Which Products Should You Use For Exfoliating Oily Skin?

Let us first understand what does “Skin Exfoliation” means? It’s a process of eliminating dead skin cells from the outer layer of your skin and plays a very important role in your skin care routine.

Our skin keeps shedding old damaged skin cells and new skin cells replace them. This process is known as skin cell regeneration. This process slows down and slackens as we age, impeding the shedding of dead skin cells and production of new healthy cells for replacing them. Dead skin cells start building up on the surface of your skin, affecting the skin’s health and appearance. Your skin complexion then looks dull and rough. Moreover, it can lead to accumulation of excess oil, clogged pores, and result in to acne and blemishes.

Oily Skin Exfoliation

Managing oily skin is like a continuing fight. When you’re upset about your oily skin, just think that your skin type has an incredible plus point – that it ages slowly. The profuse oils may lead to shininess but then on the other hand hydrate, condition and guard your skin too. This is something you can take as a pricy possession. Still, we do understand that you may want to minimize the shine of your oily or combination skin type … and to do this, best solution is exfoliation.

Why Oily And Combination Skins Need Exfoliation?

Oily skin tends to turn over more slowly as compared to other types of skin, and this can cause unsightly spots. The dead skin cells don’t shed off but instead get trapped inside pores, where they accumulate and are likely to breed blackheads and pimples. Moreover, the repressed exfoliation rate of an oily skin enhances the oily appearance too. Think of dead skin like a sponge that pulls and holds sebum.

That’s where exfoliation can help. It helps speed up the oily skin cells turn over to the naturally predetermined rate at which the typical normal skin cells usually turn over.

By including exfoliation into your skincare regime, you can control spots, blackheads and pimples.

Exfoliators For Oily Skin And/Or Acne Prone Skin

If you use a wrong product, it can cause more damage than good. You should look for a product, which suits oily skin and don’t harm the skin or result in to enhanced redness or acne breakouts.

Broadly following are the two methods to exfoliate skin:

(i) Physically, using scrubs, facial brushes, or muslin cloths.

(ii) Chemically, using gentle skincare acids like glycolic and salicylic.

Whereas all methods can get rid of dead skin, the one optimum performer for oily skin is Salicylic Acid.

Don’t get scared by the term ‘acid’. Chemical exfoliators are very gentle, generally milder than physical exfoliators. While physical exfoliants uses abrasion technique, chemical exfoliants slowly dissolve the glue that binds dead skin cells together.

Let me explain you why chemical exfoliants are good for oily skin. They:

(i) involve no scrubbing, which can harm and aggravate skin issues.

(ii) work on more layers of skin.

(iii) have longer-lasting effects as compared to physical exfoliaters.

(iv) provide extra benefits by exterminating bacteria & stimulating collagen.

If the above are not convincing enough, the following are bonus points that make Glycolic and Salicylic Acid ideal candidates for exfoliating oily skin:

(a) Stimulate collagen, helping to fade acne scars

(b) Antibacterial, helps to control acne

(c) Oil-soluble, so helpful in penetrating pores

(d) Anti-inflammatory, provide relief from acne

You can incorporate Glycolic or Salicylic Acid in your skincare routine in many ways. They are found in skin caring products such as cleansers, toners, and even moisturizers.

To reap the full benefits of Glycolic and Salicylic Acid, you need to include a leave-on product into your regimen. You might like to try one of our recommended exfoliators for oily and/or acne prone skin:

(a) Nip + Fab Glycolic

(b) Glycolic Acid Intensive Exfoliating Serum

(c) Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser

(d) Paula’s Choice-CLEAR  Anti-Redness Exfoliating Solution

(e) Humane BHA Pore Minimizer

(f) Paulas Choice–SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Salicylic Acid Exfoliant

See more on - Which Products Should You Use For Exfoliating Oily Skin? 

(g) Salicylic Deep Gel Exfoliator

Stylish Silk Scarves That Are Warmer Than They Look

As the weather grows colder, my priorities shift from aesthetics to practicality. Cute shoes are great—until they leave you slipping on icy New York City sidewalks (and inevitably falling to the ground, at least once or twice). Avoiding hats is smart as far as hairstyle preservation goes, but misguided when it comes to keeping your head at a remotely reasonable temperature. And knits, though chunky and often completely shapeless, become increasingly vital as the calendar year reaches its end.

In times like these, it often feels like sacrifice is imminent; you can either dress comfortably or dress well. But a few choice items offer an olive branch between these two seemingly mutually exclusive camps: Chelsea rain boots on blustery days, transparent tops in the overwhelming summer heat and silk scarves during the coldest fall and winter months.

MORE: Vibrant Knits Are the Funnest Way to Transition from Season to Season

If you’ve ever seen someone wearing a silk scarf, you know they look pretty small and delicate. But if you’ve ever worn one, you know they’re deceptively large. I own a silk scarf that’s about two feet in length and width—tied on my neck, it resembles a mere bandana.

Once you’ve learned silk scarves aren’t as dainty as they appear, you mightn’t be so surprised to learn they’re incredibly warm. Seriously, I used to swear by chunky knit scarves (and only chunky knit scarves), but my silky go-to has done more in the way of temperature regulation than any of my bulky knits have.

Why? For one thing, all that fabric does a lot for insulation—plus, since it’s wrapped around your neck (one of your body’s quickest-cooling points), it’s pretty efficient, too.

MORE: 31 Fast-Fashion and Designer Sweaters that Look like Thrift Shop Finds

And the best part is: Silk scarves are cute. You can stay warm while looking pretty damn trendy—and you don’t have to weigh yourself down with outfit-obscuring layer after outfit-obscuring layer. Silk scarves are the perfect solution to particularly breezy fall days, and they’re just as effective on snowy winter ones.

Ahead, you’ll find 27 silk scarves to shop as the temperatures begin to drop further and further. Some are designer, others are fast-fashion, but all would look excellent tied around your neck this season... Stylish Silk Scarves That Are Warmer Than They Look - A veritable game-changer.

What is your secret to glowing skin? as per doctors Suggestion

Ishita Jain

My secrets to glowing skin are -

1. Every week I apply multani-mitti (fuller’s earth) mixed with rosewater. This keeps my skin clear and fresh. I have a sensitive skin so I fear using many products.
2. I wash my face with dove soapbar as it is the only one which suits me. I also use himalaya face wash. I avoid using hot water on my face.
3. I apply Aloe vera gel every night before going to bed. I am using it from a long time and I can see its positive effects on my skin.
4. I apply Lakme moisturizer on my face which acts as sunscreen also. I also need to use scrub every week for blackheads.
5. Personally, I don't like to go to parlour for any facial or cleanups. I hate many chemicals being used on skin. They are very harmful for skin in the long run.
6. Most importantly, apart from these usual things, I eat fruits and drink coconut water regularly which is good for overall health. I also drink fruit juices. I eat curd which is also good for skin.
7. I drink lots of water which keeps my skin healthy.
8. I always sleep enough.

I believe in keeping my skin healthy and glowing through natural things instead of makeup products.

This is how I look -

Thank you :)

Dr. David 

TL;DR: Avoid salty foods, minimize alcohol, and make sleep a priority.

Hydration and rest are key for well-nourished, soft, and glowing skin. According to the CDC, if you’re doing three things: making water your main choice of drink, drinking water when thirsty, and drinking water with meals, you won’t need to worry about dehydration.

Generally, a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is the only way to truly achieve good skin. Additionally, high glycemic index foods tend to spike your blood sugar too quickly, causing your body to produce insulin, a hormone that absorbs the extra sugar from your blood. Studies show that insulin causes inflammation in the skin and may trigger acne. Generally, the lower the glycemic index, the less risky a food will be to your skin. A couple of guidelines:

1. First, whatever you are eating — eat less of of it! Current researchsupports calorie restriction as one of the most consistent interventions to extend our lifespan and delay age-related deterioration.
2. Certain methods of food preparation (i.e., grilling, frying, and roasting) produce much more harmful compounds in the bloodstream than water-based cooking methods such as boiling and steaming.
3. Dial up the seasoning! Some culinary herbs and spices are believed to inhibit the production of harmful compounds that accelerate aging. These include cinnamon, cloves, oregano, and allspice.
4. Choose foods on the lower end of the glycemic index. They take more time to break down, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels. Instead of white bread, white rice, potatoes or sugary snacks, reach for:

• nuts and seeds
• lean meats
• eggs
• tofu
• most vegetables
• healthy grains like barley, quinoa and rolled oats
• yogurt
• low-glycemic fruits like berries, plums, peaches and cantaloupe

And finally, have that glass of red wine (but don’t start if you don’t already drink alcohol — the subject is complex). The resveratrol found in the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries may reduce tissue damage.

I always advise our patients to check their cosmetics, sunscreens, moisturizers, etc. cosDNA.com. Stay away from products with acne scores of 3's, 4's, or 5's. Although it’s not a guarantee, it’s best to use only products labelled with terms such as “noncomedogenic," "does not clog pores," or "won't cause breakouts."

You can read more about how your diet impacts your skin on Curology’s website here.

Aditi Yadav

Here are some which worked for me:

• Drink water on empty stomach. It clears your bowels, toxins from the body, boosts your metabolism, increases energy.
• Cut down sugar in your diet. Excess consumption of sugar takes away the glow from your skin, shows effects of skin aging, and can increase acne problem.
• Drink a glass of lemon water. (No sugar , no salt) Lemon is a good source of vitamin-C.The antioxidants found in it keeps your skin looking fresh and fights the damage caused by free radicals.
• Consume 2–3 fruits a day. Too much consumption of fruits is also not healthy as they too contain sugar. Check the vitamins present in different fruits and make a balanced diet.
• Say no to junk food. Instead of spending money on a burger, spend it on a glass of coconut water.
• Exercise or practice yoga on daily basis. It increases blood flow, helps in digestion.Working up a good sweat is the equivalent of getting a mini-facial.
• Apply a good sunscreen. The only cosmetic good for your skin is a sunscreen. I apply L’Oreal Paris UV perfect transparent sunscreen (SPF 50). It suits my skin.
• Use natural products on your skin like sandalwood, turmeric, cucumber, raw milk. They will never damage your skin.

Remember, Your skin is just a reflection of your lifestyle. I have a clear skin (not genetically) because I eat healthy and practice yoga daily.

Ananya Singh

Its not mine, these are the list of top Hollywood actress that you definitely wanted to borrow.

A good eye cream is really important when you are traveling, busy and stressed-that's when the dark puffy circles can get you. ‘Kate Winslet’

Don't go a full day or night without washing your face. You have to get all the dirt and makeup out of your pores. ‘Mary J. Blige’I use omega-3 oil. I love light oil on my skin. It's one of my favorite feelings in the world. Gwyneth PaltrowWhen I was shooting a movie in Montreal, it was freezing. If you take a little bit of Aquaphor and dab it on your face, it keeps your skin looking fresh. I dubbed it Aqua For Everything. Lucy LiuOnce I started drinking more water, my skin, hair and nails all flourished. America FerreraI always like to start with a matte base then add shimmer. Scarlett JohanssonAfter applying foundation and a little blush, dust your face with translucent powder, then mist skin with a rosewater spray and lay a Kleenex over for a second. It makes your face seem flawless in a way that looks as if you aren't wearing any makeup. Liv Tyler

I wear lip stain on my cheeks underneath my foundation. JewelI dust my cheeks and eyelids with bronzing powder for a natural glow. Rachel Bilson

A shimmery bronzer is the perfect way to look alive. If you don't want to wear makeup, mix some with moisturizer. You'll look pretty but not made-up. Eva Mendes

For a smoky eye, moisturize the area first, so when you line the lid with a pencil it will smudge naturally.Ellen Pompeo

Apply loose powder on top of the foundation under your eyes, so if a little shadow spills, it's easier to wipe off. Katherine McPheeTo make lashes curl better, take a hair dryer to your eyelash curler for one or two seconds before using it. Isla FisherIf you use petroleum jelly on your lids, it gives you a dewy, angelic look. Freida PintoI love to layer tons of different shades to create new colors. I start with matte lipstick that's really dry then I put a more creamy, moist lipstick on my top. And my trick for not getting it on my teeth? Be really careful! Gwen StefaniTo make lips look naturally pink, I put on red lipstick, wipe it off, and then apply clear gloss. Halle BerryI love the look of buffed nails. They look neat and chic without actually having to paint your nails-and it takes no time! Joy BryantI love walking into a closet and smelling lingering perfume, so I always spray my clothes. And at the end of the bottle, when the atomizer no longer reaches the tiny little dribble that is left, I unscrew the top and pour the remainder onto a t-shirt or dress. Sarah Jessica ParkerAn actress friend of mine shared a great trick. She told me to stick my tongue behind my teeth when I smile to keep from over-smiling. If you smile without doing it, sometimes your gums show a little too much. It's an actor's trick!Jessica ChastainUse concealer that's two shades lighter than your actual skin tone and dot it under your eyes. It draws attention to your eyes and makes you look refreshed-which is great when you're extra tired or have traveled a lot. AnnaLynne McCordI don't use a real eye shadow brush-I just use the spongy brush that comes in the package. It fits nicely underneath my eye and creates a nice, everyday cat eye. I blend, add a little black eyeliner on the inside and I'm done. Ashlee SimpsonMy best beauty secret is simple: Have the right palette and the right colors and remember, you need so much less makeup than you think. Jessalyn GilsigI'm a really smiley person, so I've just learned when I'm doing my own makeup, I have to make sure it's smile ready and not too heavy. As amazing as the Victoria Beckham pout is for photos, I just can't do it! Rosario Dawson

Hope You all like it. And most important tips from me is ‘SMILE’ that is really important.

Cosmetic & Beauty products

Sharbani Joshi

There is no secret ingredient to anything you just have to believe- Kung Fu Panda.

The above phrase is very true and encouraging for me and it has really brought many positive changes in my life. There was a time when I had very dull, tanned skin which is quite common when you grow up in city like Delhi where you face every day challenge dealing with pollution.

Although, I was born with Wheatish complexion and blessed with good skin texture. But due to my own negligence my skin became rough, patch and acne prone.

My skin transformed from tanned dusky to glowing skin in 3 years which would not have been possible without patience and belief. It feels great to get compliments every day for your skin.

I just followed the simple rules of Do’s and Don’ts which are as follows(Helpful for Both for dry and oily skin Types):

Do’s

1) Always go out in the Sun with covered Face. Face should be covered with only Cotton scarves (not any nylon or silk stuff).

2) Carry Umbrella in the peak Hours such as 11 Am to 3 Pm when the sun rays intensity is high for damaging the skin.

3) Apply Sunscreen (Neotregena in my case) which should be at least 50 SPF before leaving your house.

4) Apply a mixture of curd and haldi once in a week for removing the body tan

5) Drink water 3–4 litres everyday

6) Do Anulom Vilom Yoga –for Blood circulation which results in Skin glow naturally.

7) Use tomato pulp as cleanser and wash the face after 10 minutes

8) Eat high nutrition food such as fruit, dry fruits, green vegetables, fish, etc

9) If you are vegetarian and do not eat fish, you can consume omega 3 capsules which are highly rich in fish oil and will result in forever glow to your skin.

10) Follow the magical formula of Cleansing, Toning and moisturizing twice in a day.

11) Use olive oil when you experience dryness in your skin as it is the best moisturizer at that time.

12) Wash your face at least 3 times in a day.

13) When I face acne related issues I use calamine lotion and nothing else for few days. It disappears and then I follow my skin care regime like before.

14) Workout/Walk/Run – I have started following this late but yes from last 2 years I have been following this strictly not only for staying fit but also for Good skin results. It helps in skin cell nourishment by increasing the blood flow.

15) Sleep – Relaxation is must for glowing skin. Whenever I am sleep deprived I have noticed changes in my skin, the glow reduces automatically.

Don’ts

1) Try to avoid consumption of Alcohol(once in 3-4 months is fine)

2) Do not smoke as it will damage the skin and will result in early ageing

3) Try avoiding use of makeup products such as Foundation, Moose, Compact, Primer etc. Why need make up when you can be the effortless beauty.

4) Do not visit parlour for Facial or skin treatments (I usually visit parlour one in 3 months for O3+ De tanning). Rather go for Cleansing and De tanning using O3+ products.

5) Do not copy anyone else’s lifestyle or skin care regime as everyone has different skin types and different resistance to products.

6) Do not eat oily food.

7) Never go to sleep with any makeup products on your face. Whether it is kajal or lipstick or any cream, clean it properly using Cleanser(I use Loreal Cleanser) before going to bed.

8) Do not scrub your face harshly. Always scrub gently.

9) Do not wipe your face with towel or hard cloth; instead use soft cotton cloth or tissue to wipe the water.

10) Do not wipe the water from top to bottom, instead follow it vice versa and notice the changes.

For more Skin related queries , please visit “Natural Skin for You” Blog.

The

Apurva Ghoh

I got it from my mama! No, literally. It's in the genes. Plus I religiously follow some age old advice passed through generations and generations of women.

My mother only started using cold creams and shampoos after she turned 35 years old, influenced by tv advertisements and her friends. Before that, she used to wash her hair with Fuller's earth (multani mitti) or buttermilk. Many women used to wash their hair with detergents, not even kidding.

Why did they still possess glorious hair and skin?

It's because the soil and air wasn't polluted, the food was unadulterated and homemade, they never had any chemical treatments done, they didn't know the first thing about a salon. Also. I imagine they lived less stressful lives than us. I believe it's more about what you're putting in your body than what you're putting over it.

For the face, mom used raw milk as a cleanser, gram flour, wheat flour and turmeric as scrubs and face washes, and fresh cream or coconut oil for moisturization.

So did I follow her advice and went au naturale? Only after experimenting with a lot of cosmetics. I love my Bath and Body Works products, but I also remember to take a break and use the gifts of nature.

Here are a few things that have actually worked for me:

1. Raw unadulterated honey. I cannot stress this enough. It works amazingly for problems of acne, dry skin and marks. I buy mine from Khadi Gramudyog. Mix it with cinnamon and lemon juice, apply it as a face pack and you won't have to worry about your skin ever again.
2. Aloe Vera. That plant is a blessing for humans. Eat it and it will cure your indigestion, put it on you and it will leave your skin silky smooth. (Zohan style). I leave it on my skin overnight. Try to use it raw, preferably from the plant itself.
3. Coconut oil/olive oil/almond oil. They are my most prized possessions. Coconut oil is a lifesaver. There's no skin problem that it cannot cure. I use the other two oils in winters because I have dry skin.
4. Curd/yogurt, that beautiful byproduct of milk that saves me from sunburns, dark skin and actually tightens my pores. I use it on my skin more often than I eat it, especially as a makeup remover (raw milk and coconut oil are brilliant for that purpose) and also when I’ve stayed out in the sun for too long.
5. Fuller’s earth. It’s indispensable for your skin, take my word for it. Lately I’ve stopped using face washes and use multani mitti to clean my face and then apply some coconut oil if the skin feels dry.

You can see the effect for yourself:

No make up here, obviously. The sunlight is behind me as well.

Here’s one with a lil BB cream and eyeliner:

Dewy fresh.

Here are some do's and dont’s to keep in mind, if you’ve come this far:

1. Avoid Stress at all costs! Whatever happens, whatever you look like, don’t let it bother you too much. I haven’t known a girl who doesn’t have skin problems. She doesn’t exist. So don’t let it get to you.
2. Be confident in your own skin. Whether you’re “milky white” or wheatish or dusky. My mother has brown skin and she is one of the most beautiful women I know. She has other advantages as well: No visible body hair, no acne marks and she looks ethereal in makeup. All you fair girls can’t boast that can you?
3. Take care of your diet, eat healthy and homemade. Drink water as much as you can. Exercise, dance or practice yoga, do whatever your body loves. Listen to it. Platitudes I know, but essential!
4. Laugh a lot. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Bask in happy positive thoughts. You will look 100x more attractive.
5. Don’t let your looks be the end-all. Invest in relationships, work hard for your career, develop your personality, make yourself happy, make others happy, don’t just be content living a one dimensional life.
6. Remember, my beauties, the light is within you, not without. That is what will make you shine for real and for ever.

EDIT: Wow thanks for all the love, you beautiful beautiful Quorans.

I feel humbled.

I asked my mom the same question - What is your secret to glowing skin?

And she told me, very matter of factly “Leaving it alone”. She thinks what I do is completely over the top and unnecessary.

So, my last word : Do what you think is best for you. Don’t accept generic advice from self proclaimed beauty experts.

Find out whatever works for you. Your resilient miraculous skin will adapt.

Anjali Chaudary

Glowing skin is something that everyone desires, because it is the ultimate reflection of our inner health and fitness scale. Also, very few people or nobody wants to age with time and thus desire to remain youthful ever.

These are basic 12 top rules of glowing and healthy skin that I have learnt from self experiences and my mother's advice:-

1. Sense of humour-I'm not kidding, it's true. Its a scientific research being practiced on all those who looked quite young for their age and it was their ability to laugh as much as they can and also to make others laugh all the time. Laughter is the ultimate factor for reducing stress hormones in your body that are basic cause for aging.

2.Drink loads of water - Just replace your beverages with plain water and make sure to drink 5–6 litres of water every day religiously. Water not only hydrates body and flush the toxins but also helps to rejuvenate the skin cells for further growth.

3.Reduce sugar- limit sugar intake in your meals and if you crave for sweet, then go for fruits, dry fruits, jaggery, juices. etc. Sugar is the main reason for wrinkles and breakouts in the skin.

4. Exercise - Exercise everyday to make your body fit and active. Give yourself at least 30 minutes to do any kind of physical activity that you like,whether it's walk, gym, yoga or pilates.Exercise helps in making the skin and body flexible from inside and improves stamina. Focus on your breathing technique. Inhale and exhale as deep as possible. Sweat it out as much possible.

5. Exfoliate- Make exfoliation your daily beauty routine. Exfoliate your face and exposed skin parts daily. Exfoliating removes the dead cells and gives you a soft, supple and glowing skin in few minutes. You can exfoliate using lemon juice, aloe vera, milk powder or honey as face scrub.

6.Moisturize- Moisturising your skin by sunscreen and nice face cream before stepping out in sun, pollution and humidity prevents your skin from damage. Also try to moisturise at night before bed.

7.Wash face- Wash your face as much you can. Even if you don't wear make up.. in order to remove the dust accumulated on the face, frequent washing of face is important. If possible, ignore cleanser, try plain chilled water.

8.Sleep- Make sure you sleep well, not because you should sleep, just because you need sleep to refresh and relax your entire body system and get rid of excessive tired up mind and body. So that next day you wake up more energetic and productive.

9.Vitamin C- Consume Vitamin C in any form, like aloe vera juice, amla juice, apple cider vinegar or any citrus fruit every day as vitamin c act as the best antioxidant for the body cells thus making skin glowing and radiant. Include lemon in your diet.

10.’Few of everything’-Yes, use this principle when you eat. Don't crash diet or fast to look fit or great. Just eat everything but in moderation. Include every type of food in your diet like carbs, protein, fruits, vegetables, fats, meat, dairy, even “JUNK” notice junk. Yes if you crave for junk, just have it, but make sure it should be in moderation. Don't overeat and don't starve yourself as well. Have everything balanced in your diet.

11.Go get some air-Keep your gadgets away for a while, and get outside in the nature to experience the breeze of fresh air, feel the greeneries of plants, breathe the smell of mud, have a walk. It is something, we genuinely lack in modern world of sophistication. In a scientific research performed over the people of age 40–60, it was noticed that people who spend most of their time with nature were likely to appear quite healthy and young than those who were just limited to T.V and smartphones.

12.Follow a hobby- Take out ‘me time’ for yourself. Do what ever you like to do as your interest whether it is singing, dancing, reading, painting,sports etc. Enjoy your hobby. My hobby is writing, therefore I started writing on Quora.

And it will make me feel motivated as a writer if you upvote my answer after liking it.

Upvote!!

Mathuw Zel

It seems like there are already a lot of great answers here, but I’m not seeing as many answers from guys. I actually wrote this for a friend who asked me about my skin because he knew that I used to have a lot of acne and somehow managed to clear it up to the point where people were complimenting me on my skin. Just a heads up, there’s a bit of a background that I go into here, and this answer will sound very ‘bloggy’, but I don’t have a blog or website to promote (should I start one though?). This is essentially everything that I do to keep my skin in great condition on a consistent basis. I know it was written for a person struggling with acne, but the same principles still apply for getting great skin.

—

When it comes to the human body, there seems to be no problem with a solution as elusive as acne. If you’re anything like me, most days you’ll watch your friend who has perfect skin chow down on instant ramen noodles while you sit there with what appears to be a small replica of the Appalachian Mountains on your cheeks and forehead. Why does your friend have great skin? Is it genetics? Or maybe it’s just a phase that you’re going through? I’ve asked myself a lot of those questions because I have been there. Before acne though, I started out struggling with eczema. For the first 18 years of my life, my problem was just trying to keep my skin from drying out all the time. I constantly experimented: I tried different lotions, creams; I went through an olive oil phase at one point. Though I struggled with eczema, it didn’t necessarily make me self-conscious about my skin because it wasn’t very noticeable, especially if I wore a white shirt that day.

College was different.

Everything was gradual, but eventually the effects of eating buffets of dining hall food every day will take its toll. I also started bodybuilding with my roommate, so we would eat as much as possible to gain mass. It started off with a few pimples at the beginning of freshmen year, but it ended with a swollen face filled with clumps of cystic acne on my cheeks. I took the same approach to my acne as I did with my dry skin. I experimented with everything: from lemon juice to tea tree oil, and I even tried putting a mixture of baking soda powder on my face.

I’m not going to lie, I was very insecure about my acne. I knew that no one would say anything about it to my face, and of course to a certain extent I appreciated that, but deep down I thought that my acne made a difference in how people looked at me. I was worried that people found it disgusting, and even though I was in a fantastic relationship with a wonderful girl, no guy wants to interact with the opposite sex with a face full of acne. I built up a lot of worries in my head: would my girlfriend leave me because of my acne? What if she leaves me and I’ll never find another girl? Obviously, you can see that most of my worries at the time were centered around the opposite sex, but of course what college guy doesn’t think about that?

Eventually, my parents were concerned enough to take me to the dermatologist, who recommended that I take Accutane. Looking back on it now, I should have been more worried about it because I didn’t start reading all the bad things about Accutane until I was finished with the process, but at the time I was so desperate to get rid of it I took the dermatologist’s word for granted. Luckily, everything went perfectly, and I didn’t experience any side effects or restrictions on my lifestyle. Despite being in college, I never had alcohol because I was too worried about it affecting my bodybuilding and academics. I would spend 12 hours a week lifting with friends, and I overhauled my diet plan and became very strict with what I put into my body. While the Accutane did its job, I noticed that it wasn’t a permanent solution. Some of my friends who would take Accutane would fall back into acne a couple months later. I was determined not to have acne again, so I designed my lifestyle and habits around reducing the possibility of developing acne, and I want to share with you everything that I have learned because I know the whole thing just really sucks.

The Acne-Free Mentality

I would spend hours searching the internet for possible solutions. I wanted to get rid of my acne as fast as possible, and many sites and posts would promise that, and of course all those claims on the internet may be completely legit for them, but for me it took a long time to completely fix my acne. It took me about half the time to clear it up as it did for me to develop it, and I had Accutane to accelerate the process. A problem with promising fast results is that they won’t be lasting results, so you need to approach getting rid of acne the same way you would approach losing weight or gaining muscle: it’s a process that takes time. If you have been living a sedentary lifestyle for 2 years, you wouldn’t expect to lose those 20 pounds in just 3 weeks, so why would you expect acne to be different? There are a lot of people who will claim that a certain product or mixture will fix everything, but that’s just not the case because the problem is often much deeper than that. You should approach skin products as supplements. They can help your skin, but they shouldn’t be a substitute for a healthy lifestyle that naturally takes care of your skin. The good news here is that the path to great skin won’t cost you anything except your time, and there are surprisingly little costs to maintaining a lifestyle that nurtures your skin. I don’t want to promise anything, and nothing that I am giving is qualified medical advice. This is just what works for me, but I am sure that there are some practical tips in here that can work for you.

My Diet

What you put into your body will have the greatest impact on your skin. The main reason why I developed such bad acne my freshmen year was because I ate too many bad foods. To give you an idea of how radically different my diet is now, here’s a table comparing my freshmen diet to my current diet.

There are a couple key differences that I want to point out. The first difference is consistency. In my freshmen diet I ate something different every day at every meal, but in my current diet, I essentially eat the same meals every day, and even the same meals within the same day. The second difference is obviously the content of those meals. Practically everything I ate my freshmen year was junk food, and in my current diet I’ve stuck closely to a 1:1:1 ratio of carbs, vegetables, and protein. I also vary what vegetables I’ll consume. Some meals I’ll use broccoli, others I use mushrooms, and some are spinach. The great thing about my diet is that it doesn’t cost a lot. Based on my spreadsheets I take in about 3,500 calories a day, and I spend a little under $60 per week on food. I know this isn’t the perfect way to go about this, but if you were to reduce the cost of food proportional to the amount of calories consumed per day, it would cost around $35 per week to eat 2,000 calories per day, and you can slash that cost even more if you opt out of the smoked salmon. I just like to splurge on one meal item. I also try to be efficient with how I cook. Meal prep containers are very useful when it comes to organizing your food, and it can save a lot of fridge space because everything is very compact. I end up cooking all my food for the week in an hour and a half. By cooking everything in advance, I virtually guarantee that I eat healthy because when I’m hungry all I need to do is pop a container in the microwave. When people are hungry, they’ll usually eat whatever fills their stomachs the fastest, and that tends to be processed frozen foods with high sodium content. By prepping healthy meals in advance and not buying those frozen foods, you eliminate the possibility of eating junk food out of laziness, because the laziest thing to do would be to eat one of the prepped meals. In terms of cooking the food, I don’t do anything fancy; there are no added spices to the vegetables and rice, and the only seasoning I put on the chicken is Lawry’s seasoning salt. While maintaining a healthy diet is important, it’s also okay to splurge every so often on junk food. My old strength and conditioning teacher once said, “don’t be the weird kid in the corner eating nuts when all of your friends are eating ice cream.” In fact, I just downed an entire large 3-topping pizza from Dominoes by myself the other day, but I know it won’t make a difference in my body because all my other meals are healthy.

The last important thing that I do is drink a lot of water, and this is something that I attempted a lot in the past, but ultimately ended up failing to maintain because I hated always going to the bathroom every 30 minutes. However, if you stick it out for a couple of weeks your body will eventually adapt and be able to hold more water without peeing it out all the time. I typically drink 3 liters per day. The common recommendation you’ll hear is 2 liters, or 8 8-ounce glasses of water, per day. The reason why I tack on an extra liter is because I’ll usually plow through 1.5 liters of water in a single workout.

My Hygiene

This was an area where I made a lot of beginner’s mistakes when it came to basic skincare. I was using around 5-6 products on any given day, and I would constantly cycle out what I was using because I would get distracted by a new strategy every week, so my skin always had to keep adapting to new products. I fixed this by narrowing down which products I used, and the products that I use are very mild and contain a small number of ingredients. I also switched to cold showers which helps my skin retain moisture. Right after I shower I make sure to pat my skin instead of rubbing it, and then I’ll apply ointment within 1 minute of drying my face.

Here’s my hygiene schedule in a nutshell:

Here is what I use now in terms of skin products:

1. Dove white bar

2. Aquaphor ointment

Yep. That’s it. I only use two products, and I won’t use soap every day either. Though I do admit that in the summertime I’ll also put on sunscreen if I’m going outside. However, what’s more important than the products on this list are the products that are not on this list. I’ve found that with skincare the more you can take away the better. I don’t use shampoo anymore, and if you decide to no longer use shampoo, you’ll go through a period of a couple weeks where your hair will get greasy, but after that your scalp will start lowering the amount of oil it puts out and your hair will return to normal. I also don’t use any special scrubs, masks, exfoliators, or anything else that you’ll see other people praise. I believe the simpler your routine can become, the better. It’s easy to get caught up in all the interesting things that people post when it comes to getting rid of acne, but you need to be consistent and gentle with how you treat your skin. This also means not touching your skin. Next to diet, this was the second-largest reason as to why I had bad skin. I was constantly picking at my acne and rubbing my face with my hands. I would recommend not touching your skin at all costs, but if you do have to scratch an itch, use a towel or piece of cloth to scratch it.

My Sleep

My sleep schedule has gotten both better and worse depending on which aspect you focus on. In terms of how much sleep I get now, it has gotten much worse. My freshmen year I was pulling in around 7-8 hours of sleep a night, and now a couple years later I’m sleeping 5-6 hours a night. However, the factor that has had the greatest impact on my sleep schedule is how much more consistent I sleep. This would be my typical week of sleep during the school year.

As you can see, everything falls down the gutter once the weekend hits, but another large difference in my sleep schedule was when I decided to go to sleep. While I do get less hours of sleep compared to my freshmen year, I altered my habits so that I could get higher quality sleep, and this also included changing what I did before falling asleep. My freshmen year, I would keep my phone by my bedside, and the last thing that I would do before going to sleep would be to set the alarm on my phone for the next morning. Now, I keep my phone far away from my bed, and I have a regular alarm clock set up so that I have no reason to touch my phone late at night. For pre-sleep drinks and supplements, I found that taking a small dose of melatonin (< 5mg) and a hot mix of water, honey, and Apple Cider Vinegar helped. Now of course that whole process may have helped due to placebo, but I found that it accelerated how fast I went to sleep. After that, I would also take a cold shower to lower my body temperature, which helps me get deeper sleep. It’s also important to change your bed sheets on a regular basis. I’ll change mine about once a week since my skin is clearer and relaxed now, but back in the thick of it I was changing it twice a week.

My Exercise

It doesn’t matter what you do: HIIT, Crossfit, Yoga, Zumba, Martial Arts, etc. The important part is that you do it on a consistent basis and that you enjoy what you’re doing because that will be sustainable. That may be a couple times a week, or once a day. Whatever the case is, commit to exercising a set number of times per week initially, and then you can scale as you grow. In my experience it’s also more effective to consistently exercise at a set time of the day. For me, I prefer waking up at 5am to head off for a morning lift, and after every lift I’ll sit in the sauna for 10 minutes followed by a cold shower. I really enjoy weightlifting and bodybuilding, so I’ll give you a quick outline of what I do. Unfortunately, I don’t have my own personal gym to take video or pictures in, so I encourage you to look up some of these exercises online if you don’t know them. Just a quick note: this is a basic version of what I do. At this point I’ll go on feel in terms of how many sets and reps I should do for a given exercise, and many times I’ll superset certain exercises together. In general, I like performing a lot of compound movements followed by a little bit of accessory work.

What if I’m Starting from Scratch?

I just dumped a crapload of information on you, so don’t worry if you need to take it in chunks. Also, keep in mind that I didn’t start doing all these habits and routines at once. These routines are the result of 2 years of countless experimenting, and the gradual adoption of certain habits over others. I also had a jump start in certain aspects of my life over others. For example, I competed on the Junior USA Karate Team back in high school, so in terms of exercise I already had a solid foundation. This also might be a stretch, but I’m an engineer by study, so I enjoy going about systematically experimenting with parts of my life that I find interesting, like exercise and nutrition. If you’re starting off completely from scratch, as in you don’t exercise consistently, have an unhealthy diet, don’t get a lot of sleep, and have a hectic hygiene schedule, I would start by simply working on one category, and then once you have that area ingrained as a habit, systematically go onto the next category. This is the order that I would work on if you’re starting off:

1. Diet

2. Hygiene

3. Sleep

4. Exercise

If you’ve read deeply into this article, you may have noticed some overall principles. The most important in my opinion is consistency, which might sound boring, but you need to give your body a routine that it can adapt to and optimize for. Eat the same food every day, exercise the same days at the same times, and go to bed and wake up at the same times. The next principle is simplification, which in a sense goes hand in hand with consistency. Reduce how many products you use, find the foods that your body responds well to and narrow your diet down to those foods. The last principle is sustainability. Working your way towards great skin will take diligence and time, so don’t think that you’re the exception and can fix your acne in a couple weeks. With developing certain habits, be honest with yourself. How much sleep are you able to afford? While I do strive for more, I know that I typically only get 5-6 hours of sleep during the school semester, so I need to make sure that those 5-6 hours of sleep count and I’ll build a routine around that fact. Has it been a few years since you visited the gym? Then don’t initially plan on going to the gym 5 times a week because you’re going to fail. A better plan would be to go to the gym 1-2 times a week, and then maybe 4 weeks later if you’ve been diligent with those 1-2 times you can scale it up to 3-4 times.

One last thing to note is that while I do stress the amount of time and work it takes to permanently fix your acne, it’s not like you’ll spend an entire year working on your diet and hygiene habits and then one day you’ll wake up with your acne gone. You’ll start to see progress within a couple weeks, and seeing that progress is important, because that will be what hooks you into permanently following these habits. So, don’t be discouraged by the amount of time it takes. I know from experience that there is nothing more satisfying than hearing someone compliment you on your skin after you have spent the past year cleaning your diet and routines.

Cheat Sheet

In case you were really bored with this entire piece and just want to get the best tidbits, here’s what I do: