3 Common Habits That Could Be Hurting Your Skin
Small things we do without thinking — that can quietly irritate skin.
We spend a lot of money on skincare. Creams. Serums. Soaps. Treatments. "Overnight Miracles" but sometimes it is not what we are buying, it is what we are doing.
Here are three common habits that can quietly be working against your skin.
1. Resting Your Hands on Your Face
I do this all the time. Sitting at my desk. Working on the next blog. Thinking. Hands cupped underneath my chin. It is a bad habit. Why is this a problem? Our hands touch keyboards, phones, steering wheels, gym equipment — all day. When we rest them on our face, we’re transferring oil, bacteria, and irritation directly to skin. It's small but think about how many times you do this per day. It adds up! Try this. Find a problem area on your face. How many times are your hands on that area?
2. Over-Cleansing (Especially After Workouts)
We love a fresh, clean feeling. But washing your face and body multiple times a day — especially with harsh cleansers — can strip your skin barrier. When that barrier gets compromised, skin often responds with:
- Redness
- Sensitivity
- Breakouts
- Dryness
Clean skin is important, we know that, but over-stripping skin will cause stressed out skin. Gentle cleansing your face once or twice a day is usually enough and unless needed, showering once a day is plenty.
3. Hot Showers + Aggressive Scrubbing
Nobody loves a hot shower more than me, hot water cascading down your body feels amazing! Scrubbing feels productive, that repeated soaping action with a washcloth. BUT both can weaken your skin barrier, especially in the winter.
Very hot water pulls moisture from the skin and rough scrubs can cause micro-irritation. The result? Skin that feels tight, reactive or inconsistent. Warm water. Gentle cleansing. Pat dry. Simple works.
- Try this:
- Turn the temperature in your daily shower down 1% or if that is too extreme, clean with warm water and rinse with cold.
- Don't use a washcloth. Rub the soap bar, an Allie's Naturals one, directly on your body.
- When done, stand in the shower for 1 minute. Let the air do most of the drying. It is less towel friction.
Closing Section
We are so reactive and quick to add more products. Sometimes it is about removing small habits that are quietly working against you. Consistent, gentle beats aggressive routines every time. Your skin does not need drama, it needs balance.
Michael
