Like many teenagers, I struggled with problematic skin throughout high school. Even though it wasn't always that noticeable, I could always see and feel it. I felt like my pores were constantly clogged even though I felt like I took good care of my skin. I've always been adamant about what I thought was taking good care of my skin; I would not leave the house in the morning without washing my face and I would not go to bed without doing it either. Eventually, I learned there's a lot more to it than the actual washing. For the past year, my skin has been more radiant and clear than it ever has before. Here's how:

1. Only Drink Water

This seems like the simplest thing, but it honestly helped more me more than anything else! It means eliminating caffeine and sugary drinks which always seemed to cause problems for me. When doing this, I felt like I was passing the recommended 8 glasses a day rule so my skin was constantly hydrated and I was flushing toxins out. From time to time, I will do this if I have a breakout and within a matter of days, I can see an awesome difference It can be difficult though for this to work because you can't cheat; only water.

2. Use Natural Products

When I say natural, I mean it most likely can't be found at the drugstore because it has all natural based oils and ingredients. I struggled mainly with blackheads, so I would always reach for an abrasive scrub from the drugstore, but I never really saw a difference. Now, most of my daily skincare products are from LUSH. I use "Angels On Bare Skin" for a daily face wash ("Ocean Salt" for exfoliator), "Eau Roma Water" spray for a toner, and "Cosmetic Lad" as my moisturizer. I never have any problems with these and they're great for prepping for makeup; I don't even need a primer!

3. Eat Raw Foods

The saying "you are what you eat" is true...at least in my case! Whenever I eat something that's super oily or greasy like fries, I can feel it almost immediately building up on my skin. Eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you can because it helps so much. What you put into your body must come out...and for me, this meant clogged pores. Personally, I feel like drinking water and eating wholesome foods has been more responsible for the improvement than any product has. Incorporate as many raw foods as you can; pineapple and blueberries contain loads of antioxidants which help flush out pore-clogging substances.