If you suffer from Acne, it probably feels like you must have racked up a bad karma bill somehow… but believe me you are not alone!

In fact, countless people suffer from acne and skin issues, and we are talking about adults too! Sometimes it seems that no matter how many times you go to the dermatologist, and how clean you eat, pimples still magically appear.

Below you will read about how natural skincare products can help prevent those upsetting and stressful breakouts from ever taking place, which means that you will be able to walk out into the world feeling confident and radiant!

What exactly is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples that typically appear on your face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders due to these areas of skin having the most oil (sebaceous) glands.

Consider incorporating a healthy natural skincare routine into your lifestyle. Natural skincare products have many benefits to improve your skin's overall condition when used routinely. But you are also getting distinct benefits that can help fight and prevent breakouts.

What Skin Care Routine Works for Acne?

Though a routine skincare regimen is just one step in improving your skin’s health. There are a few things that you can do beyond investing in the best natural skincare products you can find.  Before we dive into a recommended routine, there are a handful of general skin care tips that are useful for acne sufferers.

Wash Your Face, But Don’t Over-Wash! Wash your face twice daily with warm water (not hot) and be gentle! Even if you think washing frequently will eliminate more oil, you run the risk of irritating your skin and stripping it of good oils. Washing with too hot of water or scrubbing to harshly will damage your skin surface and can create abrasions which can lead to further damage.

Hydration Is Crucial for Battling Breakouts! Your skin sees a lot of abuse from the sun and elements that dry out our skin. When our skin is dry, we often overproduce oil to try to compensate for the dryness. This means an increase in oil production which creates more sebum meaning more acne! Similarly, when we have pimples, we tend to use harsh products that can dry our skin, rather than just the targeted blemishes. Moisturizing and hydrating your face helps to balance your skin’s complexion and prevents acne breakouts.

Clean Your Makeup Brushes!  Studies have shown that on average 72% of women never wash their brushes or sponges, even though they harbor dirt and bacteria which can cause breakouts. It is best to wash loose powder brushes every two to three weeks, and tools used to apply foundation once a week.

Wash Your Pillowcase! Not changing your pillowcases enough can also cause your skin to break out. Even if you wash your face every night, your pillowcases carry dirt and sweat from your hair, hands, and build up from the products you use on your face at night. It's a good idea to change it every few days.

Take Your Makeup Off Before Bed! Leaving makeup and dirt on skin doesn't just clog pores; it can cause excessive dryness and even skin dandruff. Most makeup contains a sugar-type molecule that can grow yeast overnight.  Don't forget to thoroughly remove eye makeup too. It can lead to bumpy rashes around the eyes or small white bumps called milia cysts.

Don’t Pick Your Zits!  Picking—even lightly—can permanently damage skin. Every time you press against a pimple, it causes inflammation and distress to the skin. Causing bacteria to be pushed deep inside the pore, and then oil glands can burst, causing even more trauma. The result? More acne, plus discoloration, scarring, and possible infection.

Make Movement a Priority! Moving around and getting enough exercise is helpful for your entire body, but it’s also vital to keeping your skin healthy. When you sweat, the act of sweating helps clear out your pores and eliminates toxins that increase your risk of blemishes. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.

Drink An Extra Glass of Water! Water helps clear toxins from the skins surface that cause inflammation and blemishes. It also assists in transporting nutrients and oxygen to skin cells and prevents dehydration. It can even make skin appear fuller since the hyaluronic acid that naturally exists in skin will pull in and retain the water longer.

Apply SPF Daily! The sun’s UV rays do serious damage to your skin and eliminate the benefits of even the best skincare routine. Protect your skin by applying sunscreen or moisturizers with SPF every day, even when it’s cloudy.

Manage Your Stress Levels Stress causes high cortisol levels, which can leave your skin looking dull and unhealthy. Find ways to reduce your stress. Go on a walk, meditate, play games you love—whatever works to help you relax and unwind.

Eat Natural and Healthy Foods One of the best ways to promote skin health is to focus on your diet. Get rid of processed and high-sugar foods and switch to eating tons of leafy greens, fresh fruits, lean proteins, and unprocessed foods each day.

Get Enough Sleep When you sleep, your body and mind get to rest and recover, and so does your skin. Scientists and doctors recommend that you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

Why Natural Skincare Products Make a Difference

Look for products that read “noncomedogenic” because they are specifically formulated to not block pores. Standard cosmetic and skincare products, especially low-priced items, can end up drying your skin out or causing irritation to otherwise sensitive areas of your face and neck. 

Natural skincare products are chock-full of the nutrients found in plants themselves. And those nutrients benefit your skin’s health and make the skincare routine more effective.

The best natural ingredients for skincare, even when combined with synthetic ingredients, are gentler on your skin. This means you’ll see results faster and won’t have to worry about blemishes popping up when you least expect them.

Now, Let’s Talk About Your Routine!

With so many products and new beauty trends flooding the market it can seem daunting to know how to proceed. So, to make life simple. Below are the basic steps you can follow morning and night that will help you achieve your best natural glowing skin.

Step one CLEANSE.

The most essential part of any skincare routine is cleansing... Rinsing with water is not enough to clean your face. You should use a cleanser with natural ingredients to wash your face to get rid of all makeup, dead skin cells, and grime. Do this in the morning, and before bed.

Step two NOURISH YOUR SKIN.

In the morning- Protect your skin with a natural serum such as the Skin Brightening C Serum or the Age-Defying Wrinkle Serum (both have powerhouse ingredients which help fight acne).

In the evening- You can either repeat the use of a natural serum or switch to something more calming such as the Overnight Collagen Mask which will help to hydrate, calm, repair, and boost your skin's elasticity while you sleep!

Step three HYDRATE & PROTECT.

When you use a natural skin care moisturizer you are providing the ingredients that will help maintain your skin’s healthy cells and protect them from irritation. When your skin is dry and irritated, it causes breakouts and acne.

By moisturizing your skin, you reduce your chances of any skin problems arising. Your skin cannot over hydrated- even if you have the oily skin type!

Hydration is key to most skin problems! In addition to a natural moisturizer, you should follow up with a sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF in your morning routine!

Remember... Be Patient with Your Products!

When it comes to our face and skincare regimen, we expect to see instant results, and it seems our patience is exceptionally thin when this doesn’t happen. So, we think that if we use a bunch of products all at once, we are speeding up the healing process. But this skincare myth can cause you to breakout further or experience additional skin problems.

When you wake up with acne or a problem skin, the urge to layer on multiple products in the hopes of seeing a dramatic change can be irresistible, and we are all guilty of abandoning those same products very quickly if we are not getting our expected results within a day or two. This process will not help you to fight your breakout. You should introduce your skin to one new product at a time and be patient, as frustrating as it is seeing results can take weeks. But you will be better off and less frustrated long term.