Keep It Clean, Keep It Fresh, Keep It Separate: Three Rules To Better Skin

Just when you thought your days of waking up with a big, red pimple on your face were over, you step in front of the mirror only to find that your skin problems have followed you all the way to college. Having dealt with blemished skin throughout our teenage years, we must know everything there is about taking care of our skin by now, right?  While the commonly known rule of removing your makeup at the end of the day is important, there may be some key things that have been standing in the way of you having better, cleaner skin.  After speaking with a specialist at a local skin institute, I learned a number of insightful tips about how to reach and maintain really amazing skin. For those who still aren’t satisfied with the condition of your skin, you might try some of the following tips for high-quality results.

Keep Makeup Application Clean

One of the most essential rules about caring for your skin is that you must be aware of every object that touches your face on a daily and nightly basis. The most important thing to remember is that everything must be fresh and new in order to keep from contaminating and spreading dirt and acne.

Consider this: you apply concealer to an undesirable spot on your skin, happy to see that it has temporarily disappeared. However, even if the mark does heal, you may have made a mistake along the way that will only lead to more and more skin problems. The trouble with applying makeup comes when you reuse applicators like blush brushes and concealer wands. This is why it is best to apply you makeup with something that can be thrown away, such as a cotton ball or a disposable sponge. This way, you prevent the risk of reusing something that has touched previous blemishes.

Keep Your Linens Fresh

You may have thought that your washcloth could be used all week, but the truth is that just like blush brushes, they collect dirt and return it to your face during the next wash. Washcloths and towels should always be washed or replaced before reusing. Try using disposable towelettes that contain makeup remover and face cleansers because they can be thrown away after use.  Just make sure that you get all of your makeup off and your skin clean.  Another good idea if your having breakouts is to change your pillowcase with a clean one each night before you go to bed to stop the spread of dirt and germs. Washing your face both at night and in the morning is critical, but it is also important to keep your skin clean in the mean time. 

Keep Your Makeup Separate (From Hers)

One of the biggest mistakes that we make is sharing makeup. While exchanging clothes and blasting music in preparation for the night’s events are a common thing among college girls, you may want to think twice before swapping bronzers with your best friend. With the importance of freshness and disposability considered, it is clear why sharing each other’s makeup isn’t the best of ideas.  Dirt and germs can spread easily, so what’s on your friend’s face can end up on yours, and vice versa. This is why it is always best to keep things separate.

Another quick tip to keep the application of makeup extra sanitary is to use lotion as a barrier between your skin and your concealer.  Applying a light, noncomedogenic moisturizing lotion before putting on makeup will separate the two and protect your pores and blemishes from further contamination.

One last (and utterly important) thing: what touches your face more than anything else? You! One of the easiest ways to spread dirt and germs to your face is by touching it with your own fingers. Itching, scratching, yawning, and eating are all usual parts of our day, but they also involve raising a hand to our face. It’s important to remember to keep your hands away from your face.

When it comes to skincare, there are three rules to remember: keep it clean, keep it fresh, and keep it separate.  Acne can spread, but by following these tips, you can help to decrease blemishes and make your way toward beautiful, spotless skin.