Top 5 Skin Tips

If there is one thing I've dealt with my whole life, it's bad skin. I think I first started getting acne at the age of ten, but I honestly don't remember. Yeah, it was really great throughout the high school years!
I'll be the first to admit, I still have acne problems but now, at least I can actually count the pimples, rather than just say "Oh, I have a ton of pimples on my left cheek." So, I count that as a win.
Along the way, I've picked up a few tips that really do help with acne and during nursing school, I've learned a few more. Now, I can't promise they will clear up all your acne, but hey, they are easy to do, cheap and what are you losing?

1. Wash your face. Preferably, with a gentle cleanser like cetaphil or something along those lines. Now, preferably  you'll do this twice a day but please at least aim for one! 

Bonus: Always at least take your makeup off! Let those pores breathe!

2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. It's a long standing wive's tale that chocolate will make your acne worse. I had a doctor tell me that sodas and junk food in general are far worse for your skin than anything else and I've found this to be true. In fact, that doctor told me "Stop drinking soda and start drinking water and see what happens, I bet your face will clear up." And she was right.

Bonus: Now, there's another thing about cutting out dairy, but anyone that knows me knows that I need my milk and cheese dip!

3. Moisturize. I know, you have a nasty oily face and moisturizing it will just make it oilier. Wrong. Moisturizing helps balance out your skin and actually, over time, cause it to stop producing as much oil. If you have oily skin, buy one for specifically for oily skin to cut down on that shine.

Bonus: Personally I don't like moisturizers with salicylic acid in it. I feel like that negates the purpose, but do what you do!

4. Apple Cider Vinegar. Have you heard of this year? Seriously, it is amazing! When you first start using it, get a bottle and mix it three fourths water and one fourth ACV. Then, when you finish that bottle, do half and half until you gradually make it to full ACV. I'm still using about two thirds water, one third ACV but it definitely helps my skin sooo much! Beware though, because it can sting and it can dry you out.

Bonus: If your face gets super super dry, witch hazel makes a great toner but is a lot more gentile so you can use it until your face isn't as dry from the ACV and then start again with a lower ratio of water to ACV

5. Wash your face for 60 seconds each time you wash your face. Remember being told to brush for 2 minutes? It's kind of the same thing to your face. Massaging your cleanser into your face in a circular motion will allow the wash to really get in and do it's job, plus you will likely wash areas that you may have missed if you did it quickly.

Have you tried any of these tips?

What is your NUMBER ONE skin tip?

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