This is an article that covers tips and tricks to achieve better, clearer skin!
True beauty starts from a clean and clear palate. With all the advances in modern technology and the great products on the market, we all should be privy to the luxury of beautiful skin. Getting there is half the battle and it is important to remember that beautiful skin doesn’t occur overnight. If you are prone to break-outs and oil, it can be an uphill battle. But if you stay dedicated to a skin care regimen you will be sure to see results in 2-3 weeks.
1) Be gentle
a. Although exfoliation does a great job to remove dead particles off of your skin, there is no reason why you need to be buffering your face every day and night. Many exfoliates on the market contain little pieces of sand that actually leave little micro cuts on your skin, causing more harm than good. You should look for an exfoliate that contains beads or round balls and that works to gently remove dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin. Also make sure to avoid the extremely delicate area around your eyes as irritating this area can speed up the aging process.
2) Wash your face
a. Wash your face at least one a day. If you are someone who wears a lot of heavy foundation it is important that you stick to this rule. You should wash your face before you go to bed at night. In the morning it is not completely necessary to wash your face with a product as this can strip your face of the natural oils and make your skin extra dry. You may want to splash your face in the morning with lukewarm water and pat dry- just to rid yourself of anything that has formed overnight.
3) Keep your pillowcases clean
a. This is a major one. Even if you wash your face before you lay your head on the pillow every night, there is bound to be oil and makeup residual that builds up within the fibers of your sheets. It is important that you wash or change your pillowcases every week to ensure your best chances clear skin.
4) Wash your make-up brushes
a. Make-up artists would never touch your face with dirty brushes, so why are you? You should wash your brushes at least once every two weeks. Bristles on your make-up brushes get down in the pores of your skin and can soak up oil extremely fast. When you continue to use the same unwashed brushes every day you are redistributing germs and oil on your face and onto your make-up products. Have you ever noticed an oil glean on your brush or bronzer palettes? That is because you are using a dirty brush! Run hot water and a little bit of soup (or brush cleaner if you have it) and stand your brushes bristle side up to dry.
5) Stop touching your face!
a. You have no idea where your hands have been. Especially if you work at an office with a lot of people or at a desk with a keyboard. Your hands are full of germs, regardless if you are washing them. Touching your face is a surefire way to instigate irritation and breakouts.
6) Wear SPF foundation or tinted moisturizer
a. The suns UV rays are attacking your skin- even through the clouds. Don’t let bad weather fool you into thinking that your skin isn’t being exposed to some sort of sun. It is important to protect your skin and neck from undue sun exposure whenever possible. This means wearing a foundation or tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 or above every single day. IN the days that you are going to be frying in the sun, kick it up to SPF 30 and keep re-applying!
7) Wash your face after the gym
a. Here is a caveat to the “wash your face one time a day rule.” If you are someone who constantly sweats or goes to the gym every day it is crucial for you to wash your face after you are done working out. Why? Those beads of sweat are settling into your pores and not allowing them to breathe! When you wait hours to wash your face after you go to the gym you are irritating your skin and instigating break-outs. Make sure to travel with your preferred face wash AND lotion and wash your face after you work out.
8) Stick with your regimen!
a. Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you want your skin to clear up then you are going to have to stick to a regimen for longer than that. It usually takes two to three weeks to see any sort of improvement or change in your skin, so don’t be discouraged! When you bounce around product to product you aren’t giving yourself the proper chance to make a real change. Don’t worry you will see some results.
i. IF you are sticking with a regimen and don’t see any results within a month, try going to a trained professional (dermatologist) as your skin care issues may be better cared for by someone with skincare education.
