We’re all guilty of it; doing something that unintentionally hurts the health of our skin. But the secret lies in knowing which regular routines and choices are detrimental, such as the three below, so you can avoid them.
Washing With a Rough Washcloth
You would think that a washcloth would cause no harm to your skin, right? Not necessarily. While it isn’t all bad for your skin, Seattle dermatologist Jennifer Reichel, MD, says scrubbing your face with an abrasive washcloth is not the best choice. A better one would be using your fingers or a cleansing device like a Clarisonic.
Not Using Enough Moisturizer
Hydration is key for healthy skin, but many of us don’t apply enough of it or skip it altogether. “Skin is an entire organ, so attention to all of it, and not just the face, is important,” says Dr Reichel. “I believe that people should moisturize their entire body one or two times a day—two is best.”
Constantly Touching Your Face
It’s not an old wives’ tale that touching your face will make you break out. In fact, keeping your fingers on your face (that includes resting your face in your hand) and rubbing your skin won’t do anything good for your complexion—it can cause breakouts and thinning of your skin. “I see patients who come in for a consultation and they spend the whole time tugging and poking at their face to make a point of what bothers them,” says Dr. Reichel.
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