We’ve all seen it. You’re following along with your favorite beauty influencer’s perfect morning routine – cleanser, toner, moisturizer – and then, it happens: the dropper dramatically glides across their face as they dispense their go-to serum. It might look aesthetically pleasing, but, to an expert esthetician, this action is like nails on a chalkboard.
As tempting as it may be, dragging that dropper across your skin is a big no-no. Here’s why: every time you let your dropper make contact with your face, you’re introducing a host of potential problems. Not only a bacterial nightmare, this habit can seriously compromise the effectiveness of your products and potentially trigger more skin issues.
What are the risks of touching a skin care dropper to your face?
Our skin naturally produces sebum, an oily substance that protects and hydrates our skin. While sebum is essential, an excess of it can lead to clogged pores, dullness, and, you guessed it — breakouts. When you drag a dropper across your skin, you transfer this excess sebum – along with any dead skin cells, makeup residue and bacteria – to your dropper and then to your product. This contamination reduces the efficacy of your formulas and can introduce bacteria into your skin care, worsening current skin concerns and causing new ones.
Can this make acne worse?
If you have acne prone skin, using a contaminated dropper can be particularly detrimental. Doing so turns your skin into a potential breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. Each time you apply the contaminated product, you’re reintroducing these irritants to your skin, which can increase inflammation and lead to more frequent, severe breakouts. The natural balance of your skin’s barrier can also be disrupted, leading to even more issues.
How to correctly use skin care droppers
- Place the dropper into the formula bottle and squeeze the top to draw the product up.
- Remove the dropper from the bottle and dispense several drops into your clean hand, following the formula’s dosage suggestion.
- Place the dropper back inside the bottle – never let it touch your sink or any other surface that could introduce bacteria.
- Gently pat your face, allowing the formula to effectively absorb into your skin.
- Apply your favorite moisturizer and/or sunscreen.
