Facial Cleansing
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How to get clear skin fast
Having clear skin can depend on many different factors, and your skin will often go through phases of being clear and less clear – and that's totally okay. What really matters is that, whether your skin is clear or not, you always feel comfortable and confident in your own skin.
Have a look at our guide for clear skin tips, plus ideas for a clear skin diet to support you with how to get clear skin fast in a gentle, realistic way.
What causes our skin to be unclear?
- Hormones can cause an overproduction of sebum in the skin glands, which can lead to clogged pores.
- Stress can trigger hormonal changes in people who are prone to breakouts.
- Not washing your make-up brushes – dirty brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria that can be linked to breakouts. If you don't clean your make-up brushes regularly, you're basically sweeping bacteria across your face.
- Using too many products – finding the right balance of products with active ingredients is an essential step in how to get clear skin. Try to stick to a simple, consistent routine that really works for you.
- Harsh ingredients, or ingredients that simply don't agree with your skin, can result in skin that doesn't look or feel clear.
Clear skin tips – how to get clear skin in 4 steps
- Understand your skin typeUnderstanding how to get clear skin starts with knowing your skin's needs. When you give your skin what it really needs, you help avoid irritation, breakouts, redness and dryness, among other concerns.
- Choose skincare products that work for youThis can take a bit of trial and error, and it's worth being patient when you try new products, as your skin might not react to the active ingredients straight away. But stop using any product that burns, itches or feels uncomfortable on your skin.
- Go easy on skincareWhile the right skincare plays a key part in how to get clear skin, overdoing it with lots of products can irritate your skin, leading to breakouts and dryness.
- Use gua shaGua Sha is a traditional Chinese massage that uses a tool – usually a flat, pebble-like stone – to gently scrape the skin. This can help boost lymphatic drainage, brighten the skin, smooth out wrinkles and soften the look of fine lines.
5 clear skin tips –
how to keep skin clear
Facial cleansing at home
Wondering how to have clearer skin? Start with cleansing. Cleansing is a key part of any skin care routine – and not just for removing make-up. This step helps clear the skin of excessive build-up of dead skin cells after a full day and again when you wake up in the morning. Why? In the morning, you need to cleanse your face to remove sebum, sweat and dead skin cells. In the evening you also need to remove make-up and the dirt of the day.
To help fight blemishes, the NIVEA Clear Up range is designed for both morning and evening use. When you use it as a complete routine, you can achieve visible results after 7 days.
Clear skin starts with a good cleanser that suits your skin type. Cleansing your face is not just about washing away the day's dirt and bacteria – it should also help maintain your skin's natural pH balance.
Our NIVEA Hydra Skin Effect Micellar Face Wash Gel, with pure hyaluron, removes impurities and make-up while preserving your skin's natural moisture balance. Well-hydrated skin is more likely to be clear, as dryness can cause an excess build-up of dead skin cells that may lead to irritation and spots.
Routine:
To help you figure out how to get clear skin, we've put together a simple skincare routine that you can follow at home.
1. Exfoliate
Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that might otherwise clog your pores, making it easier for dirt to build up and cause blackheads or breakouts. Exfoliating around 3 times a week can help to prevent this.
2. Toner
Toner is a fast-absorbing hydration boost for your skin that also helps to remove dead skin cells. It prepares your skin for moisturiser and make-up, and balances the pH levels on your face as well as helping with blotchy skin. This is a really simple and effective way you can support clear skin by adding toner to your morning routine.
3. Moisturise
If your skin feels dry or tight, think about applying a light, non-oily moisturiser for extra hydration. Even though oily skin naturally produces more sebum, using a moisturiser can help balance moisture levels without clogging pores. This can actually reduce excess oil production, because skin that's too dry may respond by producing more oil. For some people, a lightweight sunscreen with hydrating properties provides enough moisture on its own, offering both protection and hydration in one step.
4. Face masks
Face masks can do several helpful things at once when you're trying to achieve and maintain clear skin. They can hydrate the skin, remove excess oils and help minimise the look of pores.
The no-no's!
Most of us know that too much alcohol leads to dehydration and that dreaded hangover, but you might not realise that alcohol also dehydrates your skin. This can leave your skin looking sallow and dry – which can undo a lot of the effort you put into your daily skincare routine.
To help prevent dry skin, try to limit your alcohol intake so your skin doesn't dry out as much. The sugars in alcohol can also damage the collagen in your skin, causing your pores to become enlarged and allowing more dirt to get in.
Clear skin
diet
What you eat plays a big role in helping to keep your skin clear. Here’s how to get clear skin fast with a simple, balanced clear skin diet:
- Leafy greensLeafy greens are a must in a clear skin diet. They support a healthy digestive system and also help your body clear out excess hormones and toxins that can otherwise show up on your skin and cause breakouts.
- Fatty fishEating fatty fish is good for clear skin because it can help to naturally regulate oil production and slow down the visible signs of ageing in the skin, thanks to the fatty acids it contains.
- HoneySurprisingly, honey is rich in vitamins that really benefit your skin – so much so that many people even use honey as a face mask for its skin-boosting properties.
- Plant-based proteinEating plant-based proteins like nuts and beans is great for your skin because of the proteins they contain. Protein is a building block of your skin, hair and nails, so including these foods can help keep them strong and support a protective barrier for your skin against the environment.
- CoconutCoconut oil's antibacterial qualities help to keep the skin clean, and it's also rich in antioxidants, which support a radiant-looking complexion.
