Its no secret I struggle with acne. I talked about adult acne last November during a really tough time. I was having some of the worst breakouts of my life, that was painful and so embarrassing. I never wanted to be seen without makeup on my skin. It really hurt my confidence. Even after consulting a dermatologist I never really got answers as to what caused these issues. But after getting it mostly cleared up other than an occasional break out I have found some key products that have been key factors in my skin’s radiance.
Cleansers & Exfoliators
Cleansers are so important they are what really take the day off, all the pollution, and dirt from the day as well as makeup is cleaned away with your cleanser. I personally have no time for cleaners that can’t clean off my makeup and require that to be gone before I use it. So that’s why I love brands like Kate Sommerville and belief, and Nuria cleansers. They can fight acne as well as take all my makeup off in one cleanse. My night time skin routine is already extensive so when I can get things done in one step I really like that. Along with washing away the day my night time skin routine usually includes an exfoliator to help my skin turn over dead skin layers. A tried and true product for this is the Glossier Solution. I can’t live without this product. It is an acid exfoliator made up of an AHA BHA and PHA acid solution that also improves the appearance of acne scars and blemishes. I use this after I’ve cleansed with one of the cleansers I will then use a cotton round to swipe Solution all over my face Because this is an acid product I don’t use it more than once a day and I don’t use it if I’ve used a different AHA or exfoliating product. It’s also important to always use sunscreen when using these products…but we will get there soon.
Acne Treatments
Of course, we can’t talk about acne-prone skin without talking about acne specific products. When I’m having a bad skin day and have a break out I turn to these specific products to eliminate the blemishes faster. The Mario Badescu Drying lotion is magic in a bottle. One q-tip dipped into the sediment then dotted on to any blemish before bed and the next morning your blemish is nearly gone. Other perfect nighttime products are the Peace Out Acne Healing Dots or the Mighty Patches. These little magic bandaid are clear or flesh-colored, stick them on before bed or you can even wear them during the day, they are hardly noticeable. Leave them for about 6 hours and your blemish will completely disappear. Finally, for day time relief I love the Glossier Zitstick this product is made of 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and is a quick-drying cream in a convenient rollerball pen. It is also made with Tea Tree Oil and Capryloyl Salicylic Acid to help shrink blemishes and minimize swelling. Whenever I have a bad breakout I know these products will take them away for good.
Serums
Serums and creams are something I’ve gotten into in the last few years and even though I’m sure to have been around for a very long time I feel like only recently became more common knowledge. There are so many different types out there and they all have a purpose, instead of getting into them all I want to focus on three that I think are really important for aging and acne-prone skin. First is a vitamin c is great for evening skin tone from blemishes and is also great for improving hydration and it actually protects from daily pollutions. I love using a vitamin c serum under my makeup in the morning. The other two serums I like to use I put on during the evening. This might be a little overkill but I like using a lactic acid at night, this is also an AHA and helps with hyperpigmentation, age spots, and uneven skin. When I started using Sunday Riley’s Good Genes I saw a big difference in my skin and how even it is. Sunday Riley is a bit expensive but so worth it. I also highly recommend brands like Oridinary for all your serum needs. My final serum I can’t live without is Hyaluronic Acid. This is more for aging skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and helps to hydrate your skin for plumper skin.
Moisturizers & Sunscreen
Moisturizers are so important when trying to maintain your skin’s health. They help hydrate, fight signs of aging and also can help fight blemishes. Along with the importance of moisturizer should also be a part of your daily routine. Protecting your skin from the sun’s rays is so important for its longevity and youthful appearance. I like to keep my daily routine as quick and painless as possible so when I can combine products to cut out a step I’m more than happy to do so. That’s why I love finding moisturizers with SPF already built-in. They tend to be less greasy and have the added benefits a sunscreen might not have. My favorite daily sunscreen right now is Supergoop’s Superscreen Daily Moisturizer. It has 40 SPF, protects from pollution, blue emissions, as well as Blue-Green Algae to help nourish the skin.
Eye Cream
I just had a birthday… and have entered the final year in my twenties. Not only is that a scary time but I’m also really focused on the health and elasticity of my skin. I ultimately would like to look like I’m 23 forever. So I have added an eye cream to my nighttime routine to help defend from dark circles, fine lines and puffiness. I have been really loving the Defend Triple Action Eye Cream by Nuria for my night cream. It is cruelty, Parabens, and Sulfate-free, and rich in hydrating ingredients.
Mask
Of course, my skin needs some TLC from time to time. I love giving my hair and skin a little love at least once a week by doing some masks while doing chores around the house. For more acne days I have two go-to masks. First is the Origins 10 minute Out of Trouble Mask. This is a mask I love to do spot treatment with because it goes right to the source and I can feel it tingling and cleaning out my pores. For the rest of my face, I love using the Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy mask to deep clean and detoxify my face. These masks help clean out my pores after a long week.
If you suffer from acne I promise there is relief, there are so many great acne-fighting products out there for cleansing, helping with skin rejuvenation, and protecting your skin from acne-causing damages. Let me know if you have tried any of these products or have any go-to products!