You're doing everything right—cleansing religiously, applying treatments, and investing in quality products—yet your acne persists or even seems to be getting worse. Sound familiar? Often, the culprit isn't what you're not doing, but what you're inadvertently doing wrong. Small mistakes in your skincare routine can have outsized effects on acne-prone skin.
In this guide, we'll expose the ten most common skincare mistakes that sabotage your journey to clear skin. More importantly, we'll show you how to fix them. You might be surprised to find you're guilty of more than one.
Mistake #1: Over-Cleansing Your Face
It seems logical: if dirt and oil cause acne, washing more should help, right? Unfortunately, the opposite is often true. Over-cleansing strips your skin of its natural protective oils, damaging the moisture barrier. Your skin responds by producing even more oil to compensate, leading to a cycle of oiliness and breakouts.
The Fix: Cleanse twice daily—morning and night—and no more. Use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser that cleans effectively without leaving your skin feeling tight or squeaky. If your skin feels dry or tight after cleansing, your cleanser is too harsh.
Mistake #2: Using Too Many Active Ingredients
In the quest for clear skin, it's tempting to layer multiple active ingredients—salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C—all at once. But more isn't better. Using too many actives simultaneously can severely irritate your skin, compromise your skin barrier, and actually trigger more breakouts.
The Fix: Stick to one or two active ingredients at a time. Don't use multiple acids together, and never layer retinoids with AHAs/BHAs in the same routine. Alternate actives on different nights instead of combining them.
⚠️ Signs You're Overdoing Actives
Burning, stinging, excessive redness, peeling, or increased sensitivity to products that didn't bother you before are all signs that you've compromised your skin barrier. Scale back immediately and focus on healing before reintroducing treatments.
Mistake #3: Skipping Moisturiser Because You're Oily
This is one of the most pervasive myths in skincare. Many people with oily, acne-prone skin skip moisturiser, believing it will make them oilier or cause breakouts. The truth is that all skin types need hydration. When you skip moisturiser, your dehydrated skin signals your oil glands to produce more sebum.
The Fix: Always moisturise, but choose the right formula. Look for lightweight, oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturisers. Gel-cream textures are excellent for oily skin. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid provide hydration without heaviness.
Mistake #4: Popping and Picking at Pimples
We've all done it—that irresistible urge to squeeze a pimple. But picking at your skin is one of the worst things you can do for acne. Your fingers introduce bacteria, pushing infection deeper into the skin. You also risk spreading bacteria to nearby pores, causing more breakouts, and creating scars that can last for years.
The Fix: Keep your hands off your face. When a pimple appears, use a hydrocolloid patch instead. The patch protects the blemish, prevents picking, and actually helps it heal faster. If you must extract, see a professional.
💡 Why Pimple Patches Help with Picking
Applying a pimple patch creates a physical barrier that makes it impossible to pick at the blemish. Many people find this simple intervention breaks the habit and significantly improves their skin.
Mistake #5: Neglecting Sunscreen
Sunscreen might seem unrelated to acne, but UV exposure can worsen your skin in multiple ways. Sun damage increases inflammation, darkens post-acne marks (making them visible much longer), and many acne treatments (like retinoids and AHAs) make your skin more sun-sensitive. Plus, some people's acne is triggered by sun exposure.
The Fix: Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen daily, even on cloudy days and when staying indoors (UV penetrates windows). Choose oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas designed for acne-prone skin. Australian sun is particularly intense, making this non-negotiable.
Mistake #6: Changing Products Too Frequently
When a product doesn't show results immediately, it's tempting to move on to the next one. But constantly switching products never allows your skin to adjust or for treatments to work. It also makes it impossible to identify what's helping or hurting your skin.
The Fix: Give products at least 6-8 weeks before judging their effectiveness. Skin cell turnover takes about 28 days, so you need at least one full cycle to see results. The exception: if a product causes immediate irritation or breakouts, stop using it.
Mistake #7: Using Physical Scrubs Too Often
Harsh physical scrubs with rough particles like walnut shells or apricot kernels can create micro-tears in your skin, spread bacteria, and irritate already-inflamed acne. While gentle exfoliation is important for acne-prone skin, physical scrubs are often too aggressive.
The Fix: Switch to chemical exfoliants (AHAs and BHAs) which dissolve dead skin cells without physical abrasion. Salicylic acid (BHA) is particularly effective for acne as it can penetrate into pores. If you prefer physical exfoliation, use very gentle products sparingly—once a week maximum.
Mistake #8: Sleeping on Dirty Pillowcases
Your pillowcase accumulates oil, dead skin cells, bacteria, and product residue night after night. When you sleep on a dirty pillowcase, you're essentially pressing your face into all that grime for 8 hours. This can clog pores and spread bacteria across your face.
The Fix: Change your pillowcase at least twice a week—more often if you have active breakouts. Consider using silk or satin pillowcases, which are less absorbent than cotton and create less friction against your skin. Also, try to sleep on your back when possible.
Mistake #9: Ignoring Your Diet and Lifestyle
While skincare products are important, they're only part of the equation. What you eat, how much you sleep, your stress levels, and other lifestyle factors significantly impact your skin. High-glycemic foods, dairy, chronic stress, and lack of sleep have all been linked to increased acne in various studies.
The Fix: Pay attention to patterns. Notice if certain foods seem to trigger breakouts. Prioritise sleep (7-9 hours), manage stress through exercise or meditation, and stay hydrated. You don't need to overhaul your entire lifestyle, but small improvements can yield noticeable skin benefits.
🎯 Lifestyle Factors That Affect Acne
- High-glycemic foods (sugar, white bread, processed snacks)
- Dairy products, especially skim milk
- Chronic stress and lack of sleep
- Dehydration
- Touching your face frequently
Mistake #10: Expecting Overnight Results
We live in an age of instant gratification, but skin doesn't work that way. Expecting products to clear your skin overnight sets you up for disappointment and the tendency to give up or switch products too soon. Real, lasting improvement takes time and consistency.
The Fix: Adjust your expectations. Most acne treatments take 6-8 weeks to show significant results, and achieving consistently clear skin can take months. Celebrate small improvements along the way. Take progress photos monthly to track changes that might not be obvious day-to-day.
Bonus Mistakes Worth Mentioning
Not Removing Makeup Properly
Sleeping in makeup or not removing it thoroughly clogs pores and causes breakouts. Always double cleanse at night—first with an oil-based cleanser or micellar water to remove makeup and sunscreen, then with your regular cleanser.
Using Expired Products
Skincare products expire and can become less effective or even harbour bacteria. Check expiration dates and pay attention to the Period After Opening (PAO) symbol. Generally, replace products 6-12 months after opening.
Forgetting to Clean Makeup Brushes and Tools
Dirty makeup brushes, beauty sponges, and even your phone screen are breeding grounds for bacteria. Clean brushes weekly, replace sponges monthly, and wipe your phone screen daily.
The Path Forward
If you've identified yourself in any of these mistakes, don't worry—we've all been there. The good news is that these are all fixable. Start by addressing one mistake at a time rather than trying to overhaul your entire routine at once. Your skin will thank you.
Remember, achieving clear skin is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency with a simple, well-designed routine will always beat an aggressive, complicated approach. Be patient with your skin, and it will reward you.