Skincare Week : Acne Don'ts

As a long-term sufferer of the turmoil that accompanies a relationship with acne, this is part two of my top tips for handling a breakout. Before you read, be sure to check out my Acne Dos so that you can become your own expert on acne relationship etiquette.

1. Don't Stress

Whilst I know it is significantly harder to do than say, try not stress about your spots. The stress hormone cortisol worsens acne and so you will find yourself trapped in the vicious cycle of worrying about a breakout, which will in turn cause ten more to appear for you to stress over (see where I'm going here?). Try to relax when you can and don't allow your acne to fill up every free corner of your mind.

2. Don't Use Too Many Products

Try to find and stick to a simple skin care regime that works for you. Trialling every drugstore offering that hails to be the latest revolution for magically clearing your complexion is not going to help. Using too many products will confuse your skin and it will react by breaking out further. To find out the cleansing routine that my skin is currently loving then see the first instalment of my Skincare Week series.

A regime should consist of three to six products, which you use once in the morning and again at night. Find a cleanser, toner and moisturiser that you like and use them consistently. To this you can add a heavier, night time moisturiser and a face mask to use 2-3 times a week that will draw out impurities. You can also use an exfoliator 1-2 times a week, find one that is gentle on the skin but avoid using it when you are having a particularly bad breakout.

3. Don't Touch

This is perhaps the simplest yet hardest of all my do's and don'ts and one that I commonly fail to follow. It is the mere rule that when a spot appears, don't touch it! By constantly touching your skin you are inviting your acne to stay for longer and any bacteria that is on your fingers will worsen the situation. Always avoid the worryingly addictive past time of popping your spots (we've all been there). This causes the bacteria inside to go onto other areas of your skin and therefore the breakout spreads. The broken skin will then heal a lot slower and a scar will be left in its place; a fact my collection of permanent red marks can attest to.

4. Don't Compare Yourself To Others

Above all, it is important to understand that everyone's skin is different. You may never have the air brushed complexion of a supermodel but that's okay! Learn what counts as a good skin day for you and enjoy it. Wear less makeup on the days when your acne isn't as angry and feel confident in doing so.

I hope that these tips will help you in your battle with blemishes.  Be sure to check out tomorrow's post for the right approach to concealing acne with makeup. I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Devon

xoxo

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Skincare Week : Acne Dos

"It's complicated" is without a doubt the appropriate description of my long-term relationship with acne. It all started in my young teen years, carried on through adolescence and apparently my little friends are handling our breakup badly and have decided to see me into my twenties (clingy much?). Whilst some claim it to be an entirely vain problem; spots really can negatively impact your confidence especially during those tentative teenage years. 

I have learnt the dos as well as the don'ts for handling those pesky pimples. Over the next two posts I shall share my top tips to make your battle that little bit easier.

1. Do Let Your Skin Breathe

Everyone's natural reaction is to hide their breakout as fast as possible, usually achieved by piling on the makeup for the duration of its visit. However this will only succeed in further clogging your pores and inevitably worsen the situation. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you are not unique. Everyone suffers with spots at some point in their life and it is nothing to be ashamed of. Whenever you can, try to spend full days makeup free. This will allow your skin to breathe and your breakouts to clear up faster.

2. Do Moisturise

When I was younger I followed the philosophy that if it didn't hurt then it wasn't working and so I handled my spots by using the harshest products I could find. These were filled with a dangerous concoction of chemicals and alcohol that would scrub my skin dry. I eventually realised that using a harsh exfoliator on an active breakout only resulted in it spreading.

(Top choices : Tropic Skin Revive, Avene Clearance, Clean & Clear, Simple Anti-Blemish, Eucerin DermoPURIFYER)

Blemishes are commonly accompanied by their trusty sidekick, the oily t-zone. A common mistake is to battle this duo by avoiding all and any moisturising products. This, coupled with a harsh cleansing routine, only aids to worsen the situation. The result is a completely dried out complexion and your skin compensates by producing more oil. This in turn clogs up your pores and leads to further breakouts. Find a light, oil-free moisturiser to wear during the day and a heavier moisturiser or facial oil to wear at night. This will not clog your pores but help to heal your skin whilst you sleep.

 

3. Do Eat Healthily

If your acne is due to hormones or genetics, then a clean diet is never going to wipe your skin clear. I have come to the realisation that, whether my daily portion of fruit and vegetables is five or fifty, a breakout remains in my impending future. However, I also know that my skin would be increasingly worse if I didn't pay attention to my diet. Your skin is a reflection of what you eat. If you are constantly filling up on greasy fast food and sugary snacks then your breakouts are going to be worse, more frequent and last longer. So try to eat fresh food and drink plenty of water. This will help to detoxify your skin and I promise that your complexion will benefit from the nutrients and vitamins you are feeding it.

I hope that these tips will help you in your battle with blemishes.  Be sure to check out tomorrow's post for my Acne Don'ts or yesterday's post all about the current cleansing routine my skin is loving. I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.

Devon

xoxo

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