Summer’s here in Oman and the heat is anything but kind to our fragile skin. Dry, extreme temperatures mean horror stories for one’s skin and it is common sense that one needs to amp up the skincare game during these months. Check out the most common and overlooked skincare mistakes, which we have addressed below – if you are guilty of doing any of these to your skin, it explains why your skin might not be looking as good as it should.
Mistake #1
Not drinking enough water – I know a lot of you would have groaned at how basic this was, but honestly, a lot of us still forget to keep our bodies (and ultimately our skin) as hydrated as it needs to be. Staying indoors or staying in an air-conditioned environment does make you think you are sufficiently hydrated, when the truth could actually be far from it.
Drink at least 4 litres of water to keep your skin hydrated this summer.
Mistake #2
Not reapplying sunscreen through the day – It’s elementary to apply a gallon of sunscreen during these unforgiving summers, but most of us often have these questions:
Why is my skin still getting tanned?
Why do I have premature wrinkles?
Why is my skin looking so dull?
The culprit could be either how you apply your sunscreen or the fact that you don’t reapply it as often as needed.
A huge dollop, equating the size of a coin, is how much sunscreen you actually need to apply on your face and neck alone. Let your sunscreen absorb into your skin before applying makeup. Do not rub or wipe your face during the day – if you do, you need to reapply your sunscreen. A spray sunscreen or a stick sunscreen works well if carried in your purse during the day.
Mistake #3
Applying sun-sensitive products during the day – The advent of serums and easily accessible Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinols, AHAs and BHAs in over-the-counter skincare products has turned out to be revolutionary in the skincare industry. These products help the skin glow, erase wrinkles and brighten and plump the skin.
On the flip side, they make the skin more sun sensitive – which means (a) you should only apply it during night time/before bed and (b) you should use sunscreen each time you step out.
Failure to do either of these will leave your skin worse off than it was before.
Mistake #4
Daily damage repair – Every evening, cleanse, tone and moisturise your face as a basic skincare routine. Follow this up with your area of concern – hyper-pigmentation, acne, anti ageing, dark spots, etc. Use a good mask (homemade ones are great) and follow up with a serum before you tuck in for the night.
Following a daily routine and a biweekly exfoliating routine helps you love your skin so it can love you back by looking its best!
If you said yes to any of the above skincare mistakes, try doing things differently so you can say ‘hello’ to your best skin that’s happy from within.
Rachel has a deep passion for wellness and beauty and regularly writes on wellness, skincare and travel. Rachel can be found on Instagram @cookielibrary