You would think being a full-grown adult we wouldn’t be dealing with acne, but even at 39 it still happens from time to time! Usually, for me, it’s when I don’t get to wash my face quickly enough after the gym but whatever the reason is, I want that breakout gone as fast as possible! Gone are the days of going ridiculously overboard with products or homemade remedies, today, I know a little bit more about how to handle my skin and banish those acne breakouts.
The Cleanser – Bliss Clear Genius Clarifying Gel Cleanser
Before I get into treatments, I think I should mention a good cleanser suited for your skin will be one of the first steps in staying acne-free. Most days I stick to a gentle cleanser, but when it starts heating up more, I like to add in an acne cleanser to get ahead of the problem. I’ve really enjoyed Bliss Clear Genius Clarifying Gel Cleanser. It has the acne-fighting power of a BHA (salicylic acid) to reduce sebum and unclog pores, along with Brazilian seawater that detoxifies and soothes while willow bark extract, a secondary gentle exfoliator that further helps keep pores clear. My skin feels fresh after using this cleanser — never that dry or tight feeling of being stripped, however, if you have dry skin I would caution usage and possibly look for a creamy wash. Best of all it runs around $10-13 depending on where you buy. Find it at ULTA or Target.
The Exfoliant – First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads
These glycolic and lactic acid-soaked pads get a lot of praise from me because they work well and never seem to irritate my skin! I use First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads almost daily (weekends I usually skip all exfoliants) and have seen whiteheads shrink and flatter quicker and open comedones heal faster with consistent use. Not to mention, they can make your complexion smoother and brighter too (wave goodbye to PIH spots)! While it’s not listed as an acne-specific product, there is no denying that it has helped control breakouts for me while also acting as an anti-aging product. As with any product that contains an exfoliant, you will need to assess your tolerance. I started out just two days a week and now do five. Find it at Sephora or ULTA.
The Spot Treatment – Inkey List Succinic Acne treatment
A cleanser and pads are a good preventative treatment, but when a pesky spot still sneaks by and pops up on our chin, I start to add in a spot treatment. There is no need to douse your entire face in additional treatments unless you like going overboard and overwhelming your skin. A good spot treatment can target pimples without drying out the surrounding skin, but the Inkey List Succinic Acne treatment does more than that. Succinic acid, salicylic acid, and sulfur powder reduce inflammation and gently exfoliate while absorbing excess oil. Hyaluronic acid goes the extra step to keep the skin from drying out. Since the formula has sulfur in it, some can detect a scent. I don’t, but my husband does. Both my husband and I use this product, with him only tolerating it once a day, but I can tolerate it both morning and night. I really like the Inkey list in general for its no-nonsense, no fluff approach to educating its customers about ingredients while keeping things affordable. I love a good luxury product but affordable and obtainable is always a win in my book. Find it at Sephora.
The Post Popping Bandage – Cos RX Acne Pimple Master Patch
So you went ahead and did it. You popped the sucker that was bothering you because it was staring at you in the mirror day in, day out and you’d rather attempt pimple surgery than wait it out. We’ve all been there! Props to everyone that can keep their hands off their face. It’s a hard habit to break and I’m mostly good but sometimes I get a pimple I think I can extract and then I learn my lesson all over again. If you refuse to keep your hands off your face, then you definitely need Cos RX Acne Pimple Master Patches. How do they work? You place a near-invisible hydrocolloid patch over a popped pimple and it will do two things. One, it will draw out all the fluid from inside the pimple flattening it out. Two, it will protect it from any other bacteria getting inside. Clean the pimple and surrounding skin FIRST though! I will put these on for as long as possible and take them off when I wake up. I’ve actually even worn these outside shopping! They are ALMOST invisible. ALMOST. I forgot I was wearing them and went about my day. I was slightly embarrassed when I realized but no one looked at my funny. These babies work — but in my experience ONLY on a popped pimple. Find it at Amazon.
The Post-Workout Mist For Face And Body – Briotech Topical Skin Spray
While a hypochlorous spray sounds super scientific and possibly dangerous, it’s actually something super beneficial for our skin! Hypochlorous (HOCL) is something made by our bodies to fight infection and reduce inflammation, enhancing the body’s ability to heal itself. A HOCL spray, like the Briotech Topical Skin Spray, is what I use post-workout to help combat acne on the face and back. I initially learned of this product from Jen of My Beauty Bunny and bought it immediately after. I initially bought it to help heal a sweat rash but have used it long-term for preventing acne. It has no scent, it doesn’t tingle or dry you out. It actually feels like water sprayed on the skin! I live that this has multiple uses for it (cleaning cuts or scrapes) and find it pretty refreshing to use! Find it at Amazon.
Do you have some go-to solutions for acne that you think should be added to the list? Share in the comment section below!
