If you suffer from skin issues like acne or rosacea, you’re probably painfully aware of the difficulty of achieving clear skin. Influencers and makeup gurus on social media tend to make it look easy, offering expensive miracle products or well-kept secrets to cure your skin problems for good. Of course, it’s not always as simple as it seems.

Likewise, when you begin researching ways to get clearer skin, you’ll probably find a million different tips and tricks to try, including some that contradict others. Cut out this food, eat more of that food. Buy this product, but never use that product. 

We know that taking in all this information is overwhelming. That is why we wanted to compile a succinct, definitive guide to clear skin. 

Getting clear skin feels impossible sometimes, but hopefully, this guide will calm your nerves and set you on your way towards perfect skin.

The Best Skincare Routine For Clear Skin 

First things first, let’s talk skincare routines. It seems as if, in the past few years, we’ve seen an ever-growing emphasis on crafting the perfect skincare routine to achieve clear, glowing skin. Everyone from influencers to celebrities to friends seems to be sharing their regimen on social media, and each one differs in content and complexity.

As a result, if you don’t already have an established routine, it’s hard to know where to begin. Luckily, contrary to popular belief, your skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated or full of pricey products. 

Allow us to provide a basic outline of the method you should follow for clear skin: 

Cleanser: The first step in your routine should be cleansing. This is essential to remove any dirt and grime that might clog your pores and cause a breakout.

Cleanse your face twice a day: in the morning and at night. Notably, if you wear makeup during the day, be sure to remove your makeup before you wash your face. To do so, use a gentle makeup remover, and make sure you get every last bit.

When it’s time to cleanse, reach for a mild, non-foaming cleanser. Keeping it simple is totally fine—you don’t need an expensive luxury product to get your face clean.

Toner: If you’re new to skincare, you may not understand what toner does. Well, it basically goes the extra mile after you cleanse. It removes any leftover dirt and impurities from your pores, and it also replenishes moisture. 

Toners that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) are best for fighting acne. 

Serum: Using a serum will make a huge difference in the look and feel of your skin. Serums usually contain nutrients and antioxidants that keep your skin healthy and glowing. Try adding a vitamin C serum with anti-inflammatory & brightening ingredients to your routine to see major results.

Moisturizer: Finally, moisturizing is essential. A good moisturizer locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Look for one that includes hyaluronic acid for the best results. 

In addition to these daily steps, exfoliate 2-3 times every week (or once a week, if you use a chemical exfoliant). Exfoliating helps to clear away dead skin cells from your pores and prevent breakouts.

That’s it. Follow this basic formula for your skincare routine, and hopefully, your skin will be clear in no time. 

If you aren’t satisfied with your skin after a few weeks of following a specific routine, you probably need to make a few adjustments. It may not be perfect right away, but you’ll get there eventually.

How Eating Better Can Improve Your Skin 

While a solid skincare routine is vital to achieving clear skin, it’s not the only way to fight acne and other issues. Altering your diet can also help improve your skin.

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about which foods cause acne and which don’t. As a rule of thumb, just remember that not everything you read online is true. If a random person on the Internet says to cut out a particular food or food group, research their claim for yourself before taking their advice.

That said, right now, there are no official recommendations for dietary changes to fight acne. However, some emerging data shows that foods with a high glycemic index may be associated with acne.

What is the glycemic index? Well, it’s a number that tells you which carbs are “good” and which are “bad.” In other words, it shows you have fast your body converts a specific food into glucose. Foods with lower indices have a smaller impact on your blood sugar.

Some carbs with a high glycemic index include processed carbs and sweets. Foods like these may promote breakouts. 

Don’t fret—you don’t need to cut out every “bad” carb from your diet. Everything is okay in moderation, right? However, if you notice that certain foods often cause you to break out, we’d suggest avoiding those foods to help make your skin as clear as possible.

Along these lines, experts recommend eating a well-balanced diet to boost the health of your skin. Foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will do wonders for your body and your skin!

Lifestyle Changes That Promote Clear Skin 

Just as certain foods may cause breakouts, certain activities help or damage your skin, too. 

Unfortunately, achieving clear skin isn’t always as simple as practicing the ideal skincare routine every day. Sometimes, you have to adjust parts of your lifestyle to see a real skin improvement. 

Let’s delve into some of the lifestyle changes you can make today to achieve clear skin: 

Exercise. Exercise benefits the body in so many ways. One of those ways is fighting acne and skin problems.

You may be tempted to avoid sweating if you’re prone to acne. Does sweat really make it worse, though? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Working up a sweat when you exercise may actually unblock your pores. 

However, just be sure to remove all makeup and cleanse your face before you work out. Likewise, when you’re finished, take a shower as soon as you can. If sweat dries on your face, that could potentially lead to breakouts. 

Wear sunscreen. UV rays from the sun cause lasting damage to the skin. Too much sun exposure leads to dark spots, discoloration, and even serious diseases. To keep your skin looking clear and even, protect it with sunscreen.

Get plenty of sleep. Between work, school, and social obligations, most of us lead pretty busy lives. Unfortunately, when life gets too busy, our sleep schedules suffer. 

If you tend to lose sleep when you have too much on your plate, you may want to consider rearranging your schedule to give yourself enough time to rest up. Getting seven to nine hours of good sleep actually promotes clear skin.

A lack of sleep may cause your body to release inflammatory compounds, which leads to breakouts and acne. So, if you can, go to bed early tonight.

Reduce stress in your life. There’s a clear connection between stress and inflammation. Finding ways to reduce stress in your life is a major key to getting clear skin.

This may be one of the trickiest lifestyle changes to actually implement. Most of us can’t just drop everything and go on vacation for a month. Nevertheless, it’s important to try to find outlets to let off some steam.

Activities like exercise, yoga, meditation, and journaling are a great way to destress. 

Changing your entire life isn’t as simple as starting a new skincare routine. Just take it one day at a time, and soon your new habits will seem like second nature. 

Try a Mask to Rejuvenate Your Face 

Face masks are a wonderful tool for achieving quick and impactful results. Masks are perfect for those days you just want to give your skin a boost before a big event. 

Of course, some masks are superior to others. When searching for a face mask that will give you clear skin, be sure to look out for masks with powerful, clean ingredients. For example, Vitamin C is known to be a potent acne fighter. 

A mask containing Vitamin C, like our Vitamin C Clay Mask, is perfect for fighting skin problems and rejuvenating your skin. 

Go Forth and Glow 

Hopefully, this definitive guide to clear skin has given you all the tools you need to achieve the clear skin you dream about at night. 

If this advice doesn’t work for you right away, don’t give up. It may take weeks, or even months, to see results. Just pay attention to your body, and don’t be afraid to alter your routine if you feel it’s necessary. 

Ultimately, clear skin comes from a combination of a great skincare routine, a healthy diet, and smart lifestyle choices. It’s not always easy, but achieving clear skin is worth all the effort. 

Sources

How To Get Clear Skin | Healthline

Acne Prevention: Stress, Diet, Exercise, Sleep, and More | WebMD

9 Steps to improving acne-prone skin | Nuffield Health