8 Skincare Blunders I'm Swearing Off: My Odyssey to Glowing Skin.

I'm Freya, the founder of gloowy. Join me on the rollercoaster ride to radiant, healthy skin. Let's get real upfront: My skin isn't exactly a walk in the park. It's this mishmash of everything imaginable, and if I said there haven't been days where I've looked in the mirror and shed a tear or two, I'd be lying. It might sound a tad dramatic, but feeling out of sync with your skin, body, and mind? Been there, done that.

Painting you a picture: I've got crazy oily spots that love to throw a party and turn into blackhead central. Big pores that act like magnets for dirt and bacteria. And then there are these dry patches that practically beg for moisture. I've been in a constant battle with clogged pores and skin that looks like it just ran a 5k marathon. And let's not forget the hormonal rollercoaster and the new addition of meds wreaking havoc on both my skin and my body. Long story short: I'm your typical combo-skinned individual, and it's a wild ride. Over the years, I've ridden the wave of every skincare trend, wrecked my skin barrier, and painstakingly built it back up. I've learned the importance of being patient with your skin and giving it the TLC it truly deserves. Plus, there are some blunders I'd totally avoid if I could rewind; check out my top 8 here:

Mistake #1: Overloading on active ingredients

I vividly recall someone claiming that 2022 was the year of active ingredients, and let me tell you, I was all in. I saw these fantastic products with their powerhouse ingredients and thought, "I need all of this!" Big mistake! Sure, I did my homework on which ingredients play nice together, but in the end, it was just too much. Active ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C are awesome, but drowning your skin in them? Not so much. My skin was like, "Hey, can you please chill with the bombardment?" Truth is, most skin types can't handle this A-list squad of ingredients all at once. Rule of thumb: Keep it simple.

Mistake #2: Playing hide-and-seek with the skin barrier

The skin barrier is like the invisible superhero safeguarding your skin from nasty invaders. And guess what? I totally ghosted it. My barrier was in shambles, thanks to my past "strategy" of trying every active ingredient under the sun. Result? My skin became a drama queen—super prone to irritations and ridiculously sensitive. I hadn't seen my skin this stressed and irritated since... well, ever. So, along with cutting down on active ingredients, I focused on the basics. Showering my skin with loads of moisture and embracing products with barrier-boosting ingredients like panthenol or niacinamide, which are like zen masters for irritated skin. The outcome? Resilient and healthier skin. Yay!

Mistake #3: Pillow and towel amnesia

Sure, we know we should swap out and wash our pillows and towels regularly (duh), but it took me a while to realize the impact on the skin. Why? Our pillowcases and towels turn into havens for bacteria, especially if you're besties with skin issues. Sleep, leftover makeup, sweat – it all leaves its mark on our trusty pillows and towels. Now, imagine resting your face on that breeding ground. Hello, skin woes! And FYI, towels hanging near the toilet? Major red flag!

Mistake #4: Being buddies with comedogenic ingredients

As someone with an oily squad on my face, I was familiar with the term comedogenic. These are the troublemakers that can potentially clog up your pores (more on that in our article: Pore Clogging Ingredients). If, like me, you already have blackheads, these are the last ingredients you want in your skincare squad. But guess what? I unwittingly invited them. After doing some detective work, ditching products with comedogenic ingredients significantly reduced my clogged pores. A small move with big results!

Mistake #5: Toothbrushing vs. Skincare

The nighttime skincare ritual inevitably collides with the toothbrushing routine before bedtime. The order matters here. What I neglected for the longest time: If you start with skincare and then brush your teeth, the products play Jenga, layering up and then getting rinsed away around your mouth. Talk about a buzzkill for your products and a not-so-friendly move for the thin, sensitive skin around your mouth. Plus, it washes away those natural skin oils. Oh, and certain toothpaste ingredients might tickle your skin the wrong way. So, rule of thumb: Toothbrush first, skincare second!

Mistake #6: Sunscreen MIA

If you're a skincare veteran, you know SPF is non-negotiable. The sun's UV rays are on the prowl year-round. Even on gloomy days, those rays can sneak through the clouds and throw a party on your skin. That's why slapping on sunscreen isn't just a summer fling; it's an everyday affair and the last dance in your skincare routine. Sure, I was aware, but let's throw it out there again for the skincare rookies. You're welcome!

Mistake #7: Morning H2O Snub

Chugging at least one, preferably two glasses of lukewarm water in the morning might sound as thrilling as watching paint dry, but guess what? It's a game-changer! Two glasses of morning water not only do wonders for your metabolism by giving your kidneys and bladder a spa day but also combat the 8-hour skin drought during sleep. Hello, hydration! It's not just a boost for the body; it's a love letter to the skin.

Mistake #8: Stress – the Uninvited Guest

Let's be real, not every stress magnet ends up with breakout city on their face, and not every pimple is a stress souvenir. The stress-skin relationship is complicated and unique to each of us. But from my stint on this rollercoaster, stress and breakouts often go hand in hand. Stressful life chapters for me meant my body throwing a skin tantrum. They say the skin mirrors the soul, and in my case, it's a spot-on reflection. Whether it's internal or external factors, both play tag for breakout season. If you notice stress triggering skin shenanigans, I suggest having a heart-to-heart with the stress source. Figure out where and how it's causing chaos and decide how you want to wrangle it. Be it a toxic job, a lifestyle change, or a personal whirlwind – knowing the stress roots helps you deal with it.

While my skincare journey kicked off with a few missteps, I've gained wisdom, and I hope you have too. Healthy skin's a journey, not a sprint. My goal was never to have perfect skin, but I wanted to feel comfortable and confident in my skin again. With gloowy, I turned this desire into reality and developed products that have supported me on the journey to healthy, radiant skin. My current routine consists of a gentle cleanser with salicylic acid and a serum with retinol (twice a week). And then, I'm diving into the gloowy magic with loads of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Top it off with a gel moisturizer, and, of course, can't forget the non-comedogenic SPF. Gotta say, it's finally paying off!

Hope my wisdom drops were useful for you. Catch more skincare adventures on Instagram & TikTok @heygloowy. Can't wait to hang out with you!

Love, Freya x