Is Your Skincare Regimen Sanitary? How to Keep it Clean

Having a regular beauty routine is essential to keeping your skin in good condition. And depending on the products you use, it can help you prevent or improve certain skin problems such as hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, and deep wrinkles. There is also the benefit of boosting your confidence once you’ve seen the results of your efforts.

Unfortunately, there are cases where the way you carry out your regimen can backfire. This is especially true if you fall short in keeping your skincare and beauty routine clean or sanitary. If you mindlessly apply products without bothering to make sure that your hands or tools are clean, you can transfer germs or bacteria to your face. 

Continue reading for tips on keeping your skincare sanitary. 

Wash your hands first

While regular hand washing should be a part of your daily habit, it is even more important before you start touching your face. Below are some tips for proper hand washing:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t do so at the moment, use hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content. 
• If your skin feels dry after washing, use a moisturizing hand soap.
• Make sure to wash and cover all surfaces, including the palms, the back of the hands, under the fingernails, and between the fingers.
• After washing, dry your hands with a clean towel or disposable paper towels. 
• Wipe down the exterior of the products you are using. You can use antibacterial wipes to do so.

Read our previous post for tips on how to protect your hands and skin with frequent handwashing.

Don’t dip your fingers into your skincare

This applies to beauty products that come in jars. Using your fingers to get the product is an easy way to introduce dirt and bacteria into it. Better to use a beauty spoon or spatula to scoop out the product. This will prevent germs and other microorganisms from hanging out in it. 

Fortunately, many of the products today are available in sealed containers like bottles, pumps, or tubes. This can prevent the product from becoming contaminated with bacteria. Dr. Sylvia Skin Care has medical-grade skincare products in glass bottles, closures, and pump bottles.  

Clean your tools regularly

If you apply makeup daily, make sure to clean all your tools properly and regularly. Brushes that are commonly used with liquid formulas such as concealer and foundation should be cleaned once a week. The same is also true for sponges. For brushes used for powders and blushes, once every two weeks is fine.

When cleaning, you can use a cleanser specifically made for makeup brushes. You can also use a slightly foaming cleanser and water, or if you’re in a pinch, a dishwashing liquid soap. This is very effective in removing oil trapped in your beauty tools. Baby shampoos and gentle soaps work fine too.

Further reading: 5 Makeup Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Skin

Toss out all expired products

Apart from lacking potency, products past their expiration dates can also cause adverse skin reactions. This is why if you’re not sure how old a product is, dispose of anything that has changed in color, odor, or consistency. Toss out any product that has clumped or separated, and become more watery or oilier. 

You should also throw out worn makeup brushes and sponges. Even those that are cleaned regularly, wear down after years of use. There is no specific timeframe for when to replace them, but if you notice a decline in the quality of the bristles or wear on the handle, it’s better to replace them. 

Store products properly

The way you store your skincare products affects their potency and safety. Some formulas with active ingredients like anti-aging serums lose their potency when oxidized or exposed to heat and sunlight. When this happens, you’ll notice a significant change in the product’s color and smell. Bacteria can grow in them too.

It is best to store your products in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat. For those with unstable active ingredients, better to make sure that they have opaque packaging or container. You can store them inside a fridge (or a skincare fridge) to slow down the degradation of active ingredients.  

Don’t pick at your skin 

Resist the urge to pick, squeeze, or pop your blemishes. If you feel or notice flakiness, use a gentle exfoliant to loosen and remove those flaky bits. If it is a pimple, use a spot treatment that has acne-fighting active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide. You can also cover it with a pimple patch, so you won’t be tempted to touch the blemish. 

Just do take note that over-the-counter treatments only work for surface-level pimples (papules and pustules). If you have more severe blemishes like acne cysts or nodules, you cannot expect the above treatments to improve or treat them. It is ideal to see a skin or aesthetic doctor to help you manage your acne.

Wash your pillowcases

Pillowcases accumulate dirt, oils, sweat, and dead skin from both your skin and hair due to daily use. And every time you lay your head down at night, they transfer bacteria back onto your face. This is why you should wash your pillowcases at least once a week. Sleeping on dirty ones can increase your risk of acne or breakouts.

It is also a good idea to switch from cotton pillowcases to silk or satin ones. Both allow your skin to glide easily or smoothly on the fabric. This translates to less friction on the skin, which means reduced chance of having lines and creases. They also run smoothly across your hair, so there is no pulling and pressure that can result in dry and frizzy hair. 

Clean your cosmetic/makeup bag

You could be transferring dirt, bacteria, and who knows what every time you grab something inside your cosmetic bag. Its inside could also be laden with bacteria, especially if you never bother to clean or wash it. This only makes it important to clean yours at least once a week.

Start by removing all the contents of the bag and then wipe everything down with antibacterial/sanitizing wipes or an alcohol solution. Then, wash the bag with soap and water and let it dry. You should also do the same with the products sitting on your bathroom sink and shelves.

Let Cutis be your skincare partner

If you’re looking for medical-grade skin products that can also address different skin problems, browse through our skincare line, Dr. Sylvia Skin Care. We have a range of products that can target the skin on a cellular level. You can shop for cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and sunscreens on our website. 

Our clinic, on the other hand, can help you achieve glowing and more youthful skin with our non-surgical procedures. Whether you’re worried about wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, and dull skin, we can help. We have injectables, lasers, light-based procedures, and skin resurfacing treatments that can improve various skin woes with minimal to no downtime.

Want to learn more about our products and treatments?  Browse through our website today or contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor.