Mistakes that Will Make You Look Younger

Everyone wants to stay and look young, so we try to "heal" our skin from aging by using sunscreen everyday, not smoking and spare no expense on luxurious skin creams and lotions. But despite your best intentions, you still might be making some errors that will lead to premature aging. Here are some common skincare mistakes to avoid.

Over exfoliating: People sometimes think that exfoliating will 'better' their skin. But over exfoliation can make dry skin worse by impairing your skin's ability to hold onto water, making it look dull, lifeless and older.

Using a harsh cleanser: People love the tight, tingly feeling they get after using foaming cleansers and bar soaps, but that feeling just means your natural oils have been stripped away, leaving your complexion parched and more prone to premature wrinkling. Instead, try using an oil-based cleanser. If you rather use something that isn't oil-based, you can always just use Cetaphil!

Using the same moisturizer: Some skin types are oily in summer and dry in winter. This is because there is less water in the air in the winter and skin can easily become dehydrated. If you have oily skin, don't assume you should use an oil-free moisturizer all year--or that you can go without. Instead, use a serum or lotion when your skin is oily and switch to a richer cream when it's dry.

Organics: Organic products are great, but when it comes to retinoids and sunscreen, nothing can replace a chemical formula. There's no natural alternative to retinoids like Differin and Atralin, and they're the only products proven to diminish existing wrinkles. Organic sunscreens are just not as effective as their chemical counterparts, especially if you're going to be in the sun for prolonged periods. You can use an organic cleanser and moisturizer, but until better sunscreens and anti-aging treatments hit the market, stick with the nonorganic for now.