Are pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and blocked pores your main skin concerns? Have you been fighting them with a whole lot of different products, without any results? You could actually be sabotaging yourself without even realising.

A few simple changes to your behaviour can have a dramatic difference on the condition of your skin. I’m not promising miracles here. But try these four tips, and see whether your skin improves.

And I could probably stand to listen to my own advice, because I get lazy and forget about these all the time!

Stop touching your face. Just stop it right now. Do not rest your face on your hands. Do not touch your cheek while you’re daydreaming.  And please do not pick at your skin! There is so much bacteria on your fingers, and every time you touch your face you are transferring that onto your skin. That can only lead to one thing: more blemishes.

This is a really hard habit to break (I’ve touched my face about ten times while writing this article), so keep a tube of hand sanitiser on your desk or in your bag and use it regularly to keep your hands clean. Of course the best solution is to just stop touching your face altogether!

Change your pillow cases regularly. A beauty therapist once told me to change them every single day, especially if you sleep on your side or stomach and have more of your face resting on the pillow. Imagine the amount of build-up on your pillow from dead skin cells, skin products, hair products, and facial oils. That is going straight onto your face.

If you use two pillows you can probably stretch this out to a few days if you make sure you switch sides. But pillow cases are cheap, so head out and pick up a few more and make sure you’re changing them over more often.

Wash your makeup brushes more often. This is so important, especially if you’re like me and use your makeup brushes every single day. You need to clean them. A really simple way is to quickly brush them over a face wipe after use, using a similar movement to how you actually use the brush on your face. You’ll see how much product comes off them!

Once a week you should be washing them with a brush cleanser, however for a cheaper option try baby shampoo, gentle soap or even dishwashing detergent (really!). Rinse your brushes under the tap until the water runs clear. Mix up a small amount of your chosen cleansing product in a bowl of warm water, and then dip your brushes in it and swirl them around. Rinse again, wipe on a clean cloth, reshape and then leave to dry.

Make sure you’re removing your makeup properly. Here’s my test. After you do your regular makeup removal (which might just be washing your face with a cleanser), grab a face wipe or put some toner on a cotton makeup pad. Rub this over your face, and see what comes off. If you see foundation, then you are not cleaning your skin properly. It’s time to change up your routine.

This could mean starting to use a dedicated makeup remover or makeup removal wipes (try La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipes), using a clean facewasher or microfiber cloth while washing your face, or washing twice and really massaging your face to get that makeup off. Personally, I use a makeup removal balm before I get into the shower, and then wash my face with a cleanser and my Clarisonic while I’m showering. When I do my little test afterwards, nothing comes off.

If you're looking for products that might help clear up your pimples and acne, check out some of our recommendations here!

What are your little skincare tips that help keep your skin clear? Share them in the comments - Julia

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