I guess it’s something everyone struggles with, at some point in their life: breakouts. Acne and pimples can have various causes and have a big impact on your life, if it’s something you have to deal with on a daily basis. In this blogpost I am sharing my 10 tips for clear skin. This is how I maintain clear skin and minimize breakout time. 

1. Girl, wash your face

You need to have a consistent skincare routine. No slacking here. That means wash your face two times a day: every morning and every night. Use a face wash or foam to cleanse your skin. Afterwards apply toner with a cotton pad. And for your final step: moisturize. Be sure to choose products that fit your skin type.

2. The Afterparty

Never, ever, go to bed with make-up on your face. Boys and girls, from now on the afterparty consists of you taking your make-up off. If you sleep with your make-up on, all those products have all this time to sink into your pores. Mixed with day-dirt and sweat you will create the perfect solution for acne.

3. Go Natural

Most “mainstream” make-up and skincare products are packed with chemicals. These ingredients make your products smell nice and will make your skin feel super soft. But they are not – I repeat – not the best choice for your skin. When it comes to make-up and skincare: the less ingredients the better. You want to be able to understand what the ingredients mean and do and be sure they are mostly natural. If I get breakouts, it’s often because I am testing a new product and my skin needs a bit of time adjusting to the ingredients. If it doesn’t clear up in a week or two/three, I would advice you to find another product though.

Product Recommendation for Acne Prone Skin

The past couple of weeks I’ve been using this acne soap, from Sabon & More. It is all natural ingredients. You will find things like olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, sulfur, wheat bran and honey on the ingredient list. Three things about this soap. First off all, it’s not the prettiest of soaps. I actually texted my bff the other day telling her I had spent the past half hour editing a photo of this piece of soap, trying to make it look not-so-much-like-a-turd. What do you think? Did I succeed? I like to think I did.

Second: I needed a sec to get used to the smell of this soap. It smells “smoked”. After a few days I got used to it and now I actually like it a lot. And third [and most importantly]: it’s kinda amazing.This ace soap cleans your face really thoroughly, but it doesn’t dry out your skin. My skin feels very soft and clean after I’ve used it. It is specifically created for young people with acne prone skin, but everyone that struggles with breakouts can use it.

4. Clean Pillowcase

You need to change your pillow cases at least twice a week. Your pillow case is the perfect place for bacteria: sweat, saliva, day-dirt, hair-dirt. Gosh, it’s kinda gross to think about. But during the night all these bacteria have all the time in the world to sink into your skin. If you have problem- or sensitive skin, be sure to invest in silk pillow cases. These do wonders for your skin and your hair.

5. Can’t touch this

Don’t. Touch. Your. Face. Just, don’t. And wash your hands. Goog hand hygiene is so important. Not just for your health, but also for your skin. And don’t forget to wash your hands before you get into your skincare routine.

6. Healthy eating = clear skin

What you put into your body will reflect on your skin. If you eat healthy your skin will become healthier too. You don’t have to do anything crazy, just make sure you get your five-a-day, eat enough whole grains and plant based proteins. Also, don’t forget to look into your omega intake and try to skip the junk food.

7. Food Sensitivity and/or Intolerance

Try to figure out if there are any foods that impact your skin negatively. Maybe you have a sensitivity or even intolerance for certain products. A lot of people react badly to things like cheese, milk, chocolate, gluten or greasy food. Eliminate one product at a time for a period of two weeks and see if your skin shows any improvement. If you are thinking about eliminating a certain food (group) from your diet permanently, make sure you have all the info you need about possible substitutes. 

8. H2o

You need to drink water! [*pauses, get’s up, walks to the fridge, pours a glass of water, drinks it, reprimands herself for giving smug advice and then continues writing*] Water cleanses your body and has a very positive impact on your skin. Two liters is the advised amount. Check out my tips for drinking enough water here.

9. What are you taking?

If you are using medication, for instance birth control or anti-depressants – it may be worth a visit to your doctor to see if any of these pills may impact your skin condition. Sometimes there are (natural) alternatives that make your skin less prone to breakouts. Obviously, I suggest you don’t go about and experiment without a professional medical opinion.

10. Stress pimples

This is my other breakout – trigger. Stress is one of the biggest enemies of clear skin. Cortisol makes your skin prone to pimples. It’s is practically impossible to avoid stress 100% of the time. But you can learn how to cope with stress better. For instance, by practicing yoga or meditation, exercising, listening to (or making) music, painting or finding another hobby that relaxes you. And get out of the house and into nature as often as you can. Fresh, clean air and nature have a great impact on your skin and on what’s underneath.