10 Tips To Clearer Skin
Last Updated on October 29, 2021 by ELLEASH
This post will detail all the awesome things you can do to get clear skin. We all have our moments when our skin decides she wants to rule the world, right? Well, as her boss, here are 10 tips to help you get clearer, more youthful skin. If you are also looking at ways to not flare up with maskne, maintain a good skincare regimen, and do all of this without breaking the bank, this post is going to be a gem!!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission with every purchase you make through my links, and of course, at no additional cost to you. I do greatly appreciate it, as it helps me run my blog and post content that will help you in your daily life. Please read the full disclosure here. Oh, and just in case — I am NOT a mental health professional, nor a skincare expert or even a financial advisor! What I write are my experiences, tips & personal advice. If you are in need of help, please don’t hesitate to contact a professional! Please read the full disclosure here concerning that point. Okay, that’s out of the way – READ ON!!
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10 Tips To Clearer Skin
Hey hey my lovely entrepreneurs,
Who else is groaning at the state of their skin because of their masks?? I have to wear masks everyday, sometimes up to 8 hours a day. Let me tell you, my skin is starting to absolutely loathe what I am putting it through! Nevertheless, before the term maskne even existed, there were moments when I was desperate to get those pesky little pimples off of my face!
I mean, who hasn’t ever wanted clearer, fresher, younger-looking skin? Well guess what? It can be achieved without dropping a ton of money and it can happen naturally.
You in? These simple 10 tips are going to help you get naturally, clearer, fresher looking skin. Give yourself the time to not only enjoy the process, but also give your skin time to acclimate itself to the changes you are going to implement.
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#1. WASH YOUR FACE
Keeping your skin clean is your first priority! You must cleanse your face morning and night with a gentle, natural cleanser that not only rids the skin of dirt and grime, but then treats it with an antibacterial ingredient. Some skincare specialists will claim that they don’t ever wash their face in the morning. Maybe they don’t scrub hard, or use harsh cleansers, but I am very doubtful they never ever wash it in the morning!
Have you ever woken up with that beautiful glow in the morning? You know the one that makes you smile when you see yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself you’re looking mighty fine? Well, it’s sweat! Sorry to break it to you, it’s your sweat. So you wouldn’t want to put that serum or cream, or (eeek) make-up on a sweaty face right? Right. So wash it, dang it!
Check out my recommendations below. You are by no means obligated to purchase, but know that all my links are affiliate links and that I may or may not earn a little commission if you purchase through my links. Check out my disclosure here 🙂
MY GO-TO CEANSERS:
Effortless make-up removal. My all-time favorite. It gets EVERYTHING off and is super gentle and my skin absolutely loves it! I love double cleansing, so this is my go-to product, when I feel like pampering my skin. It’s a little pricey, but it’s seriously worth the money, as you aren’t using that much to get all your gunk off ya face!!
This Caudalie cleanser is very gentle and perfect for dry to normal skin-types. I like this one during the summer, when I feel like I don’t need a super strong cleanser, as I’m not wearing as much make-up yet still want my face cleansed! I first bought this in a pharmacy, whilst I was on vacation and had forgotten my own cleanser, and used it all summer long!
Avene’s cleanser is gentle & milky. Perfect for sensitive skin, prone to redness. I prefer to rinse it off with tepid water, but you don’t really have to. Personally, I prefer to double cleanse, as I hate that feeling of still having ‘dirt’ and ‘muck’ on my face! So, I would use this as a first cleanse, then gently rinse off with tepid water and go in with another cleanser, such as the Cervave Foaming Cleanser.
With essential ceramides, this cleanser is another great one if you have normal to oily skin. I love that it does really deeply cleanse, but my skin is never tight, nor does it have that ‘squeaky’ clean feel after using it. I love that it is fragrance free. I tend to alternate between this, the YTTP Superfood cleanser and the COSRX Good Morning cleanser.
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#2. MIST & PREPARE YOUR SKIN
After cleansing your skin, pat it dry with a fluffy face towel. Don’t scrub or tug at it! There’s no need to be aggressive towards your face – she’s your friend! You can then use a toner over your face to rebalance your skin’s pH level. I would suggest using one that is gentle and hydrating, and that won’t strip your skin barrier.
Of course, what you choose to use, will depend on your skin type. To read more about your skin type, check out my post about the basics of a skincare routine here.
Since discovering first essences and essence toners, I swear my skin has appreciated the find. A first essence is usually super liquidy and would be used as the first step after using a toner. It helps the skin get prepped for whatever other products you will be using after.
An essence toner is thicker in consistency, yet not as thick as a serum. It’s actually just in the middle! I would use an essence toner just after the first essence and before any treatments.
Like any true skincare lover, the way you apply your essences is by slapping your face! No joke – check out my Asian-sisters who slap their faces (obviously not bashing eh!) with their products, as to not only get the product in, but to also get the blood flowing.
If you haven’t tried an essence, or face-slapping, give it a go and let me know how your skin is going! Below are my favorite essences that I highly recommend you check out, if you want clearer, plumper, more youthful looking skin.
MY GO-TO ESSENCES OF THE MOMENT:
By far my all time fave essence toner! I use it whenever I feel my skin a little tight. I pour about the size of a €1 coin in my palm and slap it on my face. I do this 3 times – sometimes I do 5, depending on how my skin feels.
I’ve bought this twice now, and I absolutely swear by it. Every time I use it again, after having not used it for a while, I really feel the difference in the texture of my skin. It also looks a lot more plump and youthful.
With ferment water, this first essence just seeps deep into your skin. Get ready for super plump and bouncy cheeks with this other favorite of mine.
There are obviously a whole bunch more of super products available, however I will only ever recommend the ones I have already used. Jolse, Beautytap, Soko Glam, to name a few, are great sites to find affordable and recognized Asian-skincare brands. You can obviously find what you need on Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Dermstore, Urban Outfitters as well.
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Some posts you may also enjoy:
- 10 Natural Ways To Relieve Your Stress Levels Naturally
- Water Is The Key To Your Natural Beauty
- The Exact Things I Did Last Month To Stay On Track With My Mental Health
- 10 Easy Ways to eat healthy on a budget
- eat your stress away
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#3. HYDRATE AND PROTECT YOUR SKIN
After you have misted, slapped your face silly and applied your treatments, go in for the kill and hydrate the crap out of your face!! The most common forgotten notion of a plump and youthful skin, is how important protection is!
It’s no use buying super expensive products if you’re not doing the one step that is going to enable you to have clear, fresh and youthful skin.
Of course, you want to be extra mindful about hydrating your skin from the inside, by drinking lots and lots of water, as well as hydrating it on the outside, but you also want to be slapping on that sunscreen!!
Having lived in the southern hemisphere, and more precisely in Australia, I remember my Mom being seriously OTT about our sunscreen application! Despite having extremely tolerant skin to the sun, she would clearly ‘bully’ us into putting on sunscreen, and I cannot be more grateful for her nagging!
I have been dutifully applying a good amount of sunscreen on my face, ever since I was a youngteen! And let it be known that this was a good 25+ years ago, and sunscreen was not as popular then, as it is now. The formulas we were applying were from the Cancer Association – so it was thick AF and left such a white cast, I might’ve well been wearing zinc, it would’ve been the same!!
I was known as the kid whose face was super pale, compared to the rest of her body! I was SO embarrassed by the color of my face, which was not only pale because of the 50+ index I had to apply daily, but because of the dang white/grey cast!!
Despite this, it was just easier to give in to Mom’s nagging and apply the dang sunscreen, to avoid hearing about the cancer risks we were exposing our skin to, and also being shown melanoma images at breakfast!
If only I knew then, what I know now. I wouldn’t feel that embarrassment over the white cast and co, but pure pride of having a Mom, who cared so much about me, that she would prefer to be ‘hated’ for something she told me to do, rather than be ‘liked’ and let my skin go without protection.
Because, I am beyond proud to say, that at nearly 40 years old, I don’t have a single wrinkle in sight!! Not even those tiny-baby ones that creep across your forehead or at the side of your eyes! Thank you Mom!
So all of that spiel, to highlight the upmost importance of not only hydrating your skin, but to also protect it!! Your sunscreen application should be your last step in your skincare routine, and it shouldn’t be applied sparingly. either Go full-in y’all! Get it on your face and don’t be shy.
Thanks to today’s technology we are able to apply to our skin 50+ SPF protection AND not look like a dang ghost.
Again, the products below are my absolute go-to sunscreens, and the ones I have tried and tested. I wouldn’t ever recommend products I’ve not used to you! You can purchase skincare items on these great sites: The Detox-Market, Skinstore, even on Amazon and Walmart! As well as the others mentioned above: Jolse, Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Dermstore and Beautytap.
I like to mix and match my products, so I don’t really have a set store I go to. I just go with whatever works for me – and these have worked so well, that I just feel I have to share them with you.
MY ALL-TIME FAVE SUNSCREENS OF THE MOMENT:
After discovering this gem, it’s super hard for me to try out others, and actually like them! This sunscreen, is 50+, sits SO well under make-up and is super moisturizing. I wear this one every single day – without fail!
I love this one if you’re looking one that is slightly tinted. My skin tone is surprisingly more on the darker spectrum for an Asian (especially one who wears sunscreen everyday!), so this tinted sunscreen is perfect for me. It has a lovely finish for a mineral sunscreen! Usually, mineral sunscreens tend to not sit as well as a chemical or hybrid sunscreen, so this is a lovely surprise!
A super light and serum-texture like sunscreen. It has a matte finish, so if you’re not into looking like a glowing discoball, this may be for you! It does leave a little whitecast, so maybe touch up with some bronzer or foundation. It sits beautifully under make-up!
I use this sunscreen during the summer, when I know I’m going to be out & about. It’s super hydrating, without being too greasy-looking. Sits great on the skin alone or under a touch of make-up.
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#4. GET SOME GOOD SLEEP
Getting the right amount of restful sleep your body needs nightly will reflect in the state of your skin. Seven hours is generally adequate for an adult. Not enough sleep over a period of time will result in problems that are hard to cure such as loose skin under the eyes and dark circles.
The less sleep you’re having, or not having quality sleep, will start you off on a spiral of bad eating-habits as well. You’re not going to be eating properly, because a) you’re too tired to cook healthy meals, b) you don’t have the time, or c) you just can’t be bothered! All these reasons are going to have consequences, and not pretty ones, on your skin.
So, go to bed a little earlier, maybe invest in a better mattress, and avoid any types of activity that is going to play on your sleep. Your skin will thank you for it!
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#5. GOOD LOOKING SKIN ALSO STARTS WITH WHAT YOU EAT
The food you eat is of the utmost importance for healthy, clear skin! Make sure you are getting a good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit your red meat intake to three or four times a week. Foods that are easily digested will help your system keep your skin nourished and promote fresh, new cell growth.
Drink lots and lots of water too! Eliminating toxins that can play a role in how your skin looks, is super important. So drink up!!
I enjoy using a motivational water bottle and even cheat a little by using electrolyte powders with a splash of yummy flavors! Check out my post on how water is going to be your BFF for glowing skin. It also has a few other electrolyte powders that I have tried and love to recommend.
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#6. EXFOLIATE YOUR SKIN
Cleanse the skin on your body and face with a weekly exfoliation.
When using a body exfoliant, start at your feet and work towards the heart, this helps eliminate toxins. Doing it in the opposite direction will push the toxins back into your system.
Use a very gentle facial exfoliant on your face and neck as these areas can be easily damaged. I love this Kora Organics Face Mask, which has a dual-use. It can be used as an exfoliant and a face mask. Who doesn’t enjoy a 2-in-1? My go-to face exfoliant is Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant though. I love that it is a powder and that it can be used everyday, as it’s gently enough. It’s pricey, but it lasts for ages, but it also does the job it is meant to. No fluffy ingredients, just goodness in a bottle!
I also enjoy dry brushing with this dry brush. Same technique as with an exfoliating product, start at your toes and move upwards. It is super relaxing and I do it before heading into the shower, then lather on some shower gel. Don’t forget to moisturize when you finish drying off.
MY ALL-TIME FAVE EXFOLIANTS OF THE MOMENT:
I love this product, but the baby’s-poop-looking color, is, I admit, a little off-putting! But don’t let that deter you from using it! I have been using this product for well over 6 months now, once or twice a week, and every time I use use, I am always amazed at how baby-soft my skin feels and how ‘tight’ it looks. The turmeric helps with brightening my skin and the little rosehip seeds gently exfoliates it as well. What I love about this product, is that it is a 2-in-1. You can either use it and wash it off, or you can leave it on as a mask. Not only are you exfoliating, you are making and indulging in some self-care! Bliss!
I have been using this powder for over 3 years! It really is a gem. The bottle lasts a super long time, even when I use it every other day. The product is gentle enough for you to use everyday if you wish. Even though you really shouldn’t be exfoliating your skin everyday, the fact that this one is super gentle, is perfect fo people with sensitive skin.
If you prefer chemical exfoliants, this one is a tried and tested favorite! If you are going to apply it in the morning, don’t forget your SPF! Personally, I only apply AHAs / BHAs at night, but still slap on the SPF in the morning. There is no use in treating your skin with great products, only to have all the benefits stripped away when you’re forgetting to apply SPF.
These are another great chemical exfoliant. I use these when I am going on vacation and cannot bring too many bottles with me. They make my skin texture so soft and also give me a super glow!! The only drawback is that the product isn’t super ecological. The choice is yours!
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#7. Change your pillowcase
Sounds super odd right? Changing your pillowcase every other day, instead of waiting every week when you do your bedding load, is going to play a huge role in getting clearer skin.
I remember, way before maskne was a term, that I woke up one morning with my left cheek ( I often sleep on my left side ) full of these nasty looking breakouts, just waiting to erupt! Low & behold, that evening they were there to greet me, as I was going through my skincare routine! I hadn’t even thought of changing my pillowcase. So, when I woke up the following morning and had more pesky pimples, I had to find a solution! The others had been treated with my trusty Cosrx pimple patch – which if you don’t know about, you are seriously missing out!!
You could also spruce it up by using a silk pillowcase, but personally, I still like my 100% coton pillowcases! Just buy a few extras, and change them every other day to ensure your skin is getting that extra little help.
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#8. Try an at-home steam treatment
Once a month use a home steam treatment to thoroughly draw out impurities from the face. Add boiling water to a basin or bowl and add two drops of tea tree oil. Place your face over this with a towel covering and gently let the steam open and cleanse the pores. Be careful not to let the steam burn your face. Finish with a tepid face wash.
It works wonders and will totally make you feel SO relaxed and ready to take on the world! I enjoy doing it in the evening as part of my self-care regimen. If you are interested in self-care, check out these 30 Self-Care Tips I have for you.
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#9. get outside more
Get out into the fresh air and take a walk, swim in the sea, ride a bike, and have fun! The exercise will boost your system and your skin will love it.
So, with the current situation, with most of Europe being under strict lockdown again (3.0 y’all!!), being able to get outside is something we are all thriving to do more of.
As soon as the weather is much warmer, I do try to practice more outdoorsy things. Not being able to go further than 10 kms from our house, at the mo’, we do tend to be in the garden more.
After all, we are lucky enough to live in a major city and still have a spot of greenery that is our own! It is true that when I spend a whole day outside (with sun protection bien sûr, my skin does have a certain glow to it.
Must be all those endorphins!! Try taking that time for yourself, to go outside and do what you love doing with the fresh air on your face! It can only really do you good!
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#10. simplify your skincare
As simple (ha!) as this may really sound, it truly is that easy! Your skin can only take so much on it. We subject it to daily skin-aggressors, may it be pollution, the sun, particles, you name it, it ends up on our skin.
So obviously, we want to scrub it off, right? As stated as the first tip, you definitely want to be washing your skin, but there’s no need to overdo it.
A good skincare routine, doesn’t have to consist of 50 different steps! If you stick to your basics (cleanse, tone, moisturize, protect) your skin is going to thank you for it!
Also, knowing what skin-type you have and what products can do to help your skin, is a total must. Read up more about this with my post on the Best Basics of Skincare.
Remember that less is more!
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THE TAKEAWAY
These ten easy tips, you can start now, will help you get that clear skin you so desperately want.
Remember to make the lifestyle changes you need to and enjoy the benefits that will come with it! A fresher, clearer, more youthful-looking complexion.
One final tip for you, is to love the skin you have and try not to rush any process of change. Simple is always best and trust your instincts. Don’t do something to your skin, just because it is a fad!
You are gorgeous no matter what your skin looks like, so don’t ever forget that!
Snaps to you and lots of yays to your best looking skin ever!
Elle Ash xo
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