Acne, despite being so incredibly common, is a subject that many people are afraid to talk about. There's almost an aspect of shame in admitting that we've suffered with acne and while there are plenty of 'solution's to the problem, the issue is still ongoing.
I don't know about you, but I've always been very lucky with my skin, really. Even as a teen, I never suffered with spots and while my friends were constantly moaning and groaning about their pimples, I always found myself listening to their conversations as opposed to joining in. I had nothing to complain about with my skin as it was actually pretty darn perfect. Naturally, I had other hang-ups - stuff about my body that I didn't like and so on, but my skin was never one of the things I had to worry about.
As an adult, however, I have suffered with the occasional - usually hormonal - breakout. And when I say breakout, I don't mean a mass of spots all over my chin, I just mean one or two really painful, cystic spots deep under my skin. Generally speaking, my spots tend to appear just beneath my jawline, so I guess I'm kind of lucky in the respect that usually, nobody else sees them, but still, they're incredibly uncomfortable and when it's you that's suffering, it always feels worse than it is.
I, like so many others, have adopted the terrible habit of really honing in on the negatives - not just with my skin, but with my appearance in general. I think we are just so used to seeing everybody on Instagram looking so perfectly preened and flawless that when one tiny little thing goes wrong with our hair or we wake up with a spot - no matter how small - we just can't handle it. It's almost as though these very normal, everyday hang-ups have become strange. People don't seem to vocalise or share their skin woes the same way they do their perfect contour, and I think this is actually really dangerous for the way that young women in particular view themselves.
The truth is, there's really nothing weird or abnormal about a breakout - in fact, it's actually probably more normal to suffer with breakouts than it is to have immaculate, perfectly clear skin every single day. I totally get it, acne isn't pretty and it really doesn't help when it comes to our self-confidence. However, there are things that you can do to improve your skin and to give your complexion that dreamy, enviable glow, without the need for an Instagram filter.
In this blog post I am going to share my top 5 tips on how to get perfectly clear, beautiful skin. As a disclaimer, I would like to clarify that these tips and tricks may not work for everyone and as everybody's skin is different, you may find that it takes a few days or perhaps even a week or two to get the results that you're hoping for. Also, if you are suffering terribly with your skin and you genuinely feel as though you have tried everything, please consult your GP. There are medications our there that are really, really effective, so speak to your doctor and find out as much information as you can!
How To Get Perfectly Clear Skin Overnight - My Top 5 Tips
1. Double Cleanse
Double cleansing has almost become the norm. Regarded as a skincare must by bloggers and magazines all over the world, double cleansing is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin - cleaning your skin not once, but twice. The idea with this is that you start by removing your makeup and any other bits of grime with either a micellar water solution or some kind of cream cleanser. Simply apply your preferred solution to a cotton pad or ball and sweep over your face. Next, it's time to cleanse with a 'proper cleanser', so either a gel, foam or cream that you mix with water and massage over your face whilst splashing water all over the bathroom floor (well, that's what always happens to me, anyway!)
This routine is super simple but so effective. It genuinely concerns me how many women continue to use baby wipes and face wipes to clean their skin and nothing else. Not only are these really not good for your skin, they're also not very effective, either. By double cleansing, you are removing every last bit of dirt, grime and makeup sat on your skin and then cleansing your pores deeply for a squeaky clean finish.
Right now, I can't get enough of the Clarins Cottonseed Face Wash and the Water Purify One-Step Cleanser with Mint Essential Water. This dreamy duo has become my ultimate cleaning go-to.
If you'd like to read more about my double-cleansing routine, check out my blog post 'Double Cleansing with Clarins' and find out more about these amazing products! There are also some other great skincare products to read about in my 'Clarins Skincare and Makeup: My Latest Must-Haves' blog post.
2. Drink Lots of Water
Oh yep, you definitely knew this one was coming, didn't you? I couldn't write a skincare blog post and not mention how important it is to drink tons of water? Why? Because water is the one thing we get for free from our taps (in the UK our water is drinkable - lucky us!) and it's honestly works miracles on our complexion.
The recommended intake of water for an average adult is around 2.5 litres a day, or '8 glasses'. Personally, I do drink more than this as I've just gotten into the habit of always having a bottle of water on me, and I honestly can't sing the praises of this stuff enough. Water is the best thing you can feed your skin. It detoxifies your body and cleanses everything, including your skin. Replace those sugary drinks and cups of tea with water and I promise you'll notice an enormous different in your skin in no time at all.
3. Understand Your Skin Type
Understanding your skin type is fundamental when working towards getting that enviable complexion you've been dreaming of. Typically, there are three skin types - oily/combination, dry and normal. If you've got 'normal' skin, it's likely this post isn't going to be quite as useful to you as it is for, particularly those with oily/combination skin, but it's always worth reading just in case you are making any errors with your current routine.
Those with oily/combination skin are, unfortunately, the ones that usually struggle with acne and breakouts. If you find that your skin becomes oily throughout the day and you're getting through a heck of a lot of blotting paper, it may be time to think about how you can take control of your skin and reduce your natural oil production.
One product I would really recommend trying if you have oily skin is the Clarins Lotus Oil. And before you close this page - surely the word 'oil' alone is enough to make the problem worse?! - hear me out on this one. The Clarins Lotus Oil has been formulated specifically for those with oily/combination skin and the expert blend of ingredients actually reduces the production of natural oil and sebum and therefore reduces the likelihood of breaking out. I've been using this stuff for years - it smells great and it works a treat!
If you'd like to read more about Clarins Lotus Oil, check out my post 'My Clarins Lotus Oil Review'
4. Reduce Your Sugar Intake
The artificial type, of course. Natural sugars found in fruits are completely different to those found in, say, a chocolate bar for instance. If you're a sucker for all things sweet, then this could be one of the reasons you're suffering with your skin. So, take action and think of ways you can reduce your intake of sugar and replace those indulgent snacks and sugary drinks with something tasty and healthy.
I'm proud to say that I have a really, healthy and balanced diet and that I genuinely enjoy eating well. However, my one weakness is definitely chocolate! Sweets don't ever tempt me, really, but chocolate is definitely my go-to treat on a Friday night.
The thing is, indulging in the occasion sweet snack is completely normal and it's not something to obsess over or feel guilty about. The trouble is when you're having too much sugar. As a top tip, I'd firstly recommend swapping your usual chocolatey snacks with a plain bar of dark chocolate - there's usually a lot less sugar and the dairy content is less, too. And also, think about what fruits you could introduce as an alternative. Berries and soft fruits in particular are great for satisfying a sweet tooth and there are tons of delicious variations available.
5. Cut Out Dairy
I recently cut dairy out of my diet (well, a couple of months back now, actually) and I've definitely noticed a positive change in my complexion since doing so. I read an article online not long back and it was detailing how bad dairy is for adult skin and so I decided to see for myself just how much of an impact this could be having on my skin. And the answer is 'a heck of a lot!'
I've actually never drank much milk and for years I've been using almond milk rather than cows milk when I have my porridge in a morning, but if I ever went out for a latte, I wouldn't even think about asking for a dairy alternative. Now though, I always ask for almond or soya instead.
Milk has been proven to block pores and increase the production of sebum, so if you want your skin to glow, cut out dairy and see if it works for you! Also, be sure to have a read of my blog post 'Cutting Out Dairy: Why I've Done It & What I've Noticed So Far'.
I really hope you enjoyed this blog post and I can't wait to share more with you soon!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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