8 Genius Tips That’ll Give You Clearer Skin for Free

Hello beauty's

The best things in life really are free, even when it comes to your beauty routine. But taking care of your skin can be a big investment (hi, lasers and serums), so we're always down for skin care tips that don't take a huge bite out of our paycheck.

Which is what led us here: We've asked top skin care experts to give us their best advice. And the part we love the most? Not one thing below costs a single penny (assuming you already have most of these things in your kitchen).

Give Yourself a Face Massage

Got puffy eyes? No problem. Sure, you could stock up on eye cream…or you could use your fingers to give yourself an undereye massage. "Use your ring fingers to press gently on the orbital bone, moving from the inner corners of your eyes to the outer and repeating two to three times," says celebrity facialist Cecilia Wong. "This will not only stimulate circulation, but it also helps minimize fine lines and reduce inflammation."

Celebrity facialist and La Mer global skin care adviser [Georgia Louise] is also a huge proponent of massage all over your face to stimulate collagen and activate the skin care products you do use. "Your hands are your most powerful weapon," she says.

Chill Out

Literally. Louise loves her signature Facial Freeze Tools to depuff and sculpt your face, but if you're looking for a budget option, she recommends this Old Hollywood trick: Wash your face using ice water.

"I think it’s awesome to have a mega rinse with cool water if your skin is in need of refreshing," she says. Not only does the chilly temperature make you feel more awake, it can quickly reduce puffiness, tighten pores, and calm inflammation.

Switch Your Pillowcase

We hate to add to laundry to your to-do list, but keeping your pillows clean is a top beauty secret. Pillowcases can hang on to dirt, oil, and bacteria from our faces, hair, and environment, and can become a breeding ground for acne. Try to swap out your pillow covering at least once a week to reduce the risk of a breakout.

Louise recommends a silk pillowcase to "keep your products from escaping from your skin, so you can really ensure they are penetrating." Sure, it's money, but if you are looking to invest in a solid option, we're huge fans of Slip's Silk Pillowcases($85), which not only help ward off wrinkles (no creases in your pillow equals no long-term creases on your skin), but also make your hair shinier.

Sleep on Your Back

We're not going to remind you to get eight hours of sleep (which is probably the oldest free skin care tip); we figure you already know. But as essential as how much sleep you're getting is the position in which you sleep. It really does matter. "After UV exposure, the second most common cause of wrinkles is squishing your face into a pillow at night," says celebrity aesthetician Renée Rouleau. "It's like ironing wrinkles into your skin." Sleeping on your back is ideal, since even pressing your cheek into a pillow can cause lines.

Put Some Salt on It

You've got two options here: You could ice a zit to help bring the inflammation down or—even better (and maybe more comfortable)—you could salt it. "Sea salt has powerful antibacterial properties and works to pull oil from the pore," says Karen Young, founder of Oui Shave. She recommends combining one teaspoon of sea salt with enough water to form a paste. Dot this on the offending zit, let it dry for up to an hour (10 minutes for sensitive skin types), and then rinse it off.

Wash Your Hands

And not only after you go to the bathroom."Your hands are covered in tons of bacteria from touching doorknobs, keyboards, etc.," says celebrity aesthetician Joanna Vargas. "When you touch your face, you're spreading that bacteria to your skin, which then can trigger breakouts and other skin problems." If you don't have easy access to a sink but know your hands are grimy (i.e., you just got off the subway), at least make your face a hands-free zone.

Make a DIY Peel

Homemade masks are a dime a dozen, but homemade peels? Not so much. This one, a favorite of Louise's, requires a few household staples: baking soda, water, and a splash of lemon juice. Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water, and squeeze in a little lemon juice. Apply it to your face and let it dry for five minutes before rinsing with water. Allot another five minutes for checking out your newly radiant skin.

Bend Over

You don't have to step foot into a class or let the word namaste out of your mouth to reap the skin perks of yoga. "Our skin benefits from poses that send blood flowing toward the face," says Young. Even holding a Downward Dog for three to five minutes can boost circulation, giving your skin a glow.

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