Acne - what a glamorous topic. We’ve all had it at some point in our lives, & we all want to know how to get rid of it. If you’re anything like me, you naively thought acne would magically disappear after your teenage years. Boy, were we wrong. Acne continues to be a problem for many people throughout adulthood, but lucky for us, there are several solutions available that don’t cost a dime.
8 Reasons for Your Acne
1. Your Diet
I’m the first to admit - I have a hard time passing up sweets, but if you’re committed to getting clear skin, you may have to. Foods high in added sugar can contribute to acne & dairy is another food group to be wary of.
The solution: Pay attention to how your diet affects your body. Try cutting out a food (or a food group) for 30 days & see what happens. If your skin clears up, maybe it’s time to limit your consumption of that food. You should also be upping your water intake. Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water for that clear skin you're looking for!
2. Your Bed
Your sheets & pillow case are something you live in for (supposedly) eight hours a day. They collect a lot of skin cells, dirt, oil & bacteria throughout the night. Exposing your face to this buildup every day can be a major cause of acne.
The solution: Wash your sheets at least once a month & your pillowcase every week. Your pillowcase is most important, as it’s typically what your face comes in contact with the most. If you’re a little lazy like me, keep a few extra sets of sheets on hand for an easy switch.
3. Your Workout
Skipping a shower after a workout may be punishing your skin more than you think. The sweat itself may not cause much fuss, but letting it linger with the other dirt, oil & makeup on your face could be why your acne is flaring up.
The solution: Take a shower, or at least wash your face, immediately after a workout. If you don’t have time for that, get a quick cleanse in with a cotton round & our Micellar Water to sweep away those impurities.
4. Your Makeup Brushes are Dirty
Before I knew how important it is to consistently wash your brushes, I would go months without washing mine. (Just thinking about that makes me cringe!) Your brushes build up product, bacteria, oil & whatever else is floating around in the air every day. When you think about it like that, it’s pretty easy to see how your makeup brushes can contribute to acne.
The solution: Wash your brushes every week! I like to wash mine on Sunday mornings so they are ready to go by the time I do my makeup on Monday morning. Our Pretty Everything Soap makes the process super easy!
5. You’re Stressed
Unfortunately, often times the more stress you have, the more breakouts appear. It actually seems pretty cruel if you think about it - some of our biggest life milestones are also some of the most stressful. Luckily, there are several low-cost methods to control stress.
The solution: Make time for yourself. Read a book, take a walk, go to a yoga class, just take some time for you. One of my favorite self-care rituals is having a mask night twice a week. Not only am I getting ‘me time’, but I’m targeting those pesky pimples at the same time!
6. Your Phone
For most of us, our phone goes EVERYWHERE with us, so it accumulates quite a bit of bacteria throughout the day. When you put your phone on your face, you’re transferring that bacteria to your face.
The solution: Clean your phone once a week with a little bit of Pretty Everything Soap & a cloth to wipe away those germs. Just fill a clean spray bottle with water, add about 5% of the Pretty Everything Soap & you’ll be set!
7. You’re Not Getting Enough Sleep
What can sleep have to do with acne? A lot, actually. We’ve all heard that lack of sleep can cause health problems, but it can cause skin problems, too. A lack of sleep contributes to stress, which in turn can wreak havoc on your skin.
The solution: Go to bed earlier. I know binge watching a show at 1 a.m. sounds like a good idea at the time, but it’s not good for you or your skin.
8. You’re Touching Your Face Too Much
You all saw this one coming, right? It’s such a huge contributor to acne! Your hands pick up a lot of bacteria each day, so touching your face quickly spreads those germs & allows them to penetrate your pores.
The solution: It’s an easy one - stop touching & picking at your face. Let your acne heal on its own, & use a spot treatment like our Beauty Blend 03 • Organic Acne Vanish Spot Treatment as a quicker way to vanish your acne.
While there are a lot of products out there to help combat acne, they can’t cure it. So take a look at your habits & see if any of these things may be contributing to your acne! Give these solutions a try & see where it takes you. If your acne clears up after the change, maybe you found the culprit.
