Not changing your pillowcases regularly

You might think that looking after your skin begins and ends with a good skincare routine, but there are other environmental factors you need to think about too. Using the wrong pillowcases can dry your skin out overnight, and not changing your pillowcases often enough can result in oil build-up, breakouts and blackheads. Switch to silk or satin pillowcases, and change them out weekly.

Forgetting sunscreen

The most expensive creams, serums and lotions in the world won’t do as much for your skin as remembering to apply sunscreen consistently. Sun damage can cause everything from fine lines to an uneven complexion to skin cancer, so it’s absolutely crucial to invest in a decent sun cream formulated especially for the face, and to wear it even on cold or overcast days.

Mixing serums

Everyone knows the impulse to get carried away when shopping for new skincare, but sometimes simple is best. New products should be introduced into your routine one at a time to minimise the chances of adverse reactions, and you should never apply two different serums at the same time without researching their interactions. Otherwise, you could end up with red, raw or irritated skin.

Over-exfoliating

There’s something super satisfying about exfoliating your skin, and when done correctly it can remove dirt and oil build-up, buff away dead skin, and improve both your face’s complexion and texture. With that said, it’s also easy to irritate your skin by exfoliating too harshly or frequently, which can leave skin feeling tight, uncomfortable and prone to breakouts.

Showering in ultra-hot water

Almost nothing can beat the feeling of stepping under a hot shower, but there are drawbacks to using water hot enough to shame the surface of the sun. Ultra-hot water can strip away your skin’s protective oils and dry it out, which in turn harms the good bacteria that keep your skin barrier strong and resilient. The result is breakouts, dryness and irritation.

Using pore strips regularly

Pore strips might be fun in a gross kind of way, but they’re actually wholly unnecessary. If you’re looking to rid your skin of blackheads and whiteheads, then a face mask loaded with salicylic acid is usually a better way to go. Using pore strips too frequently wreaks havoc on your skin barrier, leaving it unable to protect you from bacteria and environmental pollution.

Waxing the upper lip

It might be a myth that waxing or shaving the hair on your upper lip will cause it to grow back faster, thicker and darker, but that still doesn’t mean you should be doing it all the time. Frequent waxing or shaving with an improper blade is a recipe for ingrown hairs and irritation, so if you’re going to do it, invest in a speciality facial razor.

Using products in the wrong order

Believe it or not, the order in which you apply your skincare is almost as important as which products you choose in the first place. As a general rule, you should begin with a cleanser before moving on to toner, water-based serums and then oil-based serums. After that comes a nourishing moisturiser and then finally sunscreen if you’re heading outside.

Not using retinol

Retinol isn’t some mythical magic ingredient, but it’s about as close as you can get in modern skincare. Retinol has the ability to penetrate deep beyond your skin barrier, ridding you of dead skin and preventing oil build-up and spots. Not only that, but it stimulates collagen production in the skin, allowing you to have fresh and youthful-looking skin for longer.

Taking regular baths

Hot baths have all the same drawbacks for your skin as hot showers, with the difference being that most people stay in the bath for a lot longer. This means that over time, the good oils in your skin are being leeched away, leaving your skin dried out and lacking in nourishment. That’s why it’s so important to follow baths with a high-quality moisturizing lotion.