Hundreds of medications, treatments, cleansers, and cosmetics are available for people with acne, but the most important elements of an acne-fighting program won’t cost you a cent.
1. Nourish your skin by eating a healthy and balanced diet.
2. Drink lots of water to maintain the skin’s elasticity.
Plenty of water is essential to the health of your skin. One of the main activities of the body’s self-healing system is to filter the blood, a job performed mostly by the kidneys, with help from the skin in the form of perspiration. This self-healing system removes the toxic wastes of metabolizing food and of other harmful substances that get into our bodies one way or another.
This purification system operates efficiently only if the volume of water flowing through it is sufficient to carry away the wastes. 6 to 8 glasses (64 fluid ounces) of water a day is the recommendation. To reach your quota, carry bottled water with you in your car, your purse, your briefcase wherever you go.
Get the water habit, and your skin will thank you for it.
3. Exercise regularly for good circulation.
Get into a regular routine of exercise. Do it for at least half an hour, five days a week. Exercise improves your blood circulation, helping your body clear toxins from your system, including your skin. Better circulation also increases the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin. Exercise also relieves stress, which is a common cause of acne flare-ups. Last but not least, exercise releases endorphins, the “feel good” substance in your brain that puts a smile on your face the best beauty secret of all.
4. Cleanse your face then tone, moisturize, and exfoliate.
At night routine
– First, remove your makeup with an oil-free makeup remover and a cotton ball.
– Pat (don’t rub) it dries with a soft towel. Oil-free, non-comedogenic (doesn’t block pores) cleanser.
– Pat (don’t rub) it dries with a soft towel.
– And apply an oil-free moisturizer.
In the morning routine
– Wash your face as directed above, then use an alcohol-free toner.
– Next, apply moisturizer.
– Then apply makeup, all oil-free and non-comedogenic.
– Once or twice a week use an exfoliant with alpha hydroxyl acid or glycolic acid. This will aid in the shedding of dead skin cells, the ‘food’ for the bacteria that cause pimples.
– If you exercise during the day, you’ll need to wash your face a third time, immediately afterward.
5. Protect your skin from the sun and harsh weather.
One popular myth about acne is that tanning will clear it. It may seem so at first, but soon you will notice that your tanned skin becomes less pliable, making it less able to shed oil and dead skin cells, which clog your pores. Your acne will become worse, not better.
Always wear sunblock with at least an SPF-15 UVA & UVB rating. If you’ll be outside in the sun for long, wear a wide-brimmed hat.
6. Get plenty of good-quality rest.
Cleansing comes several hours into the sleep cycle. That’s why a few hours here and there won’t do. Most people need at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Consider it beauty sleep.
If you make these 6 things part of your daily routine, you’ll look better, feel better, and have less need for expensive acne treatments and cosmetics.
