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Six beauty habits that may be hurting your skin

By Tobi Awodipe
17 February 2018   |   3:25 am
Most of us long for beautiful, smooth and blemish-free skin, admiring the celebrities we see on TV, wishing we had their type of skin. The good news is you can have that kind of skin without necessarily breaking the bank if you do certain things and avoid some others.

Most of us long for beautiful, smooth and blemish-free skin, admiring the celebrities we see on TV, wishing we had their type of skin. The good news is you can have that kind of skin without necessarily breaking the bank if you do certain things and avoid some others. Not everything is good for you and some things you may or may not be doing are potentially ruining the dream skin you long for.

We have put together six things you are (not) doing correctly and if you follow these diligently, you should begin to see results.

Skipping cleanser, toner, or both
There are two steps to proper cleansing, washing and applying the proper toner. Most of us buy toners and cleansers and don’t use them or they skip one or both at night, when they’re too lazy or too tired. Don’t skip out. Form a routine and stick to it. This should involve applying cleanser to a damp face and gently rubbing it in. Instead of using your hands to rinse off, use a clean warm washcloth and gently pat skin to remove. The reason? Using your fingers to remove cleanser only adds further excess oils and debris to a just-cleansed complexion. Follow up with toner, saturating two cotton pads and swiping over the face, neck, and, décolletage.

Overdoing it with products
Just like our bellies can reveal poor eating habits, your face can get fat—literally, as in thickened, overly plump skin—from absorbing too many products. If that’s you, it’s time for a diet. This happens after overloading with too many oils and products when it’s not necessary. Just as not all food is good for you, not all products should be slapped onto your skin. The key is a very simple regimen. As simple as one-, two-, three-, or four-step process, but with the right products. Ask your dermatologist or cosmetologist for advice, get your routine down, and stick to it.

Using too high an SPF
Using too high an SPF can prevent oxygenation of the skin and may clog pores. On the face, stick to an SPF up to 30, no higher, and reapply as needed. There are exceptions, of course, especially for people with fairer skin who should use a stronger SPF and reapply more frequently.

Self-diagnosing skin problems
This is not advisable. Most people think going to a professional dermatologist or cosmetologist is too expensive and a waste of time, especially in our part of the world, but when you see how much money you’re spending by cherry-picking and buying the wrong products, it’s actually more expensive than having the proper guidance in selecting products that work in synergy with you. Save up, and book a visit with a beautician, dermatologist, or even your physician. Make an appointment, let them assess your skin and recommend or prescribe the right regimen that will work for your needs. You’ll see better results and know exactly why. A physician can also tell you if you’re overdoing it with vitamins that if taken in excess, can also cause skin “obesity.” They might also recommend blood tests and a professionally prescribed list of supplements based only on nutrients you’re truly deficient in.

Treating only your face
Why do most of us focus on just our faces and necks and ignore the rest of our body? If skin is your body’s largest organ, why wouldn’t you treat it properly from head to toe? A lot of us have beautiful faces, but with aged hands, feet, arms—the skin elsewhere just falling apart and thick. Whether you’re doing it at a spa with a professional or if it’s just at home, don’t forget the skin from your neck down. Wear SPF, properly moisturize, and take time to go in for proper exfoliation and body treatments. The country’s situation can be overwhelming sometimes; a massage once in a while is not a bad idea.

Scrubbing your entire body daily
If your entire body is scrubbed daily, you’re stripping off more oil than you should be and it takes a while to regain and produce those oils again. A good body scrub is good once in a while, not daily however. By stripping oils daily, skin cracks easier, gets thicker (and not in a good way), and becomes more susceptible to diseases and conditions caused by diminished or lack of protective oils.

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