Whether you’re 16 or 61, a good night time beauty skincare regimen is the key to both fighting the signs of aging and preventing skin conditions such as acne or dryness. Unfortunately, many women are so tired by the end of a busy working or school day that the last thing they have time for is a proper skin care routine.
The good news is, you don’t have to invest in hundreds of expensive beauty products or engage in a drawn-out nighttime beauty routine to achieve healthy, glowing skin. You just need to keep in mind a few basic tenants of beauty and avoid the most damaging skincare mistakes.
Let’s take a look at five common nighttime skincare mistakes you might be making without even realizing it.
Going to Sleep with Your Makeup on
One of the worst beauty sins you can commit is going to sleep without taking off your makeup. Recent surveys have shown that one in three women sleep in their makeup at least once or twice a week. This leads to blocked, enlarged pores and a build-up of breakout causing bacteria. Additionally, makeup and dirt on an un-cleansed face can prevent your skin from renewing itself naturally at night, interfering with cell turnover and skin elasticity. Always remove your makeup before bed to help prevent acne and dry, dull skin.
Never Changing Your Pillowcases
Believe it or not, your pillowcase could be responsible for your skincare woes. If you’ve had less than stellar skin lately, ask yourself when you last laundered your pillowcases. Pillowcases that aren’t changed regularly build up with natural dirt, oils and grime from both our skin and the environment. This can then be transferred back onto our faces where it wreaks havoc and causes nasty acne mechanica.
Using the Wrong Skincare Products for Your Skin Type
Having a regular nighttime skincare routine is a fantastic start to achieving glowing, youthful skin, but if you’re using the wrong products, you could be doing more harm than good. Arrange a skincare consultation at one of your favorite makeup stores or counters to determine your skin type, then invest in products accordingly. For example, if you’ve got oily skin, don’t slather your face with a rich, heavy night cream before bed. Using a lightweight cream developed for your skin type will help prevent acne (and vice versa). Before filling your basket with a bunch of products, however, spend a few minutes researching the latest information on acne treatments.
Letting Yourself Get Dehydrated
While you sleep, your skin takes the time to renew and restore itself. However, it struggles to do so if we don’t give it adequate resources. As part of your nighttime beauty routine, drink a glass of water with a squirt of lemon juice and place a bottle of regular water by the bed to drink overnight. Not only will the hint of lemon promote clearer skin, but the added hydration will ensure your skin is plump is smooth when you get up, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Not Sleeping Enough
Even with a great nighttime beauty routine, you will never achieve perfect skin if you skimp on the shuteye. Your body spends the day fighting off free radicals and environmental irritants. During the night, it switches to repair mode and focuses on rejuvenating your skin to combat the signs of aging and stress-induced breakouts. Fight off acne by getting eight hours sleep a night!
Next time you’re tempted to fall into bed with your makeup on or just can’t get rid of a breakout, remember these common nighttime skincare mistakes and you’ll be on your way to clear skin in no time.
