9 Beauty Mistakes That Age You

Hey Beautiful,

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of beauty information out there. Sadly, when we don't know what we're using or why we're using it, it leads to a loss of time and money.

Today I'll break down the most common mistakes I see women make that will inevitably age you faster.

1) Product hopping (aka not giving products time to work).

When you don't give your products ample time to work it really is a waste of time and money because you'll never have the chance to see a difference in your skin. With regular use, some products actually change the makeup of your skin. Some products may have a lightening, brightening or smoothing affect when used consistently. When you're always looking for the next best thing because it's fun, you may be missing out on the benefits of what your current products can offer you when they're given a proper chance.

2) Having an adverse reaction and not taking the time to figure out what caused it.

When you have an adverse reaction to a product it's important to understand what caused it. This often takes a bit of investigating but, if you're not willing to do it, you assure it'll happen again. Sometimes you can have a reaction because of the condition of your skin (i.e., it's too dry or your skin barrier is compromised) and it's not because of the actual product. Other times, it may be an ingredient that's not even listed or marketed to you as a highlight on the product that's actually bothering your skin. When this happens I recommend doing an elimination diet for your skin. In other words, introduce one product at a time (besides your basics that you've been using a very long time with no problems) to monitor how your skin looks and feels.

3) Over-loving your skin (aka 'over-using' actives).

It's easy and understandable to get excited about the latest and greatest products trending on TikTok. We love a good dupe or new ingredient to look into, too! But learning about new products and throwing them into your routine without knowing if they serve YOU and your needs are two different things. We recommend sticking with one active per night to avoid irritation and sensitization. This may look like alternating between your Retinol and favorite acid-based serum, especially if your skin is sensitive. 

4) Using Retinol and not properly exfoliating and hydrating.

When you use Retinol your skin goes into 'workout' mode. Working out without never stopping would lead to a lot of sweat build up, right? Similarly, using Retinol without ever exfoliating leads to a lot of dead flakey skin (cell turnover) that may sit on top of your skin. When using Retinol, it's important to exfoliate regularly. This looks different for everyone. You may choose to use an exfoliating wash, tonic or peel pads. There's no right or wrong if it works and feels good on your skin. Last but not least, don't forget to hydrate with Hyaluronic Acid and a good moisturizer after you exfoliate! If your skin is dry, mature or sensitive, consider alternating use of our Advanced Retinol Night Creamand Exfoliating Peel Pads.

5) Not regularly using SPF or relying on sunscreen inside of makeup.

The most common complaint I hear about wearing sunscreen is not being able to find one that feels or looks good. And the truth is, nothing will age you faster than not wearing sunscreen. In addition, there's always a lot of circulation and speculation over which sunscreens we can trust. The bottom line is that 80% of skin damage comes from the sun, so we advise to simply choose the one that you love using so that you'll be more likely to be consistent.

It's also important to know that your makeup should not be serving as your sunscreen (alone) when you're going to be outdoors. That's because, it's almost impossible to use makeup in a way that will coat the skin cells well enough to offer you ample protection. Consider your makeup as 'extra' protection, instead. Here are a few of our favorite picks, depending on your skin type: Nivea Super Water Gel (water-based for acne prone skin or anyone who doesn't like the 'feeling' of sunscreen),The Good Sunscreen (broad spectrum, mineral-based, ideal for mature, sensitive, dry skin) and Elta MD (offers a variety of broad spectrum options to suite various skin types/needs).

6) Thinking it needs to burn or tingle in order to work.

This is a very common misunderstanding about beauty products that I hear over and over from clients. You may either not think your products are working if you don't 'feel' something or you may actually enjoy the sensation of 'feeling' it. But the truth is that the feeling you're likely feeling is either your skin barrier being compromised and/or those products diving in and hitting your nerve endings too quickly. This can be because your product is too strong, or maybe you're using a said active too often.. it can also be because your skin is just too sensitive for whatever it is you're using. Everyone's different, but if you regularly feel these sensations when you're not in the direct care of a professional, and especially if your skin is red and/or irritated as a consequence, we recommend taking a step back for a couple of weeks and focus on hydrating and soothing products, instead. Sensitized skin will only lead to you not being able to tolerate and benefit from anything.

7) Not being consistent with your routine, especially when using prescriptions/actives.

When using prescriptions, like Retin-A, it's likely that they have a cumulative benefit for your skin-- meaning the longer you use them with consistency the better results you'll have. The same is true for Retinol, which is merely an OTC version/derivative of Vitamin A that has a gentler delivery design for your skin. So ultimately, using it here or there will not offer you many benefits. We recommend sticking with the recommended amount to use, and if you have any irritation, discontinue use and seek professional advise on how to move forward.

8) Mixing instead of layering products.

We recommend layering your products instead of mixing because each product is formulated to work and perform individually. Each product is also formulated with specific preservatives or actives that may be altered when mixed with other products. This means that mixing may hinder your skincare product's benefits.

An exception to the rule is makeup. Unlike skincare, makeup is your creative freedom to have fun to mix and match without having any skincare consequences!

9) Using products in the wrong order.

It's so easy to get confused over what to use first second and third. That's why we dedicated an entire blog post to this topic! An easy way to remember the correct order is to use your products from thinnest to thickest. By design, serums are made to be used first while oils are generally best to use last since they're mostly occlusive agents.

Remember, the more you know the more you glow!

With love,

Jentri