Most of us love a good skincare routine. A spritz of a milky toner here, a serum there, a mask in between.
For me, it's a tiny ritual before I open my inbox and launch into a day filled with big and little screens. And at night, it's my signal that I'm finally home and can cosy up while I catch up on the latest episode of Big Brother.
The thing is, we can use all the right products and do all the right rituals, but we can still fall into habits that quietly work against us. So let's get into the skincare mistakes you might not realise are creeping into your routine, and how to get on top of them.
We all tend to fixate on whatever is happening on the surface. The pimple that popped up overnight. The uneven skin tone. The smile lines… the list goes on. But overall skin health is not just about what you can see in the mirror.
A lot of it comes down to what is happening on the inside, especially your collagen levels, which naturally drop as we get older. When that happens, it can show up in so many ways on the skin. Like loss of elasticity, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, a bit of volume loss and reduced firmness.
Ingestible collagen is an option plenty of us can overlook (given it's confusing to even know where to start), yet it works hand in hand with your topical skincare routine — targeting not just your skin, but also your hair, nails, gut health and even energy levels.
The Collagen Co range is a great place to begin — it's like skincare you can drink, without it feeling like a whole chore. The powders dissolve easily into water or whichever smoothie you're loyal to at the moment.
They're raved about online, particularly for their formulas: they're science-backed, effective and taste like a treat, so they can slot in easily with your daily routine to support your skin goals.
Their bestseller, the Premium Collagen Powder range, blends hydrolysed collagen peptides with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and biotin. Sound familiar? It's intended to support hair, nail and skin health, and 93 per cent of women The Collagen Co surveyed said they noticed visible results.
They've also built out a whole line-up of collagen-infused products designed to slot into different parts of your day. Think Super Beauty Greens for gut support to Beautiful Energy for a clean energy lift. Basically, whatever you're trying to tackle, there's a collagen-infused something to help you glow from the inside out.
People get strangely enthusiastic about exfoliating. And by "people," I mean me. I am people. For years, I thought perfect skin was something I could scrub or acid peel my way into.
Don't get me wrong, exfoliation is effective when done correctly. It can boost radiance, smooth texture and help products absorb better. But our barriers aren't Marvel characters. They can't endlessly regenerate. So, when you overdo it, your skin slides into panic mode, resulting in redness, irritation, tightness and breakouts.
The solve? Treat exfoliation like leg day… important, but not every day. Twice a week is plenty for most skin types.
Your skin barrier is not just a science term the internet made up. It's the first line of defence between your face and the chaos of the world (heat, wind, pollution and office air-con blasting Arctic temperatures). When your skin barrier is compromised, your skin can look tired, dull, rough and uneven.
Rebuilding it can be boring, but transformative. Stick to gentle cleansers, hydrating toners and moisturisers filled with ceramides, peptides and fatty acids. Keep your routine gentle and minimal for a few weeks. Cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen and that's it — only add actives back in slowly.
I love a "treat yourself" moment as much as the next woman. But layering 10 serums is not it. Products are formulated to work on their own or with complementary ingredients. Too many at once leads to pilling, irritation and your skin freaking out because it cannot work out what to respond to.
If your bathroom shelf looks like you've just cleared out a beauty sale, skin cycling like the below is the easiest way to stop your face from staging a full-blown revolt.
Night one: Exfoliation, so use AHAs, BHAs or a gentle enzyme to smooth and prep.
Night two: Retinol. Your big hitter. Follow with a very hydrating moisturiser.
Nights three and four: Recovery, so hydrate and repair with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and a rich moisturiser.
Night five: Your pick. Keep it gentle or start the cycle again if your skin can handle it.
This keeps you consistent, avoids irritation and lets your products actually work together instead of fighting for attention.
Sunscreen is the one non-negotiable in every routine. Morning skincare without SPF is like making your bed but leaving the doona on the floor. Technically, an effort was made, but not really.
The Australian sun doesn't play games, even in winter. Cloudy day? SPF. Office job near a window? SPF. Quick supermarket run? SPF. The UV rays doing the most damage don't care that you "weren't really outside."
The trick is finding one you actually enjoy using. Ideally, high protection (50+), something that sits nicely under makeup, feels lightweight and doesn't sting your eyes. Keep it next to your moisturiser so it becomes muscle memory rather than a chore.
We're all victims of instant gratification. If a product doesn't transform our face within 48 hours, we decide it's useless. In reality, most formulas need at least four to 12 weeks to show visible results, and skin barrier repair needs slow, steady repetition. Switching to a brand-new product every few days means you're constantly resetting your progress.
My rule is simple. If I finish the bottle and still see nothing, it's going straight to the skincare graveyard. Until then, I commit. Your skin will reward patience, even if your brain keeps chasing the dopamine hit of something new.
Most of these aren't really mistakes. They're simply habits we fall into because life is busy, marketing is loud and everyone on the internet has an opinion about your pores. The real results come from simplifying, being consistent and choosing routines that actually fit your life.
Shop The Collagen Co range.
Feature Image: Supplied.
