10 Common Skincare Mistakes To Avoid

Skincare is a tricky business— there's SO much information out there, and it's hard to know what's true and what's not. It's easy to make mistakes, especially when you're first starting out. To save you some time (and frustration), we've compiled a list of common skincare mistakes to avoid. Trust us, your skin will thank you!

Top 10 Skincare Mistakes To Avoid

A good skincare routine is essential no matter where you are in life, but as we start to age, our skin has different needs. The skin begins losing collagen and elastin, which are essential for bouncy, youthful skin. However, avoiding these common skincare mistakes can help preserve the skin's health, restore collagen and elastin levels, and prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

1. Not Wearing SPF Daily

Sun damage is one of the top causes of skin aging. Harmful UV rays cause photoaging at a cellular level and break down collagen, so it is essential to protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen every day. Most dermatologists recommend using a minimum of SPF 30 and reapply it every few hours, especially if you are spending time outside. UV rays can still harm you even on a cloudy day, so don't skip the sunscreen even when it's not sunny out.

2. Over-Exfoliating

Exfoliating is a great way to remove dead skin cells and smooth out the skin to make it more receptive to skincare ingredients. However, it can also cause damage if not done correctly. It can cause irritation, redness, or even burning if you exfoliate too much or too often. Over-exfoliation causes tiny tears in the skin and harms the skin's barrier.

You can use gentle exfoliants like Cica Redness Relief Nourishing Cleanser at low concentrations once or twice daily. However, more potent exfoliants should only be used two to three times per week or less if you have sensitive skin. If you feel any irritation, then you should cut back or use gentler products. Dēpology's Cica Redness Relief Nourishing Cleanser is a good option for a low-concentration exfoliant.

3. Sleeping With Makeup On

Even when you're super tired and can't wait to crawl into bed, you should always remove your makeup before sleeping. If you go to bed before removing your makeup, your pores can become clogged, allowing acne-causing bacteria to build up. Your skin will also have a more difficult time absorbing skincare ingredients. Make sure to develop a nightly skincare routine that involves first cleansing the skin of all makeup and debris.

4. Sleeping Carelessly

The way you sleep can also impact your skin health. If you spend a lot of time sleeping on your side, wrinkles are more likely to form over time as your face continuously presses against your pillow. One way to mitigate this is to use a satin or silk pillowcase rather than a cotton one. Satin and silk are gentler on the skin and less likely to damage collagen, as cotton pillowcases do.

5. Not Layering Your Skincare Products

Although moisturizing is essential, incorporating other skincare products into your routine can drastically improve results. You should always layer products from lightest to heaviest after cleansing the skin and patting it dry. Start out with a serum with anti-aging ingredients like the Dēpology Matrixyl 3000 Collagen Serum, which supports collagen within the skin and with Matrixyl 3000 and provides intense hydration with hyaluronic acid.

6. Not Moisturizing Immediately After Cleansing

Cleansing your face is a necessary step to remove makeup and unclog pores, but it can also be quite drying. Finish your skincare routine immediately after washing your face to prevent your skin from drying out. To decrease the chances of this happening, use our caviar moisturizing multi-balm that includes moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil, caviar and bakuchiol. In addition to these negative effects, not moisturizing can also make your skincare products less effective. This is because moisturizers help to lock in the hydration from other skincare products, such as serums and sunscreen.

7. Having The Same Skincare Routine for Day and Night

Your skin has different needs at different times throughout the day. For your morning skincare routine, you should focus on ingredients that will give you a brightening boost and protect your skin from the harsh elements of the day, such as Vitamin C and SPF.

At night, you can use a more potent cleanser to remove makeup and debris from the day. You can also use anti-aging ingredients like retinol, which shouldn't mix with the Vitamin C you use in your morning routine. Night creams like the Dēpology Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream help lock in moisture overnight to minimize fine lines and wrinkles over time.

8. Letting Skincare Products Expire

Skincare products have an expiration date for a reason. Some ingredients lose potency and effectiveness over time, and heavily used products can become full of bacteria if you're not careful. Pay attention to expiration dates and switch out your products once they've reached their limit.

9. Improperly Storing Products

Some products require extra care. For example, Vitamin C and SPF can quickly deactivate if left in the sun. It's important to store makeup products in a place that doesn't get too warm or moist to avoid deactivation or bacteria from building up. It's also important to keep your makeup brushes clean to prevent bacteria growth that can harm your skin.

10. Not Keeping A Consistent Routine

Sometimes when you see excellent results from your skincare routine, you start to get comfortable and slack off. However, the key to healthy, youthful skin is consistency. Keeping a consistent skincare routine not only ensures short-term results, but it sets you up for long-term success. Many skincare ingredients require consistent use over time to make sure the results stick, so don't cut back on your routine just because you start seeing results.

The Final Verdict

We hope this list of common skincare mistakes has been helpful! Avoiding these mistakes will put you on the right track to achieving healthy, glowing skin. Just remember to be patient, consistent, and kind to your skin— it will repay you in kind!