Nobody’s perfect; we all cut a few skincare corners every once in a while. For some it’s leaving their makeup on after a night out, while others squeeze spots when they know they shouldn’t. It’s fair to say we all have a skincare sin that we need to confess to, but are they doing more harm than we think?
We’ve picked the brains of some of the UK’s leading skincare experts to find out which skincare mistakes we really can’t afford to make if we want perfect skin. Think yours is on the list? Let’s find out…
#1 Skipping Toner
“Clients tend to think this is not an essential part of their routine but it’s so important for re-balancing the pH levels on the skin as well as adding essential moisture and hydration. Toners are also effective at making sure all cleansing partials are removed from the skin.”
“Include a toner or a facial mist in your routine after cleansing. To re-balance the skin and refine the pores or address blemishes and break outs, drench a cotton pad with the Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Tonifying Lotion after cleansing using a sweeping motion.”
#2 Using Face Wipes
“Wipes are great for travel, festivals, gym and emergencies but they do not constitute or equal to proper cleansing of your skin to remove make up, sebum, excess oil, pollution, sunscreen and dead cells.”
“It’s time to stop the laziness and adopt a simple but focused cleansing routine suited to your skins needs, use Vichy Purete Thermale Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover to take all eye makeup even waterproof, then use an oil cleanser to massage and rinse off makeup, double cleanse for clean skin. This the first step to great and healthy skin, which will look better and absorb your hydrating second step (moisturiser) which is the backbone of all skincare – meaning you will need less make up and it will look better.”
#3 Using Body Wash To Cleanse Your Face
“This is a real concern. Most shower gels are far too strong for the delicate skin on our face. In my view as soon as a cleanser foams it is likely to be too strong for facial cleansing. I always ask in-clinic about facial redness and skin tightness after a shower.”
“I recommend washing the face after a shower to remove any traces of shampoo or shower gel which will, if left on, dry out sensitive skin. A facial cleanser should leave skin feeling hydrated. The pH of our skin is naturally acidic, most soaps are alkaline . As soon as you disrupt the skin barrier it is less effective and will start to lose moisture. I recommend gentle skin cleansers such as La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser. If you really do want to use the same cleanser for body and face, it would need to be something non-irritating on the most sensitive skin, such as the La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+ – Lipid Replenishing Cream Wash, but absolutely no soap or shower gel!”
#4 Exfoliating Too Much Or Too Little
“I explain to customers that exfoliation is the utmost important part of any person’s routine. Without exfoliation, t their double serum, day creams, oils, masks, etc are a complete waste, because they’re only feeding the dead skin and not the skin’s layers, which prevents the regeneration process between 12-4am.”
“The tip is to use a bio-degradable beaded exfoliator such as Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream or a liquid exfoliator such as the Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. For the body, either the Clarins Tonic Body Polisher and Clarins Exfoliating Body Scrub For Smooth Skin, will allow to exfoliate away the dead skin without damaging the skin’s layers. Using circular motions 1-2 times a week max, will increase blood flow, circulation and the removal of dead skin, leaving the skin looking more healthy and glowing.”
#5 Underestimating The Effects Of Pollution
“A lot of women think that if they don’t wear make-up it’s not necessary to cleanse their skin. Which is wrong as your skin absorbs pollution, dust and then produces sebum to protect itself against external aggressors. Even at night you produce sebum, so daily cleansing is important, and twice a day will be ideal!”
“The tip I give is to cleanse your face while you shower, then you don’t forget it and you save time. So keep your Institut Esthederm Osmoclean Pure Cleansing Gel or Institut Esthederm Osmoclean Hydra Replenishing Cleansing Milk in your shower ! Then, when you get out of the shower, use your toner (the Institut Esthderm Osmoclean Hydra Replenishing Fresh Lotion) with a cotton pad to perfect the cleansing.”
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Bumbles26
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+ - Lipid Replenishing Cream Wash 200ml
I love using this as a face wash, body wash and a shampoo. I've got eczema-prone skin that has been quite dry this winter, this just works great for all uses, very gentle, fragrance-free and causes no irritations. I highly recommend it to those with delicate skin types.
