11 Common Hygiene Mistakes That Women Make (And The Products That Can Help)

Appearus Compressed Natural Cellulose Facial Sponges, $25, Amazon

Removing a bit of dead surface skin every once in a while is OK, but over-exfoliating your face leads to broken blood vessels under the skin, slow cell turnover, dryness, irritation, inflammation, and premature aging. Appearus facial sponges come in a pack of 50 compressed disks, and they’re made from a soft, natural mix of pulp and fibers like cotton. They’re reusable, incredible when it comes to removing makeup and dead skin, puff up with water, and reviewers say they’re “gentle enough not to rip up your skin like a lot of non-chemical cheaper exfoliators… but give you just enough extra cleaning power to gently slough away dead skin.”

MelodySusie Brush Cleaner, $9, Amazon

Makeup brushes chill out on your countertop, roll around in your makeup bag, and then get rubbed all around your face. They’re a storehouse for dirt, oil, and bacteria (not to mention synthetic makeup buildup), so clean your brushes at least once a month with the MelodySusie Brush Cleaner. It’s a cute apple-shaped mat with four distinct textures and an opening for four fingers, so it’s easy to hold and easy to use. It’s great for removing makeup residue and bacteria, and works on any size brush of any softness. “This is in a word… brilliant,” wrote one reviewer. “It cleaned my brushes so much faster than just washing by hand and they retained their shape much better.”

Oral Essentials Mouthwash, $11, Amazon

Mouthwash made with alcohol can easily backfire on you. Yes, it kills bacteria, but it also causes your mouth to dry out, and saliva is necessary for flushing out bacteria, odors, and toxins. Oral Essentials mouthwash skips the alcohol and other drying ingredients. Instead it uses dead sea salt, aloe vera, and essential oils to cleanse and freshen your mouth. Most reviewers say the taste is pleasant and refreshing, and that it leaves your mouth “feeling clean and healthy.”

Pecham Water Flosser, $40, Amazon

Flossing is perhaps even more important than brushing because it removes the hard-to-reach precursors to tartar, which lead to tooth decay and tooth loss. However, most Americans skip this step because it’s difficult, uncomfortable, and time-consuming. If that’s you, try the Pecham water flosser. It’s lightweight, compact, and rechargeable, and it sprays a powerful stream of water that removes tartar, plaque, and buildup between teeth. Reviewers say, “This is so much more convenient and cleaner than traditional dental floss.”