According to Phillippa Lally; a health psychology researcher at University College London, it takes about 21 days to form a new habit. And let’s be honest, everyone has one bad habit, or even a few at that. Whether it’s picking your nails, leaving wet towels on the bed or sleeping with a full face of makeup (the worst) we’re all guilty of something. Although, when it comes to your beauty routine, your hair, makeup and skincare missteps may seem a little harmless (because there are worse things in life after all) but realistically, if you can’t snap out of it, they might require more effort to repair. Falling into regular bad beauty habits will basically undo all of the good work you’ve put into yourself. So why apply multiple face serums in the AM when you can’t be bothered to cleanse, tone and moisturise in the evening, right? Old habits die hard and breaking them can feel like an absolute chore, but we’ve got your back, and here’s how to undo a few of those killer practices…
1. Change Your Pillowcase Often
Pillowcases can harbour lots of bacteria which can affect your skin. Think dead skin cells, excess dirt, oil, makeup and even saliva – this accumulation can cause skin irritation, blocked pores and breakouts. Swapping out cotton for silk or satin is a well-known bedtime game changer; changing your pillowcases often is an essential step in fortifying your skin care ritual. Making sure you wash your face before hitting the hay should be a regular thing, but if you’re just too tired to cleanse at night or feeling too lazy for a full-on deep cleanse, keep a pack of cleansing wipes by your bedside. Bioderma Sensibio Wipes, £7.10 gently removes all of the day’s impurities and are a great on-the-go option for speedy cleansing.
2. Squeezing Spots
As much as (some of us) find great satisfaction watching those Dr. Pimple Popper videos, finding a new and unwanted friend on our own face in the morning doesn’t offer the same amount of pleasure. Most people will cut straight to the chase and pop that zit immediately, when in fact, if not removed properly can cause injury to the skin and can lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring. How to break the habit? Do not reach for a spot-removing tool as the amount of pressure used can cause more trauma to the skin, which you 100% don’t want despite the growing size of an inflamed spot taking over your chin… Instead, dab some of Mario Badescu’s cult classic Drying Lotion, £16 onto unwanted spots overnight and bam, the spot is gone!
3. Not Wearing SPF Every Day
SPF protection is something we’re super passionate about at Self Care Saturday. It 100% needs to be included into your daily skincare regime, even on overcast days. SPF is part of the holy trifecta of anti-ageing, alongside skincare heavyweights Retinol and Vitamin C. UV radiation damage causes the breakdown of collagen, pigmentation changes, bad skin texture and skin cancer. Because of the obvious protection factor, suncream shouldn’t feel like a chore. We suggest swerving SPF moisturisers too, let sunscreen and face cream do their job separately. Thick, comedogenic formulas that leave residue give SPF a bad rep, instead opt for a light, silky cream that sits well under makeup, we love Clarins Dry Touch Sun Care Cream for Face SPF50, £20 which blends seamlessly into skin.
4. Blunt Shaving
The number one rule when it comes to shaving is make sure you keep your razor blade sharp by storing it in a dry place after use. We’re all guilty of leaving our razors on the side of the bath, but this will guarantee rusty blades and will increase the chances of bacterial and fungal infection, which nobody wants. Rinse your blade thoroughly so there isn’t any hair buildup and chuck that razor away when you feel you need to add a little pressure whilst shaving.
5. Sleeping In Make-Up
And the final bad habit that most of us succumb to? That’s right, sleeping in our slap. Don’t get us wrong, especially after a long day or a heavy night out on the tiles it’s difficult to muster up the energy for a full facial cleanse, but according to dermatologists worldwide, sleeping in make-up is a sure-fire way to harm skin – plus we all know it increases the signs of ageing! Make-up can be comedogenic and can be further intensified by the build up of sweat and dirt. Furthermore, dirt accumulated from the day/night will transfer on to your pillows, which in turn will result in breakouts. A once over of Drunk Elephants E-Rase Milki Micellar Water, £12 the minute you arrive home will melt away makeup and reset your complexion ready for your beauty sleep.
