Nine Things Dermatologists Say You Should Never Do To Your Skin

Sleep is your body’s repair and renewal time. Going to bed with the day’s oil, dirt and makeup still on your skin clogs pores and prevents mircro-circulation. This can lead to the breakdown of collagen and increase in wrinkles and, of course, breakouts. The simple solution is a simple washing of the face before bed. No matter how tired you are, this is not the place to get lazy.

Just because Duchess Kate Middleton or actress and blogging queen Gwynneth Paltrow subject themselves to bee venom facials does not mean they are the next beauty miracle. They may be quite the opposite. (Studies reveal adverse affects ranging from trivial skin reactions to life-threating severe immunological responses.) New, trendy, potentially toxic treatments are constantly turning up. Be a smart consumer and do your research before trying something that could do more harm than good.

UV radiation is still the biggest cause of damage and accelerated aging in skin. Even if you think you are just popping out for a run to the market, you are being exposed to sun. Use a daily moisturizer that includes sun protection like Vivant’s Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 for light, non-comedogenic UVA/UVB protection.

Your skin is delicate and reactive. Over-scrubbing can damage your skin’s natural protective barrier. This can result in inflammation, redness and irritation. The loss of healthy skin cells can also lead to breakouts as well, the opposite of what you’re going for. Instead, try Vivant’s Mandelic Acid 3-In-1 Exfoliating Cleanser, which combines smooth granules with mandelic acid, green tea, kiwi, honey and grape extracts for a gently exfoliating and nourishing wash.

Actually, if you get the chance, you should probably make an exception and then detox for a week. The point is, alcohol is tough on skin. It causes dehydration, dry and dull skin, makes pores and lines appear larger and often results in an over-consumption of sugar, which cause inflammation, glycation and oxidative stress.

You will likely have a great time, but your skin will pay the price.

A healthy diet has a huge impact on the health of your skin. Processed foods, salt, refined carbohydrates all negatively affect your skin causing breakouts, puffiness, and a breakdown in proteins that keep skin firm. Protect and nourish your skin with a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, essential minerals and nutrients. Avocados, salmon, nuts, leafy greens, red peppers,

When removing makeup, applying creams, or just waking up and getting the sleep out of your eyes, be gentle. The skin around the eyes is particularly delicate and rubbing or tugging is the start of fine lines and sagging skin. 

Like the effect it has on your laundry, hot water can fade your skin’s glow by stripping the skin of natural oils and damaging skin’s protective barrier. It’s over-drying and hard on delicate skin. Help skin retain its natural moisture to stay smooth, soft and healthy by turning the temperature down a notch or two.

Your magnifying mirror is highly prone to exaggeration. It will tell you have crow’s feet like tire ruts and pores like subway tunnels. It will goad you into doing terrible things like picking and squeezing and plucking until you’ve created a real problem where none actually existed.