Even us “in the biz” commit a couple of skincare sins here and there. The difference is that we know how to undo them! Are you ready to undo yours? Find your skincare sin below and we’ll tell you how to repair the damage:
IF… you are a social smoker
It isn’t a secret that smoking is awful for your skin. This is because the more you light up, the worse your circulation becomes, which means that less oxygen and fewer nutrients can actually make their way to your skin. Over time, smoking also damages your body’s collage supply and elastin, leading to aging skin tell-tales like fine lines and wrinkles. Aside from quitting smoking and ditching that pack of cigs, you’ll want to invest in a quality nightly moisturizer containing antioxidants and peptides to stimulate collage production. We love IMAGE’s skincare The MAX stem cell creme ($96) which has both corrective peptides and plant-driven stem cells to repair damaged skin while also protecting skin from free radical damage.
IF…you workout with makeup on and/or go to bed with makeup on
Taking your makeup off first is ideal since cosmetics, daily, dirt and pollution buildup can result in irritation, clogged pores, and breakouts. If you just can’t get yourself to wash your face, stash cleansing wipes next to your bed so you can at least get rid of surface debris and minimize any bacteria that can lead to pimples.
IF…you drink a glass or two (or more) of alcohol at night
When it comes to skincare, alcohol definitely isn’t your friend. Although red wine is rich in antioxidants, too much of a good thing will leave you VitalCMasquedehydrated and splotchy. If you decide to drink beer instead, you’re ingesting a lot of sugar and the high glucose content can lead to chronic inflammation. Because you know sometimes you just need a couple glasses of wine or that “beer jacket,” minimize the side effects of too much of a good thing by drinking a glass of water in between drinks. When you get home, cleanse your skin and go to sleep in a mask containing hydrators like IMAGE’s skincare Vital C Hydrating Enzyme Mask ($32).
IF…you have a habit of popping pimples
Who hasn’t picked at a pimple before? We get it- breakouts are frustrating and when you see that inflamed red dot on your face you just want to get rid of it, stat! But if you’re still popping your pimples, you’re causing major inflammation to the skin, which can lead to dark spots and scarring. If you ask us, that’s worse than dealing with a little breakout for a couple of days! To keep your fingers off your face and still fight a that pimple, apply a spot treatment with salicylic acid on the breakout two to three times a day.
IF…you spend a lot of time outdoors without sunscreen
As good as spending time outdoors is, your adventures out in nature make you prone to sun damage on spots like your neck, shoulders and chest. To keep your skin protected, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to these areas and don’t forget to re-apply if you’re going to be outdoors for a couple of hours or more. A cream SPF will adhere through sweat better than spray-on formulas. But don’t call it a day yet- in addition to your spf you’ll want to wear sun protective clothing to make sure you block our those harmful UV rays all over your body and not just on your face, neck, and chest. If the damage is already done and you are now having to deal with sun spots, we recommend you come in for an IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) photofacial, which will cause the hyper pigmentation to slough off within a few days after the treatment! If you’re interested in learning more about IPLs, check out a few of our blog posts on the topic here.
IF…you wash your face excessively
You would think cleansing your skin more often would equal in healthier, clean and happy skin, right? But the opposite is true. Over washing your face can make skin feel tight and itchy and may actually cause inflammation depending on the type of cleanser you’re using. To make sure you’re not stripping your skin of all of its essential oils, only rinse your face with water in the mornings and use a cleanser at nighttime, once a day only! Although it seems counterintuitive, we promise your skin will thank you, especially in this dry Colorado weather. If you travel to a humid place, then by all means, cleanse your skin both morning and night. However, it’s still important to make sure you use a high-tech, low-lather cleanser that effectively removes grime and oil without stripping skin, no matter where you are.