We’ve all been there—trying new products, switching routines, or skipping steps when we’re tired. Even with the best intentions, common skincare mistakes happen. When they do, they can lead to breakouts, dryness, redness, or dull-looking skin.
The good news? Once you recognize what’s holding your skin back, small changes can make a big difference.
Here are some of the most common skincare mistakes and what to do instead.
Cleansing Skincare Mistakes
We are not saying you’re dirty or don’t know how to wash your face. But sometimes, due to personal preferences, tight schedules, or just sheer exhaustion, we make occasional skincare mistakes that result in less-than-ideal skin.
Remember, these are very common, so even if you’re doing one (or all) of them, there’s no shaming here! We simply want to help you build better habits.
Not Cleansing Properly
A quick splash of water or hyperspeed scrub isn’t enough, especially if you wear makeup or sunscreen. You’re not giving the special ingredients in your cleanser enough time to work before washing them away. And incomplete cleansing can lead to buildup, breakouts, and dull skin.
Better Habit: Use a gentle cleanser morning and night, and massage it into your skin for at least 60 seconds. If you wear SPF or makeup, consider a double cleanse in the evening using a cleansing balm or micellar water first.
Washing with Hot Water
Hot water cleans your dishes better, so the same must be true for skin, right? Nope! Hot showers feel great, but high-temperature water can strip your skin of essential oils and damage your moisture barrier, leaving you with vulnerable, overly dry skin.
Better Habit: Wash your face with lukewarm—not hot—water to avoid irritation and dryness.
Sleeping in Your Makeup
We’ve all had nights where we just couldn’t be bothered, but sleeping in makeup traps dirt, oil, and bacteria on your skin, leading to clogged pores and irritation.
Better Habit: Keep makeup wipes or micellar water and cotton pads nearby for nights when a full cleanse feels like too much; something is better than nothing!
Over-Exfoliating
Exfoliating is great…until it’s too much. If your skin feels tight, dry, or red after exfoliating, you may be damaging your protective skin barrier.
Better Habit: Exfoliate no more than 2–3 times a week (less if you have sensitive skin), and don’t combine multiple exfoliating products at once.
Forgetting to Clean Your Makeup Brushes
Let’s face it; we’ve all let our makeup brushes get a little too gunky. (Okay, maybe a lot!) But it’s not just excess makeup clinging to your beauty blender; it’s also oils, dead skin, and bacteria. Then you’re wiping it right back onto your face the next time you use it, which can lead to dull skin and breakouts.
Better Habit: Wash makeup brushes and sponges at least once a week with baby shampoo, dish soap, or specialized makeup brush cleaner.
Not Cleaning Other Things That Touch Your Face
Way more things come into contact with your skin than just your makeup brushes: your phone, glasses, pillow cases, your fingers, etc. Between oils, dirt, dead skin, sweat, and germs, these items can become even dirtier than your beauty blenders. If you’re not cleaning them regularly, you’re putting that nastiness right back on your face.
Better Habit:
- Wipe down glasses and phone screens with disinfecting wipes or a microfiber cloth at least once a day to keep them clean and germ-free.
- Change or wash pillowcases 1–2 times a week.
- Wash your hands before applying or touching up makeup, and avoid touching your face as much as possible.
Product Skincare Mistakes
Considering the crazy high amount of skincare products and range of ingredients, it’s easy to get confused about what you should and shouldn’t be doing.
First and foremost, if you’re unsure about which products are best for your skin’s needs, consult your aesthetician or dermatologist, especially if you have sensitive or vulnerable skin.
Aside from customized expert advice, if you’re making these universal skincare mistakes, stop as soon as possible to save your skin.
Believing Sunscreen Myths
We all know how important SPF is, yet so many of us tend to make the same mistakes with it. One of the biggest myths out there is that you only need sunscreen when you’re in the full sun. In reality, UV rays can penetrate clouds and windows, causing skin damage even on overcast days or when you don’t leave the house.
Better Habit: Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day, even if you’re indoors. Reapply if you’ll be outside for longer than two hours.
Skipping Moisturizer
It seems logical: why add moisture if you already feel greasy from natural oils or hot, humid temperatures? However, skipping moisturizer can actually make your skin more oily by signaling it to produce more sebum, which can cause oilier skin and breakouts.
Better Habit: Use a lightweight, oil-free or gel-based moisturizer to keep skin balanced and hydrated, especially in hot weather.
Using the Wrong Products for Your Skin
Not every trending product is suitable for your skin. Using overly rich creams on oily skin or harsh products on dry or aging skin can exacerbate existing problems. Even worse, if you have a skin condition, such as rosacea, certain ingredients can make it worse.
Better Habit: Understand your skin type and concerns before choosing products. When in doubt, consult with a skincare professional for personalized recommendations.
Combining Potent or Irritating Ingredients
Some powerful ingredients don’t play well together—like retinol and vitamin C, or exfoliating acids and benzoyl peroxide. Combining them can lead to redness, peeling, and increased sensitivity.
Better Habit: Introduce new active ingredients one at a time, and research how different components interact. For example, use vitamin C serum in the morning and retinol products at night. Alternatively, you can ask your aesthetician for a personalized safe product pairing plan.
Not Patch Testing New Products
Sensitive skin? Don’t skip this step. Applying a full layer of a new product without testing can lead to embarrassing redness, uncomfortable irritation, or even dangerous allergic reactions.
Better Habit: Apply a small amount behind your ear or on your jawline and wait 24–48 hours. If no irritation occurs, you’re likely good to go.
Not Giving Products Enough Time to Work
If you’re constantly switching products, your skin never gets the chance to adjust. Most skincare products take 4–6 weeks to show noticeable results.
Better Habit: Stick with new products consistently (unless you experience a bad reaction), and give your routine time to work before moving on to the next thing.
Using Expired or Old Products
Yes, skincare expires! Using products past their prime can reduce effectiveness, or worse, cause breakouts or irritation from built-up bacteria.
Better Habit: Check the little jar icon on your products for the “months after opening” guideline, and throw away anything that smells off, appears separated or discolored, or has expired.
Stop These Skincare Mistakes Today
Sometimes, small tweaks are all it takes to get your skin back on track. So, if you’ve noticed a lack of glow or sudden breakouts lately, one of these sneaky skincare mistakes could be the culprit.
In addition to making sure your skincare routine is mistake-free, you may benefit from a rejuvenating skin reset with a HydraFacial or chemical peel.
Call us today to book a free consultation! We’ll help you choose the right products, routines, and treatments for your unique skin.