1. GETTING CLEANSING WRONG

OVER CLEANSING

Your skin is acting up, breaking out, or overly oily so you frantically use every cleanser and scrub you have in your bathroom cupboard. What you should do in this situation is pair back; excessive cleansing will most likely irritate the skin even further. Use a gentle cleanser that does not strip the skin of its natural oils, morning and evening for at least one week, and let your skin regain its balance.

Vital Foaming Cleanser contains natural fruit enzymes, that gently slough away dead skin cells, oat kernel extract and betaine, that combats redness and irritation, and botanical glycerin that maintains the skin’s natural moisture balance. Experience a deep cleansing, that will leave your skin smooth, supple, and refreshed.

UNDER CLEANSING

When you use creams and serums with nourishing and active ingredients, you want to provide these precious products the optimal conditions to work. That means cleansing your skin every night to remove make-up, dirt, and pollution. Also, in the mornings a quick rinse with a gentle cleanser will rid your face of sweat and prep it for receiving subsequent skincare products.

Protect+ Cleansing milk is a savior for sensitive skin. It is a rich yet lightweight cleansing milk that melts away make-up. Bioactivated lipids from sustainable shea butter protect, soothe, and restore and significantly decrease collagen breakdown. 4-5 pumps is enough to be gently massaged onto the face, neck, and décolleté. Rinse thoroughly with tepid water and enjoy the feeling of hydrated, completely clean skin.

AGGRESSIVELY EXFOLIATING THE SKIN

Over scrubbing with harsh exfoliating particles may feel efficient but can result in micro-tears, that lead to a damaged skin barrier, irritation, and accelerated aging. Consider a gentler alternative, especially if you battle with eczema, rosacea, or sensitive skin. Choose an exfoliator that allows you to adapt the amount of scrubbing particles to your needs and one that does not damage the skin.

NEVER EXFOLIATING

Afraid to be too harsh on your sensitive skin? Skin needs exfoliation to look and feel its best. Gently sloughing off the upper layer of dead skin cells ever so often helps creams and other treatments absorb properly. Exfoliating once a week is optimal if your skin is sensitive. Gentle exfoliation makes it much easier to hydrate delicate and thirsty skin and leave it feeling softer and more supple.

Gentle Glow Tonic removes impurities and lifts away dead skin cells without damaging the skin barrier or causing irritation. This exfoliating toner is perfect for all skin types, even sensitive skin.

2. USING TOO MUCH OR TOO LITTLE PRODUCT

Sometimes more is not better, and too little is not enough. How many products should you be using? Skincare products are precious, so how do you optimize the amount you use so that nothing goes to waste?

Formulas are designed with a certain amount of product per application, so you do want to get this right:

• Rice-sized scoop or 1 pump: Eye cream.
• Pea-sized scoop or 1-2 pumps: Face lotion, face cream, serum.
• Grape-sized scoop or 2-3 pumps: Cleanser, exfoliator, mist, mask, and hand cream.

Remember, using a hydrating mist or essence after cleansing right before applying a serum or cream, improves absorption and product efficacy.

3. NOT USING SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY

In terms of protecting the skin from premature aging, using a sunscreen every day is the most efficient tool you have at your disposal.

Mineral Defence Sunscreen with SPF* 30 blocks almost all the UVA & B rays, works instantly, and does not cause breakouts, so integrate it into your skincare routine and make a habit of always applying a layer of sunscreen before you go out.

Do not rely solely on the SPF in your makeup – even if it does offer some UV protection, it will not give your skin the protection of a proper sunscreen. To reach the advertised SPF on your make-up, you will have to apply a very heavy layer of make-up.

Make a habit of incorporating sunscreen in your morning routine for long term skin health and youthfulness.

*Sun Protection Factor

4. TUGGING AT YOUR EYE AREA

Be gentle with the skin around your eyes, always.

Have you noticed that the skin around your eyes is where the earliest signs of the premature aging show? The skin around your eyes is thin and lacks oil glands, so it does not have the same protective barrier as the rest of our skin. That is why wrinkles show up here first. This thin skin also allows puffiness, bags, dark circles to show up readily.

The area surrounding your eyes is also under a lot of strain throughout the day; your eyes are in constant movement, from blinking to squinting to expressing emotions. This causes the skin around the eyes to age more quickly.

But it is never too late to give the eye area some gentle love. Never tug or pull at the thin and delicate skin as this can contribute to even more fine lines and sagging.

Here are a few tips:

• Removing makeup. Soak a cotton pad in eye makeup remover, close your eye, and let it sit on your eyelid for 30 seconds. This will soften the mascara and start dissolving eyeshadow and liner which will make it much easier to wipe off makeup gently. Then press the cotton pad gently down and slowly wipe in a downward and outward motion and repeat until the makeup is fully removed.
• Applying products. Apply product to your pinky or ring finger. These are the two weakest fingers in our hands and will prevent too much force. Dab product on skin with almost no pressure, circling your eye area. Repeat until the product is fully absorbed into the skin. Never rub.
• Eye Massage. Give your eyes an extra treat in the form of a gentle Shiatsu eye massage, a quick routine you can do in under a minute that helps the blood and lymphatic fluids circulate better. It’s a quick routine using pressure points that speeds up skin metabolism and supports the natural rejuvenation process – look it up on the internet, you won’t regret it!

5. NOT MOISTURIZING IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLEANSING

Whether you wash your face in the shower or at your sink, you may know the feeling of dry, itchy skin after cleansing. Hot water and harsh cleansers can exacerbate this feeling, but it’s natural to experience dryness after a shower or cleanse. Cleansing with hot water can lead to excessively dry skin, irritation, and itchiness.

This is where the timing of moisturizing after a shower comes into play. Forgetting to moisturize right away increases the skin's susceptibility to further dryness and dehydration. The skin may also feel uncomfortably tight after a shower, which can lead to more irritation. Moisturizing immediately after cleansing prevents further damage, dryness, irritation, and itchiness.

Try washing your face and body with tepid water and then replenishing moisture right away. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends moisturizing immediately after you shower or wash your face. They emphasize the importance of applying a cream to your face and body to trap moisture into the skin.

6. FORGETTING THE NECK

One of the most common skincare mistakes is ignoring your neck! Give the skin on the neck and décolleté just as much love as you give your face.

The neck and décolleté also benefit from exfoliating, moisturizing, and sunscreen. Do not ignore this area – the skin on the neck is thin and thus likely to show sun damage or signs of aging earlier than the face.

Pamper the skin on the neck and décolleté with a nourishing mask occasionally for some deep hydration, and never, ever forget the sunscreen.

Supreme Moisture Mask is an instant hydration booster, easy to use as a 15-minute skin reviver or as an overnight treatment. The skin on the neck will improve instantly from the intense boost of squalane, hyaluronic acid, and betaine – improving skin hydration and elasticity.

7. NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOUR SKIN

Achieving great skin will be difficult if you do not educate yourself on what you are putting on it. The skin is the biggest organ in the human body, so it is a good investment to start studying and understanding the ingredient lists of the skincare products you are using.

Using natural beauty products is the safest way to go. Natural ingredients often provide better results than their synthetic counterparts, because the molecular structures have a closer affinity to healthy skin.

If you're using conventional beauty products with high doses of synthetic preservatives, fragrances, and other additives, you risk damaging the skin’s microbiota. This can in turn impair the skin’s barrier function which can lead to breakouts and premature aging.

Also note that the longer the shelf-life of a product is, the more additives and preservatives it will contain leaving less space for ingredients that actually do good for the skin. To maximize the efficacy and purity of your skincare, look for products that are freshly blended in small batches.