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5 Common Beauty Mistakes that Could be Hurting Your Skin


It can be all too easy to fall into the trap of trying product after product when your skin just doesn’t seem to respond as dramatically as you’d hoped. Perhaps your skincare routine could use a few adjustments to effectively clear and smooth your complexion for the beautiful, lasting results you want.

If you’re guilty of one or more of these common beauty mistakes, your skincare routine could most likely use a little spring makeover.

1. Assessing Your Skin Right after Washing

Before you can choose the right skincare products to use, you’ll need to know what your skin type is. To do this, you can employ the help of the Baumann Skin Typing Questionnaire, which accurately determines which of the 16 Baumann Skin Types you are. If you’re like most of us, though, you might be tempted to go wash your face immediately before assessing your skin’s unique characteristics. This, however, can throw off your assessment because most skin types will feel tight and somewhat dry immediately after washing. Instead, give your skin 20 minutes or so to rebalance after cleansing to take a closer look at its qualities.

2. Confusing Dry and Oily Skin Types

Many people may still be used to the old method of skin typing, which included only four primary characteristics: dry, oily, sensitive, and normal. However, one of the most common mistakes that people make when assessing their skin type on their own is whether it is dry or oily. This can be tricky, especially in cases of combination skin, where parts of your skin may be oily when others are dry.

If you’re having trouble assessing your skin type on your own, you can find a dermatologist in your area who has integrated the Baumann Skin Typing Questionnaire into their practice. This way, you can rest assured that you’ve selected the correct Baumann Skin Type for your skin, and can then go ahead and select STS-approved products that perfectly match your skincare needs based on that information.

3. Using Too Many Products

If you’ve been stockpiling skincare products, thinking that the answer to getting better skin is using as many as you can, it’s time for a little spring cleaning. Truthfully, your morning skincare routine doesn’t need more than two or three steps – otherwise, you’re spending too much time and money.

The key is to choose two or three of the right products for your skin type. That way, you won’t run the risk of having adverse reactions to a certain product or ingredient that isn’t meant for your skin type, which can create a snowball effect of unwanted skin conditions.

4. Choosing Skincare Products Based on Expensive Price

Another way people may choose their skincare products is based on price. After all, the more expensive it is, the better it works, right? Honestly, you do not need to spend a fortune on products in order to have great skin. In fact, some of the best products happen to be less expensive drugstore brands. Again, the important thing is that you pick your products based on your skin type, not on a higher price.

5. Not Using Sunscreen

No matter your skin type or color, everyone should be using sunscreen every single day. The sun is the leading contributor to nearly all signs of skin aging, including lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and sagging skin, not to mention the fact that it can also cause melanoma and other types of skin cancers (Molecules).

All skin types can benefit from using a physical sunscreen such as Elta MD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 or Jan Marini Physical SPF 45, so please don’t shy away from daily sun protection just because you have sensitive skin. Keeping your skin protected from the sun is the best thing you can do for your skin’s health and beauty.

Dr. Leslie Baumann, M.D. and her team at Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology believe in proof, not promises. World-recognized for both cosmetic and general dermatology, our treatment strategies rely exclusively on evidence-based, scientifically verified products and procedures that promote skin health and a natural appearance. We combine effective medical procedures with individualized instruction on proper skincare, nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle in order to maximize the health of the skin and body as a whole while minimizing the effects of aging. For more, visit Dr. Baumann’s blog for daily updates Monday through Friday, or inquire about an appointment through Derm.net.

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