As someone who has been acne prone since I was a teenager, I understand that dealing with problematic skin as a dancer can have a huge emotional impact.
If you’re at the point where you’re struggling with self esteem because of acne (or any other skin condition) just know that you are not alone in that feeling and you will not feel like this forever. As absolutely cheesy as it sounds, no-one else notices your ‘imperfections’ other than you. They are too distracted by your smile, your bright eyes, your talent.
Before I get into the skincare tips I do want to make it very clear that this is not a do-this-and-you-will-have-perfect-skin-article. Skin issues have such a variety of different causes that it would be impossible to provide a one size fits all approach. The reason I’m saying all this is because when my skin was at it’s worst, I used to get so upset to see posts from models with flawless faces, saying that the reason they have beautiful skin was because they ‘drink two litres of water a day.’ My eyes are rolling so far into the back of my head just thinking about it because it’s simply not true.
So this post isn’t about ‘fixing your skin’, it’s simply about how over my own journey I learnt to take better care of my skin and give it the lovin’ it deserves. And we all know dancer skin especially needs some loving around concert time when we’ve been caking on the makeup. (Speaking of concert time, if you’ve got one coming up then you should grab this dance concert checklist I made. Only available for a limited time!)
Below are just a few easy changes all dancers can make that will help your skin be a little happier. Note: this post has been approved by a dermal clinician.
Washing off your makeup after every day.
I bet you already knew this one! It’s so important for dancers to be cleansing their faces morning and night to get rid of the sweat, dirt and makeup. Even though makeup wipes are the easiest option, you’re best to go for a proper cleanser. Double cleansing at night will also help ensure you’re removing your makeup completely.
Try to destress
Stress has long been known to have adverse affects on skin. So try to incorporate strategies that deal with stress on a daily basis and find what works best for you. It could be meditation, or it could be reading your fave book. If you need some other ideas, take a look at this article.
Keeping your hair off your face
Try to tie to keep your hair as far away from your face when you’re dancing. Sweat plus oily hair rubbing against your face should be avoided where possible.
Wash your makeup brushes
Yep, this is important. A lot of bacteria can live on those years old sponges or brushes. Continuously putting unclean brushes on your skin leads to breakouts and more inflammation. Most experts say we should be washing our foundation brushes once a week to avoid a build up of yuck stuff! I wash my makeup brushes with my skin cleanser and then leave it to dry before the next use.
Eat well
Research has shown there is a correlation between our diet and our skin. So make sure you’re doing your best to eat five serves of veggies per day, and two serves of fruit. We know that when we not eating well it can wreak havoc on our skin. Breakouts, inflammation and even dark circles can be exacerbated by a poor diet.
Clean your phone and pillowcase
Just like makeup brushes, lots of bacteria can come from your pillow case and your phone. So just make sure you’re regularly cleaning them to avoid any unnecessary dirt being transferred to your face.
Probiotics
More and more research has come out pointing to the effect our gut health has on our overall health, and skin is a big part of that. Taking a good quality probiotic can help replenish good gut bacteria and aid in avoiding troublesome imbalances that can have an affect on our skin. Having good gut health can even contribute to better sleep and better uptake of nutrition.
See a skin expert
If you’re not at the stage where you want to go to the doctor for your skin, but still would like to get some personalised advice about your skin, then go see a dermal therapist. They are different to beauty therapists as they specialise in skin and have done a degree at a University level. A dermal therapist will work from the outside in with your skin and know what it takes to make serious skin change. They can create treatment plans for acute concerns as well as monitoring your skin in the long run. Make them your BFF as a great relationship = great skin for many years to come.
Go see a doctor or a naturopath
If the state of your skin is at a point where it’s making you upset, then by all means go see a doctor. If you’re into a more natural approach, then perhaps go see a Naturopath. Both doctors and naturopaths will hopefully try to get to the root cause of what is causing your skin concern and will develop a plan from there. Naturopaths attempt to heal you from the inside out, however it’s important to find someone who is investigative and not just selling you a plan. Your internal health is very individual and should be customised to you.
Ultimately, a healthy body, a healthy mind and great skin are all interrelated.
Until next time,
Happy Dancing! xx
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