Let's talk about skincare, shall we!? If there's one question I always get, it's about my skincare routine and how to maintain that flawless looking skin. I could push a thousand different products your way, but the most important part of my skincare routine has little to do with the products I use, but with the preventative measure I take. Sure, I wash my face every day in the shower and use a makeup cloth before I go to bed - but that's easy, and most people already do this. That's why I want to share some things you may be overlooking when it comes to your skincare routine.
1. Your brushes
How often do you clean your brushes? To be completely honest, I wait as long as I can. As soon as I start seeing a little bump here or there, I clean them. Using dirty brushes will definitely cause you to break out, and when you think about it, it makes sense. Try to clean your brushes AT LEAST once a month, although other people will advise once every two weeks. But let's be honest, aint no one got time for that. I use baby wash, but you can also buy the fancy stuff (like this bobbi brown brush cleaner) if you're super concerned about the integrity of your brushes.
1. Your brushes
How often do you clean your brushes? To be completely honest, I wait as long as I can. As soon as I start seeing a little bump here or there, I clean them. Using dirty brushes will definitely cause you to break out, and when you think about it, it makes sense. Try to clean your brushes AT LEAST once a month, although other people will advise once every two weeks. But let's be honest, aint no one got time for that. I use baby wash, but you can also buy the fancy stuff (like this bobbi brown brush cleaner) if you're super concerned about the integrity of your brushes.
2. Your towels
Potentially awkward admission..I use the same towel for like a week - sometimes more. And when I go too long with the same towel I start to notice the breakouts. I try to use a new towel as often as I can. No more using musty smelling towels on your face guys! It's not doing our complexion any favors.
3. Your sheets
Same thought process! You sleep on the same pillowcase and sheets every night. Eventually, the oil and dirt buildup is going to effect your skin. I wash my sheets once a week, partially for my skin and partially because my husband is a sucker for clean sheets.
5. Your diet
I have this awesome buffet with gold hardware and I accessorize with gold frames and apothecary jars filled with (gold!) Reeces peanut butter cups. Um, I love them. But too many and the breakouts start. I know not everyone indulges in Reeces peanut butter cups, but what about the other stuff? I know grown women who buy still buy gushers and fruit rollups and eat them on the daily! Lots of sugar. Gatorade and soda? Tons of sugar! Trust me when I say it's hurting your complexion.
6. Get some fancy gadgets
I absolutely love my Clarisonic (FREE shipping from Barney's!). It was actually a gift from my mother in-law and it changed my life! My skin never felt so smooth and so clean after using one, and it definitely helped get rid of the occasional bumps. I like to use beaded face wash because the abrasion really helps get rid of the dead skin and oils on my face, but the apricot scrubs leave my face feeling more raw than clean. The Clarisonic helps provide that little bit of abrasion with the soft bristles and lets me use soft facial cleansers (like this one) that really clean deep into the pores. (I like to use Amazon because I'm a prime member! Love the 2 day free shipping!)
Potentially awkward admission..I use the same towel for like a week - sometimes more. And when I go too long with the same towel I start to notice the breakouts. I try to use a new towel as often as I can. No more using musty smelling towels on your face guys! It's not doing our complexion any favors.
3. Your sheets
Same thought process! You sleep on the same pillowcase and sheets every night. Eventually, the oil and dirt buildup is going to effect your skin. I wash my sheets once a week, partially for my skin and partially because my husband is a sucker for clean sheets.
5. Your diet
I have this awesome buffet with gold hardware and I accessorize with gold frames and apothecary jars filled with (gold!) Reeces peanut butter cups. Um, I love them. But too many and the breakouts start. I know not everyone indulges in Reeces peanut butter cups, but what about the other stuff? I know grown women who buy still buy gushers and fruit rollups and eat them on the daily! Lots of sugar. Gatorade and soda? Tons of sugar! Trust me when I say it's hurting your complexion.
6. Get some fancy gadgets
I absolutely love my Clarisonic (FREE shipping from Barney's!). It was actually a gift from my mother in-law and it changed my life! My skin never felt so smooth and so clean after using one, and it definitely helped get rid of the occasional bumps. I like to use beaded face wash because the abrasion really helps get rid of the dead skin and oils on my face, but the apricot scrubs leave my face feeling more raw than clean. The Clarisonic helps provide that little bit of abrasion with the soft bristles and lets me use soft facial cleansers (like this one) that really clean deep into the pores. (I like to use Amazon because I'm a prime member! Love the 2 day free shipping!)
Now I know most of this is common sense and it may not be news to you. But honestly, not everyone knows this stuff! I think that's why beauty secrets remain secrets, because people think that everyone already knows. These are just preventative steps I take to lessen my chance of acne breakouts, but when they do occur I have a couple products that I would recommend to get rid of them.
If I washed my face twice a day I'm sure my skin would be a lot better off, but I'm usually reeeeally lazy before I go to bed and resort to using a makeup cloth instead. For those of us on a budget, (and have kiddos!) I've found that hypoallergenic baby wipes work well too. If you're experiencing a breakout, however, I usually like to use a wipe that packs a bigger punch. Recently I've been using Arbonne's Corrective Acne Treatment Pads before I go to bed at night to wipe off that stubborn layer of makeup. The salicylic acid in the wipes help to actually treat the acne, instead of just wiping away your makeup and oils. They're a bit pricey but I reserve these wipes for when I'm actively breaking out, so they'll last awhile.
If I washed my face twice a day I'm sure my skin would be a lot better off, but I'm usually reeeeally lazy before I go to bed and resort to using a makeup cloth instead. For those of us on a budget, (and have kiddos!) I've found that hypoallergenic baby wipes work well too. If you're experiencing a breakout, however, I usually like to use a wipe that packs a bigger punch. Recently I've been using Arbonne's Corrective Acne Treatment Pads before I go to bed at night to wipe off that stubborn layer of makeup. The salicylic acid in the wipes help to actually treat the acne, instead of just wiping away your makeup and oils. They're a bit pricey but I reserve these wipes for when I'm actively breaking out, so they'll last awhile.