I struggled with severe acne as a teenager and dealt with some bad breakouts in my twenties, so I’ve had my fair share of pimple treatments over the last decade. I still get the occasional hormonal breakout in my early 30s, so it’s important for me to incorporate clarifying products into my skincare routine. Over the years I’ve learned a few tips from experience and from skin experts on how to minimize those nasty hormonal breakouts and treat congested skin. Read below for some helpful tips!
- Use a Clarifying Mask 2x/week. I’m currently obsessed with Herbivore’s Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask. The mask uses natural ingredients to gently resurface and clarify the skin. The star ingredient–blue tansy oil– is a powerful anti-inflammatory that soothes irritated skin and reduces redness. It also contains white willow bark, a natural beta hydroxyl (BHA) that is high in salicylic acid; natural alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs), including papaya and pineapple, that work to gently exfoliate and rid skin of dead cells; and aloe leaf to gently decongest and unclog pores for smoother skin. Another favorite of mine is the GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment, which includes activated-X charcoal, which acts to attract toxins and dirt from your pores.
2. Use a Gentle Cleanser with Natural Ingredients. The essential first step to skincare is cleansing, and these days its easy to find plenty of clean beauty companies that offer products with natural ingredients that are effective, healthy, and enjoyable. I love INDIE LEE’s Brightening Cleanser which gently washes away makeup and impurities with its antioxidant rich formula. The main ingredients are Strawberry Seed Oil, hydrolyzed Wheat Protein and Tomato extracts, which help strengthen, firm and hydrate the skin. An added bonus is that this product doubles as an exfoliating mask if left for 5 minutes before rinsing! The benefit of using natural face cleansers is that they’re typically made without ingredients that trigger sensitive skin types, like preservatives and fragrances.
3. Exfoliate your skin! Built-up skin cells cause dullness, dry skin, clogged pores, and breakouts. That’s why exfoliating 2x week can be an important step in your weekly skin-care routine. When searching for an exfoliant, keep away from scrubs which can be too harsh and choose products that have ingredients like BHA or AHA, which also work to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and improve the look of firmness and plumpness. BHA is preferred for oily skin with congested pores while AHA is preferred for dry skin.
If you need some extra help to reduce acne, pore size, and lighten those dark spots, go to your local esthetician to book a microdermabrasion appointment. These can get pricey but sometimes you can find a nice deal on groupon or through “first time client” specials.
4. Pay attention to your Diet and Dairy. There’s a connection between the foods you eat and your skin’s susceptibility to breakouts. Most evidence-based studies agree that there are people whose acne is triggered or worsened by dairy products. Everyone’s skin is different and acne won’t always have a connection to dairy, but its worth experimenting with your diet to find out how cutting milk, cheese (my favorite), butter, and yogurt affect your skin. On the other hand, eating foods with a lower glycemic index or with more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds can help promote healthy-looking skin from the inside out. Add more dark purple and red fruits, dark leafy vegetables, omega-3 fats/fish oils, ginger, green tea, and nuts to your diet.
