We’ve all been there. We wake up and look in the mirror and it’s like a monster took over our face. Before you douse yourself in more sheet masks and exfoliators, stop to take a minute and think about why your skin is freaking out.
You're staring at your face in the mirror in disbelief. The panic is rising. "What did I do???" is the internal dialogue playing over and over in your head. I'm not sure exactly what you did, bb, but I've been there myself: Your skin is freaking out. Let me help you by offering some common causes and giving you a checklist of what to avoid to help you get the best skin possible!
You over-exfoliated
When a friend of mine messages me in a panic asking what to do about their skin, 80% of the time it's freaking out because of over-exfoliation. I'm not even kidding. The amount of "OMG WHAT DO I DO NOW?"’s in my inbox is astounding.
My advice is a simple "slow down, boo!" What I mean by that is always patch test. That 40% mandelic acid peel might have worked wonders for your friend, but your skin is not your friend's skin. Patch test that shizz on your jawline in a very small spot. If it gets red and angry on that little spot over the next 24 hours, it's time to swap it for something less harsh. Unless you're into walking around looking like you skid on the highway on your face.
You're getting lax with the sunscreen
"But I apply sunscreen every morning!" you say?
That's dope! But what about reapplying it? Oh, you forgot that part? Well, don't! Set a reminder alarm on your phone if it keeps slipping your mind. Products like sunscreen sprays and pacts make reapplication stupid easy and stupid portable, so there's really no excuse on this one.
You forgot to switch over to seasonal appropriate skincare
This is especially important if you're a skincare newb and have worked out your perfect routine in a season past. What's perfect for June is most likely not perfect for January. Add, subtract, and switch out winter products for summer when the time comes. A good rule of thumb is you generally need more moisture (emollients and occlusives) in the winter and hydration (humectants) in the summer. Experiment until you find your right combination for the major shifts in weather.
You're not sleeping enough
Under-eye circles are genetic — they're a sad reality for a lot of us. Thin skin coupled with fair skin is like a little window straight down to the dark hues underneath. Aside from a killer concealer (haaay, Iope!), the best thing you can do is get an ample amount of sleep. I don't have to tell you that a lack of shut-eye makes dark rings around your eyes much worse. It's one of the few things we have control over when it comes to bags and circles, so let's do all that we can. 화이팅 fighting!
You're not changing out your pillowcases
Your routine is down pat, you're doing all the right stuff, but your little bumps won't take the hint and leave? Have you considered changing your pillowcases weekly? Think about it: All the oils in your hair and potentially silicone heavy styling products are squished into that fabric when you hit the hay. If you're a side sleeper, your face is getting equal squish time into that same fabric, so let's keep it clean y'all! Besides, what's nicer than fresh bedding?
You forgot that your nasty oily fingers were all over your phone screen before taking that hour-long call from your mother
Same as above, but this time your phone may be the culprit. The surface of our smartphones are freaking naaaaasty. Phones were always gross, but with how much we drag our fingers along the screen nowadays, it's a whole new level of yuck. Oil, germs, bacteria, it's allll on there. Here's an iPhone-centric article about how to properly clean your phone, but obvs this goes for any kind of device If nothing else, cleaning your phone might just save you from a nasty cold or illness.
You're not eating right
Will chocolate cause acne? No. But your skin is an organ and part of your body. Your body's overall health is going to show up like a neon sign on your skin. It may not be in the form of acne (although that's a possibility), but it could be in the form of sallowness, dullness, or rashes. You don't have to go full-on health nut, but be sensible. Try to include as many fresh whole foods as possible, and keep the processed food to a minimal. Your skin and body will thank you for it.
Through process of elimination, these tips will hopefully restore your skin to its former place of Nirvana. (The place, not the band.)
What do you do when your skin is freaking out? Are any of these causes the one that’s usually the culprit? Share with us if you have a different freakout cause!
Loading...