There are many things that we do day-to-day that could be damaging our skin without us realising. These are often habits we have formed over time thinking we are doing the best for our bodies, but we could be doing more harm than good.
The most common daily habits we have that can be detrimental to our skin’s health:
Too much caffeine
Many of us will start our day with a cup of coffee, and continue to drink it to keep us feeling alert throughout the day. However, too much caffeine can have a negative effect on our skin due to its dehydrating properties. Caffeinated drinks can also play havoc with your blood sugar levels, which has also been known to aggravate skin conditions such as acne. To stop your favourite caffeine-laden beverages from having an effect on your skin, try and switch for decaf options or green tea.
Popping pimples & squeezing blackheads
It can be tempting to squeeze a spot when we see one emerge on our face, but there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t pop a pimple when it makes an appearance.
One of the main reasons is that you can tear the skin, creating more damage to an already sensitive area. There is also a chance that long nails can cause further damage to the surrounding healthy skin. Popping pimples has also been known to cause scars, and this is often the case for those who have suffered with severe acne previously.
Using too many products in your skincare routine
Skin has a delicate pH balance, and mixing a number of different products together can upset this balance. Use only the very basics, i.e. cleanser and moisturiser. This not only reduces the amount of chemicals you apply to your skin, but it will also speed up your skincare routine!
Over-exfoliating
Exfoliation is used to remove a build up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, but too much can be too harsh and actually damage the skin. It has been advised by some dermatologists that you should exfoliate around 2-3 times every week. This helps to keep the skin clean and pores unclogged, but also ensures you aren’t damaging the newly refreshed skin. It’s also important to use an exfoliant that has smaller granules as it offers more gentle exfoliation. Natural products made from organic ingredients are great for this. They often use ground almonds and other natural ingredients, which are great for the health of your skin.
Too much talking on the phone
When we use our mobile phones we will often hold them against our face. However, how often do you clean your phone? For many people, the answer to this question is never.
For those on the phone multiple times a day, breakouts around the cheek or jaw line area may be noticeable. This is due to the bacteria being carried on your handset and spreading to your skin. Simply wiping your phone regularly with a gentle disinfecting wipe or makeup wipe can help to remove some of this bacteria and decrease the chance of breakouts.