Top Three Ways to Keep Your Skin Clear
Written by someone who has clear skin almost all of the time
At the end of 2020, Pinterest released its annual “Pinterest Predicts” report for 2021. Its number one beauty prediction? Skinimalism. Skinimalism means, if you haven’t already guessed, skincare minimalism. It’s all about simplifying your routine, embracing your skin’s natural texture, and finding hassle-free products for an effortless glow.
Unsurprisingly, 80% of the trends that Pinterest predicted for 2021 continued to climb throughout the year. Skinimalism was everywhere. Dewy skin, glass skin, poreless skin, glowing skin, smooth skin, retouched skin, un-retouched skin. Ultimately, what Pinterest predicted was nothing revolutionary; instead, it merely reflected one of the beauty industry’s greatest obsessions: clear skin.
It’s important to keep in mind that the condition of your skin is affected by many, many factors: genetics, hormones, lifestyle, diet, clothing and fabric choices, exercise habits, sweating, choice of skincare products, and more. All of these variables influence the different stages of acne development and impact how clear your skin looks on a daily basis.
That being said, I live by three rules to keep my skin clear, and I am not someone who has naturally flawless skin. I have struggled with acne, hyperpigmentation, texture, evenness, and skin tone since I was a teen. However, with these three tricks up my sleeve, I have been able to keep my skin consistently clear for the majority of my life.
So if you’re struggling to prevent breakouts and the redness, soreness, inflammation, and scarring that can result from them: read on.
- Pick your poison (er, your acne prevention product)
There are some acne prevention products that are almost ubiquitous; that’s how popular they are and how well they have been proven to work. Generally, you apply them after cleansing, once a day, usually at night, and follow with a generous amount of a basic moisturizer.
I recommend the following ingredients and products:
- Benzoyl peroxide 2.5% (Product: Neutrogena’s On the Spot Untinted)
- Adapalene (Product: Differin)
- Tretinoin (Product: you have to get this from a dermatologist, but it’s easy to attain through online services such as Curology and Apostrophe)
- Sulfer (Product: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask)
- BHA or salicylic acid 2% (Product: COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid or Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment Gel Cream)
- AHA or glycolic/lactic acid (Product: COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid)
- Niacinamide (Product: Naturium’s Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2%)
- Clindamycin (Product: you have to get this from a dermatologist, but it’s easy to attain through online services such as Curology and Apostrophe)
- Azelaic acid 20% (Product: Ecological Formulas Melazepam Cream)
2. Moisturize
The biggest issue with most people’s skincare routines? They’re not moisturizing enough.
Use facial moisturizer every single day, at least once.
If you’re using an acne prevention product, it’s inevitably going to dry out your skin. Without moisturizer, your skin will begin to produce more oil to compensate for the dryness. This will, in turn, cause more acne.
Do yourself a favor and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
3. Use SPF
This one belongs on every list of skincare tips.
Not only should you always use sunscreen to protect your skin, but you should also especially use sunscreen when your routine includes active ingredients like those listed above. Some active ingredients make your skin more sensitive to sun damage, so applying sunscreen every day is an essential step towards calmer, clearer skin.
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