Skincare is vital to every woman. It is the range of practices that support skin integrity, enhances its appearance and relieves skin conditions. They can include nutrition, avoidance of excessive sun exposure and appropriate use of emollients.

Of course they are rules to taking care of our skin but it’s sad to say that most women (especially in Cameroon) have failed woefully in pampering the most important physical aspect of their look! Confusing tips from friends/family, busy schedules, late nights and then the skincare rules go out the window.

Here are 8 key skincare mistakes women make and how to remedy them.

1. Not cleansing properly

This is the biggest mistake most women make when it comes to their skin. It’s considered the root to most skincare troubles. If we do not cleanse our skin, we are stopping new skin cells from producing, which will result in a dull looking complexion, break outs, fine lines and wrinkles. But do not panic, it’s never too late to start a proper cleansing routine.

Practice double cleansing! Washing your face after using makeup remover wipes ensures that you completely remove make-up and impurities from the skin. The first cleanse will remove surface make-up and dirt. The second cleanse will actually clean the skin, and will really make a difference to the look and feel of your skin

2. Sleeping in Make-up

Most of us are guilty of this act! We know what it’s like when all you want to do is come home take off your clothes and fall on the bed and go to sleep, but when you realize the damage sleeping with make-up can cause, you better think twice.

The make-up we wear during the day attracts free radicals, these free radicals break down the collagen production in our skin and essentially speed up the ageing process causing dull skin and dehydration. Our skin works while we sleep. It’s renewing and repairing our skin cells to produce healthy new ones which helps us to look fresh and radiant the next day. With this in mind, if you have a layer of make-up on your skin you’re making it very difficult for those cells to renew and repair. Making sure you cleanse before bed will fix these issues, leaving you to have that beauty sleep.

3. Eye make-up removal

If eye make-up isn’t thoroughly removed, it’s possible that left over make-up can get into our tiny hair follicles and cause eye infections (not pretty!) and in some cases, lashes can fall out.

Using a good eye make-up remover that’s specially designed for this delicate area of our bodies, will ensure all make-up is removed safely and efficiently.

4. Forgetting sunscreen

We all know we should be wearing sunscreen all year round, but why exactly? We need to apply sunscreen daily to protect us from UVA and UVB. These are forms of radiation from the sun that have an effect on our skin and can cause premature ageing. Using sunscreen will protect the skin from dangerous rays.

5. Over exfoliating

When the skin is over exfoliated (washing, scrubbed, body and face masks), we are actually damaging our skin cells by not giving them a chance to grow into healthy skin cells. This can result in skin sensitivity and cause redness and in some cases, sores on our skin.

We should all exfoliate our skin, but only once or twice a week. This will remove the dead skin cells leaving fresh ones to develop and giving the skin a chance to breath. However, exfoliating using treatment creams will also work more efficiently as they are able to penetrate the skin easily.

6. Not drinking enough water

Enough water in the skin is magic? Water maintains moisture in the body and is perfect for keeping your skin hydrated and supple. It naturally suppresses the appetite and helps the body to metabolize stored fat which is also a bonus for weight loss. An increase in water intake reduces fat deposits and vice versa. Try six to eight glasses of water a day. And water means water not fruit juice guys (if you know what I mean).

7. Lack of sleep

One of the best-kept anti-ageing secrets and one of the best friends to skin glow and youthful complexion is sleep. We all love our late night movies and parties but remember to always make up time for sleep. It’s during those precious hours that our skin cells repair damages. This is vital! Try and get your beauty sleep. My advice, sleep for 8 hours.

8. Diet

As the old saying goes, “you are what you eat!” The same applies to our skin. What we eat can have an impact on the way our skin looks and feels. Eating healthily is highly recommended in the skin care process. In reality, a healthy and balanced diet will help your internal organs to function well and in return, your skin which is of course the largest organ of our bodies, will glow. Remember to consume more vegetables and fruits in our diets. These will lead to a better skin!