It’s Time to Kick these Glow-Disrupting Habits

Do you ever feel like you’re doing all the “right” things in your skincare routine, yet your skin still feels dry, dull, or lackluster?

What gives?!

Sometimes, it’s not about what you use— it’s about what you do. Simple, everyday habits may be quietly disrupting your skin’s natural balance without you even realizing.

Read on to learn about these 6 surprising skin-sabotaging habits, and what to do instead!

6 Glow-Destroying Habits

Kick These Everyday Habits to Improve your Skin

Sure, we’ve all been guilty of the occasional skincare slip-up. But it’s the everyday routines that really matter when it comes to the health of your skin.

Right?

So if your skincare routine is solid, why aren’t you getting that radiant, healthy glow you’re aiming for? What’s missing? 

Sometimes it’s not about adding more, but about shifting those easy-to-overlook habits that could be subtly sabotaging your skin. 

Here are 6 surprisingly common habits that could be undermining your efforts, and simple changes to help you get your glow back:

1. Kick the Habit: Long, Hot Showers

We love a long, steaming hot shower as much as anyone, but it’s doing your skin more harm than good. Hot water can compromise your skin’s moisture barrier, causing skin irritation, itching, and dryness, and increasing signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging. Prolonged exposure can further damage skin, stripping it of important natural oils.

Switch it Up

Shorten your showers and stick to warm (not hot) water instead. Apply moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp to seal in hydration. Want more tips to unlock the beauty-boosting power of your shower time? Check out our past blog Shower Secrets for Glowing Skin.

2. Kick the Habit: Neglecting Your Makeup Brushes

When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes? If it wasn’t recently, let’s change that ASAP. 

Your unwashed brushes are full of more than just makeup. They collect dirt, bacteria, oils, dead skin cells, and leftover product. 

All of which gets pressed into your pores when you use them. EW!

This can lead to wrinkles, dullness, sagging, and even infections. 

Switch it Up

The solution? Wash your brushes regularly. Use a gentle cleanser and make sure to let them dry completely. 

How often should you wash them? It depends on what you use them for. 

For brushes used with liquids, aim to wash them weekly. 

Wash powder brushes every 2 to 4 weeks. 

Can’t forget makeup sponges! Make sure you’re replacing those every 3 to 6 months.

3. Kick the Habit: Poor Phone Hygiene

How’s your phone hygiene?

Your phone is exposed to a lot in a day. It goes everywhere with you— and picks up a LOT more bacteria than you’d expect along the way. 

Studies found that smartphones harbour about 25,127 bacteria per square inch— that’s more than a public toilet seat. 

And every time you touch it to your face to take a call, you transfer some of it to your skin. Yuck!

Switch it Up

If you’re as grossed out as we are, there are some easy changes you can make. First, as much as possible, use headphones or speakerphone while talking on the phone.

To take your phone hygiene even further, start wiping down your phone with rubbing alcohol or a disinfectant wipe at the end of the day. 

Your skin and your health will thank you for it!

4. Kick the Habit: Rubbing and Scrubbing

Vigorous rubbing and scrubbing are overlooked skin saboteurs. Whether you’re towelling off or applying products, gentler is the way to go.

Aggressive rubbing and scrubbing can create tiny micro-tears in your skin. This can leave it feeling rough and irritated, and can even cause signs of premature aging like wrinkles and sagging over time.

Switch it Up

Treat your skin kindly! Use soft, gentle motions instead of harsh rubbing or scrubbing. Pat your skin dry, massage in your moisturizer, and press products in.

5. Kick the Habit: Makeup Wipes

We get it! When it comes to removing makeup, it’s hard to beat the convenience of makeup wipes. Unfortunately, makeup wipes are one of the worst skincare products you can use on your face.

Let’s talk about the basics. They had ONE JOB! But wipes often don’t get your skin truly clean. They rarely remove all of the dirt, oil, and makeup that accumulates in a day, which can lead to skin-dulling buildup over time. 

They also have a reputation for causing skin irritation and premature aging (see micro-tears above). Plus, they’re not great for the environment.

Switch it Up

While wipes might work in a pinch if used gently, they can’t be relied upon for a complete clean. Instead, wash your face with a proper cleanser.

Looking for more? Check out these makeup wipe alternatives. 

6. Kick the Habit: Dirty Pillowcases

Your pillowcase and the health of your skin are directly linked. And if you haven’t washed your pillowcase lately, you’ll definitely want to after reading this. 

Your hair holds more dirt than any other part of your body. This means your pillowcase can be full of filth, oil, bacteria, and even dust mites after just a few nights. In fact, an Amerisleep study found that after just one week of not washing, pillowcases harboured up to 3 million CFU of bacteria per square inch. 

This bacteria throws off your skin’s microbiome, the good bacteria that helps protect it. This can result in clogged pores, skin irritation and inflammation, sagging, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity.

Switch it Up

Washing your pillowcase more regularly is a simple change that makes a big difference when it comes to skin health. Experts recommend changing your pillowcase at least once a week, ideally every two to three days. 

Tip: Skip the fabric softeners and dryer sheets when washing your pillowcases. These products contain waxes and chemicals that can cause harmful buildup and skin irritation. They can also aggravate allergies and sensitivities. Opt for laundry alternatives like dryer balls instead!

Takeaway

So did any of these overlooked habits surprise you? Recognizing these everyday skin-disrupting habits can be empowering. By being aware of these often unconscious habits and making small, conscious shifts, you can boost the health of your skin and level up your self-care. 

The takeaway? Simple everyday habits may be putting a damper on your glow— but you’ve got the power to change them! 

With the right routines, glowing skin is well within reach— and facial acupuncture is a powerful next step. Ready to take your skincare deeper? Find a VMR Cosmetic Acupuncture practitioner near you.

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Eileen Fauster of Essential Balance is a Registered Acupuncturist and Registered Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in skin care. Eileen helps clients by using the Vienna Mei Ren non-surgical acupuncture facelift, which combines the best acupuncture needles and techniques with a beautifying skin rejuvenation regime.

* Resources:

Attar, R. M., & Imam, M. A. (2025). Assessing the levels and types of bacterial contamination in cosmetic brushes: Implications for beauty and hygiene in Jeddah City. International Journal of Microbiology, 2025(1). https://doi.org/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1155/ijm/2128581   

Hyde, M. (2024, September 18). Bacteria in your bed. Amerisleep. https://amerisleep.com/blog/bacteria-in-your-bed/  

Mayer, A. (2024, December 13). Study reveals: Your Phone has 20 times more bacteria than a public toilet. Amerisleep. https://amerisleep.com/blog/bacteria-on-cell-phone/  

McKenzie, E. (2023, August 15). Hot showers can dry out your skin. University of Utah Health. https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2023/06/hot-showers-can-dry-out-your-skin  

Tagoe D.N., Gyande V.K., Ansah E.O. (2011). Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones: When Your Mobile Phone Could Transmit More Than Just a Call. WebmedCentral MICROBIOLOGY, 2(10). https://doi.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236163036_Bacterial_Contamination_of_Mobile_Phones_When_Your_Mobile_Phone_Could_Transmit_More_Than_Just_a_Call