How to Get Clear Skin in a Day

Some simple methods to quickly clear breakouts

Last Updated: May 22, 2022 References

Whether tomorrow you have a big interview, prom, school picture day, or you simply need a fresh start for your skin, you may want to get clear skin fast. It usually takes a few weeks to get skin clear and healthy. Most medically verified means of clearing skin take more than a day to work. However, there are some holistic approaches that some claim are effective. While they have not been proven, there is some anecdotal evidence supporting them. If you want to try to clear your skin in a day, some natural face masks and spot treatments may be effective for you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Trying Masks and Creams

1
Use a clay mask. Some believe a clay mask can help penetrate the skin, removing oil and bacteria. This can help clear your skin fast, leaving your face with a fresher look. To make a clay mask, you will need cocoa powder, kaolin powder clay, and distilled water. You may be able to get these ingredients fast at a local health food store. Kaolin clay can be hard to find, so you may have to order it online.^{[1]
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- Place the one tablespoon of clay and one tablespoon of cocoa powder in a bowl and blend well. Add a tablespoon of water and blend into a paste.
- Use your fingers to apply a thin layer of the paste onto your face. Use your fingers to push the mask around your face in upward motions. Avoid getting too close to the eyes and lips.
- Keep the mask on for 15 minutes. Once the mask is slightly dry, wash it off of your face and pat your face dry with a clean, dry towel.
2
Try aloe vera gel. Gel containing 50% aloe vera has been shown to make over-the-counter skin products more effective. These studies were conducted over the course of 8 weeks, so this will not necessarily clear your skin in a day.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} However, some advocates of home remedies and holistic medicine feel dabbing aloe vera gel on problems spots can cure acne fast. It's recommended you dab the gel on acne and blemishes, let it sit for an hour, and then wash it off.^{[3]
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3
Wash with over-the-counter acne products. When it comes to clearing skin, over-the-counter options can help. While they do not promise clear skin in a day, they are effective for many people who want clear skin.^{[4]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} It's a good idea to wash with over-the-counter products when you're trying masks and creams, as this can potentially make more natural approaches work faster, which can speed up the skin clearing process.
- Go for products containing benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. You should also try products containing sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid.
- Be careful with over-the-counter products if you're tying to clear your skin in a day. Side effects of these products may include things like redness and scaling. It may be a good idea to only use over-the-counter products you've tried before in conjunction with other treatments.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Household Items

1
Rub garlic onto problem areas. Empirical research does indicate garlic is a powerful natural antibiotic and also has anti-fungal properties.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Some believe this means garlic could fight off bacteria in the skin, which may cause acne and blemishes. Try slicing a garlic clove in two and then rubbing it into your pimples. Let the juice sit for 5 minutes and then wash off in lukewarm water. You can repeat this process as needed to clear skin.^{[6]
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- As with any natural remedy, there is no guarantee this will work. If your skin feels itchy or irritated after your first attempt, you may want to stop trying with this method. You do not want to do anything that may cause your skin problems to get worse.
2
Cleanse your face with cucumber. There is some research that suggests cucumber contains chemicals and vitamins that help with healthy skin.^{[7]
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Research source} Some believe this makes cucumber a fast-acting acne cure. There are several ways you can use cucumber to attempt to clear skin fast.^{[8]
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- You can grate some cucumber and apply it to the problem area. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then remove.
- You can slice a cucumber and place it in clear water. Let it soak for an hour, allowing nutrients to seep into the water. Then, strain the solution. Use the water to wash your face.
- You can also make a face mask. Grate a cucumber and mix with a cup of oatmeal. Mix in some plain yogurt until you form a paste. Apply the mask to your face, let sit for 30 minutes, and then wash off with lukewarm water.
3
Apply honey to problem areas. Some believe honey has certain properties that promote healing of the skin. However, studies conducted were largely inconclusive, showing little evidence that honey helps heal skin issues.^{[9]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} However, anecdotal evidence indicates honey has cleared skin fast for some. If you want to try to clear your skin in a day, wash your face with honey instead of a regular cleanser. See if you notice a difference.^{[10]
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4
Use steam. Steam treatments may help skin clear faster, as it forces out dirt, dust, and oil without making pimples and blemishes worse. Place your face over a pot of boiling water for 2 or 3 minutes and see if you notice your skin clearing.^{[11]
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- Be careful not to lean in too close over the water, as this may burn your skin.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Treating Your Skin Before Bed

1
Spot treat problem areas with a drying lotion. Pick up a drying lotion at your local drugstore or supermarket. Look for something with antibacterial properties, and something that includes sulfur and salicylic acid. Use a q-tip to apply the lotion to any pimples and blemishes.^{[12]
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2
Apply lemon juice and leave on overnight. Many believe lemon has antibacterial properties that can help clear acne fast. Squeeze some juice out of a fresh lemon. Then, dab a q-tip in the juice and dab onto problem areas. Leave on overnight and see if your skin has cleared up.^{[13]
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3
Strive to get high quality sleep.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Making sure you have high quality sleep may improve the appearance of skin the next day. Try to make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. You can start by powering down electronics, as the blue screen from phones and laptops have a stimulating effect on the brain. You should also have some kind of relaxing ritual, like reading, that you engage in before bed to help you wind down for rest.
4
Wash your face before bed. If you want your skin to clear up fast, make a habit of washing it each night before bed. Use a mild cleanser and lukewarm water to wash your face before bed at night. Wash gently, as excessive scrubbing can cause skin irritation.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Sustaining Healthy Skin

1
Use a moisturizer with SPF. If you want your skin to stay clear, you should take steps to protect it. Sun can damage skin, making it more susceptible to blemishes and acne.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} You should use a daily moisturizer that contains SPF to protect your skin from the sun.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
2
Eat a healthy diet. Your diet may have an impact on your skin. In the longterm, eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.^{[18]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} The connection between diet and skin is still unclear, but research does suggest a better diet may promote younger, healthier looking skin.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
3
Avoid exposure to irritants.^{[20]
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Expert Source

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 26 March 2020.} Strong soaps, certain laundry detergents, and other substances that have contact with your skin can cause irritation. If you notice your skin reacts poorly to a certain substance, cease use immediately.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
4
Manage stress. If you're prone to breakouts, managing stress can help prevent skin problems. Stress can make your skin much more sensitive, triggering breakouts and irritation.^{[22]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Things like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation can help with stress management. You can find guided yoga and meditation routines online, or look for a class in your area.
- Regular exercise can help reduce stress. Try going for a brisk walk each morning to clear your head.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I improve my oily skin?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The number one top tip I can offer would be to use something that has retinol or retinoid in it. Retinoids are topical vitamin A medications that are the most effective topical treatment to reduce sebum, which is the extra oil production in the skin. Retinoids affect all of the receptors in the skin in a positive way, so if you have oily skin and you're not using a retinoid, then that's the first thing you should do. Number two, over the counter alpha hydroxy acids in washes or topical leave-ons can be a great option because they're not too irritating. Benzoyl peroxide can also really help dry out your skin.
Question

Does diet actually affect skin?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Yes, a poor diet can leave your skin looking lackluster. Eating a healthy diet may help you improve the appearance of your skin.
Question

Is it bad to wear sunscreen every day?

Mohiba Tareen, MD
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

Mohiba Tareen, MD

FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No, it's good to wear sunscreen daily. Sunscreen protects your skin from damage. Since sunburn can make your skin more prone to other blemishes, daily sun protection might even improve the look of your skin.

Warnings

It's very unlikely to fix skin problems in a day. Keep in mind experimenting with these methods may produce results, but others may irritate your skin. If you have an adverse reaction to any methods, stop use immediately.

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If you have a rash that will not go away, or an unusual mole or black spot, talk to a dermatologist instead of trying to deal with the problem on your own.

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