Skin care

FYI: You're Washing Your Face All Wrong

These rookie mistakes can ruin your skin

by Allie Flinn | 4 COMMENTS

PHOTO 7/9

You Have Skin Care Routine(s) The thing about a "routine" is, you've gotta do it the same way every time. But maybe every now and then, you decide it's more important to watch the past three episodes of Downton Abbey than go through the rigamarole of removing your makeup, washing your face, toning, serum-ing and moisturizing. You might not notice it tomorrow morning, but skipping even one night of basic cleansing clogs pores because it gets in the way of cell turnover. No cell turnover = dull skin, blackheads and wrinkles.

And, if you're not consistent with the rest of your post-washing skin care regimen, whatever it involves -- applying a prescription retinol, patting a rich nighttime moisturizer around your face, using an eye cream -- you'll never see the results they promise or get your money's worth out of those products.

The fix: According to Dr. Peredo, at a bare minimum, your daily and weekly cleansing routine should look like this, no excuses: cleanse twice a day, exfoliate twice a week and wear moisturizer with sunscreen during the day, year-round. If you have acne-prone skin, skip grainy physical exfoliants in favor of chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid. To treat uneven skin tone or aging skin issues, exfoliate with a glycolic acid.

Your routine should also include regular facials -- ideally every four to six weeks. Because your skin cells turn over approximately once a month, periodic facials can remove the dead cells and reveal the healthy layer of skin underneath, says Dickman. If a regular professional facial isn't in your budget, getting one even twice per year can help. Think of it as one of your regular health checkups, like getting a pap smear or teeth cleaning (only much more pleasant).

And don't expect immediate, miraculous results -- Dr. Bellman says it takes about a month to see changes in your skin after sticking to a good routine.

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