Let’s face it, no matter how acne-positive we are, breakouts can have an impact on our self-esteem. The reality is, we all deal with pesky pimples at some point — some more than others, whether it’s during puberty, into adulthood, or around that time of the month.
While hormones and lifestyle choices can impact the state of our skin (think overconsumption of dairy, smoking — ick!, stress, and poor hygiene), that’s only a portion of it. Finding the right products to treat your skin before, during, and after a breakout is essential.
Our secret to a perfectly clear, healthy-looking complexion? Pairing gentle exfoliation with powerful hydration to help balance your skin’s pH, leaving it neither too dry nor too oily and acne-free. But that’s not all! We also have a few other tips to help you achieve the skin of your dreams. So let’s get started.
1. Stop touching your face.
Though a tricky habit to break, this one is up there in importance because you probably don’t even realize how often you do this and, even when freshly washed, your hands are not as clean as you think. We touch door knobs or handles and, even if you use your sleeve or a paper towel to do so, you likely then pick up your germy phone to send a text. Then those dirty fingers make their way up to your face and the cycle continues. By the end of the day all that bacteria you’ve unintentionally picked up has made its way to your face and, if it doesn’t make you sick, it could very easily cause you to break out. And, while you’re cutting bad habits, knock off the picking, too. This will only exacerbate the problem and cause the acne-causing bacteria to spread.
2. Wash your hands before cleansing.
On the above note, you shouldn’t be rubbing those filthy fingers around with face wash on your hands either. Before you put the cleanser on your fingertips, wash your hands thoroughly with soap to remove any dirt and bacteria. If you don’t, you risk contaminating your cleansing product with nasty impurities and further harming your skin.
3. Use Reflekt 1 Daily Exfoliating Face Wash twice a day.
For most people, washing your face twice daily is essential. Though it’s more obvious why we should do so in the evening after a day of air pollution, sweat, makeup, and the like, the reason to do so in the morning may not seem as obvious. Let’s just say if you took a microscope to your bed, you’d likely discover dust mites, dead skin cells, bacteria, residual makeup, et cetera on your pillowcase, all of which you slept with overnight. Washing that off your skin in the morning before you apply the rest of your skincare and makeup is key to preventing impurity buildup. In doing so morning and evening with Reflekt 1, you’ll gently buff away all of those unwelcome squatters while simultaneously feeding your skin back with nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vegetable collagen to keep your skin purified and balanced.
4. Cleanse and rinse gently yet thoroughly.
To avoid irritation that can cause redness and exacerbate any existing breakouts, it’s important to cleanse and rinse gently. Vigorous rubbing and over-scrubbing can disturb your skin's pH balance and lead to fine lines, wrinkles, and further bumps. While gentleness is crucial, that should not prevent you from being thorough, of course. Leaving traces of product, makeup, or bacteria behind can lead to clogged pores, so be gentle yet careful.
TIP: Use lukewarm water while cleansing to avoid drying the skin with extreme hot or cold temperatures.
5. Pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
When striving to keep your face hydrated post-cleanse, it’s counterintuitive to rub all the water off aggressively. Instead, pat your skin gently with a clean towel (emphasis on clean since these are breeding grounds for bacteria) to remove excess water without absorbing every last drop of moisture. Doing so will actually help your subsequent products lock in the extra moisture, which is particularly loved by hyaluronic acid-based treatments and moisturizers. You can find this ultra-hydrating ingredient in each of our products.
6. Follow with lightweight products to prevent clogged pores.
Once cleansed, follow with non-comedogenic formulas to further hydrate skin without clogging freshly detoxed pores. Bias aside, Reflekt 2 Collagen Boost Vitamin C Brightening Serum, Reflekt 3 Power Peptide Sculpting Face Cream, and Reflekt 4 Smoothing Squalane Eye & Lip Treatment Cream are the perfect options for this as they’re each lightweight yet nourishing to effectively replenish skin post-wash, an essential step in keeping breakouts at bay.
7. Stay hydrated on the inside, too.
Our bodies are mostly made of water and when you get dehydrated, your skin does as well. Dehydrated skin means that even if you wash your face properly and follow it with the necessary products, excessive dryness is unavoidable. Not only does dehydrated skin encourage pimples due to the imbalance of oils (or lack thereof), it also tends to age faster. Plus, water helps your body flush toxins that can build up in your skin. So hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
8. Maintain a healthy diet.
One of the best ways to prevent acne naturally is with a healthy diet since skin is often a reflection of what is going on internally. When you have a nutritious, balanced diet that includes the recommended amount of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, your skin will get the nutrients it needs to look and feel healthy.
9. Exercise regularly.
A good sweat doesn’t just benefit your body and mind, it benefits your skin, too. This is because sweat releases toxins that can clog pores and, in doing so, imparts a healthy, post-workout glow. Bonus: exercise also releases endorphins that make you feel good and help tackle stress, which is a big culprit of breakouts. Of course, once you sweat, you’ll need to wash away those toxins that are now sitting on the surface, which means you’ll cycle back to our earlier tips. And repeat.
Have questions? Let’s break it down together to prevent breaking out alone. Connect with us on social media or email us so we can talk it out.
