These 11 Mistakes Aren’t Doing Any Favors For Aging Skin

As we age, our skin needs a little more TLC than we might be used to giving it in order to keep it healthy and vibrant. A skincare routine that includes cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting will go a long way toward keeping your aging skin in good shape over time.

But even if you establish a good routine and use quality skincare products that agree with your skin, it’s easy to unknowingly engage in behaviors that can have undesirable effects on your skin. Today, we’ll take a look at 11 of these mistakes (and their consequences), and learn how to avoid them so we don’t undermine our own efforts!

11 Mistakes To Avoid To Protect Your Aging Skin

1. Rarely Cleaning Your Phone

Most of us have our phones with us almost all the time, which means they’re picking up bacteria continually. When you hold your phone against your ear to take a call, all the bacteria on your screen is getting pressed against your face, which is definitely not what you want!

Make a habit of disinfecting your phone on a daily basis, either using a screen-safe disinfecting wipe, or by spraying a disinfectant onto a soft cloth and wiping your phone with it. Using headphones with a speaker while making calls can also help prevent bacterial transfer.

2. Cleansing With Dirty Hands

Cleansing without first washing your hands is another way we unknowingly transfer bacteria to our faces. The best way to avoid this is by making a habit of washing your hands before you cleanse your face.

3. Combining Makeup Removal And Cleansing

When you’re washing your face at the end of the day, it’s important to think about removing your makeup as a separate step from cleansing your face. If you try to use your usual cleanser to remove your makeup, it’s unlikely to do a very effective job.

Instead, use an oil cleanser to remove your makeup, then use your usual cleanser afterward to remove any remaining impurities. (This is referred to as “double cleansing,” and you can learn more about its benefits in my guide to oil cleansing.)

4. Storing Products Improperly

Most skincare products fare well when stored at room temperature, but some will suffer if they get too hot. Exposing them to direct sunlight on a hot day can cause active ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, antioxidants, and UV filters to degrade and become ineffective.

Especially when you’re traveling, do your best to make sure your products don’t get too hot or sit in the sun for very long.

5. Neglecting Your Neck

When it comes to skincare, it’s easy to focus solely on your face while ignoring your neck entirely. But the thin skin on your neck is just as likely to suffer from neglect as the skin on your face, so it’s important to include it in your routine.

Anything you do or apply to your face should be extended to your neck as well. Doing so will help keep that thin skin moisturized, improve elasticity, and minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

6. Cleansing With Hot Water

Hot water can strip away natural oils and leave skin feeling dry and flaky, or worse, trigger an inflammatory response that includes redness, itching, and irritation. (That’s why long, hot showers do more harm than good!)

Using cool water to cleanse your skin, on the other hand, can help calm inflammation and reduce redness and puffiness. If you’re brave enough, rinsing your skin with cold water is great for getting rid of morning puffiness, and the shock of it will help wake you up, too!

7. Cleansing Just Once A Day

Many people assume they only need to cleanse their skin at the end of the day because it will remain clean overnight, but that’s not exactly true. Your skin works to repair itself while you sleep, secreting toxins and sebum (oil) during the process.

Cleansing your skin when you wake up helps remove those impurities, which is why it’s important to do it morning and night.

8. Failing To Apply Sunscreen Daily

The sun’s ultraviolet rays don’t take days off, and its aging effects can contribute to wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dark spots, and even skin cancer. That’s why sun protection should be a mainstay of your skincare routine.

Even if you’re not planning on going outside, your skin can still be impacted by blue light, UVA, and UVB rays. Make sure to apply sunscreen every day, and learn more about proper sun protection in this post.

9. Layering Products With Incompatible Ingredients

It’s all too easy to end up unknowingly using products with ingredients that aren’t compatible with each other. Some ingredients will counteract each other, wasting your time, money, and effort.

10. Drying Your Face With A Dirty Towel

You wouldn’t dry your face with a towel that’s obviously dirty, but a towel doesn’t have to look dirty in order to be dirty. Make sure the towels you use to dry your face are clean to avoid exposing your skin to more dirt and bacteria.

An easy way to do this is by keeping a stack of several small towels handy so you can swap them out on a daily basis. (And remember to gently pat your face dry so you don’t rub at or tug on your skin.)

11. Sleeping On A Dirty Pillowcase

Your nightly skincare routine can be quickly undone by getting into bed and resting your face on a dirty pillowcase. Doing so can lead to breakouts, deepening wrinkles, and more.

To avoid this, wash your bedding at least once a week. Those with oily hair or skin may want to keep a few extra pillowcases on hand and change them out more frequently. (Using a silk pillowcase can have added benefits too — learn more about them in this post.)

Wondering What’s Not a Mistake? Trying This Skincare Line!

My Timeless by Jillee System takes all the guesswork out of your skincare! It’s made up of just three parts each morning and evening: cleansing, treating (with serums), and moisturizing. Just five simple products are all you need to treat your biggest skin concerns. From dryness, to dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin – these products address it all.

I’ve been using all five products in the system for a more than two years now, and I finally feel like I’ve found a skincare routine that I love and can stick with long term. I’ve also been thrilled to find out that I’m not alone in my love for this system! Just check out these 5-star reviews:

Have used this skin care line for a full year now. Every day. Twice a day. After 70 years, I finally have comfortable skin. No itching, redness, flaking, or tightness. Others have noted the improvement in my skin as well and one daughter is also now using this system. I can’t vouch for each product as I use the whole system but can say that my skin has never looked or felt better. Thank you Jillee for coming up with a complete line that my super sensitive rosacea skin can tolerate. I can finally say that I am literally comfortable in my own skin for the first time in years.

Deborah S.

I love the simplicity of this skin care kit. I have seen a big difference in my skin, especially at the corners of my eyes where I had really bad dry patches from sun damage. Nothing I tried in the past helped and after just a week I noticed the skin healing and becoming smooth and clear. This beats some of the expensive name brand creams and serums. I love the feel and the fragrance of all the products. I am a fan for life now!

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“I’ve been using the Timeless skin care package since it first came out and I really love it! My skin is so smooth and seems brighter (I am 50 years young!). The fine lines also appear less noticeable:) I have been following the regimen as directed twice a day. The products last a long time, smell nice and fresh and are easy to apply. I would highly recommend this skincare line!!”

Helen B.

And if you’re not completely satisfied with the Timeless by Jillee products for any reason, just contact me within 90 days to receive a full refund. That’s how confident I am in these products.

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What’s your best skincare tip for aging skin?