Just A Little Tip (well, 5 of them)

When I was in high school, I used to have completely clear skin. Which to me was strange since usually that is when everyone is going through their skin issues. Believe me, I was thankful for it! Right when I go into college, my skin started to have a few more breakouts every now and then; nothing drastic, but enough to bother someone who used to have clear skin. I know that its from stress, but in college you just can't avoid the stress.

Here are some helpful tips I have learned along the way. Some you may already know, but you'd be surprised how many of them you may have forgotten.



Tip #1: Wash your face morning & night. NO MATTER WHAT.
Believe me, I know that sometimes we get a little lazy, or maybe a little busy. But make it a routine. Get up, wash you face. Wash your face, go to bed. If you go to sleep with your face dirty, you leave that dirt and oil on your pillow, which them lays it right back into your pores. Which leads me to my next tip..

Tip#2: Wash your sheets & pillowcases at least once a week.
I know that as a busy college student it might be hard to actually wash them once a week. If you can't wash them, change them. Walmart.com or any other get-everything-you-need kind of stores have basic standard pillowcases for a only a few dollars. Take advantage of them until you can find time to wash your regular ones.

Tip #3: DRINK LOTS OF WATER.
This one is pretty clear. Water is all around good for you, but especially good for your skin. Always have some water with you. Staying hydrated will keep your skin hydrated and clear too.

Tip #3: Watch what you eat. 

Whatever you eat is expressed directly on your face. Greasy food can make for greasy skin. Its as simple as that.

Tip #4: Let your skin breathe.
Almost every girl likes wearing make-up. It makes us feel pretty. But, so can clear skin. If there's nothing going on and you're not going anywhere for the day, just relax. Don't wear any make-up, and let your skin gets some fresh air. If you're not one for completely bare skin, try a tinted moisturizer. It's a lighter version of a foundation that can allow for coverage with a little room for air.

Tip #5: Don't just clean, medicate.
To me, this is the most important of all of these tips. I spent years washing my face with different medicated facewashes and then applying a regular moisturizer afterward. Recently, I have been using a regular, non-medicated facewash, and then following it with a medicated routine. After I wash my face with Philosophy's Purity facewash with my Clarisonic, I follow it up with a medicated toner by SeaBreeze, then a medicated lotion by Philosophy called Hope In A Bottle. Both with 2% Salicylic acid. Lastly, if I need it, I will use a spot treatment.

Think about it this way, if you have a cut on your finger putting medication on it, only to wipe it off a second later isn't going to heal anything. Instead, washing the cut, and then applying a medication that STAYS on your skin can allow for healing.

Your facial skin care is the same way. Once you clean your skin, applying medication on top can allow for maximum penetration. Give it a try!