11 Beginner Skin Care Mistakes You Could Be Making

Anyone with a skin care routine knows that there’s not one product that does it all—which means taking care of your skin requires work. Between cleansing, toning, hydrating, anti-aging, and sun protection, there’s a lot to it, especially if you’re only just getting into skin care for beginners. If you don't see results from your current routine, and your skin care concerns persist, you may be making certain skin care mistakes without even knowing it. Don’t feel bad—it’s common to make mistakes.

Thankfully, you can easily correct your beginner beauty blunders once you realize that you’re making them in the first place. Curious? Read on to find out what you might be doing incorrectly in terms of skin care.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #1: CHANGING YOUR ROUTINE TOO FREQUENTLY

We’ve all come home with a bag full of new skin care products that we think will change our skin forever. But when you switch everything out for something new, it’s hard to pinpoint what’s working or, more importantly, what’s not.

That’s not to stop you from doing a complete overhaul of your routine. In fact, you should switch up your products as your skin changes. But in this case, slow and steady definitely wins the race. Try introducing one new product at a time for at least a week. That gives you the opportunity to see how your skin reacts to a product and how it works with the rest of your typical routine.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #2: OVER-EXFOLIATING

When it comes to skin care for beginners, it’s super easy to fall prey to using too many exfoliators in your routine. Over-exfoliating can negatively impact your natural moisture barrier, leading to irritation and skin redness.

Remember, there are two methods of exfoliation: chemical and mechanical. Chemical exfoliators are typically formulated with alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic or salicylic acid, to slough away dead skin cells, while mechanical exfoliators, like L’Oréal Pure-Sugar Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub, use small beads or particles to do the same. Generally, it’s best to pick one face scrub or chemical exfoliator to have in your routine. 

Even after picking a single exfoliator to use, don’t give yourself free rein to exfoliate as often as you want. Some skin types can handle everyday exfoliation, while others can only exfoliate once a week. Start with exfoliating just once a week and increase the frequency over time if your skin can handle more.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #3: APPLYING MOISTURIZER TO DRY SKIN

Instead of drying your face thoroughly before applying moisturizer, leave your skin damp. This helps lock in hydration and leaves your complexion feeling soft and supple. Try the L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Oily Skin, L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Normal/Dry Skin, or L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care - Extra Dry Skin. All three moisturizers are formulated with aloe vera water and hyaluronic acid and provide your skin with lasting hydration.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #4: NEGLECTING YOUR NECK AND CHEST

While applying moisturizer to your face is standard practice, you should do the same to your neck and chest. After all, the rest of your body needs moisture, too! Consider picking up the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey All Over Balm - Face, Neck, Chest and Hands. This luxurious all-over balm is formulated with manuka honey extract, nurturing oils, and antioxidants for a formula that wraps skin in soothing moisture. It also has an anti-aging formula, which is perfect for staying ahead of the skin care game.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #5: NOT KNOWING YOUR INGREDIENTS

Products containing vitamin C, like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum, are all the rage these days. However, it’s important to really understand the ingredients you’re working with. Vitamin C needs to be kept in specific conditions to maximize its purity and prevent degradation. If you’re leaving your vitamin C in direct sunlight or not tightly closing its container, it could go bad. Thankfully, the Derm Intensives serum has an air-tight tube made from aluminum that will help prevent the product from degrading.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #6: UNDERESTIMATING THE STRENGTH OF RETINOL

Retinol is one of the most tried-and-true acne treatments and anti-aging ingredients, but it’s super powerful and can cause skin sensitivity. Mixing it with benzoyl peroxide can cause redness, discoloration, or a burning sensation. Choose one or the other to incorporate into your skin care for beginners, or try alternating the days on which you use them.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #7: APPLYING PRODUCTS IN THE WRONG ORDER

Believe it or not, how you apply your skin care products matters. To get the most out of your routine, it’s ideal to layer your products from thinnest to thickest. This rule allows your products to really penetrate and reach your skin, so you can reap all of the benefits. Make sure to apply your face serums and spot treatments before moisturizer since they tend to be much lighter in consistency.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #8: NOT STAYING CONSISTENT

It’s easy to get impatient when clear, radiant skin is your ultimate goal. However, that doesn’t mean that you should slack on your skin care routine. The truth is, it can take up to a few weeks to see any noticeable results. Stay the course and remain consistent to achieve your desired results. Trust us, your skin will thank you!

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #9: NOT REMOVING YOUR MAKEUP AT NIGHT

One of the worst mistakes we see with skin care for beginners is to sleep in your makeup. This beauty faux pas causes your makeup to mix with dirt and oil on the surface of your skin, leading to blemishes rearing their ugly heads. If you tend to forget to remove your makeup at night, keep a bottle of micellar water, like the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof - All Skin Types, and cotton pads near your bed to easily remove makeup before you hit the hay. 

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #10: SKIPPING OUT ON SUNSCREEN

You should always make sunscreen a permanent fixture in your routine. Spending prolonged periods in the sun without protection can take a toll on your skin. In turn, this can lead to sun damage and visible signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles and dark spots, becoming a factor. Not what you want! The Food and Drug Administration recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or higher regularly and as directed. 

You should also take other sun protection measures like limiting your amount of time in the sun and wearing sunglasses, a broad-brimmed hat, and long sleeves in addition to using sunscreen. The FDA also recommends seeking shade, especially during peak sun hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Worried about making your routine longer than it needs to be? Pare things down by using a moisturizer formulated with broad-spectrum sunscreen like the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer with SPF 30. Aside from SPF 30, this moisturizer is formulated with glycolic acid, Pro-Retinol, and vitamin C, All together, the moisturizer brightens skin, helps correct uneven skin tone, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

SKIN CARE MISTAKE #11: DOING WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING

Just because your best friend or favorite blogger raves about a certain product doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Personal recommendations are a great way to try new products, but be cautious and make sure you know what active ingredients you’re putting on your skin. Even if you think you share the same skin type as your BFF or an influencer, there’s no guarantee your skin will have the same reaction as someone else’s.

Next: Your Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Skin Care Routines