LIFE

Everyone has days when they feel insecure about their skin. We all deal with acne and blemishes—it's part of life! But getting on a path of self-love when it comes to your skin can be harder than it looks. Here are just a few tips on how to learn to love your skin. 

Understand that acne, blemishes and breakouts are *completely* normal

@realskinprogress

Most of us will deal with acne in our lifetimes, and many can relate to how debilitating it can feel to *never* seem to clear a breakout—or to find yourself getting more acne every day. 

So much of what we see online and in the media is centered around a fake idea of "perfection" (photoshopped smoothed skin, social media filters designed to cover any blemish, the list goes on). It's no wonder many of us feel insecure about our skin.

The truth of the matter is that no one is alone in this. Acne is part of being human.

Recognize what you have to be grateful for 

@fayes_skin

If you find yourself struggling with normalizing acne or breakouts, this next step might make the journey toward self-love a little easier for you. Instead of focusing on what you're insecure about, think about what you appreciate about yourself. It seems weird—and maybe even uncomfortable, right? We're not used to thinking about what we like about ourselves.

Think about what your body does for you every day. Shift the focus away from what you see on the outside and put your energy towards who you are on the inside. You have so much more to offer and are worth so much more than what you may be feeling insecure about in the moment. 

Find healthy ways of dealing with insecurities

@skinwithsoph

Your first step on a path towards loving your skin is to realize there is nothing "wrong" with acne. However, it's also OK to want to clear your skin—and this feeling isn't "wrong" to have either. If you feel like your journey to self-love involves finding a "solution" for your acne or breakouts, you shouldn't feel ashamed or bad. Instead, you should shift your focus towards having healthy skin. 

But first, hear this: Having healthy skin doesn't always mean having smooth, clear skin. It means hydrating and moisturizing daily. Healthy skin also means getting the right amount of sleep and giving your body the nutrients it needs. And while these may seem like obvious and basic tips, these steps will help you feel better from the inside out. 

Loving your skin means understanding how to properly care for it—and no matter where you stand in your journey, know that you are not alone.

How do you practice self-love and self-care? Let us know on Instagram @girlslifemag!

Slider image: @fayes_skin via Instagram
All GIFs via GIPHY

by Mina Rahmat | 1/8/2023