5 Daily Habits That Are Actually Harming Your Skin

For most people, the month of September signifies the start of fall and everything it brings with it – the slow, beautiful change of green leaves to shades of red, orange, and yellow, crisp and cool weather perfect for sweaters, scarves, and beanies, pumpkin spice everything, and so on – but for us, it gets us thinking about skincare. And no, that’s not just because we’re a leading skincare brand recommended by top doctors and used by Hollywood stars. It’s because September is National Skin Care Awareness Month!

Obviously, we’re all about skincare no matter what month it is, but this month presents a special opportunity to raise awareness for why it’s important and encourage more people to start taking better care of their skin. Additionally, the change in seasons warrants a shift in how you approach your skincare routine because as the air gets colder and drier, your skin’s needs change. So, in honor of National Skin Care Awareness Month, check out these five daily habits you should drop because they’re actually harming your skin.

1. Not putting on enough sunscreen or forgetting to reapply

Sunscreen is a must no matter what time of year it is because the sun’s UV rays are always present, even on the darkest and gloomiest days. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause sunspots, dark spots, and other forms of hyperpigmentation, scarring, redness, inflammation, wrinkles, and other signs of aging even in the fall and winter when it isn’t as bright out. So, be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 before going outside and take it with you so you can re-apply every two hours.

2. Smoking

We’re hoping you’re already aware of the damage smoking can do to your lungs, but did you know that it can have very harmful effects on your skin, too? The nicotine in cigarettes and other kinds of smoking devices like e-cigarettes and vape pens reduce blood flow to your skin, meaning it doesn’t get enough oxygen or nutrients. The tobacco in cigarettes also damages the collagen and elastin proteins your skin needs to maintain its structure. As a result, smokers’ skin is very dull, thin, and wrinkled, and it can’t heal as well over time. The act of holding a cigarette itself – pursing your lips and squinting to keep the smoke out of your eyes – can also cause wrinkles over time.

3. Junk food

Eating junk food is bad for just about every part of your body, including your skin. Nothing is wrong with the occasional burger and fries, but don’t make it a habit because most junk foods contain lots of refined carbohydrates that will cause spikes in your blood sugar and trigger surges of insulin. This will lead to a hormone imbalance that can make some skin concerns like breakouts and irritation even worse.

4. Over-exfoliating

Exfoliating can be very beneficial for your skin, but there can be too much of a good thing. In this case, exfoliating too often, whether you’re using a physical method or a chemical method, can damage the skin’s natural protective layer. This will make skin very dry because with this barrier weakened, it won’t be able to effectively retain moisture. We recommend exfoliating no more than three times a week, and if you have naturally dry skin, you shouldn’t do this more than two times.

5. Using makeup with harmful chemicals

Even if you always remember to apply and reapply sunscreen while you’re out, don’t smoke, have cut junk food out of your life completely, and exfoliate just a few times a week, you could still have significant skin problems if you use makeup products that have harsh chemicals. These chemicals can not only damage skin but have been linked to the development of cancers, fertility issues, and hormonal imbalances. Now, there are a lot of chemicals you should always avoid, but some of the most common you may see are parabens, polyfluoroalkyl (PFAs), formaldehyde, toluene, siloxanes, and silicones.

These are all habits to avoid, but what about the habits you should start practicing? Start implementing some of the Oxygenetix family of products into your daily skincare routine! All our products are formulated with high quality ingredients to nourish your skin and your beauty effectively.