Over the past 2 years I have struggled tremendously with my skin. I have had problems with redness, cystic acne, and very sensitive skin. Although I still struggle with my skin, there are four things that I now live by. In no particular order they are the best tips that I have figured out from trial and error.
Toning and how often you should do it.
Toners usually come in a liquid or lotion that you apply during your skin care routine to shrink your pores and clean deeper in to your skin. They can be applied using a cotton pad or spray. Toners also help balance the PH levels in your skin as well and clean out the excess dirt your cleanser did not reach. One specific toner that I use is the Glow2 OH Dark Spot Toner from Olehenriksen. I apply it every night and from my experiences it has showed instant results.
Applying serums
Serums were not a part of my skin care routine until the past six months and now I don't go without them. There are tons of different serums from chemical to organic that apply to various skin types. The serum I currently use is Clear Your Skin - Resurfacing 1% Retinol Serum from Naturally Good for You which I apply twice a day after cleansing and toning.
This has helped specifically with skin renewal and my acne scars. The scaring on my face noticeably went down after using it for a month, and I still use for deeper scars. Serums are specific to various skin types so I suggest looking into different ones to find what best fits you.
Eating and sleeping habits that cause breakouts.
One of the hardest things to overcome when trying to clear my skin was my eating and sleeping habits. Foods that contain a lot of sugar are bad for your skin and have caused major breakouts when I eat too much of it. Being on a bad sleeping schedule can create lines and bags under your eyes. By getting back on to a better sleeping schedule I wake up with refreshed skin and energy to get out of bed and continue my skin care routine.
Minimize what comes in contact with your face.
Another big problem I had was touching my face. It was always involuntary and I realized that picking or rubbing my skin was causing severe irritation. One important rule is to STOP touching your face, and watch what comes in contact with it. Wash your sheets as often as possible because your sheets and pillow cases come in contact with your skin the most. I also recommend washing your brushes with soap or brush cleaners that don't have harsh chemicals.
All of my experience with skin care has come by trial and error. To this day I am still struggling with acne and acne scars, but these tips are important to me. Acne is stressful, but it does not define you.
