5 Skin Habits to Leave Behind This Year

The Science-Backed Approach to Better Skin in 2026

Healthy skin isn’t the result of a single product or one appointment, it’s the outcome of cumulative decisions made over time. What you apply daily, how you treat inflammation, when you intervene with professional treatments, and how you support your body internally all influence how your skin ages, repairs, and responds.

As we move into 2026, we’re leaving behind outdated habits that undermine skin health and replacing them with strategies supported by dermatologic science and clinical experience. At Scrubd Esthetics, education is foundational, because informed clients make better decisions and achieve better results.

Below, we break down five common habits that quietly sabotage skin health, explain why they matter biologically, and outline how we approach them clinically.

OUT: Skipping Sunscreen

IN: Daily UV Protection That Preserves Collagen

Ultraviolet radiation is the primary external driver of premature skin aging, a process known as photoaging. While UVB rays are responsible for visible sunburns, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the dermis, where collagen, elastin, and fibroblasts live.

Over time, repeated UVA exposure:

• Degrades collagen fibers through increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity
  
  
• Weakens elastin, leading to laxity and fine lines
  
  
• Triggers melanocyte overactivity, resulting in pigmentation and uneven tone
  
  
• Creates chronic, low-grade inflammation that accelerates aging at a cellular level
  
  

This damage occurs daily, regardless of season, temperature, or cloud cover, and it directly counteracts the results of corrective treatments like lasers, chemical peels, and injectables.

Why daily SPF is non-negotiable:

• Preserves collagen and elastin integrity
  
  
• Reduces cumulative pigment formation
  
  
• Protects treatment results and prolongs their longevity
  
  
• Supports barrier stability and skin resilience

At Scrubd we recommend Skinbetter Tone Smart SPF for broad-spectrum, mineral-based protection with adaptive tinting that blends seamlessly into the skin, and Sheer Tone Smart SPF for patients who prefer a lighter, ultra-breathable finish.

✨ SPF is the baseline of any effective anti-aging plan. Book a consultation to determine the right medical-grade sunscreen for your skin type and goals.

OUT: Picking at Your Skin

IN: Barrier Preservation and Controlled Acne Treatment

Picking, squeezing, or manipulating blemishes disrupts the skin’s epidermal barrier, which plays a critical role in regulating inflammation, moisture retention, and microbial balance. When the barrier is compromised, healing slows and inflammation intensifies.

From a physiologic standpoint, picking:

• Increases inflammatory mediators in the skin
  
  
• Pushes bacteria deeper into follicles
  
  
• Triggers melanocyte activation, increasing risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
  
  
• Raises the likelihood of permanent collagen disruption and scarring
  
  

Even minimal or “gentle” picking prolongs the acne lifecycle and converts temporary inflammation into long-term damage.

What actually clears acne:

• Reducing inflammation at the follicular level
  
  
• Regulating oil production and bacterial load
  
  
• Supporting barrier repair so the skin can heal efficiently
  
  
• Using consistent, medical-grade protocols rather than reactive treatment
  
  

Acne Bootcamp with Aiva is a structured, education-based acne program that combines professional treatments, personalized home care, and ongoing guidance to address acne at its root, not just the surface.

✨ Ready for a smarter approach to acne? Book a consultation with Aiva to start Acne Bootcamp.

OUT: Waiting Too Long to Address Collagen Loss

IN: Proactive Collagen-Stimulating Treatments

Collagen degradation begins as early as the mid-20s, declining approximately 1% per year, often before visible aging appears. By the time laxity, thinning skin, or volume changes are noticeable, a significant portion of structural support has already been lost.

Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, collagen-stimulating treatments work by activating fibroblasts to rebuild the skin’s internal framework gradually. This leads to improved tissue quality, not just temporary volume.

Benefits of early collagen stimulation:

• Increased dermal thickness and elasticity
  
  
• Improved skin firmness and structural integrity
  
  
• Subtle, natural-looking volume restoration
  
  
• Slower progression of age-related changes
  
  

Scrubd Treatment recommendations:

• Sculptra® stimulates natural collagen production over time for long-lasting improvement
  
  
• CollagenSculpt™ uses laser technology to encourage collagen remodeling and tissue tightening
  
  

✨ Collagen loss doesn’t wait and neither should your plan. Book a consultation to determine the right collagen-stimulating approach for you.

OUT: Treating Neurotoxin as an “Upper-Face-Only” Solution

IN: Strategic, Full-Face Neurotoxin for Long-Term Facial Balance

For years, neurotoxin treatments were largely limited to the forehead and crow’s feet. But we now understand that aging is driven just as much by muscle movement as it is by skin quality and that movement happens across the entire face.

The lower face including the jawline, chin, perioral region, and platysmal connections is especially affected by repetitive motion. 

Over time, these forces contribute to:

• Downward pull on the facial tissues
  
  
• Etched lines around the mouth and chin
  
  
• Changes in jawline definition
  
  
• Imbalance between upper and lower facial movement
  
  

Modern aesthetic medicine has shifted away from isolated treatment zones and toward global facial balance. Neurotoxin is no longer just about freezing lines, it’s about modulating muscle activity in a way that supports healthier aging.

When neurotoxin is placed strategically across the full face, it can:

• Reduce excessive muscle tension that accelerates wrinkle formation
  
  
• Minimize repetitive stress on the skin during everyday facial movement
  
  
• Help preserve collagen by limiting constant folding and compression
  
  
• Improve longevity and performance of dermal fillers and collagen-stimulating treatments
  
  
• Support a more harmonious, balanced aging pattern over time
  
  

Scrubd Treatment Recommendation

At Scrubd Esthetics, neurotoxin treatments with Lindsay are designed around facial anatomy, movement patterns, and long-term outcomes, not one-size-fits-all dosing. Each plan is individualized to soften overactive muscles while preserving natural expression and facial character.

✨ Preventative and corrective lower-face neurotoxin can play a key role in maintaining structure, balance, and skin integrity as we age.

Schedule a consultation to create a personalized, full-face treatment plan.

OUT: Delaying Weight Loss Support Until “Later”

IN: Medically Guided Metabolic Optimization

Skin health doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s deeply influenced by what’s happening internally. Insulin regulation, systemic inflammation, and hormonal balance all play a critical role in how the skin ages, heals, and responds to aesthetic treatments.

When metabolic function is dysregulated, the skin often shows it first through persistent breakouts, slowed healing, increased sensitivity, and a dull or uneven complexion. Chronic inflammation and insulin resistance can also interfere with collagen production and impair results from injectables, lasers, and skin treatments.

This is where GLP-1–based medical weight management has changed the conversation.

GLP-1 medications work by:

• Improving insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation
  
  
• Reducing systemic inflammation linked to acne, pigmentation, and skin aging
  
  
• Supporting appetite regulation and metabolic efficiency
  
  
• Promoting sustainable fat loss while preserving lean mass when properly guided

When used under medical supervision, GLP-1 therapy can help create a more stable internal environment, allowing the skin to heal more efficiently and respond more predictably to aesthetic care.

Medically supervised weight management may support:

• Improved metabolic and hormonal balance
  
  
• Reduction in chronic, low-grade inflammation
  
  
• Better outcomes and longevity from injectables and laser treatments
  
  
• Increased energy, confidence, and overall skin clarity
  
  

At Scrubd Esthetics, our Weight Loss Program is fully individualized and medically guided, incorporating GLP-1 therapy when appropriate and focusing on long-term metabolic health, not quick fixes. Treatment plans are designed to complement aesthetic goals while supporting whole-body wellness.

✨ When the body is supported, the skin responds.
For the month of January, we’re offering a complimentary weight loss consultation plus a $99 credit toward your first month of treatment.

Schedule a consultation with our lead nurse practitioner to learn more about our medically guided metabolic optimization options.

The Scrubd Standard

Exceptional skin isn’t built through excess, it’s built through education, precision, and consistency. When treatments are selected with intention and habits are guided by science, results become more natural, more predictable, and more enduring.

At Scrubd, we believe in a smarter approach to aesthetics, one that prioritizes long-term skin health over trends, and thoughtful planning over quick fixes. Every recommendation is rooted in anatomy, physiology, and an understanding of how skin truly ages.

If you’re stepping into 2026 ready for a more informed, elevated approach to skincare, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

✨ Schedule a personalized consultation at Scrubd Esthetics and create a plan designed for lasting skin health.

📍 20550 Rte 19, Unit 24, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
📧 scrubdesthetics@gmail.com
💻 www.scrubdesthetics.com
📱 412-407-7762