My Top Tips For Spot Prone Skin

Okay, so one of the main things people ask me for advice on is how to get rid of spots. I genuinely wish it was as simple as 'here, buy this and all your dreams will come true' but sadly it's not. Like anything, it takes work and commitment to see results, but believe me you WILL notice a difference.

Quick side note - there are lots of things that can affect your skin and this post is not a cure-all for anybody who has problem skin or acne. I would always suggest visiting your GP if you think you have acne and discussing your options there, they may refer you to a dermatologist (skin specialist) and/or prescribe some medication, but I'm not qualified to do this - sorry!

1. Never, ever sleep in make up - While you are sleeping your skin is 'oxygenating' meaning it is purging toxins from the skin, shedding dead skin cells and repairing the skin by sending lots of oxygen there along with vitamins and minerals from your body. If your face is covered in make up, where is all of this old, impure stuff gonna go? That's right nowhere, it will stay in your skin, causing havoc with the pure and fresh skin by clogging the pores and breeding bacteria. Cleanse, tone and moisturize before bed and let your skin do it's thing.

2. Wash your face first thing in a morning - Have you ever noticed your skin feeling a little oily in the morning? That's because of the oxygenating process. This oil and old skin is going to sit there waiting to be washed away OR it is going to be absorbed in your pillow *lets take a moment to give our pillows a dirty look and make a mental note to wash the cover ASAP*. So washing your face first thing + regularly washing your pillow cases = clearer skin.

You're going to want to tell me to bore off after 3 & 4 but bare with me, it makes a MASSIVE difference

3. Drink plenty of water - You've heard it before. You know you *should* do it , but you don't. Drinking enough water (around 2 litres a day) literally helps your body to flush out toxins and hydrate the skin. But one or two glasses won't do the trick because even though the skin is the largest organ in the body it is the last to be fed. Don't treat it like Oliver and force it to ask for more, show your skin some love.

4. Eat a balanced diet - I say 'balanced' loosely as it is a term we are all used to but if you imagine aset of balancing scales then the side with fruit and veggies should be *a lot* heavier than the chocolate and crisps side. What you put in to your body really, really affects what your body looks like on the outside. If I have a girls night out on a Saturday I can guarantee spotty skin for at least 5 days afterwards from the alcohol. Always. Without fail. That is how sensitive your skin is. Processed foods and foods containing lots of fat and refined sugar aren't welcome in the skin. Strawberries, peaches and blueberries however are very good at feeding the skin and giving an all round nicer complexion.

5. Find your favourites - Not every product will work for everybody and that is why there is such a huge range to choose from. If your best friend has gorgeous, clear skin and raves about a certain product - she may just be lucky and it may not work for you, but something will. Using the wrong product can clog the skin or have the opposite effect of what you want it to do. Reading reviews is an excellent way to choose products if you find somebody who seems like they have a similar skin type to you. Or, my favourite, go for a facial! You can have your skin treated, assessed, pampered, massaged and most importantly come away with a skincare routine that is specifically tailored to suit your skins needs.

These are all little lifestyle changes and you could give all 5 a go or just try one at a time and see what results you get.

I'm also going to share tricks for an instant/overnight fix on those blemishes because I'm a ledge and nobody likes to wait. But this is annoying long term and prevention is better than cure, preach.

- Pure lavender essential oil (a very small amount) can reduce the redness in a spot.
- Pure tea-tree essential oil has antibacterial properties so if you are worried about a spot that looks spectacularly ferocious, pop some of this on.
- If you dab a tiny bit of aftershave on a spot, the alcohol helps to dry it out. Warning: can attract awkward questions.
- Do not squeeze it! What was a spot now has an angry red mark around it, plus it will fill with water and look like a spot again, not to mention the possibility of a little scar. If you want it to disappear for the time being, blend a little concealer over it.

And please remember, spots are something we all get at some point in our lives, whether it is once a month around our chins (the area connected with our hormones), when we are stressed and frazzled or even for no. bloody. reason. at. all. Wonderful.