10 Skincare Mistakes to Avoid

Having the right skincare routine is just as important as knowing how to use it. Don't fall victim to these common skincare mistakes. Here's how to use your skincare effectively.

1. Dipping your fingers into product jars

If your foundation or eye cream come in a jar, don’t dip your fingers inside. Even if your hands are clean, you could be unknowingly transferring bacteria and oil to your creams. It’s best to use a spatula, scoop or fresh cotton swab with each use. That's why we love pump action foundations like our Luminous Liquid Foundation SPF 18 or a creamy stick foundation like HD Mineral Foundation Stick for hygiene and ease of application.

2. Rubbing and pulling your skin

Rubbing and pulling your face puts stress on the skin. We do it daily without thinking about it, from holding the skin around the eyes taught while applying eyeliner to rubbing in eye cream. Rubbing at your skin, especially the delicate eye area, makes your skin lose elasticity over time. Learn how to apply eye cream the right way.

3. Not cleaning your cell phone regularly

Think about how many times a day you touch your cell phone. Wipe down the screen at least once a week if not daily. Household cleaners can damage your phone’s screen, so look for a phone-friendly option.

4. Exfoliating too often

Exfoliating helps increase cell turnover to bring fresh cells to the surface, but daily exfoliation may irritate your skin. Start by exfoliating a couple times a week and increase if needed. Exfoliate all over once a week and then focus on rough, textured problem areas.

5. Ignoring signs of dehydration

Tight, flaky skin is a major indicator of dehydration. Introduce a hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer into your ritual in the morning and then try something a little richer at night like our Bio-Renew EGF Cream to give dehydrated skin a boost in water content and repair your moisture barrier.

6. Not cleaning your makeup brushes

Oil and makeup build up on your makeup brushes. Wiping the surface between uses with an alcohol-based cleanser helps extend the time between washes, but don’t skip the deep clean! Wash your brushes with soap and water at least once a week (—here's our brush cleaning guide) to release stubborn buildup and gunk. Use baby shampoo or a gentle cleanser.

7. Applying skincare in the wrong order

Applying products in the right order will help you get the most out of your skincare routine. For example, serums are intended to penetrate the skin while SPF lays on the surface, so you wouldn’t want to apply sunscreen first. Here's the correct order to apply your skincare products.

8. Not removing makeup before bed

You’ve heard it a million times because it’s true! Leaving makeup on overnight is ruining your skin. Product settles into fine lines, plus it prevents your skin from going through its nightly repair cycle. Even with skin-healthy mineral makeup, the oil, dirt, and debris from the day should be cleansed away each night.

9. Skimping on SPF

We couldn’t make a skin mistakes list without mentioning suncare. You get sun exposure every day without realizing it, in your car, sitting by a window, walking the dog. Apply sunscreen daily to all exposed areas of skin, and don’t forget to reapply.

10. Using the wrong products for your skin type

Is your skin out of whack? Take a look at your basic skincare routine. Dry skin needs conditioning ingredients, while oily skin needs purifying ingredients. Figure out what your skin type is to pick the best lineup for your skincare routine.