Secrets to a Flawless Face: Part 1

An absolutely flawless face is something that women all over the world have sought after for centuries (who knows, maybe even longer). However, sometimes it seems like only a select few people out of the billions worldwide were destined for that natural, dewy glow.

Though we weren't all blessed with naturally perfect skin, and instead were destined to battle oil, acne and a myriad of other conditions, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

With so many great products on the market and homemade skin recipes, we can all have the perfect skin we desire.

Part one of the "Secrets to a Flawless Face" series focuses on getting rid of acne.

Acne was the bane of my existence for several years, during middle and high school. It still affects millions of people out there, some worse than others. Acne can seriously effect your self esteem and make you very self-conscious. Personally, I haaated my skin and the way I looked while I had problems with acne. It made me feel completely "unpretty," in the words of TLC. I didn't even fully understand the nature of the condition that was affecting me so much.

What exactly is that darn problem called "acne," you ask?

According to AcneNet, "acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. When severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring."

Healthy pores are happy pores!

Basically, the pores on your face and body can get blocked by sebum from the sebaceous glands(that darn oil!) when it mixes with dead skin cells, which can cause bacteria to grow and VOILA! Acne rears its ugly head. Therefore, contrary to what most of us believed, oil is not the direct cause of acne - bacteria is. Therefore, all of those products like Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash (and basically anything in the acne aisle that dries out the skin) is not going to permanently get rid of the issue. These products contain harsh chemicals such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and sulfur, which can irritate the skin if used too often.

Acne does not discriminate by age, gender or race and nearly 100% of people, ages 12-17 have some form of acne in their lives, be it blackheads to a full-on breakout. You are not alone.

So what can you do to get rid of acne, or preserve your clear skin right now?

Develop a skincare regimen and stick to it for at least a month. Skin rejuvenates itself every 28 days, so it will take at least that amount of time for you to see full results. I suggest Proactiv Solution because that's what worked for me. However, some people have bad reactions to it. For dry or mildly sensitive skin, I recommend a simple, gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil. If you have extremely sensitive skin that can't withstand trial and error, save yourself money and heartache and go straight to the dermatologist.

• Don't touch your face! I know it's extremely tempting to see if that pimple is still there or not, or maybe you just have a nervous twitch. Regardless, keep the hands off. Tiny microbes are having a dance party on your hands as we speak! You don't want them to move take the party into your pores.

• Drink lots of water and eat nutritious foods. Water will cleanse your system and your skin will thank you for it. Believe it or not, skin is an organ and it takes in all of the toxins from the air we are exposed to. 6-8 glasses of water per day will help to rid your skin of the harsh chemicals in the air. Also, nutritious foods such as carrots, berries and more will help to provide your skin with the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to replenish itself in top form.
  

• Try alternative cures, such as Tea Tree Oil. This renowned multi-purpose solution has antibacterial properties and will help to break up the bacterial dance party on your face. I love the Tea Tree Oil from The Body Shop. It lasts forever and doesn't dry out the skin.
  

• Try to skip heavy foundations and concealers for at least a month on your Flawless Face Plan. These products, even if it says that it's non-comedogenic (which means it won't cause acne), it will still seep into your pores. Also, piling makeup onto acne, in a vain attempt to cover it up, will only make it more noticeable. I know it's hard, but your skin will thank you for the break in a few short weeks.
  

Taking care of your skin is the first priority in achieving a flawless face that goes far beyond makeup. Try these tips and let me know how it goes! Also, what acne products have you tried - what worked and what didn't?