7 Everyday Habits That Are Damaging Your Skin (And How to Stop Them)

1. Not Taking off Your Makeup

This is the number one of seven bad habits that are damaging your skin, and I think you all know why. My grandmother always told me to take off my eye makeup as it causes wrinkles and infections, and I never used to listen, until now. I now realize this is so important ladies, as wrinkles around your eyes are the number one thing we do not want.

Sleeping in makeup traps dirt, environmental pollutants, and free radicals against your skin overnight. This clogs pores, prevents natural cellular turnover, and can lead to stubborn inflammation. Dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology emphasize that thorough nightly cleansing is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

2. Chewing Gum

Weird right? We rely on gum to take away our nasty breath after that garlic lunch, but some experts actually say that it can be doing your skin damage. The idea behind this theory is that since the muscles in our face are doing the same motion, that they will create those unwanted lines around your mouth. I’ll be thinking about this next time I reach for a stick of gum.

Repetitive facial movements, much like frowning or squinting, overwork the surrounding muscle groups. Over time, constant gum chewing can break down tissue elasticity and deepen marionette lines and lip creases. If you want to keep your skin smooth, consider switching to mints or mouthwash after meals instead, and pay close attention to removing eye makeup gently to avoid stretching delicate facial skin.

3. Dirty Pillowcase

Yuck. When we sleep, like the rest of our organs, our skin rebuilds and replenishes itself. Old skin cells are shed so new ones can be produced. And where do those old skin cells go? You guessed it, our pillowcases. This can over time lead to breakouts and just all around unhealthy skin. Let your skin breath with fresh sheets and make sure to exfoliate before bedtime to help the old skin cells come off.

Your pillowcase collects hair oils, sweat, leftover product residues, and dead skin cells night after night. According to research highlighted by the Sleep Foundation, clean bedding plays a crucial role in overall sleep hygiene and skin health. Washing pillowcases in hypoallergenic detergent at least once or twice a week makes a significant difference for acne-prone skin.

4. Those Long, Hot Showers

How great do these feel in the morning? I know, we all do this, but we shouldn’t. The heat on your skin for a long period of time can actually get rid of all the good oils in your skin, and will make your skin dry and itchy. Our skin needs that natural oil protection to keep us looking fresh and keep those wrinkles away.

Steamy showers strip away the intercellular lipids that bind skin cells together, compromising your moisture barrier. Health experts at Healthline suggest keeping showers brief and lukewarm, followed immediately by a soothing moisturizer to lock in hydration.

5. That Dirty Cell Phone

This is actually SO true when you think about it. Think about where you leave your cell phone daily. At the bottom of your purse? Facedown on the countertop? Ick! Think about all those bacteria. This can actually cause a breakout around your cheeks. Make sure to wipe down your phone every now and then to kill all those unwanted germs.

Smartphones pressed directly against your face transfer bacterial buildup, friction, and heat right onto your pores, leading to localized breakouts along the jawline and cheeks. Using speakerphone or earbuds can help reduce contact with your skin, much like keeping a fresh pillowcase hygiene routine prevents bacteria transfer while sleeping.

6. Giving into Your Sweet Tooth

This is pretty obvious, but eating too much candy or chocolate will cause breakouts. For some (like me) it doesn’t take long to get that breakout either. Not only that, but researchers have found that when you eat too much sugar, that sugar attacks your body’s protein. That protein is important to keep our skin looking young and healthy. Once the sugar attacks and kills all of that, what do we have left?

Excessive refined sugar consumption triggers a process called glycation, where sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibers. This process makes those structural proteins stiff and brittle, leading to premature sagging, fine lines, and loss of skin firmness.

7. Stress

We are all guilty of giving in to the effects of too much stress. Not only is it ruining your day now, but it will ruin your skin as well. Stress ages your skin by weakening your immune system and is obviously bad for your overall well-being. Do things that help prevent stress, like yoga or something that you find is relaxing.

Chronic stress triggers cortisol spikes, increasing sebum production and causing breakouts while impairing skin repair mechanisms. Combining active stress management techniques with good habits like managing stress levels daily helps maintain a healthy glow.

Here are a few quick ways to support your skin barrier every day:

Yikes. Those are a lot of things that I do daily, without even realizing. I am going to think twice before doing all of the above again, although it’ll be hard to give up my sweet tooth! What are some of your own habits that are damaging your skin?