Use soothing products When clients ask me, “What are the common skin care mistakes?” they usually assume it’s something big and dramatic they’ve done. Still, most of their problems stem from small, everyday habits that slowly chip away at the skin barrier, clog pores, or make already acne-prone skin flare up even more. Having spent nearly two full decades as a dermal therapist (that’s Sevine Forster to me), I see the same issues cropping up over and over – like when people use too many strong active ingredients, don’t stick to a skincare routine, and try to follow advice from well-meaning but often clueless social media.
This guide lays it all out in plain English so you can correct those mistakes pretty quickly – no need for a skin-care product hoard or a complicated morning skincare routine to get on top of your skin.
Here’s the lowdown:
The most common skin care mistakes are things like over-exfoliating, forgetting to use SPF, piling on too many active ingredients at once, not getting your cleansing act together, buying products that don’t work for your skin type, trying to pick at breakouts, ignoring how your skin barrier is doing, and messing around with sunscreen.
These small mistakes add up to issues such as dryness, irritation, dead skin cells accumulating, redness after breaking out, clogged pores, dark spots, and premature ageing (especially with Brisbane’s perpetual humidity and high UV exposure).
Exfoliation supports cell regeneration, but amid the hype around alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids, people have started overdoing it — especially when using harsh scrubs or products like the OrganicSpa Face Exfoliant too frequently. When you mix too many acid products or exfoliants, your skin barrier becomes inflamed, fragile, and reactive.
I’ve dealt with heaps of clients who thought their skin was “dry“, but really it was just super inflamed because they were using a whole cocktail of alpha or beta hydroxy acids, scrubs, and retinoids way too much. One client used a brightening serum with Vitamin C every morning and a triple-layered peel pad every night – her skin was giving me a primary ‘help’ signal.
With Queensland’s harsh UV rays taking their toll, it’s clear that sunscreen is the single most effective tool we have against the sun, yet many of us still forget to apply it or misapply it. The Cancer Council puts it in stark terms: up to 95% of visible ageing is due to sun damage, according to their 2025 data, although that figure is likely to change over time.
A proper cleansing routine is essential to remove sweat and sunscreen residue, especially in Brisbane, where humidity is high, and using something gentle like the OrganicSpa Foam Cleanser from OrganicSpa can help maintain balance.
Common Errors
A gentle double cleanse is one of my favourite treatments for unclogging pores and keeping skin balanced without irritation.
Too many actives all at the same time – Vitamin C + glycolic acid + salicylic acid + retinol + scrubs = skin irritation Skincare marketing makes routines seem complex, but your skin does better with simplicity.
Picking at spots introduces bacteria, worsens post-inflammatory erythema, and delays healing.
Use a warm compress and a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid spot treatment.
Your routine must match what your skin needs right now.
Use Vitamin C, lightweight moisturisers, eye cream, and mineral sunscreen.
Your skin barrier keeps the good in and the bad out.
Signs Of A Weak Barrier
Use hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides. Avoid strenuous actives to repair skin barrier.
You know that adage – you get what you pay for? Well, it’s even more true when it comes to your skincare products. Using products past their expiration date or not stored properly can cause skin irritation and breakouts.
Hygiene tip: avoid double dipping. You know when you just can’t resist reaching in to scoop out a little more of that moisturiser or serum from the jar? Please, for the love of all things good, don’t do it! Using a spatula or pump-based products instead can help keep those pesky bacteria at bay.
Just because your face is your main priority doesn’t mean the rest of your skin should be overlooked. Heck, your neck and chest get way more sun than your face does, what with all that incidental time spent outside. Please make a point to give them a little appreciation, too.
Slap on whatever you usually use on your face – including that all-important SPF – to your neck and chest every single day. It’s a quick and easy fix that’ll leave you feeling confident and protected.
| Skin Mistake | Why It Causes Problems | What To Do Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Over-exfoliating with AHA/BHA | Irritates the skin barrier and causes dryness | Exfoliate 1–2× weekly; hydrate with Hyaluronic acid |
| Skipping SPF | UV rays cause 95% of visible ageing | Apply broad-spectrum SPF 50 daily |
| Using too many activities | Skin irritation and inflammation | Rotate active ingredients; simplify routine |
| Incorrect cleansing | Dead skin cells + clogged pores | Gentle double cleansing routine at night |
| Picking skin | Scarring + post-inflammatory erythema | Use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic spot treatments |
| Wrong products | Irritation + breakouts | Tailor skincare routine to skin type and climate |
The new trends are all about doing less, not more – and I’m more than a little relieved.
Working in Brisbane’s climate is a nightmare – it’s all about dodging the humidity, UV rays and pollution that just seem to get worse and worse. I see all the time that:
But you know what makes a huge difference? A personal skin consultation that keeps things simple and prioritises fixing that barrier.
I see it all the time – people who’ve tried their best, but got all sorts of confusing or conflicting advice from online. Once we simplify it all, focus on fixing that barrier, and build a plan that actually works for Brisbane’s challenging climate, skin clarity and glow come flooding back much sooner than I think they would.
If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start, just pop in to The Facial Hub – we’ll work out a routine that actually makes sense to you, fits in with your lifestyle and works towards long-term skin health.
“At The Facial Hub, I often see how simple skincare mistakes can quietly hold the skin back from looking and feeling its best. Over-cleansing, using too many active ingredients, skipping sun protection, or constantly changing products can disrupt the skin barrier and lead to irritation, breakouts, or sensitivity.
Healthy skin usually comes from doing the basics well and staying consistent. When the routine is too harsh or complicated, the skin can become stressed and unbalanced, even with good intentions.
For me, the goal is always to guide clients back to simple, supportive habits that protect the skin, restore balance, and allow natural clarity to return.
— Sevine Foster
Skipping daily sunscreen — nothing accelerates ageing or pigmentation faster.
Stinging, redness, shiny, tight skin, and flaking are significant signs.
If you wear sunscreen (and you should), double cleansing is ideal.
Not for most people — it often irritates. Use them at different times of day.
Most people see improvement within 2–4 weeks of correcting their routine.
