I've struggled with acne since I was a kid.

After tons of trial and error, these three easy habits made the biggest difference for my skin—no matter what products I use.

1. Stick to a Simple 3-Step Routine

More doesn't always mean better. Overloading your face with too many products can clog pores and cause irritation, especially if you're mixing actives like retinol, AHA, and vitamin C. Keep it simple: toner, serum or essence, and moisturizer.

2. Reduce Sugar and Carbs

Cutting back on refined carbs and sugar changed my skin within a week. Since I can't avoid them completely, I limit rice and noodles to 20% of the week and go for brown rice or shirataki noodles when I crave them. Bonus: this habit also helped with weight loss!

3. Stay Hydrated

Hydration inside and out is key. Drinking water helps flush out toxins that show up on your skin. And no matter your skin type, using moisturizers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides can improve your skin's texture and barrier.

Start with these small changes, and you might be surprised at how much your skin can improve!