I think, its better to aim for skin that is healthy vs. skin that is “perfect”. Everyone has their idea of what perfect skin looks or feels like and most times that idea is unrealistic. Majority of us have struggled with some type of skin issues wether it be acne, hyperpigmentation, rosecea, scarring, eczema.. I mean, the list goes on damn near forever! Aside from all this though, I truly do feel that healthy skin will always look healthy no matter what minor annoyance it maybe be dealing with at the time. Thats why it is important to maintain hygienic and sanitary practices when with dealing with skin and skincare products.

Along with choosing products that are specific to your skins needs, protecting the integrity of the skin is important as well. After all, we want all the hard work and products we invest in to yield transforming results! Here are 5 unsanitary skincare mistakes you may be making that are currently keeping you from the healthy skin you deserve!

1. Not Washing Your Hands Before Touching Your Face

We touch different surfaces and objects all day with our hands and while many people wash their hands after they use the restroom or touch public door handles, a lot of those same people forget to wash their hands before touching their faces. Transferring all the days germs right onto your precious cheeks you’ve been working so hard to keep breakout free! Being more mindful about how often you unnecessarily touch your face during the day and remembering to wash your hands before starting your skincare routine could make all the difference in your continued glow up.

2. Using Dirty Implements or Tools

Cleansing spin brushes, jade rollers, extraction tools ect. can all hold onto some pretty nasty bacteria and when those tools aren’t being properly cleaned you end up transferring bad bacteria back onto your freshly cleansed face. Tools should always be cleaned with soap and warm water, sanitized and stored properly until the next use. This goes for your towels and makeup eraser cloths as well, using cloths like these to remove makeup and cleanser without washing them in-between uses could most certainly lead to breakouts, inflammation and stall the healing of acne.

3. Improper Product Application

Aside from apply product with dirty hands or even on top of dirty skin, one mistake many beauty and skincare enthusiasts are making is placing their applicators directly onto the face. Think about it, if you have active acne the last thing you want to do is contaminate your products with that same breakout causing bacteria. Instead, apply products from droppers or squeeze bottles onto your finger tips or palms of clean hands to protect your beloved serums and creams from germs.

4. Taking Phones into the Restroom

Science has shown that our phone screens and cases can a breeding ground for all types of bacteria and we put those things up to our faces several times a day! Taking cellphones into the restroom is something many of us have been guilty of, actually about 38-75% of people admit to doing this daily. Doing so can result in picking up bodily fluids and debris that eventually, make their way to our faces when we go to answer a call from bae! I don’t think I really have to say much more on why regular cleaning of our devices and keeping them out of the bathroom is crucial to skins overall health and hygiene.

5. Using Fingers for Extractions

Yes I know, you think you’re helping when you pop your significant others zits with your less than clean finger nails but I assure you, you’re not. Dirt and debris can easily be caught underneath our nails and transferred to open follicles when picking at breakouts or ingrown hairs. If you must try extracting on your own, it should be done with clean fingers that are either wrapped in cotton or with properly cleaned extraction tools and an astringent solution to make sure the area is free of bacteria once you are done.

As you can see it is very easy to pass on germs, spread bacteria and get into the habit of unsanitary hygiene practices in a skincare routine. Lucky for us though, its also pretty easy to correct these mistakes and get to the goal of healthy skin with mindfulness and consistency. So ditch the unsanitary habits and improve your skins health today!