How to Get Clear Skin?
It may seem that at times achieving clear skin feels as though it is a dream that will never become a reality. The thing about spots and blemishes, no matter what you do there are so many factors that cause breakouts that sometimes, spots just happen. Not to worry though as it’s not all doom and gloom! Luckily, I have taken a closer look into how to get clear skin and with a little consistency and time you will see a world of difference when it comes to the overall look of your complexion.
How do you get clear skin fast?
There are many different ways you can get clear skin fast, but before I start sharing with you the best skin tips I have found, it is important to understand that getting clear skin is not a quick fix. Depending on how severe your breakouts are can lead to any inflammations, skin redness or uneven skin tone taking a little longer to completely clear up. Don’t however, feel disheartened at the thought of this as once you skin has established balance and has become used to any changes you have made it will become a lot more manageable.
I’ll share with you now the steps and changes you can make to your routine to help clear your skin quickly and effectively. By all means you do not need to do all of the mentioned steps, but instead work the ones that will best suit your lifestyle and skin type.
Cleanse the skin, but don’t over wash it!
The feeling of wanting to wash your face until it squeaks can often feel overwhelming, especially if you are suffering from a particularly pesky breakout. But it is very important to not over-wash the skin, this is because your skin actually needs some oil on it to remain balanced (yes even those of you who have an oily skin type). If you strip the skin of the vital sebum it needs to remain comfortable and functioning properly you will actually unknowingly send stress signals to the sebum glands kick starting an over-production of oil leading to, you guessed it, more spots and blemishes! An easy way to remember this by aiming for your skin to feel clean, not squeaky clean!
Try cleansers containing Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide
Both of these ingredients are powerful at blemish fighting as they reach further down into dermis layer of the skin, deep into the pores. They have the ability to clear away a build-up of sebum, bacteria, debris and other impurities giving you clear, healthy skin. Another useful point to remember is that you are able to use both ingredients during your daily routine, ensuring of cause your skin is happy for you to do so and not become too dry and uncomfortable. There is a dedicated blog post about which you should use first, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, admittedly they both sound quite scary, but when used correctly will work wonders on the skin.
Don’t forget to exfoliate
Whether you decide on a physical scrub or chemical exfoliant both are ideal for sloughing away the build-up of dead skin cells that frequently result in the skin appearing dull, lacklustre with many active spots and blackheads. Popular AHAs are potent and effective at revealing a fresh skin cells giving the skin a vibrant glow, glycolic acid and lactic acid are the two most used in formulations due to their skin reviving abilities with little skin irritation to those with normal and combination skin types.
Wash then exfoliate
Would you have a shower with your clothes on? Exfoliating the skin whilst still wearing makeup is the same thing with product simply getting smeared around the skin and pushed deeper into the pores causing them to become clogged which will result in all manner of problems.
Don’t skip on the moisturiser
Often the mindset of wanting clear skin usually involves the thinking that moisturisers are a no go with this step sometimes being missed out altogether. The main job of moisturiser is to not only help hydrate and nourish the skin, but to also form a protective barrier over the skin preventing any environmental aggressors disrupting any other products and ingredients you applied during your daily routine.
Wash your makeup brushes
If you are finding you breakout in the same area, such as your cheeks, then one of the culprits could be your dirty makeup brushes! If you don’t wash your makeup brushes there will be a build-up of bacteria and dirt on the brushes are transferred onto the skin and back again in a viscous blemished cycle.
Seek the advice of a dermatologist
If you are beginning to feel that no matter what you try there is no improvement, then it’s time to seek the advice of a dermatologist.
I hope that whichever one of these you decide to introduce into your routine will benefit your skin giving some clarity to the complexion.
How do you get clear skin overnight?
As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to getting clear skin there is no fast track and will take some time and consistency. However, there are some things you can do to help any active spots look and feel reduced and prevent any new breakouts from developing.
Make sure your pillowcases are clean- much like your dirty paint brushes, placing your face on a bacteria covered pillow will create the same probably. Aim to change your pillowcases 3 times a week if you are finding your skin is very oily and problematic.
Use a spot cream containing benxoyl peroxide- this ingredient combats the bacteria that creates spots called P. Acnes bacteria, by topically applying it onto the spot will give a more potent and targeted treatment.
Keep your hair off your face- keep your way out of the way of your skin, especially if it is in need of a wash to prevent the oils transferring onto the skin.
Use a probiotic enriched overnight face mask to calm any redness and inflammation to the skin, making it less visible by more.
Get enough sleep- to have clear skin, you need enough sleep. The skin rejuvenates itself while you sleep so aiming for the recommended 8 hours will have significant difference to the skin.
Drink enough water- the power of h2O on the skin is unbelievable, start drinking 3litres of water a day will completely change the clarity of your skin. There you some advice on how to get clear skin, we would love to hear if you give any of these a try and any results you have! Drop in over on our Instagram for daily skin tips, advice and exciting giveaways!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
