Got Acne? You Need These Ingredients in Your Skin Care Routine

According to WebMD, more than 85% of people aged 12 - 24 have acne, which is marked by “clogged pores (whiteheads, blackheads), painful pimples, and, sometimes, hard, deep lumps on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, back, and upper arms.”

Although it’s often considered a problem in youth, acne can occur in people of any age, though it grows less common as time goes on.

Acne develops when hair follicles (small cavities near the surface of the skin from which tiny hairs grow) get clogged with oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

The main reason for increased oil production is hormonal changes such as puberty, the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Bacteria that normally lives on the skin can also be affected by this increase in oil, which further clogs the hair follicles and leads to skin inflammation.

Why Some People Get More Acne than Others

There’s a wide range of additional factors for acne, including:

• Genetics: People with a family history of moderate or severe acne may be more likely to develop it themselves.

• Diet: Some studies suggest that a high glycemic load diet may contribute to the development or worsening of acne. (Examples: white bread, potatoes, candy, soda). Other studies have suggested a link between skim cow milk and acne.

• Endocrine disorders

• Medications: Corticosteroids and anabolic steroids

• Stress

• Skin care products: Some cosmetics, sunscreens, and moisturizers can clog hair follicles and may play a role in the formation of acne.

• Pollution and other environmental stressors

• Uninformed: Not everyone is taught how to properly care for their skin or proper hygiene, and unintentionally make acne worse by letting their skin stay oily, not changing pillowcases frequently, touching their face too much, and more. Plus, truly accurate information can be hard to come by.

It’s Not Hopeless! Key Ingredients to Manage and Prevent Acne

Fortunately, there are ways to manage and even prevent acne. When dealing with persistent acne, we recommend switching to professional-grade skin care as the first step. Any product can list an effective ingredient, but with professional-grade products, you’re getting a higher quality version of that ingredient (and more of it).

According to Yale Medical and other medical sources, a few skin care ingredients are particularly beneficial for acne, which is why we include them in the products in our Influencer Collection:

Salicylic acid penetrates the hair follicle and oil gland and dissolves the acne-causing blockages of dead skin cells, oil, and other debris. It also works to reduce the amount of oil being produced by your oil glands, making it less likely that new acne-causing blockages will form.

Glycolic acid results in fewer dead skin cells and oil that clogs the pores, and also affects the outer skin barrier, helping it retain moisture instead of drying your skin out. This can counter-balance the effects of a more drying agent such as salicylic acid.

Topical retinoids unclog pores and also prevent dead cells from clogging pores, along with other cell renewal benefits.

Enzymes are superstar exfoliators, breaking down the keratin protein in the uppermost layer of the skin to gently break up dead skin cells.

Azulene and ginseng both have anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce redness and swelling from acne.

Influencer Collection Full Face Set | 6 Influencer Products

$226.00

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If you struggle with acne and you’re new to Skintessence, the Influencer Collection Full Face Set is absolutely your best choice. It contains easy-to-follow steps from 1 - 6. The powerful ingredients listed in the product names of our Influencer Collection say it all:

• Step 1, Cleanser: Clarifying Cleanser | Alpha + Beta Hydroxy + Salicylic Acid

• Step 2, Mask (2x/week): Essential Exfoliation Mask | Pineapple + Papaya Enzymes

• Step 3, Toner: Essential Toner | 5% Glycolic + Oxygenating Ginseng

• Step 4, Eye Treatment: Essential-C Eye Serum | Vitamin C + Peptides

• Step 5, Serum: Rockstar Retinol Serum | High-performing Retinols + Peptides

• Step 6, Moisturizer: Blemish Rescue Moisturizer | Anti-bacterial Azulene + Ginseng

Avoid These Mistakes

Some people make the mistake of only using drying ingredients on their skin, fearful that moisturizer will clog their pores again. If this has happened to you, it simply means that it was not the right kind of moisturizer. While exfoliation and drying can feel amazing, using a professional-grade moisturizer formulated for acne care (such as our Blemish Rescue Moisturizer) will not clog pores. It’s also essential to protect the skin barrier!

Also, the eye area is more delicate and different than the rest of your face; you should use a separate treatment formulated just for eyes that includes ingredients like vitamin C and peptides.

When the products in Influencer Collection are applied consistently twice a day, acne issues should start to fade. If your acne is severe, it should at least be improved, but you might then consider talking to your dermatologist about treatments such as antibiotics to reduce bacteria, or steroids.

Sources:
Marcia Ney, Founder of Skintessence
Yale Medicine Dermatology
Healthline