Acne is a real bitch. Acne is like “that bitch,” the one you really can’t stand who always seems to show up when you least wish them to. Best friends wedding coming up? Oh ya, she’ll be there. New Years Eve party on the horizon? Acne will surely make an appearance, chin and forehead beware. 

Most everyone has suffered from some form of acne, and as when I was younger I didn’t think into it too much, I mean this is normal right? But as I entered adulthood and things didn’t clear up, but actually seemed to get worse, I started to worry. What was wrong with me?! Why did I still have acne on a regular basis into my twenties? Many visits to my dermatologist, a few over-priced facials and a menagerie of vitamins later, I finally found my solution at the age of 25. 

If you are like me and have suffered from acne, primarily hormonal based acne, then read on! Of course, everyone’s complexion is different, but you might find a tip or trick that will help you clear up and keep it the way I finally did. Here are my top four acne fighting solutions you can easily do on your own: 

1. HYDRATE BABY 

We have all heard it a million times, drinking enough liquids can be a miracle for your complexion. However! Not all liquids are created equal. The best thing to drink for a clear complexion? You guessed it, good old H2O. Drinking at least two liters of water a day can aid your digestive system to flush out toxins from the body while increasing blood flow and shrinking pores, making them less likely to clog. Your skin is an organ, actually the largest organ in your body, and its mostly made up of water. Without enough water skin can become tight, dry and flakey which makes your complexion more prone to aging and continued acne. 

2. SWEAT IT OUT 

Although you may not be a fitness junky, adding even just a hint of exercise to your weekly routine can immensely improve your skin. Cardio exercise in particular has been shown to have a positive impact on the complexion. By increasing the blood flow that delivers oxygen and nutrients to skin cells, as well as carrying away waist and free radicals, a heightened heart rate and sweating skin can be beneficial to clearing your complexion. Another benefit of exercise is stress relief, which can be a major factor in hormonal acne. Try to exercise 20 minutes a few times a week to help sweat away your acne and feel healthier overall. (Don’t forget to wash your face after sweating!) 

3. CLEAN BEAUTY FOR THE W

Choosing the right products for your skin can be a daunting task. Everyone claims “ideal for all skin types” and “perfect for sensitive skin.” So how do we know who is telling the truth and who has the fine print reversing those claims on the back label? The best way I’ve made sure I am applying only happy and healthy products to my face is to stick to a clean beauty routine. (Find my recommended products with prices below!) Using a face-wash, serum, moisturizer and toner that are made of natural ingredients (and has zero animal testing) has made my complexion and my conscious happy. Natural ingredients are less harsh than chemicals common to skin care products, but can be just as effective if not more when utilized the right way and stuck to consistency. Clean beauty goes beyond wasting and prep to makeup as well – I use all BareMinerals for this very reason. 

4. VITAMINS MATTER 

Everyone is supposed to take a daily vitamin. Do you? Well even if the answer is yes, you may still be lacking some nutrients. One of the best ways to make sure you are getting all your vitamins is to eat a healthy and balanced diet, filled with lots of fruits, veggies and lean proteins. The more fiber the better! But, even with a healthy diet, if you are like me this just wasn’t enough. Adding some supplements and vitamins to my daily nutrient intake made an immense difference in clearing my hormonal acne. Adding Magnesium, a Vitamin B-Complex and Zinc helped me clear my skin and keep it that way. (Find a list of all the vitamins I tried below!) If you start to take vitamins to help your skin, make sure you are consistent and give it a few weeks to really start seeing improvements! 

Acne is a pesky problem that can be solved! And without breaking the bank. It feels like I have tried it all, and these are the things that worked best for me. Try this little tricks and see if you can improve and clear your acne without expensive trips to the dermatologist or esthetician. Have questions? Leave a comment or contact me for more info! 

Clean Beauty Product List: 

-Botanical Republic Duo Cleansers: $53 (botanicalrepublic.com)

-Pacifica Coconut Milk Cream to Foam Face Wash: $10 (available at Target)

-Pacifica Probiotic Water Rehab Cream: $16 (available at Target) 

-Botanical Republic Replenish Antioxidant Moisturizer: $44 (botanicalrepublic.com)

-Andalou Brightening Turmeric + C Enlighten Serum: $24.99 (available at Natural Grocers and Whole Foods) 

-Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum: $32.99 (available at Natural Grocers and Whole Foods)

-Botanical Republic Radiant Hydrating Toner: $28 (botanicalrepublic.com)

Clean Beauty Face Makeup List: 

-Andalou Brightening Vitamin C BB Beauty Balm Sheer Tint SPF 30: $19.99 (available at Natural Grocers and Whole Foods) 

-bareMinerals Bareskin Complete Coverage Serum Concealer: $22 (available at Ulta, Sephora and online) 

-bareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15: $31 (available at Ulta, Sephora and online) 

-bareMinerals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder Broad Spectrum SPF 25: $24 (available at Ulta, Sephora and online) 

-bareMinerals Bare Glow On-The-Go: Face Palette: $31 (available at Ulta, Sephora and online)

Vitamins List (most effective for me at the top): 

-Evening Primrose Oil (1250mg)

-Magnesium Glycinate (400mg)

-DIM (Diindolymethane + Green Blend for healthy enzyme activity and estrogen absorption) 

-Stress B-Complex with Vitamin C 

-Zinc Picolinate (50mg) 

-Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails 

-D3 (2000IU, 50mcg)

-Kal Ultra Lysine Lips