4 ways you’re damaging your skin

So you’ve committed to a proper skin care regimen, slapped on the SPF most days, and even managed to drink eight glasses of H2O. But could you be sabotaging all your hard work, without even knowing it? Here are four bad skin habits that might inadvertently be causing serious damage.

Sleeping in make-up

We know not everyone is convinced this habit is really all that bad. In fact, many of you have fessed up to committing it on the reg. But some of you are all too familiar with the consequences (bh member skincare junkie admits the last time she tried it, “I woke up with a gigantic pimple”). This is no surprise when you consider the importance of cleansing the skin. “Cleansing removes the dirt, grime, dead skin, excess skin oils, make-up and sunscreen off the surface of the skin, preventing congestion, breakouts, dull and rough-textured skin,” says Emma Hobson, Education Manager at The International Dermal Institute. On the flip side, sleeping in your make-up stops skin from properly repairing and rejuvenating itself.  

Being too rough

There’s a big difference between using a firm hand and being downright rough. Going in too hard can cause micro tears in the skin or disturb its pH balance, which allows bacteria to get in. Instead, try minimising harsh ingredients that can strip the skin’s surface, and replacing abrasive scrubs with more gentle exfoliators. It’s not only the skin on your face that needs some TLC, either. The body’s skin might be tougher but it can still be prone to itchiness and dry patches. “A good body moisturiser helps protect and restore the barrier function of the skin so it will prevent against dehydration, skin dryness and increased skin sensitivity.” agrees Emma. And don’t forget parts of the body that can often be overlooked, especially sensitive areas such as the décolletage or under your arms. Using a deodorant with a moisturising formula is one way to go softly on your armpits. And although Dove’s Original Anti-Perspirant Deodorant contains one-quarter moisturising cream, it’s still tough on perspiration. In fact, 95 per cent of women said they feel confident using Dove to protect them from sweat and odour.

Ignoring sun protection

Whether it’s year-round neglect or you just dropped the ball in the cooler months, not protecting against the sun can be one of the biggest causes of skin damage. And we’re talking about everything from fine lines and wrinkles to age spots and melanoma. I don’t know about you, but none of these things sound like much fun to me. Properly protecting against the sun means finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen that filters both UVA and UVB rays. 

Dry shaving

We all know why we dry shave from time to time - you’re running late, you’re out of shaving cream, there’s no time for a shower, the list can go on - but that doesn’t make it ok. Having literally nothing between your skin and those blades means maximum friction (read: high-intensity ouch factor). Sixty per cent of women surveyed by Dove agreed that they feel self-conscious when suffering from shaving rash or underarm redness. If dry shaving is your culprit just stop it - ok? And PS, 70 per cent of women agreed that Dove Original Anti-Perspirant Deodorant reduced underarm skin irritation.

Are your habits causing damage to your skin? What are your biggest skincare crime?