acne !!!!!!!

Skincare is all about finding what balance works for your skin. Lifestyle and diet are definitely the most important changes to make. Avoid overly oily and salty foods, avoid alcohol.

I get horrible hormonal/stress acne around my chin and mouth. It has improved after finding my balance, but it takes about a month for your skin cells to turn over, so I'm still waiting to see final results.

Personally I don't use products with heavy chemicals in them. I try to stay all natural. I use EWG.com to help determine what is safe and what's not. Stay away from oils that clog your skin like mineral oil.

Wash your makeup brushes at least once a week. Wash your hands before applying products with your fingers.

My twice daily routine is:

Wash Face with salicylic acid cleanser

Spray skin with hydrating mist

Fresh Rose mositurizer

hyaluronic acid eye cream

And twice a week I exfoliate and do masks. I usually alternate detox and hydrating.

A lot of people dry their skin out when they have acne and that actually causes more acne because your skin will over produce oil. So don't skip moisturizing daily.

Don't pop pimples when you get them, and try to do a few days makeup free.

According to my PS, this chart is accurate

Charcoal masks are my favorite!

I have also struggled with acne on and off since I was about 15 :/ I’ve been using Mary Kay’s clearproof face wash and moisturizer twice a day for a year now, plus I’m on prescription benzaclin and adapalene (they’re topical gels, not pills or anything) each of which I use once a day. My skin is clearer than it’s been in years... I still get some breakouts but they’re much less frequent and much less severe than before.

I got into the Korean ten-step program so I double cleanse, tone, essence, serum, ampoule, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen (for the morning only). Then I use exfoliators and face masks throughout the week. I still break out around my period and if I touch my face a lot, but overall I notice a difference and even more so when I do it both day and night over just in the morning. I used Soko Glam to get all the details about the steps down! You can search and read what certain ingredients target. I have used some products that target spots and mine have diminished.

One thing to know is that it is all about trial and error. What someone swears by may not work great for you! Also, like someone has said, it takes some time. So I started in January and definitely see a difference now. You may also experience more breakouts after using items for the first time. This can be due to your skin purging and is a good thing!! If they do not go away in a month, then that means you are sensitive to a product so it is suggested that you start a product, see how it works for a few days, and then add in another, and repeat.

Face marks are always a God send. Avoid using anything with a lot of oil, because that will only increase your acne. Personally, I love masks/ face washes that dry out your skin because it will close the pores and dry out the oil. You can always use water based moisturizer or toner after you wash your face to replenish the skin without adding oil back into it.
Makeup is another thing I swear by when my acne is really bad. I always use primer before using any products to prevent most makeup from entering my pores. I also use green color correction makeup to cover up the reddish causes by blemishes. Another trick I learned is before applying any makeup, take a Q-tip and dip it into peroxide. Hold it to your blemishes for 30 seconds each to remove and infections in the skin. Then I take non-acetone nail polish remover and do the same thing. The nail polish remover will remove irritation and reduce the bump caused by the pimple. Apply concealer and then your regular makeup. It will almost entirely cover all your blemishes.
Protip- ALWAYS use makeup wipes and face wash to take off makeup before you go to bed and rinse your face with cold water.

I have had acne issues as well and I really like the brand Laneige. It's a bit pricey but I find it works for me. I also like using the Peter Thomas Roth Firm Peeling Gel exfoliant since I have combo skin and it helps get all the dead skin off your face (also pricey). I did just order Halo Beauty skin vitamins to see if they work as well.

I take the Halo Beauty Kiwi Seed Booster and my skin has NEVER looked better. It is honestly amazing. That with LOTS of water. It is an easy thing that I do every day and doesn't take a ton of effort.

Omg everyone had so many good tips !!! Thank you guys so much!!!

I recently found a “complexion stick” from Burt's Bees and it is amazing! Just swipe it on after washing your face and you’re good to go. It is tea tree oil based so it looks a little shiny when you first put it on, but after a few minutes it dries and the sheen goes away.
I just use it once a day before bed and it has made such a huge difference. My acne has cleared up completely, and right before my period I’m only getting one or two spots instead of a huge breakout I used to get. Plus my face feels so much softer to the touch, and when I put on makeup it goes on smoother and lasts longer!

Burt’s Bees complexion stick for the win!

Charcoal masks have always helped me with black heads on my nose..other than that I use Dr. Bronner's unscented baby soap as a face wash, then moisturize with Pond's lotion. Throughout the day I clean my face with witch hazel when it gets oily. Took me a couple of months to find this combo but it works wonders for me.

OMG! So glad I'm not the only one! But I'm also sorry you're experiencing this. I've struggled with moderate to severe acne my whole adult life, along with other skin problems - staph infections, severe itching, and so-forth. I can now confidently say that my skin has been clear for MONTHS. My co-workers have noticed and made comments on how nice my skin looks now.

The only thing that has worked for me is going on the auto-immune protocol diet. I used to make fun of people all the time for being "sensitive to gluten" and so-forth. The diet has changed my life, not just my skin. I used to be in absolute AGONY. I mean, and not to get depressing, but I wished and prayed every. single. day. for mercy - to 'move on' in my sleep because I was in so much pain, like I could scream. And now, I'M BARELY IN PAIN ANYMORE! I feel like I've won the multi-million dollar lottery and I feel so thankful for every tiny little thing every single day. If I won the lottery today I would literally just buy my family some houses and stay in our little apartment with my 2014 toyota. I'd pay off my debts and family's debts, travel, and otherwise live the exact life I am now.

Anyway, just spreading some hope. My skin was last on my list and now I'm a new person - painfree, down 15 pounds (from the diet), gained substantial muscle mass (lifestyle requires cross-training) beautiful skin, and thankful for everything and everyone.

Don't lose hope!! It's going to be okay! Even if your skin doesn't clear up, I'm sure you're still beautiful. Airbrushing is also awesome. Good luck girl!

P.S.- Auto-immune protocol is extreme, I'd try just paleo if you're just looking to clear up skin. I'd say give it an honest cheat-free try for 30 days and see. My skin cleared up in 3 weeks.

Edit: Also, just to clarify, I've tested for all the auto-immune conditions and they were negative. I always attributed my itchy skin and breakouts to just having bad skin and a possible sensitivity to laundry detergent. Itching wasn't even on my list of things to solve when starting the diet but I noticed a few weeks in that I wasn't itchy at all and was like...what the heck happened?!?

Peter Thomas Roth Max Complextion Correction Pads have been a game changer for me.

The only thing that worked for my acne is going on antibiotics from my dermatologist. I had SEVERE acne. My face is 100% clear and has been for months.

I really like elf products! I know people are usually worried because they are cheap but they have a fun glitter peel off mask that I like to use once or twice a week and a nightly moisturizer. Trader Joe’s if you have one around honestly makes amazing skin care for super cheap. I use tj for my wash, moisturizer, serum, sunscreen pretty much everything. I also like to get facials when I have the extra money. I know those get expensive but my plan is to sign up for a membership for 6 months before my wedding that way it will reduce the price but I have noticed a lot of people with good skin usually go to get facials monthly.

Same as you for me. The only things that have worked are Rodan and Fields (pricey but they work) and Differin (cheap and works pretty well). Natural masks don't cut it for me. Good luck!

It depends what your skin responds to. For me, salicylic acid works well but some acne rezponds more favorably to benzoyl peroxide. I am huge into skincare and researched for years to find the regimen that works for me. My dermatologist recommended the brand SkinMedica which has eliminated my acne. I use their AHA/BHA cleanser twice daily. I also use their retinol once weekly. For exfoliating, I use Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant because it’s gentle on my skin but has salicylic acid to keep acne at bay. And finally, my absolute holy grail are the M-61 Powerglow Peel Pads! (Not an actual peel; just a super concentrated formula) They actually work wonders overnight. I use them 2-3x weekly before bed and my skin looks incredible! I don’t recommend using the retinol in the same week as the pads (I alternate) and you’ll definitely need to wear sunscreen daily when using these products!


Products:

Dermalogica:
https://www.dermalogica.com/daily-microfoliant/11-00,default,pd.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search_shopping&https://ad.atdmt.com/s/go;adv=11017207600060;ec=11017207700091;c.a=71700000043682494;s.a=GOOGLE;p.a=71700000043682494;as.a=58700004585684533;c.n=DR_Shopping_Shopping_Catchall_Smart;p.n=DR_Shopping_Shopping_Catchall_Smart;as.n=Catchall;qpb=1;?bidkw=PRODUCT_GROUP&dvc=m&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI27GO9Nqq4gIVkUYNCh071gEgEAUYASABEgIGHPD_BwE

M-61:
https://bluemercury.com/collections/skin-care/products/m61-powerglow-peel?rmsrc=1&rmatt=tsid:1054532%7Ccid:972908040%7Cagid:53809130052%7Ctid:kwd-26920396%7Ccrid:230412218821%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:16811548503643002053%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1t1%7Cmt:e%7Cloc:1014895&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1PvnlNyq4gIVSgOGCh28jw20EAAYASACEgIJn_D_BwE&variant=26188102662

Skin Medica:
https://www.skinmedica.com/products/brighten/ahabhaexfoliating

Forgot to mention the product that worked for hyper-pigmentation, Lytera! Also by SkinMedica and the only product I’ve ever used that’s eliminated spots.

If you can, a few rounds of microdermabrasion can also help lighten dark spots.

Lytera:
https://www.skinmedica.com/products/brighten/lytera2

I was struggling with acne for years. Trying out new products only seemed to irritate my skin and make the acne worse.

I would highly suggest seeing a dermatologist. I now have a very simple skincare routine and went on a 1 month course of antibiotics which completely cleared my skin! I cannot believe the results and am so mad at myself for not doing this sooner.

Good luck!

Dermal md anti acne unique serum is formulated with active ingredients which work to reduce acne causing bacteria by up to 98%. Really happy with the results of this serum