Having a clear complexion is something I'm pretty confident that all of us would like to achieve, and unfortunately, most of us aren't naturally blessed in that department! Over recent years, my skin began to go downhill, and I found myself with blemishes over my cheeks, and often getting breakouts on my forehead too. After discovering this was mostly due to being on a particular contraceptive pill, I decided to discover ways of clearing up the mess it had caused on my face. I'm no expert, and by no means do I have perfect skin, but I have definitely made dramatic improvements, and I thought I'd share my tips with you!
(Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting that skin is the be all and end all, but it is a huge concern for a lot people, so read on and enjoy!).
Cleanse your skin!
It goes without saying really, but it's incredibly important to clean your skin, especially if you're wearing make-up. Regardless of how tired I am, I will always remove every scrap of make-up off my face. It makes me shudder to think about my high school days, putting on a £1 foundation and sleeping in it until the next day. It's only recently that I've delved into the world of cleansing balms, and my favourite is the Clinique Take The Day Off cleansing balm. Using clean hands, I smooth it all over my face, including over my eyes, and you can visibly see the make-up breaking down. You can either wash it off with water, or sweep it away with micellar water and a cotton pad. Despite this being a very oil based product, I'm never left with any residue on my face, and my skin feels super clean and soft.
Tone!
This is a step in my skincare routine that I've flitted in and out of, but one that I won't stop doing anymore after discovering my new holy grain skincare product, the Pixi Glow Tonic. This has been around for quite a while, and I've heard so many people raving about it, and I finally gave in and purchased it along with another Pixi product which I'll discuss further down! It wasn't until I understood the importance of toning, that I actually incorporated it into my routine. You're essentially buffing away dead skin cells, which build up on the skin and can a) clog pores, (causing breakouts), and b) creates texture. Out of every product I've ever used, this has made the most unbelievable difference in my skin. Where I've had scarring and uneven skin tone from previous breakouts, this has gently buffed those away, and as the days go on, my skin seems to be getting clearer and clearer. I actually wake up in the morning with completely smooth skin!
Finding Suitable Masks for your Skin!
As I'm sure most of you do, I love a good pampering session, whether it be at a spa, (although it rarely is..), or at home with a candle, some jazz music, (just me on that one?), and a good face mask. However, it's important to find one that's suitable for your skin type and it's needs to actually reap the benefits. I've used a number of masks, peel-off, wash-off, the lot, and only a few have I actually bothered to use again and again. For the most part, my skin is oily, however, as I do take care of my skin and try to give it what it needs, it's almost balanced out to a 'normal' skin type. The main problem area I have is my nose which is super oily, so I tend to use masks that are clay based and/or charcoal based to extract excess oil and clean my pores. My favourite one is the Pixi Glow Mud Mask as it visibly extracts the oils from my pores, and they look shiny and new when it's been washed off!
If you have a drier skin type, you're better with a more rich, intensive mask. Treating your skin to a mask treatment once or twice a week will have huge benefits in the long run, replenishing nutrients and revealing happier, healthier skin.
Exfoliate!
Exfoliating was another game changer for me. I used to just wash my face in the shower as normal, never really giving it the good scrub that it needed. The blogging/beauty world really encouraged me to explore what products I use on my skin, that's when weekly exfoliating was thrown into the mix. I first picked up The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion, and it really helped to begin the journey of smoother skin, but it wasn't until I discovered the Kiehl's Micro-Dermabrasion that I really noticed a difference. The particles are actually made from real sea shells, and whilst that sounds quite abrasive, it also contains shea butter which protects the skin from dehydration. I like to do this no more than twice a week, as too much can have an adverse effect, stripping the skin of essential oils. I find that my skin is 100 times more smooth and clear the minute I step out of the shower!
Moisturise!
I'm sure this is another no-brainer, but keeping your skin moisturised is essential, even if you have oily skin! I used to completely skip moisturiser in the fear that it would add to the oiliness of my skin, I mean, who knew that adding moisture doesn't necessarily increase moisture?! Using a moisturiser helps to lock in hydration, and give the skin the nutrients it needs, otherwise it begins to overcompensate resulting in an oil slick mess! Find one that's suitable for your skin type, shop around and do your research.
Eating Less Oily Meals
A huge battle that I'm thrust into every day, is the battle between me and food. Unfortunately, I'm not somebody who can sit and eat 'clean' meals all day every day, doing nothing but sipping on green tea and chewing on leaves, it just can't happen. However, I do try to control the amount of greasy foods that enter my body, forgetting the weight side of things, this is also to aid my skin. I find that when I indulge in a lot of greasy meals, my skin gets very angry at me and breaks out left, right and centre. I can definitely get away with one a week, two at a push, but more than that and I'll be paying for it! Different foods affect different people, for me, I can get away with carbs such as pasta and rice and not suffer too much, but a lot of bread and potatoes can have a major affect on my skin.
Staying Hydrated
It's not just about moisturising your skin with products! Drinking plenty of water has an endless amount of benefits, but it really does help your skin. It flushes the toxins out of your system, and keeps your skin supple, hydrated and glowing.
Clean Your Brushes!
This is something I believe we could all do with keeping on top of more frequently! Particularly with face brushes! If you think about it, how often do you put the same make-up on your skin because of dirty brushes? I will admit, I'm not as concerned with eye brushes, but foundation, blusher, bronzer brushes etc.. keep them clean! I clean mine with regular hand soap mostly, but I try and do it roughly once a week. Plus, there's nothing like the application of make-up with a freshly cleaned brush!
Touching Your Face
STOP! Not good. I used to do this all the time in high school, no wonder I had such problematic skin! The bacteria your hands collect during the day is astonishing, and putting it on your face is a disaster waiting to happen. If you have to touch your face, make sure you have clean hands!
Like I said earlier, I'm no expert, and I'm certainly no skin goddess, but I'm on a 'positive skin journey' if we must call it something, and I wanted to share my tips and knowledge with you!
If you have any tips, tricks or skincare products you recommend, please comment below!
