Whether hormonal, cystic, transient or long-lasting, acne will affect most of us at some point in our lifetime. Our skin can really affect our emotional and mental health because appearance is often the first impression someone else will get, and this can be extremely damaging.
Insecurities are made worse with the increasing visibility that we all have on social media, especially Instagram, where influencers and celebrities can make the ordinary person feel low, or simply disengaged from reality.
Despite this, most people suffer with some form of acne and many celebrities, such as Kendall Jenner, publicly acknowledge their own skincare issues, so if this is the case, you are by no means alone!
A routine is essential to treating your skin well and this can vary hugely from person to person. Whether you are a seasoned professional at skincare with a 7-step routine, or simply someone looking for better skin, these tips should help you keep your skin feeling fresh despite the harsh wintry weather that we are experiencing.
There are some general guidelines that you should keep in mind and habits that you may want to cut out in order to improve your skin. A good night’s sleep and plenty of water is essential to your general health and wellbeing, but it is surprising how beneficial this is for your skin.
Make-up should be taken off before bed in order to let your pores breathe and, if left on, it can provoke inflammation, especially around the eyes.
Also avoid touching your face (don’t pick or squeeze spots no matter how satisfying it may be!) and be aware of items you may come into contact with without realising. Our hands and mobile devices often carry the most germs, which can provoke unwelcome blemishes, so ensuring that we wipe our phone with a cloth before placing it to our ear could help.
In terms of cleansing, you should wash your face regularly, but this will vary for some people depending on routine. A good guide is to wash your face morning and night, twice a day, with a cleanser and then moisturise afterwards.You can introduce steps between such as a toner that can refresh and brighten your skin, but this is not particularly necessary.
Good ingredients to look out for are salicylic acid and tea tree oil, which work to combat spots forming, and these can be found in high-street stores such as Boots with their own-brand range or Simple, which aims to provide simpler, cleaner beauty products.
This doesn’t need to take too much time, so don’t see it as an onerous activity, but it can provide a clean basis for any make-up that might be added afterwards, and means you are ready for the day (or a good night’s sleep)!
It may be that you have a good routine in place but spots still emerge from time to time or they are always present – if your skin is bothering you in terms of your mental health or is physically painful, it is worth going to see a medical professional to determine the cause and see if they can put you on a course of treatment. Your local GP will be able to examine any dermatological concerns and prescribe medication if necessary or refer you to a specialist.
It is also essential to bear in mind that clear skin can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Naturally our skin will have its ups and downs as our hormones change along with the weather, irritation, change in environment and water etc.
So, ride the rollercoaster and follow these simple steps along to way to ensure that you maintain a consistent routine and hopefully reduce those pesky breakouts.
Image Credit: Kjersten_Michaela via Pixabay
