32 Surprising Things That Ruin Your Skin

Your post-pool regimen is vital when it comes to your skin. Even after a shower, chlorine can cling to skin and react with topical medications, cleansers, and even lotions. To effectively remove chlorine, always use an extra sudsy soap after you take a dip.

Falling asleep with your makeup on can lead to bacterial infections and clogged pores, which can cause acne. And, the residue that stays on your pillow can even make you sick. Keep makeup removing wipes next to your bed so you'll be reminded nightly to remove your harmful makeup.

Caffeine is a major culprit when it comes to dry skin and the magnification of wrinkles. Quench skin by drinking lots of water. Add fruit slices like orange or lemon to enhance the flavor.

Picking at the skin on your face will only push dirt and bacteria deeper into pores, resulting in more breakouts.

Skipping meals can cause skin to age faster and dry out more quickly. Always try to include vitamins C (oranges), B3 (peanuts), E (avocados), and A (sweet potatoes) in your meals to build up your skin's health.

While the occasional steamy shower is great, it actually strips away the outermost layer of the epidermis, which can cause scaly and dry skin. When your skin starts to turn red and itch in the shower, you know its time to step out.

To avoid a skin nightmare, always test new products — cosmetics, lotions, and cleansers — on a small patch of skin. Choose somewhere on your arm to avoid an unexpected allergic reaction on your face.

Hydrating yourself daily will not only help to fight off aging, but also give your skin a healthy glow. Skip the water and you'll be stuck with rough and 'shrunken' skin.

Hours spent talking on your cell phone can lead to breakouts and rashes along your jawline and cheek. Make sure to keep antibacterial wipes with you to keep your phone (and skin!) clean.

Next time you apply hairspray, use a clean towel to cover your face to protect your skin. Also, make sure to always use a sweatband when you hit the gym so no hair products drip onto your face when you begin to sweat.

Like your regular lenses, don't forget to wipe your sunglasses clean. Bacteria that builds up on your glasses can get into the pores around the bridge of your nose, causing breakouts and irritation.

Constant yo-yo dieting can negatively impact your skin: Frequent weight gain and loss can cause the fibers in your skin to loosen over time, creating stretch marks and sag.

Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night will not only help you look refreshed, but it will also replenish and rehydrate skin. Not getting a good night's sleep can result in dull skin and clogged pores.

Excess sodium in your diet can suck the moisture out of skin, leaving it dry and dull. To avoid this, cut back on salty treats and invest in a hydrating facial moisturizer.

Skip your annual optometrist appointment? It's time to pencil it into your calendar. Wearing outdated contacts and glasses will cause you to squint more, and in turn, lead to fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. To avoid unnecessary aging, make sure you visit your eye doctor at least once a year.

Resist running to your waxer at the first sight of new hairs. Too much waxing can result in raw skin and increased bumps. Give your skin at least three weeks to regenerate, especially in sensitive areas.

The heat from prolonged showers can lead to dry skin, but so can your shower head. With all the purifying agents used to filter public water, chemical build up on skin over time is very common. Invest in a shower head filter to fight off dry skin caused by chlorine and other elements.

Three-to-five cellular layers of skin rest upon your lips, so it's important that your beauty regime includes them too. Frequently having dry, chapped lips causes them to age faster. Look for lipsticks and lip balm that contain petrolatum, dimethicone, and glycerine to help keep your smackers hydrated.

At night your skin gets a chance to rest and shed its dead cells. Those dead cells can build up over time on your pillowcase, leaving behind bacteria and toxins. In order to keep skin healthy, make sure you change your pillowcase at least once every two weeks.

Over-exfoliating your skin can strip it of its necessary oils it needs to maintain your natural glow. Exfoliate your skin just once a week to keep it healthy.