How to get clear skin in 5 easy steps
1. Start the clear skin diet and heal your gut
We’ve heard it all before - don’t eat that, cut down on this, eliminate that. What does all this actually do to help clear skin? If you aren’t getting enough of the right nutrients or not digesting your food properly, your skin will suffer. For clear skin that's properly hydrated and collagen rich, you need the right nutrient and bacterial balance in your gut. Eating your meals slowly, cutting down on sugar and alcohol, and eating foods rich in zinc, Vitamin C, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids will all contribute towards a clear complexion. Additionally, there are many natural beauty supplements which are specifically formulated to promote clear skin from within.
Including wholefood supplements and pre and probiotics into your diet is a helpful first step in natural clear skin remedies, to work towards healthy skin from the inside. A favourite supplement range of mine is The Beauty Chef, particularly the GLOW ADVANCED Inner Beauty Powder. This supplement contains a blend of certified natural and organic wholefood ingredients designed to nourish the skin from the inside out and provide the essential nutrients for the clear skin diet. The combination of fermented wholefoods, probiotic powder, and super foods provide your skin with nutrients it needs for maintaining a clear, glowing complexion. To complement GLOW ADVANCED, The Beauty Chef BODY Powder contains Matcha Green Tea which may help improve focus, metabolism and optimum energy levels.
The Beauty Boosters range is designed to help in the maintenance of general wellbeing, as you work towards clear skin. Each product in this range targets a different area of skin health: Collagen-C for a Vitamin-C rich antioxidant boost, Complexion Perfection for fatty acids and omegas, and Glow Getter for hair, skin and nails. Remember, healthy skin is the first building step in how to have clear skin. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare practitioner.
Always read the label. Use only as directed. Vitamin and/or mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet. For adults only.
Very few of us are lucky enough to naturally have clear skin and a luminous, supermodel complexion ’ until now. The WelleCo supplement range has been developed by none other than Australian beauty, Elle Macpherson. The Super Elixir Alkalising Greens contains no less than 45 natural ingredients to maintain ideal pH levels in your body, and seriously boost your overall wellbeing. Ingredients such as Pomegranate, Aloe Vera and Horsetail (the herb, don’t worry!) are included to help maintain the health of your skin internally and help clear and improve its appearance externally.
2. Educate yourself and master your natural clear skin routine
Here are some quick tips to kick your routine into high gear:
1. ALWAYS remove your make up at the end of the day - even if you're only wearing sunscreen. Nothing causes a breakout quicker than a build up of dirt, sweat and make up.
2. Cleanse in the morning and evening. This ensures that your skin is kept clean, which prevents the growth of bacteria which can cause new pimples
3. Exfoliate 1-2 times a week. Exfoliating is great way to deeply cleanse the skin and remove the build up of dead skin cells. Be aware that exfoliating too much can actually damage your skin by drying it out and spreading bacteria, so strike a healthy balance.
4. Apply a light moisturiser in the morning and a heavier one at night keep your skin hydrated while you sleep.
5. Use a detoxifying mask and spot treatment cream. Use your mask once a week to detoxify the skin, soothe breakouts and repair damage. Apply a spot cream as required.
If your current skin care routine hasn’t provided you with noticeably clearer skin within 3 months of beginning it, the chances are that it’s never going to work for you. While the overall methods for clear skin are the same for most, the best clear skin products are the ones that work for you. Take time to do some research and experiment with new products and your skin routine to see what works to help clear your skin. Be sure to swap products out one at a time, so if your skin acts up, you can easily troubleshoot which product may have caused it.
If you are on the look out for new products, ensure that they don’t contain harsh chemicals that can irritate and dry out the skin. These include ingredients such as parabens, artificial fragrances, sulfates, and phthalates. Be mindful about what you put on your skin. From there, you can master the perfect routine to clear your skin and keep it that way.
3. Have make-up free days to help clear skin
Give your skin a break and let it have a well deserved breather. At least once a fortnight, I love to have a full day and night where I wear no makeup. Your skin does benefit from going make up free1 as even natural, toxin free make up may ’smother’ skin and prevent it from breathing. Going make up free may sound daunting, during your journey to clear skin, but the benefits are twofold. The appearance of your skin can benefit from an occasional purge, and it will feel easier each time you bare your beautiful face.
4. Detox your environment to detox your skin
Environmental factors such as prolonged sun exposure2, pollution and smoking 3 are known to contribute to signs of ageing4, but can also prevent you from achieving clear skin. Skin problems, (acne in particular) may also be related to the toxins in our diet or skin care products. Puffy eyes, eczema and psoriasis outbreaks can also be signs that your body has hit its toxin limit. Try limiting your exposure to toxins by taking small steps within your home. Using natural household cleaning products, leaving shoes outside, keeping windows open for fresh air, eating fresh organic produce and only using natural skin and body care products are all great ways to reduce the amount of toxins in your body.
5. Be gentle on your skin
The more important clear skin tip is - be kind to your skin! Choose gentle products and natural acne treatments to remedy breakouts, and treat your skin with care. Your skin has an incredible ability to heal itself, however it’s not going to be able to do that if you pick at it, or coat it with heavy duty products that can dry out the skin. These may cause redness, inflammation and irritation, and exacerbate any existing skin issues. So opt for using gentle, natural products that are going to nourish and heal your skin leaving you one step closer to clear skin.
Sources: 1Women’s Health Mag, 2NCBI, 3Cancer Council, 4Telegraph UK. Image courtesy of WelleCo.
