When it comes to skincare, there are some rules that everyone must follow. Simple things like moisturising and applying sunscreen every single day to thoroughly cleansing your skin go a long way in improving the health of your skin. But again, there are certain lifestyle habits that affect your skin (albeit unknowingly) and make it look dull and lacklustre.

Read on to find out what these sneaky habits are and how they affect your skin…

 

Sleeping on your face

Sleeping on your face

Pressing your face against a pillow for several hours at a stretch will definitely cause wrinkles in the long run *yikes*. The best solution to this problem is to practice sleeping on your back. If that seems impossible, use a silk pillowcase as it causes lesser friction and is more gentle on your skin.

 

Chewing gum

Chewing gum

Do you reach for your pack of gum several times a day? We ask you to STOP. Chewing gum too often can cause adverse damage to your skin. We tend to have a repetitive motion of muscles around our mouth, which leads to fine lines and folds in the area. This breaks down the skin's elasticity and causes premature ageing and wrinkles.

 

Smoking

Smoking

Studies show that smoking not only affects your lungs but also make your skin saggy. This is because smoking releases an enzyme that breaks down collagen and elastin. Cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to constrict, especially in the skin, resulting in lack of oxygen and nutrients, which accelerates skin ageing.

 

Cell phones

Cell phones

We touch our phones all the time, put them down anywhere we please and let everyone touch it; no wonder they are covered in bacteria. Using these dirty devices and holding them up against our faces without cleaning them is a sure-shot way to develop acne. Clean your phone daily with either rubbing alcohol or an antibacterial wipe.

 

Touching your face

Touching your face

A constant habit of touching your face or rubbing your eyes causes a lot of skin damage. This introduces dirt, oils and bacteria to the skin that can contribute to acne. Rubbing your eyes when you’re tired breaks the delicate capillaries under the skin and damages the tissues in this area. This leads to the early development of wrinkles and fine lines.