Improving your skin isn’t just about adding more steps to your routine—it can be as simple as cutting out the bad habits! For truly beautiful skin it’s about creating a lifestyle that allows your skin to flourish. Sometimes, we don't realize our daily habits are harmful until we take a closer look. Becoming aware of our actions and how we treat our bodies is the first step to not only a better lifestyle, but clearer skin.

In this post you’ll learn about ten habits to STOP doing for a healthier complexion:

Over-cleansing
Picking at your skin/ touching your face
Skipping sunscreen
Using harsh products
Drinking alcohol
Eating out
Using dirty makeup tools
Sleeping with makeup on
Skimping on sleep
Neglecting hydration

When you stop doing these things everyday, even if it's just one or two habits, you will immediately see the benefits in how your skin looks and you’ll feel better too! When our skin is giving us trouble our first instinct is to take action and add more steps to our routines in hopes that something will change. These extra steps inevitably add extra stress. Remember: less is more. You might be surprised that it can be easier to stop doing something than it is to start. So let’s get into these 10 practices you need to get rid of!

1. Stop Over-Cleansing

While cleansing is essential, over-cleansing can strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. There is a place for allowing the skin to heal itself and return to a balanced pH level. If you are over washing, acne may be a response from your skin over producing natural oils. Cleansing too often doesn’t give your skin a chance to optimize how much oil it should produce. If you are washing your skin twice a day, go down to once. If you are only washing once a day, start washing every other day. I highly highly recommend using only micellar water.

2. Stop Picking at Your Skin and Touching Your Face

As tempting as it may be, picking at pimples or blackheads can lead to scarring and infections. This little habit is also a form of self-harm, where you just try to fix the problem aggressively. Treat your skin with love and be gentle. Less irritation will allow your skin to heal naturally quicker and leave you with less discoloration or bumps. Be aware of how often you are touching your face throughout the day. Try your best to stop touching at all costs and if you do touch your face, only do so right after washing your hands.

3. Stop Skipping Sunscreen

UV damage can cause premature aging and hyperpigmentation. Make sunscreen a non-negotiable part of your daily routine, even on cloudy days, to protect your skin from harmful rays. It’s been proven that adding sunscreen every day also makes your skin more glowy and appear more youthful. If you’re already putting many different products on your face, sunscreen should not be one to skip. There are many brands that make a daily sunscreen that won’t irritate the skin. If you still want a little color to your sunscreen I recommend trying eltaMD tinted face sunscreen, it’s super light, can be used as a base layer for foundation and leaves your skin glowy.

4. Stop Using Harsh Products

Products with strong fragrances, alcohol, or harsh chemicals can irritate your skin. Opt for fragrance-free and as natural as possible skincare products. If there are ingredients you can’t pronounce, it shouldn’t go on your face. Natural oils and liquids like coconut oil, jojoba oil, Vitamin E oil, castor oil, or witch hazel are all incredible for healing your skin without any chemicals. Anything you put on your face that burns or stings is not helpful. Again, this is a mild form of self harm and punishing yourself. Whatever you put on your acne prone skin should feel calming and be gentle.

5. Stop Drinking Alcohol

We all know that alcohol isn’t the best for us. Especially if you are dealing with acne, stay away from alcohol. It could be affecting your gut and not allowing you to absorb healthy nutrients. Alcohol also hinders you from getting a deep sleep which can mess up the balance of hormones in your body which can be even worse if you have hormonal acne. Using alcohol to relax does more bad than good. Try replacing alcohol in the afternoons with a calming tea.

6. Stop Eating Out

Your skin reflects your diet. Cut down on sugary, greasy, and processed foods, and incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and water to nourish your skin from within. Whenever you eat out, there is more sodium and processed ingredients in your food. The more food you make at home, the more you know where your food actually came from and what ingredients are in it. Portions from eating out are also bigger which leads to overeating. Overeating itself can cause acne. Start small and cut back eating out a little.

7. Stop Using Dirty Makeup Tools

Dirty brushes and sponges can harbor bacteria and lead to breakouts. Clean your makeup tools regularly to keep your skin clear and healthy. Or even switch to using your hands. Wash your hands with soap and then put on your makeup with your fingers. This is so much better than using a brush that hasn’t been cleaned in years. With already irritated skin it's best to avoid anything that could make it worse. There’s tons of videos online that can show you how to clean your makeup tools if you want to learn how to do that.

8. Stop Sleeping with Makeup On

Sleeping with makeup clogs pores and prevents your skin from rejuvenating overnight. Always remove your makeup before bed to let your skin breathe. If there’s one habit out of all of these you should stop doing first it’s this one. Giving your skin time to heal overnight is crucial. The longer you can go without makeup the better. Many of us wear makeup daily so those hours while you sleep without makeup is crucial. No matter how much you just want to get under the covers and close your eyes, take that extra step to get up and take off your makeup. Your skin will thank you.

9. Stop Skimping on Sleep

Lack of sleep can cause stress, leading to breakouts and dull skin. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to give your skin time to repair and renew. Sleep is also extremely beneficial for balancing your hormones. Most of the time acne is a sign that our hormones are out of balance. Lack of sleep or irregular sleep, meaning you wake up and go to bed at different times each day, can have a really negative effect on your hormones. Start by trying to go to bed a little earlier and catch those Zzzzs.

10. Stop Neglecting Hydration

Dehydrated skin can become dry, flaky, and more prone to wrinkles. Drink plenty of water and use a good moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and plump. With acne, it always goes back to hormones and drinking plenty of water is so helpful for your body to eliminate extra hormones that are produced. This habit is obvious and we all know it. Try to drink a glass of water before your coffee in the morning and opt for water with every meal.

Final Thoughts

Achieving clearer skin involves making mindful choices about your skincare routine and lifestyle habits. By stopping these common skincare mistakes, you’ll be on your way to a healthier, glowing complexion. Remember, consistency is key, and sometimes less is more when it comes to skincare.

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10 habits to QUIT for clearer skin