Skincare Mistakes You Might Be Making

Which of these skincare mistakes are you making?

Jacqueline White, NBC-HWC, Health and Wellness Coach, Health Writer

Fall is here even though the temperature outside doesn’t feel like it. But cooler temperatures are coming and you may be switching your activities to outdoors. With the season change it may be time to change or adjust your skincare.

Also, hormonal changes can make your old skincare routine stop working.

Are you aware that you may be making mistakes with your skincare?

Here are 5 skincare mistakes active women over 40 often make:

Over-exfoliating to fix dullness. When skin looks dull you may be tempted to use scrubs, peels, or retinols together. But this can damage the skin’s barrier causing redness and burning. Choose one exfoliating product to use and pair it with moisturizer and sunscreen.

Using fragranced products on your skin. As estrogen changes with age, some products you once used may begin causing redness and irritation. If this happens, switch to gentle, fragrance-free products.

Keeping makeup on while you workout. Makeup products mixed with sweat and oil can cause clogged pores and breakouts. Cleanse your skin, apply moisturizer (and sunscreen for outdoor activities) is all that’s needed for workouts.

Using strong retinoids before heat and sun exposure. Retinoids can irritate sensitive skin. Using this, then going outside, doubles the irritation. Try using this product at night along with gentle cleansing and a moisturizer. 

Not moisturizing because skin is oily or sweaty. You should still moisturize. Mature skin can get dehydrated during workouts. After your workout, cleanse your skin, apply a fragrance-free moisturizer that will support the barrier of your skin.

Here’s a step-by-step routine to simplify your life: