You moisturize, cleanse and tone religiously but your skin is still not picture perfect. This could be down to a few bad, everyday habits that are ruining your skin.
Here at YouQueen we’ve rounded up the top tips for achieving a flawless complexion.
1. Always remove makeup!
After a long, tiring day or a late night out with friends, taking your makeup off may be the last thing on your mind. However, letting your makeup and the oil buildup from throughout the day sit on your skin all night can lead to bacterial infections and clogged pores, which can cause acne.
Plus, your body temperature increases slightly when you sleep, which will enhance its absorption of whatever’s on the skin surface. So, if it’s makeup, you can expect an increase in spots.
If you’re too tired to do the full cleanse, tone and moisturize routine then using micellar water is a good alternative to remove your makeup quickly and effectively—just try not to make a habit of this.
Try beauty cult Bioderma Sensibio H20 to remove makeup gently while cleansing the skin at the same time.
2. Avoid using harsh cleansers.
This may seem contradictory as cleansing is a crucial part of any skincare routine, but over cleansing your skin can actually cause more damage.
If you have dry skin, you need to be careful as cleansing too much will strip away natural oils, making your skin even drier.
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Try to pick a cream- or oil-based cleanser at night—like Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser—as these are gentler on dry or sensitive skin.
The plant-based cleanser includes naturally active ingredients, such as eucalyptus and cocoa butter, leaving skin feeling soft and moisturized.
For oily or blemish-prone skin, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel is a great alternative.
3. Get more sleep.
Getting less than 7 hours sleep a night can have an affect on your skin, making it appear duller and increasing fine lines—particularly around the eye area.
Get at least 8 hours’ sleep per night to keep your skin replenished and hydrated.
It’s also important to sleep with satin, silk or Egyptian cotton pillowcases because rough pillowcases can actually cause wrinkles during the night.
4. Avoid over-exfoliating.
While squeaky-clean skin feels great, exfoliating using gritty exfoliators can exacerbate oil production and worsen breakouts by spreading bacteria.
If a scrub stings or leaves your skin red and blotchy then it’s best not to use it. As well as wiping away flaky skin, it will get rid of your skin’s natural hydrating oils.
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Rough natural exfoliators can cause inflammation and irritation, but using a gentle exfoliator with microbeads or sugar is much gentler on the skin.
Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser is perfect as it contains Jojoba and Carnauba wax that gently exfoliates to unclog pores.
5. Stop squeezing blemishes.
We all know how tempting this can be, but the reality is that squeezing a pimple pushes the bacteria deeper into the pores, which can cause infection and scarring, making the blemish last for even longer.
Instead of squeezing the spot, you should put a small amount of spot treatment on it at night to help soothe and reduce it overnight.
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Try GLAMGLOW’s Super Mud Clearing Treatment, which contains a range of effective ingredients such as glycolic, salicylic and lactic acids that work to heal damaged skin and prevent breakouts.
This innovative facial treatment also doubles as a facemask, which absorbs impurities without affecting the skin’s natural oils.
6. Wear SPF.
Unless it’s a particularly hot sunny day, we’re all guilty of forgetting to put on SPF before foundation in the morning. But, even in winter, our skin is susceptible to sun damage so it’s a vital step to keep skin looking healthy and glowing.
If you’re in a rush in the morning and don’t fancy layering on SPF and then foundation, make sure to use a foundation that has an SPF in it to keep you protected throughout the day.
7. Use the right products for your skin type.
Your skin will suffer if you don’t use the products specifically designed for your skin type, leading to more breakouts and irritation.
For oily skin, choose products with salicylic and glycolic acid, such as Alpha H’s Liquid Gold. This cult classic is an overnight skin treatment that works on renewing skin cells overnight while boosting the elastin and collagen within the skin to keep it plump.
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For sensitive skin, look for face washes specifically targeted towards sensitivity likeOlay’s Foaming Face Wash.
For face creams, stick to paraben-free formulas like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream—it is pricey but it contains skin plumping hyaluronic acid, vitamins A, C and E and soothing frangipani.
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If you have combination skin, choose a foaming cleanser for oily skin and a clarifying toner like this Dr Hauschka Toner. It’s packed full of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory calendula, witch hazel and daisy, which soothe and regulate sebum production while tightening pores.
For moisturizer, use a lightweight product during the day but a thicker one at night likeOrigins Mega-Mushroom Face Cream to keep dry patches at bay.
Finally, those with dry skin should make sure to include hydrating oils into their skincare regime to keep moisture locked in.
Try Clarins’s Santal Face Treatment Oil at night so it has time to absorb into the pores; when you wake up, dry patches are smoothed, softened and diminished.
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8. Drink more water.
One of the simplest ways to make your skin glow is by drinking enough water. Regular water consumption improves the color and texture of your skin by ensuring new cells renew properly. It’s recommended that you drink at least 2 liters of water a day to ensure that you have that healthy glowing complexion.
What other tips do you have for maintaining a flawless complexion? Share your suggestions below with our readers.