The skin is the biggest organ in your body and the first line of defense between your body and the outside world. As such, it deserves care and attention, even if you are not a particularly vain person. And of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting beautiful skin that is soft to the touch as well. With that in mind, here are some skin-damaging habits you should avoid.
1 – Skipping on sunscreen
Don’t skip on sunscreen just because the day is cloudy or gray. Even though the clouds can block some of the sun’s rays, they still allow plenty of sunlight and UV radiation to go through. Make sure you’re using sunscreen whenever you’re outside, and be ready to reapply sunscreen every two hours to maintain the proper levels of protection.
If you work outside, investing in clothing that can protect your skin from UV radiation is a good idea, as that will reduce how much of your body you need to cover in sunscreen. It’s also wise to become familiar with how SPF ratings work in order to choose the right level of protection for the occasion.
2 – Accumulating stress
Stress hormones will wreak havoc with your health in general, so it’s no surprise that they also have an impact on your skin’s health. Everything from pimples to skin inflammation and even premature aging can be caused by enduring high-stress levels for several years. This is an effect that can be noted clearly by looking up pictures of presidents at the start and the end of their first term — they often look like they aged 15 years in 4.
The solution is to become a hermit and live a life of permanent internal peace. But that’s not going to happen, so the second-best solution is to engage with different stress management techniques. Exercising, meditating, sleeping well, and enjoying calming substances like CBD shatter can all help you relax after a stressful day.
3 – Hydrating too much
There is such a thing as overhydrating when it comes to skincare, so make sure you’re following the recommendations on the label when using skin products. Different products work in different ways, but as a general rule, you should be hydrating your skin only 2-3 times a week if your skin is naturally dry. And if it’s naturally oily, doing it once a week or once every ten days will do.
Over hydrating, your skin can lead to clogged pores, breakouts, acne, excessive sebum production, and more.
4 – Using cheap makeup
Low-quality makeup products can include ingredients that will cause skin issues down the line. Keep in mind that “cheap” in this context means low-quality; there are many sketchy online stores out there selling cheap makeup at quite the markup. Make sure you do your own research when buying online, and stick to brands with a proven track record.
Finally, keep track of what makeup you have been using the next time you get a random breakout or some other skin issue. Even if a makeup product is 100% safe and above board, you might still get a mild allergic reaction from one of the ingredients used.