6 Ways You Could Be Committing ‘Skin Sins’

Skin Sins that could be aging your skin

The reasons for our ‘older skin’ may not be as obvious as you may think. There are the typical ‘skin sins’ that we all know contribute towards older and drier looking skin, including smoking, sunbeds and sunbathing, drinking and lack of sleep. 

Yet there are some ‘skin sins’ you may be committing every day without even knowing, just by going about your everyday business such as washing, driving, working and even exercising. New research has revealed that the average woman looks five years older due to dry skin and premature wrinkles .These ‘sins’ may be the reasons why your skin is looking older and drier than it should.

6 skin sins to be aware of

1. Skin Sin – Washing your face too often

It may sound strange, but if you have very sensitive or dry skin, cleaning your skin too often with water may make existing skin conditions worse. Many people with skin conditions such as rosacea or eczema often admit to washing their faces several times a day in order to try and help their skin stay clean and fresh. 

However if you are suffering from very sensitive skin, skin that’s very dry or prone to redness and rosacea, washing your face twice daily with warm water can actually make your skin worse rather than better. Water evaporates on the skin, making it dry out quickly, meaning that skin prone to eczema or excessive dryness will suffer. 

In addition, any sudden temperature changes especially from cold to warm, can cause skin to flare or react. Warming the face will increase circulation to the surface of the skin, which for a condition such as rosacea, will make the skin redder and more inflamed. Water is also, believe it or not, quite a caustic substance, making it fairly abrasive to sensitive skin. If you have very sensitive or dry skin, and especially if you have skin prone to redness and rosacea, you should practice water-free cleansing to help protect and preserve your skin as much as possible. 

Kalme Cream Cleanser

Our product, KALME Cream Cleanser is a gentle cleanser that has been dermatologically tested for use on very sensitive skin. It contains a 24-hour moisturising ingredient to keep skin hydrated and supple as well as an anti-inflammatory ingredient to address any underlying skin inflammation (including spots). The new KALME cleanser also contains an anti-redness ingredient to reduce redness and flushing and an antibacterial ingredient to combat any dirt or bacteria which may be lying on the surface of the skin. It’s important to keep the surface of sensitive skin as clean as possible, so the cleanser should be applied gently with a clean cotton wool pad and dirt wiped away in small circular motions, concentrating on the higher cheeks, nose and T zone between the eyes most of all.

2. Skin Sin –Sleeping with a crumpled pillow

We are all told that beauty sleep is the key to youthful skin however the type of pillow you sleep on might actually age your skin. According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, “cotton pillowcases can cause friction that leads to folding and wrinkling of the skin,”. He goes on to explain, “softer fabrics like silk take away the friction for potentially less wrinkles in the long run”. 

How can pillowcases affect skin care

The skin is often drier on the side of the face we sleep on if the pillow cases are not made of natural fibers as the face sweats more with synthetic covers and so more moisture is lost on the side that rests on the pillow.  A rough material pillow can damage the underlying tissue on the face making muscles slightly droopier on the side that usually faces the pillow. Silk or pure cotton pillow cases with weaves of silk in them can dramatically improve both the appearance of wrinkles and minimise damage to the skin’s tissue on a face; as well as retaining the moisture content of the skin better.

3. Skin Sin – Mild allergies to everyday skincare & haircare products

Skin allergies to cosmetics and skincare products are on the rise as our skin’s becoming increasingly intolerant to the amount of chemicals we put on our skin everyday. Inflammation of the skin due to allergy is the quickest way to age skin. So although you may think you are doing your skin good, if you are having mild skin reactions to your every day skin care products you may be making your skin drier and older without even noticing. 

However many people mistake a mild allergic reaction to a beauty product for a ‘healthy glow’. In fact, the skin can temporarily appear less lined and healthier after a mild skin reaction as it swells slightly which irons out fine lines. But frequent skin reactions age the skin faster and help to weaken the skin barrier, allowing more moisture loss which leads to dry and flaky skin. If you feel a degree of a  ‘warm glow’ after using a beauty product or cosmetic then you are probably having a mild reaction to it. Also, watch out for reactions to shampoos, which although are applied to your hair, may run over your face and cause mild skin reactions. 

Shop Kalme Undercoat

Try Skin Shop’s KALME Undercoat which is effectively an ‘armour’ base coat for sensitive skin and contains the tetrapeptide Skinasensyl, which has been dermatologically tested to reduce the nerve response to external irritants by decreasing the release of pro-inflammatory neuromediators in the skin. KALME Undercoat, which is free from SLS, parabens and fragrance,  can be applied as a daily moisturiser for sensitive skin or as an ‘undercoat’ before other products and sun creams to help de-sensitise skin.

4. Skin Sin - Having a desk job

You might not think that physically working at your desk can age your skin, but cosmetic surgeons are reporting a rise in the number of women developing premature creases around their eyes and forehead from squinting at computer screens. Looking downward the whole time means that the neck muscles become shortened at the front, the skin sags and you develop jowls and deeper set wrinkles. Prolonged craning of the neck when looking at technology can cause “tech neck”. This phrase is used to refer to the pain and wrinkles that occur on your neck and chest thanks to all the time we spend on our computers, phones, tablets, etc… 

Help desk fatigue with Kalme Night Repair Cream

Using upward massage motions on your neck with Skin Shop’s Kalme Night Repair Cream every night, will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

5. Skin Sin - Swimming

Going swimming regularly is a method many people use to stay fit, but it can seriously age your skin. Chlorine strips the skin of sebum, its natural oil, leaving it dehydrated and flaky. Once the skin is flaky, the skin barrier is weakened making it easier for bacteria to get in as well as being a trigger for eczema and dermatitis.

6. Skin Sin – Driving

If you spend a lot of time driving you may be unknowingly damaging your skin as UV damage can still happen through a glass window. Older cars do not have UV filters in their windscreens at all, and although modern cars do have UV filters in the windscreens, most car side windows do not. Dermatologists recommend wearing an SPF on your face of at least factor 20 to reduce sun damage to the skin. Even if you are inside, or not directly in the sunlight, it is still vitally important to wear sunscreen everyday to stop the accumulation of damage, which can lead to the development of skin cancer later in life. 

Kalme Day Defence Cream

Try Skin Shop’s Kalme Day Defence Cream+ SPF 30, an everyday moisturiser with spf 30 to protect your skin from sun exposure. This product contains a variety of ingredients to help calm redness and sensitivity, protect skin from UV damage, intense moisturisation and anti-acne actions.