If you don't have clear skin, you probably don't have a clear sense what to do about it, either. There are a million different acne products on the market, and just as many random pieces of advice on how to cure it. (Chocolate? Doesn't cause pimples, after all.) All those false starts and false hopes can make a girl think her best solution is to simply invest in full-coverage foundation.
But trust us: Camouflage is not your only option. Dermatologists agree that these easy tweaks to your daily routine can put breakouts on the back burner for good.
Make these anti-acne resolutions in the new year, and kiss your cover-up goodbye.
Image via Malibu Magazine
But trust us: Camouflage is not your only option. Dermatologists agree that these easy tweaks to your daily routine can put breakouts on the back burner for good.
Make these anti-acne resolutions in the new year, and kiss your cover-up goodbye.
Image via Malibu Magazine
Even if you change your sheets obsessively every Sunday morning, you're not changing them enough. Need convincing? Dirt and oil from your hair products and scalp stick to your pillowcase and get deposited onto your skin. Bacteria can even transfer from one area of your face -- especially if you have active breakouts -- to another, causing your acne to spread.
Don't take any chances, and change your pillowcase every few days. If you're especially acne-prone, try swapping it every morning, and wash it in hot water for extra germ-killing power.
Don't take any chances, and change your pillowcase every few days. If you're especially acne-prone, try swapping it every morning, and wash it in hot water for extra germ-killing power.
Meaning, find a skin-care system that works and stick to it -- no matter what. Especially when your zits begin to disappear. That's the only thing that will keep future breakouts in check.
We like the Exposed Skin Care 60-Day 5-Piece Basic Kit, $49.95, which comes with a cleanser, clearing tonic, daytime acne treatment serum, nighttime clear pore serum and a microderm cloth for gentle exfoliation.
Where most acne products let benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid do all the work, these treatment serums contain antibacterial and acne-healing ingredients that attack breakouts from every angle. (Hello, acne Death Star.) They're also loaded with soothing botanical extracts that make the line gentle and effective.
The Acne Treatment Serum has benzoyl peroxide plus green tea extract and tea tree oil to heal the skin. And the Clear Pore Serum contains salicylic acid, green tea extract and licorice root to reduce inflammation and redness. The products are designed to work together for the best possible result, and make a lot more sense than mixing and matching. Plus, when ordered as a kit, Exposed comes with a 1-Year Guarantee.
See why our reviewers raved about Exposed Skin Care here.
We like the Exposed Skin Care 60-Day 5-Piece Basic Kit, $49.95, which comes with a cleanser, clearing tonic, daytime acne treatment serum, nighttime clear pore serum and a microderm cloth for gentle exfoliation.
Where most acne products let benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid do all the work, these treatment serums contain antibacterial and acne-healing ingredients that attack breakouts from every angle. (Hello, acne Death Star.) They're also loaded with soothing botanical extracts that make the line gentle and effective.
The Acne Treatment Serum has benzoyl peroxide plus green tea extract and tea tree oil to heal the skin. And the Clear Pore Serum contains salicylic acid, green tea extract and licorice root to reduce inflammation and redness. The products are designed to work together for the best possible result, and make a lot more sense than mixing and matching. Plus, when ordered as a kit, Exposed comes with a 1-Year Guarantee.
See why our reviewers raved about Exposed Skin Care here.
Like pillowcases, a used washcloth harbors lots of acne-causing grime. After all, a warm, moist environment is the ideal place for bacteria to grow. Be sure to wash it after every use.
And when you do use a cloth, do so gently. "Don't over-wash," says New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. "This can actually dry out skin and cause skin inflammation, making it more difficult to treat acne."
And when you do use a cloth, do so gently. "Don't over-wash," says New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. "This can actually dry out skin and cause skin inflammation, making it more difficult to treat acne."
If you've got breakouts around your chin, jawline or the side of your cheek, ask yourself this: "Do I lean on my hands while I'm sitting at my desk? Driving the car? Sitting on the train?"
Unless your hands are freshly washed, touching your face can lead to clogged pores and aggravated acne. As with any bad habit, the first step is to know that you're doing it; the second step is to consciously stop. It takes time to retrain yourself, but a hands-free approach can do wonders for your complexion.
Unless your hands are freshly washed, touching your face can lead to clogged pores and aggravated acne. As with any bad habit, the first step is to know that you're doing it; the second step is to consciously stop. It takes time to retrain yourself, but a hands-free approach can do wonders for your complexion.