Life Fright

1. Do Not Slug*

*if you have acne-prone, oily skin! This is a definite no go since all it will do is create a favorable environment for more acne and worst case, the most terrible bout of acne you have ever dealt with. For those who don’t know what slugging is, it involves applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the face to lock in skincare for a plump, rejuvenated look upon waking up the morning after. From my personal experience, I tried out slugging when it first entered the scene intrigued by the amazing results people shared online. I didn’t find any noted concerns for those with acne at the time so I decided to give it a go. Total regret and nightmare! Read more about my struggle here!

2. Reduce Inflammation

More specifically, I’m talking about dieting habits. Take a good look at what you tend to consume most often and cut out ultra-processed foods. This may seem like obvious information, but it is worth mentioning just in case. Note the behaviors you have by allotted time spans. How often are you treating yourself to that ice cream or those delicious fries? Over the course of a month, the number can be surprising and enlightening. And then compound that over the year. In my case, it was real eye opener for me when I went about trying to consume little to no added sugar. Pretty much every processed food out there contains added sugar and sometimes in mind-boggling, copious amounts!

3. Pay Attention To Your Sleep Habits

Do you tend to sleep on your side with your cheek smushed to the pillow? If this is where you tend to get acne, work on breaking this habit and stop placing your cheek directly on the pillow. If you know you drool and you have acne around your mouth and chin, look into reducing mouth breathing and strengthening your lip seal.

4. SLS in toothpaste

This foaming agent in toothpaste can cause acne for people. It doesn’t mean you should immediately throw away your toothpaste and switch to one that does not have SLS. Rather, consider changing up your routine. Brush your teeth first and then follow up with washing your face.

5. When Do You Apply Conditioner?

Got bacne (back acne)? Sometimes it isn’t stemming from you internally and it’s really a product reaction that is causing the issue. In this case, when applying conditioner the key is to do this step after washing out the shampoo from your hair and more importantly before you wash your body. If you are currently doing the order of washing your body first and then washing your hair, even though you rinse the conditioner out of your hair, residue can remain on your back. This in turn can cause that pesky bacne. Of course, while we’re on the subject, make sure you thoroughly wash your back with a good soapy lather and use an exfoliating towel!

Looking for more tips to reduce acne? Check out the previous post!