Hygiene 101: 20 Tips

Think you’re a clean person? If you don’t do these things, then you should think again!

Hygiene is fundamental for your health and appearance, and small mistakes can lead to unpleasant consequences. For instance, dirt and bacteria are the main causes of acne, both on the face and body, so make sure to be consistent with your shower and skincare routine and invest in professional tools and products.

1. Always wash your hands before your skincare routine, and include scrubbing under your nails. This can help prevent breakouts and also keep the jar products fresher for longer.
2. Use a designated clean face towel and change it very often, or just use paper towels to dry your face after cleansing.
3. If you have skincare products with a dropper never let it touch your face: bacteria could get inside the product.
4. Always check expiry dates, because products can go mouldy, and finish your products in time.
5. Change your pillowcases at least twice a week and sanitise your phone daily in order to avoid transferring bacteria onto the face.
6. Double cleanse not only your face but your body too: use an oil based cleanser first, wash it off and apply regular soap.
7. If you use conditioner on your hair it may lead to serious back acne: use a brush on your back when you shower.
8. If your teeth bleed a lot, that is gum disease: it’s a sign that you need to brush and floss your teeth better. Buy a water flosser: it can really get in between your teeth to get rid of bacteria and plaque.
9. Using a loofah is the most unhygienic thing you can do: bacteria grow and multiply very easily and quickly in damp places. Use a silicone brush instead.
10. Never cut your toenails into any shape other than straight across. If you keep getting ingrown toenails and you’re cutting around and into the corners, that is why.
11. If you’re into fake tanning, never fake tan on the same day that you exfoliated and did your skin prep: make sure to do it a day or two days before, or the fake tan will go into the little pores on your legs and look dirty.
12. Never leave your razor in the shower in between uses: the shower is a hot, damp, humid place where bacteria loves to thrive, and also the blades of the razors will become dull a lot more faster, which means getting razor bumps.
13. Don’t brush with your electric toothbrush: you’re supposed to let the head of the toothbrush do its job and just slowly glide across your teeth.
14. When spraying perfume, don’t forget your heat points: behind your neck, your elbows, your knees and even on your stomach.
15. When washing your body, don’t forget to clean behind your ears and in your belly button.
16. Remember to wash your beauty blender every week (and change it every 3 months), your face brushes at least once a week, and your hairbrush once every two weeks.
17. Apply a deodorant with an antiperspirant before you go to sleep: antiperspirant takes time to sink into your skin, so if you apply it at night it gets the time to absorb, and when you wake up in the morning you’ll be less likely to be sweaty throughout the day.
18. Before applying your favourite body mist, apply a lotion: mists stick best to damp skin.
19. Adding argan oil to your body cream helps with anti aging and body acne.
20. If you have greasy hair, salicylic acid scrub is your best friend. Apply it before shampooing once a week, it will exfoliate not only your scalp but also the excess oil on it.