How to Get Clear, Smooth Skin

Do you struggle with rough, dry skin? Is your skin prone to breakouts or irritation? Luckily, your skin can begin look its best with a few simple tricks. juuuust try gal.

1.Start a daily face-washing routine, in the morning and at night. Consistency is an important part of maintaining a healthy complexion, so make sure you're doing these things every morning and night:

-Wash your face with a gentle cleanser. Avoid scrubbing too hard or using rough washcloths or loofahs. These may irritate your skin and cause blemishes to stay on your face longer.

-Use a toner (optional). If your skin is dry, not combination or oily, you can skip this step. Always get an alcohol-free toner, and get a toner that fits your skin type. Toner helps firm and tighten your skin as it wipes away dirt in your pores.

-Moisturize. If you tend to have oily skin, save the heavy moisturizer for nighttime and use a light or gel formula in the morning. Moisturize every time you wash your face, shave, or simply need the extra moisture.

-Remove your makeup every night. It can be hard to do this if you're very tired, but it pays off. Pick up makeup removal wipes at the drug store and rely on them when you're too exhausted to do the whole routine.

     2.Treat acne. If you deal with regular pimples,

-Salicylic acid gel or toner. Salicylic acid causes the skin to naturally exfoliate its layers quicker, thus helping acne go away, and also prevents new acne from forming. Use daily.

-Benzoyl peroxide lotion or spot treatment. If your acne is moderate or severe, you can find lotion products containing benzoyl peroxide that you apply evenly over your face, usually at nighttime. You can also find benzoyl peroxide in spot treatment formulas.

-Seeing a dermatologist. High-caliber acne treatments (like Accutane and Retin-A) do exist, but they must be used under the supervision of a doctor, which means you cannot get them without a prescription. If you're really at wit's end, make an appointment to see a specialist.

-Try face masks or pore cleaners. This is called exfoliation, and it washes away dead skin on the surface of your face. In the case of face masks, use only once a week. Buy an exfoliant at your local drugstore, or make one at home.

3.Don't pick your pimples. staring you in the face for a day or two, but it's really not worth it. Picking your pimples can have adverse effects on your sIt's usually not a good idea to pick your pimples. It may be tempting if that blackhead has kin.
-Picked zits cause blemishes. Blemishes are inflammations in the epidermis and dermis, the outer and inner layers of your skin. It takes longer for the blemishes to heal when they are popped, so stay brave and resist the urge!

-Picked pimples could leave a scar behind. Pimples are temporary, but scars are forever. If you want smooth skin, don't make it harder on yourself by picking pimples.

-Don't touch your face. The oils and dirt from your hands will transfer to your face and can easily clog pores. Keeping your hands from your face will also help you break the habit of picking pimples.
4.Only use fresh makeup and brushes. Makeup, like food, gathers bacteria and will eventually go bad. If you've been using the same powders, blush, eyeshadow and mascara for over 6 months, it's probably time to throw everything out and start over. Your skin will thank you for it!

The only exception to this is brushes—these can be cleaned, not thrown away. Pick up an antibacterial makeup brush cleaning formula at the drugstore and, once a month or so, spritz everything down right after you finish your morning routine. Leave the brushes out to air dry throughout the day and overnight.

5.Drink plenty of water. Aim to put down 6 to 8 full glasses of water a day, and you'll notice a difference in your skin. The extra fluid makes it easier for you to flush out toxins and waste

-Girls: aim to drink at least 2.2 liters, or nine cups of water a day. If you're having trouble drinking that much, cut out all sugary drinks from your diet entirely. Actually, you should try to cut out sugary drinks from your diet for your own health's sake.

-Guys: aim to drink at least three liters, or 13 cups, of water a day.

The lighter color your pee, the less water you need to drink. When your pee is clear, you're in the clear. When your pee is yellow, it's time to drink more water.

6.Sleep smart. You might be getting dirt and oil on your face while you're sleeping without even realizing it. Try these tricks to minimize your risk:

-Change out your pillowcase at least once a week. Your pillowcase collects dust, saliva, and other grime, which make it onto your face every time you sleep. Put your pillowcases through the wash or change them out regularly for best results.

-Pull your hair back. Braid back long hair, and keep bangs or fly-aways out of your face with a headband. This way your hair won't irritate your face while you sleep.

-Get your beauty rest! Sleep deprivation and stress can manifest as bad skin, so make sure you're getting 7 to 8 hours of quality rest every night.
-Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help your body and skin stay healthy. Exercising is a fantastic way to get rid of stress, to keep blood-flow pumping, and to ensure a good night's rest.
-Try to eat foods that give you the right kind of energy. Diets rich in sugar and refined (or "white) carbohydrates have been linked to more pimple breakouts than diets rich in protein, vegetables, and grains although the scientific community isn't in total agreement. What is clear is that eating vegetables (beets, tomatoes, broccoli), protein (white meat, fish, nuts), and grains (quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat) are healthier for you. And what's healthy for you is probably better for your skin.

-Diets that are high in fat and filled with hormones may worsen skin conditions. Cows, for example, may be pumped full of hormones in order to produce more milk. That doesn't mean that you have to cut milk entirely out of your diet. Just be informed about what's going into your body, and don't make dairy a big part of your diet.

-Run, walk, swim. Do whatever exercise makes you feel good. Walking just 15 minutes a day is a great improvement over standing still. Exercise in general will help reduce the amount of stress your body generates over the course of the day. And stress will cause pimples. So in order to get that clear, smooth skin your body deserves, hit the gym, fire up the treadmill, or slice through the water. Your body will thank you.