It can take years and dozens of trips to the dermatologist to discover how to get rid of acne on your unique skin. Everyone has unique skin types, skin tones, lifestyles, and genetic histories that make it impossible to have a single piece of one-size-fits-all advice.

However, we've rounded up the best advice on how to get clear skin. Read on for our favorite ways to get your skin to look and feel its best.

1. Wash your face daily. 

The first and most important rule isn't groundbreaking: Remember to wash your face. Cleansing and treating your skin twice a day is the best way to keep breakouts away. The no.1 rule is always go to bed with clean skin to prevent any germs, dirts or makeup to clog up your pores.

EltaMD Foaming Facial Cleanser	Origins Checks And Balances Frothy Face Wash	Clarins Purifying Gentle Foaming

2. Don't over-exfoliate your skin.

Scrubbing your face daily with grainy cleansers and exfoliating products can do more harm than good. When done too often, it can cause redness, inflammation, and irritation. Exfoliating a pimple can pull away healthy skin cells and create an open wound and higher risk for scarring. Exfoliation should be done with caution, and not more than 2-3 times a week maximum.

BIOEFFECT Volcanic Exfoliator	Filorga Scrub & Mask	Clarins Men Exfoliating Cleanser

3. Regularly change your face towel. 

When you think about it, consistently reaching for your go-to face towel every day is like reusing a dinner napkin over and over again. Using dirty towels can harbor bacteria, and they can even introduce new bacteria to your skin, which may lead to more pimples. However, this doesn't mean you need to reach for a new towel every single time you wash your face. As long as you're truly washing off all of your makeup, you can stick to switching out your towels on a weekly basis.

4. Moisturize

Worried moisturizer will make your acne worse? Think again — it can actually help improve your skin. If the skin surface is dry and dehydrated, the oil glands tend to overproduce oil and this can make acne worse. Hydrating the skin surface can re-balance oil glands and help control acne and improve healing.

Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing Gel	Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream	Origins Oil Free Energy Boosting Gel Moisturizer

5. Skip makeup when you're working out. 

Take an extra five minutes before hopping on the treadmill to completely wash your face and remove your makeup to minimize the risk of breakouts. Sweat is released through visible pores in the skin. When makeup covers those pores, that barrier doesn't allow the sweat to make it to the surface of the skin, which can lead to clogged pores. The trapped debris and bacteria are a perfect breeding ground for acne bumps and zits.

6. Change your pillow case.

Unwashed sheets and pillowcases lead to cross-contamination which leads to pimples. Aim to wash your bedding once or twice a week to prevent bacteria from building up and affecting your complexion. If that seems overboard, at least aim to wash your pillowcase once a week since that's where your face rests while you snooze (and dream of flawless skin).

7. Keep your phone screen clean.

Think of how many times a day you touch your phone — that thing gets pretty germy. To stay in the clear, clean your screen daily with an alcohol wipe. And when possible use the speaker option or headphones so your phone isn't resting on your face as often.

8. Use sunscreen. 

When exposed to infrared heat from the sun, acne flares up even more. The heat is damaging and can irritate your skin. 

The other important thing to note: Sun exposure darkens pigmentation. Those acne scars you’ve been trying to get rid of will only get worse if you let them soak up the sun unexposed. Hence, wearing SPF regularly is crucial in your skincare routine.

Fotoprotector Isdin Pediatrics Fusion Water SPF50 PA+++	Anessa Moisture UV Sunscreen Mild Gel	Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF50PA++++

9. Drink plenty of water.

Drinking your eight glasses isn't going to magically clear your skin, but drinking enough water and keeping yoursef hydrated improves your overall health. Plus, it won't contribute to your acne struggles like the sugar and caffeine found in sodas and coffee.

10. Manage your stress and get enough sleep. 

The side effects of too much stress and not enough sleep most definitely include acne. Stress can wreak havoc on your skin, as can sleep deprivation (since sleep deprivation, of course, additional stress to the body). That being said, obviously becoming "less stressed" is easier said than done. Nonetheless, try to do whatever you can to bring some relaxation into your life and lower stress, whether that be by listening to music, taking a bubble bath, exercising, or heading to bed earlier.