10 Skincare Mistakes to Avoid in 2022
Can you believe it’s already 2022? The last year went by so fast and we can hardly believe it’s already a new year.
Since January is typically the time when people set New Year’s resolutions, we thought it’d be the perfect time to talk about resolutions you can make for what not to do to your skin this year. We want to help you achieve your skincare goals this year, so we’ve created a list of some skincare mistakes to avoid making in 2022 to help you achieve your best skin year yet. Keep reading to see our list of skincare no-no’s that many of us are guilty of - but we’ll be leaving behind in 2021.
Read more: New Year’s Skincare Resolutions For Every Skin Type
Sleeping without removing your makeup
We know it can be so tempting to go straight to bed after a long day or a night out, but if you’re skipping washing your face and leaving your makeup on while you sleep, you’re not doing your skin any favors. Your body regenerates your skin cells while you sleep, so if your skin has heavy makeup, dirt, and environmental pollution left on, you’re missing out on that precious time for your skin to heal itself from the inside out. Make it easy to not forget to wash your face by setting a reminder on your phone or keeping your cleanser easily accessible and near your toothbrush perhaps, so you don’t skip this crucial step in a skincare routine.
Exfoliating too often (or not enough!)
If you have acne-prone or oily skin, you might be tempted to use strong exfoliating ingredients like AHA (lactic or glycolic acid) or BHA (salicylic acid) or physical scrubs every day. While exfoliating is great to get rid of dead skin cells and help with unclogging pores, if you’re doing it every day - that’s too much! Give your skin a break and alternate the days you use exfoliating products.
On the other hand, if you never exfoliate, you should start by exfoliating at least once a week. A good exfoliant will help clear away dead skin cells so the rest of your skincare products can penetrate deeper into the skin - plus it will make your skin feel softer and look glowy!
Never using sunscreen
We know a nice tan can make you feel confident, but if you’re going out in the sun without wearing SPF, you’re doing more damage to your skin than just sunburn. Your risk of skin cancer increases with each sunburn, and the sun can cause premature aging, wrinkles and even darken the appearance of dark spots. Make an effort to apply a daily SPF of 30 or higher, especially to your face, so you can protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.
Not giving your skincare products enough time to be effective
Are you someone who uses a product once, and then gives up when the results aren’t immediate? We’ve been there. But skincare products like Vitamin C or retinoids take time to see results. You should give yourself at least 6-8 weeks of using a skincare product before making a decision to stop using it. Unless it’s causing immediate breakouts or irritation, you need to give the products enough time to work and be effective. Patience is key when it comes to skincare results!
Applying your products in the wrong order
You wouldn’t apply moisturizer before washing your face, right? Once you’ve figured out what products you want to use in your skincare routine, make sure that you’re applying them in the correct order so that they are as effective as possible. We have another blog post on this if you’re unsure.
Not using cruelty-free products
One important goal for 2022 is to use only cruelty-free products. We go into more details in this blog post, but making the switch to cruelty-free products is easier than ever these days. In fact, there’s a good chance many of your favorite brands are already cruelty-free - like Callyssee!
Using the wrong products for your skin type
With so many skincare products out there, it can be hard to determine what skincare products are right for your skin type. After determining your skin type, it will be easy to figure out what products will treat your specific skin concerns - for example, oily skin types do need to moisturize, and dry skin types can actually benefit from weekly exfoliation.
Doing extractions at home
As tempting as it is to squeeze, pop, or bring out scary extraction tools from Amazon whenever you get a pimple - stop! Unless you’re a licensed professional, you shouldn’t try to do extractions at home. Leave it to your esthetician or dermatologist - and instead, use gentler methods to treat a pimple at home, like hydrocolloid pimple patches that can be applied overnight, or for a subtle quick-fix during the day.
Never washing your makeup brushes
If the last time you washed your makeup brushes was in 2021, this resolution is for you. It’s easy to forget to wash your brushes, but make an effort to set a reminder to wash them on at least a bi-weekly basis if you use them every day. When you don’t wash your brushes, you’re risking them harboring bacteria, dust mites, etc that can cause breakouts or worse, an infection, on your skin. So put on your favorite Netflix show and take 30 minutes to give your brushes a much-needed bath every now and then!
Trying to achieve “perfect” skin
Can we let you in on a secret? Perfect skin doesn’t exist! Everyone experiences breakouts, pimples, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, etc. at one point or another in life. The “perfect” skin you see online is usually heavily edited, so don’t compare your real skin to fake images online. Even your favorite celebrity probably suffers from their own pesky skin issues!
Instead of setting a goal to have perfect skin this year, set a goal to have healthy skin - whether that means finding an acne treatment plan that works for you or keeping your skin barrier balanced. We like to think of skincare as a form of self-care and instead of focusing on what’s “bad” about our skin, we focus on how taking the time to care for yourself and your skin can benefit your mental health.
Are you guilty of making these skincare mistakes? Let us know the mistakes you’re leaving behind in 2021 and your skin goals for the new year below.
