10 Skincare Habits That Will Actually Change Your Life

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and thought, “Why is my skin doing this today?” you’re not alone. Most of the women who join me inside The Clear Skin Solution feel like they’ve already tried everything. The expensive serums. The TikTok hacks. The 12-step routines. The random supplements their friend swore by.

But your skin doesn’t shift because of one magic product. It changes from the small, repeatable habits that support your gut, hormones, nervous system and skin barrier. Those are the things your skin actually responds to.

Here are the 10 habits I’ve seen make the biggest difference for both myself and my clients.

1. Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy (RLT) is like warm sunshine without the damage. These wavelengths reach deeper layers of your skin and support your mitochondria, which are the tiny energy centres inside your cells. When your cells have more energy, they repair better, calm down easier and leave your skin looking more even and settled.

RLT has honestly been the thing that’s made the biggest difference in my own skin this year. I had a stubborn sun spot that didn’t fully clear even after IPL, and it has lightened up to almost nothing. My skin looks more youthful overall, and any dark marks from the odd pimple have been fading so much faster. 

This is definitely a long-game habit, though. RLT works through consistency, not overnight magic. Most people start to see real changes around the three-month mark.

Pro tip: pair your mask with a green tea serum. A small study found that results you’d usually see after ten months of RLT happened in just one month when combined with green tea.

My Go-To (Code KATIESTEWART saves at checkout!):

• CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Face Mask: Series 2
• CurrentBody Anti-Acne LED Face Mask (combines red and blue light)
• CurrentBody Green Tea Serum

2. Retinaldehyde

Not all vitamin A is created equal. Retinol has to go through two conversions before your skin can actually use it. Retinal only needs one, which means it gets to work faster and is usually better tolerated.

It helps smooth texture, brighten tone and soften congestion without making your skin feel irritated or flaky. And honestly, retinal is my favourite skincare ingredient of all time. I will never be without it, especially now that I’m in my full millennial-skin era. It keeps everything looking smoother, fresher and way more even.

And this is one of the places I always recommend investing in your routine: serums. This is where the science, formulation and delivery system actually matter because you want those active ingredients reaching deeper layers of the skin. I usually save on cleansers and moisturizers, then put my money toward high-quality serums, especially when it comes to vitamin A.

If your skin has been feeling flat or a little dull, retinal is usually the product that wakes it back up.

My Go-Tos:

• Osmosis Correct or Renew (their MD version is even stronger)
• MaeLove Moonlight Retinal Super Serum

3. SPF Every Single Day

Even on cloudy days. Even if you are just walking to your car. SPF protects your collagen, supports your barrier, prevents hyperpigmentation from sticking around longer than it needs to and slows visible aging.

Mineral SPF is my favourite because it tends to be gentler and more predictable on sensitive or acne-prone skin. I apply three finger lengths every morning to my face, neck and chest. This one tiny habit will do more for your long-term skin health than almost anything else.

My Go-Tos:

• CLEARSTEM You Are Sunshine SPF 50 + Sunny Side Kick Brush On SPF (Code KATIES saves 15%)
• ColorScience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield + Brush On Shield SPF
• SuperGoop Mineral Mattescreen
• Tower28 SOS Faceguard

4. Double Cleansing at Night

One cleanse at night rarely gets everything off your skin. Makeup, SPF and daily buildup cling way more than you think, which can lead to congestion and irritation.

Double cleansing fixes that and takes less than two minutes.

How to do it:

1. Start with an oil cleanser or balm on dry skin and massage for 30 seconds to melt makeup, SPF and excess oil.
   
2. Add a little water to emulsify, then rinse.
   
3. Follow with a gentle water-based cleanser to actually clean the skin underneath.
   

That’s it. Your skin ends up way cleaner, softer and less congested, and your serums absorb so much better. Clients always notice a big difference once they start doing this consistently.

My Go-Tos:

• Oil Cleanser: Cosmedix Purity Solution Deep Cleaning Oil, Eminence Stone Crop Cleansing Oil, The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (budget-friendly)
• Cleanser: CLEARSTEM GentleClean (code KATIES saves 15%), ThreeShips Refresh Foaming Cleanser, The Inkey List Fulvic Acid Brightening Cleanser (budget-friendly)

5. Morning Matcha

Coffee first thing in the morning sends cortisol straight up. That can increase oil production and make hormonal breakouts feel more intense. Matcha still has caffeine, but it also has L-theanine, which gives smoother, steadier energy.

You don’t have to quit coffee forever. Just swap your first cup for matcha, or delay your coffee until after breakfast so your blood sugar and hormones get a softer start to the day. A calmer morning usually means calmer skin.

My Go-Tos:

• Matcha Latte Recipe (I use Emeri, DoMatcha or Matcha.com)
• Decaf Coffee Latte Recipe (I use Kicking Horse Decaf)

6. Cellular Hydration

Drinking water is great, but your skin needs minerals to actually absorb it. Without them, you drink and pee and drink and pee and still feel thirsty.

Adding trace minerals or electrolytes to even one water bottle a day makes a huge difference. Clients notice better energy, better digestion and fuller, plumper skin. If you sweat, work out or live on iced coffee, your body will feel this shift immediately.

My Go-Tos:

• ConcenTrace Trace Minerals
• AgeQuencher Hydrate Electrolytes
• Cure Hydration Electrolyte Drink Mix
• Blume SuperBelly Probiotic Hydration Powder

7. Alcohol-Free Seasons

We all know the ideal amount of alcohol for our skin and overall health is no alcohol. Even moderate drinking impacts inflammation, aging, hydration and hormone balance. Your skin feels it almost instantly.

When clients take breaks from alcohol, their complexion usually looks calmer, brighter and less reactive within a couple of weeks. Sleep improves. Digestion improves. Their mood steadies. All of that shows up on the face.

If you do choose to drink, try building in stretches where you skip alcohol completely, then keep it to a couple of glasses a week or just here and there. Your skin and body will seriously thank you for it.

My Go-Tos:

• Apple Cider Sangria Mocktail
• Raspberry Margarita Mocktail
• Sleepy Girl Mocktail
• Pomegranate Ginger Kombucha Mocktail
• Cucumber Basil Mocktail
• Strawberry Mojito Mocktail
• Paloma Mocktail with Honey Mint Simple Syrup
• Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Mocktail

8. Prioritizing Protein

Protein helps balance blood sugar, support hormones and keep your skin strong and resilient. It also gives your body the amino acids needed to repair tissue and maintain healthy skin structure.

Most women undereat protein, especially at breakfast, which leads to cravings, energy crashes and moody skin. When clients increase their protein, they feel more satisfied, more stable and way more glowy. I have my clients aim for 80-100 grams of protein per day (increasing slowly to ease digestion).

If your meals leave you hungry an hour later, adding more protein is usually the fix.

My Go-Tos:

• Cacao Almond Protein Smoothie
• No Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bar
• Simple Tomato, Spinach & Shiitake Mushroom Frittata
• Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos
• Mediterranean Chicken Skewers
• Sticky Maple Mustard Chicken Thighs
• Gut Healing Chicken Soup
• Hearty Beef Stroganoff
• Slow Cooker Roast Beef
• Healthy Ginger Beef Stir-Fry
• Rosemary Apple Turkey Burger with Rosemary Aioli
• Turkey Sausage & Butternut Squash Casserole
• Salmon Poke Bowl
• Honey Dijon Air Fryer Salmon
• Spiced Red Lentil Soup
• Instant Pot Lentil Coconut Curry
• Chickpea Chana Masala
• One Pot Chickpea Stew

9. Upping Your Fibre

Fibre is one of the most skin-supportive nutrients, and most people barely get half of what they need. Fibre feeds beneficial gut bacteria, supports regular bowel movements, helps move out excess estrogen and keeps inflammation lower.

When your gut is happier, your skin is happier. Jawline breakouts, puffiness and dullness often soften once your digestion becomes more regular. Aim fo 35-45 grams of fibre per day.

Add berries, chia, veggies, beans or lentils and watch how quickly things shift.

My Go-Tos:

• Fibre-Rich Recipes for Clear Skin & Happy Hormones

10. Eating Enough Healthy Fats

Healthy fats make your skin look juicy, hydrated and plump from the inside out. They support hormone production, help you absorb vitamins A, D, E and K and strengthen your skin barrier.

Avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, salmon, coconut and olives are all fantastic for skin. When clients start eating more healthy fats, they feel more satisfied after meals, their energy stabilizes, and their skin looks more glowy and nourished.

This is a small habit that makes a noticeable difference.

My Go-Tos:

• Spiced Fish Tacos with Avocado Crema
• Strawberry Avocado Salad & Maple Balsamic Dressing
• The Hormone Smoothie
• Almond Butter Smoothie
• Kale & Basil Pesto (Vegan & Nut-Free)

Bringing It All Together

You don’t need to tackle all ten habits at once. Choose one or two that feel doable, let them become part of your routine and build from there. Your skin responds best to steady, predictable habits that support your gut, hormones and stress levels over time.

Inside The Clear Skin Solution, we take habits like these and personalize them using functional testing so you understand exactly what your skin is asking for. No guessing. No random product hopping. Just clarity and a strategy that actually works with your body.

Your skin always tells the truth about what is happening inside. When you support those root causes, the changes are so much easier and so much more sustainable.