Our skin is so important. Skin is the largest organ of the human body and has many vital purposes. Unfortunately, many of us suffer with acne in varying degrees, and it can have a huge impact on our self-esteem, confidence and overall happiness.
I have tried and tested prescribed creams, contraceptive pills, diets and hundreds of products and natural remedies. I have finally found a routine that works for me, to keep my skin from completely breaking out regularly.
So here they are, my top 10 tips for clearer skin and fighting the breakout fire. I have split them into two sections: General Health and Skincare Routine. The tips I suggest are purely from my own experience. You should always speak to a medical or skincare professional, which I am not.
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General Health
When we think skin, we often think of external remedies. Even though the cause of our skin issues may also be triggered by internal factors. The tips below are not only great for clearer skin, but other overall health benefits. Win win!
Tip 1: Hydration from within
It will come as no surprise (because it is literally the answer to everything), drink plenty of water. 2 litres a day is a good goal to aim for, I find the bigger the bottle the more I am likely to drink, and a bottle with a straw is an absolute game changer.
If guzzling 2l of water is a struggle, try introducing more hydrating foods into your diet. For example, cucumber, celery, watermelons, lettuce, strawberries, oranges, courgettes and tomatoes. Soups and broths are perfect wintery meals for improving hydration.
Bonus tip: Swap out table salt for Pink Himilayan salt. It contains 84 minerals which help our cells absorb water. A large pinch to glass or bottle of water gives an extra boost – honestly it doesn’t taste as bad as it sounds!
Tip 2: Nourishment
Eating lots of fruits and vegetables, particularly those of the orange or dark green and leafy variety is key for clearer skin! If you aren’t a huge fan of fruit and veg (you’re not alone sista), juicing can be a simple way reach your daily quota of vitamins. Check out my pasta sauce recipe perfect for cramming extra veggies into a delicious meal.
Tip 3: Reduce Stress and Sleep
Isn’t it ironic, stress causes our skin to breakout which makes us even more stressed! I notice a genuine correlation between my stress levels and my breakouts. Practising yoga weekly, introducing lots of changes to my lifestyle to improve my sleep, and making a conscious effort to avoid stressful situations or worry spirals (as I like to call them) has had an extremely positive impact on my life – including my skin.
Tip 4: Hormone balance
Exploring how your hormones affect your skin is a great start to understanding your body and what to do to balance your hormones. This is too large a topic to cover in this blog post so I recommend reading Period Repair Manual. A fantastic book teaching about hormones, the impact they have on our bodies and particularly our skin.
Tip 5: Avoid triggers
The obvious things to avoid for clearer skin are alcohol, fried and fatty foods as well as sugary foods and drinks. Sugar carries water out of the body, which is only going to dehydrate our skin. Undoing the hard work we have done to squeeze 2 litres of water into our diet.
Many people find cutting out dairy helps to achieve clearer skin. After trialling a 2 month dairy free diet last year when my breakouts were peaking, I have to admit I saw no improvement in my skin, but that’s just me. Sugar and alcohol on the other hand (particularly white wine) is sure to trigger my oily skin and unwanted breakouts.
Work out what foods or activities, if any, alter the texture and overall health of your skin, and make changes accordingly for a trial period.
Skincare routine
Finding the right skincare routine can be a long process. Everyone’s skin is different and will react negatively or positively to different products and routines. Below is the skincare routine which I have found works for my skin, which is probably leaning to the slightly oily side. I no longer get breakouts, but do still get sporadic very small short lives pimples that don’t really bother me (which I expect are caused by my extended holiday food binges and recent wine intake – we are all human right?).
Tip 6: Double cleansing
Say bye bye to face wipes! It is no secret face wipes are not kind to the skin or the planet. Instead I opt for a gentle make up removing face wash and a clean cloth. I personally love the Garnier Micellar Gel Face Wash. A little coconut oil across the eyelashes helps to free up even the most waterproof mascaras.
The next step was an absolute game-changer for me and rapidly improved my skin. A second cleanse with an electronic facial brush and face wash – morning and night. My favourite at the moment is Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Gel Wash. I picked up my facial brush for under £20 on Groupon, and I use the rubbery bristle brush which is very gentle and anti-bacterial. There is often an urge to exfoliate the hell out of our skin when it is breaking out, or before a big event, but for me, this always has a negative affect on my skin and will cause a breakout.
Tip 7: Face Masks
Choose a weekly face mask and when to use it wisely! Many face masks are designed to draw out impurities and may result in blemishes before the benefit is visible. Drill down on what you need from a mask first and choose one designed for that purpose. Is your skin dry and flakey, oily, inflamed and blemished or just a little dull?
My favourite face mask at the moment is Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Mask. Now I’m going to be honest, it is a little pricey (around £40 a pot), and I tried a few similar cheaper alternatives for a while to avoid the cost. But then I received a sample in a Birch Box and when it ran out I just couldn’t be with out it, it really is that good at preventing blemishes and giving skin a radiant glow. I like to apply this whilst in the bath, so the hot steam opens up my pores and helps the mask get to work.
Tip 8: Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
Once your skin is cleansed, you need to close those pores with a toner. Apple Cider Vinegar Toner balances your skins PH levels by counteractive the often alkaline face wash with acidity. Best bit is it can be made at home. Using an old bottle, add 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar (with The Mother – no not adult supervision, but an element found in some brands such as Bragg) to 4 parts water. Dab it over the face with your fingers or cotton pads.
Tip 9: Blemish Treatment
We all have that go to blemish stick, cream, oil, natural remedy or just good old trusty Sudocrem. For the last two months, I have been using The Ordinary Salicylic Acid on blemish prone areas. Not only do blemishes heal quicker, they also pop up much less often and the inflammatory scarring (those red marks that can linger after a spot) are fading… finally!
Tip 10: Serums, Moisturisers and Oils
So which should you use? All of them! Often we assume that if oil causes spots then we shouldn’t use oil on our skin. Whilst certain skin types may need to avoid using oily products, it may help others. As part of my new skincare routine I use three products which leave my skin hydrated, more supple, clearer and even (dare i say it) ever so slightly glowy.
Serums: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5.
Moisturiser: Various but my favourites to apply in the evening include Polaar Polar Night Cream, Nivia Night Cream and Cetaphil. During the day under my make up, I use The Body Shops Vitamin C Glow Boosting moisturiser which has the non-greasy texture of a serum and is particularly helpful for fading the red scarring I mentioned earlier.
Oil: The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane. I have tried other natural oils such as coconut and Lush products, but these have caused my skin to break out.
So that is it, 10 tips to clearer skin. I hope you find this blog post useful and if you have any questions just get in touch! Share your skincare tips or struggles in the comments or on Instagram @sistablisstribe!
At the core of your soul you have the understanding; you comprehend your power and you comprehend what you needed.