5 Skincare Mistakes Preventing Glowy Skin (And How to Fix Them)

We all want skin that radiates a healthy glow, and there’s so much talk about how to achieve that. But we don’t talk enough about mistakes that can sabotage even the most carefully crafted skincare routines. When we invest time and effort into skincare, it’s only natural to want results that reflect our commitment. But some habits can have you wondering why you’re putting in so much effort and not seeing enough results. 

In this post, we’ll talk five skincare mistakes holding you back from radiant, dewy skin. From over-exfoliating to skipping hydration, we’ll also propose solutions for each.

Let’s get into how to fix these mistakes and achieve that glowy skin we all crave! 

Mistake #1: You’re Over-Exfoliating

You’re either exfoliating too much or not exfoliating enough. How can you tell where you land? According to Byrdie, several Dermatologists say “Ideally, you should exfoliate your face about two to three times a week, and no more”. If you’re exfoliating every night, this is your sign to cut back. 

Why It's Sabotaging Your Skin

Over-exfoliating is bad for your skin because it can disrupt your skin's natural barrier, leading to issues like:

• Increased Sensitivity: When you exfoliate too much, you strip away the protective outer layer of your skin, leaving it more vulnerable to environmental irritants, pollutants, and UV rays.
• Dryness and Dehydration: Excessive exfoliation can strip moisture from your skin, leading to dryness and a tight, uncomfortable feeling. This can also cause your skin to overcompensate by producing more oil, which might lead to breakouts.
• Inflammation and Irritation: Over-exfoliated skin can look red and feel irritated or even slightly raw. This inflammation damages the skin’s natural balance and can make concerns like acne and rosacea even worse.
• Breakouts and Blemishes: Ironically, too much exfoliation can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. This happens because a damaged skin barrier can trap bacteria, leading to pimples and irritation.

That’s why finding the right exfoliation balance is key to keeping skin healthy, hydrated, and resilient.

The Fix: Gentle Exfoliation

Here are some tips on how to exfoliate without going overboard:

1. Use chemical and physical exfoliants. Pairing gentle chemical exfoliants like AHAs or BHAs with light physical exfoliation gives you the best of both worlds. The Exfoliate Mate Sheet Mask has natural enzymes like papaya as well as AHAs to gently polish the skin and reveal a smoother layer underneath.
2. Start slow. Start by exfoliating 2-3 times a week and adjust based on your skin’s needs. If you’re using stronger exfoliants, space them out even more to avoid overdoing it.
3. Know the signs. If you notice any signs of over-exfoliation – like redness, tightness, or sensitivity – give your skin a break for a few days. Use a calming, fragrance-free moisturizer and avoid any active ingredients that could irritate your skin even more.

Mistake #2: You’re Skipping Hydration

Skipping your moisturizer might seem harmless, but it’s the fast track to dull skin. When you skip this crucial step, your skin loses moisture crucial to skin health, which can lead to rough texture, fine lines, and a loss of that natural glow. Without proper hydration, even the best skincare products struggle to perform, leaving your skin thirsty and lacking radiance.

Why It's Sabotaging Your Skin

Whether your skin is oily, dry, or somewhere in between, many of us unknowingly dehydrate our skin. It’s a common misconception that oily skin doesn’t need hydration when in reality, it’s usually the type that needs it most. When your skin is dehydrated, it can trigger oil glands to overcompensate, producing even more oil to make up for the moisture deficit. So, how do we fix it?

The Fix: Turn Up The Hydration

If your skin feels tight after you wash it, this is a sign to hydrate. To bring life back to dehydrated skin, try these tips:

1. Use hydrating face masks regularly. Face masks are one of the quickest, most effective ways to get an instant hydration boost. Try the Get Dewy With It mask for hyaluronic acid that draws moisture deep into the skin with rose of Jericho, known for its water-retaining abilities, and hijiki algae to nourish and plump. This mask can give your skin a deep, satisfying dose of hydration in just 10 minutes.
2. Layer hydrating serums. Serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or squalane work wonders to attract and bind moisture. Apply them right after cleansing and before moisturizing to give your skin an extra drink.
3. Seal in moisture. Look for a moisturizer that’s rich enough to lock in hydration but light enough for daily wear. Aim for something with humectants and ceramides to support your skin barrier and prevent moisture loss throughout the day.
4. Use face oils for added moisture. A few drops of lightweight face oil (like jojoba or rosehip) can help lock in hydration and give you that glowy, dewy look we all crave.

Hydrating your skin regularly by layering products that target different layers of hydration will keep it balanced and dewy. 

Mistake #3: You’re Neglecting Under-Eyes

The under-eye area is one of the most neglected parts of our face, yet it’s often the first to show signs of aging or fatigue. It’s easy to ignore the skin around your eyes until you start noticing fine lines, puffiness, or dark circles creeping in. But here's the thing: even if the rest of your skin is glowing, radiant, and smooth, neglecting your under-eyes can make your complexion look tired and dull.

Why It's Sabotaging Your Skin

The skin around your eyes is much thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, which makes it more susceptible to dryness, fine lines, and irritation. That’s why your eyes can be the first to reveal how you’re feeling – whether you're not getting enough rest or spending too much time staring at screens.

The result? Puffiness, dark circles, and crow’s feet. These problems not only affect your under-eye area but can contribute to an overall tired and aged appearance.The longer you neglect the eye area, the more it’ll pose skin concerns in the future. Good thing it’s never too late to start taking care of your under-eyes! 

The Fix: Targeted Eye Care

Get ahead of under-eye concerns by treating them morning and night. These are 3 of the best ways to care for your under-eye area: 

1. Use eye cream morning and night

The skin under your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, so it’s prone to dryness, fine lines, and dark circles. Eye creams are specially formulated to hydrate and nourish this area with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, and caffeine, which plump up the skin, reduce puffiness, and improve elasticity. Check out a list of the best eye creams here.

2. Get more sleep

Dark circles and puffiness can be a sign that you’re not getting enough rest. When you’re sleep-deprived, your body can retain fluid, leading to puffiness. It can also cause blood vessels under the eyes to dilate, resulting in dark circles. Make sleep a priority by setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up schedule. This will reduce these under-eye concerns and keep your skin looking fresh and rested!

3. Use under-eye gels
For quick, targeted under-eye care, check out Restoring Night Eye Gels if you want the perfect fix for fine lines and dark circles. Eye gels are a life hack – hydrate your under-eyes, soften the skin, and protect from free radicals all in one. After just 5 minutes, a powerful combo of retinol, peptides, and arnica extract will help to restore a brighter under-eye. These slimy suckers are small but mighty – if you don’t believe us, check out the reviews. 

Mistake #4: You’re Forgetting to Detox

Just like you’d do a closet cleanout or drink green juices to detox your body, your skin needs a regular reset to shed the buildup and make room for fresh, healthy cells. Without this reset, your skincare routine can end up fighting a losing battle. 

Why It's Sabotaging Your Skin

Your skin is constantly under attack from environmental factors like pollution, makeup, and free radicals. When you don’t detoxify, all that gunk in your pores and on your skin can keep you from seeing that glowy, radiant skin. And trust us when we say it's way harder to maintain that clear, fresh look when toxins and pollutants are hiding beneath the surface of your skin.

The Fix: Regular Detoxing

It's time to start incorporating detox masks into your skin routine! While detox masks have a bad reputation for being messy, the SmartMud Detox Mask is a mess-free game changer for clearing out impurities and reviving your skin. This mask combines the benefits of a traditional mud mask with the convenience of a sheet mask. That means a mess-free, highly effective solution for deep-cleansing your skin! 

Simply apply the sheet mask to clean, dry skin and let powerful ingredients – like charcoal, kaolin clay, and volcanic ash – work their magic. These ingredients draw out toxins, excess oil, and pollutants from the skin, leaving you with a refreshed, smooth, and revitalized complexion. After 10-15 minutes, just remove the mask, toss it, and rinse your face with warm water to reveal your glowing skin.

Whether you’re new to skin detoxing or you’re already a detox pro, SmartMud is a must-have in your routine!

Key Points to Remember About Skin Detoxing:

Sensitive or dry skin: If your skin is prone to irritation or dryness, detoxing once a week is best. Focus on gentle, hydrating detox masks to avoid stripping moisture.

Oily or combination skin: If you struggle with excess oil, frequent breakouts, or clogged pores, detoxing two times a week can help maintain clear, balanced skin. 

After detoxing, don’t forget to follow up with a hydrating moisturizer to replenish any hydration your skin may have lost. This helps keep your skin's moisture barrier intact, preventing any potential dryness or irritation from the detox process. 

Mistake #5: Neglecting Your Hands

We all know the importance of skincare for the face, but when it comes to hands, they can get left behind. It’s easy to forget that your hands are exposed to the same environmental factors as your face, and they’re typically the first to show signs of aging or dryness. 

Plus, your hands are the first thing people notice when you meet them – you want them to feel soft and smooth!

Why It's Sabotaging Your Skin

Keeping your hands hydrated and nourished is essential to preventing premature aging and maintaining soft, youthful-looking skin. Just like your face, your hands need hydration to stay smooth, elastic, and protected from environmental damage that leads to early aging.

The Fix: Treat Your Hands

It’s time to give your hands the attention they deserve, and hand masks are the perfect fix! Hand cream can only penetrate so deep, and most of the time we wash our hands before it has a chance to sink deep into the skin. 

The Rosé Renewing Fingers Mask is an easy way to intensively hydrate and renew dry, neglected hands. Slip on the mask and let shea butter, strawberry oil, and resveratrol (from grapes!) do their magic. These powerhouse ingredients deeply moisturize, restore smoothness, and improve elasticity, leaving your hands feeling softer and more rejuvenated.

The Rosé Renewing Fingers Mask not only helps repair dry skin but also provides a protective barrier against environmental stressors. It’s the perfect way to elevate your self-care routine – your hands deserve some love, too!

Conclusion

Achieving glowy, radiant skin isn’t about perfection—it’s about balance. By dodging these common skincare mistakes and making simple tweaks to your routine, you’ll be on your way to skin that looks and feels amazing. From exfoliating gently and prioritizing hydration to detoxing regularly, each step will help create your healthiest complexion yet. Remember, skincare is a journey, and it’s about nourishing your skin and embracing self-care every step of the way. With the right routine and consistency, glowy skin is within reach!

To help you achieve glowy skin, check out more of Patchology’s must-have products and elevate your skincare routine today!