Are you still longing for clear skin? Maybe it’s because you’re not sure where to start or are just feeling a little overwhelmed?
If this is the case, I’ve put together a quick daily routine that is sure to get you started on the right track to clear skin! The important part is to set yourself up for success and to start your day peacefully, balanced and focused. It can be so hard to navigate the latest beauty and health trends, but you know what? Keeping things simple is the key to getting clear and staying that way.
The 7 Step Routine You Need to get Clear Skin
To get started, you will first need to create a daily goal by answering these questions: What makes me feel vibrant? What makes me feel nourished? What makes me feel energetic?
Always keep these questions in mind as you move forward on your clear skin journey because they will help you make healthy decisions in regards to diet, lifestyle, and emotional well-being - all important things when clearing your skin.
It really isn't that difficult if you put your mind to it, so let’s get started!
My 7 Step Clear Skin Routine
1. Lemon Water Every Morning
Drinking lemon water (or even just water in general) should be the very first thing you do upon waking.
Instead of making coffee or tea to get your juices flowing, opt-in for a freshly squeezed lemon in a large glass of water to jumpstart detox and help flush your liver. If it’s too chilly or you just prefer a hot drink in the morning, try making a lemon tea by boiling some spring water and squeezing ½ a lemon into it.
The fresh lemon will bring your body back into a state of alkalinity which will help lower inflammation and get things moving if you get my meaning.
Fresh ginger root tea is another great way to get those juices flowing! Simply peel a nub of fresh ginger, slice it up and pour boiling water over it to make a tea.
To really spice things up, try adding a dash of cayenne pepper to help stimulate digestion and get things moving if you get my meaning 😉
Read more about the benefits of lemon water here and how to make a delicious mixed citrus infused water here.
2. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
This next step can be intense if you’re not used to vinegary flavors, so if you’re not up for taking a TB of raw apple cider vinegar straight, try mixing it in a little bit of water to help things go down easier.
Raw apple cider vinegar has been shown to reduce acidity in the body, ease and regulate digestion, as well as detox the liver and kidneys. I recommend drinking this before every meal to help jumpstart digestion.
ACV is also great for the acne when used as a simple spot treatment. Simply apply a few drops to unopened blemishes twice a day for best results or even dilute it in a little water and apply it as a toner. (this is my favorite raw apple cider vinegar)
Raw ACV is great for getting clear skin because it helps you digest your meals in the most optimal way possible. So, if you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn be sure to give my natural remedy a try to help with your digestive complaints. Having any type of digestive problem will make healing acne a longer process than it needs to be, so be sure to take care of your digestive health!
3. Green Juicing
One of the best ways to get tons of nutrients into your body to help fight acne is to drink at least one green juice every day. This could be a mix of anything from cucumber, celery, green apple, to kale and grapefruit. I enjoy adding some superstar flavors like green apple, lemon, lime, ginger, or strong herbs like parsley, basil, dill, or mint to every juice to make it as palatable as possible since these ingredients are full of tasty flavors that will help cover up flavors that are too green. Experiment to see which are your favorites.
Juicing every day will help make your skin vibrant and lustrous from the inside out because fresh juice is nutrient dense, provides your digestive system with powerful enzymes, and is very cleansing for the body. I use this juicer at home and I'm really happy with it!
Here are a few of my favorite juice recipes:
Energizing Orange Carrot Juice
How to Make Ruby Juice
5000 Volt Juice
4. Exercise Daily
Don’t skip this step because your skin will benefit from this a lot! It’s so important to just MOVE your body for 30 minutes a day to get your circulation moving, your lymph system drained, and to release toxins. You don’t need to wear yourself out or do something you don't enjoy, just choose something you like doing like yoga, dancing, running, biking, hiking, swimming, etc to help your body keep your hormones balanced.
Lack of exercise (paired with unhealthy lifestyle choices) creates stagnation and toxic build-up in the liver. Keep things moving smoothly by getting your booty moving on a daily basis.
Letting yourself get too stagnant also allows breakouts to become more frequent. My favorite way to get moving when I don't have a lot of time is by jumping on a mini rebounder. It gets the blood flowing and the lymph draining...plus who doesn't miss jumping on the bed??
5. Quiet Time
Be sure to give yourself some daily quiet time to meditate, read, relax, go for a walk, or nap. You need this time to yourself daily in order to center yourself and remain focused. It’s also a great way to relieve stress. Oh, and don't forget about EARTHING, one of the best ways to de-stress after a long day. (you can read more about earthing here.)
I like to spend this time going over in my mind what I want to get accomplished this week or just to simply enjoy a hobby I have. The thing that matters is that it’s FUN and enjoyable for you and most of all stress free!
You can achieve quiet time by taking a nice bubble bath, walking in the evenings, or simply taking some time to just relax on the couch and watch some Netflix. Whatever it is that allows you to take a mental break, do it daily!
6. Balanced Eating
Since I began eating more fruits and veggies than meats or grains at every meal, I’ve noticed a big difference in the way my skin looks! One of the best and one of the easiest veggies to add to your daily diet is one whole carrot. Believe it or not, doing this alone will detox your colon, carry away bad estrogen, give you much needed vitamin A and beta-carotene, and improves your vision while you’re at it! And no, you will not turn orange by eating one a carrot a day.
I've written an entire article on how amazing eating raw carrots are for hormone balance. Be sure to check it out here.
Since carrots have the perfect fiber ratio they support your digestive system better than any other vegetable. As you may already know, keeping your colon happy is a key factor in achieving long-lasting clear skin, so don’t be skimpy. I always try to get at least 2 different veggies into every meal where possible. My favorites include sweet potatoes, raw carrots, fresh salads, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and sauteed spinach.
Find what works for you and make a point to add those greens to your meals!
7. Skin Care
You may think I’m crazy…. But you NEED to moisturize even if you have oily skin. Seriously. Now, I’m not saying that you have to go slather on all kinds of creams, lotions, and potions, but you DO need something.
My absolute favorite way to moisturize is by spritzing my face (after washing) with pure rose water (you can read about why rose water is awesome here) and then applying a small amount of rosehip or hemp oil. The rose water will balance the PH of your skin (very important for us acne sufferers) and the rosehip/hemp oil will moisturize without clogging pores or feeling too greasy.
You may be worried about applying oil to your skin, but believe me, it’s the best thing you can do! (read more about that here. here. and here.)
Check out my Homemade Serum for Acne Prone Skin to learn how to make your own acne fighting serum.
In Conclusion
The best thing you can do for your skin is to start changing up your lifestyle and daily habits in order to get more nutrients into your body, get more exercise, and to cut out processed foods, toxic people, and other things that make you feel worse. Acne is largely an internal issue, but there are SO many factors involved when it comes to the clarity of our skin.
Following these 7 steps is a fantastic way to get started. i wish you the best of luck!
And there you have it! My 7 top tips on how to get clear skin naturally! What have been your best tips for getting rid of acne? Please share them in the comments!
You may also enjoy reading:
The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
3 Steps to Improving your Female Hormonal Acne
The Oil Cleansing Method
6 Skincare Tips that Cleared my Acne Naturally
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin
Essential Oils for Hormonal Acne
Rashmi says
I have normal skin. Now, so caught up in my work,that I forget to take care of my skin. EV Coconut oil used to be my all and since three years I had no issues,no breakouts, no tan,no dryness, just healthy glowing skin, but of late, I've noticed that inspite of following same routine, and mixing coconut+geranium+jojoba oil,
my skin doesn't feel as hydrated. But, I do drink sufficient water, have a balanced diet. What do you think I try a better carrier oil(which)or suggest oil cleansing suggest any change in my routine.
Tash says
It sounds like you need more water IN your skin. You may need to look into an actual lotion for your skin to help seal in more water. Specifically, look for one that contains cholesterol 🙂
francesca says
lemon juice is awesome!!! 🙂
when you say "start changing up your lifestyle and daily habits in order to get more nutrients into your body, get more exercise, and to cut out processed foods," oohhh I COMPLETELY agree with that! lol :)!
thank you again!!!!
Tash says
I love lemons for sooo many things! Thanks for stopping by Francesca! 🙂
Hannah says
I want to ask.Can oils that cure hyper pigmentation remove freckles?Because I have freckles since I was born,and I don't want them to disappear by using that type of oil.But in the same time,I suffer from acne and natural oils helped me sooo much.Please help me
Tash says
Hi Hannah!
I'm guessing that they might lighten over a looooong period of time but I have never heard of anyone getting rid of freckles using essential oils before. Not to say it CAN'T happen 😉 I think by the time it would take to heal what hyperpigmentation you have wouldn't be long enough to lighten freckles.
Rachel says
Hi, I started to do the ocm with coconut oil for 2 weeks already, every evening and then I just apply vitamin e. In the morning I'm not sure which oil should I use, I have combination skin, I'm afraid to apply oil on my face and then go out to the sun. Can I use sun screen lotion on the oil and does it matter which one? And which oil is recommended for the winter? Thank you so much
Tash says
Hi Rachel!
how has your skin been liking the coconut oil and vitamin E so far? Have you been applying it to your whole face?
Natasha S says
Hey you mentioned applying rose water after washing. Can you tell me what is your face wash routine? What do you generally wash your face with? Just water? or anything else?
Tash says
Hi Natasha!
lately I've been using an all natural black charcoal soap to see how my skin fares. I will then spray my face with rose water and then apply my face oils as a moisturizer. Right now it's rosehip oil with some geranium essential oil for oil control. I have to say though, the soap is feeling too "stripping" so I may go back to oil cleaning as soon as autumn sets in!
Vish says
Hi
I'm 20/M
My skin is sensitive and combination
And uneven skin tone
Can u plz. Help me to ride this situation
Thnx
Tash says
Hi Vish!
Can you give me a bit more info on your diet, sleep habits, hydration, exercise, supplements, etc? 🙂
Jen says
I just started doing the OCM this past weekend and am loving it so far. I am wondering if you use the serum in place of a moisturizer, or do you also use another oil as a moisturizer in addition to the serum?
Tash says
Hi Jen!
Yes! You could definitely use a serum in place of a moisturizer but if your skin needs more, feel free to use more "additional" oil. My skin will generally change with the seasons. In summer I need less additional oil, and in winter I need to use both serums and additional oil. It really comes down to what YOUR skin likes 🙂 Some people can get by with nothing at all! Best of luck!
Caitlin says
Super encouraging to know I am on the right path! I got so sick of the dermatologist and my dr putting me on bc, antibiotics and terrible topicals that just made my skin even worse and dry/flakey. I started drinking lemon ginger water about a month ago and have incorporated acv into my routine as well, both drinking it and using it as a toner with aloe vera and water. I think taking high quality probiotics and having omega 3's daily has made a big difference too! The only thing I'm scared about is using hemp oil on my face... tried it about a month ago and broke out like crazy. I know it's supposed to purge your skin at first, but I decided to hold off because it freaked me out. Changed my diet a lot as well and have been feeling much better as well. Screw conventional methods!
Tash says
Hi Caitlin!
I'm so surprised about what happened to you from the hemp seed oil! It's so true that everyone's skin is different! I would recommend not using it because it seems like you may be allergic to it somehow. Keep doing what you're doing! You're definitely making progress! 🙂