MizzouRec recently hosted a free skincare workshop that featured skincare consultations, the dos and don’ts of skincare, free samples and lots of tips from the zouLife aesthetician. I thought I knew all the basics of skincare: Wash your face, and don’t pop zits. It turns out I didn’t know as much as I thought I did. Here are five little-known facts you must keep in mind for healthy skin.
1. Read the label. It seems obvious, but it’s really important to see what you’re putting on your skin. There are seven ingredients that can be detrimental to skincare. Avoid products that contain parabins, PEGs, GMOs, phthalates, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulfate and DEA&TEA. These ingredients can be extremely drying, pore-clogging or even toxic. DEA&TEA have been linked to cancer for 20 years. Instead, opt for products with vitamins, amino acids and peptides because they nourish, soothe and increase cell turnover for vibrant skin.
2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
Have you ever skipped moisturizing because your skin was oily? Oily skin actually still needs moisturizer. Skin will overcompensate for the lack of moisturizer by producing more oil. Just opt for an oil-free moisturizer.
3. Ditch the pore strips.
Pore strips seem like the perfect way to get rid of blackheads, right? Wrong. Blackheads are essentially deeply clogged pores. A pore strip only gets rid of the surface; the blackhead will be back in no time. To get rid of blackheads, exfoliate, or have them extracted by a professional.
4. Take off your makeup before bed.
Even if you’re exhausted, make it a priority. It’s important to take it all off. Foundation, blush and bronzer will clog your pores, but eye makeup left on overnight can scratch your eyeball or cause an infection. Grape seed oil and olive oil are great for taking off makeup because they hydrate the skin and gently remove everything.
5. Check the expiration date.
Expired products can make you break out. Check the bottom of the product for an “M” and number. The number is how long you can expect to use the product. It’s important to get rid of old makeup because it break down and store bacteria.