We’ve all struggled with acne at one time or another in our lives, and if you haven’t… get out. Even as an adult, I still get hormonal breakouts. However, I have finally figured out what makes my skin tick, and how to avoid regular, everyday acne. As always, the skincare products I will be discussing will be free of harmful ingredients. So if you want to learn how I did this, then please continue reading!
Your Pillowcase
This is often something that is completely overlooked when we are trying to solve our skin issues. You sleep on your pillow every night, which means any oil or bacteria from your hair and skin are collecting on your pillowcase. If you aren’t washing your pillowcases frequently, this can cause you to break out. You should be washing them at least once a week, twice a week if your skin and hair is prone to getting oily. In addition, I have also noticed my skin has been a lot happier when I sleep on a satin pillowcase. It doesn’t tug or cause any friction to my skin like the generic cotton pillowcase does. I purchased mine off Amazon, and they come in tons of colors. Plus they’re under $10!
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Choosing The Right Cleanser
When to use: morning and evening. I discussed in depth two of my personal favorite cleansers in my previous post which I will link here. You can even alternate these if you wish. The salicylic acid cleanser from The Inkey List is perfect for acne-prone skin, and the Matcha Hemp cleanser from Krave is amazing for protecting the pH level of your skin and not stripping the skin barrier. When your skin barrier is stripped, it causes dryness and irritation, which leads to breakouts. Products that are known for doing this are Neutrogena, St. Ives, and other harsh “acne” face washes. You want to avoid these at all costs. In fact, skip the face scrubs altogether, because the next product on this list will blow your mind.
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Exfoliating
When to use: morning. Here it is. The star of the show. Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant is literally a miracle worker. Like one of the facial cleansers I mentioned above, it also contains salicylic acid. However, it’s not harsh or stripping, and can be used daily after cleansing. I typically use it every other day (my skin is on the dry side), and I have seen a complete 180 in the clarity of my skin. This stuff is no joke. The salicylic acid and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) gently exfoliates away dead skin on the surface, as well as inside the pores, which reduces breakouts and blackheads. Green tea extract helps to sooth the skin. This is a leave on product, so no need to rinse it off. It’s literally a must have if you suffer from acne.
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Serum
When to use: morning. I discussed Niacinamide (vitamin B3) in my previous post, and I love it for acne-prone skin. It helps reduce congestion in your skin, while balancing sebum production. In other words, it helps to prevent breakouts. In addition it reduces redness and discoloration, and prevents against sun damage. It also leaves your skin feeling nice and hydrated.
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When to use: morning. Vitamin C is one of the most important skincare ingredients, for many different reasons. It has potent anti-aging properties, as well as the ability to even out your skin tone and fade scars and dark spots. I can say from personal experience that since I have used a vitamin C serum, 95% of my dark spots and scarring has completely vanished. The Ordinary’s vitamin C serum is amazing because it has the most stable form of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in it, which is also listed as the very first ingredient. The Ordinary also makes a bunch of other fantastic products, most for under $10, that far surpass the quality of some of the top high end skincare brands.
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Spot Treatment
When to use: morning and evening. In addition to these products, I have also found tea tree oil to be incredibly beneficial in spot treatment for acne. Tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It helps reduce redness and irritation, and is also thought to help reduce scarring. I have been using it several times a week for the past 5 years, and it works better than any over the counter spot treatment I’ve purchased in the past.
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Moisturizer
When to use: morning and evening. Like I’ve said before, your skin is much more likely to break out if it is not properly hydrated. However, finding the right moisturizer that won’t break you out can be a challenge. So it’s important to avoid products with a lot of crap ingredients and fillers, and go with one that is geared towards acne-prone skin types. The Acure moisturizer is great because it also leaves you with a more matte finish, so if you have oily skin you will especially enjoy this.
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SPF
When to use: morning. This Juice Beauty SPF 30 also acts as a moisturizer, so if you know you’re going to be getting sun exposure, you should reach for this instead of your normal moisturizer. Obviously you don’t need to layer this over another one, and it can be used on it’s own. What is great about this SPF is that it already has acne-fighting ingredients such as zinc oxide, which is also it’s main ingredient. Plus its coral reef safe and a certified clean product!
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Everybody’s skin type and concerns are different, and this is a generalization of products that I have found to work for me, or are highly rated with no harsh ingredients.
I am not a dermatologist or skincare specialist, nor do I ever claim to be. All my knowledge is from the time I have spent researching and testing products on myself. If you are experiencing serious skin problems, please go see a dermatologist.
I hope I was able to give you some insight and guidance in this blog post.