Let’s face it. No one (on purpose) would mess up their skin, hair and nails. But at times, these mess-ups are bound to happen. Yeah, it does occur naturally, but sometimes, it’s just us doing the wrong things.
Everybody has both good and bad habits (and we’re not judging). But when it comes to your beauty regimen, it’s good to check in and figure out where you might be making mistakes, because these mistakes lead to major skin crises. If you’re super curious about what bad beauty habits you need to quit, we’ve got just the list for you. And who knows – ditching these bad habits might be the solution for the ideal skin you’ve dreamed of.
1. Touching your face
Did you know that whenever you touch your face, bacteria and grime are continuously being transferred to your skin? You touch so many things around you and then, using the same hands, you touch your face! Ewwww! I mean, finding creams that leave your skin feeling silky smooth is usually fantastic, but occasionally, it makes us really want to touch our faces. How very tempting. So, refrain from touching your face intentionally! You are allowed to view, but not to touch.
2. Popping pimples
When a large, juicy whitehead appears on your otherwise immaculate face, it is so, so tempting to pop it, but we all know that doing so would ultimately cause more harm than good. The oil gland, also known as the pilosebaceous unit, becomes clogged with germs and dead skin cells when pimples develop. The red variety of pimples, also known as inflammatory pimples, are brought on by the lining of the oil gland being inflamed when we pop our pimples. Deep oil gland inflammation can damage the collagen and elastin that serve as the skin’s support structure and leave scars. If you’re having trouble, choose pimple stickers that conceal and let the pimple gradually heal on its own.
3. Blunt razors
Yes, women’s razors cost more and generally don’t last as long as men’s, but that doesn’t mean we have to keep using the same old, worn-out blade over and over again! Some women, however, prefer using men’s razors instead of women’s razors simply because they’re sharper. However, it’s advisable to stick with the razors designed for ladies if you have sensitive skin or pimples. Additionally, it is imperative that you replace your razor blade before it rusts. It’s a good idea to throw away the razor if the moisturizing bar that is often attached to women’s razor blades is also deteriorating.
4. Sleeping with make up
Definitely a big NO! Just like how you breathe, your skin too, needs to breathe. Sleeping with your makeup on is the one skincare offence that is simply unacceptable. When you apply makeup, it retains anything that comes into contact with your skin during the course of the day, including sweat, dirt, bacteria, and any other unpleasant thing. By the time you hit your bed, your face is as filthy as the crowded streets of Kuala Lumpur and I’m pretty sure you don’t want to be sleeping in that! Make it a habit to always wash off the make up before you go to bed. Leaving them on will lead to clogged pores which will then result in outbreaks and skin inflammations.
5. Using expired make up
A bigger sin than the previous one. It’s deemed ‘expired’ for a reason. Even if you might have sentimental attachments to your makeup, keeping it around is just like keeping stale bread, it gets moldy! It’s crucial to verify the expiration date on every item you buy and to make sure you replace them when they do. Get rid of them, even if you didn’t have a lot of opportunities to use them, or if they’re a limited edition make up kit. Makeup has preservatives to keep all the harmful bacteria out, just like many other goods. The last thing you want is to use outdated foundation powder that contains bacteria and fungi to cover your face.
6. Not cleaning make up brush
Are you even human! First of all, make up brushes these days are so expensive. And secondly, why ruin expensive brushes by keeping them dirty? But let’s be honest, most of us don’t really clean our brushes and that’s definitely a bad thing. Regular brush use without enough washing leads to clogged pores and of course, acne outbreaks. By transferring bacteria and yeast from dirty brushes to your skin, you run the risk of contracting contagious diseases which is just gross. If you don’t really use make up often, then cleaning your brushes once in a while is okay, but if you’re someone who uses them often, please do yourself a favour and get them cleaned ASAP!
7. Over styling hair
You’ve heard it before: too much of a good thing isn’t good. With countless amounts of serum that help deal with frizzy hair and which make your hair look silky plus smooth, overusing them can make you hair look lifeless and drab. Over styling includes using too much heat tools and hair products. C’mon, your hair needs a break too, you know. Regular blow drying, straightening, and curling of your hair can seriously harm it and alter the texture of your hair. Additionally, stay away from utilising products with a lot of chemicals. If your hair has had significant chemical damage, consider Ayurvedic and natural products as healthier alternatives.
8. Picking split ends
Pulling apart your ends is cruel to your hair, even though that part is useless. Your hair will split if you pull at the split ends. Your hair becomes weaker as a result, which doubles the likelihood of breakage. Whatever you do, if your hair splits or breaks, it will look frizzy. So keep your hands off and let the saloon handle the situation.
9. Bath poufs
Seems like a good option for showers, but seriously, when was the last time you replaced those poufs? Tell you what, the longer you keep those poufs, the more bacteria reside in them. You must replace them every two to three weeks because they aren’t designed to be washed like a washcloth. What you bought to help you detoxify yourself is actually doing more damage than good if you’re not doing it. Choose an antibacterial, hypoallergenic washcloth or silicone scrubbing pad instead.
10. Exfoliating a lot
Exfoliating is necessary, but over exfoliating? Hell, no! While it’s vital to exfoliate the skin to remove dead cells for smoother skin, you must be careful not to overdo it. If it is done too frequently, it might harm your skin’s protective layer, leaving it vulnerable to bacterial infection, irritation, and inflammation. Also, you need to know how often to exfoliate your skin depending on your skin condition. If you have acne prone or sensitive skin, then exfoliation should be limited to once per week. Be mindful of the products you use, whether they are chemical or physical exfoliators, and choose softer formulations that are appropriate for your skin type.
11. Picking nail polish
Biting fingernails is a common bad habit, and picking nail polish is another gross thing to do. We’ve all done it occasionally, but while wearing gel polish, it’s considerably worse. When the polish is removed along with the outermost layers of nail cells, keratin granulations develop. Your nails develop crooked, tough, white areas as a result. So save the nail disaster and go for an effective and hydrating nail polish remover.
12. Dirty pillowcases
If you frequently experience surprise outbreaks, its’ probably your pillowcases. Your body temperature fluctuates while you sleep, causing you to sweat sometimes. So your body also expels sweat, extra filth, and oil during this time and guess what? Your pillowcases eventually become filled with the accumulation. To maintain cleanliness and hygienic conditions, it is advised that you change your pillowcases every few days. Make sure you are changing them at least once a week if that seems like too much labour.
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