17 Sneaky Ways You Are Slowly Destroying Your Skin

Ever spot someone with radiant, glowing skin and think, “What’s their secret?” The secret may not actually be what they are doing to help their skin, but more about what they are not doing. We wanted to share some seriously bad habits that can take a toll on your skin’s health, leaving it looking less than its best. These sneaky lifestyle mistakes show up right there in the mirror, looking back at you in the form of bad skin. But you can still make a change! So, are you ready for that flawless, confident glow? Start ditching these habits today and watch your skin transform!

Note: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol might be great for a buzz, but it definitely isn’t good for your skin. Drinking can cause inflammation. It also causes your skin to lose moisture, worsening the way that it looks in the morning. Long-term drinking can even cause advanced aging. Why? One of the reasons is that it disrupts your sleep and negatively influences all sorts of organs. Stick to water or soda if you must.

Skipping Sunscreen

Soaking up the sun at the beach is great, but you better do it with sunscreen. Sunlight is the number one cause of skin damage and premature aging. Make sure to load up on sunscreen if you decide to go outdoors, and reapply it regularly. We all want to get that perfect tan, but the truth is that this is often quite harmful to us. If you want great skin, try to avoid it.

Eating Junk Food

Your body can only perform well when it’s fueled by the right stuff. Junk food is bereft of nutrients that help keep skin glowing. Too much sugar or fat can sometimes cause your skin to look dull and acne-ridden. If you want to avoid clogged pores, it’s best to skip junk food and opt for healthier, homemade real food options. So stop heading out for every meal and start cooking!

Skip Cleaning

It’s true. Washing your face is a basic part of self-care. Skipping those daily face cleanings can lead to excess buildup in your pores. Even if you don’t have a full regimen, take time out of your day to wash your face with water and a mild cleanser. You’ll be glad you did. No need to buy super expensive products. A bit of water and soap are often enough if you’re not dealing with huge skin issues.

Staying Up Late

Hey there, night owl! If you’re on #teamnosleep, then you might want to reconsider your habits. Sleep plays a major role in how your skin rejuvenates itself. You can end up losing out on serious skin repair if you don’t stay well-rested. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep per day, though eight tends to be ideal. Try to approach it from a different perspective. Clubbing is great, but who doesn’t love a good night’s sleep?

Drug Use

What your DARE officer said is true: drugs age you. Most street drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, all tend to damage your skin. Drugs can cause everything from dryness to inflammation to open infected sores, depending on what you take. Sobriety does amazing things for your skin and your health in general.

Drinking Milk

Do you love to kick off your morning with a tall glass of milk? You might want to curb that in favor of a more plant-based option. Studies show that milk and dairy products have high concentrations of hormones that can cause breakouts in people. Thankfully, most people won’t have too much of a reaction to it, so you can keep it in your diet from time to time.

Skipping Moisturizer

It’s true: even though our skin is meant to retain water, we all need a little boost from time to time. Moisturizers and lotions are excellent for skin health. It’s not just marketing. Science proves that moisturizers help improve skin hydration. It’s like giving your skin a drink. You can even make your own one with natural products if you don’t want to spend a fortune.

Ignoring Your Thirst

Skin health starts with taking in the right stuff, including water. Without a steady influx of water, your skin will dry out, become rough to the touch, and also struggle with eliminating toxins from its pores. If you don’t hydrate properly over long periods of time, your skin will remain worse for the wear. Try to aim for eight glasses of pure, filtered water a day.

Drinking Coffee And Energy Drinks

If you are a person who loves their lattes, bad news is on the horizon. Caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it can make you lose moisture throughout your body. This means that coffee, energy drinks, and even sodas can make your skin look dull and dry. If you must indulge, make sure to keep yourself hydrated, too, or try a few decaf options.

Stressing Out

It’s no secret that stress has a major impact on your body. Too much stress can boost cortisol levels, cause weight gain, and also worsen sleep quality. It’s not surprising to hear that stress can have a negative effect on your skin. Stress is known for causing inflammation, which, in turn, can lead to breakouts on your skin. So, try to relax a bit more, for instance, trying a few mindfulness practices.

Smoking

Last on our list might be the most obvious thing to avoid of all: smoking. Every single public service announcement mentions how bad smoking is for your skin. It dehydrates it, can increase the risk of skin cancers, and also gives your skin tone a greyish look. If you want to avoid looking ten years older than you are, you’ll stop smoking immediately.

Makeup

If you wear makeup daily, ensure you use high-quality products that don’t damage your skin. Opt for cosmetics made from natural ingredients and manufactured by reliable brands. Also, always remove makeup before going to sleep. We are all tempted to skip this task when arriving home at 4:00 AM after a long night out, but your skin won’t forgive you for this.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation can benefit your skin, helping your body bring fresh new cells to the surface and eliminate dead ones. However, when done too often, this practice can irritate your skin. Exfoliating a couple of times per week should be enough to maintain healthy skin, so don’t overdo it, or you may soon regret it. Similar to moisturizing skin, you can create your own product with natural ingredients.

Zero Routine

Having a daily skincare routine is essential. Your skin will adapt to your daily routine, reacting to the products you use and adjusting to your daily habits. When you bounce around from one skin care product to the next, your skin will have a hard time keeping up! This can lead to breakouts, greasy skin, or super dry, flakey skin. Make a routine and stick to it. When your skin knows what to expect, it will adapt well!

Dirty Tools

When did you last clean your beauty products, such as your makeup sponges, brushes, razors, and so on? Keeping these clean is essential to avoid dirty microbes from building up and affecting your skin. Ensure all your products are clean and disinfect them regularly to avoid infections. If you haven’t done so in a while, do it now! Your skin will thank you.

Phone Face

You may not think too much about putting your phone up to your face to talk, but this action could have a seriously negative impact on your skin. Pressing your cell phone against your face can transfer dirt, bacteria, and oil onto your skin, leading to breakouts and irritation. The friction from constant contact can also cause chafing and worsen skin conditions like acne. Even worse, the heat from the phone can trigger excess oil production, making your complexion greasy and more prone to clogged pores. Stop putting your phone against your face to chat and just put that phone on speaker! Headphones will also help solve this problem and keep your skin clear.