5 Skincare Mistakes Women Make (And How to Fix Them)

Let’s think for a moment, who hasn’t tried looking through the skincare aisle and getting lured by bright and elegant containers, striking taglines, and eye-catching advertisements only to buy a product that doesn’t serve any purpose at all? Siblings and impulse purchasing a viral serum that looked nice on Instagram happened to me too, and was met with the reality check that it wasn’t right for me. Navigating through skincare is incredibly complicated. The silver lining however is that obtaining healthy skin is easier than many might believe. Achieving this does not require you to have a 10-step skincare routine or needing to have a premium budget.

Hi I’m Liza, and after a few years of trial and error (along with several skin blunders), I have figured out what actually works to achieve skin radiance. Everyone, regardless if they are seasoned pros or skin care newbies, seem to make blunders that prevent them from amazing skin, and trust me I’ve been there too. In this article I will provide you with five common oversights that I personally made and the practical tip that come alongside them. These strategies, regardless of your skin type, lifestyle, or even budget, will aid in loving the routine and ultimately loving the skin you’re in. Are you ready to make a change? Let’s go!

1. Omitting the Proper Cleanse

The core of the skincare routine begins with cleansing, but just like everything else, not all products are equal. I am guilty of picking foaming cleansers with the belief it would take off my SPF, mascara, and foundation. The reality is the opposite. It left my skin irritated and messy. Do you relate?

So, what is the solution? Begin with oil-based cleansers to gently eliminate any makeup or sunscreen during night-time. With time you’ll come to appreciate the way it loosens up grime without robbing my skin. Gently rinsing with a foam or gel cleanser followed by these steps will get you a smoother face while retaining smoothness and avoiding tightness.

If your skin is sensitive, skip double cleansing in the morning and go for micellar water—I love it for a quick, gentle refresh. Pro tip: check out this Instagram post for a visual guide to double cleansing done right. 

2. Following Viral Trends 

If you’ve bought a TikTok or YouTube product, raise your hand. *Guilty*! Once, I bought a trendy-seeming serum because the packaging was so adorable only to realize it wasn’t right for my skin. Cute bottles don’t equal results, and viral doesn’t always mean effective. 

Here is how you can shop smarter: concentrate on the ingredients that address your skin’s issues. For dry skin, look for hyaluronic acid or ceramides. Oily skin? Niacinamide is your best bet. Look at the label or Google before buying to verify it meets your skin’s objectives. It may not be as enjoyable as following trends, but your skin, as well as your wallet, will appreciate it. The next time you get tempted by a viral product, ask yourself, “Does this actually work for me?” Save those impulse buys for coffee runs instead.

3. A Common Mistake: Using Too Many Active Ingredients 

Allow me to mention that one time I thought I could achieve flawless skin with a 10-step routine consisting of vitamin C, retinol, and a myriad of acids; needless to say, what I got was a face full of redness, peeling skin, and a visage that desperately screamed ‘help.’ Many of us opt for overusing actives, falling into this suffocating trap especially when we are desperate to see results. 

The answer? Simplicity. Identify one or two actives that you can focus on, such as Vitamin C in the morning for brightening and retinol at night for increased cellular renewal. Using both together is a different story and one prone to irritation. Listen to your skin; it shouldn’t be red or sensitive. I learned this the hard way when my skin barrier was damaged to the point that makeup became a fantasy. It’s best to start with a basic routine of cleansing, moisturizing, and sunscreen, and build upon it bit by bit. Instead, your skin is in dire need of room to breathe – not turned into a perplexing science experiment.

4. Selection of the Wrong Moisturizer 

Choosing a moisturizer to apply seems easy, but using the wrong moisturizer can create problems when integrating it into a skincare routine. Oilier skin types may find that using a rich cream only makes them shinier and more sensitive to breakouts, rather than hydrating and glowing. In contrast, incorporating lightweight lotions may leave drier skin type thirsty and having patches of dryness. 

To avoid damaging the skin barrier while keeping the skin well moisturized, it is recommended to use a moisturizer that suits one’s skin type. Oily skin would benefit from a gel based moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, while drier skin types need those rich in ceramides or shea butter. Combination skin types would suit balanced lotions. If someone is unsure, it’s always best to start with a patch test. In only a week’s time my client noticed less breakouts with a gel moisturizer applied to her oily T-zone. Attention to what our skin tells us goes a long way.

5. Pulled at the Ends – Over-Exfoliating with Scrubs and Peels

The basic structure of your skin barrier is something you need to pay close attention to; unlike magic scrubs, the effects of peeling and exfoliation can dramatically damage this barrier. In the past, I would use harsh scrubs and cleansing masks, especially when my skin was flaring up, hoping they’d fix everything. This led my skin to become so sensitive that it was impossible to soothe. With harder exfoliating techniques, gaining smoother skin becomes easy, but achieving it may be harder than you think. 

The issue here is overdoing this smoother skin magic wand; it is less is more. Never use harsh exfoliating scrubs or peel away chemicals when the skin is already vulnerable. Go for gentle and supple skincare; you can still keep nurturing the defensive shield of your skin barrier with mild hydrating products. Gentle scrubs should only be executed to rest your skin’s delicate touch unless exposed to harsh conditions like tightness around the skin or feeling overly red. Avoiding this constant 10 pre-defined scrubs has allowed me to set my skin barrier free and over time my skin naturally started to improve and heal itself. Trust me, it will repay you a hundred times in the future if only you let calm down while nurturing your skin’s microbiome.

Simplifying your skincare routine does not have to be stressful. Approaches like double cleansing, prioritizing the right ingredients over fleeting trends, minimizing the number of active components, selecting a suitable moisturizer, and reducing exfoliation frequency all promote interaction versus struggle with the skin. Modify your routine by starting with one tip. Perhaps change your cleanser this week or analyze ingredient lists the next time you go shopping. All you need is consistency and a sprinkle of patience, not perfection.

The complex world of skincare is challenging, but I empathize with you because I have also gone through it at some point. Skin is very personal, but there is enough commonality across skin types that these tips can assist most people to shine a little brighter. Feel encouraged to try these approaches and report back on your experience. Here’s to skin that is healthy, feels good, and has a skin that makes you say ‘yes,’ but is even better.