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We all know that one girl who has perfect skin. Maybe it’s someone at work, or your sister, or your best friend, but this girl has a flawless complexion 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If your skin is less than crystal clear, it probably has you thinking to yourself on a regular basis, what on earth is her secret!?
While there is no single proven way to get clear skin–a lot of it has to do with hormones–there are certain skincare sins that women with clear skin NEVER commit. These very common mistakes could be the reason behind your stubborn acne flare-ups.
1. Touching Your Face
“Get your hands off your face,” we’ve heard it a thousand times before, but do you actually listen? Touching your face is one of the most common reasons behind breakouts. There are billions of tiny germs on your hands at any given moment during the day. When you rest your chin in your hands or touch your face, this spreads the germs to your skin, leading to acne.
2. Sleeping With Makeup On
If there is one skincare habit that you adapt to your daily life, make it this one. Sleeping in your makeup leads to numerous problems, including acne, early aging, wrinkles, and dry skin. Think of it this way--when you sleep with makeup on your face, all of the products you used settle into your pores, clogging them and keeping them from being able to breathe. At night while you sleep your skin is repairing itself, putting it in a sensitive, vulnerable state. Leaving makeup on overnight interferes with this important time.
3. Not Drinking Enough Water
Just remember this: water is the answer to all of your problems. Tired? Have a glass of water? Bloated? Water. Breaking out? Go chug some H2O. We know you’re probably tired of hearing it, but water is truly the answer to many of your skin care problems. Hydrating your skin is essential--and we’re not just talking about using a moisturizer.
4. Skipping Out On Vitamins
Many women who struggled with acne their entire lives found great help in taking vitamins designed to improve your skin. Gut health is very underestimated when it comes to skincare. Taking a daily probiotic to help clear your system of harmful bacteria is important. Supplements like Biotin support youthful, healthy skin, hair, and nails.
5. Using The Same Pillowcases
Even if you wash your face every single night before your head touches your pillow, you still need to prioritize washing your pillowcases. While you sleep, sweat, hair products, skincare products, and other dirt and dust can collect on your pillow. If you don’t clean them regularly, this dirt gets transferred to your skin. Wash them or swap them out (and your towels, too) every few days.
6. Not Moisturizing
Sometimes women with problem skin falsely think the reason behind their breakouts is oil and therefore they shouldn’t moisturize because their skin doesn’t need it. WRONG. Skipping moisturizer after cleansing your face can actually lead to more acne--go figure. When your skin isn’t hydrated properly it sends a single to produce more oil to compensatie. This excess oil leads to more breakouts.
7. Experimenting With Too Many Products
Women with clear skin know that when they find beauty products that works for their skin, they stick with it. Now, we’re not saying you can’t try out new fun face masks. We’re talking about your toners, moisturizers, cleansers, all that jazz. If you find one that is clearing up your acne, don’t mess with the process.
8. Picking At Pimples
You know not to do it, but chances are you do it anyway. Yes, popping a gross pimple is satisfying. No, it won’t actually solve the problem. Picking at acne only makes it worse by contaminating it with more germs, spreading it to other areas of your face, and irritating it. Just don’t touch it!
[Photos: Shutterstock]
