We love advanced skin treatments. We love great skincare. But sometimes, the biggest wins for your skin come from the little things you do daily — for free.
At HÜD, we see so many clients who feel like they’ve tried everything for their acne, congestion or skin sensitivity. But when we start building strong skin habits first, we often see huge improvements even before adding actives or in-clinic treatments.
Here are 5 science-backed, totally doable skin habits you can start right now.
1️⃣ Ice Your Skin Before Actives
This is one of our favourite little HÜD hacks, especially if your skin is reactive or acne-prone.
A quick 5-minute icing session before applying your actives (like retinoids or acids) can:
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Calm redness
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Reduce puffiness
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Lower inflammation
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Improve absorption of your skincare
The science? Cold therapy (cryotherapy) triggers vasoconstriction — temporarily shrinking blood vessels and reducing inflammation. Icing also lowers inflammatory cytokines, which play a role in acne and rosacea flare-ups.
How to do it:
Gently glide an ice cube or cold compress over clean skin for 3-5 minutes before applying your serums. If you’re very sensitive, wrap the ice in a clean cloth to avoid shocking your skin.
2️⃣ Change Your Pillowcase Every 2-3 Days
Your pillowcase quietly collects oil, bacteria, sweat and skincare residue every night. Leave it too long, and you’re basically pressing that buildup back into your skin for hours.
Propionibacterium acnes (now known as Cutibacterium acnes), the bacteria linked to acne, loves warm, oily environments — like your pillowcase.
The fix:
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Change your pillowcase every 2-3 days.
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If you’re acne-prone, switch to silk or satin — they create less friction, absorb less product, and are gentler on your barrier.
3️⃣ Cleanse for a Full 60 Seconds
The “60-second cleansing rule” is simple — but incredibly effective. Most people rush cleansing, but proper removal of makeup, sunscreen, and pollution takes time.
Sebum (your natural oil) traps dirt and environmental toxins. Your cleanser needs at least 60 seconds to break these down fully.
What we recommend:
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Use gentle circular motions — no harsh scrubbing.
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A gel or cream cleanser with mild exfoliants like DMK’s Deep Pore Cleanser or Enbioment Prebiotic Cleanserworks beautifully.
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Do this morning and night, especially if you wear SPF or makeup.
4️⃣ Drink Spearmint Tea for Hormonal Balance
If you’ve ever sipped our HÜD licorice tea in clinic, you’ve already met one of our quiet heroes: spearmint.
For women with hormonal acne linked to elevated androgens, spearmint tea may help regulate oil production and reduce breakouts.
The science:
Studies show that drinking spearmint tea twice daily for 30 days can lower free testosterone levels, reducing androgen-driven oil production and congestion.
How to:
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1-2 cups daily can support hormonal balance naturally.
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If your hormones tend to run on the lower side, chat with your clinician first.
5️⃣ Get 20-30 Minutes of Morning Sunlight
Natural light is one of the most overlooked skin therapies — for real.
Morning sunlight helps:
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Regulate cortisol (lower stress = less inflammation & breakouts)
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Support healthy vitamin D levels (which impacts immunity and skin healing)
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Balance your body’s internal clock (which helps your skin regenerate overnight)
The habit:
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Aim for 20-30 minutes of outdoor light within the first hour of waking up.
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Bonus: skip the sunnies for your first morning light exposure to allow full hormonal regulation (but wear them later to prevent retinal-triggered pigment production).
Final Thoughts: Little Habits, Big Results
Great skin isn’t just about the latest serum or laser (though we love those too). Consistent daily habits like these support your skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and help prevent breakouts at the root.
If your skin needs a bit more help, book a consultation with one of our HÜD Dermal Clinicians. We’ll create a personalised plan that combines great habits, skincare, and professional treatments – tailored to your skin.
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