The Secret to a Clean and Healthy Face

The secret to a clean and healthy face is an overall clean and healthy body and lifestyle. Sounds obvious? Here are some of the clean and healthy habits that many people have never considered.

Clean your makeup brushes once a week

When you apply makeup, the brush or sponge you use collects dead skin cells and oil from your face. If left to accumulate, the two attract acne-causing bacteria. If you don’t clean the brush, you transfer the bacteria to your skin and clog the pores.

Think of how many collective hours you spend cleaning your face and exfoliating the skin. Then a dirty brush ruins your efforts by spreading germs everywhere again. That’s why you need to use a fresh brush each day, then clean them at the end of the week. Organic castile soap is ideal for cleaning, but shampoo is a good alternative. Then place the brushes on a towel to dry. Resist storing them in their holder when wet because the water will ruin the ferrule (metal cap holding the bristles).

Change your pillowcase

You may have heard some of the frequently quoted statistics about how much sweat and dead skin—and therefore fungi and bacteria—accumulate in our bedding. It’s enough to make you want to wash your sheets daily and buy every protective mattress cover on the market. But even though frequent sheet washing may not be practical, you can certainly change your pillowcase every day or two to make sure that sweat, oil, and bacteria aren’t right up against your face. As recommended with makeup brushes, you may want to buy an extra supply of pillowcases to have on hand so you can save the washing for once or twice a week.

Shower immediately after a workout

Do you take a shower immediately after aerobics or Pilates? Sometimes it’s tempting to just chill out or do some chores before bathing. But that layer of perspiration after your workout is fertile ground for bacteria to grow. Showering immediately after exercise is the best plan for maintaining clean and healthy skin on your face as well as the rest of your body.

Avoid excess makeup

The amount of makeup you wear is a matter of personal preference, and most people don’t want to be told to limit the use of their favorite products. But the facts don’t lie: Too much makeup is bad for your skin. Why? Makeup clogs pores and the chemicals alter the pH of your skin. Excess makeup can lead to breakouts and even premature aging. A good idea is to set aside a few days a week when you won’t wear any so that your skin can breathe.

Eat right

Hormonal fluctuations and imbalances—which you might experience during puberty, pregnancy, menopause or high-stress times—can affect your skin with a flare-up of acne, dry skin or itchiness. You can keep following your daily skincare routine during these times, but you’ll want to also eat the right foods. Invest in whole grains, organic fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds to give your skin enough vitamins (A, C, E), minerals (zinc), antioxidants and omega-3 proteins. These nutrients are vital for your hormones. Also, don’t forget to drink enough water to keep you hydrated.

Take care of your mouth, too

You know the power of a captivating smile. You also know how you feel when you have to get close to someone with bad breath. So we can’t talk about facial hygiene without talking about teeth and oral hygiene. Apart from brushing and flossing, how else do you take care of your teeth? Have regular dental check-ups. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash. Avoid overindulgence in acidic food that causes cavities. And once again, eat healthy foods—the foundation for overall good health.

From the time you wake up and decide what to have for breakfast through your daily workout and down to the pillow you lay your head on at night, the habits you commit to every day can result in the beautiful, healthy skin we all want.