Hey beautiful,

Did you wash your face today? How’s that new cleanser feeling on your skin? And those serums you bought, are they brightening and hydrating as promised?

Well, what if I told you I had a few secrets to share? What if having healthy looking skin meant more than just the products you use? Maybe you already know this, but I’m here to remind you of a few lifestyle changes that will help you on your journey to not only clear skin, but healthy skin.

CONFIDENCE

First things first, It’s always important to have a positive mindset about this. Don’t ever feel like you’re less than and always try to redirect the negative thoughts. I know we all look in the mirror and instantly point out the bumps, scars, red marks or dry spots. We tend to focus on what we don’t like about our face when in reality you are not defined by those little bumps. You are infinitely beautiful inside and out. It doesn’t take clear skin to know that. So next time you are looking into a mirror tell yourself how gorgeous you look today and forget about the rest. I know it’s hard and it’s something I struggle with at times too. But you won’t feel any better if you constantly bully yourself about it.

Whenever my skin has cleared up and my dark circles fade I always make sure I’m grateful because we all feel a little more confident with brightened, pore-less, smooth looking skin. Remember to also appreciate your natural skin as well. Our skin is delicate and we should be taking care of it the right ways.

Now, for what you’ve been waiting for. Let’s talk more ways to reaching healthy skin. Don’t worry, at the end I’m sharing the products I’ve been loving lately to give you an inside look into my skincare routine with ‘bioClarity.’

SLEEPCYCLE

You might be wondering how your sleep cycle can affect your skin, but how many hours of sleep you get actually plays a big role in healthy skin. Notice how your eyes are a little puffy and your face might look dull in the mornings. We won’t get into too much science behind this, but basically lack of sleep raises cortisol levels. Thus triggering inflammation, which breaks down the proteins that keep your skin smooth and bright. Inflammation also can cause more acne prone skin.

Not only is 7 to 9 hours of sleep vital for healthy skin, but what you're sleeping on also plays a huge part in why you might be experiencing breakouts. Think about this…

We all have those occasional moments of laziness after a long work day where we just crawl into bed and let the day sink in before taking our makeup off. Then the other nights where we grab a wipe or cotton pad to remove our makeup, but forget to wash our faces after. Now, think about all of that left over dirt and makeup that transfers to our pillow when we sleep. It doesn’t seem that bad until you realize how important it is to wash your face before a good night’s sleep.

Wash your face morning and evening
You could exfoliate your skin once a week
Change/wash sheets and pillowcases once or twice every week or couple of weeks

If you want to, you can also invest in silk sheets because silk is overall gentler on the skin. The fabric absorbs less moisture and provides a breathable temperature.

FOODS/DIET

It’s common knowledge to most of us that water is an important part of healthy skin. The more hydrated you stay, the fewer amount of visible wrinkles and lines you'll see. Not to mention the reduced puffiness, clearing up acne, smaller pores, and overall faster healing that water helps with. These are all great benefits. Water is also the key to maintaining a healthy pH balance. It flushes out toxins and moisturizes your skin. If that isn’t enough to persuade you to drink your fair amount of water… let this just simply be a reminder that water is good for everything and not just for clear skin. Let’s go over a few diet tips and different foods that permit clear skin. More and more studies are showing the link between what we put in our bodies and how it manifests into our appearance.

Consuming low glycemic index foods, including any kinds of protein sources, chicken, pasteurized eggs, vegetables, quinoa, steel-cut oatmeal, sweet potato, brown rice, etc can actually work to clear up acne. Foods that are packed high with antioxidants are important because they have anti-inflammatories that aid the body to heal itself while also protecting it against further damage.

5 foods to avoid when having breakouts & WHAT TO EAT INSTEAD

Skim milk - drink probiotics instead
Sugar or grain based foods - eat whole foods instead like fish, meat, veggies
Bananas - eat cherries instead
Specialty Coffees - drink green tea instead
Fruit juice/dried fruits - try eating trial mix instead

MY SKINCARE ROUTINE

Let me introduce you to bioClarity. This skincare company embodies the green lifestyle and is for anyone embracing healthier skin. bioClarity creates plant-based formulas with their proprietary ingredient Floralux®. Floralux® has been proven to dramatically reduce acne and aid in overall prejuvenation and is a blend of copper-chlorophyllin complex + antioxidants that work to deliver life changing results. The ingrediants have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that help minimize (the appearance of) pores and improve the signs of premature wrinkling, drying skin, pigmentation changes, and age spots.

When I first heard about this brand, it was from a night routine on YouTube a couple years ago and I learned about their online skin quiz. They ask you a few questions about your skin and then create a routine with products that are right for you based on your answers. This grabbed my attention because as a young woman who wanted healthier looking skin but had no routine or idea where to start, this quiz made it easy for me to do so. It was the first step to feeling confident about taking care of my skin. I don’t have severe acne, but I do occasionally get the random bumps that come with my period or if i haven’t been eating the proper foods.

THE PRODUCTS I USE FROM bIOCLARITY

Ultimate Clear Skin Routine + Deep Hydration

This routine has a maximum hydration level and includes:

**Cleanse** is a “*gentle foaming facial cleanser with the detoxifying and calming power of cucumber, green tea and chamomile. It has a subtle herbal scent and leaves your face feeling clean, smooth, and refreshed.”*

**Treat** is an *“acne treatment gel that combines exfoliating salicylic acid, soothing oat kernel, and moisturizing squalane to battle blemishes without the burn.*”

**Restore** is a “nutrient-packed green gel with Floralux, our exclusive blend made from chlorophyll, copper, and antioxidants, which helps soothe skin, reduce the appearance of redness, and battle breakouts. This lightweight gel absorbs into skin, leaving a dewy finish.”

**Drink It Up** is an “oil-free, highly-concentrated, and super-hydrating serum delivers an immediate surge of hydration while continuously releasing moisture all day or all night. Use Drink It Up to provide 48-hour hydration, promote cell turnover, protect against environmental stressors, fight signs of aging, and keep your skin soft and dewy even while you’re sleeping!”

**Pore Purifier** is a *“clay masque designed to fight breakouts and purify pores, leaving you with a refreshed, tighter, toned appearance. It’s the perfect deep pore detox!”*

**Skin Smoothie** “This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer softens and hydrates without excess oiliness or stickiness. Hydrate is non-comedogenic so it won’t clog your pores and is designed to provide light hydration without feeling too heavy or greasy on the skin.”

**Zen** “This ultra-calming serum puts rough, blotchy, irritated skin into a state of peace and calm. It’s jam-packed with soothing botanicals & vitamins that keep you from feeling flushed and quickly absorbs into the skin.”

Before you go…

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this week’s post. If you are new here and reading my entries for the first time… welcome to A Dreamer’s Life! I’m so pleased to have someone to share advice and personal experiences with. I am super excited for the future of this blog & to bring you more content documenting a very free lifestyle especially since I’ve had the best time doing this for over a year now.

A big part of this blog is to not only help you reconnect with yourself but also to create a lovely support system. This is a place you can always come to escape the overwhelming realities of the world. So first things first, how are you feeling? Tell me about your passions and inspirations and why you ended up here. I want this to be a place where anyone can freely and unapologetically be themselves. Feedback & suggestions are always welcome. Reach out to me anytime you’d like and be sure to sign up for my email campaigns for upcoming posts.

I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us.

Follow me on my other socials for day to day updates on what’s happening in my life. Everything will always be linked down below. You can expect more from me very soon. Love you guys and see you next week.

- Anna

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