3 beauty mantras for clearer skin in 2017

Today I’m sharing my 3 favourite beauty mantras for clearer skin in 2017. 2016 taught me a whole load of lessons about clearing acne naturally, I had some big set backs during the year but without those setbacks, I wouldn’t have been forced to learn some valuable lessons that will not only support my skin health indefinitely, but will also be the foundation for creating a beautiful and exciting life for myself.

While quitting sugar/trans-fats/gluten/dairy, drinking plenty of water and eating 5 extra portions of vegetables a day are going to do an amazing job at clearing up your skin. These major diet overhauls and setting the bar too high in January can often end up being too overwhelming and result in feelings of deprivation which mean it’s more likely we’ll cave in and over-indulge in sweet treats and carb-loaded snacks.

Opting for smaller, more manageable ‘micro’ changes is a much more successful long-term strategy to better health so I’m sharing my 3 beauty mantras for clearer skin in 2017. They may seem like small and insignificant tips but these changes were the final lessons I had to learn before I was able to fully gain control over my skin, my health and my life.

I am positive. I am patient. I am persistent.

I know the feeling, you’ve been diligently taking your new supplements for 3 weeks but your skin hasn’t miraculously cleared yet so desperation mode kicks in and you start googling other treatments you can try.

If you relate to this and you’re the kind of person that wants results yesterday then you’re going to be very disappointed. No matter what treatment route you go down; diet changes, supplements, the contraceptive pill or accutane – you’re highly unlikely to see drastic results within the first month. Improvement – maybe, but it’s not realistic to expect a miracle within the first few weeks of treatment – you really need to give your treatments a solid 3 months before giving up and trying something new.

Why?

Spots start life as ticking time bombs called microcomedones. They’re totally invisible and can take months to come to the surface as a blackhead, whitehead or pustules. This means you must remember that the choices you make today, aren’t just affecting your short term skin health, but will also be paving the way the clear, beautiful skin a few months down the line.

I give myself permission to stop and slow down.

Never underestimate the power of slowing down and taking some long, deep breaths. We live in such a fast-paced world where the pressure for young women to be at the top of their game all the time is at an all time high and it’s NOT ok. Even if you don’t have any major deadlines coming up, chances are you’re still stressed out. So many of my clients describe themselves as “occasionally or moderately” stressed, yet when asked about whether their acne causes them self esteem issues or social anxiety on a daily basis then the answer is always a resounding YES. Feeling anxious and rubbish about your skin is just as toxic to your wellbeing as being stressed out about a work deadline… yet we often fail to recognise this type of stress as a potential acne trigger. Working on your stress levels is often the most difficult factor we have to over come when healing our acne but it’s ESSENTIAL. You can do everything else right, but if you’re chronically stress then you’ll never be able to clear your skin.

Sometimes at-home stress management techniques aren’t enough and some serious lifestyle changes are needed to get your cortisol levels under control.

I’ve learnt the hard way that no amount of baths, meditation or yoga can cancel out the negative effects a toxic relationship or job that makes you unhappy can have on your body. Sometimes you need to start putting yourself first and say goodbye to the things that aren’t bringing you complete joy and fulfilment.

It’ll be hard. It’ll be scary. But the results will be well worth it!

I am strong. I am beautiful. I am enough.

Whether you’ve spent months or years struggling with your acne; you’re probably familiar with feeling trapped, ashamed, even disgusted with the bare-skinned reflection staring back at you. As I mentioned in my previous point, de-stressing yourself and accepting yourself for who you are right now is an integral part of your journey to clear skin.

I know that if you’ve ever been at the receiving end of a hurtful comment about you skin, the memory cuts deep for a long, long time. I was that girl 3 years ago, so I know it can take months, even years to shake off the anxiety that everyone is staring at your skin, analysing it and thinking you’re not good enough.

However, you mustn’t let self-doubt ruin the beauty you were born with. Hold your head up high and look people right in the eye and be proud of who you are, and what you stand for. Don’t wait for your skin to clear before you start loving yourself again. Start today as I truly believe you have to think, feel and act like you have clear skin before you can fully achieve it.

What are your beauty mantras for 2017 going to be? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook!

Peace, Love & Clear Skin,