Recently, everyone has been asking me, “How did your skin get so clear?” My friends, coworkers, and acquaintances are curious to know what I’ve been doing differently and how I can help them. They ask me to spill all my dirty secrets on how my face became so magically radiant.

So here's the secret people, listen close or you might miss it... non-comedogenic products!

The elements I changed in my daily skincare regimen is the actual ingredients in my products. So now, all my products share the same idea: they’re natural, pure, and non-pore clogging.

Before I start listing the products I’ve switched over to, I need to share my history with acne and remind you that everyone’s skin is different. Just because trading in my old products helped my skin, doesn’t mean it will automatically help yours. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Progress takes time. Remember that.

My history:

I battled with acne for the majority of my high school career and it didn’t get any better when I started college. I cried myself to sleep almost every night of my freshman year because of how bad I thought my skin appeared. Looking back, it really wasn’t THAT terrible, but compared to how clear my skin looks now, it was pretty bad.

It wasn’t until the beginning of this school year that I finally became comfortable and happy with my skin. I updated my entire skin-care regimen by the time school started and I will NEVER look back.

Here are pictures from freshman year that I dug up in my old messages with my mom... that's when you know.

The honest truth is that what you put IN your body is just as important as what you put ON your body. That’s why I changed my diet habits. I stopped eating dairy, except for that one time I couldn’t resist pizza in NYC. Dairy is extremely processed and contains inflammatory substances that can clog your pores and cause acne. The food I eat is mostly natural and the products I use now on my face are unrefined and non-comedogenic, which means they don’t clog pores.

Wash:

I’m an avid gym-goer, so my number one obsession once I walk out of the gym is to wipe my face and shoulders down with a cleaning wipe. I keep CeraVe Makeup Cleanser Cloths in my backpack and car for a quick post-workout cleanup.

When I’m washing my face in the morning or before bed, I use an amazing cleanser that is safe for sensitive skin, which I’ve always struggled with. It’s from the brand La Roche-Posay, which you can find in any pharmacy, beauty stores like Ulta, or a regular retailer like Target or Walmart. It leaves my face feeling extremely clean but not in a skin-tightening or drying condition. I absolutely love this wash.

Toner:

Toner is the second best invention after acai bowls. I use a toner to give my face an extra cleanse after I wash it and I’ve noticed that the appearance of my pores has shrunk because of it. On top of removing oil, toner also extracts the dirt and grime hidden deep in your pores. Toners are a seriously great adjunct to skincare regimens for those of you that need help with oily skin, plugged pores, or just crave that extra clean feeling.

I am so hung up on Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion right now. It was totally made for me because it’s a facial toner for oily-prone skin, which of course I struggle with on top of my skin sensitivity. The 17 oz. bottle has lasted me 5 months and I use it every day, so it’s worth every penny in my opinion.

Moisturizer:

Moisturizing is key. The essential asset to my skincare regime is my moisturizer. I use CeraVe Renewing SA Lotion and I absolutely love it. It’s a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates my dull, dry skin. If you couldn’t tell by now, I have combination skin; the oil, sensitivity, dryness, and a lot of impurities are what comes with that.

I started using moisturizer when I was 10 because I’m honestly terrified of aging, but that’s beside the point. This year I realized how dull my skin looks if I don’t use my moisturizer. Applying moisturizer prevents your skin from drying out and protects your skin against sun damage if the product contains sunscreen in it, which is a great bonus.

The thing I love most about these products is that they are reasonably priced and they last forever. I usually use one face wipe a day, so the pack lasts about a month. I use a pea-sized dollop of the cleanser on my clean fingers and my first bottle has lasted me 6 months now. You will see progress once you switch over to non-comedogenic products, I promise. I’m still in the process of perfecting my skin, albeit rather slowly, but it is still happening, and it can for you, too!

Time to keep your skin clean, happy, and healthy! Here's a picture of me now with no makeup... look at that glow!