Perfect, glowing skin made easy
We all suffer from bad skin days from time to time, but there are many tips and tricks you can use to get perfect skin naturally. To make spots and blemishes a thing of the past, check out these six tips for clear skin.
Reduce your skin’s contact to bacteria.
You may be surprised at how often your skin comes into
contact with dirt and germs that can lead to acne. During the time you are
asleep, your pillow comes into contact with makeup, skin oils and saliva,
making it a breeding ground for bacteria that can worsen acne. Likewise,
unwashed makeup brushes can spread bacteria to your skin. To minimize your
skin’s contact to bacteria, make sure you wash makeup brushes every
two weeks and change your pillowcase regularly. Also, avoid touching your face
as much as possible and clean your phone with antibacterial wipes before making
calls.
Cleanse your skin properly.
If
you suffer from oily or acne-prone skin it can be tempting to over-cleanse your
skin to dry out oils and kill bacteria. However, cleansing your skin too
frequently or using harsh cleansers can dry out your skin, causing flakiness
which can clog pores. It can also cause your skin to produce more oils to
compensate. Instead, wash your skin twice a day with a gentle, PH-neutral
cleanser so as not to destroy the acid mantle of the skin, which protects
against moisture loss and bacteria. Remove the cleanser with a muslin cloth to
lightly exfoliate the skin.
Sip spearmint tea.
Acne
is generally caused by hormones called androgens, which can over-stimulate the
sebaceous glands leading to oily skin, blocked pores and spots. To counteract
these effects, oral contraceptives are often prescribed to women suffering from
acne. However, while beneficial for clearing spots, these contraceptive pills
can have inconvenient and even dangerous side effects. Luckily, research
suggests that spearmint tea has similar anti-androgen properties, which could
help reduce acne and hormone imbalances in women.
Use spot-fighting makeup.
We
all know what it’s like to have a bad skin day when you just want to hide away
under layers of makeup. However, while makeup can temporarily disguise the look
of spots, it can also make the problem much worse. For confidence-boosting
coverage that won’t cause flare-ups, make sure you opt for non-comedogenic
makeup that won’t clog pores. To further increase the spot-fighting powers of
your cosmetics, try using mineral makeup containing zinc oxide, which will
fight against acne-causing bacteria.
Change your diet.
Eating
a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients and antioxidants is one of the key
factors behind beautiful looking skin. However, there are also certain foods
you can cut back on or eat more of in order to help get rid of spots. Research
suggests that dairy is a major precursor of acne for many people due to the
hormones it contains. Plastic water bottles and food packaging can also leach
out chemicals which can lead to hormone imbalance. Swap packaged foods for
fresh, skin-friendly produce including lots of fruit and vegetables and foods
rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Find ways to deal with stress.
Research
findings published in the journal Archives of Dermatology suggest that high
stress levels can significantly worsen acne. It is thought that this may be due
to the fact that stress stimulates the production of hormones which stimulate
oil production in the skin’s sebaceous glands. Stress is also thought to
instigate the release of chemicals which can lead to inflammation. To help keep
your skin clear and spot-free, try to find healthy ways to deal with stress
such as exercise, meditation or pampering. Try to talk through problems with
someone else as well to help relieve any worries.
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