Eat Your Way to Clear Skin!

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As you know, I have had huge problems with acne in the past. To clear this up, I had to combine medication with cream treatments with, would you believe it, better eating. It makes sense when you think about it, what you put inside your body is bound to reflect on the outside. This doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself, but just try adding some of the foods below to your everyday diet and see if it makes a difference!

1. Drink Water - I know this doesn't technically count as a food, but I can't stress the importance of drinking water enough. It hydrates your body and skin and flushes out toxins. It is usually recommended you drink around 2l of water a day. I used to struggle with fitting it in, but try to get into a routine of drinking water whenever you can; with a meal, while you're working and whenever you need a drink, and you will find it comes pretty naturally. Try to cut out any sort of fizzy drink and switch to water, as they are loaded with sugar and other nasties. Don't just think you'll be okay because you drink diet drinks; sometimes they can be even worse for your health and they can still inflame your skin!
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2. Cut down on junk, processed and sugary food - I'm not saying you should cut this food out all-together, but try to limit the amount you consume. Sugar quickly gets into your bloodstream and spikes your insulin levels, which can cause breakouts. Instead, get your energy by eating low-GI or "slow release" carbohydrates such as beans, pulses, porridge and wholegrains.
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3. Avoid dairy - There have been quite a few scientific studies which show associations with dairy and acne, so if possible you might like to try avoiding it and seeing the results. The hormone levels in milk may increase sebum production, which leads to acne. Personally, I drink almond milk and dislike cheese, so the only dairy I consume is yoghurt. Sine I made this change I have seen a reduction in my blemishes, but it could also be down to the other things I was doing to clear my skin.
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4. Get your 5-a-day - Vegetables and fruit contain powerful antioxidants and vitamins which are essential for clear, radiant skin. I would recommend eating a range of fruit & veg, try to eat a "rainbow" of different colours as they all have different properties. Sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, berries and oranges are all full of essential vitamins and also taste yummy too!
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5. Don't cut out fat - Many people assume that fat causes acne, as acne is often caused by excess sebum and oil clogging your pores. However, foods such as avocados, nuts and olive oil provide essential "healthy" fats which keep your skin smooth and soft. Your skin needs some moisture otherwise your body will think it is dry and will start producing even more sebum!
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6. Include Zinc - Zinc is involved in the normal functioning of sebaceous glands in the skin (which produce oil) and helps to repair existing skin damage. Foods high in Zinc include fish, lean red meat, wholegrains, poultry, nuts, beans (especially kidney beans), seeds and shellfish.

I hope these tips help you, please let me know in the comments if you plan to make any changes or are already seeing good results in your skin from eating well! Obviously for the best results you'll need to combine this with an appropriate regular skincare routine. I really enjoy writing about skincare as it is a topic very close to my own heart; when I had really bad skin I didn't have anywhere to go for reliable and experienced advice, and nobody understood how frustrating and upsetting it was. Let me know if you like my skincare posts and what you'd like to see in the future!

The Body Shop Tea Tree range for Acne/Blemish-Prone Skin

Not long ago, I picked up a few things from The Body Shop from their Tea Tree range for blemish-prone skin. I have tried some of their products in the past which worked well for me and I wanted to rediscover why I liked them so much! The Body Shop tends to be a little more expensive than products you can just pink up from a drugstore and often come in far smaller sizes, but they are much higher quality and contain natural ingredients which will be better for your skin. I have been trying all of the products out for a couple of days, swapping out other items in my skincare routine so I could tell you my first impressions of them.

Tea Tree Night Lotion (£9.00)

I think this is meant to be used instead of moisturiser at night, however it doesn't actually seem to moisturise my skin all that much. It is between a gel and cream in consistency and glides onto the skin easily. I have seen a visible reduction in redness since using this product, and the tea tree smell isn't too overwhelming. It is one of The Body Shop's bestsellers so I think, giving it a little more time to work its magic, it could be brilliant.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion (£8.00)

I have actually tried this product before, and I can remember being extremely pleased with the results. It used to my a staple in my skin care routine. However, now it seems to sting a little on application and hasn't been working as well as I remember, which is a shame. I am going to persist with using this just to see if I can get the results I did before, as I used to think it was a bit of a miracle product for clearing my skin.

Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream - Light (£8.00)

This is another new find, and I bought it because I often get into the vicious cycle of having spots, covering them up with make up and then making them worse. This BB cream is AMAZING and I will be using it religiously as my base from now on - it gives high coverage with the first application, covering any blemishes or imperfections you may have, but it also doesn't break me out AT ALL. I haven't even needed to use concealer on top of this, it does such a good job! 

Tea Tree Oil (£7.00)

I couldn't go to The Body Shop without picking up one of the staples of my skincare routine! I have repurchased this again and again - it is great value for money and can also be applied directly to the skin, unlike some other brands of tea tree oil. You can use this in so many different ways including mixing it with your moisturiser, applying it directly to blemishes and putting a few drops in hot water to steam your face!

If you struggle with blemishes I would recommend checking out The Body Shop's range of Tea Tree products as they are some of the best quality, natural and affordable on the market. Plus, they work! 

My Skincare Routine (Blemish/Acne-Prone Skin)

I have struggled with acne and blemishes for a huge part of my teenage life. Although it is under control now and I break out far less than I used to, I like to keep my skincare routine targeted at blemish-prone skin for fear that the dreaded spots would return if I switched it to normal. I am also left with a few scars on my forehead (a word of advice: NEVER touch your spots!). My evening skincare routine has been tried and tested, I spent months trying new products and working out what is best for me, and it has really paid off. If you suffer from acne or breakouts, I would really recommend purchasing some of the products targeted at blemish-prone skin as I have tried a lot of products out there and these are my favourites. If you don't, I have also featured some of my favourite products aimed at normal skin.

 Olay Regenerist 3 Point Super Cleansing System

Garnier Pure 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub & Mask

Firstly, after removing my make up with the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (I forgot to take a photo), I exfoliate my skin using this electronic cleansing brush and a facial scrub. I have only recently purchased the cleansing brush, but I can already see a huge difference in my skin; my pores are more refined and clean, and my skin has a glow to it. This facial scrub is targeted at imperfection-prone skin, but I think it would work well for anyone. It's important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells on your face and any remains of make-up from the day - otherwise they will just clog up your pores and give you spots! Using this cleansing brush has also helped with some of my acne scarring as it takes away dead skin, leaving them less noticeable and deep.

Simple Kind to Skin Deep Cleansing Face Mask

Quick Fix Facials Anti-Blemish Mud Mask

A few times a week, I like to use a face mask to deeply cleanse my skin. If I have a particular nasty break out, I use the Quick Fix mask but if not, I stick to Simple as it contains no unnecessary artificial ingredients and it feels very soothing and smooth on my skin. I love using face masks as it helps me to relax, I often read a few chapters of a book or paint my nails while I am waiting to remove it.

Temple Spa Purification Deep Cleansing Mask

I was recommended this face mask at a spa day with my mum. It was quite pricey but I can honestly say it has been one of my favourite products EVER. I only use it about once a week, instead of another face mask, as I don't want to use it up too quickly. It is advertised as a "vacuum cleaner for the skin" and I totally agree! It removes blackheads, unclogs pores, reduces the appearance of red spots and leaves your skin feeling fresh and oil-free. You only need a tiny amount to coat your entire face, or you can just dab it onto problem areas, so I definitely think it is worth the money!

Nivea Daily Essentials Refreshing Cleansing Mousse

After removing a face mask with warm water, or after my first cleanse, I like to cleanse again. I use a softer cleanser for this step and just use my hands to apply it to a wet face. This product is not targeted at blemish-prone skin but I think it has contributed to clearing my skin up, as it is really gentle and doesn't strip your skin of its moisture like some cleansers - which can lead to your skin producing extra oil which can clog our pores up!

Temple Spa Toning Essence

This is another product I got on my spa day. I love this range of products as they are very natural and gentle, and don't contain things like alcohol where other brands do. This toner has been working well for my skin. It's important to tone after cleansing as it closes up the pores that would have opened with warm water, ensuring they are not clogged with anything.

Face B4 After Cleansing Serum

Recently I have added this serum into my skincare routine, after reading a few articles about the benefits of using a serum. I don't use it every day as I am not yet used to it and don't want to pile lots of products onto my face, but so far it has been working well for me to apply a tiny amount after cleansing and before moisturising.

Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish Moisturiser

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

I like to use a moisturiser targeted at blemish-prone skin at all times because they usually don't contain any oil. I find this works for me as I am reluctant to put extra oil onto my face. It is important to moisturise even if you have oily skin, because if you don't your skin will think it is dry and start producing extra sebum which will cause blemishes. Occasionally, I mix a drop of tea-tree oil into my moisturiser as it works wonders for my skin, but it is too harsh to apply directly to skin on it's own.

Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Night Treatment Gel

Finally, I dab a small amount of this gel onto any existing blemishes or areas of my skin which feel like they could be forming blemishes. When I first tried this product I hated it, but because I didn't want to waste such a huge tube I decided to be persistent with it. Now, I have gone through a fair few tubes and absolutely adore it! It is non-greasy and really helps to fight spots through the night - I often wake up with completely clear skin and I'm sure it is partly down to this product!

I hope this skincare routine will help those of you who struggle with blemish-prone skin - I know just how upsetting and disheartening it is when nothing works but you really do have to be persistent! Make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day, every day, even if you haven't worn make-up or are too tired. I can't stress how important it is to have this routine! I also recommend drinking more water as it hydrates your skin and flushes out toxins. I didn't mention much of The Body Shop's Anti-Blemish range but I often switch out these products with some of theirs - they work just as well if not better in some cases! I am in-between orders on their products but as soon as I stock up I will be writing a review.