Given the never-ending stream of beauty products and health tips we come across on social media every day, it’s understandable if you’ve ever felt confused about what you should (and what you shouldn’t!) be doing to feel and look your best. That’s where the list comes in, which was curated to help navigate questionable habits — from the slightly obvious, like using a toner that contains drying alcohol, to the common culprits you’ve never even thought about. Curious to know if you’re accidentally damaging your skin or body? Check out the easy solutions, ahead.

If you’re still relying on a physical scrub that uses abrasive ingredients (like walnut shells, for example) to exfoliate your skin, you’re probably doing more harm than good. That’s because scrubs with larger granules can be too harsh (especially for those with sensitive skin), leaving behind skin that’s red and inflamed rather than smooth and radiant . But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on exfoliating entirely. To maximize on the benefits of sloughing away dead skin cells while minimizing the risk of irritation, switch to a chemical exfoliant like this one. There’s a 2% concentration of salicylic acid in this liquid exfoliant, which is able to penetrate more deeply into your pores to clear out debris that can lead to blackheads and acne, and promote a generally smoother, clearer complexion.

Whether you work on a laptop or you spend more time than you should scrolling TikTok on your phone, staring at a screen all day can lead to headaches, blurred vision, and eye irritation. The condition has become so prevalent that it’s been dubbed computer vision syndrome (CVS for short), and it can seem kind of impossible to avoid. If quitting your job and moving to a remote island isn’t an option, try to ease eye strain by wearing a pair of blue light blocking glasses, which work to decrease the amount of blue light to which your eyes are exposed. These glasses come in square and round frames and in multiple colors, and for less than $10. Of course, since the science is still lacking regarding the efficacy of blue light blocking glasses, you’ll also want to adopt some better screen practices like sitting 25 inches away from the screen and taking a break every 20 minutes to look at an object that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Another way you can potentially help yourself out — especially if you’re not into the idea of wearing glasses — is with this blue light blocking screen protector. Similar to the screen protector you probably have for your phone to prevent the screen from cracking should you drop it, this clear filter was designed to be installed over your laptop screen to minimize blue light exposure (and the eye irritation that it causes). You can choose from different filter sizes depending on your laptop, and it promises to adhere to your screen without creating any annoying bubbles. Plus, it’s resistant to scratches and fingerprints.

As essential as sunscreen is for minimizing your risk of developing skin cancer and visible damage, it’s a step that’s tempting to skip when you’ve yet to find a sunscreen that doesn’t feel like you’re wearing sunscreen. This multi-tasking SPF 50 formula wears like a moisturizer, thanks to a smoothing combo of argan oil, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, which impart skin with a dewy finish that doesn’t feel oily or greasy. There’s also niacinamide in the fragrance-free formula, which contributes antioxidant protection while nourishing the skin and helping to fade unwanted hyperpigmentation. But most importantly of all, it shields skin from both UVA and UVB rays with chemical sunscreen filters that provide you with broad-spectrum SPF 50 (though you do still need to reapply it every two hours if you’re outside).

The jury may still be out as to whether or not getting frequent gel manicures raises your risk of developing skin cancer, but one thing that’s certain is that it’s damaging your nails. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, gel manicures lead to nail peeling, cracking, and brittleness — especially if you’re getting back-to-back gel manicures without taking a break in between. Whether you’re ready to replace your gels entirely or you’re looking for a less-damaging alternative to try in between appointments, consider this gel-like polish that you can use at home sans UV light. The two-product system was designed so that you only need to apply two thin coats of your color and the top coat (allowing each coat to fully dry first) for a high-shine manicure that’s chip-resistant for up to eight days. Because there’s no UV light involved, the polish is easy to remove, which means less damage to your nails and more opportunity to try new colors.

That gel damage mentioned earlier is exacerbated by picking your polish off (as opposed to soaking it in acetone for 10 to 15 minutes). And while I’ve personally been guilty of picking at and peeling my gel manicure off in the past, I know firsthand that taking the extra time to properly remove it makes a world of difference. If you don’t have the tools at home, this gel remover kit gives you everything you need to get started, minus the actual acetone remover, which you’ll need to purchase separately. That said, the color-coordinated kit does come with a double-sided file to file away the surface seal of the polish, 114 polish remover pads to soak in acetone, 10 nail clips to secure the saturated pads in place while you wait for the acetone to break down the polish, a cuticle pusher that gently scrapes away the polish, and a buffer brush and file to smooth the surface of your nails afterwards.

One of the easiest things you can do for yourself when trying to make healthier lifestyle choices is to ensure that you’re drinking enough water. Rather than play a guessing game with your drinking glass or reusable bottle, you can track your progress throughout the day with this 1-gallon bottle that’s marked according to the time and how many ounces/milliliters you should be drinking. (FYI, according to the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, men should generally aim to drink around 125 ounces of water daily, and women should drink around 91 ounces of water.) You can choose from more than a dozen colors, but each of the reusable bottles was designed with a drinking handle and carrying strap, plus, it comes with two lid options — one for sipping right out of the bottle and one with a silicone straw attached.

Relying on disposable face wipes to remove your makeup daily is not only wasteful, but experts agree that they’re not fully cleaning your face either. Since healthy skin starts with proper cleansing to rid skin of makeup, sunscreen, and debris that accumulates during the day, committing to a double-cleanse helps to guarantee a more thorough cleanse. This double-cleanse set comes with a lightweight facial........

© Mic