Published: August 15, 2024
When you put so much time, money, and sheer love into your skincare efforts, it can be disheartening to discover that, at the same time, you’re also making a few mistakes that are potentially harming your complexion.
With that said, if that happens to be the case for you, you’ve come to the right place. Read on as CBGärdN shares 10 of the most common skincare mistakes that people make, along with what you can do to avoid them!
1) Over-Cleansing and/or Over-Exfoliating
It’s common knowledge that cleansing and exfoliating are key parts of any skincare routine. However, go overboard with your cleansing and/or exfoliating efforts and you’ll end up over-cleansing/over-exfoliating – one of the most common skincare mistakes around. Both strip away the skin’s natural protective barrier, leading to everything from inflammation and sensitivities to dehydration and acne breakouts.
To avoid this, don’t cleanse your skin more than twice a day. Your exfoliating frequency should be influenced by your skin type – oily skin can be exfoliated up to three times a week whereas dry skin shouldn’t be exfoliated more than once or twice a week.
A gentle cleanser and exfoliator is a must too since both over-cleansing and over-exfoliating can be caused by using overly harsh products. Formulas like the CB Facial Cleanser and the CB Microexfoliant Peel, both from CBGärdN, will get the job done beautifully without damaging your complexion.
2) Leaving Your Skin Bare After Cleansing
Another one of the common skincare mistakes that people make is leaving their skin bare after cleansing. Sure, they might carry on with their skincare routine a few minutes later, but those few minutes are all it takes for their skin to start dehydrating.
Cleansing your skin removes some of its protective coating, with the role of that layer being to keep moisture trapped into the skin. Clear it away and moisture will suddenly start to evaporate at a much faster rate, leaving your skin cells lacking.
Ideally, once you’re done cleansing, immediately follow up with the next step of your skincare routine. Do so while your skin is still damp, rather than waiting for your skin to fully dry. Whether you apply a toner, a serum, a moisturizer, or anything else, get this done ASAP!
3) Failing to Adequately Protect Your Skin From the Sun
You’re probably aware of how important sun protection is. Not only does it help to prevent the appearance of premature aging but it will also shield your skin from those cancer-causing UV rays.
Unfortunately, even though there has been an increasing awareness on how essential SPF is, people are still making many sunscreen-related skincare mistakes. The biggest is not using SPF 365 days a year, with many believing that sunscreen isn’t needed in the winter. This isn’t true at all – UV rays wreak their damage year-round, making year-round SPF crucial.
You should also make sure that every inch of your skin is covered with SPF. From your eyelids and the tops of your feet to your neck, chest, and ears, these often-forgotten areas need protection too.
Finally, make sure that you always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, just like the CB Multi-Active Moisturizer With SPF 30. This will ensure that you’re kept safe from both UVA and UVB rays.
4) Not Realizing That Oily Skin Can Be Due to Dehydration
Caring for oily skin can be a struggle. Apply the wrong products to your skin and you’ll only end up making things worse, leaving your skin even greasier and more prone to acne breakouts.
As a result, many people with oily, acne-prone skin strip back their skincare routines, choosing to avoid using certain products. In some cases, this can be beneficial, particularly if those products contain pore-clogging ingredients. However, at the same time, this could also be a big mistake…
Often, excess sebum is produced due to dehydration. Although oil is very different from water, the lack of water in your skin cells stimulates your sebaceous glands, sending sebum production soaring. One easy way to turn this around is to ramp up how much moisture you’re giving your skin. Invest in a lightweight, hydrating serum, such as the CB Göld Replenishing Serum, and you’ll be able to keep your skin cells feeling quenched. This, in turn, will placate your sebaceous glands, giving you skin that feels significantly less greasy.
5) Applying Skincare Products in the Wrong Order
Some skincare mistakes are easy to make, and applying your skincare products in the wrong order is one of them. Deciphering the correct order to apply your products can be tricky, especially if you’re new to skincare. However, it’s well worth taking the time to get this right because it will enhance how well each product works.
So, what is the correct order to apply your products?
The simple rule to remember is to go from light to heavy. This means that once you’re done cleansing, follow up with a toner, and then a serum. If you’re applying multiple serums, start with the thinnest and work your way up to the thickest. Finally, finish with your moisturizer before topping this off with SPF.
6) Neglecting Your Eye Area
Have you ever wondered why wrinkles tend to appear around the eyes before they’re visible anywhere else on the face?
This is down to a few reasons. Firstly, the skin around the eyes is very thin, more so than that of the skin elsewhere on the face. It’s also pretty much always in motion, meaning that it experiences a fair bit of wear and tear damage. All of this causes the eye area to be the first part of the face that develops creases.
This is why your eye area needs some extra attention if you want to keep it looking smooth and youthful. An antioxidant-rich eye serum, such as the CB Eye Serum Concentrate, will give your skin a brighter and tighter finish. Meanwhile, a hydrating eye cream, like the CB ProLift Eye Firming Cream, will leave your eye area looking stronger, fuller, and healthier overall.
7) Treating Your Neck and Chest as Part of Your Body
It’s not just your eye area that needs extra care – the skin on your neck and chest craves this too. While these areas may technically be a part of your body, treating them as such when it comes to skincare is one of those skincare mistakes that you’ll end up regretting in later years.
Why? Because the skin on your neck and chest is thin and delicate. It has more in common with the skin on your face than the skin on your body, meaning that it should be treated as such.
Fortunately, this is simple. All you need to do is extend your facial skincare routine down to your neck and chest each day. From your cleanser and toner to your serums and moisturizer, use all of your facial products on your décolletage too.
If you want to go the extra mile, you could also treat your skin to some dedicated neck and chest products. The CB BioLeaf Hydrating Neck & Chest Mask, for example, will leave your skin looking smoother, firmer, and deeply hydrated.
8) Taking Steaming Hot Showers
Chances are that when you’re cleansing your face, you (hopefully) use lukewarm water. However, when it comes to showering, people tend to crank up the temperature. After all, a steamy hot shower feels so satisfying! Unfortunately, this is also one of the biggest skincare mistakes that you could be making.
Why? Because hot water melts the sebum on your skin. As we’ve already discussed, that sebum performs an important role when it comes to keeping your complexion healthy. Strip it away each time you shower and your skin will end up suffering.
To avoid this, always keep the water at a lukewarm temperature. As soon as you step out of the shower, while your skin is still damp, follow up with a moisturizer. The CB Lavish Body Butter is ideal if your skin is dry or dehydrated, while the CB Hand & Body Lotion is a thinner formula that would be better suited if you’re prone to body acne breakouts.
9) Improperly Storing Skincare Products
Did you know that how you store your skincare products can affect how well they work? This may seem hard to believe but it all comes down to preserving those active ingredients as much as possible. Many key actives in skincare deteriorate when they’re exposed to light, air, moisture, or warm temperatures. This causes them to be less effective. In some cases, it can even cause them to oxidize, meaning that they’ll harm your skin when applied.
To prevent this, always store your skincare products in a cool, dark, and dry place. Some products can even be stored in the fridge, which will help to further extend their shelf life.
10) Not Being Consistent With Your Skincare Routine
Finally, let’s talk about consistency – a lack of which is one of the most common skincare mistakes around. People tend to hope for instant results when it comes to skincare and while this may hold true for certain products, like the fast-acting CB Satin Leaf Advanced IV Treatment, most formulas need consistency before they start to work.
In many cases, ingredients need time to accumulate in the skin before they can take effect. The only way for this to happen is if you use your products regularly and consistently. While you may sometimes be short on time and tempted to skip your skincare routine, avoid doing this as much as possible. Even if you only apply the essentials and save your extra products for the following day, being consistent with your skincare is vital if you’re hoping to see a long-term improvement in your complexion.
Identifying and Avoiding Skincare Mistakes
If you’ve realized that you’re unintentionally making some of the skincare mistakes that we’ve featured above, don’t panic! The fact that you’ve now recognized those mistakes is the first step to putting things right. Now, not only do you know what you shouldn’t do, but you also have plenty of tips to follow when it comes to avoiding those mistakes, enabling you to take even better care of your skin!
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