Keep calm and zen your skin! We're here to help keep your skin in check with these 4 easy skincare mistakes you're probably making:

1. Cleansing with harsh ingredients / makeup face wipes

Ingredients like sulfates, synthetic preservatives, alcohols and fragrances in your cleanser may be irritating to your skin - some even stripping your skin of its natural oils which disrupt your skin's acid mantle and cause it to overcompensate by producing more oil!  

Makeup face wipes are also a no-no. They are often soaked in heavy preservatives, and other nasty chemicals including drying cleansing agents. The residue they leave behind can destroy your skin's acid mantle leaving it prone to inflammation and irritation. Makeup face wipes are specifically formulated to remove makeup, not to cleanse as a full face cleanser so avoid using them especially if you have dry and sensitive skin type.

Look for cleansers free from harsh surfectants (foaming/cleansing agents), alcohols and fragrances. Double cleansing with an oil cleanser can be really beneficial -  the little extra effort can efficiently dissolve away dirt, oils and impurities while leaving your skin perfectly in balance, supple, smooth and soft!

2. Not washing your pillowcase often

Your pillowcase may look perfectly clean on the outside but accumulates a surprising amount of bacteria, oils and residue from your skincare and haircare products. Sleeping on a dirty pillowcase for over 6 hrs a night can contribute to acne and irritation. Change your pillowcase ideally every 2 days or weekly at minimum. This simple routine can improve your skin - bonus points if you use natural detergents to wash your pillowcase and if it's 100% mulberry silk!

3. Not exfoliating enough or over-exfoliating

Exfoliating is a fine art of balance that requires you to pay attention to your skin in between! If you are not exfoliating enough, your skin is prone to be dull, flaky and with dry patches. If you are exfoliating too much, your skin may experienced increased sensitivity, redness and irritation. How often you exfoliate will depend on the product and type of exfoliation but in general, exfoliate at least once a week to slough away dead skin cells, clean pores and encourage better circulation and product penetration for brighter, smoother looking skin. Always allow a few days in between exfoliating and scrubbing.

4. Skipping antioxidants like Vitamin C in your skincare 

Antioxidants in skincare help to fight free radical damage such as UV sun damage and air pollution. One of the best antioxidants you can use in your skincare routine is Vitamin C - it not only brighten up dull looking skin, it can help firm skin, prevent further pigmentation, reduce acne-scarring and boost collagen production for radiant, glowing skin. Studies have shown that pairing Vitamin C with your sunscreen in the day time is the best so using this ingredient as part of your morning routine (like in Age Defy Facial Oil)  means you're protecting your skin from free radical damage all day long.