things I Stopped Doing That Improved My Skin

I used to think good skin was all about adding more things. More serums, more steps, more products. But over time, and while I was studying at Faculty of Medicine, I realized it was actually the opposite.
These are the things I have personally stopped or cut back on, and honestly, they made a much bigger difference than anything I added.

Overcomplicating my routine

At one point, my routine was completely over the top. I was trying new serums all the time, jumping on trends, and constantly switching products because I thought more meant better. In reality, my skin never had time to adjust properly, and it just ended up feeling unpredictable.
Now I keep things really simple and only introduce one new product at a time. It gives my skin some time to adjust, and it makes it so much easier to actually understand what is working.

Not taking sunscreen seriously

I used to skip SPF quite often because I did not like the texture or how it sat under makeup. But once I found one I genuinely liked wearing, it became a part of my routine, a small step I do without even thinking about it.
Nowadays, I will never go out without putting my SPF on! It is such a small habit, but it has the biggest long-term impact on keeping my skin even, smooth, and protected. It is the one step I would never skip now.

Not getting enough sleep

Sleep and skin are so closely connected for me. When I am not sleeping well, my skin is usually the first place it shows. It looks duller, and breakouts tend to appear more easily.
Prioritizing proper rest made a bigger difference than I expected. I did not need to add anything extra, I just needed to let my skin recover properly overnight, and that alone made it look more radiant and healthy.

Using dirty makeup brushes

This is such an easy thing to forget, but it really matters. Makeup brushes collect oil, bacteria, and product buildup over time, and all of that goes straight back onto the skin if they are not cleaned regularly.
Make sure you are cleaning them consistently to avoid random breakouts. It is a small habit that people tend to forget about, but it makes a noticeable difference.
In my line of work, I come into contact with a lot of different makeup artists, and I am always very careful with who I allow to approach my face and do my makeup, because I really need to trust them. Over time, you just simply see a lot of bad examples, and that's why I usually just do my makeup myself, because I know that all the brushes and makeup has been taken care of properly.