It’s really important to take care of your skin. It’s your body’s largest organ, and if you handle it with care, you can avoid aging wrinkles, dryness, and more.
Getting into a skincare routine can be intimidating though, especially if you are new. Luckily with the internet today and tons of influencers who give skincare advice, it’s much easier to learn how to do it.
To make it easier for you, we put together 50 do’s and don’ts for everything skincare-related.
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Pexels
DO: Drink water
This is the number one key ingredient for having good skin. You can buy all of the serums and face oils but if you’re not drinking water, you ain’t doing it right. Good ‘ol H2o flushes the toxins out of your body.
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Pexels
DON’T: Overdo it
You can have a great complexion by keeping it as simple as possible. Trying too many products can irritate your skin. It’s a good idea to stick to one routine and only wash your face once a day.
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Pexels
DO: Moisturize
Moisturizing is one of the most important parts to include in your skincare routine, as it helps combat several different skin concerns down the road. Things like overnight moisturizers will ensure that your skin stays consistently hydrated.
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Pexels
DON’T: Always trust everything on Pinterest
Pinterest is great, but sometimes not all of their recipes are. Be sure to skip things that include vinegar, spices, hydrogen peroxide, egg whites, or citrus.
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Quartz
DO: Exfoliate
You don’t want to exfoliate too much because it can irritate your skin, but you definitely want to do it 1-2 times a week. It helps get rid of dead skin cells and keeps you glowing.
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Pexels
DON’T: Drink too much coffee
A cup a day is fine and can be beneficial, but several cups of joe a day can have a dehydrating effect, which is the last thing you want for your skin. Try to limit it as much as your lifestyle allows.
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Pexels
DO: Get a facial
It’s okay to let the experts take the wheel sometimes. If it’s your first time, start with something a little basic and then let the professional recommend which route you should take next, personalized for your skin.
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Pexels
DON’T: Over exfoliate
We told you to exfoliate, but it’s also not something you want to over-do. Some people make the mistake of exfoliating almost every day, which just dries out your skin and can cause irritation. Everything in moderation!
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Women's Health Mag
DO: Eat healthy
Much like drinking enough water, you want to make sure you’re eating healthy. Pretty much whatever you put in your body will show on the outside! Getting enough vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants is vital for a healthy glow.
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Pexels
DON’T: Touch your face
It’s much easier said than done, but try as best as you can to avoid touching your face. Spreading the bacteria from your hands to your face is just extra fuel for pimples.
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Pexels
DO: Use SPF
This is something that so many overlook! It should be worn on all skin types, even in the winter. You can do this by mixing SPF in with your moisturizer or finding a moisturizer that already has SPF in it.
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Neutrogena
DON’T: Take too many showers
Yup, you read that right. Even in the summer, taking multiple showers can be worse for your skin and actually dry it out, even though it may feel hydrating in the moment. If you must, make sure to moisturize right after.
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Pexels
DO: Use a nighttime face lotion
There’s evidence that skin cell regeneration is slightly faster at night during sleep, so you should take advantage of your skin’s receptiveness and take charge at night.
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Pexels
DON’T: Use a billion products at once
It can just irritate your skin. No matter how eager you are to try a bunch of new products, try to stick to just a few.
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Pexels
DO: Find a multi-tasking product
It’s better than cramming a ton of products on your face all at once.
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Verily Mag
DON’T: Use harsh scrubs too often
Jagged, crushed nuts can cause tiny lacerations in the skin, therefore you should avoid them. Your skin type truly dictates how often you can use scrubs — if you’re oily, you can scrub up to 4 times a week. If you have dry skin, you’ll want to stick to once a week.
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Botanik Boutique
DO: Lavish your face and body with coffee topically
Caffeine from coffee could have skin-tightening and redness soothing properties, according to some studies! Caffeinated anticellulite creams are also a great idea.
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Pexels
DON’T: Sunbathe
A little sun can do wonders and perk up your skin, but even the sun exposure you get while driving or walking outside is enough vitamin D, so don’t over-do it.
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Pexels
DO: Apply self-tanner
Ain’t nothing damaging about a faux glow! Just make sure to exfoliate and moisturize the night before, to ensure no streaking.
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Amazon
DON’T: Overmassage your skin
A facial massage can be a great way to relieve stress, improve elasticity, and promote a healthy glow, but too much can irritate skin and worsen acne.
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Get The Gloss
DO: Use the “zipper” technique
When applying antiaging creams and serums to fine lines and wrinkles, this technique will create a crevice-free surface so that the product can effectively penetrate. Do this by using your index and middle finger to gently push the skin on either side of the line outward. While fingers are spread, use a finger from your other hand to “zip up” the smoothed-out area with product.
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Harbor Bay Club
DON’T: Rely on beauty drinks
Commercial drinks that promise healthy skin can hydrate you, but there aren’t enough vitamins and antioxidants to actually make a visible difference.
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Pop Sugar
DO: Take anti-inflammatory supplements
Supplements like omega-3, B vitamins, and querecitin help prevent acne flare-ups and allow your skin to absorb moisture and improve circulation.
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Amazon
DON’T: Use harsh alcohol-based toner
Stripping the skin of moisture will send your oil glands into overdrive and potentially worsen whatever it was that you were trying to fix.
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Amazon
DO: Use a correct topical treatment on a blemish ASAP
One that contains lactic acid is best for cysts. You know, those hard bumps that hurt underneath the skin and can last for weeks. A salicylic acid can be better for minor to moderate breakouts.
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Pinterest
DON’T: Use toothpaste to tame blemishes
Dabbing tooth paste on blemishes can actually make the matter worse. The menthol it contains can cause itching and inflammation.
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Very Well Health
DO: Wear SPF on your lips
Protecting your lips is just as important as protecting the rest of your skin. Fun fact: the shinier your gloss is, the more UV rays it will attract.
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Allure
DON’T: Reach for the medicated lip balms
Skip the menthol or camphor-based salves. They might feel nice, but they won’t protect your lips. They’ll actually dry them out even more.
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Burt's Bees
DO: Opt for lip balms with natural ingredients
Chapstick with ingredients like shea butter or beeswax are natural and provide a good coat to actually protect your pout.
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Natural Skincare Junkie
DON’T: Use too much moisturizer
Moisturizer is vital for your skin, but too much can clog pores and cause breakouts, especially if it’s a heavy, thick cream.
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Pexels
DO: Limit alcohol
It’s no secret that there are a few struggles that come with drinking. One of them is dehydration, which is the #1 rule of skincare!
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Medical News Today
DON’T: Pick pimples
Easier said than done, we know. It may be super satisfying, and you may feel like you’re improving your skin by squeezing out those blackheads, but it can cause infection and/or scarring. Use blemish creams instead.
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Perez Hilton
DO: Get enough sleep
It’s no secret that 7-8 hours of sleep is ideal. There’s a reason why they call it beauty sleep! Every single cell in your body requires sleep to repair themselves from any damage encountered during the day.
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Pexels
DON’T: Ignore your skin type
Find out if your skin is oily, dry, or combination and then make sure to tailor your skin care routine to that! Every skin type calls for something different.
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Works With Water
DO: Sleep on a clean pillow case
When your face touches your pillow case, dirt and other oils are transferred to it, which leads to break outs later on. You want to make sure to flip your pillow case once a week and wash it every 2 weeks.
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Pexels
DON’T: Sleep with your makeup on
This is one of the worst things you can do! Sleeping with eye makeup can infect your eyes, and all-over face makeup like foundation will clog up your pores. You need to let your skin breathe.
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Pexels
DO: Sweat
You may think this would have the opposite effect and cause breakouts, but sweating regularly can actually have a positive impact. It increases your blood flow which gives you a glow and it lowers the stress hormone cortisol which is linked to skin aging, breakouts, and clogged pores.
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Pexels
DON’T: Smoke
Much like alcohol, it’s no secret that smoking has many negative effects on the body. It causes breakdown of collagen, which lowers the elasticity of skin. It also causes you to get less oxygen.
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Washington Post
DO: Clean your phone
Your phone carries a ton of germs which then get transferred to your face when you touch it. Be sure to wash it every day and if you have to take a call, try not to press it into your skin.
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Pexels
DON’T: Take hot showers
We talked about taking too many showers, but also, hot showers specifically are worse. The heat is relaxing, but it distrupts your skin’s natural moisture balance. It also strips your skins natural oils and proteins, which is what keeps your skin healthy.
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Pexels
DO: Double cleanse
You may think that one wash will get every trace of dirt and makeup off your face, but that’s not the case. You really need a double cleanse to fully get everything off.
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Pexels
DON’T: Neglect your neck and chest
Your neck is actually one of the body parts that shows signs of aging first, so you want to take care of it. Exfoliate, moisturize, and wear sunscreen on your neck and chest in addition to your face.
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Garnier
DO: Follow directions
Each skincare product is meant to be used a certain way for best results, so make sure to follow the directions and use it how it’s intended!
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Olay
DON’T: Take skin care advice from everyone
There are a lot of influencers on the internet today who are being paid to push products that aren’t necessarily proven to work. They may be aesthetically pleasing, but doesn’t mean they’re effective.
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CPC Strategy
DO: Research
Because there are so many people pushing so many different products, make sure to do your research and decide for yourself. Read the ingredients, directions, reviews, and get advice from real skincare professionals.
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NY Mag
DON’T: Share products
Sharing makeup is a recipe for bacteria-spreading and infection. Keep your mascara to yourself, and do the same for skincare products. You don’t know if other people’s hands are clean, and when they dip their hands into your creams, they can be spreading lots of germs.
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City Girl Searching
DO: Visit an esthetician
An esthetician is a skin care expert who can analyze your skin, perform a deep cleansing, and recommend you actually good products tailored to your skin. How great does that sound?
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Montana Academy of Salons
DON’T: Do DIY skin care
Trained chemists make products that are balanced so that they don’t go bad — and it’s made in sterilized, contamination-free labs. It might sound fun to mix your sugar and honey together in your kitchen, but leave this one to the professionals.
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Don't Mess With Mama
DO: Think about wrinkles early
Even if you don’t have wrinkles yet, you want to start working now in order to prevent them. You’ll be thanking your past self down the road.
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Target
DON’T: Give up
If you tried something and it didn’t work, don’t give up on yourself so fast. Skin care seems intimidating and it’s highly-personalized. Once you get through the trial-and-error phase, it’s going to be so beneficial and easy.
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Glossier
We hope these skin care do’s and don’ts helped you figure out your routine a little bit! Happy cleansing!
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