The skincare mistakes you're making

There are several areas of beauty where it’s OK to skimp – your manicure, your make-up and even your haircuts can be put on the backburner when life gets too busy. Your skincare routine however, should be sacred – your skin has to deal with a lot more and is more prone to problems.

There are plenty of elements of skincare we all know (such as cleansing our face regularly), but even the best of us make the odd mistake. The following list shows some of the most common skincare mistakes and what you can do to fix them:

Not using a moisturiser with an SPF

Protecting your skin should be a priority, and one easy way to do this is by using a moisturiser with an SPF of 15 or higher. Even in the UK, where sunshine is rare – protecting yourself against harmful UV rays is essential.

Fix it: Use a moisturiser with SPF – we love Simple’s kind to skin protecting light moisturiser SPF 15.

Not patting your face dry

This is especially important if you have sensitive skin – rubbing your skin dry with a towel can cause irritation and even cause dark spots under your eyes.

Fix it: Be careful to pat your skin dry after cleansing and be gentle around your eye area.

Not washing your hands before washing your face

When you wash your face or apply make-up without washing your hands you are effectively spreading bacteria and oil, which can cause skin problems like acne. It is also important to avoid touching your face during the day as, again, you risk spreading bacteria.

Fix it: Wash hands thoroughly before cleansing your face, applying lotions or applying make-up.

Not cutting down on sugary drinks

Too many fizzy drinks, energy drinks and even fruit juices could be taking its toll on your skin. This is all down to the sugar content of such drinks; the sugar and acidity goes straight to your skin and can cause irritation, redness and acne.

Fix it: Cut down on sugary drinks and increase your water intake.

Find out how a dermatologist could help you keep your skin looking and feeling great on our dermatology page.

View and comment on the original Beauty High article.