You religiously follow an AM and PM skincare routine, never miss out on your facial appointments, eat healthily and yet your skin breaks out. Blame hormones, genes and pollution all you want but there are certain everyday habits that might be the actual culprits behind those annoying breakouts.
Identifying these issues can keep bacteria away from your skin and actually offer relief from these breakouts. Here are five common AF things that might be sneakily troubling your skin. Read on to find out what they are and how to tackle each one of them.
Pillowcase
Do you remember the last time you changed or washed your pillowcase? If not, there’s your answer! Your pillowcase is home to dirt, oil, germs and residue from hair products which can cause acne. On days when you oil your scalp, we suggest keeping a cloth on your pillow or changing the case the very next day to prevent the cloth from absorbing the oil and transferring it to your skin. Even if you haven’t applied oil to your hair, it is recommended to change your pillowcase once a week.
Phone
You can’t keep your hands off your phone but if you knew the number of bacteria and germs sitting on it, you’d never touch it again. If you notice breakouts on the lower part of your face, around the chin, mouth and cheek, then your phone might be the culprit. We can’t give up using our phone therefore the smart thing to do is rub the screen every day with antibacterial wipes.
Headphones
Listening to your favourite song while jogging in the morning or while working at your desk might seem completely harmless until you realise it is the cause behind your recurring breakouts. If you use over the ears headphones, chances are, you experience breakouts along your jawline and temple. It happens because sweat and bacteria settle into the padding of the headphones and compress into your skin, leading to several skin and scalp problems. Clean your face before and after using the headphones to prevent breakouts.
Smoking
If health issues and bad breath aren’t enough to motivate you to quit smoking then maybe caring for your skin will. Because believe it or not, cigarettes are as harmful to your skin as they are to your body. It decreases the flow of oxygen to your face, causing larger pores, wrinkles, dry skin and more. To combat the dryness, your skin will produce excess oil, resulting in acne and breakouts.
Workout
If you’re someone who casually hangs out in their gym clothes post-workout, we ask you to stop. Now. The longer you leave your gym clothes on your body, the chances of acne and breakouts increase. Take a quick shower right after your workout and wear breathable, quick-drying fabrics to the gym to keep acne at bay.
Written by Sanya Hamdani on Jan 14, 2020
Sanya Hamdani is a skincare enthusiast and lipstick hoarder, she truly believes no two red lipsticks look exactly alike. With a Master's degree in Communication & Journalism and 5+ years of digital writing experience up her sleeve, Sanya has some of the biggest beauty experts in the country on her speed dial. When she's not swatching products or writing about the latest trends in beauty, you will find her watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or cooking up a storm in the kitchen.