glow up guide: healthy, happy skin🫧
How to completely transform your skin…✨
When I was twelve, my skin was my biggest insecurity. I felt alien-like as almost everyone around still had young pre-hormonal skin and mine had seemingly developed earlier than most. It affected my happiness, confidence and resilience and I let my self-esteem control the way my life was daily. So, as a result of this, I decided to do something about it, and now my skin is thriving.
This article is going to tell you how I achieve AND maintain this as I disclose fake TikTok trends and false advertising and expose what the real deep dark secrets are that big corporate companies don’t want you to know that REALLY fix your skin.
Key topics within this article:
why do we all want perfect skin?
mental health and hormones
self-love combat
insider info: lifestyle changes
routine importance
my full skincare routine
why do we want perfect skin?
It seems a silly question really but if you’ve clicked on this article chances are there are certain parts of your skin you’d like to know how to manage better but ask yourself why. Is it because you want to feel attractive? To who? Others or yourself? Are you sick of feeling down about it? Whatever your reasoning is, often we crave validation from others especially if we feel our own judgement isn’t valid enough but this hunger to fit a standard, the desperation, often makes us panic buy whatever is beautifully advertised or is created by the media as a selling machine when in reality it has no real benefit to your skin and is potentially full of damaging chemicals that can damage both young or older skin. Firstly, allow yourself to breathe and say I want to better myself; my appearance is for me and not for the consumption and romanticisation of others.
mental health and hormones
Everything in your body is interlinked in a big circle chain-like reaction. Bad mental health = bad skin = bad mental health and we’re back to the beginning again. Each individual issue we have could have about fifteen little reasons making up the result. So, we have to identify these fifteen things to truly tackle your skin in all its glory. This section happens to be about the scientific chemical reactions of mental health and hormones. I am someone who has always struggled with intense hormones resulting in physical reactions such as poor skin and poor gut health. These hormonal reactions are also a contributor to my previous and continuous mental health struggles so outside help is often needed in this scenario when it comes to hormonal imbalances. I have been on an oral contraceptive pill since I was thirteen and have used medically prescribed cream in the very worst stages of my mental and physical health. If this is not something you’ve tried and you feel a strong resonation with low moods, self-esteem dips, poor skin, sluggish behaviour, high level of pain when menstruating and irritability, I would highly recommend going to consult a professional for advice to help you on your journey. The two photos I’m about to show you are one of them being pre-birth control, pre-skincare routine, chalky thick unhealthy makeup and the other photo is me happier after applying everything written in this article. When managing your skin it is crucial to recognise the impact it has on your mental health and manage the issues however big or small. Conversely, everyone’s physical appearance will suffer when they’re not looking after the internal workings of their mind and soul.
Self love combat
I believe the mind has the power to change the physical outcomes around us. If you spend your time looking in the mirror picking yourself apart, you’re doing yourself a massive disservice. Drowning yourself in self-love any time you feel any self-deprecating emotions is key to growing and changing future outcomes. Once I changed from hating to loving myself my whole life turned around in a way I wouldn’t have known was possible. Fake it till you make it. Channel celebrities if you need to. Always tell yourself you’re beautiful even if you don’t feel it because in time it will make you glow from the inside out. You’ll notice changes creating an evolution of being. This is no short feat and it takes years of determination but don’t disregard this step as I think it’s the only way to produce change. One thing that has massively changed my outlook is practising gratitude to not only myself but the things that happen to me every day both big and small. If you don’t know where to start, start there.
Insider info: lifestyle changes
Having the right mentality is a long, hard internal and external journey that contributes to your skin health, which is extremely important. This next section, however, is about all the fun stuff you can do right this second to change your skin. A lifestyle change is another crucial part of changing your skin for the better. It is time to cut out all the nasty bad habits in order to eliminate blemish-prone skin.
water intake
If you're not drinking at least 1.4 - 2 litres of water per day. I’m sorry to say this but your skin is dry, crusty and crying out for some moisture. The most simple and most effective step you could ever possibly take is right at your fingertips. Make this a priority and keep hydrated throughout the day on hot and cold days alike. Remember if you’re sweating you will need more.
2. healthy diet
Maintaining a healthy diet filled with fruit and veggies creates mass benefits for your skin as it gives your whole body nutrients and important minerals. That’s not saying you can’t ever eat anything bad but if your slump pyjama days are filled with junk food and then you pick at your skin you're filling your pores with bacteria from the inside of your gut to the outside of your fingertips. Fill your lazy days with healthy snacks and meals and see how different you feel at the end of it. As I’ve previously mentioned, your mood sets the tone and slow sluggish reactions are not going to benefit your skin.
3. sugar limits
Sugar is one of , if not the biggest, cause of a lot of our problems when it comes to mind, body and skin and it can be addictive. Limiting sugary snacks and drinks combats aggressive blemishes that form under your skin’s barrier. By doing this, I don’t think I’ve had a large aggressive painful spot in around a year now and do believe that keeping a limit on sugar intake is the main reason for this.
4. hair care
Spots can be caused by a lack of hygiene or even not knowing where to clean, especially around the hairline, so it’s important to wash your hair and keep yourself in a strict hair schedule of whatever is best for you. If you’re working out more and producing more sweat you may want to wash more for example. Especially if you have a fringe covering your forehead, a scalp scrub used every two weeks can eliminate any build-up on the scalp as well as an exfoliant toner used behind the ears and around the hairline as this can clean areas that aren’t always recognised.
5. cut nails
The dirtiest place on your body is your fingernails. Fun fact. So you can now imagine how important it is to keep them clean the best most efficient way to do this is to maintain short nails and clean under your nails as part of your skincare routine. Wash your hands regularly. When stressed, we tend to touch our faces more so one way to stop bacteria on your face is to keep clean hands and clean nails. Long nails will only add to the problem and just because your nails aren’t black underneath doesn’t mean there isn’t bacteria ready to sink into your pores.
6. NO face touching
Hold yourself accountable and stop touching your face!!! Every time you touch your face I want you to imagine all the invisible gunk you're spreading into your face like you're planting seeds in the soil. You’re enabling spots to break through your skin’s barrier and grow out like weeds in a pavement. And for the love of god, stop popping your spots you're only spreading the puss into newer areas of the skin.
7. skincare-makeup combo
As much as you may want to cover up your skin and conceal yourself in thick full coverage makeup, don’t. There is a massive stigma with makeup that it will cause you to break out. That’s a load of bollocks! As long as you switch to using the right stuff. The answer to this is light makeup that is half skincare based half makeup. Luckily we’re out of the 2016 era of thick cakey makeup and slug brows and brands are now hopping on the bandwagon of no makeup makeup. I have been wearing makeup most days since I was 12 and it has never once been the reason my skin has been bad. I believe I’ve got the best combo for my skin and my skin is still clear as a result. The makeup brands I think achieve this are the brands: PIXI, Charlotte Tilbury and Elf in using their light coverage ranges. Primer, I think, clogs your pores and is the equivalent of glueing your face every day. It is one of the main causes of blemishes from makeup, I will never use a primer for this reason.
PRO TIP: If the brand also has a skincare line chances are they use this to further improve the makeup style of their brand making it safe for blemishes.
8. workouts + face yoga
Workouts, not only for the body, but for the face too are a big benefit to your skin's (and body’s) overall health. It promotes and stimulates blood flow and drains the lymphatic system. My go-to tried and tested workouts come from this video link, and this video link (I honestly swear by them.) If I were to recommend anything it would be face workouts and a basic skincare routine to start out your skincare journey. I also use a paid app called Luvly often which is dedicated to scheduled face workout sessions.
9. green tea
Green tea is an absolute game-changer. I don’t know much about the inner workings of its success apart from that it’s full of antioxidants, but it helped transform my gut and skin 10x more than before.
10. silk pillows
Another game changer that I can’t live without. It may seem extremely extra but it de-puffs your face, reduces wrinkles and it doesn’t hold bacteria. It also promotes healthy hair and reduces hair breakage. You’ll never go back after you’ve ordered your silk/satin pillowcases I can promise that much. (I get mine off amazon)
11. sleep
Having a good night's sleep is always a huge plus for your health in every way. For the skin, it reduces dark circles and a pale; ghost-like appearance.
my ultimate skincare routine
I feel comfortable saying that I’ve perfected my skincare routine as it has helped me glow up through the years literally and metaphorically enabling me to glow. So without further ado, here is my tested and true skincare routine.
my morning routine ☀️
step 1: face workout
As linked above, every morning starts with a face workout in bed, which is perfect for when I’m feeling lazy. This consists of a 15-minute workout to start your day and let me tell you, just because it’s your face, doesn’t mean it doesn’t burn like a workout tends to do.
step 2: cleanse
There’s nothing better than waking up with a splash of water to the face and melting away the 8-hour (hopefully) sleep i’ve just had with my La Roche posey purifying cleansing gel, I will never not love this cleanser 💗
step 3: toner
A rose spray toner is a go-to in the mornings. It’s light, fresh and easy for the skin to soak up.
step 4: blemish serum
I have never really been a morning serum girl I always feel like they're heavy and it’s too much for the skin. Don’t get me wrong I may not use my tropic blemish prevention serum every day, but its light and runny consistency is perfect for tackling blemishes without feeling heavy or damaging on my skin.
step 5: light moisturiser
Before SPF, I like to use a light-weight awakening moisturiser to make me feel alive and well rested so my Origins gingizing gel cream does the trick.
step 6: under-eye brightener
If my night hasn’t been the best, I generally like to use the inky list brighten-i eye cream it lowers the visibility of dark under-eye circles on my skin.
step 7: SPF
this is 100% a must if you're not using it bloody use it. The one I use, I’m not sure whether to recommend as it does leave a white cast on your face and for the pale girlies that’s fine as it blends but for any other skin tone it doesn’t work out so rather than a product I’ll instead urge you to go out and buy yourself an SPF (preferably 50+) and see what works for you.
my nightTime routine 🌙
step 1: makeup remover
I tend to start with my trusty garnier makeup remover to get stubborn makeup from my lashes and under my chin and neck.
step 2: cleanse
I then cleanse with my la Roche-posey foaming gel (linked above.)
step 3: makeup remover part two
I do not care if you wear makeup or not to be quite honest with you, boy or girl take some remover and cleanser with a cotton pad and see how much gunk comes out, it’s gentle but effective, don’t forget shoulders and behind the ears too.
step 4: exfoliant toner
My REN daily aha exfoliating tonic is a must-use each night, especially after makeup, avoid or lightly brush over gentle areas of the skin such as eyes and under eyes and have a more harder clean where necessary. It smells so good and cleans any remaining gunk from the skin
step 5: serum (optional)
Some nights, I use the body shop Himalayan charcoal night peel on any prominent blemishes and it works wonders, bringing out nasty spots 20 times faster.
step 6: moisturiser
Cold or hot weather, my CeraVe pm moisturiser has been a godsend for dryness on my skin after a long day, its light and creamy consistency perfectly hydrates my skin
step 7: face yoga
Face yoga videos are all over YouTube. It’s amazing how simple movements daily on your face can reduce morning puffiness and tone your face.
extras 🎀
These just as important steps are considered extras as they’re not part of a daily routine but are extras to add when the time is right, which is usually once or twice a week. With an exception to any ice-related skin care steps, the majority of these are mostly done at night to add relaxation factors to your day.
-ice roller
-gua sha
-sheet masks
-mud masks
- lip scrub
-facial oil (best benefits with a gua sha tool)
-retinol (my pixi retinol moisturiser that I use twice a week is perfect)
-spot patches (any ones that are shaped cute or trendy are 100% a scam. The dots for spots are the best thing I’ve ever purchased for my skin as they cut the time spots linger on my skin in half and pull out rubbish from the face without spreading it around.
If this isn’t the skincare guide you're looking for, I don’t know what is. Have fun creating your own day-to-day routine to start or continue your journey toward happy and healthy skin.
