We spend a lot of money on expensive skin care and salon facials, but they can just provide short-term benefits. There are certain things that we tend to do, on a daily basis, that ruin and damage the skin, paving the way for fine lines, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and what we all dread – wrinkles. In fact, if we stop doing certain things, we can actually reverse premature ageing and flaunt flawless skin as well. In this post, we list down 12 things you should stop doing now for younger and better skin.

1. What you Eat Reflects on your Skin: Your skin can be considered a reflection of what goes inside your body. A lot of skin issues can be treated just by switching to a healthier diet. The diet programs on Rati Beauty app not only help to shed extra weight and slim down, they would clear up skin as well as improve textural irregularities. You can look young and get beautiful skin by just eating healthy, and that’s kind of guaranteed.
2. Venturing outside without Sunscreen: Avoiding sunscreen while stepping outside is like throwing an open invitation for the ultraviolet rays of the sun to damage the delicate fibers of the skin and cause hyperpigmentation, age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Never ever skip a sunscreen because UVA and UVB rays can even cause excessive dryness. Pick a good sunscreen with at least SPF 30 factor and broad spectrum protection. You can check this list of “10 Fragrance-Free Sunscreens for all skin types” for more details. Use a sunscreen no matter what the weather because your skin needs a sunscreen even while the sun is playing hide and seek with you! UVA and UVB rays are always on the hunt to harm your skin, and that is definitely something that we do not want.

2. Trying Skincare Products with Good Fragrance: If you love a particular moisturizer because it smells amazing, you are unknowingly damaging the skin. Just like parabens, phthalates, and sulfates – “fragrance,” which is often added by skincare brands to increase the appeal of their products or to mask the unpleasant smell of active ingredients, is usually extracted from synthetic chemicals which can irritate skin and penetrate to damage the delicate layers. We would like to add that even naturally extracted fragrances are not good for the skin, they might cause skin irritation on most skin types. Although you may not see immediate effects of fragrance on the skin, it is a major factor that contributes to a whole lot of skin issues that you may have. Essential oils, which have strong scents, are also not “okay” for your skin. Here’s a list of  “19 Best Fragrance-Free Moisturisers for all Skin Types” that you can check out.

3. Going to Bed without Properly Cleansing Skin: Taking every speck of makeup down before hitting the bed is one of the fundamental rules of skincare. If you wear heavy makeup, it’s important to follow double cleansing (Korean Double Cleanse Technique) to make sure facial pores are not blocked. During the day, our skin is exposed to pollutants, dirt, grime, dust, and it’s important to thoroughly cleanse to remove all these factors so that the skin can repair and rejuvenate itself without pores getting clogged.

4. Using Harsh Cleanser First Thing in the Morning: Cleansing the skin is the most important step in any skin care routine. A clean face is necessary to make your serums and moisturizers work. However, harsh cleansers can be too drying and can make your skin dry, dull, and lacklustre. In fact, in the morning, your skin does not need a strong cleanser. Since we all cleanse skin thoroughly before hitting the bed at night, applying a harsh cleanser the moment you wake up really doesn’t make sense, in fact, it can rip the natural oils and leave skin dry and stretchy, especially if you are using anti-acne face washes/cleansers. Use an extremely mild cleanser or just plain water to keep the glow alive for the rest of the day.
5. Using Alcohol-Based Toners and Overexfoliating Skin: Using a toner helps to clear away residual makeup, dirt, oil, and other impurities from the skin; however, alcohol-based toners also rip natural oils and dry out the skin. Do make it a point to pick alcohol-free toners. Also, exfoliating the face on a daily basis is not needed, as overexfoliating can lead to breakouts, peeling, and excessive dryness. Limit exfoliation and scrubbing to just once or twice a week for better results.
6. Not Drinking Enough Water: We all know that it is compulsory to consume at least 8-10 glasses of water daily, but we often forget to reach that target or just plain busy to sip on a glass of water. Lack of adequate water can cause skin to become dull, dry, and lacklustre. If you do not feel like sipping on a plain glass of water, here are some tips on “How To Drink More Water When You Don’t Feel Thirsty Enough.”
7. Using Soap on Skin: If you are still using soap to wash your face everyday, the harsh ingredients would make your skin dry, dull and patchy. It’s important to cleanse your face twice a day only with a soap-free and non-drying facial cleanser. Washing your face with soap can not only strip off the natural oils from the skin but it may sometimes leave you with dull and wrinkled skin. Prolonged and continuous use of chemical loaded soaps can leave you with matured skin with fine lines on it. It can damage your skin to a large extent and also make your skin rough and dry. For people with sensitive skin, they should usually stay away from soaps as a chemical in them may trigger acne.

8. Addiction to Added Sugar and Refined Carbs: Cakes, pastries, cookies, jams, sweets – these do taste good, but they can come between you and flawless skin. The sugar and refined carbs in these foods can trigger inflammation of the skin. Cutting down sugar will have an amazing reaction on your skin because insulin spikes caused by high refined sugar in the body causes inflammation of skin that leads to premature ageing, wrinkles, acne, and uneven skin tone. If you want to look 10 years younger, then the first thing you should do is eliminate sugar from your system. Sugar in the bloodstream leads to a process called “glycation,” in which sugar molecules damage the collagen and elastin (responsible for suppleness and firmness) in our skin. Cutting down glucose will lower down inflammation of the skin and you can get your youthful glow back within two weeks. So, when you cut back on sugar, you can say bye bye to acne and wrinkles for as long as you want.

9. Not Moisturizing Skin Because its Oily: A moisturizer is absolutely necessary for all skin types, including oily skin. Lack of moisturization and hydration might be one major reason why your skin is excessively oily because in the absence of moisture, the sebaceous glands go into an overdrive producing excessive oil to makeup for the lack of hydration. Choose a very light moisturizer, preferably gel based for oily skin that won’t look greasy on your already oily skin.

10. Bleaching Skin on a Regular Basis: A facial bleach would only help lighten facial hair and turn it to a golden hue, but there are many side effects associated with regular usage of facial bleaching, disrupting the delicate barrier of skin, making it more sensitive, etc. Totally avoid bleach to save your skin.

11. Using Rough Towels to Wipe Face: Instead of aggressively rubbing your skin with a rough towel, dab with a soft washcloth or towel. Also, you should be using a separate towel to wipe face, not use the body towel. In fact, the best thing would be allow your face to air dry.

12. Additionally, if you have scrubbed your face or used a face pack, make sure not to go out in the sun immediately, as it can be harmful to the skin, and will also make the skin sensitive! Every time you use a scrub or pack, follow up with a good moisturizer, to seal the hydration in.

Little goes a long way; follow these tricks and you will have beautiful skin that is always smiling!

19 Best Fragrance-Free Moisturisers for all Skin Types
How To Drink More Water When You Don’t Feel Thirsty Enough

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