Acne Skin Care Routine: Three Simple Steps
Breakouts are the worst. These uninvited guests (literally) pop up out of the blue and have a tendency to overstay their welcome. While nearly everyone experiences a breakout in their lifetime, for some, acne is a chronic condition that lingers into adulthood. And, if adult breakouts aren’t enough, the search for an acne solution can be both exhausting and defeating. Before you throw in the towel, tackle your breakouts with this three-step acne skin care routine from Eminence Organics.
Skin Care Routine For Acne | Step 1: Cleanse | Step 2: Treat | Step 3: Hydrate
Skin Care Routine For Acne
Take the guesswork out of finding an acne solution with Acne Advanced 3-Step Treatment System. Dermatologist Dr. Kally Papantoniou tells Bustle: “An acne skincare regimen will be centered on these four goals: cleansing, exfoliating, controlling bacteria, and maintaining a healthy skin barrier with good emollients.” This three-step acne skin care includes a cleanser, face mask and hydrator to treat acne and prevent future breakouts in 28 days.
Before we dive into the skin care routine for acne, watch as Vanessa talks about her painful experience with acne which developed after pregnancy.
Step 1: Cleanse
One of the most common acne skin care mistakes: over-cleansing and over-stripping. Slice says: “Anyone with persistent acne should avoid cleansing the skin too frequently (more than twice a day), especially if you are using a cleanser with a high concentration of astringents like alcohol or strong cleaning surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate.” Instead, opt for a gentle cleanser that removes impurities and replenishes skin in one easy step.
Enter, Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam. This lightweight liquid-to-foam cleanser gently removes oil and clears blocked pores, without compromising your skin’s moisture barrier. Encapsulated salicylic acid (a BHA) exfoliates skin, unclogs pores and delivers time-release protection against breakouts. At the same time, a natural herb blend calms the skin’s appearance, and Provitamin B5 maintains its moisture balance. Vanessa T. says: “I remember with other products, exactly this would happen: You came out of the shower and your face would be all dry. Not this one. This is amazing.”
Pro Tip: Always (always) remove your makeup before bed. Dr. Papantoniou advises: “If you take the time to really take care of your skin at night, it allows your skin in the evening hours to respond and repair during the restorative hours of sleep… Never sleep with makeup.”
Step 2: Treat
Follow up your cleanse with an acne face mask. Beauty editors and dermatologists agree that treatments which employ potent ingredients like clay and sulfur are your best bet against breakouts. These go-to acne ingredients not only fight pimples but also prevent them from reappearing, keeping skin clearer for longer.
Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque is infused with not one, but three types of purifying clay. Together, they draw out impurities and absorb excess oil, without stripping skin of necessary moisture. Sulfur steps in with natural antibacterial properties that help clear acne-causing bacteria from pores and prevent new bacteria from forming. Dermatologist Mona Gohara tells Marie Claire: “A defining feature of sulfur is its keratolytic properties, which allows it to break down the keratin in your skin. When excess sebum and bacteria clog your pore, causing a zit, the lining of the pore can't shed properly, resulting in keratin build up. Sulfur helps regulate the shedding.” Add basil oil to help soothe skin’s appearance, and you are left with a clear and calm looking complexion.
Pro Tip: Skip the toothpaste trick. Dr. Joshua Zeichner and Kenneth Howe tell Women’s Health that ingredients not meant for skin care can irritate and dry out your skin, ultimately resulting in more breakouts. If you’re ready to swap home remedies for gentler solutions, you’re in luck: Acne Advanced Clarifying Masque can also be used as a spot treatment. Christina B. tells us: “Before bed, I apply it on any breakouts I have, and in the morning, they’re 80-90% gone, if not completely."
Step 3: Hydrate
Hydration is key to keeping acne-prone skin under control. Dr. Eric Shweiger tells Bustle: “Even if it seems counterintuitive, don’t stop moisturizing if you have oily, acne-prone skin. By skipping the moisturizer, your skin will dry out and in turn rebound with more oil production, which can actually cause more breakouts. ”
That said, not all moisturizers are created equal. When it comes to acne-prone skin, it’s best to choose a weightless formula that hydrates skin without bogging it down. The final step in your acne skin care routine is Acne Advanced Clarifying Hydrator. This ultra-lightweight lotion is infused with lotus extract, encapsulated salicylic acid and zinc hyaluronate to fight breakouts, reduce shine and hydrate skin, leaving it with a soft, matte finish.
Pro Tip: Resist the urge to pick. Picking and prodding at your pimples can leave behind long-lasting scars that are difficult to eliminate. If damage has already been done, Acne Advanced Clarifying Hydrator is on your side. This lightweight hydrator is formulated with arbutin sourced from bearberry to reduce the appearance of acne-related dark spots and scarring.
Looking to enhance your acne skin care routine? For best results, pair the Acne Advanced 3-Step Treatment System with a Pro Salicylic Acid Peel treatment at your favorite Eminence Organics Spa Partner. Given current events, we recommend checking the guidance of local health authorities before planning your visit.
We’d love to hear about your acne skin care routine. Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments and join the conversation on social media.
This article was originally written in September 2018.