How to avoid skin breakouts

Why is it that pimples arrive when you need them the least? Before a big date, job interview or special occasion. And don’t they just love to show up at times when you really, really want to look amazing – like your high school reunion or the photography session for your work website profile.

You can’t magic pimples away, but there’s a lot you can do to stop them from showing up in the first place. By the way, all the advice we’re about to impart also applies to acne, so whether you get the occasional spot or are seldom spot free, keep reading.

Double cleanse to get your skin truly clean

If you’re not yet double cleansing, it’s time to lift your game. Double cleansing – first with an oil-based cleanser and secondly with a water-based cleanser – is a ritual that will do your skin a world of good. Proper cleaning is the most important part of acne-avoidance.  It has been used for centuries in Korea and Japan, nations that are famous for their beautiful, clear complexions.

Why is double cleansing so important for spot-prone skin? The secret lies with the oil-based cleanser you use first. It effectively dissolves the sebum, makeup and sweat that has accumulated on your face during the day. The second part of the cleansing ritual washes away the oily slurry, leaving your skin perfectly clean – but never in a nasty, squeaky-clean way. When you use natural products, like those made by Okana, your skin gets clean without getting stripped.

Tone to look after your acid mantle

Toning after cleansing helps to preserve the integrity of your skin’s acid mantle, which is absolutely essential for achieving and maintaining a spot-free face.

When the acid mantle loses its slightly-acidic pH, the skin becomes more vulnerable to damage and infection. A disrupted acid mantle also gets in the way of the skin’s natural exfoliation process, so you get more dead skin cells clogging up your pores and causing problems. To top it all off, the acid mantle helps to nurture the good bacteria on your skin’s surface, which are allies in the fight against acne-causing bad guys.

Choose a natural toner that you can mist on. It’s super-refreshing and you won’t clog up landfills with thousands of little cotton makeup pads.

Moisturise to keep your skin hydrated

Skin that’s inclined to break out is usually oily all over (oily skin type) or oily down the centre of your face (combination skin type). It mind seem counterintuitive to moisturise oily skin, but the right kind of moisturiser can actually help to stabilise oil production. If you don’t apply moisturiser, there’s a good chance your skin will crank up oil production even more.

Look for a light, natural moisturiser and use just a pea-size amount. A good way to ensure you don’t apply too much moisturiser is to rub your palms together, then press them gentle over your face. Make sure your hands are clean before you do this (they should be after all that double-cleansing!).

Exfoliate to keep the skin cells turning over

Two or three times a week, exfoliate your skin gently using a fine, natural exfoliation product. Avoid areas that are inflamed though, because you could make them worse. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, which are the favourite fodder of acne-causing bacteria.

The easiest place to exfoliate is in the shower. After you’ve washed your face, turn off the water and focus on exfoliating every square centimetre of your face, neck and decolletage. You can even exfoliate the under-eye area; just go gently. Use the pads of your fingers and a circular motion.

Apply manuka oil at night

Scientific researchers have found that New Zealand manuka oil possesses a strong antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria responsible for acne. [1] Instead of over-the-counter acne treatments, try applying a little manuka oil to your breakout areas as an overnight treatment.

Don’t touch your face, except when your hands are really, really clean

Maybe this should have been our number one point. As we all know from the recent Covid-19 communications, touching your face is not a good idea – unless your hands are scrupulously clean. If you can break the habit, you’ll catch fewer colds and probably get fewer spots. It’s estimated that most people touch their face about 16 times an hour, so breaking the face-touching habit won’t be easy.

READ MORE: Five natural ways to get rid of blackheads

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3677636/#:~:text=A%20recent%20report%20indicated%20that,skin%20care%20and%20functional%20cosmetology.