Kenneth Byrne: Stop! 10 Skin Care Mistakes You’re Making

Originally published as Stop! 10 Skin Care Mistakes You’re Making from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.

Are you making these 10 skin care mistakes?

1. Being harsh on your skin.

Cleansing too often or using cleansers or toners that are too harsh for your specific skin type (a common mistake especially for those with acne-prone or oily skin) is detrimental to the skin. As all the “good” oils and outermost, protective barrier are stripped away, skin isn’t just left parched – it’s left completely vulnerable. Dry skin isn’t just uncomfortable – it can actually cause an increase in oil production that leads to more blackheads and breakouts.

2. Exfoliating acne-erupted skin with a granular exfoliant.

Speaking of harsh… We know your first instinct is to go gung-ho on those blemishes , but scrubbing will only make things worse. Using a granular exfoliant scratches at pimples, leaving them open and raw.

Instead, use a chemical exfoliant. A Salicylic Acid-based cleanser not only helps promote faster healing of acne, but also dissolves away any dulling, pore-clogging buildup to reduce congestion and future breakouts.

3. Popping pimples and squeezing blackheads.

The urge to pop a pesky pimple or squeeze a gnarly blackhead is seemingly irresistible (if you’re curious as to why, find out here ), but remember: you know better. No good can come of it; your skin is left blotchy, red, and irritated. You’ve also just spread bacteria to those open wounds, increasing your risk of infection and inflammation.

The immediate aftermath isn’t the worst part, though. Picking and squeezing nearly guarantees leaving behind acne marks or permanent scarring.

Moral of the story? Hands off. No pimple popping under any circumstances, and leave blackhead extractions to the professionals.

4. Double dipping into jars.

Always wash your hands to minimize spreading bacteria, dirt, and oils on your face and in your products. And if you’re going to double dip, don’t: wash those hands again.

Beauty Tip : Do as our aestheticians do – ensure everything’s sanitary by scooping out product with a spatula (or a cotton swab!)

5. Skipping eye cream.

The skin around your eyes is extremely thin and delicate, which means it requires specialized care. Apply eye cream twice daily to prevent dehydration, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging. We recommend starting in your early twenties – but it’s always better late than never.

Take it from Mario Badescu himself:

“Every man or woman over the age of 21 should apply an eye cream in the morning and in the evening, as a part of the daily routine. There are no exceptions.”

6. Over-doing it.

Too many cooks spoil the broth. While we’re delighted at your exuberance, too many products can leave your skin confused, imbalanced, and sensitive. This is especially pertinent when testing new products; to minimize irritation (and at the most basic level, figure out whether or not a product works well with your skin), introduce one product at a time. It takes at least a month for your skin to get accustomed to something new (but stop use immediately if any burning, itching, or stinging is experienced).

Start simple. Stick with your Sacred Six plus sunscreen– cleanser, toner, moisturizer and/or sunscreen, eye cream, exfoliant, and mask – because it’s a foundation that not only covers all bases, but works. Once you’ve established a regimen that your skin loves, then add on the extras (serums , additional masks, spot treatments, etc.)

… but just a few. Remember: simple and gentle is always the most effective.

7. Applying products out of order.

It’s not so slap-dash-and-go with skin care. There’s an order that begs to be followed for utmost efficacy.

It’s easy to remember if you think of it in terms of applying in order of consistency. To ensure that your skin better absorbs each layer, thin to thick is the way to go. For example:

1. Cleanser

2. Toner

3. Serum (if applicable)

4. Eye Cream

5. Moisturizer/Cream

Spot treatment (for occasional acne breakouts)

And a few extra tips: spritz hydrating sprays before and/or after your moisturizer as needed, and apply a serum under your mask for additional benefits.

8. Going to bed with makeup on .

Just don’t do it. No. Excuses.

9. Not washing your makeup brushes or pillowcases regularly.

We talk about this skin sin here , and how to properly clean your makeup brushes (thanks to pro Chad Hayduk!) here .

10. Not clocking enough hours of sleep.

It’s not called beauty sleep without reason: insufficient sleep is scientifically linked to accelerating physical signs of aging as well as the skin’s ability to repair itself. Plus, no sleep means more stress, which means hormonal imbalances that cause inflammation and breakouts.

Originally published as Stop! 10 Skin Care Mistakes You’re Making from the Mario Badescu Skin Care Blog.