7 Surprising Skin Sins

Text by: The Cosmo Team, additional reporting by: Bianca Consunji

Yup it hurts—you follow all the beauty rules (like washing off makeup before crashing and avoiding the sun) but you still wake up with a less-than-stellar complexion. Here are seven sneaky practices that could be coming between you and a great reflection.

The surprising saboteurs: Your constant cellphone chats
Why they’re bad for your skin: You may have thought the only drawback to your wireless gossip sessions was the bill. But a new study by Howard Murad, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA, found that having fewer face-to-face conversations with your friends, combined with the pressure to keep up with the increasingly fast pace of life, can cause what he calls cultural stress. According to Dr. Murad, stress is often responsible for many physical annoyances, like excess oil production, reduced circulation, and water loss in your skin-cell walls, all of which can lead to breakouts, dullness, and dehydration.
What you can do: Ward off stress by carving out at least two hours once a week to bond with your buds in person, says Dr. Murad. Also, in addition to a stellar skincare routine, Dr. Murad recommends eating lots of fruits, veggies, and fish. These foods possess anti-inflammatory properties, which help to keep your complexion under control, even when your life isn’t.

The surprising saboteurs: The windows in your workplace or car
Why they’re bad for your skin: If you think that you’re safe from the sun under the confines of a roof, you’re wrong. The American Academy of Dermatology recently realeased a warning stating that overexposure to sunlight can happen indoors, too. Indoor lights can mimic the undue effects of prolonged exposure to the sun, and the harsh UV rays can also penetrate through thick glass, explains Dr. Liberty Sumilang of the Philippined Dermatological Society. “Even car tint may not be able to completely filter the harmful rays of the sun,” she adds.
What you can do: Wear at least SPF 15 every day—even when it’s cloudy outside. Going on a road trip or commuting? Apply sunscreen on exposed skin. And if possible, arrange your desk so you aren’t in direct sunlight or pull down your window shades during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lastly, look for sunglasses that have the “100 Percent UV Protection” sticker.

The surprising saboteurs: Going to a bargain facialist
Why they’re bad for your skin: It’s tempting to get a cheapie facial at a skincare clinic at the mall, but what you’re risking is definitely not worth the couple of hundred pesos you’ll be saving. Infections, burns, and scarring can occur at the hand of an inexperienced person. It’s better to go to a clinic with a licensed dermatologist who will personally attend to you, explains Dr. Sumilang. “While a dermatologist-trained staff member can remove blackheads and whiteheads, trust only a dermatologist to do acne surgery since the wrong technique can aggravate breakouts.”
What you can do: When you just want a standard facial and your skin isn’t sensitive or acne-prone, then it’s okay to go to an inexpensive (but reputable) clinic or spa, says Chicago dermasurgeon Carolyn Jacob. However, be extra careful about more invasive treatments like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and lasers. These procedures require more training and expertise, so your safest bet is to visit a board-certified dermatologist or head to a medi-spa that’s overseen by an on-site derma, says Dr. Jacob. Tip: Ask your friends or titas to recommend their tried-and-tested dermas to make sure you’re in good hands.

The surprising saboteurs: Your love of exfoliating scrubs and peels
Why they’re bad for your skin: Using strong peels and exfoliators more than twice a week can irritate your skin and accelerate the signs of aging, says Diana Howard, Ph.D. Sounds severe, but repeated inflammation from harsh products can cause a chain reaction that breaks down your skin’s dermis—where the collagen and elastin fibers are—so it ages much more quickly.
What you can do: If your skin is red and inflamed, stop scrubbing and just use a mild cleanser plus an SPF 15 moisturizer since your skin is more susceptible to sun damage, says Howard. In the future, here’s how much you can slough, depending on your skin type, according to San Francisco derma Kathy Fields: Acne-prone skin can be exfoliated daily as long as the formula clearly says it’s meant for everyday use. Normal complexions can be buffed two to three times a week with a mild microbead version.

The surprising saboteurs: Your-on-the-go makeup brushes
Why they’re bad for your skin: As long as you’re using non-comedogenic products, you usually won’t break out—even if you use the leftover product on your brush. However, leaving your tools unwashed more than a week can cause unwanted blemishes. Ideally, you should clean and dry your brushes thoroughly after each use, says Dr. Sumilang. “This lessens the chances of bacteria and fungus to thrive.”
What you can do: Make sure you wash the brushes you use for creams and liquid ASAP, since germs multiply faster in damp conditions. Sanitize them after each use by placing a few drops of brush cleaner on a cotton ball and swirling it around the bristles until it’s visibly clean. Or, you can also wash them with a mild shampoo or facial cleanser at least once a week. Tip: To help retain their shape and keep brushes fungus-free, lay them flat on a clean towel post-wash. Make sure they’re completely dry before you pack ‘em in your makeup kit.

The surprising saboteurs: Secondhand smoke (especially in a crowded bar or party)
Why they’re bad for your skin: Dermatologists at Clinique Laboratories have found that exhaled smoke can be even more harmful to your face than the smoke can be even more harmful to your face than the smoke they’re inhaling since those clouds contain significant levels of nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. When the smoke hits your skin, it triggers the release of wrinkle-causing free radicals, says Tom Mammone, executive director of Clinique biological research and development. You’re most at risk if you live with a smoker or hang out in smoky places more than thrice a week.
What you can do: When you can’t avoid sharing airspace with smokers, make sure there’s ventilation in the room to dilute airborne toxins. Also, dermas say that sudsing up as soon as you get home may prevent more free-radical damage.

The surprising saboteurs: Your afternoon double cappuccino
Why they’re bad for your skin: A recent study found that the naturally occurring hormones in cow’s milk may be linked to acne. “They may trigger an over-production of testosterone-like hormones in your body,” says NYC derma Albert M. Lefkovits. “As a result, your skin creates more oil, which makes you break out.” It’s also possible that the iodine given to cows to prevent infections winds up in their milk, and when we drink it, it aggravates acne, says Harvey Arbesman, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology and social and preventive medicine at the University of Buffalo.
What you can do: If you’re still battling zits, even though you’ve been following an anti-acne regimen for at least a month and using stronger prescription treatments, ask your doc if you also should cut down on dairy products to control breakouts, says Dr. Gordon.