1. Make Changes To Your Diet
Okay, so first things first, a healthy, well-balanced diet is essential. I know, I know - you’ve heard it all before, but honestly, it’s so true! And whilst some girls/women continue to struggle with their skin no matter how healthy they are, more often than not, our eating and drinking habits do bear a huge impact on our skin. So, if you’re happy to commit to a more long-term change and you want to do something that’s just as good for your body as it is for your complexion, then tweaking your diet may just be your saving grace.
You may or may not already know this, but there are some foods that are known for their skin-loving properties. These foods tend to be rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and more often than not, they take shape as either a fruit, or a vegetable. The likes of blueberries, cherries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, spinach and kale have been proven to contribute to the appearance of a healthy complexion - and seeds are beneficial, too. If you struggle to consume each and every one of your fruits/veggies separately, then why not blitz them all together and make a smoothie, instead? Berries work great with bananas, dairy-free milk and beetroot. Mmmm!
2. Adjust Your Skincare Regime
If you’ve tried making changes to your diet but you’re still unhappy with the look of your skin, then it may be time to reassess your skincare regime and reconsider the products that you’re using.
I was watching Love Island the other night, and I literally couldn’t believe the fact that all the girls - including Molly-Mae, who is a beauty and fashion blogger - were removing their makeup using makeup wipes. The horror, honestly! If this is a habit that you too are still yet to kick, then please, do it now! Makeup wipes are so bad for the skin, and there are so many affordable, more effective alternatives out there!
Your skincare routine needn’t be over complicated, and there’s no need to fork out a pretty penny, either. So, if you’re on a budget and you’re feeling restricted by this, then take it from me, you really don’t have anything to worry about. One of my favourite ever skincare brands is Simple, and they retail so many products for less than £5! I’m a huge fan of their micellar water and I love the moisturising face wash, too.
When it comes to toner, again, you don’t need to break the bank to shrink those pores and refine skin texture. I’m currently using the Garnier Argan Oil Refreshing Mist, and it’s fantastic!
And finally, for my moisturiser, I swear by the Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil. I decided to invest in this product as people were dubbing it as an affordable dupe of the Clarins Lotus Oil, and I have to say, I’ve never looked back! So, if you’re looking for a moisturiser that will really enhance the look of your natural skin, then this one is an absolute must-buy!
If you'd like to find out more about this product, be sure to check out my blog post 'Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil Review.'
3. Don’t Touch Your Face
This is one that I really can’t stress the importance of enough. So, if you’re sat there now, gently prodding and poking at your skin - even just a little! - then listen up: messing with your skin is NEVER a good idea!
And trust me, I’ve had my fair share of disasters.
I’ve learned that the best thing you can ever do for your skin, particularly if you want to look good without makeup, is to never pick, prod or poke. And I get it - when you feel a spot growing on your chin, or you’ve got a large blind spot on your jawline - it can be very difficult not to mess! But honestly, if you can just keep those hands away, your complexion will certainly thank you for it in the long run.
The thing that you have to remember with this is that every time you go to touch your face - or even worse, pick - you are transferring even more bacteria onto/into your skin, which will only make matters worse. If your spot is ready to go and you absolutely must squeeze it, then use tissue paper to surround the pimple and squeeze gently using your fingertips - not your nails! Afterwards, apply toner and an antiseptic cream or gel. I recommend savlon or sudocrem - both work great!
4. Drink Lots Of Green Tea
I touched on diet earlier on in this post, but now it’s time for me to talk about one of my most trusted skin saviours ever - green tea.
Plain green tea isn’t the easiest thing in the world to drink, as it’s quite bitter, but there are so many naturally flavoured alternatives available now that there are literally no excuses as to why you can’t drink it! I’m an absolute sucker for Twinings Green Tea - the Salted Caramel Green Tea and the Superblends collection are so yummy!
5. Ditch The Dairy
Another dietary tip of mine for all those wanting to clear up their complexion and look pretty without makeup would be to ditch the dairy - or to cut down on dairy, at least.
Studies have proven that dairy can have a really detrimental impact on the appearance of our skin, with the likes of cystic acne and pustules both being worsened by dairy consumption. So, if you’re on a mission to clear up your complexion and look as gorgeous as possible without makeup, opt for something nut or plant-based instead. I absolutely love almond milk, oat milk and hazelnut milk - all three are delicious!
For more information about cutting out dairy, check out my blog post 'Cutting Out Dairy: Why I've Done It & What I've Noticed So Far.'
6. Clean Your Surfaces & Bedding Regularly
Germs are everywhere, and our skin absolutely hates those things! So, if having a fresh and beautiful home wasn’t enough to convince you to get your clean on, then allow the image of a perfect complexion to persuade you, instead!
In particular, I would make an extra effort to wash your pillowcases at least once a week - especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. The bacteria from your skin will transfer onto your pillowcases when you sleep, so if they aren’t clean, then the problem will only worsen.
7. Get Lots Of Sleep
One of the most important things to consider when going after the ‘naturally pretty’ look, is how much sleep you’re getting.
That’s right, the term ‘beauty sleep’ definitely has truth to it, and if you’re sleep deprived, then you won’t just feel tired and groggy, but you’ll look it, too!
Avoid unsightly eye bags and dull, tired-looking skin by heading off to bed earlier and switching your phone off as soon as you hit the hay. Research has found that those of us who use devices or watch TV until late find it more difficult to switch off/have a good night's sleep, so help yourself by having a read before going to bed, instead.
8. Don’t Put Pressure On Yourself To Be Perfect!
And finally - and most importantly - never put pressure on yourself to look perfect, because actually, ‘perfect’ doesn’t really exist! Nobody can ever wake up, every single day, and look amazing - it’s just a completely unrealistic expectation, especially for those of us that work, have kids, cook the tea every night and everything else!
There are so many environmental, hormonal and even mental factors that can affect how we look, so it’s almost impossible to control each and every one of those things all of the time. So, instead of questioning how to look perfect without makeup, think about how you can look great using less makeup, or how to create a natural makeup look.
I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon!
Lots of love,
Grace x
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