BAD SKINCARE HABITS WE ARE DITCHING THIS YEAR

Here are all the skincare habits we (happily) call it quits with.

– KEYS SOULCARE

Hard truth? We’ve all fallen into some not-so-great skincare habits and patterns over the course of our lives. Whether it’s using the same products from our teenage years or not wearing enough SPF, we’re all a little guilty of breaking the skin rules that work for us — or making it up as we go along.

Thankfully, there’s always time to turn over a new leaf and love on ourselves — and our skin. Here are 9 skincare mistakes we’re leaving in the past, and the good habits for healthy-looking skin we’re replacing them with.

9 SKINCARE BAD HABITS WE’RE BREAKING UP WITH ASAP

1. OVERDOING IT WITH TOO MANY PRODUCTS

Spoiler alert: The 10-step skincare routine that works great for your friend may not be the right ritual for you. For Keys Soulcare creator and goddess-in-chief Alicia Keys, years in the limelight meant her skin was inundated with so many products.

“I came into the game as a young girl, and that meant lights and stress, and products, and trying to figure it all out while my skin was dealing with it. It took some time to be able to find the time to know myself and my skin, and to really listen to them. I learned over the years that beauty is more about frequency, vibrations, and energy — how you feel. That’s what makes you beautiful.”

Replace a complicated skincare ritual with: A simple three-step solution, like one of our curated skincare bundles.

2. BEING INCONSISTENT WITH YOUR RITUAL

Similar to reaching for too many products is the bad skincare habit of switching things up left and right. It’s so fun to try new products, but your skin needs time to adjust. According to The New York Times, you should keep your skincare consistent for a minimum of six weeks.

Replace inconsistency with: Something you’ll definitely stick to. Start with the everyday essentials, a.k.a. the trifecta of a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF.

3. USING THE WRONG SKINCARE FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE

Did you know that every skin type has different needs? Read up on the four most common skin types (normal, dry, oily, or combination skin) to see which best describes you. Or, consult a dermatologist for a professional assessment of your skin type.

Essentially, different skin types have different priorities — dry skin may benefit from hydration while oily skin produces more sebum and can benefit from balancing product offerings that help control excess oil.

Replace a routine that’s not hitting with: a bundle tailored specially to your skin type, like the Nighttime Bundle for Dry Skin.

4. NOT PRACTICING GOOD SLEEP HYGIENE

Good sleep hygiene is so much more than what time you get to bed each night. Sleep hygiene can encompass different elements of winding down for night — like screen time, your nightly skincare ritual, before-bed meditations, and more. To practice good sleep hygiene, try to go to bed at roughly the same time and aim for 7-8 hours per night. Another thing to try is banning screens from the bedroom, since they can disrupt your sleep patterns.

Replace late nights with: 8 hours per night

5. SLEEPING IN YOUR MAKEUP

Sleeping in your makeup can affect people differently. You may notice leaving the day’s sweat, makeup, environmental pollutants, and dirt on your skin may cause acne flare ups or irritation.

Have trouble remembering to wash your face before bed? Consider putting your cleanser in the shower (especially if you shower at night) or prominently displayed on your bathroom counter so you reach for it more often.

Replace sleeping in your makeup with: Feeling fresh-faced before bed with the Nourishing Cleansing Balm + Makeup Remover.

6. REACHING FOR DIRTY BRUSHES AND TOOLS

It’s true: your makeup brushes and beauty tools are probably dirtier than you think. Can’t remember the last time you washed the tools that touch your face? Consider making a recurring calendar invite to wash up your brushes and tools.

Replace dirty makeup brushes by: cleaning them with a dollop of our gentle Golden Face Cleanser with Manuka Honey. Rinse, then let dry.

7. SKIPPING THE SUNSCREEN

Make SPF your daily non-negotiable and ditch the inconsistent reapplying. Remember, you need to re-up your SPF at least every two hours.

Don’t take it from us. Just ask board-certified dermatologist Renée Snyder, M.D., who outlines exactly how to choose a sunscreen and apply it correctly. Dr. Renée says: “As someone [who] has seen the outcomes of not using sunscreen, I can say that investing [the] time and care in yourself really pays off. Reapply, reapply, reapply. That’s paramount.”

Replace skimping on sunscreen with: reapplying Protect Your Light Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen at least every two hours.

8. PICKING AT YOUR SKIN

If you experience acne or dry-prone skin, you might pick up the bad skincare habit of picking at your skin. Unfortunately, picking at your face may spread bacteria, worsen acne marks, and even lead to scarring.

Replace picking at skin by: giving your hands something to play with, like a fidget spinner, or covering spots with pimple patches to keep you from touching them.

9. FORGETTING TO STAND IN YOUR POWER

Not feeling your best can have an immense impact on our everyday habits, so much so that we might forget the power and energy we bring into every situation. For Alicia, what you feel inside can be mirrored on the outside — which is why each soulcare offering includes an affirmation for you to repeat and embody any time.

Self-love isn’t a one and done situation. Like washing your face at night or hitting the gym, our power and trust in ourselves can be found in small, intentional practices. We come home to ourselves just five minutes at a time, through meditations, movement, and our cherished rituals.

Replace self-doubt with daily positive affirmations like “I give myself permission to glow” or “I welcome all circumstances as a catalyst for change.”