11 Bad Skin Habits You Can Avoid

Some of us have better skin than others, but that doesn’t mean that we need to be cynical if we are not as fortunate as Cindy Crawford and her beautiful radiant skin. We can all take care of our skin with very little effort—as some of you know, your skin  is the largest organ on your body. It is a living breathing organism. So here are 10 things you should avoid in order to have beautiful radiant skin.

1. Always use Sunscreen

We have mentioned it before that one of the most important things in the world is protection! We advocate that when you step out in the sun, please wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is the best way to protect you from getting wrinkled, saggy, and speckled skin. Use an SPF 30 sunscreen at the minimum and make sure it’s a broad-spectrum formula, meaning that they shield both against UVA/UVB rays. For those sunny days when you’ll be outside for any extended period of time, reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours.

2. Avoid Smoking

We all know that only the cool kids smoke—Mad men women, artist, musicians, and Hollywood in general, but this is one of the worst things for your skin. If you smoke, not only are you damaging your health, but you will develop deep wrinkles and a blotchy skin tone. Every decade you smoke, you are decreasing 2.5 years of your life and it will definitely show through your skin.

3. Avoid Excessive Drinking

Okay, we aren’t trying to be your mother or some sort of religious fanatic who doesn’t want you to smoke or drink (cause that’s what we’re saying). Having a drink a day—specifically wine is actually good for you, but any more than that can increase the level of inflammatory agents in the bloodstream which can cause skin sagging over time. Everything in moderation is what we say!

4. Don’t Forget Your Neck & Chest

We’ve already mentioned that your skin is the largest organ on your body, and one mistake people make is that they neglect their neck and chest. Skin care doesn’t end at your jawline. Your neck and chest are almost always exposed, and need the same level of hydration and sun protections as your face. The next time you apply face cream or sunscreen, extend down to your décolletage.

5. Check Your Moles Out

Fifty percent or more of melanoma cases in the United States occur to women between the ages of 15 to 39, according to a 2004 National Cancer Institute study. So check those moles once a year with a specialized dermatologist—you should also check yourself every month in less-than-obvious place like your scalp and feet.

6. Wash Those Brushes

Using Dirty Brushes is a no-no 101. Your skin breaths and if you skip washing your brushes not only could you end up with muddled colors, but clogged pores and even bacterial infections. Just remember to wash your brushes every 3-4 weeks with a gentle shampoo and let them dry overnight.

7. Avoid Staying Up Late

Staying up late is another thing that can cause bad skin. Usually when you’re out late, you may be drinking and smoking—this is like a nuclear bomb on your skin! Staying up late causes stress, which aggravates all skin problems like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Getting enough rest rejuvenates your skin and repairs the damage from the day.

8. Wash Your Face Nightly

Okay you lazys—here is another reason to wash your face every night. Leaving makeup and the day’s worth of oil buildup can cause clogged pores and acne. Sleeping increases your body temperature which enhances the absorption of whatever is on your skin. So wash your face at night—it’s that simple.

9. Avoid Popping Those Zits

When you do get a zit avoid the temptation to pop that sucker. It’s tempting we know, but when you pop a pimple you are actually pushing bacteria deeper into the pore. This causes inflammation, possibility of infections, and scarring. Avoid napalming it too. This causes the skin around the pimple to irritate and over dry healthy skin. Use a spot treatment 2.5 per cent benzoyl peroxide (maximum) at night and reapply it in the morning. This should get the pimple out of your life within 2-4 days.

10. Avoid Tanning

Tanning is another problem for skin. We know it makes you look good and that most celebrities do it, but tanning causes the skin to thicken—trying to protect itself from continued exposure to the sun. Any pigment change from UVA/UVB rays causes premature aging and increases the likelihood of cancer in the long-run. Avoid tanning beds like the plague—they emit concentrated levels of UVA/UVB light! If you do go out in the sun, apply sunscreen!

11. Less is More

Lastly when wearing makeup or products, remember the words of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s, “Less is more.” A lot of people wear overlapping ingredients that are actually incompatible. Sometimes wearing too much of an ingredient causes irritations or skin damage. Negative interactions also happen when trying to treat skin problems simultaneously—sun-damaged skin and adult acne. Remember to consult with your dermatologist to find ingredients that help radiate your skin, instead of damaging it.

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