BeautyNews

Lip Piercings: Your Guide to Pain, Aftercare, and Cost

So you're thinking about getting a lip piercing—congrats! You're officially one-million times cooler than I am. Some unsolicited background info: I haven't had anything pierced since 2002 when I got my ears pierced for the first time at Claire's (where else?). It's not that I'd never get a piercing again, but I'm just a one-and-done kinda gal with wildly low pain tolerance. These days, I prefer to play the role of a cool mom who's making sure you're prepped and ready for the critical aftercare process.

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Now *Joe Goldberg voice* on to you, because I’m guessing if you're here right now, you're strongly considering making a lip piercing appointment—or, at the very least, strongly considering...strongly considering. Whatever the case may be, I've got you and your anxieties covered with the help of two professional piercers and a board-certified dermatologist. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know before getting your lip pierced, from the many different styles options, to how much a lip piercing costs, how much a lip piercing hurts, and more.

What is a lip piercing?
This one is mostly self-explanatory: A lip piercing is a type of body piercing that pe*****tes your lips and/or the immediate surrounding area, like your philtrum (that tiny groove that runs from your Cupid's bow to the base of your nose). As with ear piercings, there are tons of piercing styles to choose from, depending on the ~aesthetic~ you're going for.

What happens during a lip piercing?
The procedure is similar for all piercing styles. After marking your lip piercing placement with a skin-safe marker, a professional piercer (this is not a DIY activity, people) will hold a surgical clamp on the piercing site, then create piercing hole with a hollow needle. The piercer will then add your jewelry of choice as the last step, whether it's a gauge, stud, hoop, or ring.

What are the different types of lip piercings?
Not to overwhelm you, but there are at least 14 different types of lip piercings. Making matters even more complicated, they go by different names in a professional setting versus IRL. So to help break down some of the options, I tapped Johnny Pearce (yup, that's his *literal* last name) of Nine Moons Piercing in New York City. Ahead, get a mini-lesson on five of the most popular lip piercing types.

Labret piercing
Pronounced "lah-bret, not lah-bray" (per Pearce), this piercing lives "dead-center on the vertical midline of the lower lip, placed just below the vermilion border" (aka the line you trace when applying lip liner). Your piercer will add a flat-back stud for a labret piercing, but Pearce notes that some people swap to a lip ring after it's completely healed.

Vertical labret piercing
Your piercer will use "a needle—followed by a curved barbell—to perforate the protruding crest of the lower lip in a vertical motion," says Pearce. "Most often, these types of piercings are placed in the center of the lip, along the vertical midline of the face.” But if you want to change things up, he says this type of piercing can also live on either or both (!) sides of your lips.
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Vertical philtrum piercing (aka "jestrum")

The vertical philtrum—aka the “vertical medusa" or "jestrum”— blends the visual aspects of a vertical labret and a philtrum piercing. "With a vertical philtrum, we pierce straight through the crest of the upper lip, so the top of the curved barbell earring rests on the center of your philtrum, while the other end exits through the bottom of the upper lip," says Pearce.

Inverse vertical labret piercing (aka "Ashley")
This style (nicknamed the Ashley piercing) is located in the center of the lower lip. "It's pierced straight through the mucosa tissue—the plushy, pink part of your lip—and exits with the flat-back sitting on the inside of your lip," says Pearce. "My piercing method utilizes a flat-back stud, however, some methods use a curved barbell."

How bad do lip piercings hurt?
This will probably hurt a bit, bb, but the exact pain level varies from person to person. "'How much is this going to hurt?' is probably the most recurring question clients ask me," says Pearce, adding that it's nearly impossible to gauge how a lip piercing is going to feel for you because of all the factors at play: "biology, anatomical variables, location, method, speed, quality of materials, etc." he says. "It's much more complex than just your personal pain tolerance."

If it's any consolation, though, Atlanta-based professional piercer Cozmo Faris says, "lip piercings tend to be really easy in general." He notes that those with fuller lips may experience more inflammation during the healing process, which can be uncomfortable, but otherwise, he deems lip piercings a "fairly low-intensity situation." Of course, pain is super personal, though, so you won't know until you try.Your lips need these rings and studs

What is the healing time for lip piercings?
Sit tight: Faris says the healing time for piercings is generally two to four months, but can occasionally take up to six months. Lots of factors play into how long healing may take, especially when you consider each person's "aftercare, personal health, and diet," he says.

Meanwhile, board-certified dermatologist Jenny Liu, MD, says the first few weeks after getting pierced are crucial to the healing process, because the piercing needs to re-epithelialize (i.e., create scar tissue to seal the literal hole in your lip and protect it from bacteria). So aftercare is incredibly important, which brings us to...

How do you clean a lip piercing?

To clean your lip piercing while it's healing, all you need is a sterile saline solution. "Saline washes are a simple mix of sea salt and distilled water that's great for rinsing new piercings and removing crusties or debris," says Faris. (And no, you shouldn't try to DIY this one—sterility is key!). Just spray it directly onto your piercing for five seconds, then let it air-dry, or gently pat it dry with a clean paper towel only. "You want to avoid products like cotton pads or cloth towels as they can snag and leave behind little fibers," he says.

How do you take care of lip piercings?
Please repeat after me: Aftercare is crucial when caring for your fresh piercing, starting with keeping the wound clean, calm, and happy. Here's an abbreviated list of how to take care of your lip piercing:

RINSE IT
For the inside of your mouth, Faris recommends using an alcohol-free mouth rinse every time you eat or drink anything other than water, which will ensure that you don’t "irritate the healing tissue."
DON'T TOUCH IT
Your new piercing is an actual open wound, so don't touch it—especially with dirty fingers. Poking and prodding it will expose the wound to potentially harmful bacteria, and an infection is the last thing you want.
AVOID IRRITANTS
After your piercing appointment, Faris says to avoid alcohol and spicy foods for two weeks, since they can “burn the fresh wound." Fun! Other things to avoid for a few weeks? Ci******es, sticky snacks, and crunchy food.
SKIP MAKEUP
Seriously, keep the makeup away from your piercing while it heals, says Faris. That same rule goes for skincare products, including (but not limited to!) oil, moisturizer, and face wash. "As a good rule of thumb, you want a saline wash to be the only product that touches your piercing directly," he says.
RE-THINK S*X
Sorry, but this isn't the time for some passionate, mouth-heavy foreplay or s*x. "Any s*xual contact that may introduce another person's bodily fluids to the piercing should wait about eight weeks, ideally." Sounds like a lot, but an infection—or a ripped-out piercing—is way, way worse than being safe.
When can you change lip piercings?
After braving your piercing and cleaning it religiously, the last thing you want to do is take it out too early and run the risk of the hole closing up. "I typically ask clients to return two weeks after the initial piercing day to shorten the jewelry," says Faris (note: The initial jewelry is usually oversized to allow for swelling), "since most of the inflammation tends to be gone by then," says Faris. "The jewelry has to come entirely out for this process, so this is a great time for you to switch up your look if you decide you don't love your jewelry choice as much as you thought you would."

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But if you don't want to switch up your piercing at the two-week mark? "I ask clients to wait until they are fully healed before attempting a jewelry change," says Faris, and when you do make the swap, leave it to the pros. "Most studios will install jewelry for free or a very small fee if you buy it from them," he says. "Having a studio install it will guarantee it's secure and also the right length and thickness for your piercing."

How much do lip piercings cost?
The cost of your lip piercing depends on your location, the piercing professional's experience, and the jewelry material you choose. Prices vary significantly from state to state, but average around $40, not including jewelry. Of course, the quality of your jewelry will play a major role in the total price of your lip piercing. Surgical-grade stainless steel and implant-grade titanium should cost less than precious metals, like 14-karat gold or platinum.

Oh, and don't forget to factor a tip into the equation. A 20 percent tip is customary, but there's no rule that says you can't go higher if you're pleased with their work. After all, you low-key put your life in their hands—and now you look damn good.

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The Best Skin Secret? Try Putting Ice on Your Face (Yes, Really)

While there’s no time like the summer to cool off, putting ice on your face is a year-round skincare strategy. From functioning as a natural makeup primer to taking cheekbones to new heights, ice cubes are a secret weapon for many top facialists and makeup artists.

YouTube star Lisa Eldridge swears by ice facials to combat early set times and jet-lagged models. Is redness your problem? Just bring a frozen block to the roof of your mouth, where receptors for your face’s blood vessels live. And for flare ups, they also act as spot-on treatments for breakouts says Austin-based aesthetician Renée Rouleau. No matter what state your face is in, experts weigh in on how fresh-out-of-the-freezer cubes, especially when blended with green tea, caffeine, or milk (!), can help increase blood circulation, minimize pores, and soothe inflammation for clear, radiant skin.

Jumpstart a Healthy Glow
For as long as he’s been performing transformative facials, celebrity facialist Ole Henriksen has incorporated ice cubes into his treatments. “They dramatically improve circulation in the skin for that healthy glow we all want,” he says. To boost results, he’ll brew and freeze rosehip seed tea, which is high in Vitamin C, as well as antioxidant-packed green tea. For application, Henriksen suggests wrapping an ice cube in a thin cotton handkerchief and massaging it across the skin.

The age-old ice-cold trick can also enhance the hero products of your regimen. “If you apply a serum to the skin and put ice on it afterwards, the capillaries restrict and it creates a pulling effect that helps ingredients pe*****te deeper,” explains Rouleau. Celebrity facialist Joanna Czech is also a fan of the extra icy step—particularly when masking. After using La Mer’s The Brilliance Brightening Mask, she seals in the illuminating and skin-softening ingredients by gliding gauze-wrapped cubes along the planes of the face.

To get the glow in one quick step, however, take a page from the supermodel playbook and make like Kate Moss. Inspired by Joan Crawford’s no-holds-barred approach to vanity portrayed in Mommie Dearest, the 45-year-old model has been known to submerge her face in a sink of icy water to counteract morning-after puffiness.

Sculpt Your Cheekbones
For more sensitive skins, and souls, Henriksen suggests a slightly modified alternative to the face plunging technique: After filling a bowl up a third of the way with whole milk, which contains cell-regenerative Vitamin A and naturally exfoliating lactic acid, add ice cubes before drenching a face cloth in the bone-chilling blend. “Hold it across the entire face for 15 seconds and repeat up to five times,” he says. Or, tap into into the global beauty trend of face sculpting and work a frozen milk cube from the center of the chin along the jawline to the earlobe, then upward towards the highs of the cheekbones, under eye region, and across the forehead, he says. Repeat the massage for 5 minutes to get the firming, contouring effect.

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Chill Angry Breakouts
While the underlying cause of blemishes and cystic acne is bacteria, a dose of chill can help relieve pain and decrease inflammation by constricting the blood vessels. For Rouleau, the trick is to alternate ice cube application with a warm compress on the flare-ups for about six cycles. “This stimulates circulation, allowing the body’s immune system to calm down and clear out blemishes and cysts,” she says. To bolster this kind of spot treatment, Dr. Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City, dissolves an aspirin into warm water before freezing, as the acetylsalicylic acid helps to dry up breakouts.

If you struggle with redness or rosacea, experts caution against applying anything that’s too hot or cold to the face. However, you can still reduce the flushing of the skin by applying an ice cube to the roof of your mouth. It’s a receptor site that constricts blood vessels in the face when cooled, says Dr. Fusco.

Banish Under-Eye Bags
According to Czech, ice cubes can be used as an eye treatment in one of two ways. “Use a cold compress made out of cotton and chamomile tea and rest it on your eyes for a few minutes,” she says. “Or, wrap ice cubes in gauze and slide the cubes from the inner eye corners up towards the brow in a circular motion.” Either way, the drainage of excess fluid will dramatically improve the appearance of tired-looking under-eyes. Another trick? Dr. Fusco freezes iced coffee squares as the caffeine’s constrictive properties help with swelling.

BY LAUREN VALENTI
May 30, 2022

Lucy Hale Used to Cry About Her Acne. Now She’s Accepted It

When you have adult acne, it’s easy to feel alone, as if you’re the only one getting breakouts past the age of 18. However, anywhere between 12% and 22% of women ages 26 through 44 experience acne, and that number is increasing by the day (on the other hand, only around 3% of adult men experience the condition). In our Acne Diaries series, we’re asking influential women who happen to have acne about their relationship with their skin and the products they use to keep it happy. Next up: actor Lucy Hale.

You’d think acne would have been the least of Lucy Hale’s concerns when she showed up on set to film Pretty Little Liars. But it often wasn’t newfound fame, nailing her lines, or navigating on-set relationships that caused her the most stress; it was her constant breakouts.

“There were tears,” Hale tells Glamour. “There were days when I didn’t want to be in front of a camera. I remember vividly one day we were filming Pretty Little Liars—and the show’s called Pretty Little Liars, so they wanted us to look a certain way—we had to specially light my skin to reflect in a different way so you wouldn’t see my acne. I remember being just so embarrassed and mortified.

“When you’re growing up and you have bad skin, it’s just another added layer of getting comfortable with who you are,” she says of why her skin had such an effect on her sense of self. “I think the reason I’m so obsessed with skin care and beauty is because I struggled with my skin—you just want to crawl in a hole. It feels very isolating, and it can feel so heavy and so difficult. Looking back, I wish I could have had more grace and compassion with myself, but when you’re in it, it’s excruciating.”

While her acne was a source of shame when she was younger, she’s gained perspective over time. Sure, it still bothers her some days, but knowing she’s not alone in her skin troubles has helped immensely. “What I’ve learned is when I meet someone, I’ve never once said, ‘Oh, they were so wonderful, but look at their bad skin,’” she says. “That just doesn’t cross my mind, so it makes me realize no one cares. No one cares as much as we think they do.”

Like many women, Hale never struggled with acne as a teen. It wasn’t until her early 20s that her skin became an issue. She says she’s “tried it all” to get her skin under control, including countless dermatologist visits, seeing an esthetician, and changing her diet. “I think what makes it so hard for people, and why I found it so challenging, is that there’s so much out there,” she says. “Especially with social media, there are so many trends. It’s hard to know what’s right for you.”

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What ended up helping her manage her acne is getting to the root of her unique skin type. “I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to use the products that people with dry skin would use,” she says. “I wanted to use everything, so I’d just use all the products, not knowing I was going to have a reaction. Now I know I have combination skin, which is oily in some parts and dry in some parts, and that’s what leads to the breakouts.”

She has simplified her elaborate skin-care routine to a few crucial steps and worked with a trusted esthetician to find products that work for her. She is also working from the inside out, cutting dairy—as much as she can while still enjoying her life—and working on her gut health to help her skin heal.

While these steps have helped level out her skin, the biggest adjustment has been her mindset. “I think I’ve just accepted that I’ll deal with breakouts my whole life,” she says. “It’s also important for all of us to realize that skin has texture. Skin has pores. Skin has zits. We don’t see that as much anymore because we’re all on our phones, and we’re seeing all these filters and gorgeous people, and so it’s hard for us to remember that it’s okay to have skin that looks like skin.

“I’m 32 now, I definitely have just in general let go of expectations,” she continues. “I think I’ll always care to some extent, but I think I have way more compassion for myself. And if I have a breakout instead of being like, ‘Oh, God, what am I doing wrong?’ I'll say, ‘Oh, wow, I must be stressed,’ or ‘I must be not having enough water.’ I try to find a solution as opposed blaming myself. I’ve definitely lightened up a lot more.”

Below, Hale shares what’s currently keeping her skin happy.

My makeup
If I have a breakout, or just if I have to wear makeup in general, I panic because I’m like, “Oh, God, my skin’s going to get clogged,” and I truly have a physical reaction to knowing I’m going to be in makeup. That’s why I love Almay products in general. [Editor’s note: Hale is an ambassador for the brand.] I really stand behind the products, what they do for your skin and the messaging behind them. They’re hypoallergenic; they’re tested by a dermatologist. The man who created Almay actually made it for his wife who had troubled skin, which I thought was so romantic.

The Clear Complexion Foundation and Concealer just got a formula upgrade. There’s salicylic acid in the products, which is medicine for zits, basically. My anxiety about makeup is eased a little bit when I know I can put these on. I love them.

Almay Clear Complexion Foundation
Courtesy of brand

Almay Clear Complexion Foundation
$12 at Walmart
Almay Clear Complexion Concealer
Courtesy of brand

Almay Clear Complexion Concealer
$7 at Walmart
My favorite ingredient
I used to have a 20-step skin-care routine, and I loved that. But now, simple and consistent is the way to go. I have a very, very, very simple routine. It’s just about letting my skin breathe when I can. I used to think because I would break out that I shouldn’t add more moisture, but when your skin’s dry, it’s going to try to take care of you and produce more oil, and that’s what leads to breakouts.

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I love hyaluronic acid, always, always, always, but I didn’t realize it needs to be used on damp skin. Otherwise it doesn’t seep into the skin. Now I put it on right after the shower. With other products, I’ll avoid certain places. I put certain things here, certain things there. But with hyaluronic acid, I know that it’s good for my whole face.

My treatments
I’m a big facials gal. I love all sorts of everything— I’ve done some microneedling, I really like that. But a good Hydrafacial, I would do it weekly if my skin would allow it, but I probably do it once a month. I see Sora Connor at Joanna Vargas, and she is just so knowledgeable, she kind of customizes it for whatever my skin needs.

My humidifier
There was a time when I was like, “Why is my skin so dry? I don’t understand.” It’s because I had the heat cranked at night. All the moisture was sucked out of my skin. I have a humidifier in my room; it does wonders for the skin.

My cryo tools
My morning routine is, I have these eye patches that I stick in the fridge. And you know those cryo balls? I just do that in the morning, and it wakes up my skin. It’s kind of the same idea as cold water on your face; it, like, shrinks your pores.

My supplement powder
I have a wellness powder that I have in the morning before anything else touches my stomach, before coffee or breakfast. It’s from ActivatedYou. My friend Maggie Q. actually started the line with a doctor. It’s a green powder with all the pro- and prebiotics that you need for the day. I also was not educated about gut health until recently. I don’t know why it never crossed my mind that what you’re putting in your stomach has a direct effect with your body, but it does. I’ve really noticed a difference in my skin. I used to get really clogged around here, like on my jawline, and since I started that in my morning routine, it’s really helped

By Bella Cacciatore

15 Genius Tips That’ll Give You Clearer Skin for Free

Outside of Facetune, there's no magic eraser that can instantly get rid of acne or make your skin smooth. But if you want to know how to get clear skin without spending a fortune, there are some reasonable steps you can take to make your complexion glow brighter and feel softer—provided that you don't have chronic adult acne or a skin condition.

Ahead, we asked estheticians and dermatologists to share their best skin-care tips and home remedies that are actually quick, affordable, and—most important—effective. While they're not a replacement for a solid skin-care routine and won't have the same kind of long-term effect as lasers or injectables, experts say they really can make a difference no matter your budget.

Here's their top advice on how to get clear skin—or at least clearer skin—for free.

1. Give yourself a face massage.
Got puffy eyes? No problem. Sure, you could stock up on eye cream…or you could use your fingers to give yourself an undereye massage. “Use your ring fingers to press gently on the orbital bone, moving from the inner corners of your eyes to the outer and repeating two to three times,” says celebrity facialist Cecilia Wong. “This will not only stimulate circulation, but it also helps minimize fine lines and reduce inflammation.”

Celebrity facialist and La Mer global skin-care adviser Georgia Louise is also a huge proponent of massage all over your face to stimulate collagen and activate the skin-care products you do use. “Your hands are your most powerful weapon,” she says. We're also big fans of this face “workout” that helps strengthen your facial muscles and boosts circulation.

2. Rinse your face with cold water.
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Louise loves her signature Facial Freeze Tools to depuff and sculpt your face, but if you're looking for a budget option, she recommends this Old Hollywood trick: Wash your face using ice water.

“I always recommend rinsing with cool water if your skin is in need of refreshing,” she says. Not only does the chilly temperature make you feel more awake; it can quickly reduce puffiness, tighten the appearance of your skin, and calm inflammation.

Celebrity facialist Candace Marino adds that you should always use cool water instead of hot when washing your face. “Hot water not only leaves your face feeling stripped,” she says. “It can also weaken your skin barrier, lead to dehydration, and aggravate any inflammatory processes—like acne, rosacea, and melasma. Washing with cool water will keep your skin calm and prevent exacerbations of any skin conditions you're trying to ward off.”

3. Switch your pillowcase.
We hate to add to laundry to your to-do list, but keeping your pillows clean is a top beauty secret. Pillowcases can hang on to dirt, oil, and bacteria from our faces, hair, and environment, and can become a breeding ground for acne. Aim to swap out your pillow covering at least once a week to reduce the risk of breakouts. (Treat your face masks the same way, and swap them out as much as possible to decrease “maskne” from forming.)

Louise recommends a silk pillowcase to “keep your products from escaping from your skin, so you can really ensure they're penetrating.” Sure, it's money, but if you are looking to invest in a solid option, we're huge fans of Slip's Silk Pillowcases, which not only help ward off wrinkles (no creases in your pillow equals no long-term creases on your skin), but also make your hair shinier.

4. Sleep on your back.

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We're not going to remind you to get eight hours of sleep (which is probably the oldest free skin-care tip); we figure you already know. But as essential as how much sleep you're getting is the position in which you sleep. It really does matter. “After U.V. exposure, the second most common cause of wrinkles is squishing your face into a pillow at night,” says celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau. “It's like ironing wrinkles into your skin.” Sleeping on your back is ideal, since even pressing your cheek into a pillow can cause lines.

5. Use gentle soap.
According to Smita Ramanadham M.D., a plastic surgeon and founder of Skin by Dr. Smita, harsh soaps are a big no-no. “They can irritate your skin by stripping its natural oils that are important for hydration,” she says. “Using harsh soaps can cause any previous skin conditions to worsen or flare up, including acne or rosacea.” Swap a harsh cleanser for a more gentle formula like CeraVe.

6. Go makeup-free.

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If you're comfortable skipping makeup most days, do—especially if you're working from home because of COVID-19. “My clients who wear minimal or no makeup on the daily have the clearest and healthiest skin,” says Marino. “Save makeup for events, just be sure you're wearing a SPF every single day to protect your skin.”

7. Wash your hands.
“Your hands are covered in tons of bacteria from touching doorknobs, keyboards, etc.,” says celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas. “When you touch your face, you're spreading that bacteria to your skin, which then can trigger breakouts and other skin problems.”

While you don't really need to be reminded to wash your hands in 2020, just be sure to give them a good rinse before you touch your face, even if you've been inside all day. Or better yet, try to keep your hands off your face entirely.

8. Apply skin care to damp skin.
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An easy swap to make? Improve the absorption of your skin-care products by applying them to damp skin. “After washing with warm water, our skin is generally damp and our blood vessels are vasodilated,” says Ramanadham. “By applying our serums and other products at this time, we improve their absorption and efficacy.”

9. Ice a zit to calm it down.
When you're dealing with a red, inflamed pimple, head to your freezer instead of trying to pop it. “Applying ice directly to the blemish will help to decrease inflammation, reducing the size and visibility of the spot,” says Marino. She also recommends hydrocortisone cream to help reduce redness and swelling, which most people have on hand in their medicine cabinet.

10. Bend over.
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You don't have to step foot into a class or let the word namaste out of your mouth to reap the skin perks of yoga. “Our skin benefits from poses that send blood flowing toward your face,” says Karen Young, founder of Oui the People. Even holding a Downward Dog for three to five minutes can boost circulation, giving your skin a glow.

11. Make a DIY moisture mask .
When it comes to exfoliation and blemish fighting, skip the DIY route and go with products made by pros. But if it's hydration you're after, you can whip up a moisturizing mask in your own kitchen. “I have a great DIY at-home mask recipe for dry winter skin,” says Vargas. “It contains yogurt, which is an anti-inflammatory with a lactic acid component, and avocado, which I recommend for any skin type because it has lots of B vitamins and fatty acids. I also add a little honey for hydration."

Mix a half cup plain yogurt, half of an avocado, and a quarter cup honey together, then leave it on your face for 20 minutes. “It'll really transform your skin,” she says.

12. Clean your makeup brushes.
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We know you've been putting it off, but regularly cleaning your makeup brushes can make a huge difference in your skin. “Brushes harbor bacteria, debris, and oil and can frequently cause acne or inflammation in your skin when repeatedly used without cleaning,” says Ramanadham. Check out our guide to properly cleaning your makeup brushes to make sure they're bacteria-free.

13. Back away from the bath towel.
Just like your pillow, your towel can be a sneaky cause of acne. “If you're struggling with breakouts, use a paper towel instead of your bath towel to dry your face after cleansing,” says Vargas. “Using a towel will result in a possible harbor for bacteria, which can spread breakouts.”

14. Wash your face as soon as you’re done working out.
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While working out is great for your skin, body, and mind, lingering sweat is not. “Washing your face immediately after you exercise removes oil, sweat, and bacteria rather than allowing it to sit on your skin, where it can clog pores and cause breakouts,” says Ramanadham. While you may be tempted to wait until you shower, wash your face as soon as you can after your workout to prevent this buildup.

15. Identify your stress busters.
We know “stressing less” is way easier said than done, but it's something to consider. “Our bodies and minds are directly linked and stress or lack of sleep can often manifest itself in health conditions and exacerbate skin problems like acne,” says Ramanadham. “Stress and lack of sleep induce the hormone, cortisol, which triggers our skin to produce more sebum or oil.” This increase of oil then can clog pores and lead to more breakouts.

“It's so important to set aside time during the day for self-care, even if it's just for a few minutes,” says Ramanadham. “It can be working out, reading a book, meditation, whatever works for you to de-stress and unwind.”