5 simple acts to prevent acne

We hear a lot about caring for acne, but what about simple behaviors we can do to prevent it? For those of you who are naturally prone to acne (like me), unfortunately we need to take these extra, yet very simple precautions!

1. PILLOWS ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS. For those who sleep on their stomachs or their sides, pillows are great platforms for oil and bacteria to accumulate over time. Just think of the all the different objects our pillows come into contact with each and everyday: unwashed hair, doggy/kitty paws and butts (or is that just me?), dirt, saliva, makeup, oil from our skin etc. Ideally, it it wise to switch to a new pillow case every 2-3 days. Realistically, I wash all of my pillowcases every weekend. Trust me, I learned my lesson the hard way when I chose to ignore my dirty pillowcases and developed acne only on the left side of my face. Also, if you’re the type who likes to sleep under your blanket or have your blanket over your face, don’t forget to wash those every few weeks as well!

After a long day, Fuji's favorite spot to crash is on my blankets and my pillows!

2. RESIST TOUCHING YOUR FACE. Back in college and even sometimes today, I would constantly touch the area around my chin whenever I’m feeling stressed out. Of course, the next day I would wake up with clogged pores and small pimples on my chin. You hear it all the time, but it is in fact a true statement: touching your face with unclean hands/fingers causes acne! Keep a rubber band around your wrist and next time you think about touching your face with dirty fingers, give the rubber band a little snap to remind yourself not to do so!


3. DESIGNATE A SPECIAL “FACE TOWEL.” You should not use the towel you use to dry your hair and body for your face. Pick a washed and clean towel and designate it as the one you will use especially for your face. Oftentimes, products are used for the hair and body that contains chemicals or ingredients that are not suitable for your face. For example, our shampoos or body washes may contain strong fragrances or oils that cause skin irritation and breakouts.

4. OILY SKIN AND OILY PRODUCTS DON’T MIX. I personally have hyperactive oil glands and large pores. I completely avoid all oil-based products. Even oils that many claim are “good for any type of skin” such as jojoba oil and olive oil will break me out in cystic acne. Here is my simple logic: why add more oil to already oily skin? Products that contain oils such as Vitamin E, coconut oil, cocoa butter (as healthy as they claim to be) will eventually clog already oily skin and cause annoying breakouts. Be especially wary of organic products since most organic skin care products rely on natural oils as their main ingredients.

5. MAKEUP + SLEEP = THE SKIN’S WORST ENEMY. Not only does any sort of makeup (mineral or liquid foundation) occlude the skin, but it traps in the oil, dirt and bacteria that have accumulated throughout your day. I beg of you…please, no matter how tired you may be before you go to sleep, remove your makeup and wash your face thoroughly. If you had just crashed into bed after a long night at the club with friends and are too lazy to walk to the sink, at least buy some over the counter make up remover wipes such as Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes followed by a blemish-fighting wipe such as Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes. Keep them by your bedside so that they are only an arm’s length away!

I hope you have found these 5 simple tips easy and effective! Once you turn these tips into habits, your skin will be thanking you for it!