Common Skincare Mistakes

We’ve all been there: after an especially long day of work or late night on the town, it is easy to walk through the door and head straight to bed without washing off your makeup. It happens! Or when we get so excited for a day at the beach, an outdoor brunch, or a weekend adventure that we forget to protect our skin with sunscreen. That happens, too! Maybe you’ve been so overwhelmed with new skin care options that you try a whole bunch all at once? These are just a few common skin care mistakes that we have all made from time to time. They may seem harmless, but over time our skin can begin to react negatively to the effects of mistakes like these and more, which can be more difficult or even impossible to reverse. That’s why we’ve compiled a handy list of common mistakes people make with their skin along with a few suggestions on how to remedy those slip-ups and treatments that could benefit your skin in the long term.

7 Common Skincare Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake No. 1: Skipping Sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is one of the best and simplest ways to protect your skin, no matter your age. Our skin already does a great job on its own of protecting us from the outside world, but after extended exposure, we need sunscreen to protect from harmful UV rays that can cause severe sunburn, damage that can cause skin cancer, premature wrinkling, and many other skin issues. Repeated sun exposure even on cloudy days with little to no protection causes damage to your elastin, collagen, and skin cells which exacerbates wrinkles and reveals discoloration and a leathery appearance. It is best to use a sunscreen with a minimum protection of SPF 30 if you are outdoors for a prolonged period of time. Be sure to reapply every two hours or so.

How to remedy: It’s simple, really: add a travel size bottle of sunscreen to every bag so you’re always ready to protect your skin whenever and wherever you are headed. Dr. Buddiga also offers Hydrafacials to cleanse, rehydrate, and rejuvenate skin in just a few treatments and you can even add wrinkle repair, brightening, or other enhancements to revive your skin for a healthy and glowing look.

Mistake No. 2: Copying Other People’s Skin Care Routine

When a hot new product circulates around or when a certain skin care routine goes viral, it is easy to want to give it a try for yourself. You may think, “if it worked for them, it would work for me!” However, that is not always the case. Each of us has extremely unique skin with different needs. It is best to consult with a specialist who understands your complete health picture about your skin care goals, rather than focusing on whether a specific, trendy product will achieve your desired outcome.

How to remedy: Schedule a consultation with a leading expert in skin immunology, like Dr. Buddiga. Their individual care will help you narrow down your skin care goals and identify which products are right for you and how long to use each of them.

Mistake No. 3: Not Giving Your Skin Enough Time with Products

When do you want to see results? Yesterday! Unfortunately, results from using a new skin care product will not appear overnight – or even after a week in most cases. Whether you are hoping to clear up acne, remedy discoloration, smooth out your skin’s texture or lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles, one of the most important things you can give your skin is time. From one day to the next you may not notice changes in your skin, but by giving a new product 2-3 months to (hopefully!) work its magic, you may look back and notice significant improvements.

How to remedy: Be patient! Document any changes you are noticing while using the products, consult your dermatologist if you are experiencing any reactions, and reevaluate in 2-3 months.

Mistake No. 4: Using Too Many New Products at the Same Time

Raise your hand if you’ve ever purchased a skin care bundle with five or more products you have never used before. This is a common skin care mistake for a reason: we’ve all been there. This looks like a convenient way to get all the products you could need from cleanser to moisturizer in one set—and for a better price—but it may not be what’s right for your skin. There is also a chance that any of these could irritate your skin and then you are left wondering which one of them is the culprit.

How to remedy: Instead of purchasing a pre-made bundle, schedule time with your skin care specialist to choose 1-2 products to try first. It can feel like a long process, but once you begin to see positive results, you know you are on the right track.

Mistake No. 5: Sleeping with Makeup On

Sometimes it can feel exhausting to go through your skin care routine when all you want to do is jump under the covers after a long day, but the benefits of taking a few extra minutes to remove your makeup are too many to skip this step before bed. Cleansing properly before bed helps to remove dirt and debris, reduce acne, prevent blemishes, prevent dry or dehydrated skin, and so many more common skin concerns!

How to remedy: Perfect your nightly skin care routine by cutting it down to the most essential steps—which will help save you time—have everything set up on your sink so you are not searching for products and set an alarm if you want to make sure you remember every night. The habit will eventually become second nature and your skin will thank you.

Mistake No. 6: Exfoliating Too Much

The more you scrub, the cleaner your face will get, right? Wrong! Over-exfoliation can lead to rough, dehydrated patchy, and flaky skin. When this happens that can mean your skin has lost the ability to absorb moisture and can even reduce your skin care products’ ability to treat your skin how you like. If you are noticing that you are developing dry patches on your skin, that is a sign you are overdoing it.

How to remedy: Put the exfoliator down and back away… then call your specialist! At BUDDIGA Skin Aesthetics, we’ll set up a consultation for you to take us through your concerns and your routine step-by-step so we can more accurately pinpoint what needs to change—whether it’s a product or the frequency with which you are using it.

Mistake No. 7: Not Having a Set Goal in Mind

Have you ever purchased a product because it just felt like the right one to buy? Did the packaging catch your eye? Did you see it on social media or did a friend recommend it to you? You are not alone! However, if you begin using products without an end skin care goal in mind, you may never achieve the look you are hoping for. Ingredients are one of the most important things to look at on the product labels and each of them has a different job. For example, Niacinamide can help treat acne. Salicylic acid may help to shed dead skin cells. Tea tree oil can help reduce inflammation. But if acne and inflammation aren’t issues for you, and instead you’re looking to hydrate your skin, those products are not right for you – and may even cause problems!

How to remedy: Set a goal! If you are hoping to hydrate your skin and achieve a more glowy, dewy look, that is a great place to start. It helps you narrow down your options, set up a skin care routine with the help of a skin immunology specialist like Dr. Buddiga, and allows you to track progress over time while experimenting with products that could potentially help you reach those skin care goals.

We Are Here to Help

One skin care habit that is never a mistake: visiting Dr. Buddiga at BUDDIGA Family | Allergy | Skin | Immunology for a consultation. Our Skin Aesthetics Med Spa is an excellent resource for helping you achieve healthy skin inside and out with treatments like non-invasive procedures, facials, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing, as well as recommendations on products Dr Buddiga trusts and uses himself from ZO® Skin Health.

Be sure to book an appointment today to discuss your skin care goals. Fill out the form right here to get started: https://www.buddiga.com/contact/