5 Beauty Routines That You’re Doing Wrong

Since you do it pretty much everyday, your beauty routine is just that – a routine. But there are some bad habits that you may not have even known have crept into that routine. Take it from Reader’s Digest and be sure you’re not making these common mistakes every day:

1. Scrubbing Your Face

If you’re washing your face with a washcloth, you’re probably not cleaning your face appropriately. The fibers in the washcloth can actually irritate your skin and tear at its protective layer. And doing this can actually contribute to the development of lines and dryness. When you wash your face, you should use your hands to rub in your face wash or remove facial products. Then dab at your face to dry it with a towel.

2. Removing Nail Polish with Acetone

That acetone-based nail polish remover might be the best at getting stubborn polish off of your nails, but it’s definitely not the best for maintaining healthy nails:

[T]he harsh ingredient can dry out your nails and the surrounding skin, according to SELF. This dryness could weaken your nails, and cause breakage. Try a non-acetone remover with less aggressive solvents like ethyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol, and propylene carbonate.

3. Trusting Anti-Aging Cleansers

When you start to see more wrinkles on your face, you might start reaching for all products that have anti-aging claims. However, since cleansers only stay on your skin for several seconds, those anti-aging ingredients have no chance of affecting your skin in any way. So don’t bother spending more for anti-aging cleansers. You could instead opt for anti-aging moisturizers or overnight creams, which have a much better chance of working.

4. Keep Hair in Place with Mega-Hold Spray

Stiff, mega-hold hair spray may keep your hair in place, but the stuff can also weaken your hair over time.

These hairsprays “are usually high in alcohol, which makes hair dry and brittle,” Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a San Francisco dermatologist, told Prevention. “Once you comb or brush your hair, that residue causes the hair to break and fall out.” Instead, use light-hold hairsprays or hairsprays that substitute alcohol-based ingredients for organic oil-based ingredients.

5. Over-Washing Your Face

Having oily skin isn’t great in general, but a little natural oil is good for you. And when you over-cleanse your face, your stripping your skin of some of its protective layer. So don’t overdo it with the washing. And when you are washing, be sure to use a gentle cleanser and apply moisturizer afterward.

Thanks to Reader’s Digest for the tips!