Scary Skincare: Things I Would Never Do to My Face

Halloween seems like a good time to talk about things that actually scare me, and surprisingly, ghosts are pretty low on the list.

Skincare TikTok is much higher.

More specifically, it is that moment when someone tells me, “I saw this online and thought I would try it,” and then describes a routine involving six active ingredients, a scrub, a peel pad and something that made their face burn for twenty minutes.

Sometimes internet skincare advice is harmless. Sometimes I immediately want to confiscate the product.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is using every active at once. Retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, vitamin C, exfoliating toners and peel pads can all have a place in a routine, but that does not mean they all need to be used together. Your skin does not get bonus points for surviving the most products.

A good routine should have a reason behind it. If every product is exfoliating, resurfacing, brightening or speeding up cell turnover, eventually your barrier may be the thing paying for it. More is not automatically better, especially when you are stacking products that are already doing similar jobs.

Another thing that scares me is the instinct to scrub harder whenever skin feels rough or flaky. Texture does not automatically mean you need to exfoliate more. Sometimes flaking is a sign that the skin is irritated or dehydrated. If your face is burning, stinging and peeling, adding another scrub is probably not the plot twist we need.

Then there is picking. I understand the temptation completely. You see a bump, decide you can fix it, and five minutes later the bump is still there but now everything around it is red too. Picking can prolong inflammation and make post-inflammatory pigment and scarring more likely. The skin needs time to heal, even when you are very confident you can “just get that one thing.”

Sleeping in makeup is another habit I would not make a regular part of life. One night is not going to destroy your face forever, but makeup, oil, sweat and everything else your skin collected during the day are not exactly things I want sitting there overnight. If you are exhausted, at least cleanse. Your elaborate routine can wait until tomorrow.

I also do not believe burning means a product is working. Some ingredients can cause a brief tingling sensation, but actual burning is not a badge of honor. Skincare should not feel like punishment. If something causes significant burning, swelling, pain or persistent redness, wash it off and stop using it.

Another scary one is copying someone else’s skincare routine product for product because their skin looks great. Their skin is not your skin. They may have different genetics, hormones, climate, treatment history and tolerances. Even a very good routine can be completely wrong for the person using it.

And finally, one of the most common things I see is people changing everything too quickly. A new cleanser this week. A new exfoliant next week. A retinoid the week after that. Then suddenly the skin is irritated and nobody knows which product did it.

Consistency is not very exciting, but it is often what gets results.

At Moonflower Skin Lab in South Austin, I would much rather help you build a routine you can actually use than send you home with twelve products and hope for the best. Skincare does not have to be dramatic to work.

Save the drama for Halloween.