Advice on proper skin care can be found virtually anywhere these days. We are constantly being inundated with Instagram photos and videos on TikTok claiming to reveal the next amazing regimen or product. In addition to influencers, celebrities frequently offer skin care advice on social media and promote products that they assert work miracles. As a result, the rest of us are left wondering what actually works, what we should try, or whether we should just elect to try everything at the same time. It goes without saying that proper skin care can be difficult to understand and even scary at times.
You probably don't need us to tell you that you should treat recommendations regarding skin care from celebrities with a healthy dose of scepticism. The reality is that adolescents are just as likely to make careless decisions regarding their skin as we are, and many of the quick solutions that are promoted on social media are ineffective. On the podcast "Clean Beauty School" hosted by MindBodyGreen, celebrity esthetician Aida Bicaj noted that "we are learning that rapid gratification [with skin treatments] isn't necessarily effective in the long term." She continued by saying, "Skin care is not fashion," which means that we shouldn't consider the items that we put on our faces to be fleeting fashions. No matter what advice your favourite celebrity or social media influencer gives, you should ignore it and focus on figuring out what works best for you. "I mean, how are you supposed to know what works for you if you are using ten different things from ten different companies?" "What I'm trying to say is, how can you know what works for you if you are Bicaj seemed to be thinking. The virtues of patience and perseverance are essential to achieving radiant skin.
The following are some of the most common errors in skin care that even your favourite celebrities are guilty of doing, as well as the corrective actions that you should be taking instead.
Photograph by Amy Sussman for Getty Images
Oh, I think it's safe to say that all of us are responsible for this, right? Popping and picking at zits might be quite pleasurable, but doctors agree that it's one of the worst things you can do to your skin and should be avoided at all costs.
On her website, celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau explains that picking at your skin from a young age (or really at any age) can start to manifest as spotty, pigmented, and uneven skin as you age. This is true even if you pick at your skin when you are older. It's easy for us regular folks to believe that we're the only ones who make this major skin care blunder, but it turns out that even famous people have trouble keeping their hands off their faces when they have zits.
In an interview with The Cut, Scarlett Johansson revealed that she used to frequently pick at her face and added that she was previously very compulsive when it came to messing with imperfections on her skin. Scarlett Johansson has now kicked her habit of picking at her face. Does she regret it? Absolutely. She expressed regret to the media source, saying, "I wish I hadn't picked at my skin so much when I was younger; I could've avoided so much damage and trouble." She is not incorrect, nor is she the only celebrity that engages in this practise. In 2018, Busy Phillipps admitted in a post on Twitter that she, like many other people, had a tendency to pick at her skin.
In an interview with Allure, board-certified dermatologist Erin Gilbert warned that picking at cystic acne might increase the risk of permanent scarring. This is especially true if the acne is severe. "Once they have formed, these scars are tough to repair," she explained, adding that you may save yourself a lot of grief and money if you refrain from touching your face too much
Using a do-it-yourself skin care programme that contains substances of unknown quality
It's no secret that many of us enjoy taking a stab at some of the creative and entertaining DIY projects that we find on TikTok from time to time, but skin care solutions shouldn't be one of them. After using baking soda and lemon juice on her skin, one of Renée Rouleau's clients experienced burns on her face, as the famous esthetician disclosed on her website. "The pH of lemon juice is approximately 2, making it a very acidic liquid. Not only did this client's moisture barrier sustain significant damage from this, but she also suffered burns as a result." Rouleau is the author.
There are some celebrities who are especially guilty of utilising skin care products they made themselves. Bella Thorne disclosed the details of her overnight skin care routine in a video that she produced for Harper's Bazaar. In the video, she stated that she employs all-natural skin care products that she formulates on her own. This includes a face scrub made with lemon, sugar, and olive oil, as well as a face mask made with cherries, coconut oil, and honey that she creates herself. Is it fit for human consumption? Maybe. Is it healthy for your skin? It's not quite that.
Lemon juice should never be applied to the skin, as Rouleau pointed out in his article. According to WebMD, none of these purported advantages have been conclusively demonstrated, although the possibility that topically applying other fruits, like strawberries, to your face could have beneficial effects. Because some people are allergic to specific fruits, putting them to your skin could have severe implications, and you may end up having to cope with some unforeseen side effects as a result.
If you've ever had to deal with red or irritated skin after getting too scrub-happy with a new exfoliant, you're not alone. However, we'll forgive you if you think that exfoliating your skin every day is a good thing because it's not always necessary. After all, supermodel Christie Brinkley revealed to Byrdie that she scrubs her face with an exfoliating scrub every single day and has been doing so for the past four decades. And we'll admit, her skin looks wonderful. Despite this, you should in no way attempt to replicate her success.
According to dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, who was interviewed by Everday Health, Brinkley's exfoliating routine "is a bit much and can be unpleasant on the skin depending on what you use," she said. A dermatologist by the name of Kathleen Cook Suozzi concurred, and she went on to say that using physical exfoliators improperly or excessively might result in the formation of microscopic tears in the skin. This can cause the skin to become extremely sensitive and even irritated in some cases. In order to stop something like this from occurring, she suggests utilising chemical exfoliators (such alpha hydroxy acids).
However, you should be aware that chemical exfoliators should not be used on a daily basis, and that because they encourage the absorption of other skin care products, they might cause irritation, particularly if you use active ingredients like retinol. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, it is quite important for you to evaluate the products you are already utilising as well as the components such products comprise. This might assist you in determining whether or not you need to exfoliate on a regular basis.
There is a catch, though, and that is that you need to apply sunscreen generously in order for it to be effective. We hope that we don't need to tell you that using sunscreen every day is crucial to keeping your skin healthy and preventing premature ageing, but just in case, we will. According to celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau, who spoke with NewBeauty on sun protection, using a small amount of sunscreen on your face will not give adequate defence against the sun's potentially damaging rays. This indicates that you should not adopt the practise that is followed by the actor and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow.
In a video that Gwyneth Paltrow did for Vogue, she mentioned that she doesn't wear sunscreen very often. "I'm not a head-to-toe slatherer of sunscreen," Gwyneth Paltrow has stated about herself, "but I like to apply some kind of on my nose and the area where the sun really strikes." To tell you the truth, the sun will hit every part of your face, so you should be sure to apply sunscreen evenly across your face.
According to board-certified dermatologist Debra Jaliman, who was quoted in Everyday Health, "More is ideal when applying sunscreen." You should apply sunscreen to any and all locations that are going to be exposed to the sun. Dermatologist Nazanin Saedi agrees with this assessment and adds that one should not apply sunscreen in the same manner that one would apply highlighter. Remember that you have to reapply it every two hours as well, so keep that in mind. According to Rouleau, who was interviewed by NewBeauty, "If you want to prevent wrinkles, applying sunscreen 365 days a year, whether it's raining or shining, inside or out, is an absolute need." If you find that using a generous amount of sunscreen makes you feel excessively greasy, it's time to look into switching to a different brand.
If you have oily skin, it can be tempting to skip the moisturising stage of your skin care routine every now and again. However, experts agree that you shouldn't make it a habit of excluding a good moisturiser from your routine. This is true regardless of your skin type.
Although the actor Julie Walters has stated that she did not start moisturising her face until she hit 50, it is important to remember that skin of all ages requires proper hydration.
According to dermatologist Purvisha Patel, who spoke with Dermstore, "if you don't use enough moisturiser, your skin will crack and become sensitive." Patel went on to warn that this can lead to acne outbreaks as well as allergic responses. The elimination of your moisturiser from your routine, as suggested by dermatologist David Bank, might also lead to a compromised skin barrier. He said that moisturisers help bring and maintain water levels in the surface layers of the skin and help keep them at an optimal level. "Moisturizers assist bring and maintain water levels in the surface layers of the skin," he said.
In addition to keeping the skin hydrated, moisturisers are capable of much more. It is a mistake, according to dermatologist Kim Nichols, to wait to apply anti-aging products to the face until you are actually starting to see signs of ageing before applying moisturisers that contain ingredients that help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Many moisturisers contain these types of ingredients. When you have a head start, your efforts will pay off with superior outcomes.
We understand it, skin care routines may be enjoyable, and adding an extra step can often feel like a luxurious addition, but experts warn that we should be wary with complex routines because they often do more harm than good to the skin.
If you have a skin care routine that consists of a staggering 15 steps, like actor Lucy Hale does, there is a good possibility that you are actually overdoing it. According to what Hale told Allure, her elaborate bedtime ritual includes a number of different activities, one of which is repeatedly cleaning her face. Each time Hale washes her face, she employs a number of items, such as a cleaning oil or balm, cleansing milk (she employs this product twice), an exfoliant, and micellar water. If your daily regimen is anything like the one described below, not only will you be exhausted after reading it, but so will your skin.
Because the skin of each person is unique, certain skin types may be better able to manage more involved skin care routines than others, but in general, less is absolutely more when it comes to skin care. According to a statement that Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist, made to Today, utilising no more than two different products each morning and night is more than sufficient. In addition to this, dermatologist Cybele Fishman stated that, "In my opinion, most people over-exert themselves when caring for their skin, and as a result, their complexion suffers the consequences. The phrase "Don't overwash your skin, don't overtone, and don't overexfoliate" is one of the mantras that I live by." According to Zeichner, using multiple products at once puts your skin at a greater risk of developing irritation. Additionally, using multiple products at once may cause the active ingredients in those products to cancel each other out, which means you are wasting a significant amount of product as well as money.
People can be categorised into one of two groups: those who enjoy applying foundation, and those who do not. Both groups exist in the globe. The latter describes the career of actress Kerry Washington. She told InStyle that "most days, I let my skin breathe," and that's why she doesn't wear a lot of foundation; she simply uses a little amount of concealer.
According to famous esthetician Renée Rouleau, who spoke to NewBeauty about the topic, forgoing foundation is not all that it's built up to be, and the concept that doing so will let the skin breathe is a complete and utter myth. To begin, Rouleau explained, "the skin does not have a respiratory system; therefore, thinking that the skin breathes is a total myth." He went on to say that a good foundation is actually an excellent skin care product that can help protect your skin from damage caused by the sun and the environment. According to Rouleau's findings, the majority of foundations, whether they be powder or liquid, contain natural sunblocks like titanium dioxide in the form of components like talc or talc powder. Even if the label on your makeup doesn't say it contains sun protection factor (SPF), you can be sure that it is still protecting your skin from the sun's rays. That is certainly a perk that was not anticipated at all.
However, prior to making any purchases, you should read the labels carefully because comedogenic foundations have the potential to clog your pores and result in acne breakouts. The American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests looking for terms on product labels such as "won't clog pores" or "non-comedogenic" to ensure the highest level of protection possible. If you use the appropriate foundation, you may enjoy all of these perks without having to worry about annoying breakouts.
You've definitely heard about the advantages of microneedling, but if you're considering doing it at home like Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty, you might want to rethink that decision.
In a video for Harper's Bazaar, Kattan explains that she microneedles at home on a regular basis. However, a skin expert named Andy Millward tells Refinery29 that there are a number of risks involved when attempting to perform this treatment at home on your own. Aesthetician Lisa Montlake disclosed that even these devices are now available for purchase online, which is extremely concerning given that they are intended to be handled by professionals and not people at home. At-home microneedling devices are not supposed to penetrate the skin as deeply as professional devices.
According to Millward, professional equipment are designed to cause microscopic incisions in the skin in order to stimulate the production of new skin cells, which in turn helps to lessen the visibility of scars and wrinkles. The consequences can be extremely severe if they are handled by somebody who is not a well trained professional. "The improper approach can quickly cause micro-tears in the skin, resulting to scarring and hyperpigmentation," said Montlake. "The wrong technique can easily cause micro-tears in the skin." Because the tools used for at-home microneedling can't be adequately disinfected, you put yourself at an increased risk of contracting an infection. In addition to that, there is the problem of the quality. Many of the microneedling devices that may be purchased online for use at home are not regulated, and some of the needles that are included with these devices are not constructed from materials that are considered safe, such as titanium or surgical steel. This can lead to twisted needles, which can wreak havoc on your skin if they are not removed immediately.
Please do not try this at home; instead, seek the assistance of a trained and qualified professional. We probably don't need to remind you of this.
There is no disputing that skin care equipment are gaining popularity, and it appears that a large number of celebrities are utilising them in their own homes, which encourages the rest of us to do the same. In a video that was produced for Vogue, singer-songwriter Billie Eilish walks viewers through her daily skin care routine, which includes the use of extraction tools to assist in the removal of blemishes. She stated to the audience that in her typical routine, she "would go in with these terrible guys" (meaning her extraction equipment) and "cause severe damage to myself." She went on to say that she usually works the tools into her face for a period of many hours at a time. Welp! According to the specialists, attempting this at home will result in exactly the kind of harm that you fear for your skin.
In an interview with Refinery29, dermatologist Anjali Mahto issued a strong warning against performing pore extraction procedures at home under any circumstances. "This needs to be done by someone who is trained to properly extract them," she explained. "Otherwise, you could push the inflammation deeper and cause or even worsen the spots." She went on to say that you can also end up with permanent scarring if you try to do it yourself. "This needs to be done by someone who is trained to properly extract them." Because at-home extraction instruments simply cannot be sanitised adequately, you are also placing yourself at danger of infection. This may wreak havoc on your skin, with some of the damage being irreversible, as revealed by an aesthetician named MJ Rowland-Warmann.
It is in your best interest to consult an expert so that they can determine whether or not the treatment is really necessary for you. According to Mahto, a much more effective method is to use masks, exfoliants, and serums that are formulated specifically for the requirements of your skin.
