Kayla Itsines just shared the most amazing skin transformation

Aussie fitness queen Kayla Itsines is #goals in every sense of the word (or hashtag?). Those toned abs. That glossy hair. The endless amount of activewear. Ugh, to walk a day in her Nikes.

While it’s easy to think that she’s always had it down pat, Kayla recently posted a snap to prove to the world that her skin struggles were *real*, showing her followers just how much her breakouts wreaked havoc on her self-esteem.

Can confirm: We’re dying to know what products she used to transform her skin.

She posted a second before and after shot, drawing a circle around her acne and captioning the pic “I had just finished crying in this photo. I was SO UPSET. My skin was actually painful and I didn’t know how to fix it. I wanted someone to tell me HONESTLY what I could do, instead of trying to sell me expensive products,” she wrote.

“So I did my research and found what works for my skin. I tested a lot of different products on my skin and I think doing that just made it worse. So this is my blog 100% honest and NOTHING sponsored."

On her blog she wrote, “I stick to a simple routine, but make sure that I keep it consistent so that my skin doesn't freak out.”

And you’ll never guess what her favourite cleanser is: Cetaphil. She wrote, “I cleanse my face every night before I go to bed and I have been using the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser for years now. I like it because it doesn't irritate my skin, and is really gentle.”

Cetaphil is super affordable (it’ll only set you back $16.99 for a big 500mL bottle), so we’re stoked to know that it actually works. We love that it’s gentle to use on all skin types, so you don’t have to worry about your skin feeling red and tight after cleansing. Victoria Beckham’s dermatologist Dr Harold Lancer (who also treats Kim Kardashian, Michelle Williams AND Beyoncé) also swears by Cetaphil – so you can’t argue with that!

For moisturising, she uses Olay Complete Defence Daily UV Moisturising Lotion – another awesome budget buy that we’re about to run out and snatch up, because THAT skin. She wrote, “I switch out what I use to moisturise my face with depending on what I feel like but it is usually coconut oil, rosehip oil or the Olay Complete Defence Daily UV Moisturising Lotion. I like using the Olay moisturiser in the morning because it contains SPF 30+ and it's important to wear sunscreen on a daily basis to prevent premature ageing - especially if you are outside a lot like me!” 

Aside from her cleansing and moisturising routine, Kayla swears by a weekly face mask for deeply cleansing her pores and clearing impurities. She says, “Although daily cleansing is good I have found using a face mask once or twice every two weeks really helps to deep cleanse and get the remaining dirt out of my pores (this isn't always visible until you put a face mask on).” While she didn’t share her own product recommendation, for acne-prone skin we like the Cosmedix Detox Activated Charcoal Mask as it’s great for drawing out that pore-clogging dirt and oil.

One of Kayla’s other top tips? Make sure you wash your pillowcases regularly to avoid breakouts! “I cannot stress enough how important this is! And no, not just because I am a clean freak,” she says. “We spend every night in our beds, and if you don't clean your skin properly all the oils and dirt from that day gets transferred over to your sheets and pillows. This eventually builds up and ends up blocking your skin and may make you break out.”

“I wash my bed sheets, covers and pillowcases on a weekly basis and I think this really makes a huge difference in how clear my skin is. I will also flip my pillows over daily so I am not sleeping on the same side of my pillow every night.”

If you’re looking for more tips on how to nab clearer skin, check out the seven surprising reasons you keep getting pimples.

What do you think of Kayla’s skin care tips? What are some of your go-to products for preventing breakouts? Let us know in the comment section below.

Main image credit: @kaylaitsines