1. Cleanse like a pro

Cleansing is the most important step in your skincare routine, advises Amber Scott, national training manager of Ella Baché. “The right cleanser for your skin type will clean the skin of impurities, balance oil flow, and hydrate and soften the skin. Some cleansers can do even more for the skin to exfoliate and decongest. I educate my clients to cleanse for approximately two minutes so the cleanser has enough time to work and deliver results.

Using a make-up remover beforehand isn’t essential because cleansers should effectively remove make-up. So do it twice, two times a day. Remove the first cleanse with a sponge or facial wipe, and the second with water.”

Try: Ella Baché Gel Pureté Démaquillant, $62

2. Avoid the urge to squeeze pimples

“Picking pimples is not a good habit,” warns Debbie Dickson, director of DANNÉ Montague-King in Sydney. “When people squeeze, it can rupture the duct that produces oil. This can cause trauma, infection and, eventually, scarring. You can remove the white head, provided that you don’t press too hard. Always wrap your fingers in a clean tissue first. Once the infection has been removed, apply ice to cool and then an anti-bacterial solution to heal and disinfect the area.

“If you have lots of pimples in one spot, try a professional treatment that uses a ‘disencrustation solution’. This is slightly alkaline to soften and swell, making extraction easier.”

Try: Nivea Visage Young bye-bye spot! SOS-Stick, $8.95

3. Shun the sugar

“Reducing your sugar intake may be the best way to keep skin glowing from the inside out,” suggests Kylie Bingham, nutritionist for Tony Ferguson. “Everything you put into your body is reflected in your skin.

"If you have a diet that’s high in fat and processed foods, and lacking fruit and vegetables, your skin will show that. In our teens and twenties, our bodies are generally more forgiving, so we seem to get away with a lot more. Once we hit our thirties, however, the body’s ability to rid itself of harmful toxins becomes less efficient, ultimately decreasing the integrity and appearance of our once-glowing skin.”

Limiting sugar in the diet, as well as sugar additives, is vital in helping to maintain a clear, glowing face. This can be tricky, however, as food labels don’t always spell out added sugars, in which case you should look out for any products that contain things such as corn sweetener, corn syrup, sucrose or sorghum. Or, better still, reach for fresh fruits and vegetables, and your skin will begin to emit a radiant glow from the inside out.

To undo damage that may have been caused from eating a diet high in refined sugars and carbs, change to fruit, especially blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and plums. Also try fish, such as salmon and cod, broccoli, and vitamin E, which is found in almonds, sunflower seeds, avocados and green tea.

4.Go green (your skin will reward you)

Everything we use on our face and body goes into our system or gets washed down the drain, so natural products make sense. “One of the most startling realisations about nature is how sophisticated it is,” says Jeremy Muijs, founder of Grown, an organic skincare range.

“I think our culture of science and technology has almost brainwashed us to believe that if it doesn’t come from a magical formula synthesised by a laboratory, it isn’t much good. We [at Grown] believe that when it comes to nature, the original is better than the copy. The biological structure of the skin is designed to recognise and utilise natural ingredients. This is why powerfully formulated natural organic skincare is so effective, because it fuels the skin’s regenerative abilities.

One of the most important considerations when using a skincare product is whether or not the ingredients will be accepted by your body. An allergic reaction is when an ingredient is rejected by the body, viewing it as toxic.

Some of these toxins are stored in fat cells, while others trigger a reaction in the body known as oxidation. One of the side effects of oxidation is the production of free radicals. Among other things, free radicals actually increase the signs of ageing, causing dryness, fine lines and wrinkles.”

Try: Grown Facial Moisturiser, $48