Expecting One Coat of SPF to Last All Day
Sure, you protect your face with a layer of sunscreen every morning. But do you reapply? "Remember that sunscreen sweats off, rubs off, and melts in your face, even if the label says 'sweat proof' or 'lasts all day,'" says Jessica Wu, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at USC Medical Center.
The fix: Don't worry, we don't expect you to wash your face in the middle of the day and reapply sunscreen. An easy fix is to find a powder with SPF that you can use for touch-ups. Try Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen ($28). While it's ideal to reapply liquid sunscreen, powder formulas will give you some extra protection, Dr. Wu says. And don't think that if you have an indoor job you're immune. Dr. Wu says you can get sun damage just from driving, sitting near a window, or walking across the street.
Buy It!
Squeezing Every Last Drop Out of Your Makeup
Makeup can be expensive, and it's tempting to hang onto it until every last bit is gone. "We all have that tube of lip gloss or mascara that we just can't bear to toss out — but it might make it easier to discard if you think about what could be breeding in there and then getting into your mouth or eyes," says Dr. Wu.
The fix: Dr. Wu recommends going through your makeup drawer or bag each season, just like you go through your closet, and tossing any eye or lip products you haven't used within the last three months. If you need help remembering when you've opened a new product, keep a marker handy and write the date right on the package.
Forgetting the Skin Below Your Chin
"Many of us pay a lot of attention to our faces, but our poor necks and chests get neglected," says Dr. Wu. The skin is thinner on your décolletage — the skin stretching from under your chin to your cleavage — than the skin on your face, and yet often it gets just as much sun exposure. Ignore these areas and you'll likely see sun damage showing up as blotchy skin, broken capillaries, and scaly patches.
The fix: Treat your neck and chest with the same care you show your face. That means anything you put on your face — moisturizer, sunscreen, or antiaging products — you should apply to your neck and chest as well. Just add a few more drops than you normally use to cover these neglected yet vulnerable areas
Going to Sleep without Washing Your Face
It's easy at the end of the day to fall into bed, exhausted. But think of what your face goes through in a day. "Makeup, oils, dirt, and pollution all collect on your skin during the course of the day. Do you really want all that gunk to get all over your pillowcase and rub into your eyes? Plus, you can end up with clogged pores and breakouts," says Dr. Wu.
The fix: Ideally, washing your face should be just as much a part of your before-bed routine as brushing your teeth. But even if you're just too exhausted, don't skip the cleanup routine altogether. Dr. Wu recommends keeping inexpensive makeup-removing wipes handy. Try Yes to Blueberries Brightening Towelettes ($7.99). "Use them to take the day off, even on those nights when you just want to fall into bed," she says. Your pores — and your pillowcases — will thank you. Or change your routine entirely and wash after dinner, when you're less likely to be too tired to forget.
Buy It!
Being Too Hands-on with Your Face
Rubbing your eyes, scratching your nose, pushing your hair behind your ear — you probably don't realize how many times a day you touch your face. But every time you do, you transfer germs and dirt from your hands to your face. "Think of all the surfaces you touch in a day — doorknobs, elevator buttons, ATMs, other people — do you want those germs to get into your eyes and nose?" says Dr. Wu. Plus, every time you touch your face, you risk rubbing off your makeup and sunscreen.
The fix: Dr. Wu says, "Don't be a raccoon girl — keep your hands off your face!" Pay attention. Once you notice how often you're touching your face, you can start keeping your fingers away. If you're touching it absentmindedly, at least try to keep your hands superclean and use antibacterial gels so you'll minimize the number of germs you're transferring to your face.
Having a Sweet Tooth
Sugar is one of the worst foods for your skin. High blood sugar can cause changes to the collagen and other tissues in your skin, making it weaker and more prone to wrinkling. "High blood sugar can also predispose you to getting skin yeast infections, including rashes under your breasts, in your groin, and even on your face," Dr. Wu says.
The fix: Avoid foods with added sugar, such as soda, candy, and cookies, and steer clear of foods that break down quickly into sugar, including white bread, white rice, and pasta. Instead, limit the baked goods in your diet, and choose whole-grain bread, crackers, and cereal, and brown rice. "These complex carbohydrates will help keep your blood sugar steady — and probably help you slim down as well," says Dr. Wu.
Doing DIY Facials
It's tempting to squeeze a pimple or chip away at the edge of a scab. But you have to learn self-control when it comes to your skin. "If you pick off a scab or squeeze a pimple until it bleeds, you're injuring the skin, which can lead to scarring," says Dr. Wu.
The fix: Leave scabs and pimples to heal on their own. Cover pimples with makeup if they're unsightly. For a scab that's not on your face, if you can't keep from picking at it, protect it from your attacks with a bandage. If you can't help touching a scab or pimple, find a mirror and use a clean tissue or Q-tip to tackle the trouble spot. And if you do find yourself squeezing blackheads or pimples, be gentle. Squeezing hard enough to draw blood may leave a scar.
Avoiding the Dermatologist
Dr. Wu recommends an annual exam for everyone, to look for moles, growths, or rashes that could signal a potential problem. Checking your skin yourself is crucial, too, but a trained professional may notice a trouble spot that you might overlook or consider unimportant. In most cases, catching a problem early means it will be easier to fix. Dr. Wu points out that annual exams are particularly important for people who live alone, since it's hard to check your scalp and back yourself.
The fix: It's an easy one. Call your dermatologist today and schedule an appointment. Don't have a dermatologist? Ask your primary care physician for a recommendation. An easy way to remember your annual exam is to schedule it near your birthday. Go to the American Academy of Dermatology to find a dermatologist near you.
Smoking
Smoking ages your skin prematurely, just as spending a lot of time in the sun does. Dr. Wu says that depending on how much you smoke, the habit can add 10 years or more to your appearance. How? "Smoking reduces circulation to your skin, making it sallow instead of rosy and glowing," she says. The free radicals in cigarette smoke attack the collagen and elastic tissue in your skin, making your skin thinner, weaker, and more prone to wrinkling. Smoking also makes the wrinkles around your mouth and eyes start earlier and deepen sooner.
The fix: Quit. Sure, it's not easy. If it were, you would have done it a long time ago. Still, no matter how long you've been smoking, you'll see benefits once you stop. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, medication plus support from friends, family, and doctors works best. For tips on quitting, visit the American Heart Association
.jpg)
Dehydrating Your Skin
"Most people have dryness somewhere on their faces, like around the eyes," Dr. Wu says. The signs of moisture-starved skin include tightness, flakiness, rough patches, and itchiness — even oily skin can suffer from dehydration. The incentive to douse your skin: When it's hydrated, it's less likely to suffer from irritation and can better defend itself.
The fix: "Don't feel like you have to moisturize your entire face," Dr. Wu says. "If your skin is very oily, you may only need moisture in a few areas." She advises looking for a serum or oil-free lotion to avoid clogged pores. And if your skin is very dry, look for a heavier cream. If you're not sure what to use, look for a noncomedogenic, fragrance-free formula.
(Content sourced from Daily Glow and Pics from the Internet)
No comments:
Post a Comment