Suffering from breakouts is the absolute worst; trust me, I’ve been there. When I have a bad skin day, I feel at my lowest and least confident, and going anywhere without makeup on to hide my flaws just doesn’t seem like an option. Whether you suffer from the occasional blemish or have regular acne, there are probably rules you may have been told you must follow for better skin. But here’s the thing: there are certain skincare tips that could be making your breakouts worse. Keep reading to discover which rules to throw out, and how to best deal with breakouts in your skincare routine.
1. Don’t moisturise acne-prone skin
Because oil can lead to clogged pores and eventually spots, there is certain rule many acne-sufferers abide by: not moisturising skin. But I’m here to call this one out completely; in other words, it’s total fake news. “I tell many of my clients who have problematic skin that it is a common misconception that skin prone to acne and breakouts should be dried out,” explains skincare expert and brand founder Dr Barbara Sturm. “In fact, it is even more important to moisturise it as most breakouts are exacerbated by inflammation and dryness.” Essentially, building back the skin’s healthy barrier cannot be done without effective hydration. There are many amazing lightweight formulas on the market that work well for acne-prone skin, including La Roche Posay’s Effaclar Duo+ and Paula’s Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser. Just don’t forgo moisturising altogether.
2. Use more products in your routine
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It’s a common misconception that when it comes to aiding stressed out skin, more is more. In fact, using lots of different products to try and help skin can often lead to overloading it, leading to more problems. “People are overdosing on too many different products without paying attention to the ingredients inside — or the interplay between those ingredients,” explains Dr Sturm. “This leads to skin conditions like breakouts.” Dr Sturm is an advocate of a simple, pared down routine and to take things back to basics. By sticking to a cleanse-tone-serum-moisturise routine, your skin has a chance to get used to a regimen and build back its strength. “In general, you can look for certain ingredients to target your concern,” agrees Dr Howard Murad, founder of Murad skincare, “however with the right products you won’t need lots of different products.” Read more…
