Sleep on Clean Sheets

You should be changing your sheets at least once a week to avoid snuggling up in oil and dirt. Since movement in your sleep puts pressure on your skin that leads to friction, you want linen to be clean and bacteria-free. I recommend making your own DIY linen spray [1] with germ-fighting essential oils, vodka, and vinegar or spritzing Caldrea Lavender Spray [2] (£7) on your sheets between washes.

Get the Benefits of Sweat Without the Negatives

Your sweat is a concoction of oil, dead skins cells, and bacteria that clogs pores. That's why it's essential to shower after a particularly raunchy day. The good news is that perspiring is a great way to purge bacteria from your pores, but make sure that you rinse those impurities away so it's not reabsorbed through the skin. If you can't get to a shower right after exercising, don't fret — just stash an oil-controlling body spray in your gym bag for post-workout touch-ups.

Save the Heavy Moisturizers For Winter

Heavy butters are great for combating dry skin in the Winter, but during warmer months, you should swap the lotion for a lighter moisturiser like Rad Soap Co.'s Chaga Face Cream [3] (£27). If you typically apply sun protection on top of a moisturiser, consider gentle creams that have additional SPF protection like Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion [4] (£10).

Exfoliate Weekly

Exfoliating is a popular way to relieve bacne, but it's also a preventative measure as well because it sloughs off dead cells and makes room for healthy, strong skin. This should be a biweekly practice because exfoliating too often [5] can irritate the skin.

Since back skin isn't usually as sensitive as what's on your face, treat yourself to a hearty body scrub like Odylique Cotton Candy Body Scrub [6] (£25) to slough off dead skin and debris. This exfoliator is great for dry or sensitive skin.

Get Your Steam On

The heat from a steaming shower can help open your pores before you apply body wash. A mild steam treatment works to soften and draw blackheads up from the surface and to help flush out excess oil. Just don't steam for too long — a maximum of 15 minutes is recommended.

Depending on where you live, hard water might flow out [7] of your pipes. Your state's water testing records are part of the public record, so you can check them online. If you find that your water supply includes impurities such as chlorine or radon, you should consider investing in a stabilising shower water filter.

Protect Your Back From Your Hair

Many of us produce more oil when it's warm because the heat increases oil production in our sebum glands. If you feed your dry hair heavy treatments, excess oil in that product can lead to bacne when your strands touch your skin. Stay away from silicones and sulphates in your haircare products, and stick with gentle brands like Aubrey Organics [8].

Keep your hair tilted while you wash and condition your mane. This keeps it off your body, which protects your back. After you shower, style with a towel to avoid any drippage from damp strands. My secret is using the same moisturising agent on my hair that I do my face — coconut oil will hydrate both [9].

Wear Loose Closing

Tight clothes and backpacks cause friction that leads to spots. Naturally, if you're sweating up a storm, that's only going to contribute to the horror that is bacne. Do yourself a favour and opt for looser tops and dresses on those particularly hot days. If you must put on that body-con dress, stick to natural, breathable materials [10] like cotton or silk.