Having clear skin has become increasingly important to me as I grow older and approach my mid-twenties. It is so strange having to say that word because I still am constantly told how young I look. Although most people are trying to maintain that youthfulness, I am at the point where I would like to look my age at this time. Yet genetics can not be helped so I am doing my best to enjoy the skin I am in, and no matter what look you are trying to achieve, clear skin is important! Clear skin gives one a clear face and shows you are past the point of puberty breakouts. It also shows that your skin is healthy and generally makes a good impression in front of anyone. I recently visited a dermatologist because I wanted to clear up a few more areas and I am already seeing improvement. I was prescribed medications to treat my acne but I believe there is more to achieving clear skin than just medications. Here are a few simple steps I incorporate into my daily life to maintain clear skin that I genuinely believe works and wanted to share them with you! You won't even have to touch your wallet if you already have them in the house.
Your face is exposed to all types of pollutants and bacteria in the air alone, which can cause blemishes to appear. If you have oily skin, the natural oils your face makes gradually increases as the day goes by, especially in the heat. You can even add sweat on top of that! Makeup is another factor as it can clog up pores. It is important to wash your face with a mild soap that does not irritate your skin to prevent acne from forming but remember, wash your hands first before your face! Otherwise, you are just transferring the dirt from your hands to your face. I like to use just a Dove soap bar and gently rubbing the soap on my face for at least 15-20 seconds.
After you have washed your face or showered, I find patting your face dry more effective than rubbing your face dry to avoid damaging your skin. Although rubbing your face dry my have become a habit, try to be more conscious of what you are doing. It might sound silly but your face is like your favorite pair of shoes or precious car, but it can not be replaced. When you rub your face, you may damage your skin by accidentally popping a pimple or cause further irritation to any dry spots.
I find this one of the most challenging things to do because honestly, drinking plain water is boring and makes you run to the bathroom frequently. Yet our bodies are mostly made of water so it goes without saying that staying hydrated is obviously important for the skin. People say that you should drink at least half your body weight in fluid ounces per day. However, if you can not do that, I say just drink as much water as you can. I like to drink water from water bottles because it allows you to figure out how much you drink. A regular water bottle is about 16 fluid ounces. I went a week of drinking more water because I was sick and not only did I get better, but I noticed my skin was smoother and some of my blemishes were disappearing faster.
When you are sitting at a desk and trying to get some work done, it is difficult not to touch your face. The more you touch your face, the more oils and bacteria transfer to your skin, thus causing breakouts. To avoid this, it is all about being conscious of what you are doing. If it can not be helped, try resting your hand on your hair rather than your face. I do this when I am lying down and don't have a pillow. You can also turn this into a game for yourself! Every time you touch your face, drink water.
I can not repeat this enough. Oils and bacteria transfer everywhere, including pillows so you must change them into clean sheets on a regular basis. You lie down on your pillow every night and even though you washed your face before heading to bed, there are microscopic particles that can cause acne.
The next time you eat, pay attention to what causes your skin to break out. You may not realize it until a few days later so take note. Most people don't remember what they ate two days ago. I noticed that when I eat too many peanuts or chocolate, white heads begin to form here and there. They say that you are what you eat, and I think this is particularly true in regards to your skin.
This is for all the makeup lovers out there. If you plan on trying out new makeup products or plan on changing your routine, be aware that your skin may react to it. I notice that sometimes when I try out a new foundation, my skin gets new blemishes the new day. Your skin may not like the ingredients in the product so avoid trying too many different things, or stick with what works best.
You may not know it but keeping your skin moisturized is more essential than you think. I used to skip this step because I always believed, oh I have oily skin already so putting moisturizer would make it oilier. However, the reason your skin secretes more oils is because it is not being moisturized so moisturizing helps maintain the amount of oil made. SPF is important because it prevents dark spots from forming due to the sun. The sun can also cause acne spots to darken more if not protected. Note that even if you are in the shade or indoors, you can still be exposed to the sun indirectly.
I sometimes get lazy to do this but I know it is true. Your makeup brushes become filthy after constant use so cleaning them at least every two weeks prevents the bacteria from spreading. I like to clean my brushes with any cleanser I have laying around, then leaving them to air dry. You will also know if it is time to clean your brushes when you start to see blemishes forming where you put on the most makeup with it. After a while, I notice acne where I put my contour, which is at the hollows of my cheeks.
Last but not least, don't try to pop those pimples yourself! Unless you know what you are doing or having a specialist do it, it is better to leave it alone and put up with it. Popping the pimple yourself could cause more bacteria to go to it and leave permanent scars. I have scars til today from my years of hormonal acne that leave indentations in your skin. If you have acne prone skin, treat yourself to a facial once a month or every other month to have those pimples extracted. For home treatment, try spot treatments/drying lotions. Otherwise, visit a dermatologist to find treatment suited for you!
Disclaimer: Please note that I am not an expert in skincare nor do I specialize in the area. I am just sharing tips I find useful and maybe you may find them useful too.
Let me know if you use any of these steps yourself or have tried them! I hope you enjoyed these tips as much as I enjoyed putting this post together. I love hearing feedback. Feel free to share any of your tips as well.
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