Costly Skincare Mistakes You’re Probably Making (And Exactly How to Fix Them)
You buy the products. You follow the influencers. You layer on the serums like you are constructing a lasagna. But your skin still breaks out, feels tight or dull.
But why?
Because you’re repeating some of the mistakes many millions make each and every day.
And it’s not your fault. Skincare marketing is brash, murky and contradictory.
In fact, the average woman uses 5 skincare and/or personal care products each day, while men 3. Let that sink in. A total of five bottles, tubes, and jars. Yet only 22% of Americans apply sunscreen year-round.
That’s your problem right there.
Let’s fix that, starting with the 5 most common skincare mistakes and how to break them today.
Mistake #1: Skipping Sunscreen (Or Only Using It “Sometimes”)
Sunscreen should not be a luxury. Just not winter. Just not on cloudy days. Not “because you’re indoors.”
UV rays penetrate clouds and windows. Even the smallest amounts of daily exposure result in premature aging. It consists of the development of wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity. It’s the number one culprit for premature aging according to dermatologists.
And yet 59% of Americans don’t wear sunscreen when it’s cloudy. Even worse? It is used only a few times a month by 13%.
Meanwhile, sunscreen is flying off the shelves, with 4.23 billion units projected to ship worldwide in 2023, but habits aren’t keeping pace.
How to correct it: Use a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 every morning, rain or shine. Use 1/4 teaspoon when applying to the face only. If outside, reapply. Treat it as non-negotiable, like you would brushing your teeth.
Mistake #2: Over-Exfoliating Like It’s a Competition
Harder scrubbing = better, smoother skin. Nope. You’re probably destroying your skin barrier.
Importantly, over-exfoliation is something that happens with alarming frequency. As for those with sensitive skin, dermatologists recommend that the majority of individuals exfoliate 1–3 times a week.Maximum once per week.
But hundreds of thousands of people expose their skin to acids, scrubs and peels in pursuit of that glow with many ending up with red skin, stinging, flaking or breakouts.
But why? Because it strips natural oils away along with dead skin. It compromises your barrier, allowing irritants to come in and cause inflammation. Definitely not the “glass skin” you were after, huh?
The Solution:
Choose one chemical exfoliant, such as salicylic or glycolic acid, or a mild physical scrub. A reminder to use it once or twice a week at the most. If your skin is feeling tight, raw or shiny (we’re talking shiny, not dewy) cease immediately and renew and hydrate.
Mistake #3: Piling On Products Without a Strategy
What about those 5 products you use every day? That’s great – if they’re doing so working together. Life, but, is mostly raucous rather than controlled.
you apply moisturizer before serum, therefore trapping nothing in.
Even worse? Use not consistent. Most people “dabble” with actives; they will try retinol one night, off for a week then over-use which only ends up confusing their skin and doing more damage.
Solution: Maintain a simple routine:
- Purify
- Treat (serum: hydrating or active)
- Hydrate
- Protect (AM: SPF)
Add only one new product at a time. If so, wait 2-4 weeks to add another. Less truly is more.
Mistake #4: Washing Your Face Too Much (Yes, Really)
You equate clean with squeaky clean. But too much cleansing removes natural oils, alters your pH, and causes your skin to overcompensate by making even more oil – hello midday shine and clogged pores.
Frequent washing is typically not needed, even for oily or acne-prone skin. If you exercise? Sprinkle with some water. A second full cleanse is not required unless you’re particularly sweaty or are wearing a lot of makeup.
Solution:
Cleanse with a mild, pH-balanced soap. Wash once in the evenings to remove dirt, sunscreen and pollutants. In the A.M. water is generally sufficient – unless you have extremely oily skin.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Your Skin’s Actual Needs (and Chasing Trends)
The viral TikTok product your 19-year-old cousin swears by? It could be a disaster for your 40-year-old dry sensitive skin.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to skincare. But 46% of adults in the U.S. have a daily routine and don’t really understand the “why” they are using what they use. They pursue “slugging,” “skin cycling,” or “double cleansing” without having any idea if these techniques are good for their skin type.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need 5 different products. Your skin only needs sunscreen daily, a mild cleanser, a decent moisturizer and perhaps a single active to address your primary concern.
And if you are doing this wrong? Repair one item this week. Perhaps it’s something as simple as purchasing a proper SPF 30. Or ceasing that nightly scrub.