10 Tips To Keep You Blemish Free

Hey Chicas!

For the rest of the week I'll be sharing some of my personal beauty tips to keep you looking your best! Today, I'll be focusing on keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

Here are 10 simple things you can do to achieve clear skin!

1. Don't Touch! Touching your face can spread whatever germs and bacteria are on your hands onto your face, creating nasty pimples.
2. Wash Your Makeup Brushes. Germs can be transferred from your brushes to your makeup, and then to your face. So wash your brushes at least once a week. I like to use baby shampoo. It's cheap, effective, gentle and easy to find.
3. Change those pillowcases! Dirt, oil and skin care products can accumulate in your pillowcases, so make sure to change them at least once a week to keep your skin clear.
   
4. Cover your hair while you sleep. Wearing a satin scarf or bonnet not only preserves your hairstyle, but it keeps hair products and oils from making it to your pillow case, which can cause breakouts.
5. Keep greasy hair products from your bangs and hairline. Wondering why your forehead is breaking out? It could be caused from oily hair products you're using on your bangs and hairline. Be cautious when applying these products.
6. Use products for your skin type. Just because your Auntie swears by a certain skin care line, or your friend with the gorgeous skin uses a certain product, that doesn't mean that product was meant for you. Look for products that are for blemish prone skin and contain ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid.
7. Be gentle. Avoid products containing alcohol, menthol, eucalyptus, and other similar irritants like the plague. Drying your skin out is not the answer! Your skin will only produce more oil to make up for it. Plus, irritated, peeling skin is never a good look!
8. Exfoliate but don't go crazy. Exfoliating away dead skin cells is a must when battling breakouts, but using harsh scrubs and beating your face like it stole something is not the answer! Avoid apricot scrubs or any "natural" scrub that contains jagged bits of seeds, etc. Go for a scrub with smooth beads instead.
9. Clean your cellphone! We're constantly texting, talking and Twittering on our phones. Is there any wonder why they're a breeding ground for germs? Wipe down your phone with alcohol every couple of days to keep from breaking out on the sides of your face.
10. Know when to see a professional. If you've been battling breakouts on your own with little or no success, it's time to bring in a pro. Dermatologists can provide more effective treatments and products that you can't get over the counter, and are experts when it comes to skin. I have always had a dermatologist on speed dial, and anyone concerned about her skin should have one on call too.