Like most of us out
there, my mission to keep my skin looking flawless is an endless work
in progress. Just when I think I've got the routine perfected, an unexpected
breakout sends me back to the drawing board. So, my search continues for the perfect fix it product and fool-proof regime that will give me flawless, blemish free skin. While I am a self
proclaimed product junkie, there are 4 very simple, common sense tactics in my regime I
swear by that really help me stay on top of breakouts.
There are many different elements that
contribute to acne. Diet, hormones, allergic reactions and bacteria are a few of the
stand out culprits in the battle for blemish free skin. In my opinion, the
bacterial spread of acne is the easiest of all to control. We breed and spread acne causing bacteria
on our faces everyday when carrying out our normal routines without even
knowing it. By reducing the bacterial spread of acne in these simple
ways, you can reduce breakouts significantly.
- Wash/Change pillowcases twice weekly- Perspiration at night, the natural shedding of
skin or not properly washing makeup off at night are all
contributors to blemishes. Researchers who took swabs of the bacteria on 40 pillow cases and toilets seats found the bacteria samples to be virtually indistinguishable! Imagine that bacteria on pillow
cases being pushed back into pores while you sleep. Hmm...ya think this could be the culprit of unexplained breakouts? Uh...Yeah! Solution: Fresh pillowcases can be the difference between you
and a morning break out. (Ladies, make sure your BF or GF is changing his or hers every week if you spend lots of time at his place. Or bring your own!) For extreme cases, I've recently discovered an amazing innovation by Nufabrx, a company offering pillow cases for acne prone skin. Micro-capsules of an all-natural, scientifically formulated serum containing lavender, lemon balm, tea tree oil and wintergreen oil is embedded into the fibers of the pillow case. It lasts up to 20 washes and is a brilliant way to reduce bacteria by 95.1% over 24 hours!
- Wash your face at night and immediately after workouts- We've all been
guilty of it. Scenario 1: It's been a late night and you just don’t have
the energy to make it to the bathroom and wash the day off. Scenario 2: You rush out of the gym after a workout to run errands which
delays washing for hours. In both cases, dirt and bacteria is left
behind on the surface of the skin which eventually gets absorbed into pores to wreak havoc for hours, causing a breakout faster than you
think. Solution: Obviously, washing your face day, night and after a workout with your preferred
facial cleanser is the best preventative measure. But here's a tip if you can’t make it to a sink right away: Try carrying makeup
removing wipes in your purse for clean up on the go or leaving them
in your nightstand for easy access on late nights. They come in a variety of formulas for sensitive to acne prone. I'm a big fan of NuPore Makeup Removing Wipes. These skin saving wipes make skin feel almost as fresh and clean as when you wash.
- Wash your makeup brushes
weekly- This one can be a drag, but all of your new preventative
habits will be rendered useless if you skip this step. Build up of
makeup, your natural oils and skin on brushes create a fertile breeding environment for bacteria (especially face brushes; i.e. powder, blush, foundation and concealer
applicators) that will be redistributed all over your face during makeup application equaling, you guessed it: acne. The upside is, you don’t have to look far for a brush
cleanser. Solution: Use any brand of antibacterial dish soap to clean
brushes! The de-greasing formula in dish soap thoroughly breaks up oil and makeup and gets brushes squeaky clean and bacteria free. I also like Mane & Tail Shampoo. Most brushes are made from animal hair, so shampooing them with the very affordable, iconic formula will not only cleanse brushes but will make them super soft and lustrous! If your brushes are looking a little dusty, but you don't have time to wash them, makeup removing wipes will do the trick to refresh them. Wipe them with a paper towel to remove any dampness and your ready to go!
- Clean your cell phone before and after every use- This one is a tough one even for me to remember to practice
regularly. But, have you ever noticed how much makeup is left
behind on your cell phone after a conversation? I've actually been alarmed at how much residue I see after I’m done gabbing. On top of that, the dark, warm
environment in your purse is the perfect environment to turn your cell phone into a petri dish for bacteria to rapidly multiply and inevitably make its way into pores on the next use. This realization has made me form the habit of pressing the speaker phone button; even in public (Yeah, i'm THAT girl!). Solution: Try carrying
antibacterial wipes in your purse to sanitize your phone after each
use. I love i-WIPEY, the original reusable peel and stick screen cleaner. It wipes out 99.9% of germs on your phone and come in a variety of fun designs. When you are done wiping, stick to your phone for re-use! Or, try going hands free with a Bluetooth device.
Flawless skin is closer than you think.
Try these steps and you’ll notice a huge difference in record time!
