these common skincare mistakes make you look older

A cream here, a jab there: we do everything we can to eat at least ten years off our age. However, there are certain skincarehabits that make us look older.

Go to bed with makeup on

We all know it’s one no go is (right?!), but there are still many people who go to bed with make-up on. If an evening of drinks with friends or colleagues has become too cozy or if you have had a long working day, for example. ‘Oh, once is fine’, you might think. Nevertheless, it is important to always remove your make-up before going to sleep. But even without a good dose of make-up, cleaning your face is a must.

“Whether you wear a lot of makeup or not, you should wash your face twice a day for healthy skin,” esthetician Michaela Bailey tells me. The List. “Sweat, makeup, pollutants in the air and bacteria from our hands are all on our skin. We therefore have to clean our skin daily.”

According to Joy Chen of H2O Beauty, air pollution is the main culprit. The pollution particles are twenty times smaller than our pores, so our skin easily absorbs these toxins. “While you may not notice it right away, pollution takes on an even greater role over time – it is one of the main contributors to inflammation and visible signs of aging,” she explains. So don’t forget to cleanse your skin in the morning and afternoon.

Do not use a day cream

Do you have oily or combination skin? Then you probably shouldn’t think about applying a layer of day cream. That is asking for even more shine, you might think. However, this is not the case, says Bailey. “Everyone needs a moisturizer, whether you have dry or extremely oily skin. Such a cream keeps the skin hydrated throughout the day and helps keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay.” During the day you can opt for a lighter moisturizer (one with an SPF of 15 or higher is a must) and at night it is best to take care of your skin with a somewhat thicker cream.

Only wear SPF in the summer

A day at the beach? Then you probably won’t soon forget your sunscreen. Still, you should actually wear SPF every day. That’s right, every day. “Sun protection is key to keeping your skin and body healthy,” says cosmetic physician and founder of Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare Dr. Ben Johnson. “The sun is the most powerful source of energy, why would you want it to hit the one thing that protects your body?” he refers to our skin. “Anytime your skin is overexposed to the sun, it has to work overtime to protect itself.” This can weaken the skin, which can lead to pigment spots, aging skin and wrinkles.

According to makeup artist and beauty blogger Hillary Kline, sunscreen (for your skin and your face) is an absolute must in your skincare routine. She herself uses a cream with SPF 40 for her face every day. “Not only does it help prevent sun damage, it also helps keep skin looking younger and more youthful.”

Cleaning your skin too often or too much

Where sleeping with make-up on and not washing your skin enough is one extreme, cleaning your skin too often or too much is the other extreme. Do you wash your skin more than twice a day or do you use a heavy scrub every day? Then you can damage your skin’s lipid barrier, which can lead to dry skin. “When your skin is super dry from over-cleansing, lines become very prominent and your makeup cracks. That’s why it’s so important to keep your skin hydrated,” says celebrity dermatologist Dr. Kiran Sethi Health Shots.

Skin care specialist Rebecca George also warns of the dangers of over-exfoliating. “Exfoliating too much can be very damaging to your skin and can cause chronic inflammation, sensitivity and highly reactive skin,” she counters. The List. “When your skin is this sensitive, it is more prone to breakouts, pigmentation and dryness. It creates a domino effect which in turn leads to premature aging, puffy eyes, wrinkles, dark spots, dullness and sagging skin.”

Not drinking enough water

It is clear that it is very important to keep your skin hydrated. However, you don’t just do this by applying moisturizing creams to your face. Drinking enough water also plays an important role in this. “Water helps keep our systems running smoothly. This, in turn, keeps the skin functioning properly,” Roberta Perry, founder of ScrubzBody Natural Skin Care, tells The List.

But now the question is, of course, how much water should you drink in a day? Perry has come up with a handy mnemonic for this. “Whatever your weight, you should be drinking at least half that amount in our water every day,” she says. Well, this works a bit easier in the US than in the Netherlands: 1 ounce is equal to 0.03 liters or 30 milliliters. A quick calculation is therefore in order. Suppose you weigh 70 kilos. Half of that is 35. According to Perry, you should be drinking at least 35 ounces or 1.05 liters of water. It key word here is ‘minimum’, because it is recommended to drink one and a half to two liters per day.

Not sleeping long enough

Bad sleeping habits can not only lead to a host of health problems, such as increased belly fat and high blood pressure, it also has a pretty bad impact on your skin. Esthetician and nutrition coach Connie Rogers explains, “Poor sleep is also the cause of premature aging, dermatitis, eczema, acne, lost collagen production, and hormone imbalances.” Get under the wool a little earlier tonight!

Source: The List, Health Shots | Image: Adobe Stock