Our Guide to Blasting Blemishes
There are some things from our childhood that we would like to keep a thing of the past. Things like getting picked last for dodgeball, bad school pictures and of course that pesky acne. Tisk, tisk, tisk. Unfortunately that last bit can stay with us well into adulthood despite all of our best efforts to eradicate it completely. But long are the days of us sneaking into our mother’s boudoir to sneak whatever creams we thought she had that would help us. Instead you have us, and we’re here to tell our favorite acne fighting products that keep those nasty blemishes and breakouts where they belong: in the past.
Cleansers
You can’t really begin an anti-acne list without the foundation, and we’re not talking about makeup here. We’re talking about cleansers. We have to have a good clean base before we even think about piling on serums, masks and moisturizers. The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser lifts away dirt and excess oil with their apricot kernel oil and squalene. This cleanser is a no frills, extremely gentle product that is good for all skin types. It’s also pH-balanced and won’t dry out your skin. We think this is a good, bare bones cleanser that delivers on so many levels.
Another notable cleanser is the Superfood Cleanser from Youth to the People. It’s advertised as, “a green juice cleanse for your face,” and we would certainly agree. This gel cleanser is packed with antioxidants, vitamins C,E and K, spinach and green tea to wash away dirt and impurities without drying out your skin. The gel turns into a nice rich lather which you simply rinse off with warm water and voila! Supercharged and super fresh skin awaits.
Honorable mentions: Clinique Acne Solutions Foam Wash, Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Cleanser and Herbivore Botanicals Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap
Spot Treatments
Some days we need overhaul ASAP for our breakouts and other days there are just those pesky pimples that pop up out of nowhere. So what to do? We may have a date tomorrow night or a presentation at work the next morning and we just can’t deal with a blemish right now. Well we have a few spot treatments that are just the solution you’re looking for. The Saturn Sulfur Spot Treatment Mask from Sunday Riley uses sulfur to target, penetrate and clear blemishes. Niacinamide, tea tree oil and manuka oil are the superstar ingredients in this spot treatment that you apply, let sit for 20-30 minutes and then watch those blemishes go bye-bye.
Honorable mentions: Rosen Breakout Spot Treatment, Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel and Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clear Invisible Dots Blemish Treatment
Moisturizers & Balms
So after we’ve used our cleansers and applied our spot treatments, what should we do next? We prefer a simple regimen for our sensitive skin but we want products that pack a lot of punch and provide our skin plenty of moisture. It can be tricky because when we have sensitive skin and many of us do, we are cautious and sometimes even afraid that adding too much moisture will only agitate our breakouts even more. The Osea Blemish Balm is a sheer, fast absorbing balm that can be applied in the morning and the evening. It’s packed with seaweed, tea tree, juniper and thyme essential oils all of which leave your skin hydrated and shine-free. Another sensitive skin-friendly moisturizer is also a primer and SPF rich lotion. The UV Expert Aquagel Defense Primer and Moisturizer SPF 50 from Lancome is rich with vitamin E, moringa and edelweiss and transforms into a water-like gel that skin absorbs quickly. You can wear alone or under makeup and be sure your skin is protected from any damage from the sun.
