The Best Skin Solutions For Acne Prone Skin

Here's a breakdown on the best products to battle breakouts

What Is Acne Prone Skin?

Hormones, stress, genetics and external aggressors can lead to breakouts such as blemishes and acne. A blemish forms when pores gets clogged with dead skins cells, oil and bacteria, while acne is a series of multiple and consistent breakouts when bacteria are present. Blemishes can be whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Squeezing, popping or picking at a blemish can lead to scars, discolouration and hyper-pigmentation. To help you tackle these skin concerns, you need the right products.

Above Photo: Shiny Diamonds on Pexels

Ingredients To Know

Most spot treatments contain varying percentages of either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide as active ingredients. salicylic acid (a.k.a. beta hydroxy acid or BHA) works beneath the skin's surface to reduce oil inside pores while benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria on skin's surface and in pores. It also thwarts the bacteria that causes zits so it's an ideal active ingredient for treating inflammatory acne blemishes.

There is also alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs—includes glycolic acid) that exfoliates dead cells on the skin's surface. Sulfur draws out excess oil from clogged pores while retinoid improves cell turnover to reveal smoother skin.

Facial Cleanser: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

Above Photo: First Aid Beauty

It can be hard to find an acne cleanser that isn't drying, or worse, too storng for your sensitive skin, causing even more breakouts. The First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser is supercharged with powerful botanical antioxidant blend that safeguards against environmental aggressors while also calms irritated skin. It also contains aloe leaf extract that hydrates and gently cools your face while cleansing. This non-stripping, pH-balanced formula works to maintain skin’s natural acidity and helps reduce flare ups, never leaving skin feeling tight or dry.

Spot Treatment: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

Above Photo: Mario Badescu

This on-the-spot fixer uses acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid, sulfur and calamine, which reduces redness. The nighttime treatment tackles surface blemishes quickly so you can wake up to clearer-looking complexion.

Tip: Don't shake the bottle. Just dip your cotton bud into the pink sediment and dab on targeted areas on your, face, back, chest or neck.

Chronic Acne Treatment: The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

Above Photo: The Ordinary

For those in constant battle with blemishes including whiteheads, blackheads, and deeper cysts, this solution is clean beauty is formulated with salicylic acid. The 2 percent treatment solution exfoliates the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes, unclogs pores and clears any impurities for better skin clarity.

However, it is not recommended for those with sensitive, peeling or compromised skin. The beta hydroxy acid (BHA) also may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so always apply sunscreen after use.

Preventive Treatment: Allies Of Skin Promise Keeper Blemish Sleeping Facial

Above Photo: Allies Of Skin

This nightly leave-on treatment mask is effective as a curative and preventative measure to keep skin clear thanks to its pH level of 5.2 to 5.7 formula packed with anti-blemish complex, 15 antioxidants and brighteners, colloidal silver and organic rosehip oil. It also improves skin texture and lighten blemish marks.

Serum: Sunday Riley U.F.O. Ultra Clarifying Acne Treatment Face Oil

Above Photo: Sunday Riley

When breakouts leave their mark, turn to skincare that visibly improves the appearance of discolouration as well as scar depth and size. Infused with exfoliating 1.5 percent salicylic acid, this fast-acting, quick-drying, purifying oil not only battles and prevents blackheads and breakouts, but also brightens and reduces post-acne discolouration with the help of hexylresorcinol and liquorice.

It also contains antibacterial tea tree and black cumin seed oils to combat spot-causing bacteria, while neroli and chamomile calm redness. And, to counter the potentially drying effects of salicylic acid, cucumber and milk thistle are added to maintain moisture levels.

Cover-Up: Urban Decay Naked Skin - Colour Correcting Fluid

Above Photo: Urban Decay

Those who use make-up regularly should consider oil-free formulas and corrective solutions that conceal problem areas. Keep your dark spots and redness at bay with this is colour-correcting skin fluid packed with vitamins C and E for flawless, blemish-free skin.

Sunscreen: REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30 Mattifying Face Sunscreen Broad Spectrum

Above Photo: REN Clean Skincare

One of the most important steps in preventing skin blemishes is using sunscreen diligently. We love this vegan, cruelty and silicone-free sun protector that uses recycled plastic in its packaging in a bid to protect the environment.

Topics

Skincare Acne

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