From The Straits Times    |

7 lifestyle habits that are bad for your skin

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1. Sleeping on only one side

Do you always curl up on only one side whenever you fall asleep? Bad news: Doing so could give you more wrinkles. While you’re off to dreamland for six to eight hours, your skin is busy being rubbed against your pillow. Couple that with gravity, and you’re bound to have one side of your face looking saggier than the other over time.

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2. Touching Your Face

Make an effort to notice just how many times you subconsciously touch your face in a day: Whenever you brush hair off your face, rest you chin on your hands, rub your eyes, scratch your forehead, touch your nose… the list goes on and on. Your hands are grimier than they look, and can transfer dirt and bacteria to your face to trigger breakouts.

3. Prolonged sun exposure

We’re not against heading outdoors and getting active – in fact, soaking up some sunshine is good for you in many ways! That said, you have to be mindful about the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays. Prevent premature skin ageing and pigmentation spots – plus reduce your risk of getting skin cancer – by applying and reapplying sunscreen diligently.

(More from Simply Her6 sunscreens that won’t leave your skin sticky, streaky or greasy)

4. Sleeping with makeup on

I cannot stress this enough: Always, always, always make it a point to double cleanse and thoroughly remove all traces of makeup once you get home in the evening. Failure to do so can lead to eye infections, acne breakouts, wrinkles and clogged pores. Skin renewal takes place while you sleep, and leaving your makeup on at night hinders this process.

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5. Exercising with full makeup

Skip your foundation and eyeliner if you’re heading to the gym. Your skin needs to breathe when you’re sweating it out, and you risk clogging your pores if you work out wearing makeup.

(More from Simply Her4 makeup tricks for beautiful skin)

 

6. Neglecting to clean your phone

According to a study by the University of Arizona, your handphone carries 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. Keep that in mind the next time you put your phone to your face when you answer a call. Yuck. Stay safe by wiping down your mobile with an antibacterial wipe at the end of every day to minimise your exposure to nasty germs.

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7. Constant stress

When you’re feeling stressed and frazzled, the last thing you need is a fresh zit on your face. Your body’s cortisol levels spike when you’re tensed, and this can lead to an increase in sebum production. Constant frowning can also lead to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

(More from Simply Her: ​10 things that stress you out over the festive season and how to deal with them)