Do you ever wish you could have flawless, glowing, healthy-looking skin? The good news is you can. Instagram and YouTube makeup tutorials all teach you to cover up your blemishes with high-grade foundations and thick concealers, yet real beauty doesn’t require layers of heavy makeup. Although makeup can make you beautiful, it's only temporary since once all the makeup is washed away, you’ll see what your skin actually looks like. If you want to be truly confident, you should start by taking care of your skin.

Besides adhering to a skin care routine and investing in the right skin care products, there are a few things you want to avoid to keep your skin healthy and glowing. Let’s find out what these are.

The following are the top five things you should never do to your skin:

1. Frequent Long Hot Showers

There's little that compares with the relaxation of taking a long hot bath or shower. And certainly it can help with the psyche. However, that long exposure of your skin to hot chlorinated tap water can dry it out and even make it itchy. That’s because hot tap water — with it's added chlorine — strips your skin of natural oils and proteins so overdoing it can have unwanted consequences. You want to think about reducing the temperature some and keeping bathing short. And when toweling off, think about patting dry rather than vigorously rubbing.

2. Washing Your Face Too Much

You’ve been told to never sleep with your makeup on but it doesn’t mean you should aggressively wash and scrub your face to remove it. Your skin will love you more when you are gentle with it, and by using the right products, you'll also save time. So when removing makeup, try an all-in-one gentle makeup remover and cleanser combo to not only help your skin but also make the task easier.

3. Over Doing Exfoliation

It’s no secret that exfoliating can work wonders on your skin but then again too much of it can lead to the opposite effect. Don’t over exfoliate because instead of getting pinkish and glowing skin you’ll end up with red and irritated skin. Experts suggest exfoliating not more than two or three times a week.

4. Skipping Sunscreen

Always include sunscreen in your skin care routine especially when you’re out and about in the summer. UVA rays will not only burn your skin but they also cause premature aging and worse — skin cancer.

5. Not Sleeping Enough

Did you know that when you sleep your skin is hard at work repairing and replacing damaged cells? Sleep is also the time when your nightly skin creams perform their magic. For glowing radiant skin, you want to get 7 to 8 hours of shut-eye every night, allowing your body to mend and recover.

Takeaway

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on Botox and cosmetic surgery if you care for your skin right. Make sure to follow a skin care routine, choose the right products and know what things to avoid to keep your skin looking its best.