How to get clear skin: tips to address acne-prone skin
For many of us, the path to achieving clear skin can be a turbulent one. There are a number of factors that can easily trigger skin. Acne or other skin blemishes, such as blackheads or whiteheads, are highly common skin conditions that are likely to impact all of us at some time or another. They tend to affect areas with the most oil glands, such as the face, neck, chest, upper arms, or back.
The condition of acne is often associated with hormones, so it’s important to understand the impact that hormone cycles can have on your skin. Nonetheless, clear skin is achievable for everyone as long as you avoid clogged pores, remove dead skin cells, find a routine that works for you and understand what triggers your breakouts.
So, if you’re asking yourself, “How can I make my skin clear?” or “How to get clear skin fast?”, we’ve got some helpful tips.
Health and lifestyle choices
Your health and lifestyle choices have a huge impact on your skin. So, how can you get smooth skin? What are the main factors?
●Sun care: One of the most important ways to maintain healthy skin is to protect yourself from the sun, UV rays, and subsequent sun damage. Inadequate sun care can worsen acne and damage your skin, so it’s essential to use an SPF above factor 15. Wearing protective clothing and staying out of the sun during peak hours also helps to protect your skin.
●Stop smoking: Smoking is highly detrimental to your skin. It makes the skin look older and contributes to wrinkles, narrows blood vessels which depletes blood flow, and reduces both collagen and elastin levels. What’s more, smoking will also increase your risk of skin cancer.
●Gentle care: Using the wrong products or techniques in your daily cleansing can take a toll on your skin. To ensure that your skincare regime is kind and gentle, it’s important to avoid strong scents and soaps, to pat dry after, and to moisturize soon after cleansing. This will help you to keep moisture locked into your skin.
●Healthy eating: A balanced diet is vital for maintaining clear and healthy skin. While research surrounding acne and diet is not fully clear, it does seem that a diet rich in fish oil, fresh vegetables, and foods low in processed fats, sugars, and refined carbohydrates is beneficial for the skin. Drinking plenty of water is also recommended to keep your skin looking well.
●Stress: Our emotional state and stress can be a huge contributor to the clearness of our skin. It’s a good idea to take steps to reduce stress; make a list of the things you need to do or, alternatively, find ways to enjoy the things that relax you. By maintaining a balanced mood, you are more likely to keep your skin balanced too.
STEP 1: CLEANSE; STEP 2: MOISTURIZE
The importance of maintaining a good skincare routine
Maintaining clear skin requires a commitment to a regular skincare regime to promote healthier and smoother skin. The first step is to understand what type of skin you have. From there, you can build a routine that works for you and understand how to hydrate your skin as well as keeping it well-maintained.
To find out what skin type you have and identify the best products to use on it, use our Skincare Finder.
Routinely washing and exfoliating your face
In general, it’s important to wash your face twice a day. Acne often happens due to oils and dead skin cells being trapped under the skin, so ensuring that you regularly cleanse and exfoliate allows your skin to breathe and let bacteria out.
Regularly cleaning makeup brushes
Many people tend to forget to wash their makeup brushes. The amount of bacteria that can mount up on them means that cleaning them regularly is a significant factor in keeping your skin clear. Regular washing should be at the top of the list for clear skin tips.
Cleansers and moisturizers - how can each one help?
Daily cleansing of the skin is a must, even if you don’t wear makeup, as it’s typical for impurities or dirt to add up. Dead skin cells also add to the likelihood of acne or other blemishes, so using a cleanser helps to mitigate this risk.
Moisturizer helps keep your skin fresh and well-maintained by keeping moisture locked in your skin and protecting it against dryness and associated conditions.
It’s always advised to establish a skincare routine that works best for you: using the right cleansers and moisturizers for your skin type.
Which products are best for acne-prone skin?
Acne is a highly common skin problem that most of us suffer at one time or another. Regardless of skin types, it can often leave us questioning, “Why is my face breaking out?”. The first step to addressing breakouts is understanding the difference between oily, dry or combination skin.
Some products are particularly suited to acne prone skin, a board certified dermatologist may recommend some for you. Cleansing your skin regularly helps to remove the accumulated oil and dead skin cells that contribute to acne. A compromised skin barrier can lead to an overproduction of oil and further breakouts, so keeping the oil in your skin and in check is important. Products that contain salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid also work well with acne prone skin.
