We’re guilty of some (if not all) of these skincare mistakes at some point in our lives, but if corrected early, we can avoid long-term damage to our skin such as premature wrinkles, sensitivity and dry/dehydrated skin.  

Healthy skin is not about using expensive products with fancy marketing that promises quick fixes. It’s about the simple actions we take everyday to give it the loving care that it deserves.

After all, we wear our skin everyday, so shouldn’t we treat it with even more love and dedication than we treat, say, a $10,000 cashmere jacket? Would you just throw it in the wash with some cheap chemical-laden detergent then tumble dry on high heat? Not at all.

Your skin is worth way more than a $10,000 cashmere jacket, boo. Let’s give our skin a little more love. We lay it all out in this article, so you can learn from our mistakes and be on the right track to healthier skin in the long run. We’re going back to basics with some common skincare mistakes that you might be making without even knowing it, and some golden rules to follow instead, for lifelong, healthy and happy skin. 

1. Use a Dedicated Face Cloth

Towels can retain traces of residual shampoo, body wash, and moisturizer - not to mention bacteria and dirt from our tushy. Needless to say, we do not want to use the same towel we use on our body and hair on our just cleaned pretty faces. 

Having a dedicated clean and gentle face cloth is part of a good skincare routine and is extremely key for healthy skin. Have at least 4-5 face cloths so you’ll always have a clean one to use. We’ve found that investing in an organic face cloth is one of the best things we’ve done for our skin and the planet. 

Pro Tip: Wash your face cloths regularly, and let them dry completely between use to prevent bacterial overgrowth. 

2. The 60 Second Rule

Though it might feel like a long time, each of the 60 seconds you spend on cleansing counts towards healthier, better skin. Here’s why:

Cleansers depend on surfactants to help dissolve the grime on our skin. They work by attracting oil and encasing it in water-soluble molecules called micelles, making it easy to rinse away. The problem is, surfactants can’t sufficiently do that without the time to mix with the dirty stuff. This is why massaging your cleansers in for 60 seconds is key to getting truly clean skin that’s ready for the rest of your skincare routine. 

Pro Tip: Use circular motions when massaging to really pick up the grime on your skin and use a Wyld sponge with your cleanser for that extra deep cleanse.

3. Rinse thoroughly

We are all guilty of it. Absentmindedly washing our face and rushing through the process while thinking of what to have for dinner. What ends up happening is we don’t wash off the face cleanser completely, leaving residue behind that can be harmful for our skin.

We can be a little bit more mindful next time we wash our faces. Take extra care to rinse thoroughly especially around our hairline, where our scalp tends to get oily and its pores are more likely to be clogged. Similarly, our chins often come in contact with our hands and pillowcases, both of which can leave dirt and bacteria behind. If you find yourself breaking out often around your hair and jawline, try taking more time to rinse thoroughly and see if it helps.

Pro Tip: To prevent water from running down your arms, you can use workout wrist bands or scrunchies on each wrist while washing. Otherwise, a Wyld sponge works beautifully too. 

4. Pat, don’t rub

We can’t stress enough how important it is to be gentle to your skin. Rubbing a towel against it can cause irritation, fine lines and wrinkles in the long run. Our skin already has gravity working against it, it definitely does not need additional pulling from us. Switch to patting instead. It’s just as effective, without the tugging and pulling. 

Pro Tip: If you want to be gentler, skip the towel all-together and pat in the water on your skin after cleansing. *Bonus: this helps with hydration too! 

5. Hydrate right after

Our skin is constantly evaporating water because of a phenomenon called transepidermal water loss. Since cleansing removes some of the natural protective oils on our skin (which is normal), our transepidermal water loss speeds up even more during this time. 

To prevent any unnecessary evaporation, remember to immediately follow cleansing with applying hydrating skincare products. Don’t let your skin completely dry out; your skin absorbs best when it’s in a damp, plump state. Imagine damp soil and dry soil - which one absorbs water better? Yes, that’s right, the damp soil. Doing this will not only replenish the water supply in your skin, but it will also rebalance the skin and get it ready for the next step in your routine.

Pro Tip: If your skin is really dehydrated, try applying multiple layers of your favorite hydrating mist and moisturizer, followed by your favorite oil/balm to seal it all in. 

Want to know more skincare tips? We talk about why it’s important to ditch your old cleanser for a cleaner version here.