A packed holiday schedule is no excuse for wrecked skin, and a new round of advice from dermatologists makes clear that several everyday habits are doing more harm than good. Dermatologist Houshmand, alongside Joshua Zeichner of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and Susan Taylor of the University of Pennsylvania, flag five things to quit.
First, hot showers. Steaming water strips the skin's natural fats and oils, weakening the skin barrier and ramping up dryness and irritation — especially in autumn and winter. Lukewarm is the goal, and if you can't face it straight away, ease your skin toward cooler temperatures over time. The best moment for moisturiser is straight after showering, while skin is still damp, to lock hydration in. The occasional hot shower won't hurt most people without sensitive skin.
Second, overcomplicated routines. Stacking actives — an AHA exfoliant, a retinoid, a vitamin C serum — can irritate skin and cancel out the benefits. Houshmand keeps it to roughly three products in the morning and three at night: cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen by day; cleanser, serum, moisturiser at night. Zeichner warns against over-washing and scrubbing too: twice a day with a gentle hydrating cleanser is plenty, and that 'squeaky-clean' feeling actually signals post-wash dryness. If you must double cleanse, go water-based first, then oil-based. Pick one type of exfoliator — chemical or physical — never both.
Third, sleeping in make-up or sunscreen. Clogged pores, irritation and breakouts follow when oil, sweat and pollution sit on your face all night. When a full routine isn't realistic — say, after a long-haul flight — micellar water on a cotton pad is a decent stand-in, and make-up wipes are better than nothing if you choose a sensitive-skin formula.
Fourth, popping pimples. Squeezing pushes oil and bacteria deeper under the skin, which can mean more inflammation, infection, dark marks or permanent scars. Instead, try pimple patches to stop picking, or spot-treat with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids or sulphur-based pastes. Anything large, painful or warm to the touch warrants a dermatologist.
Finally, the 'natural' trap. Products labelled natural or clean aren't automatically gentler — essential oils, botanicals and fragrances can trigger irritation or allergic contact dermatitis, even in moisturisers, shampoos and deodorants. People with eczema, rosacea or sensitive skin should look for gentle, fragrance-free formulas that support the skin barrier rather than trusting marketing labels. The dermatologists' overall point: a good routine is individual, short and consistent — which is exactly what you want when you're living out of a suitcase.