Flawless skin: a dream for many, no matter your gender identity. Yet, the more you stress yourself out about it, the more hopeless your dream gets. It’s almost as if the breakouts can sense your scheme to rid yourself of them. What especially does not help is that the internet is full of information, which you’re not sure you CAN trust. So? What do you do besides drown your sorrows in flavour of the day ice cream?
Personally, I have a 4-step diagnostic routine for whenever my skin is behaving particularly badly which helps keep me sane, and my skin in check.
Drink Water
Can this even be said enough? The first rule is always, always hydrate.
We all know the rule: 8 glasses a day, although more is acceptable and might even be necessary depending on your personal activity level. It not only keeps your body functioning right, but it also flushes toxins from your body- most of which often show up on your skin.
Diet
You know the age-old adage: you are what you eat.
We might all enjoy our guilty pleasure junk food binges but usually most skin problems can be traced back to a poor or improper diet. Diets affect everything from our immunity, hormones, cellulite, and our skin. General (if harsh) rule of thumb: cut out anything that is super processed- or has twenty more ingredients than you would need to make the same thing at home.
When my skin acts up, if my water intake is not the issue, chances are I’ve made a dietary change- or indiscretion- that didn’t suit my body. Coffee, chocolate and fatty foods are often the silent culprit.
Research Verified Sources
Believe it or not, the first two steps of my 4-step routine usually fix most of my skin related issues. If its something deeper, that’s when I take to the web.
I consider my skin type and try to find blogs and research that differentiates based on that one vital factor. My clear skin regime can be traced back to a few solid websites that I trust, and I don’t overwhelm myself with looking for others beyond those few.
Change Up Your Products
When all else fails- usually helped along by step 3, I deep-dive into my makeup and skin care drawer. I make sure I am not using expired makeup- you’d be surprised how easy it can be to overlook this- and sifting through the skin care selection to see if I started using a new skin care product recently that might have created the imbalance. I also look into the products that I am using for side effects and improper use warnings.
The important thing to remember here is that skin care is NOT a one size fits all situation. Products that might be highly recommended elsewhere might not work for you, and that’s okay! It just further highlights the need for trusted sources and personalised routines.
What is your dream clear skin regime? Share with us in the comments below
