Skin Sins
by Skincare-news.com team
Harmless though they may seem, some bad habits can make your beauty routine less than beautiful. Learn which habits need to go, and why
There’s no argument that applying skincare products and treatment with daily devotion is key to having great skin. However, products are only as good as their canvas; it’s equally important to kick your most detrimental habits to the curb. Herein, several common skin sins whose time has come to say, bye-bye.
Sin 1: In SPF we Trust
While some sunscreens may promise all-day protection, almost all will still need to be reapplied if swimming or sweating, and during peak sun hours. Worried about disrupting your makeup? Opt for a sunscreen in powder or spray-on mist form and re-apply every few hours to exposed skin, including your lips, nose, chest, tops of the ears, and back of the neck and hands. Try Dr. Michelle Copeland SPF 40 Lotion Mist Sun Block or Colorescience SPF 30 All Clear Sparkles Brush. And don’t forget to check the expiration on a product before heading outdoors - the manufacturer’s directions should be followed regarding shelf life.
Sin 2: Salty Situations
Are you suddenly parched and craving a tall drink of water, out of the blue? There’s a good chance you’re dehydrated. Hot weather and/or exercise cause the body to sweat and lose electrolytes, water and sodium chloride or salt. Once dehydrated, the body needs to regain these lost electrolytes, hence the sudden craving. How does this affect your appearance? Severe cases of dehydration-such as after a long run in hot weather-can lead to dry, pinched skin, and even a shriveled appearance of the skin around the eyes. Similarly, prolonged exposure to ocean water can irritate eyes, causing puffiness. Re-hydrate the body with electrolyte-rich sports drinks or water and then pamper the skin with Murad Cellular Replenishing Serum.
Sin 3: Over-Exposure
Intense treatments such as acid peels or Retin-A can make skin extra-sensitive to the environment-specially sunlight. And although the most effective protection may be to stay indoors, going outside is inevitable so shield treated areas with sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing (i.e. long sleeves and pants). Any area that’s undergone treatment must always be protected from sunlight as sun exposure may adversely react with these treatments, causing hyper-pigmentation or scars. Even indirect exposure from sitting next to a window or driving in the car can be too much so don’t be tempted to skip the precautions during the work day. For full protection, prep the skin with La Roche Posay Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 each day, and don’t forget the backs of the hands!
Sin 4: Neglecting Your Chest
The decolletage is one of the first areas to show the cumulative effects of aging, so don’t limit skincare to just the face. Start a habit now of slathering the neck and chest with anti-aging treatments, moisturizer and most importantly-sunscreen. And although this new habit won’t erase evidence of past neglect, it will protect this delicate area from further environmental or sun damage. For the smoothest skin possible, exfoliate the neck and chest area two-three times per week with a glycolic-acid treatment, such as Peter Thomas Roth Multi-Action All-In-One Micro-Dermabrasion and follow up with an anti-oxidant rich hydrator: Dr. Brandt V-Zone Neck Cream. And don’t forget sunblock on the days that this area is exposed-even if you are sitting inside.
Sin 5: Straw Sippers Unite
Innocent enough, right? Maybe not. As with smoking, habitually drinking beverages (especially thick ones) through a straw can cause permanent lines in the upper lip through the repetitive movement of upper lip muscles. In addition, aging speeds up the process by diminishing collagen and elastin in these areas. To get ahead of this process, avoid frowning, smoking and effusive enunciation of the letter ‘o’, and use skincare treatments with vitamin C to kick-start a natural production of collagen and elastin: Murad City Skin Detox Treatment and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic are great for all skin types.
Sin 6: Hidden Assets
Topping the list of skin sins? Hiding your glory! Overly-thick, camouflaging makeup, foundation or self-tanner is not the answer to skincare woes. Let the skin’s natural beauty shine by following a simple mantra for maintenance: less is more. Heat and moisture exchange occur across skin’s surface, as do a number of other important functions. Caked-on makeup can form a barrier that may impede these functions so forgo heavy foundation whenever possible and instead, celebrate all of the skin’s glory. Use tinted moisturizer or foundation powder such as MD Skin Care All-In-One Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 for a naturally radiant complexion.