Some of the Biggest Skincare Mistakes

I’ve lost count of how many times in the clinic I’ve seen people trying so hard with skincare, using 8-10 products every night, but their skin looks worse. It’s frustrating. Mistakes aren’t always dramatic—often, they sneak in because someone read a tip on TikTok or got sold on “brightening acids” and didn’t stop to think. I’m here, exhausted but informed, to walk you through the biggest skincare missteps people make (you included, maybe), what the latest studies say, and how to fix them without losing your mind (or your skin barrier).

Why We Keep Messing Up

Here’s the truth: skincare is overwhelming. There’s social media pressure, influencer “miracles,” conflicting advice, and your skin changes depending on weather, stress, hormones. So even when you think you’re doing everything “right,” some habits are quietly sabotaging your progress.

Recent industry trend reports emphasize simplification. Today, consumers are gravitating toward barrier protection, gentler formulas, minimal layering, and ingredients they trust rather than chasing hype.

Also, researchers are warning about social media’s role. A Northwestern Medicine study found girls aged 7-18 using an average of six different products in daily routines (some over a dozen), many with overlapping active ingredients. Only ~26% included sunscreen. These routines increased risk of irritation, sensitivity, and long-term allergic potential.

The Top Skincare Mistakes People Always Make

Below are mistakes that seem “normal,” but they cause major long-term issues. I’ll also show recent research that calls them out.

Surprising Research Findings

• Teen/tween harm from social media routines: The Northwestern study is one of the first to systematically analyze skincare videos for children/tweens. It found routines sometimes have dangerously high numbers of active ingredients, lack sunscreen, risk long-term sensitivity.
• Barrier damage quantifiable: Scientists are using TEWL, skin pH, corneometry, confocal Raman spectroscopy to measure how well a skin barrier holds water or resists irritants. Studies show many popular cleansers / foams / acids compromise barrier function if misused.
• Ingredient clarity & specificity: Barrier experts criticized skincare brands for vague “barrier-boosting” claims. Ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid are great—but many formulas with these still irritate if formulation is bad (wrong pH, irritating excipients, alcohols).

How to Fix These Mistakes (Without Starting Over)

Here are actionable corrections you can make now. I did these with clients this past month, and skin improved visibly within 2-4 weeks (less redness, less tightness, fewer breakouts).

1. Simplify your routine
   • Identify products with overlapping actives; drop duplicates.
   • Limit actives (like retinol, acids) to 1-2 per routine, not stacked.
2. Introduce change gradually
   • Patch test new product on jaw or side of face for 24-48 hours.
   • Start active treatment 2-3× per week, not daily.
3. Protect and repair the barrier
   • Use gentle cleansers (pH ~5-6), avoid strong sulfates.
   • Moisturizers with barrier lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) + humectants.
   • Use oils / occlusives (like squalane, dimethicone) sparingly if skin tolerates.
4. Make sunscreen non-negotiable
   • Apply every morning, even if indoors.
   • Reapply midday if exposed.
   • Use makeup / moisturizer + SPF combo only if it gives full protection, not diluted.
5. Listen to your skin
   • If you see signs of irritation (tingling, redness, flaking), pull back.
   • Don’t assume more means faster. Some rest days are part of progress.
6. Read labels & check sources
   • Look for fragrance free, low alcohol, minimal irritants.
   • Go for credible brands or dermatologist-developed lines.

Common Scenarios & What to Do

Mistakes by Severity: What to Fix First

If you only fix one thing, make it this:

1. Sun protection — without SPF, almost everything else fails.
2. Barrier repair — if your barrier is compromised, active treatments will hurt more than help.
3. Simplified routine — fewer weird hacks + more consistency.

Other fixes (optimizing actives, adjusting lifestyle) are important but come after these.

Final Thoughts & Sweet Relief

After a day of massaging faces, prescribing routines, seeing red skin heal, here’s what I wish everyone realized:

Skincare isn’t a race. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re signals. Your skin will tell you when it’s overwhelmed: tight, stinging, flaky, or angry. Respect that.

Do less of the “because I saw it on Instagram”, more of the “because my skin actually feels good”. Protect your barrier, wear sunscreen, let your skin rest, and treat it like the precious, weirdly delicate thing it is. Because it is.