Most people at one point or another have struggled with acne. Whether it be during your hormonal teen years or continued into your adult life, I believe we can all agree that acne is downright stressing.

The first obvious step to acne treatment is a solid skincare routine for your individual skin type. Rafa Natural caters to all skin types, including skin prone to acne, and we would love to help you find your perfect routine! Alongside skincare products, there are many things you can do in your day-to-day routine to help with stubborn breakouts.

1. Drinking Plenty of Water

It seems like “drinking more water” is the cure-all for many things, and turns out that being well-hydrated can help improve acneic skin. Many people don’t know that the skin is a great indication to your internal health. (It is the largest organ of the body, after all!) Being sure to drink plenty of water will ensure that you and your skin are properly hydrated. Dehydration can lead to an over-production of oil, which can cause clogged pores resulting in acne.

2. Keeping Hands Off the Face

Try avoiding touching your face throughout the day. Putting your hands on your face transfers oil and bacteria onto your skin, which are two of the top causes of acne. If you think about how many door knobs and surfaces that you touch in a day and those germs and bacteria being on your skin, it’ll definitely deter you from wanting to rest your face on your hands.

Similarly, avoid picking at your face and popping your own pimples. This can cause inflammation and infection, and in turn make your acne worse. See a professional esthetician to have proper extractions done.

3. Cut Down on Certain Foods

Foods that spike your insulin can cause inflammation inside the body, which results in faster skin cell growth and increased sebum production, making acne worse.

Refined carbohydrates and sugars, whey proteins, dairy, and greasy fast food are all foods that will promote acne. Instead, try adding in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, probiotics and green tea. Foods high in Vitamins A, D, and E as well as zinc and turmeric are known to help prevent and reduce acne. 

4. Reduce Stress

It’s a bit ironic to suggest reducing stress for acne prevention when acne is a major cause of stress, but hear me out. When we get anxious, stressed, or tense, our body naturally produces hormones such as cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”. This results in increased oil production, which not only causes acne but these hormones can make it harder for the skin to repair itself like normal, leaving acne lingering longer and possibly scarring. 

A great way to relieve stress is soaking in the tub before bed. Adding in some bath oil, bath salts, a bath bomb, or a tub truffle can really enhance the experience. All these relaxing products can be found at Rafa Natural, alongside your skincare.

Find what works for you to reduce stress from your life. Some other great ideas are going on a long walk, reading a book, meditating, or journaling.

5. Wear Sunscreen

Many people complete their morning skincare routine and leave out the super important SPF. Besides creating lifelong skin damage, a sunburn leads to increased oil production. (Are we seeing the trend here?) 

When the skin gets sunburned, it dries out, which tells the body to produce more oil than it normally would, creating an environment where acne can live happily. Don’t let a fun beach or pool day be ruined by causing a breakout. Be sure to use an SPF of at least 15 for daily use on the face, especially on days with increased sun exposure.

6. Keep Tools and Textiles Clean

The tools you use on your skin such as makeup brushes and sponges, or cleansing brushes can harbor dirt, oil, and bacteria, which are the exact things that clog your pores. The same goes for textiles such as the towel you use to dry your face with, and your pillowcase that your face rests on all night. Sleep more soundly and start your day better knowing your pillowcase and towel are clean by replacing with a fresh set at least once a week. Wash makeup brushes and sponges regularly to avoid cross contamination on the skin. 

7. Exercise

Exercise is a prescription similar to drinking more water. It is known to positively affect your health in many ways, including your skin health. Although, be vigilant in caring for the skin surrounding a workout. When you exercise, your body temperature rises and your pores open up, which makes the skin extremely susceptible to breakouts. A good tip is to remove your makeup before exercising and cleansing and toning your face directly following a workout

8. Drink Spearmint Tea

Spearmint contains the highest amount of anti-inflammatory properties of all mint, and is the most affective in killing acne-causing bacteria. It is especially helpful for adult and hormonal cystic acne. Studies suggest drinking two cups per day to combat acne. 

9. Keep Your Gadgets Clean

The screen of your phone is touched constantly with dirty hands, and then is pressed to your face when taking a phone call. Try talking on speakerphone when possible to prevent the spread of bacteria to your skin.

Another piece of technology that tends to stay dirty are over-the-ear headphones, especially when worn while working out or for long periods of time. In order to keep these germs and bacteria off your face, wipe your phone and headphones daily with alcohol or alcohol wipes, which are easy to stash in a purse or gym bag.

10. And Finally…. Catch Some Quality Z’s!

Turns out, beauty rest is a very real thing. Remember that stress hormone cortisol we talked about? It can also be produced from a lack of sleep! Adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies don’t have the proper amount of time to go through all of the healing processes that it normally would, and your skin could suffer. Also remember to always remove makeup and follow through with your nighttime skincare routine!