Skincare routines keep the skin healthy and stunning. However, there are skincare routines you don’t know are dangerous. You should be aware of these skincare habits before committing to them, which range from excessive exfoliation to the use of harsh chemicals.
It is important to be mindful of the skincare routines you use and how they may affect your skin. While some popular skincare practices can give desired results, others can be dangerous and cause long-term damage to your skin. Here are some habits that you may not know are harmful to your skin.
- Over-exfoliation
- Using Oil-Based Products On Oily/Acne-Prone Skin Types
- The Use of Harsh Ingredients Like Retinoids Too often Or In High Concentrations
- Popping Pimples Incorrectly
- Heavy Reliance On Toners
- Frequent Use Of Chemicals That Contain Parabens
- Skipping Moisturizer
- Using Lemon Juice On Acne Scars
- Applying Toothpaste On Pimples
- Using Hot Water For Cleansing
- Scrubbing Vigorously With Washcloth
- Applying Baking Soda Directly Onto The Face
Skincare Routines You don’t Know Are Dangerous
1. Over-exfoliation
Exfoliating your skin helps remove dead cells and reveals a brighter complexion; however, too much exfoliation is one of the skincare routines you don’t know is dangerous. It can strip away essential oils and irritate sensitive skin types, leading to breakouts or inflammation.
To prevent this from happening, it’s best to stick with gentle formulas such as physical scrubs or chemical peels not more than two times a week for normal or combination skin and once a week for sensitive skin.
2. Using Oil-Based Products On Oily/Acne-Prone Skin Types
This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. Oil-based cleansers will clog your pores and trap bacteria, causing breakouts. Instead, use water-based cleansers that will not clog your pores.
When treating acne, use spot treatments rather than all-over masks since they contain higher concentrations of active ingredients like salicylic acid, which can irritate other parts of your face if used incorrectly.
3. The Use of Harsh Ingredients Like Retinoids Too often Or In High Concentrations
Retinoids help reduce signs of aging by stimulating collagen production, but they should only be used once every few weeks because they make your skin extra sensitive, which increases the risk of sunburn if exposed without proper protection.
4. Popping Pimples Incorrectly
When dealing with acne, popping pimples may appear to be an easy fix, but the incorrect technique can worsen inflammation, leading to scarring or infection.
Always start by using warm water and cleanser, then gently press around the pimple until whiteheads appear. Never attempt to squeeze directly onto the blemish itself as this will spread bacteria further into the pores, causing worse breakouts later on.
5. Heavy Reliance On Toners
Relying heavily on toner as part of your routine could be damaging due to its high alcohol content, which strips away natural oils from the face and leaves behind dryness and irritation, especially if used daily.
6. Frequent Use Of Chemicals That Contain Parabens
Another risky top skincare routines you don’t know are dangerous is using products containing harsh chemicals like parabens or sulfates without first knowing what they do for your skin.
While these ingredients may provide short-term benefits such as reducing oiliness on the surface level, they have been linked with long-term health concerns such as hormone disruption due to their ability to absorb into our bodies through topical application.
If possible, opt instead for natural alternatives derived from plant oils, which offer similar results without all those nasty side effects.
7. Skipping Moisturizer
Moisturizing keeps your skin looking plump and hydrated all day, but many people overlook this important step in their routine, assuming it isn’t necessary!
Without enough moisture levels dropping throughout the night, we’re left with dry flaky patches in the morning. So, remember to apply a thin layer of lightweight lotion after cleansing your face each night, followed up the next morning before the makeup application to ensure the best possible results.
8. Using Lemon Juice On Acne Scars
Lemon juice contains citric acid, which has bleaching properties that help lighten dark spots; however, it also makes the skin photosensitive, causing sunburns, pigmentation issues, and other long-term issues such as premature aging due to UV exposure.
9. Applying Toothpaste On Pimples
Some people apply toothpaste on pimples, hoping that it will dry and clear them, not knowing that it is dangerous.
Toothpaste may have antibacterial agents, but it also contains menthol, which dries out the pimple quickly while causing redness, swelling, and a burning sensation, further irritating the surrounding area and worsening it, instead of permanently curing it.
10. Using Hot Water For Cleansing
Hot water strips off natural oils present in our body, thus drying out facial tissues and leading to wrinkles and fine line formation. It also opens up pores, inviting dirt particles inside, resulting in clogged pores and breakouts.
11. Scrubbing Vigorously With Washcloth
Scrubbing hard might feel good initially but this practice leads to thinning out the epidermis layers, making them fragile. So, avoid scrubbing hard no matter how tempting the feeling is.
12. Applying Baking Soda Directly Onto The Face
When used properly, baking soda works wonders; however, applying the baking powder directly to the face will disrupt pH balance while also stripping away essential moisture content, resulting in dryness, itching sensations, and breakout formations.
Avoid These 5 Toxic Cosmetic Products
(1) Parabens
Parabens are a type of preservative used in cosmetics and personal hygiene items like shampoo, lotion, deodorant, makeup, and sunscreen. They’re known as endocrine disruptors, which means they interfere with your hormones, especially estrogen, leading to reproductive issues as well as an increased risk for cancer.
(2) Formaldehyde Releasers
Formaldehyde releasers such as quaternium-15 or diazolidinyl urea can be found in moisturizers, cleansers, or other beauty items that promise anti-aging effects, but these chemicals slowly release formaldehyde into your body, which has been linked to cancer when inhaled over long periods, so they are best avoided.
(3) Petroleum
Based Ingredients: Petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil, paraffin wax, petroleum jelly, etc. These ingredients may act as a barrier on top of the skin, preventing moisture from getting out and thus causing dryness and irritation. And since they come from crude oil, there could also be traces of carcinogens present, making them unsafe for use.
(4) Phthalates
Phthalates have been linked with hormone disruption and developmental defects due to their ability to mimic human hormones. Commonly found in fragrances, nail polish removers, and perfumes, among others, phthalates should be avoided if you want healthy-looking, glowing skin.
(5) Synthetic Colors
Synthetic colors derived from coal tar derivatives have been shown to cause allergic reactions and even trigger asthma attacks when applied directly to the face or body. So next time you go shopping, make sure any product you buy does not contain synthetic colors.
You can use an ingredient checker such as EWG (Environmental Working Group). This gives people more confidence when selecting something new that might work well with their complexion type.
Conclusion
Understanding what works for your skin type is key to maintaining healthy-looking skin. By being aware of the skincare routines you don’t know are dangerous, you are also taking an active role in protecting yourself from harm while still achieving beautiful results.
