10 Healthy Habits for Clear Skin

Originally published on November 21, 2022 | Last updated on July 25, 2025

It’s safe to say that having clear skin is a goal we all share. However, it isn’t always easy to achieve. Many of us will spend hours researching beauty secrets to no avail or spend money on expensive skincare products to try to improve our skin. Although switching up your skincare routine can be effective, it’s important to know that your daily habits matter just as much as the products you use. Are you trying to find out how to clear up and rejuvenate your skin? Start with these 10 healthy habits for clear skin:

1. Wash Your Face Twice a Day

Washing your face just once a day isn’t going to be enough if you’re on the quest for clear skin. It’s essential to cleanse your face both when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed in the evening. Washing your face in the morning is a great way to wake up. It also removes oil buildup and ensures you have a clean face before starting your AM skincare routine and applying any makeup. In the evening, no matter how tired you are, it’s vital to cleanse your face to remove any makeup, dirt and pollution from the day.

Make sure to use a cleanser that doesn’t strip your face completely of its natural oils. I would recommend Indie Lee’s Brightening Cleanser – it works great for all skin types!

2. Drink Enough Water

It can be very easy to forget to drink enough water each day. Every organ in our body relies on water, including our skin, so drinking enough is crucial for clear skin. There are some tips and tricks that you can do to remember to drink enough H20. Make drinking water the first thing you do every morning. That way, you’re starting the day off in a healthy way and you’re more likely to fit the recommended 8 glasses in if you start early. Another idea is to invest in a good water bottle to encourage yourself to drink more water. This water bottle is a great pick. Its TempShield protection helps keep your water cold for up to 24 hours.

Read this post to find out more ways to drink enough water every day and its amazing benefits.

3. Eat Healthy, Nourishing Foods

Eating healthy is another one of the healthy habits for clear skin. You’ve probably heard of the phrase, “You are what you eat.” Well, it’s completely true! The foods we eat each day have a direct impact on our skin. Foods packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, also known as superfoods, can help you achieve clear skin. Incorporate healthy foods like dark leafy greens, fruits, legumes and grains. An easy way to ensure you are nourishing your body is to eat a diet rich with all the colours of the rainbow. For example, spinach or kale for your greens, berries for your reds, carrots and sweet potatoes for your oranges, and so on.

Read this post I wrote on the best superfoods for glowing, clear skin.

4. Cut Down on Sugar and Processed Foods

When you eat sugary foods, fizzy drinks, processed carbs, and alcohol, your blood sugar spikes, which causes inflammation throughout your body. This results in your body creating excess sebum. Inflammation and excess sebum can both lead to acne breakouts. So if you suffer from acne, it may be worth reducing your sugar intake to see if your diet is the cause of your breakouts. This study found that people who frequently consumed added sugars had a 30% greater risk of developing acne. Avoid these foods and instead eat a balanced, healthy diet filled with plenty of fruit and vegetables to help maintain clear skin.

5. Try to Stress Less

We all feel stress from time to time for various reasons, but it’s vital to make sure you don’t let it control your life. Our skin tends to show signs of stress quite quickly. Is your skin breaking out for seemingly no reason? It very well may be down to stress. It’s thought that our skin may produce more oil under stress, which results in clogged pores and acne. Try to let things go, focus on the positives, take time out to relax, and make time for self-care. Certain hobbies such as journal writing, exercising and reading, can help alleviate stress.

Read this post for some helpful tips on how to stress less.

6. Make Moisturising a Priority

Moisturising is an essential step in your skincare routine and one of the most important healthy habits for clear skin. Did you know that dehydrated skin can lead to oily skin? Our skin overproduces oils when it gets too dry, which leads to clogged pores and acne breakouts. That’s why keeping your skin moisturised is a must for clear skin. Moisturisers keep the skin looking plump, supple and radiant. They’re also key for preventing signs of ageing. In the colder months, you may need to use more moisturiser to keep your skin hydrated. Whether you go for a water or oil-based moisturiser, the trick is to find out what works best for your skin type.

This moisturiser by the Ordinary is a hydrating moisturiser infused with hyaluronic acid that’s suitable for all skin types. A great pick!

7. Exfoliate Once a Week

Exfoliating your skin every week is the best way to remove dirt, impurities, dead skin cells and excess sebum. When you regularly exfoliate, your skin will be left looking and feeling smooth, clear, glowy and vibrant. Please remember not to over-exfoliate. This can lead to your skin drying out. Just 1 or 2 days a week works best.

Read this post for my DIY Yogurt, Oat & Honey Face Mask recipe. The oats in the face mask act as a gentle exfoliator and work great for removing blackheads and dead cells, leaving your complexion bright and radiant.

8. Don’t Forget Sun Protection

Sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin against harmful UV rays from sun exposure. Dry skin, premature ageing, sunspots and hyperpigmentation are just some of the effects on the skin that too much sun exposure can cause. To prevent this, apply sunscreen every morning to protect and keep your skin clear and healthy. Some creams and makeup bases already have SPF included – however, if it’s very hot or if your skin is very sensitive to the sun, you may need to apply sunscreen separately.

This sunscreen by Ren is a quick-absorbing, mattifying, clean, broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen with a silicone-free formula.

9. Know Your Ingredients

Knowing which ingredients work well for your skin is very important. All of us are different and your skin is unique to you. Bear this in mind when choosing a new product to make sure that you don’t have any sensitivity to its ingredients. In addition, it’s always a good idea to choose safer skincare products when possible. Personally, I like to know which ingredients I’m putting on my skin. I also tend to go for more natural skincare products as my skin reacts better to them. A great resource is EWG’s Skin Deep Database, which allows you to learn what’s really in your personal care products. You’re able to check to see if a product contains harmful ingredients such as parabens, or any ingredients that don’t agree with your skin.

10. Get Your Beauty Sleep

Last but not least, make sure you get enough sleep each night. Your skin uses sleep hours to heal and repair itself from the day. When you get a full night’s sleep, your skin gets the chance to improve. One study found that two days of sleep restriction negatively affected the participants’ appearance, including their skin. Always aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

So those are the 10 healthy habits for clear skin. If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to improving your skin in no time. I hope these tips helped. If they did, please consider sharing this article. Thank you!

Love, Telina