How I Finally Got My Skin Clear & Staying Spot Free

Skin and skin care are two topics that I always enjoy writing about even though throughout my 20's my skin went through such a bad patch. And it's taken me a good 5 or so years to get it clear and to stay clear most importantly. And I solely talk about products so often when it comes to skin but rarely do I talk about everything that helps me keep my skin clear beyond what I'm slathering on it on a daily basis. So I thought today I'd share everything that helped my skin clear up and stay blemish free [for the most part] too.

GENETICS

Something that I never see written about when it comes to skin is genetics. It's so easy to forget about the things that make us who we are and in reality how often do you think oh maybe it's my genetics? Chances are never. And even when other members of your family suffer from something that doesn't mean you're destined to either but it's important to bear in mind. For example, my family all have a lot of freckles and moles so surprise surprise so do I. So if there are known skin issues in your family then it could well be something you also struggle with and sadly there is no changing your internal makeup.

LIFESTYLE

As much as skin care can obviously help your skin I don't think anything can battle against a lifestyle that might push your complexion to the limits. And I'm sure we all have the best intentions when it comes to life but it's not as easy as we like to think. We're all busy and combine that with things like where we live and then work etc it can be difficult to counteract the effects of our lifestyle on our skin. Like all the ladies who live in London will more than likely suffer from congestion a lot more than somebody who resides in the countryside. Keeping your lifestyle as balanced as possible and then adjusting your skin care accordingly is something I think is integral to a happy complexion.

CONTRACEPTION + HORMONES

Oh, hormones how so many of us hate you with a passion when it comes to the state of our skin. When I was a teen and my hormones were certainly raging I never had really problematic skin, I was quite fortunate. There were a few outbreaks on my chin but nothing like what I encountered when I got into my twenties and I decided to get the contraceptive implant. Everyone has a different story when it comes to what form of contraception that they use and it's a very personal choice. So for that reason, I don't think it's right to even suggest what people should and shouldn't do. But my experience with the implant was pretty shitty, not only did it have awful physical side effects [nobody should ever have an 8-month long period] but what it did to my skin was even worse. My chin was constantly covered in cystic, deep red, angry and painful spots [more like boils] that would not go away. No matter what I did or the skincare I used the spots would not go and it was heartbreaking. If you've never struggled with your skin then I think it's all too easy to think oh they're just spots it's not the end of the world but it can have such a negative effect on your self-confidence. After quite literally begging my GP to remove the implant and returning back to my pill that I knew and trusted it still took a good year or so to get my skin even remotely under control. But now I have hormones that work with me and not against me it's made such a remarkable difference. Talking about contraception and hormones can be awkward and uncomfortable but it's so important and it's something that we all probably face.

DIET

How we choose to eat is very personal and no-one likes to be lectured about what they're putting in their mouth even when the person has good intentions. And I'm someone who believes in balance, nothing is off limits for me [apart from meat as I'm vegetarian and I am cutting back on dairy & eggs]. But something I do know, especially as I've gotten a little older is that what we eat does have an effect on our skin. That isn't to say that you can never eat a slice of cake because sugar is the devil because I think that is rubbish quite frankly. But eating food that is nutritious and makes you feel awesome is more than likely going to have a great effect on your skin too. Some people have different needs than others when it comes to diet but for me, it's all about moderation and the moment that balance goes to an extreme it shows in my skin straight away.

PAYING ATTENTION & EDUCATING MYSELF ABOUT SKIN

When my skin was going through the worst of it that was also when I discovered blogging and the world of beauty. So that meant I was learning a lot more about skin and hearing more and more about other peoples complexion issues which is something that I found so helpful. Of course, it's always important to remember that what works for one never works for all. But I know that if it wasn't for blogging and books that my skin would have never improved as I was absolutely clueless. And now even though my skin has improved so much I keep a close eye on it every day so I know what's going on then I can tell what needs changing if things aren't looking like they should. Examining your skin at close range might not be everyone's idea of fun but I find it incredibly useful when deciphering what's going on and even what type of blemish it might be.

HAVING A CONSISTENT AND SIMPLE ROUTINE & THE PRODUCTS I'M GRATEFUL EXIST

Having a large interest in beauty and it being part of how I make my income means I am incredibly fortunate to try out new products on a regular basis. But something that my skin depends on is consistency, there are products that I can switch up a little but in general being consistent is such a big thing for my complexion. And keeping things somewhat simple is something that my skin loves too, I don't need to be using over 10 products, that is never going to be helpful for my skin and it's wasteful too. Cleansing, toning and moisturising is the absolute minimum that my skin needs and then I add in what I need when my complexion needs it. As well as a simple and consistent routine here are the products that have made the biggest difference in my complexion over the years and the ones I'm incredibly grateful exist: