Plot twist: All this expensive makeup that I was slapping onto my face was the very reason why my skin was constantly breaking out!!!
When I entered college, I decided to push skin-care first and beauty second as a way to let my skin recover while also embracing my acne scars and red spots. I've been following the same simple skin-care routine for over a year now, and I'm happy to say that my skin has never looked so clear and healthy in many, many years.
Here are some of my skin saviors that helped my skin become better, and may also help yours:
1. DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE!!!
Honestly, this is the key to lessening both acne and acne scars. And trust me, if you're an addicted face-picker like myself, breaking this habit is probably one of the hardest things to do. I don't know how many times a day I used to pick at my skin either out of pure boredom or because of stress, though ever since I stopped picking at my face, I haven't broken out badly.
2. Wash your face the right way
As straight-forward as it sounds, washing your face is one step to preventing pimples, though there are tons of wrong ways to go about this. I used to wash my face multiple times a day with an extremely harsh face wash, thinking that all my acne problems would go away. For me, washing too often with strong cleansers made my skin even worse than it was before, yet I had no idea why. Many acne cleansers have ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, though if you use them in large quantities or too often, your skin may become irritated. What worked for me was using a gentle cleanser, like Glossier's "Milky Jelly Cleanser", which not only cleans your skin but also acts as a makeup remover. Adding this cleanser to my daily regimen has shown a significant improvement in my skin's health.
3. Tone your face with the right toner
After you wash your face, consider adding a toner to your morning and nightly skin routine. Depending on your skin type, you have to find a toner that's right for you and keeps your skin in balance. Toner essentially removes all that oil and dirt that inevitably gets on your face by the end of the day. Make sure to use a toner that doesn't strip your face too much of natural oils, or else you may end up with a red, flakey face. My go-to toner is Lush's "Tea Tree Water". I love his this toner makes my skin feel refreshed and clean without it becoming dry and irritated.
3. Always, always moisturize
I used to be afraid of face creams when my skin was at its oiliest, but not moisturizing my face was one of my biggest mistakes. Leaving this step out will leave your skin feeling dry, which leads to your face producing more oil, which can lead to even more pimples. If you have oily skin, try out a moisturizer that is light-weight and breathable on your face. I have combination skin, so my favorite is the Era Organics "Face Cream". It's not too heavy but still keeps everything soft and smooth. It claims to work well for oily, acne-prone skin, so this may be your new skin savior!
4. Use a face mask (occasionally)
In order to treat your skin, give yourself a face mask once a week. Face masks are a great way to wind down for the day while also drawing out all the dirt and grime you may have missed from cleansing. It's important to only do this occasionally, as too much can ultimately harm your skin. I always use Lush's "Mask of Magnaminty". I usually can't handle beauty products that have intense smells, though this face mask smells amazing, with hints of subtle peppermint and vanilla. Every time I wash this off my face, my skin looks radiant and revived.
These are just my personal tips that helped my skin, so what works for me may not work for you! And of course, there are a lot more factors to having good skin, like a healthy diet and healthy mind. Just remember: Your flaws don't define you and should not limit you from feeling confident and beautiful☺
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