I never thought that I’d still be worrying about acne at 29, but my skin had other plans.

The topic of acne came up recently when I was out with one of my best girlfriend’s, now in her early thirties. As we stared into a department store mirror surveying emerging creases in our foreheads and lines around our eyes, my friend remarked that she’d always assumed that her acne would be long gone before she had to worry about wrinkles.

We often think of acne as being something that affects teenagers, which they eventually grow out of, but that’s not always the case. In fact, around 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will have at least one acne outbreak. And, it’ll probably happen the day before their wedding or vacation, because life can be fun like that.

Luckily, there are way more over-the-counter options out there than there used to be. One of my faves – Life Brand Clear Action Oil Absorbing Sheets – combats acne and keeps my face feeling and looking clean! I love that I can use ‘em on the go, or even keep them in my bag. Whether I’m in the midst of a major breakout or feel one coming on, they’re a quick and effective way to rid my skin of excess oils AKA the primary cause of acne AKA the devil which lurks within my epidermis.

Like all Life Brand products, the Clear Action Oil Absorbing Sheets are great quality and super affordable; they get the job done real good! However, it’s up to YOU (and me, and alllllll of us) to establish good habits when it comes to caring for our skin on the daily. Here are some of my tips to keep your beautiful faces clean and clear:

  1. Wash your face in the morning, at night and after the gym. This should go without saying but we all get lazy from time to time and forget. Did you know that makeup traps free radicals in your skin? Gross. Wash it off, gurl!
  2. Leave your zits alone. Don’t squeeze them. Don’t play with them. DON’T TOUCH THEM. They will go away eventually, I promise.
  3. Protect your skin from sun damage. Be sure to use sun protection daily with an SPF 30 or higher. Look for products labeled “noncomedogenic” as they won’t clog pores, causing breakouts.
  4. Don’t wear makeup to the gym (see #1).
  5. Drink lots of water. This is something I struggled with for a long time as I kept forgetting. Now I use an app to schedule reminders on my phone, and my skin has never looked better!