Exfoliators
When it comes to exfoliating, you don’t want too much of a good thing. “When you use a physical bead or grain exfoliator, it can remove too many layers and damage the skin's natural barrier responsible for locking in moisture,” warns David Pollock, independent beauty chemist who has formulated beauty products for brands like Smashbox, Bliss and SkinCeuticals. “Over-exfoliating can cause your skin to become drier, thinner and more sensitive.” That’s why most exfoliating products come with instructions that recommend using no more than one to two times a week at most.
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Products with little-to-no SPF
You know the importance of wearing sunscreen, but are you using products that contain SPF (aside from the sunscreen you slather on when you go to the beach)? Sunscreens that do not have a high enough SPF can also contribute to aging—it’s really that simple. “If you’re not protecting your skin, you are susceptible to sun damage, which contributes to aging,” says Darden. “It breaks down the collagen in your skin, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.” Even a low SPF is not going to provide the coverage you need to protect your skin, which is why she recommends an SPF of 30 and above.
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Bar soap
Bar soap might seem like the most basic form of cleansing, but it can actually age your skin if you’re not choosing carefully. “The problem with bar soap is that it has a high pH of 9+, which is significantly higher than our acidic skin that ranges from 4.5 to 5.5,” Pollock says. “When our skin is out of this healthy range, it produces excess sebum in an attempt to try and restore its natural pH.” He recommends using a body wash or gel instead.
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Hair dye
While adding color to your hair can often make you appear younger, especially if you’re covering up grays, applying the wrong color or over-processing your hair can have the opposite effect. “Unless you are 20, ashy gray or white will add 10-20 years to your look,” warns Anna Guanche, MD, dermatologist, beauty expert and founder of the Bella Skin Institute. “And over-processing your hair or being too blonde can result in an aged look, because your hair is then frizzy and dry, reminiscent of grey hair texture.” Instead, she recommends adding highlights or toning it back to your original color to smooth the hair and add shine, which ultimately provides a more youthful look.
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Too much eyeshadow
A little goes a long way when it comes to eyeshadow, especially as you age. “Too much glitter eyeshadow or too much matte eyeshadow can augment wrinkles by getting stuck in skin folds,” warns Dr. Guanche. “The powdery eyeshadows may also irritate some individuals' eyes, causing puffiness that is recurrent daily and leads to fine lines in the skin around the eyes.” Instead, she recommends opting for cream eyeshadow, like Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow, $30, which can help hydrate dry skin throughout the day.
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