5 Acne Fighters to Combat the Crazy
Nothing attacks our self confidence like a stress pimple or patch of breakouts that linger for weeks. But, when life gets crazy, it can feel like skin care is a losing battle. This is because our skin reacts to internal and external changes in our lives. Whether stress, PMS, or a week of poor food choices, our skin is usually the first indicator that there has been an alteration to our routine. That is to say, the messier our lives, the messier our skin. But don't give up! Here are 5 products that combat breakouts on the skin's surface—even when life gets crazy.
01./ Ole Henriksen's Roll On Acne Clearing Solution
A spot treatment is perfect for those unexpected flare ups, and works best as-needed. Ole Henriksen's solution contains powerful acne-fighting ingredients—zinc calms redness, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide unclog pores, clay absorbs impurities, and tea tree oil kills bacteria—to get the job done, without stripping the skin. Nighttime is the optimal time to apply spot by spot.
02./ Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Face Wash
The buildup of dead skin cells create a dense layer on the surface of your skin that harbors bacteria and prevents skin renewal. An exfoliating cleanser eliminates the dead skin, revealing the smooth, soft skin underneath.
But not all exfoliating cleansers are equal. There are significant benefits to a chemical exfoliant—like alpha-hydroxy acid and glycolic acid—versus a gritty scrub. A chemical wash targets the dead skin and rinses it away. But the grit in a gritty scrub actually cuts into the blemishes and only moves bacteria around, thus creating a bigger problem.
For best results when exfoliating, try leaving your chemical exfoliant on 2-3 minutes in the shower.
03./ Chantecaille's Detox Clay Mask with Rosemary and Honey
Face masks are not just for prom night or sleepovers with girlfriends. A great mask—used regularly or at least twice a month—can benefit the skin's texture and clarity. A clay mask, like Chantecaille's Detox Clay Mask, is one of the best tricks in the book for problem skin. This mask extracts impurities, restores pH balance, and tightens pores, all while soothing the skin. Kaolin clay—the key ingredient in this mask—does not dry, which is keeps this formula gentle enough for the most sensitive skin. Apply the mask all over the skin and leave it on for 10-12 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
04./ Desert Essence Australian tea tree oil
Tea tree oilis nature's antiseptic and the best toner for problem skin. Resist the temptation to pop blemishes, which can cause irreversible scarring. Apply Desert Essence Australian tea tree oilon a cotton pad, wiping in an outward motion, and avoiding the eye area. The next morning, notice a reduction in the size and redness of the blemish. Sensitive skin types can dilute the tea tree oil by wetting the cotton pad beforehand.
05./ Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion
Moisturizing problem skin can seem counterintuitive, which is why it is important to find a moisturizer that has the right ingredients. Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion hydrates and contains 5% benzoyl peroxide, which is the most comprehensive pimple-killer available over the counter. Depending on the severity of the breakout, this could be used once a week as a treatment, or up to twice a day.
