Once again it should be noted that your skin is entirely unique to you, and the reason behind spots could be down to a number of different factors such as: environment, diet, hormones, age, different products etc. Your skin's spottiness could be due to one, or a combination of these different factors, and it is up to you to monitor your skin in order to detect any changes. Only when you know your skin's 'neutral state' (the state your skin is in the majority of the time, day to day) can you recognise when your skin is going through changes. By keeping track of this you are able to have a better idea of the reason behind any changes, and can attempt to rectify the reasons for your problem skin.
Before I review a product which to me personally is a spot saviour, I will first give a few tips on how to eliminate your chances of getting spotty skin.
Rule number one: keep hydrated!
This rule is not only crucially important to ensure your overall health, but it is also extremely important in trying to keep your skin clear. Drink lots of water to flush out impurities from your body, and try to use products which are not too oil based, as these will clog your pores which can lead to blackheads and other spots.
This rule is not only crucially important to ensure your overall health, but it is also extremely important in trying to keep your skin clear. Drink lots of water to flush out impurities from your body, and try to use products which are not too oil based, as these will clog your pores which can lead to blackheads and other spots.
Rule number two: exfoliate!
You should incorporate exfoliation into your weekly skincare routine as it helps remove any build up of dead skin-cells and trapped dirt which can lead to dry skin and spots. I would not recommend exfoliating as a daily skincare routine, as you don't want to risk removing healthy skin and natural oils if you over do it. About twice a week is probably best, depending on your skin type and the overall condition of your skin. I would recommend a gentle face scrub with exfoliating beads inside it to gently remove any impurities.
Remember your body needs exfoliating too! You can buy shower scrubs or even exfoliating gloves to help keep your skin nice and healthy, but avoid gloves for the face as they are too harsh on the more delicate skin.
You should incorporate exfoliation into your weekly skincare routine as it helps remove any build up of dead skin-cells and trapped dirt which can lead to dry skin and spots. I would not recommend exfoliating as a daily skincare routine, as you don't want to risk removing healthy skin and natural oils if you over do it. About twice a week is probably best, depending on your skin type and the overall condition of your skin. I would recommend a gentle face scrub with exfoliating beads inside it to gently remove any impurities.
Remember your body needs exfoliating too! You can buy shower scrubs or even exfoliating gloves to help keep your skin nice and healthy, but avoid gloves for the face as they are too harsh on the more delicate skin.
Rule number three: vitamins!
Like rule one, making sure your body is healthy reflects in the health of your skin. Ensure you're getting all the correct vitamins and nutrients in your diet in order for your skin to be at its best. Avoid greasy foods as I find these tend to make you more spot prone.
Rule number four: check ingredients!
I'm not suggesting you stand there and read every single ingredient used in making your product, but check for certain key words which give you an indication of what type of product you are using on your skin: hypo-allergenic, mineral, alcohol free, suitable for sensitive skin, are to name but a few. This applies both to skincare and make-up. A lot of cheaper products use harsher chemicals which can irritate your skin and leave you with angry spots. Don't be afraid to spend a little more on products you know are going to be kind to you.
And remember if you do get a spot...
Rule number five: leave it alone!
The worst thing you can do when getting a spot is to try to squeeze it, cover it with a number of different things, despite how tempting it is. By all means apply a product which you know is going to help with the reduction of the spot, but don't put too much pressure on yourself trying to remove your spot. It will go away on its own eventually. If you squeeze it and then attempt to cover it up with loads of concealer you're more than likely going to make it worse, as you're clogging up the surrounding pores and potentially putting make-up inside a wound in your skin. Be patient, it's not going to be around forever... and if you leave it alone it will clear off much quicker!
Those are my main points to consider in order to reduce the risk of spotty skin. These will work for everyone to a certain degree, but some people are more spot prone than others due to the nature of their skin, and so they may need to go to extra lengths in order to reduce their chances of spots, depending on their skin type.
Also remember that hormones have a huge part to play in whether or not you're sporting some lovely spots! If you're a teenager and are suffering from a lot of spots, just remember that your body is still developing and getting used to the new hormones it's producing, so don't worry too much as you'll probably grow out of it!
Girls:
- Periods affect your spots due to differening hormone cycles, so remember this and don't be too harsh on yourself if you get a lovely bump alongside PMS. If a spot is hormonal there's not much you can do other than wait for it to go.
- Going on the contraceptive pill also affects your skin and its potential for spottiness, once again due to the different hormones different pills provide. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are on the pill and are finding it is making you more spotty than usual, and they will normally provide you with an alternative. Trial and error eventually leads you to the best solution for you!
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Before I recommend my favourite spot- reducing product, here's a brief heads up on the spottiness of my skin. I'm pretty lucky with my skin... it's relatively clear about 85% of the time, but now and again an ugly spot rears its head! Due to the sporadic nature of my spots, I searched for a product that I wouldn't really have to commit to by using it daily, and something financially suited to this casual use. I eventually found the perfect product... The Witch Blemish Stick!
This product contains the natural ingredient witch hazel formulated with an anti-bacterial ingredient which helps to fight spot-causing bacteria, as well as breaking down any excess oils which contribute to spotty skin.
It comes in a little tube about the size of a lipstick, and is easily portable; it can pretty much be taken anywhere, whether that's popping it in your make-up bag for use at home, or placing it in your handbag on a night out.
How do I use it?
The top unscrews, and underneath the base of the product there is a gap for your finger to push upwards, and the product pushes up out of its case. It kind of feels like a glue stick in its consistency, and is a transparent blue in colour.
It's very simple to use, you literally apply it like a lipstick to any part of your face which is suffering from a spot. This product is very strong, I would not recommend using a lot of it as it dries out your skin almost immediately. It's drying quality is why it is so effective on spots, which are normally oil based. A tiny dab of it directly onto any spot, and some of the surrounding skin of the spot is enough for it to work effectively.
Within a couple of hours my spots are drastically reduced in size and hurt less.
This product is able to be applied whenever you feel like you need another application, but I normally stick to a maximum of three applications in one day, as not to completely dry out my skin.
Is it alcohol free?
No, this product is not alcohol free. It contains ingredients 'alcohol denat' and 'cetyl alcohol' and smells very strongly of alcohol when you first open the product. It's like sniffing a bottle of vodka! Due to its strong chemical smell and the presence of alcohol in it, it dries out the skin so quickly, and so I would not recommend using this product on anything other than your spots. It's small but it packs a punch.
Price?
Not only is this product niftily portable and extremely strong for its size, it's also extremely affordable, making it a must have for any skincare bag! At RRP of around £2.90, it's an essential product for anybody prone to the odd spot now and again. The strength of the product also makes it even more cost effective, as you only need a little bit at one time, so it lasts you ages!
I don't know where I would be without this product... now when I get a spot instead of worrying about how long it's going to be there, I dab a little bit of this product on and let it do its magic. In a couple of hours the spot is drastically reduced in size, dried out and able to apply cover-up over it simply and easily. Within 48 hours the spot has almost gone completely,and I can get on with my life without worrying about anybody noticing my skin misbehaving. A must have product for a quick and simple solution in removing spots!
Like rule one, making sure your body is healthy reflects in the health of your skin. Ensure you're getting all the correct vitamins and nutrients in your diet in order for your skin to be at its best. Avoid greasy foods as I find these tend to make you more spot prone.
Rule number four: check ingredients!
I'm not suggesting you stand there and read every single ingredient used in making your product, but check for certain key words which give you an indication of what type of product you are using on your skin: hypo-allergenic, mineral, alcohol free, suitable for sensitive skin, are to name but a few. This applies both to skincare and make-up. A lot of cheaper products use harsher chemicals which can irritate your skin and leave you with angry spots. Don't be afraid to spend a little more on products you know are going to be kind to you.
And remember if you do get a spot...
Rule number five: leave it alone!
The worst thing you can do when getting a spot is to try to squeeze it, cover it with a number of different things, despite how tempting it is. By all means apply a product which you know is going to help with the reduction of the spot, but don't put too much pressure on yourself trying to remove your spot. It will go away on its own eventually. If you squeeze it and then attempt to cover it up with loads of concealer you're more than likely going to make it worse, as you're clogging up the surrounding pores and potentially putting make-up inside a wound in your skin. Be patient, it's not going to be around forever... and if you leave it alone it will clear off much quicker!
Those are my main points to consider in order to reduce the risk of spotty skin. These will work for everyone to a certain degree, but some people are more spot prone than others due to the nature of their skin, and so they may need to go to extra lengths in order to reduce their chances of spots, depending on their skin type.
Also remember that hormones have a huge part to play in whether or not you're sporting some lovely spots! If you're a teenager and are suffering from a lot of spots, just remember that your body is still developing and getting used to the new hormones it's producing, so don't worry too much as you'll probably grow out of it!
Girls:
- Periods affect your spots due to differening hormone cycles, so remember this and don't be too harsh on yourself if you get a lovely bump alongside PMS. If a spot is hormonal there's not much you can do other than wait for it to go.
- Going on the contraceptive pill also affects your skin and its potential for spottiness, once again due to the different hormones different pills provide. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are on the pill and are finding it is making you more spotty than usual, and they will normally provide you with an alternative. Trial and error eventually leads you to the best solution for you!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before I recommend my favourite spot- reducing product, here's a brief heads up on the spottiness of my skin. I'm pretty lucky with my skin... it's relatively clear about 85% of the time, but now and again an ugly spot rears its head! Due to the sporadic nature of my spots, I searched for a product that I wouldn't really have to commit to by using it daily, and something financially suited to this casual use. I eventually found the perfect product... The Witch Blemish Stick!
It comes in a little tube about the size of a lipstick, and is easily portable; it can pretty much be taken anywhere, whether that's popping it in your make-up bag for use at home, or placing it in your handbag on a night out.
How do I use it?
The top unscrews, and underneath the base of the product there is a gap for your finger to push upwards, and the product pushes up out of its case. It kind of feels like a glue stick in its consistency, and is a transparent blue in colour.
It's very simple to use, you literally apply it like a lipstick to any part of your face which is suffering from a spot. This product is very strong, I would not recommend using a lot of it as it dries out your skin almost immediately. It's drying quality is why it is so effective on spots, which are normally oil based. A tiny dab of it directly onto any spot, and some of the surrounding skin of the spot is enough for it to work effectively.
Within a couple of hours my spots are drastically reduced in size and hurt less.
This product is able to be applied whenever you feel like you need another application, but I normally stick to a maximum of three applications in one day, as not to completely dry out my skin.
Is it alcohol free?
No, this product is not alcohol free. It contains ingredients 'alcohol denat' and 'cetyl alcohol' and smells very strongly of alcohol when you first open the product. It's like sniffing a bottle of vodka! Due to its strong chemical smell and the presence of alcohol in it, it dries out the skin so quickly, and so I would not recommend using this product on anything other than your spots. It's small but it packs a punch.
Price?
Not only is this product niftily portable and extremely strong for its size, it's also extremely affordable, making it a must have for any skincare bag! At RRP of around £2.90, it's an essential product for anybody prone to the odd spot now and again. The strength of the product also makes it even more cost effective, as you only need a little bit at one time, so it lasts you ages!
I don't know where I would be without this product... now when I get a spot instead of worrying about how long it's going to be there, I dab a little bit of this product on and let it do its magic. In a couple of hours the spot is drastically reduced in size, dried out and able to apply cover-up over it simply and easily. Within 48 hours the spot has almost gone completely,and I can get on with my life without worrying about anybody noticing my skin misbehaving. A must have product for a quick and simple solution in removing spots!
really good post hunny!
ReplyDeletebeautiesunlocked.blogspot.co.uk
Lx
thank you so much! I've checked out your blog and followed! Going to be updating my blog a lot more regularly so if you liked this post I'll be sure to post similar ones in the near future if you'd like to take a look :)
DeleteLove the post! Great stuff!
ReplyDeletehttp://yourteendiaries.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-hair-care-routine.html
thank you so much! I've checked out your blog and followed! Going to be updating my blog a lot more regularly so if you liked this post I'll be sure to post similar ones in the near future if you'd like to take a look :)
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