Your Guide To Clear Skin

Blemishes, bumps, pimples, breakouts… There are plenty of words used to speak about the many different types of acne that many of us can relate to. In most cases, acne happens because the pores in your skin are clogged due to excessive oil, bacteria, skin cell production, or because of hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety. So often we rush through our rituals and simply slather products on… It’s important to slow down and spend time with your skin, to listen to its needs, nurture it and awaken its inner radiance.

We spend so much time trying to figure out why our skin breaks out. Is it hormones? Is it what I'm eating? Am I allergic to something? Am I using the wrong products? Acne is a frustrating condition. It's frustrating to take good care of your skin every day and still break out. It's frustrating to try treatment after treatment and still have acne. It's understandable to feel disappointed at moments, but in times of feeling hopeless, keep in mind it takes time for any ritual to work. Improvement comes slowly and we must have patience with ourselves. Finding support in understanding friends + family can go a long way in helping you cope with acne. Know that your intentions matter and that your skin is a journey. Remember to be kind and loving towards yourself; you’re doing the best you can while surrendering to the process. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to support you on your journey to clear skin.

The Basics :

Build a consistent skincare routine customized to your skin to help clear acne and repair skin barrier.
Avoid pore clogging or skin aggravating ingredients in your skincare, makeup and hair products such as coconut, marula and palm oil, alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, fragrance…
After using hair products in the shower, the most important thing is to make sure that no residue of the product is left on your skin. Thoroughly rinse your hairline and face, and use your body wash as the last step in your routine to make sure any residual product is getting washed off. Even better, use a body wash with ingredients like salicylic acid that are targeted at removing oil.
Always remove makeup before bed no matter what.
Hygiene: Wash your pillowcases, makeup brushes, disinfect your phone and wash your hands often to avoid bacteria on the skin.

Make your skin love you with these ingredients :

- SALICYLIC ACID : When our pores get clogged with dead skin cells and oil, blackheads, whiteheads, or pimples often appear. Salicylic acid penetrates your skin and works to dissolve the dead skin cells clogging your pores.

- COLLOIDAL SULFUR : Sulfur works by softening and thinning the epidermis to prevent clogged pores. Oily and acne-prone skin types, take note because sulfur might be the zit-fighting and oil-zapping ingredient you’ve been in need of. It works best for breakouts that are formed with a combination of dead skin cells and excess sebum. These include milder forms of acne, such as whiteheads and blackheads.

- ZINC OXIDE : It works as a skin protectant that effectively reduces the production of sebum and soothes the inflammation, thus, it won’t burn. It helps speed up the process of healing during acne treatment.

- NIACINAMIDE : It helps regulate the skin’s production of sebum, a type of oil produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Overproduction of sebum is linked to moderate to severe acne breakouts. Adding topical niacinamide to your daily skincare routine might be the missing piece to your good skin puzzle.

The Ritual :

After spending a lot of time trying countless products and rituals, we have found some helpful tips to maintain clear skin and want to share them with our muses.

CLEANSE : Use a cleanser that has salicylic acid—a beta hydroxy acid that’s incredible for treating blemishes—and washes cleanly off. Our go-to is the Naturopathica Colloidal Silver & Salicylic Acid Acne Cleanser.

TONE : Hydrate, refresh, and balance your skin with this hyaluronic acid and aloe vera-infused elixir. Indie Lee's CoQ-10 Toner is designed to leave your skin feeling restored, moisturized, and primed for the day, the alcohol-free formula contains antioxidant CoQ10, chamomile, and cucumber to impart soothing nourishment. Balancing sage promotes the appearance of a bright, even-toned, and clear complexion, while the lovely herbal scent envelops your senses in a calming ritual.

MASK : The mask you'll want to reach for when you're in need of a skin detox is the Indie Lee Clearing Mask. The Salicylic and Glycolic Acids work to exfoliate dead skin cells, while the Bentonite Clay and Colloidal Sulfur help to gently draw out impurities. Zinc Oxide, Chamomile and Red Seaweed extracts ensure skin is left reconditioned and hydrated.

SUPERCHARGE WITH SERUM : Serums go deep, hydrating and stimulating skin. Think of your skin as a dry sponge, then think of drenching the sponge in serum and how it stays wet, versus drenching it with a lotion or cream that might not penetrate as easily. Serums are great for prepping the skin before smoothing in face oil to seal all the moisture in. Our muse favorite is the Pai All Becomes Clear Serum.

TREAT : Ideally, spot treatments are best applied at night (whether they’re for zits, scars, or dark spots), because that’s when your body is working hardest to repair itself. Combat those big, pesky zits with fast-acting treatments that draw out impurities and absorb excess oil while nourishing your skin to alleviate dryness. Our holy grail spot treatment is the Indie Lee Banish Solution.

MOISTURIZE : You need to be using a moisturizer. Always. Twice a day. No matter what. It’ll keep your skin barrier—aka the very temperamental thing responsible for making your face look good—healthy and happy. We recommend Ursa Major's Fortifying Face Balm. It's lightweight, fast-absorbing lotions packed with potent natural actives to calm, hydrate and nourish skin, without clogging pores or creating shine.

SPF : For a complete routine, finish off with the Naturopathica Calendula Hydrating SPF 30 to protect your face and act as armor against the outside world.

Boost Your Skin Glow :

For those with severe acne, consistent monthly facials help control breakouts and inflammation by cleaning out the pores fully. They are a crucial part of the process of repairing the skin, and an important form of preventative care. We recommend our ultimate SuperDetox facial for congested skin.

The SuperDetox Facial : A purifying professional grade peel, double down extractions, ultrasonic skin cleanse, blue light LED + oxygen. Like a reset button for your skin. Book Your SuperDetox

Nourish your skin from within :

It’s safe to say that our diet is one of the first steps to consider to balance our skin’s appearance. Deciding to cut out dairy, sugar, and processed foods can make a big impact. Even if it’s controlling the amount of intake and not entirely cutting it out - because we’re human after all!

Tips :

- FOOD ELIMINATION : Dairy, gluten and eggs have been found to be triggers for acne and inflammation in some people. Trying out a food elimination diet can help you identify which potential triggers are responsible for your skin’s reactions. We recommend cutting out one food or category at a time for 2-4 weeks to really see a difference and learn from your skin. If you see your skin getting clearer or less reactive after cutting out dairy for example, we recommend adjusting your diet in the long run to benefit your skin and having dairy as a once in a while treat if you are still craving it.

- WATER : Proper hydration is of huge importance; whether it be through water rich foods or minerals. Your best defense against dehydration is prevention. Certain fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water in addition to healthful nutrients. Watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, peaches and pineapples are fruits with high-water content. Water-rich vegetables include cucumbers, leafy greens, radishes, celery, zucchini and tomatoes.

- PROCESSED OILS : High in hydrogenated fats, vegetable oils are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to triggering acne. Look out for processed oils in your food such as canola, grapeseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower, peanut, and palm, which are rich in omega-6 fats. Too much omega-6 can lead to an inflammatory state, which in turn exacerbates acne and accelerates the aging process.

- BROCCOLI : It is the perfect skin-clearing food. Broccoli contains a compound called Diindolylmethane (DIM) that supports the detoxification of excess estrogen through the liver and blocks the male hormones that cause acne.It also contains vitamins A, B complex, C, E, and K. These antioxidants fight radical damage and make your skin glow.

- TEA : Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that can combat the free radicals that are bothering your skin and your immune system. The healthier your immune system, the better your skin.

Also, sipping some spearmint tea helps kill skin disease-causing yeasts and bacteria + it’s anti-inflammatory. It is also great for hormonal breakouts because it helps reduce acne-inducing testosterone in the blood.

- AVOID BIOTIN : It’s a vitamin found in a variety of foods such as eggs, salmon, avocados, and almonds. Biotin can also be taken as a supplement to aid in the growth of new hair, skin, and nails. However, it may be a contributing factor to acne breakouts because it is associated with the production of sebum oil in the skin glands. Excess oil on the skin is one of the leading causes of acne breakouts, and if you are taking a supplement that increases this, it is likely to trigger more problems with your skin.

- SUPPLEMENTS : Probiotics calm internal and external inflammation, restore skin barrier function, and offer protection from harmful environmental particles. While anyone can benefit from probiotics, they will be especially helpful for those with inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, or rosacea, or anyone suffering from dryness or sensitivity due to a disrupted skin barrier.

* A Tip From Our Skin Healer :

Start from the gut. Prioritize good gut & liver health. Happy liver = happier skin.

Go-to product: Super You Moon Juice Supplement. One of its main ingredients is Ashwagandha, which reduces the effects of stress and helps support the liver.

Takeaway :

This life is a journey of getting to know ourselves.

Whether you’re a young teen, or an adult, experiencing acne can cause us to feel anxious, helpless and insecure at moments in our lives. Besides having a healthy skincare routine + lifestyle, putting in time to make sure we’re in a better mental place plays a big role. Don’t forget to tend to your own inner garden and take time for yourself. A positive, happy mind will not only help you feel better but will also help you heal your skin. Prioritize nourishing yourself through stretching, moving your body, staying hydrated, eating healing foods, taking time away from social media, spending time outdoors, laughing… It’s these simple day-to-day rituals that help us set a positive tone in our lives. Our skin is a living organism – it protects and guides us if we are listening. Just as our bodies change daily, our skin does too. Send love to where you need it most. Be proud of your journey, your ups and especially your downs. Remain consistent, persistent and patient with your journey. Remember self love is the biggest healer so treat yourself with the kindness you deserve.