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“Ugh, I hate all of these pimples on my face.” “I wish I could have skin like Beyoncé or Gigi Hadid.”
So many of us have shouted similar comments as we pick and tear at our acne-covered skin.
If you’re not one of those people, consider yourself lucky. Not many people can say they aren’t struggling with acne. I definitely can’t!
The truth is this: acne is hard. It eats at your self-confidence. It makes you feel ugly and gross. Let’s not even mention how painful those deep, red pimples can be.
Trust me, I get it.
I’ve been fighting several different types of acne since I was 12. From hormonal breakouts to genetic makeup (thanks mom!), acne-prone skin has been the story of my life ever since I can remember.
You are not alone. I feel the pain too!
But…over the past 10 years, I’ve discovered many tips, tricks, hacks, and products that have allowed me to gain some control over my skin.
The harsh reality is that there is no miracle acne-destroying product. Period.
Anyone who tries to convince you that there is is probably not telling the full truth.
You may be thinking, “Why can’t there be that one product that just gives me clear skin?”
Well, the answer is simple: acne is caused by A BUNCH of different things. What you eat affects your skin. How you sleep affects your skin. How much water you drink affects your skin. Genetics affect your skin.
There is no way to pin point just ONE cause of acne.
Yeah….I know. That harsh reality SUCKS!
But….this doesn’t have to mean that acne will control your life forever.
You just have to take a long, hard look at your lifestyle and see what needs to be changed in order to improve your skin.
Now, I won’t go into depth about diet and skincare routines. That’s a conversation for another day!
What I will do is spill 5 essential tips on slowly getting rid of acne.
Before we get started, I do want to put a little disclaimer out there. I am NOT a certified dermatologist, dietician, or doctor. I’m literally just a college student who has been dealing with acne for the past 10 years.
I may not be a skincare professional by trade, but I certainly do have lots of acne knowledge that I think is worth sharing.
These tips are NOT “get rid of acne overnight” quick fixes. Nothing is. Your gradual results will depend on how consistently you use these tips and how much you tailor them to your specific skin type.
Results will take time, but they are possible. These 5 tips are all ones that I use and apply to my lifestyle today.
After discovering them, I’ll never go back to the way I used to operate before.
That being said, I know you’re anxious for me to spill the tea.
So….that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
1. Get Yourself a Silk Pillowcase
Life-changing! That’s exactly what this first hack is.
Switching out your cotton pillowcases for silk ones is one of the best passive ways to improve your acne.
Just think about it.
When you sleep on regular cotton pillows, all the oils from your hair and face seep into the fabric. Gross!
What happens next?! All of those nasty excess bodily oils then touch your face when you sleep. This means that your skin, especially your cheeks, will be absorbing all of that nastiness.
Ew, ew, and even more ew!! #Mindblown
I won’t even mention how frizzy the hair can get with regular cotton pillowcases.
Some people say that switching to silk pillowcases doesn’t really make a difference for the skin.
IT DOES…..at least for me.
The switch to silk may not miraculously save your skin, but it is making a difference even if you don’t directly notice it.
When I was sleeping on regular cotton cases, I noticed that I’d get lots of small bumps and pimples on my cheeks, especially because I always sleep on my side or stomach.
Now, I’m the Oily Queen. I’ve got oily skin, oily hair, oily EVERYTHING!
That means that silk pillowcases are EXTRA important for me so that my pores don’t get filled with all the greasiness going on.
Even if you aren’t oily to that extent, a silk pillowcase will still save you from unwanted clogged pores.
Lots of people tend to think that silk bedding pieces are uber expensive.
They’re actually not. They may sound boujee, but they don’t put a strain on the bank account!
Lots of silk pillowcases come in sets of 2-4 for under $30. Super affordable!
Here are my top 3 silk pillowcase sets from Amazon!
2. Apply a Topical Cream Nightly
This is probably one of the best preventative steps you can take for your acne.
It may seem self-explanatory, but you’ll be surprised how many people don’t use skincare products geared towards acne.
Topical treatments are skincare products that contain acne-fighting acids that will help fight or prevent future pimples. Always look for creams with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These are the two substances that help fight acne the best.
Depending on your skin type, you should apply a thin layer of a topical cream nightly. If you have sensitive skin, do this every other night or however often best fits your routine. The important thing is to stay consistent.
Be careful not to overapply the medicine because you don’t want to over dry your acne. That can make it even worse! Apply just a small amount on areas where you are acne-prone.
An acne-prone skincare routine is a whole other conversation, but purchasing acne skincare products doesn’t have to be expensive.
I have used several topical creams that I have found are super effective in taming and controlling existing acne and preventing future pimples.
The Neutrogena Rapid Clear and the Neutrogena Acne Face Pads are some of the best drugstore options.
3. Always Remove your Makeup
Have you been going to sleep with a whole day’s worth of makeup still piled on your skin?
Do yourself a favor and take the 30 seconds it requires to remove your makeup at night before you go to bed.
Do you know how much oil and dirt collects in your pores over the course of a day?
A LOT!
Leaving all of that gunk on your face is like asking for the acne fairy to bless you with nasty pimples in the morning!
Your skin needs to breathe. Your pores need to be cleaned and pampered.
We all have our lazy tendencies, but sleeping with your makeup on is the worst thing you can do for your acne.
I promise it doesn’t take that long to remove your makeup and wash your face. It can be done in literally five minutes.
And guess what…..you’ll wake up in the morning with a lot less pimples on your face than if you were to sleep with your makeup on.
Trust me….this tip is a MUST in order to achieve clear skin.
4. Give your Skin a Break from Makeup
Since we’re on the makeup train, this next tip challenges you to wear less makeup and just let your skin breathe.
I know it’s difficult to stop yourself from covering your acne with 3 layers of foundation, but it’s important to allow your pores to rest.
Instead of wearing a full face of makeup 7 days a week, try cutting back to only 5. Once you feel more comfortable rocking a more natural look, you can transition to hopefully wearing little to no makeup every day!
I know it sounds crazy, but you’ll see a huge difference in the quality of your skin. Trust me!
I’ve never been huge on wearing heavy makeup daily, but I did use to conceal my pimples for light coverage. To be honest, I’ve cut back A LOT on wearing any makeup. I’ve noticed that my skin is smoother and less bumpy because I’m not filling my pores with products anymore.
This isn’t to say that you should NEVER wear makeup anymore.
We all love getting glam every once in a while, but wearing heavy makeup on a daily basis is actually hurting your skin more than it is helping.
That being said, there are certain lightweight products that are geared towards acne-prone skin that you should consider using.
The goal is to be using non-comedogenic makeup (fancy word for “won’t block your pores”) that won’t give you pimples.
If you want some skin coverage, for example, one of my favorite products is the Cover Girl BB Cream. It gives you nice coverage but won’t cake up your pores. Plus…it’s one of the cheapest acne-prone makeup products you will ever find!
5. Hydrate
Water, water, and more water!
I know that every blog and every doctor will say this, but water is the center of life!
If your body is parched, your skill will be the same way.
If you are dehydrated, that is going to show in the quality of your skin.
Drinking lots of water is the easiest thing you can do to help your health overall. Improvement in your skin will be a plus!
Now, this is not to say that water will solve all your acne problems.
Like I said, there is no miracle solution to acne.
But…keeping up with your hydration will make sure that your skin is moisturized, vibrant, and healthy!
Dryness of the skin can actually cause MORE acne. So, when you drink lots of water, you are naturally helping your skin situation.
I know it’s a lot easier said than done to remember drinking water, but it’s crucial.
If you hate the idea of drinking something so plain, you can slice up strawberries, cucumbers, lemons, or berries to flavor your water. I do this ALL the time and it’s delicious!
No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I always keep a HUGE jug of water next to me so that I’m reminded to DRINK UP!
You can literally buy any large jug of water from the store, but if you want a little extra boost of motivation, this gallon jug from Amazon will make sure that you are getting your daily fill of water.
I see these big water bottles all over Instagram on Fitness pages, and they are SO helpful in reminding me to stay hydrated.
Let’s be real. I’m a busy gal, and sometimes drinking water isn’t the first thing on my to-do list.
But…getting a fun gallon jug of water will be an obvious reminder to drink as much H2O as you possibly can! This will be the best thing you can do for your overall bodily health AND your skin.
Now that you have a list of 5 essential tips for getting rid of acne, it’s time to start implementing them in your everyday life.
You won’t results unless you are motivated and consistent about making these lifestyle changes. These are all things that I do on a daily basis now that have been helping my skin for so long.
If I can do it, you can too!
So, what are you waiting for?
Get up, get hydrated, and get ready to start improving your skin! Stay tuned for more acne tips, tricks, and hacks soon!
Feel free to leave a comment on questions YOU want answered next and acne products that you are loving.
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