When it comes to caring for our skin, we have the basics covered. Taking our makeup off at night, staying hydrated, and never leaving the house without a slathering of SPF comes naturally to us, but there are some hidden skin saboteurs we’ve yet to master.

Read on to discover the unexpected ways you might be undermining your beauty efforts, and learn our simple fixes for healthy, beautiful skin. 

Compromising On Beauty Sleep

We’ve heard it a million times, beauty sleep is essential for happy skin. A good night’s sleep tops the list, as it gives your body some much-needed time to rejuvenate and repair. Treat those precious eight hours of shut-eye like gold, because they’re the difference between a tired-looking complexion and a glowing one. Get your body’s circadian rhythm in check by jumping into bed at the same time each night, as early as you can. 

If you find yourself facing a night of no sleep, don’t hit replay on your favourite Netflix show. It’s a rule we sometimes struggle to follow ourselves, but it’s worth it. The light emitting from screens is suggested to suppress melatonin, a hormone that helps induce sleep. A lack of melatonin also prevents skin cells from turning over as efficiently, meaning more wrinkles and dull, lacklustre skin over time.

Succumbing To Stress

It’s not in your head, stress really does affect your skin. When stress hits, your body reacts by releasing a flood of cortisol. Otherwise known as the “stress hormone”, cortisol throws your other hormones out of sync, creates oiliness and inadvertently leads to breakouts, rosacea, rashes, and eczema. 

While stress is somewhat unavoidable in life, you can control how you cope with it. Our favourite stress management fix is indulging in some self-care. Whether that’s soaking in a warm bath, daily meditation or simply getting a solid eight hours of sleep, the benefits of self-care will show in your skin as well as your soul.

Not Cleaning Your Phone Screen

Another easily forgotten cache of bacteria? Your beloved phone screen. This breakout-causing culprit picks up germs each day, which can then jump to our face as soon as we answer a call. If you’ve ever broken out in the same area you press your phone to your face, you’ve solved the mystery!

Luckily, this one is an easy fix. Whenever possible use the speakerphone or pop in a set of headphones instead and save yourself the face-to-screen contact. Trust us, your skin will love you for it.

Using Dirty Makeup Brushes

Dirty brushes are the downfall to any great beauty routine. Using the same makeup brushes again and again without washing them is a recipe for built-up bacteria, and inadvertently, bad skin. Unless you like the idea of using a beauty tool full of skin-loathing bacteria, washing them on a weekly basis is a must. 

Your foundation brush should be washed every 2-3 uses. And if you suffer from any skin conditions whatsoever, apply your foundation with a clean brush every day.

If you’re a first-time brush-cleaner, it’s simple. Just run them under warm water with a gentle shampoo or cleanser, make sure the old makeup residue is gone and leave them to dry. For us, Sunday is the perfect time for a little brush detox. This way, you’re prepping for a great week of beauty and a happy Monday - Knowing your skin is clean, bright, and healthy. 

Forgetting To Read The Label

When it comes to your beauty products, don’t be afraid to embrace your inner Sherlock Holmes and get your sleuth on. Whether it be your cleanser, foundation, or favourite facial oil, pick up the magnifying glass and examine the ingredients label closely. Recently, we put together a handy guide to decoding beauty labels as let’s be honest, they’re not typically easy to read. But as a basic rule, stay far away from anything that lists sulfates, synthetic fragrances, parabens, formaldehyde or phthalates. 

When it comes to our ingredients, Aleph likes to remain transparent. We keep our makeup as clean as possible and only include ingredients that are natural and completely vegan. Explore our range, here.