Everyone desires to age gracefully, keeping wrinkles at bay and maintaining healthy, glowing skin. However, achieving and maintaining a youthful appearance can be challenging. While your skincare routine is meant to prevent the signs of aging, you may unknowingly be making mistakes that actually make you look older.
„Taking care of your skin is crucial as we age because our skin naturally becomes thinner, saggier, and more wrinkled due to reduced collagen production,“ explains Paul Charette, master aesthetician and founder of Charette Cosmetics. „Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental pollutants, dirt, excess oil, bacteria, and other factors that can cause damage over time. This damage becomes more noticeable as we get older if we don’t actively counteract it.“
Many people take preemptive steps to prevent or slow down these changes before they become visible in the mirror. However, if you’re not seeing improvements in your skin despite your skincare routine, it may be time to reassess. Here are 14 common skincare mistakes that could be aging your skin, along with tips on how to correct them.
RELATED: 8 Foods That Help Smooth Wrinkles, According to Doctors.
1. Not using key anti-aging ingredients
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Valerie Aparovich, a biochemist and certified cosmetologist-esthetician at OnSkin, advises that as you age, you should seek out products containing ingredients that combat aging skin.
„It’s important to incorporate cosmetic products with age-appropriate active ingredients that help reduce wrinkles, stimulate collagen synthesis, and keep the skin rejuvenated and toned,“ she says. „The top three anti-aging ingredients are vitamin C, retinol, and peptides.“
Each of these ingredients serves a specific purpose for your skin. For example, vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis, brightens the skin, fades pigmentation, and strengthens capillary walls. Retinol supports skin renewal and collagen synthesis, while peptides increase skin firmness and elasticity.
RELATED: Dermatologist-Recommended Vitamin C Serums You Can Find at Walmart and Target.
2. Drying your face with a washcloth
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Dermatologists recommend avoiding drying your face with a bath towel, as it can harbor dirt, makeup, oil, and dead skin cells, leading to clogged pores and skin irritation.
Instead, use a fresh, soft kitchen paper towel or a clean facial towel to gently pat dry your face. This will help prevent breakouts, blemishes, and skin damage.
3. Avoiding aggressive face scrubbing
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Instead of rubbing your face aggressively with a towel, opt for a gentle patting technique to avoid damage and irritation.
Board-certified dermatologist Emmanuel Loucas recommends gently wiping or patting your face dry to prevent irritation and maintain skin health.
4. Forgetting to exfoliate
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Exfoliation is a crucial step in any skincare routine, as it helps remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture and appearance.
By skipping exfoliation, you may be missing out on the opportunity to reveal brighter, smoother skin and prevent premature aging. Incorporate exfoliation into your routine to keep your skin looking youthful and fresh.
He explains that exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, revealing fresher, smoother skin underneath. Jessica Iturzaeta, licensed esthetician, podcaster behind Learning to Glow, and founder of SJ Skincare, recommends exfoliating one to three times each week, depending on the product you’re using. She also suggests that regular facials can have a big impact on your skin.
It’s important to use sunscreen all year round, not just during the summer months. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can still penetrate through clouds and window glass, leading to premature aging and wrinkles. Rachel Lee Lozina, licensed esthetician, laser technician, and founder of Blue Water Spa, recommends using a sunscreen with micronized zinc or titanium oxide cream with added antioxidants.
In addition to applying skincare products to your face, it’s important to also pay attention to your neck and chest, as they are exposed to the same sun damage as your face. Soyoki Abo, aesthetician and founder of Abosoyoki, emphasizes the importance of applying sunscreen and hydrating products to these areas to prevent wrinkles and dark spots.
The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, so it requires special attention. Aparovich recommends using a well-formulated eye cream to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and bags, as they are specifically designed for the delicate skin around the eyes.
It’s important to wash your face twice a day, but avoid washing it too frequently as it can strip your skin of its natural oils and moisture. Using the wrong cleanser for your skin type can also cause irritation, so choose an effective cleanser that suits your skin type. „Rosazea-, Ekzem- und allergieanfällige Haut benötigen einen milden Reiniger mit beruhigenden Inhaltsstoffen“, sagt Anna Guanche, MD, eine zertifizierte Dermatologin. Laut Prevention gehören dazu Ceramide, Glycerin, Hyaluronsäure und Niacinamid.
„Kombinierte Haut benötigt einen schäumenden Reiniger, und akneanfällige Haut benötigt einen auf Glykolsäure, Salicylsäure oder Benzoylperoxid basierenden Reiniger“, fügt sie hinzu.
Schäumende Reiniger sind gut für Mischhaut, da sie sowohl Öl entfernen als auch sanftes Peeling bieten. Glykolsäure-, Salicylsäure- und Benzoylperoxid-basierte Reiniger eignen sich besonders gut bei Akne, da sie Öl entfernen, peelen und Poren reinigen.
VERWANDT: Rosazea verstehen: 10 natürliche Möglichkeiten, gereizte, rote Haut zu beruhigen.
Das Waschen des Gesichts sollte das letzte sein, was Sie in der Dusche tun oder bevor Sie sich für das Bett fertig machen.
„Wenn Sie Ihre Zähne putzen, hinterlassen Sie Speichel, Zahnpasta und Bakterien auf der Haut“, erklärt die zertifizierte Dermatologin Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, FAAD, in einem TikTok-Video.
Wenn diese auf der Haut bleiben, kann dies zu Akneausbrüchen sowie zu perioraler Dermatitis (einem roten Ausschlag, der um den Mund herum entsteht) führen.
Ebenso, wenn Sie Ihr Gesicht zuerst in der Dusche waschen, können „einige Rückstände von Shampoo oder Conditioner auf der Haut bleiben, was zu gereizter Haut und/oder verstopften Poren führen kann“, merkt Chacon an.
Das Auftragen von Foundation auf trockene Haut kann auch schädlich sein.