TOOTHPASTE
I often asks clients with acne around their mouths whether they brush their teeth before or after washing their faces. Most can't remember, but you should always brush your teeth before you wash your face. Not only can certain ingredients in toothpaste cause irritation, dryness and even burning, but the bacteria from your mouth in the dribbled-out toothpaste can affect the skin, too. According to the culprit ingredients that could be causing pimples include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohol, essential oils and menthol. And if you've been guilty of using toothpaste as a spot treatment, next time reach for a clay-based mask. They'll draw out some of the impurities, soothe and calm the inflamed area without over-exfoliation and irritation.
HAIR PRODUCTS
Foaming ingredients in your shampoo, like sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, can leave a film on the skin that makes for a welcome bacteria breeding ground. The oil in conditioner can clog pores, so it's best to always wash your face after cleansing your hair. Styling products can cause acne along your hairline and on your face, too. Most women don't even consider this, but the hair product in your hair is rubbing against your face during the day and if you don't shower at night, it's rubbing against your skin while you sleep.
PILLOWCASES
Our body's natural oils plus the products we use at night can build up on the pillowcase, and you must know that clean hair is just as—if not even more—important than clean skin. Showering at night can be a huge benefit for your skin. Change your pillowcase at least once a week and within that week, flip it over to sleep on a fresh side.
TECH ACCESSORIES AND SUNGLASSES
Cell phones, glasses and headphones build up with dirt, oil, sweat and bacteria from your face, hair and hands (the same hands that have been holding subway poles), so it's crucial to wipe them down regularly with alcohol or a disinfectant that won't degrade the material.
WASHCLOTHS
You already know that you need to be cleaning your makeup brushes, sponges and pressed powder puffs on a regular basis but it's easy to forget about things like the Clarisonic and washcloths, which are prime spots for bacteria and mold. Washcloths should only be used once—then throw them in the laundry!
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