The five bad habits causing your skin to break out

The 5 unexpected bad habits that are giving you acne – from using celeb-endorsed skincare products to not washing your face after the gym

  • Skincare influencer Natalie O’Neill is calling out those in denial about their skin 
  • READ MORE: I did Sober October and was so impressed I may veto the NYE fizz

Acne break outs often come at the worst possible time.

But in your attempt to help your skin, you could actually be causing it to break out, according to London-based TikTok skincare influencer Natalie O’Neill.

Whether it’s dermaplaning to remove tiny hairs and dead skin, or trying out the latest viral skincare trend – you could be making matters worse. 

And influencer Natalie, who shares skincare tips both on TikTok and on her blog, is here to call out those ‘in denial’ about it. 

The skincare has revealed the five things that are causing acne breakouts, from forgetting cleanse after working out with make up on to taking whey protein.

In thinking you’re helping your skin you could actually be causing it to break out, according to TikTok skincare influencer Natalie O’Neill (pictured)

1. Dermaplaning  

The first thing Natalie claims you need to stop doing if you are prone to acne break outs is dermaplaning. 

Dermaplaning is an exfoliation process on the skin – where facial hair and dead skin is removed using a tiny razor. 

‘Dermaplaning is not great for you skin,’ Natalie says. ‘Some people can tolerate it but a lot of people can’t and they will have horrendous acne breakouts after they do it. 

‘If that is you and you are in denial about the fact that dermaplaning is breaking you out, you need to stop dermaplaning or the breakouts are just going to keep coming.’

READ MORE: I did Sober October and was so impressed by how I looked – and felt – that I may veto a NYE glass of bubbly (although my friends think I’m boring) 

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2. Whey protein  

Gym girlies look away now, because your protein fix could be messing with your skin. 

Natalie claims that whey protein ‘really does and really can increase the amount of acne that you’re seeing’.

She said that those who are acne prone and are taking whey protein everyday ‘because you’re going to the gym trying to build a fatty this year’ will likely see an increase in the amount of spots they get. 

‘Especially if you’re having multiple whey protein shakes a day to try and get your protein in and hit your protein goal,’ she added. 

Research has suggested whey protein can encourage the production of hormones known to cause acne.

3. Viral skincare products  

While it’s tempting to jump on each new product that everyone is calling a ‘miracle cure’, sometimes they might not be right for you. 

Natalie says she personally feels that viral skincare products such Weleda’s skin food and the Embryolisse cream concentrate are the ‘biggest acne triggers out there. 

The skin food product is specifically designed for people with very dry, rough skin, while the Embryolisse cream works to hydrate the skin and has actually been popular since the 1950s. 

She said: ‘It does bother me that products like this have gone viral after being around for literally ages because so many people are using them who are acne prone and they are just not the right products for acne prone skin.’ 


The first thing Natalie claims you need to stop doing if you are prone to acne break outs is dermaplaning while the second is your protein fix

4. Picking spots and blackheads  

Many people are guilty of Natalie’s next breakout no-no – picking their spots. 

‘You think you know what you’re doing and you think that if you’re gonna pick the spot before it becomes a big spot you’re going to kill it then therefore not have to deal with the big spot and it’s better for you,’ she said. 

‘It’s not better for you, ask any dermatologist.’

Natalie went on to say that experts claim picking spots actually leads to blotchy, patchy skin, whereas if you leave it and let it heal naturally, you likely won’t be left with a mark. 

5. Wearing make up to the gym and not cleansing afterwards  

It may be tempting to put on a full face of make up to head to the gym – especially if you need a confidence boost or plan to film your workout. 

But if you are getting hot and sweaty with a glam face and forget to properly cleanse afterwards, Natalie claims you are just asking for spots.

She said: ‘It’s completely fine I understand some people do that for confidence reasons.

‘But if you are sweating your a** off and then not going and washing it off afterwards, and just sitting with it on for the rest of the day, all of that make up and oil is hardening in your pores and there is a near-100% chance guarantee that that is causing more acne.’

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