Break Up With Your Concealer: How to Maintain Long-Term Clear Skin
Wearing makeup can boost your confidence while allowing you to be creative, but it also masks the real you. When you get used to covering your skin imperfections, it becomes more difficult to embrace the all-natural look. While it would feel nice to go makeup-free sometimes, we are our own worst critics. Even minor flaws can be extremely noticeable when we look in the mirror.
You should be able to embrace your natural beauty with confidence. It’s time to break up with your concealer. Here are seven tips for maintaining long-term clear skin.
- Treat Your Acne
When you get a pimple, you want it to disappear as quickly as possible. Popping the zit or covering it with makeup can be tempting, but they aren’t going to do anything for you long-term. You’ll just end up making your acne worse. Or, you could end up with acne scarring,which can be tough to get rid of.
Instead of making your acne worse or looking for “quick fixes,” get to the root of the problem. Zit creams and pimple patches aren’t usually the answer. Sure, a zit cream can dry out a pimple, and a pimple patch helps you avoid picking. But to actually get rid of acne once and for all, acne treatment may be required. Browsing the skincare aisle at the drugstore may seem like the easiest option. But online skincare consultations are available to anyone. Long-term clear skin may just be a few clicks away.
- Perfect Your Nighttime Skincare Routine
Between makeup and everything else your face is exposed to throughout the day, a good nighttime skincare routine is essential. Washing your face each night will rid your skin of all the things that could cause harm to it. Not washing your face can cause acne and change the overall appearance of your skin. You may start to notice your skin looks very dry or oily and dull.
A nighttime skincare routine should include the following products:
- A gentle cleanser to remove makeup and dirt
- An exfoliator two to three times per week to remove dead skin cells
- A toner to balance the skin’s pH levels and prep it for products to follow
- A serum to promote collagen production and reduce fine lines/wrinkles
- A moisturizer to hydrate the skin
When you love your skin, it’ll love you back. If you want to attain flawless skin, a solid lineup of nighttime skincare products is a must.
- Use the Right Daytime Skincare Products
Nighttime skin care is important, but don’t forget about the daytime. Waking up and washing your face is important, and you should be prepping your skin for the long day ahead. So many people go straight to makeup and forget about the important skincare products that should be applied beforehand.
Morning skincare lineups should be similar to nighttime ones. Cleanser, toner, and moisturizer are great for prepping the skin for any products you plan to put on. But daytime skincare is more about protection and prevention. The most important thing you can do in the a.m. is moisturize with sunscreen. SPF is crucial to prevent early signs of aging and sun spots. You’ll achieve healthier skin and a more even complexion by wearing sunscreen.
- Modify Your Diet
Everyone has had a pimple appear out of nowhere. You can be doing everything right and a little friend still pops up every once in a while. What many people don’t realize is that certain foods and ingredients can trigger acne. If you’re focused on trying to achieve clear skin, pay close attention to your diet. See what triggers a breakout and make note of when your skin is at its best. What you’re eating is more than likely playing into your skin’s appearance.
As a general rule of thumb, try to avoid refined grains and sugars. Fast food and highly processed foods should also be limited. There are plenty of acne-causing foods, but everyone is a little different. Play around with things in your diet like dairy and chocolate. Find what works for you and what makes your skin worse. Then, adjust your diet as you see fit. This is your health journey and your skin journey, do what makes sense for you.
- Use Makeup That Won’t Clog Your Pores
The goal is to not rely on makeup to cover your skin imperfections. That doesn’t mean you have to ditch makeup altogether. It’s all about finding the right makeup products. Find products that give you the look you want without causing breakouts.
For foundation, it’s best to find a product that isn’t likely to cause breakouts and pore blockages (comedones). This means finding a non-comedogenic foundation; one that can give you flawless skin coverage without breaking you out.
With any makeup product, always look at the list of ingredients before buying. This will help you determine what products are best for your skin type. For example, sensitive skin types do better with an oil-free foundation. If dry skin is a concern, you may want to look for something with hyaluronic acid. Familiarize yourself with common ingredients, and keep a lookout for what you do and don’t need.
- Get Plenty of Sleep and Practice Self-Care
Last but certainly not least, get plenty of rest and practice self-care as much as possible. Leading a stress-free life is key to your overall health. If you’re constantly stressed and exhausted, your skin will start to show it.
When your hormones are going crazy, it can cause stress breakouts. Also, if you’re not prioritizing rest and self-care, you’ll start to look tired and worn out. Beauty rest is a real thing. The skin does a lot to repair itself when you’re getting a restful eight hours each night. So, make sure you’re not skimping out on your Z’s.
Feeling confident in your skin is easier said than done. From our outward appearance to how we feel on the inside, the road to confidence can be a long one. While you’re on your journey, don’t be afraid to set self-improvement goals. Confidence doesn’t always come naturally, it can take work. But if you’re committed to bettering yourself, you’re sure to see results.
