Every now and then, we get a little rebellious when it comes to our skin. You can’t be perfect all the time right? But what if those little bad habits become a part of your routine? Chances are, your skin will not be happy. That’s why we are opening the curtains and shedding light on our deepest, darkest bad habits. Plus, we give you tips on how to break those bad habits once and for all.

Skin mistake #1: Not washing your face before bed.
Yes, we know the importance of washing our face before bed but we can be lazy after a long day at work. The mere idea of dragging out bodies out of bed to wash our faces makes us moan. Instead, we wake up in the morning and are greeted with two more nasty blemishes. You can thank your leftover makeup (and laziness) for those new pimples. Leaving makeup on your face overnight results in clogged pores, which can easily become infected. To combat the end-of-day fatigue, make face-washing a part of your routine a couple of hours before you go to bed. Don’t wait until 11pm to wash your face. Do it the minute you get home and you won’t be tempted to “forget” this important habit. This way, you can fall into bed without one ounce of guilt.

Skin mistake #2: Forgetting to apply sunscreen for your day in the sun.
It might seem like a pain to sit down and apply sunscreen while the rest of your friends dive into the pool. But trust us: your skin ABSOLUTELY needs strong, powerful SPF protection from the sun’s harsh rays. Even if you believe your skin doesn’t burn, you don’t want to accelerate the aging process or increase your chance of skin cancer. The best thing you can do for your skin is to apply sunscreen before heading out to your beach day, that way it won’t slip your mind the minute your toes hit the sand. Use a sunscreen with at least 30 SPF protection, and reapply every two hours. Use at least one tablespoon serving of sunscreen for each part of your body, including face, neck, shoulders, etc.

Skin mistake #3: Not drinking enough water
When it comes to staying properly hydrated, you might ask, “Who has time to drink their body weigh in water?” But, drinking at least 84 ounces of water a day is crucial to keeping your skin healthy and glowing. The largest organ on your body, your skin needs to keep fueled in order to stay refreshed. Without proper hydration, your skin will start to age rapidly and scars won’t heal as fast as they could if they had enough water. If refilling your bottle slips your mind, think of ways to remind yourself to top off your bottle throughout the day. For instance, start keeping track of how many bottles you drink by marking them on a calendar or logging them into your iPhone with an app like Loseit. Bring your water bottle with you every time you get up to go to the bathroom and loop around to the kitchen before heading back to your desk.

Skin mistake #4: Not washing your cosmetic brushes
Every morning, you apply foundation or blush with your various brushes and throw them back in your makeup bag. You probably don’t notice it, but your cosmetic brushes are filled with dirt, dust, and bacteria. And when left uncleaned can transfer those disgusting items on to your face! Don’t panic though, there are brush cleansers out there that will get your brushes properly cleaned and ready for us. We like BareMinerals cleansers and Neutrogena’s Anti Residue formula, both of which are gentle and leave our brushes sparkling.

Skin mistake #5: Drinking too much alcohol
We have been known to partake in a couple glasses of wine at the end of a hectic workweek. It’s a relaxing way to let loose, right? Well, dermatologists wouldn’t agree and insist that everyone should keep the drinking to a minimum for the sake of our skin. Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in New York City and Coral Gables, Florida says that alcohol “can hasten skin sagging over time” due to the inflammatory agents found in alcohol. To keep your skin as radiant and youthful as possible, try to keep your alcohol intake to one glass a day, at the minimum.