Listen to Story In the quest to live those movie-inspired romantic moments IRL, we often ignore the red flags in our partner. They may be toxic, but we only realise that after it's too late. The same is true when it comes to skincare.

We all dream of having flawless and radiant skin, and while we buy all the viral products and try every DIY (do-it-yourself) hack available online, we ignore the red flags that do more harm than good. India Today got in touch with a few skin experts and asked them to list out such skincare red flags. "Using harsh scrubs or products with gritty pieces like walnut shells can scratch and irritate your skin," says Dr DM Mahajan, senior consultant, dermatology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi.

Instead of using such products, you can use gentle chemical exfoliators with ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) to remove dead skin cells gently. Adding to this, Dr Sravya C Tipirneni, consultant dermatologist, cosmetologist, and trichologist, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore, suggests that you should avoid using harsh ingredients like strong fragrances, alcohol, and sulphates as they can irritate and damage your skin barrier. Always opt for gentle formulas with soothing and nourishing ingredients.

Look for fragrance-free and gentle products labelled 'hypoallergenic' or 'non-comedogenic'. While we all know that applying sunscreen, even indoors, is important, we often skip this crucial step in our routine very casually..