting for a stronger, more alkaline cleanser to get rid of everything on top of the skin, according to Allure. Some people tend to cleanse for 10/15 mins, thinking that it is really purifying you skin—and while it does, it also takes away all the essential components to naturally moisturize your skin.
Basically, you end up disrupting and damaging the skin barrier because cleansing agents inside cleansers don’t necessarily know how to identify the difference between what to take away (dirt, grime, sweat), and what to leave. Therefore it takes away literally everything.
Physically abusing the skin
Physically abusing the skin means overusing cotton pads, cleansing wipes, and cloth, or rubbing a towel over the skin really excessively. Liah Yoo says that this can cause “Mild Contact Dermatitis,” a damage to the skin barrier. Which is why when using cotton pads, choose one that has no texture at all. Also, make sure that the cotton pad is really drenched so that the dry surface does not tear or scratch your skin. Be as gentle as possible when wiping your face and do not put any pressure on your fingers, and also avoid towel drying your skin.
Leaving cleansing water on skin
While it uses a more gentle type of cleansing agent, cleansing waters still have the tendency to dissolve your natural lipids and moisturizers. It is not a toner. According to Klog, you must wash it off gently and never leave it on the skin. This will only cause more dehydration.
Skipping moisturizer
It’s easy to fall under the trap of thinking that you need to dry things up when you have oily skin, but this is far from the truth. You may be oily but this can be because you have dehydrated skin. There should always be a balance, especially because our skin is smart. The more hydration we take away, the more it will produce for us. By hydrating and moisturizing your skin, you’re giving it a soothing environment to thrive. Opt for a lightweight gel moisturizer.
Using too many products and medication
It is undeniable that Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide can work and deliver results overnight for people with acne-prone skin. But you always have to give some time for your skin to breath from all of the medication. The same goes for skincare products. Identify what your skin craves and needs. Let each product in your routine have a purpose to what your skin is craving, but more is never better, there is only so much your skin can absorb. You might not get the most out of your products if it’s on top of so many others.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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