10 Simple Tips for Clear Skin
Hey Fam!
Your girl has finally [somewhat] settled into her apartment and is ready to put content out again. Today we’re talking skin care. NY summers are humid and brutal. Because of this, I’ve been very strict when it comes to following my skin care routine to prevent any issues. The sun, heat, and sweat can contribute to texture and skin sensitivity. Here are some tips that I follow to keep my skin in check. I’m definitely a lot more strict during the summer, but I do try to keep up with these tips year-round.
Enjoy!
- Riss <3
1. CLEAN YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES AND SPONGES ONCE A WEEK
I’m not going to lie, I’ve had a lot of trouble following this tip in the past. Cleaning your makeup brushes feels like an unnecessary, time-consuming chore that no one really enjoys doing. I would let weeks and weeks go by without cleaning my makeup brushes or sponges. Unbeknownst to me, makeup, dirt, and bacteria were building up in my tools, causing me to breakout. After realizing this, I put myself on a strict once-a-week cleaning schedule. While I still don’t enjoy cleaning my brushes, I can admit that it is necessary. Consistent cleaning has greatly reduced my breakouts, and my skin feels and looks a lot clearer.
Luckily, there are also products/tools that can help reduce time spent on cleaning your brushes. Check them out below!
Electric Makeup Brush Cleaning Tool: This is an electric brush cleaner that will clean and dry your brushes much faster than manual cleaning would. I’d definitely recommend this tool if you wear makeup everyday, and/or if you use a lot of brushes. Cleaning numerous brushes by hand every week can be super time consuming. This tool will have it done in no time!
Cinema Secrets Makeup Brush Cleaner: This product cleans your brushes faster than soap does. With soap, you need to do a good amount of scrubbing, but not with this product! All you need to do is pour the brush cleaner solution into a small container and dip your brush into it. When you remove the brush, it should be almost spotless! You may have to do a few dips for stubborn foundation or waterproof makeup, but it still beats scrubbing
SEPHORA COLLECTION - The Cleanse: Daily Brush Cleaner: I highly recommend this daily brush cleaner for those who don’t use a lot of makeup brushes throughout the week and/or don’t wear a lot of makeup. I’ve been using this product a lot lately since my summer makeup routine only requires me to use about 3 brushes. This product is super simple to use. After you’re done using your brush, just spray it with the brush cleaning solution, wipe it on a clean towel, and your brush is prepared for next day use!
2. CHANGE YOUR PILLOW CASES AND FACE TOWELS ONCE A WEEK
Pillows and face towels come in contact with your face every single day. Makeup, oil, and sweat stick to your pillows and face towels…even more so during the summertime. The longer you wait to wash your pillowcases and face towels, the more dirt and bacteria builds up on them. Continuously utilizing dirty pillowcases or face towels will inevitably result in breakouts. You need to wash your linens on a consistent basis to prevent this. To avoid constant trips to the laundromat, keep multiple linens in your closet for easy swapping. Backups will also provide you with zero excuses for changing your pillowcases and towels. Soooo…change ‘em!
3. DITCH FABRIC SOFTENER AND DRYER SHEETS WHEN WASHING PILLOWCASES AND FACE TOWELS
Fabric softener and dryer sheets have their benefits; they reduce wrinkles, soften clothing, and keep our laundry smelling fresh. The downside of fabric softener and dryer sheets is that they leave behind a waxy residue that can clog pores and cause breakouts. If you’re an avid user of fabric softener and/or dryer sheets, feel free to continue using them on laundry items that don’t come into direct contact with your face. For items that do, wash/dry them separately without fabric softener/dryer sheets.
4. DON’T HOARD MAKEUP OR SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
Yes, makeup and skin care products do expire, so be careful when it comes to hoarding beauty items or buying them in bulk. If you’re unsure when your product expires, take a look at the back or bottom of it. Most beauty products come with a small stamp that states how many months the product should be utilized after opening. You can usually use products a couple of months after the expiration date has passed, but take that information seriously for the most part. You don’t want to use overly expired products on your face, especially products that are coming into close contact with your eyes or mouth.
5. WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY
I know I sound like a broken record when it comes to sunscreen, but I’m going to say it once again in this post: wear sunscreen. Prolonged sun exposure can cause major damage to the skin, including sun spots, uneven skin tone, redness, sunburn, and (in extreme cases) cancer. Wearing sunscreen can help prevent all of these issues. It will keep your skin clear, even and irritation-free….so WEAR IT!
If you’re looking for an affordable sunscreen that can be worn on the face and doesn’t make you look ashy, check out Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 30. I love this sunscreen. It’s super light and doesn’t break me out. It’s also moisturizes my skin. I actually often use it in-place of my regular moisturizer.
6. DON’T OVER-TREAT
Breakouts are inevitable. If you’re human, you will get a breakout at some point in your life. It’s apart of life. Sucks…I know. When you find yourself with a breakout, feel free to treat it with your favorite acne treatment, but don’t get too crazy. Most acne treatments contain active ingredients that can irritate your skin if you use too much. I promise you, using your treatment 5x a day will not make your breakout go away any faster. Follow the product-use instructions, and let nature do its thing. Your breakout will eventually disappear if you treat your skin kindly. You don’t want to over-treat problematic skin and introduce even more problems.
7. CHILL WITH ABRASIVE SCRUBS
If you’re not careful, abrasive scrubs can do more harm than good. Constant use of abrasive scrubs can cause tears in your skin, making it raw, inflamed, and more susceptible to infection. If you’re looking to exfoliate your skin, I would suggest trying out chemical exfoliators. They’re more effective than scrubs, and won’t damage the skin if you use them safely. Start off by using a chemical exfoliator once or twice a week and see how your skin reacts. Don’t get to exfoliator-happy though. Overuse of chemical exfoliators can also be dangerous; resulting in redness, irritation, and chemical burns in serious cases. Use as prescribed, and you’ll be good to go!
8. Don’t WASH YOUR FACE FOR TOO LONG
In addition to harsh scrubs, don’t lather your cleanser for too long either. I know you want your face to be squeaky clean, but don’t over do it. You should wash your face for about 30 seconds. Pulling and tugging on your skin for a prolonged amount of time can cause irritation and premature wrinkles. Use gentle products and gentle hands. If you do notice spots you missed/residue, drop some toner on a cotton pad for easy removal instead of lathering more cleanser onto your face.
9. ALWAYS WASH YOUR FACE BEFORE GOING TO BED
It’s tempting to hop into bed without cleansing your face when you’ve had a long day. It’s even more tempting to take off your makeup with wipes, call it a night, and pretend like you did something. Face wipes can remove the top layer of your makeup, but you’ll have to go through a good amount of face wipes in order to remove all of your makeup. Even if you are able to remove all of the makeup on the surface of your skin with makeup wipes, you’ll still have makeup and dirt sitting in your pores that makeup wipes aren’t able to reach. Dirt, sweat, and bacteria accumulate on our skin throughout the day. Whether you’re a makeup wearer or not, you need to wash away all of that gunk from the day. Not doing so can cause major breakouts and irritation. Go to bed with happy skin.
10. DON’T TEST TOO MANY SKIN CARE PRODUCTS AT THE SAME TIME
I’m a skin care junkie, so I love trying new products. However, I don’t pick up more than two new skin care products at a time. Unless approved by a dermatologist, be careful when it comes to testing multiple skin care products at once. Some ingredients don’t mesh well, so you want to ensure that they don’t counteract each other and cause irritation. Ease into incorporating new products into your routine. Start with one or two products at a time, see how your skin reacts in 4-6 weeks, and then look into incorporating another if you’d like. This is a safe way to try new products without shocking your skin. You’ll also be able to tell what products work and what don’t. If you use too many products at once, you won’t be able to tell what’s working and what’s not.