How To Get Clear Skin

Wash your face before bed

Throughout the day our skin collects dirt simply just by being exposed to the outdoors and going about our daily lives. Instead of letting this accumulated dirt manifest into a breakout, use a gentle face cleanser before bed.

Wash your face when you wake up

It's best to start the day by washing your face to remove any dirt or oil gathered on the face in your sleep and also to start the day fresh and make sure there's no dirt gathering in your pores before the day has even begun. Adding this to your daily regime will work wonders when trying to keep clear skin.

Try not to touch your face too much

Our hands are covered in microscopic bacteria and oils, so to limit the amount you're putting on your face make sure you wash your hands regularly and also forgo unnecessary touching of your face.

Give your face a break

As women we often wear make up on a daily basis, some do this to feel confident, some just want to look nice, and some use it to cover blemishes that might appear on the skin. Try giving makeup a miss once a week or over the weekend to give your skin that much-needed rest and recovery, and this will help you achieve clear skin.

Don't over wash

The more you wash your face, the more your skin will produce oils to help counteract this, it's important to wash your face regularly to remove dirt but you want to be gentle with your skin and allow it to produce the natural oils that is healthy for your skin.

• Exfoliate
  Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells from skin that might otherwise obstruct and clog your pores, making it easier for dirt to accumulate and cause blackheads or breakouts. Exfoliating 3 times a week will help to prevent this.

• Use a toner
  Toner is a fast-absorbing hydration boost for the skin that also helps to remove dead skin cells in the process. It prepares the skin for moisturiser and makeup, and balances out the pH levels on the face as well as balancing blotchy skin. This is a really simple and effective way you can get clear skin by adding it to your morning routine.

• Use oil free moisturiser
  This will provide your skin with the hydration it needs without adding excess oils to your face, this is particularly useful for people with oily skin who find that their face produces more oil. Try the NIVEA Daily Essentials Oil Free Moisturising Day Cream.

• Face masks
  Face masks do a number of useful things all in one go when trying to achieve and maintain clear skin including: hydrating the skin, removing excess oils and minimising pores. Try using one of these once a week, they can also feel very soothing for a cosy night in!

1. Alcohol
   We're all aware that too much alcohol leads to dehydration and the dreaded hangover, but what you might not know is that alcohol also dehydrates your skin leading it to look sallow and dry, which can ruin all your hard work put in with your daily routine and beauty regime. In order to prevent dry skin, limit your intake of alcohol to avoid drying it out. Not only this but the sugars in alcohol damages the collagen found in your skin causing your pores to become enlarged and therefore allow more dirt to infiltrate them, so we want to keep this to a minimum.
2. Gluten
   Found in wheat, rye and barley, gluten affects the pigmentation of the skin, leading to an increase in discoloured patches on the skin. Gluten can also cause your skin to become inflamed, leaving it looking swollen, so try to limit your intake of this and you will see what a wonderful difference it makes for achieving clear skin.
3. Dairy
   Milk or things with lots of milk in them can disrupt your hormone balance, causing an increase in breakouts, particularly in areas such as your chin that are directly affected by your hormones.
4. Sugar
   We all know sugar is bad for our health and can cause a number of different medical issues, from increased weight gain to heart problems, but it also has an impact on your skin whereby these high sugar levels leave it looking sallow as well as causing unnecessary breakouts. Try to limit your intake of processed foods, too much fruit, sweets, and fruit juices to keep healthy clear skin.

1. Leafy Greens
   These are essential for a healthy digestive system, and as well as this they allow your skin to clear out any build-ups of hormones and toxins found at the skin which would otherwise cause you to breakout
2. Fatty Fish
   Eating fatty fish is good for clear skin because it helps to naturally control the production of oil on your skin and also helps to slow down the appearance of aging in the skin due to the fatty acids they contain
3. Honey
   Surprisingly honey is rich in vitamins that really benefit your skin, so much so that many people use honey as a face mask due to its skin-boosting qualities
4. Plant-based protein
   Eating things like nuts and beans is really good for your skin because of the proteins that they contain. Protein is what's found in your skin, hair and nails, so eating these will help to keep them strong and create a barrier for your skin against the environment
5. Coconut
   Coconut oils' antibacterial qualities help to keep the skin clean, and it's rich in antioxidants too which help with achieving that radiant complexion