Learning Your Bad Skin Habits

by Valerie Gladstone — October 29, 2007

We've all found that cosmetics usually won't do the trick when our skin looks bad. But how many of us examine how we may be contributing to the problem? No anti-aging cream is going to override sunbathing, boozing, regular lack of sleep, and a greasy, fast food diet. Nor is a facelift or botox. So best take a good hard look at your habits and figure out what you can do all by yourself, with a little discipline. What to look out for:

• Over exfoliating--Though essential for helping shed dead cells that contribute to a washed out appearance, doing it more than twice a week can strip your skin of its natural, protective lipid oil barrier. And that can lead to easily irritated skin and broken capillaries, particularly on the face. Pick a cleanser that contains an AHA, which helps skin slough off dead cells without abrasive scrubbing.
• Secondhand Smoke--Even if you don't smoke, smoke form someone else's cigarette can wreck havoc on your skin because chemicals in smoke (carbon monoxide, tar, and nicotine) seep directly into your pores. In the long run, they can trigger premature aging and affect the skin's ability to heal itself.
• Squeezing Blemishes--No question, it can lead to further breakouts and scarring. But if you're going to do it anyway, at least use the right instrument: Tweezerman No-Slip Skin Took ($10 at www.tweezerman.com). Swab the zit with a rubbing alcohol. Next apply a warm, damp washcloth to help soften up the pimple. Then line up a hole in the extractor over the whitehead and push straight down. But don't use this for a cyst. Or better yet see a dermatologist, who can inject a large pimple with cortisone, which will make it disappear in hours (typically $150 per injection).
• Dirty Makeup Brushes--Brushes can become the breeding ground for bacteria, which gets picked up from the surface of skin every time you swipe on makeup. All that bacteria can lead to breakouts. You should wash your brushes with a clarifying shampoo like Pantene Pro-V Purity Clarifying Shampoo ($4 at drugstores). You could also use the spray cleaner Japonesque Professional Brush Cleaner ($10; go to www.japonesque.com for stores) or buy brushes with antimicrobial technology, such as Clinque's makeup brushes ($14 to $33 at www.clinique.com).
• Tanning Salons--The harm you're doing to your skin is equivalent to and possibly worse than any burn you'll get at the beach. Moreover, one study found that regular tanning bed use was associated with a 55% increase in the risk of developing melanoma, the most lethal form of skin cancer. Try a self-tanner, instead, for instance, Clarins Bronze Self Tanning Tint.
• Changing Skin Care When You're Pregnant--Many ingredients that are harmless when you're not pregnant can be hazardous to the fetus, among them anti-aging and acne ingredients such as retinol and benzoyl peroxide. Replace with products that include fruit derived or lactic (milk) acids, such as Clean and Clear Morning Burst Shine Control facial cleanser ($6 at drugstores). For breakouts, try Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel ($40 at www.dermalogica.com) or Skyn Iceland Ant-Blemish Gel With Willow Bark ($25 at www.sephora.com).