Tricks for Banishing Blemishes

For those of us with acne (myself included), it can be quite frustrating when no over the counter acne fighting products seem to work.  I've tried many of them...natural, synthetic, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, retinol etc. and have yet to find a product that I can honestly say has helped fully banish my blemishes.  However, throughout my quest to clear my skin, I have discovered a few tricks that I must say have been rather effective:



1.  Try a probiotic.
I have a pretty weak stomach and found myself getting mini stomach viruses about once per

month over the past few years, which is pretty inconvenient and unpleasant.  In order to prevent these occurrences, I started taking a Country Life Dairy Free Acidophilus ($26 at Whole Foods) capsule every night.  Believe me...I'm the type of person who is hesitant to take pills, but acidophilus is a naturally occurring bacteria in the digestive system that helps keep your body clear of bacteria formed from consuming food.  The capsule simply helps replenish the body's supply as you would if you were to eat foods like yogurt that contain these live cultures (the pill just has a stronger dose of it).  It definitely has helped my stomach...no mini viruses since I started taking it!  But one surprising side effect was that it helped reduce my the occurrence of zits as well.  As we commonly hear, acne forms as a result of bacteria.  However, we often fail to hear that this includes bacteria within the body in addition to the bacteria on the skin's surface.  Since acidophilus helps control bad bacteria in the body, it can help control its manifestations such as acne as well.

2.  Don't be scared of oils.

If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, you've pretty much been programmed to look for "oil-free" products only because oil + oil = super oily and super oily = the perfect environment for pimples to form.  The truth is that certain types of oils can be irritating or clog your pores, but many of them are actually suitable for oily skin.  Specifically, many synthetic oils and mineral oils can lead to breakouts.  Baby oil is a mineral oil and can aggravate acne.  First of all, there are often scents and fillers in baby oil that can make you break out.  Secondly, these lubricating oils are heavy, aggressive, and sit on the top

of the skin (rather than penetrate it), which can clog your pores.  Steer clear of products that have mineral oil and petrolatum as an ingredient (especially if it's listed first) because they are inexpensive ingredients that artificially leave the skin feeling soft.  However, pure oils like argan oil or grape seed oil can actually help with blemishes.  Pure oils are much lighter, more delicate, and get absorbed by the skin, rather than clog pores.  Plus, they nourish and repair the skin as well as help fade acne scars.  Josie Maran even makes a 100% Pure Argan Oil Light ($48 at Sephora) with a semi-matte finish that is more ideal for those of us with oily skin.  Don't be afraid of these types of oils in your serums, moisturizers, foundation, concealer, etc. and instead, look for claims such as "free of synthetic oils" or "free of mineral oil."
For more information on pure oils:  http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2013/11/battle-of-oils.html

And sometimes you have to fight oil with oil.  Cleansing oils can actually help reduce oiliness.  How?  Oils mix with other oils, so a cleansing oil can cling to sebum (oil) on the skin and pull it out of pores as it is rinsed away.  Just like regular cleansers, they lather.  Plus, they leave your skin feeling soft without any oily residue.  They do make cleansing oils that target those with dry skin as well, so just ensure that you're not using one of these types of products.  I really like the Amorepacific Treatment Cleansing Oil ($50 at Sephora).  You can also try the Boscia Tsubaki Cleansing Oil-Gel ($28 at Sephora) if you prefer an oil-gel formula instead. 

3.  Be gentle and maintain a good moisture balance.
It's our natural instinct to try and treat acne aggressively...using a blotting

tissue every hour to eliminate excess oil, washing our faces religiously, and using "strong" products.  However, practices like overwashing and overblotting can actually make skin oilier.  When your skin is stripped of its oils, it produces more, and constant oil elimination trains your skin to constantly produce oil.  Limit face washing to twice per day: morning and night, and limit oil blotting to 2-3 times per day.  Even though you have oily skin, you should be moisturizing following cleansing for the same reason.  Your skin needs a certain amount of moisture to remain supple and elastic and if you're not feeding it moisturizer to do so, your skin will produce oil to do the job.  If you feel that creams are too heavy for you, try a lighter moisturizing gel like the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($26 at Sephora) instead.  Harsh ingredients like sulfates can also overstrip skin of necessary oils and cause irritation, so look for labels like sulfate-free.  Sulfates are most commonly found in cleansers and are an inexpensive ingredients that act as surfactants and foaming agents.  Give gentler products such as those designed for normal or sensitive skin a try.  I must say that after switching from a traditional benzoyl peroxide acne-fighting gel cleanser to a more soothing and softening rice-bran based face cleanser, my skin was much clearer and smoother.  The calming properties of more gentle products can reduce irritation and inflammation that causes acne.
For more information on skin, oil, and moisture: http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-should-you-be-changing-up-your_17.html

4.  Keep your skin environment clean.
As we discussed earlier, bacteria certainly allows for the formation of pimples, so it is important to keep your pores squeaky clean.  In addition to washing your face, make sure that you're washing the items that touch your face.  This includes your pillowcase.  Grease and dirt from your skin, clothes, and hair can get all over it and transfer to your face while you're sleeping.  Also, make sure to wipe your yoga mat and telephone with a little bit of alcohol or witch hazel every now and then.  Lastly, I know it's a pain, but make sure that you're washing your makeup brushes weekly.  They touch your face every day and can transfer bacteria as well as contaminate your makeup with bacteria if they're not clean.  Simply rinse them with warm water and soap and then allow them to dry...the whole process only takes a few minutes...you just need to bring yourself to actually do it.  Similarly, always wash your hands before applying makeup, especially if you're using your fingers to apply it. 

5.  Reconsider what other products you're using.
Just remember that your face comes in contact with more than what you directly put on your face.  Any body mists, hairsprays, shampoo, or conditioners that you apply can get onto your face and clog your pores.  Cleansing products like shampoos may have irritating sulfates that allow for breakouts, while thick conditioners contain fats that sit on the skin and clog your pores.  The solution is simple.  Make sure to wash your face after washing or conditioning your hair or simply sweep away impurities with a cotton ball and toner after spraying body spray or hairspray especially if you're planning on putting on makeup afterwards.

6.  Add some charcoal to your skincare regiment.
One of my favorite new products to recently hit the market is the Boscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal ($18 at Sephora).  Charcoal is becoming a hot ingredient in skincare because it acts as a magnet that draws out impurities and detoxifies pores.  The Boscia sponge made a great addition to my routine.  In addition to naturally antibacterial bamboo charcoal, konjac root also works to fight impurities and softens.  Since the sponge is super soften, it is gentle enough to use even around the eye area and provides the extremely mild exfoliation that is appropriate for daily use.  The Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores ($24 at Sephora) also contains charcoal and is a great weekly treat for your pores.

These measures don't necessarily replace the need for using some type of acne treatment whether it is prescription or over the counter.  Instead, it can work with these treatments in helping you reduce blemishes.  For example, I use a prescription retinoid acne treatment that helped significantly reduce but not eliminate my blemishes, and taking a probiotic helped to reduce them further.  And of course remember to practice other good skincare habits such as removing makeup before sleeping, exfoliating regularly, etc. that help ward off acne.
For more information on treating acne with natural products:  http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2013/09/treating-acne-holistically-is-it.html

When you have acne, the focus of your skincare regiment tends to be on getting rid of it, and you often forget about taking measures to prevent aging.  However, it is important to be doing so since eventually acne will become less of a concern and aging will begin to accelerate.  First, using an eye and lip cream daily should not interfere with any acne products that you're using.  I really like the Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Eye & Lip Cream ($49 at Sephora).  These two areas are the most delicate and susceptible to wrinkle formation and are not common areas for pimple formation as a result.  Additionally, antioxidants provide good protection against stressors like pollution and the sun that can age your skin, and it is very easy to find acne products that also contain antioxidants.  Try the bliss Steep Clean Mattifying Toner Pads ($38 at Sephora), which help refine pores, regulate sebum production, and eliminate bacteria from the skin's surface while providing antioxidant protection against aging.

For those of you who have struggled with acne, hope this helps!  What tricks to you use to keep your skin clear?

**All product recommendations are toxin-free.

Treating Acne Naturally - Is it possible?

If you have oily, blemish-prone skin like mine, preventing pimples is a big part of your skincare process.  One myth that I hear a lot is that you can't treat acne with natural products.  What's my take on the subject?  I think that you can't treat severe acne (the type that requires prescription ointments or pills) holistically.  But mild to moderate acne, which you would typically battle with your classic over-the-counter Oxy, Stridex, Clearasil, etc., can definitely be treated with natural products.  In fact, if typical drugstore products aren't working for you, you should try using natural products before you see a dermatologist about prescription options.  

Why?  The problem with many over-the-counter mass acne products is that they can be very aggressive.  In fact, many of them use sulfates or alcohol as agents to dry oil and clean pores, but they are often so harsh that they can strip your skin of even good, natural oils.  As a result, your skin can become irritated and inflamed, stimulating the formation of pimples.  Overdrying your skin by using these products can also lead your skin to overproduce oil.  All of these factors may prevent typical drugstore products from clearing up blemishes and may actually cause acne to get even worse.

Natural products are often more gentle on the skin that is prone to acne.  Many of them utilize natural forms of the synthetically derived acne-fighting ingredients found in Stridex or Oxy products minus the harsh cleaning and drying agents and minus the fragrance and other irritants.   

Understanding some of the main natural-acne fighting ingredients can help you choose the right products for yourself.  

Let's start with the basics:

Breakouts = Oil + Bacteria + Inflammation + Clogged Pores

So...to treat breakouts, target each of these "risk factors" for acne.

Fight bacteria...by cleaning

There are many natural ingredients including aloe, turmeric, tea tree oil, juniper oil, and honey, which have natural antiseptic properties.  In other words, they help naturally prevent bacteria-causing acne from mingling on the skin.  A popular, natural, over-the-counter product is the Burt's Bees Herbal Blemish Stick ($7.99 in drugstores), which contains both tea tree and juniper oil.  These powerful plant-derived oils will help clean up what your cleanser may have missed.  Then, treat your skin to the cooling Jason Pure Natural Moisturizing Creme with 84% aloe vera ($6.42 in drugstores) to keep your face extra clean.

Fight oil...by purifying

Some of us, usually younger women, have oily skin.  It's nothing to fret about because oil is a naturally produced substance in the skin that keeps it supple and elastic (in fact oilier skin types tend to age better).  However, in order to keep those pores clean and free of impurities and excess oil, look for detoxifying ingredients like ginger, apple, and baking soda.  One of my favorite purifying moisturizers is the JUARA Skincare Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer ($49 on dermstore.com).  I also happen to love the Suki Bio-Active Purifying Face Serum ($82.95 at Whole Body).  The apple is great for clarifying pores, and I especially love the slight fruity smell and the weight-less, soft feel.

Prevent clogged pores...by exfoliating

In addition to impurities, dead skin cells can clog your pores.  Exfoliating is essentially ridding your skin of dead skin cells and other debris. Hydroxy acids, primarily salicylic acid and retinol help your skin turnover cells more efficiently and shed the dead ones. Plants such as willowbark are natural sources of salicylic acid.  So, try the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Face Cleanser ($7.99 at drugstores) with willowbark.  You can also try following it up with the MyChelle Clear Skin Serum ($33 at Whole Body), which features retinol as a debri-removing ingredient.

Prevent inflammation...by calming

In order to prevent pores from becoming inflamed, opt for products that will minimize irritation with natural calming/anti-inflammatory qualities, despite dirt and oil build-ups on the skin.  For example, ingredients like rose, teas, and rice bran will soothe your skin and reduce any signs of skin conditions.  The Melvita Damask Rose Floral Water ($25 at Whole Body) can be used as a hydrating toner to tighten pores and refresh your skin. Or try the JUARA Skincare Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner ($29 on dermstore.com).  With rice bran, anti-oxidant packed teas, AND hylauronic acid, (which naturally helps skin retain moisture), this toner will help improve almost any skin condition and most definitely keep your skin clear and soft.

Ideally, a multi-pronged attack to fight acne in multiple ways would be your best bet against

pimples.  In other words, having a skincare routine that incorporates ingredients that specifically target each causal factor (oil, bacteria, clogged pores, inflammation) is often an effective strategy.  My favorite natural acne-fighter has to be the JUARA Skincare Rose & Willowbark Blemish-Free Mask ($35 on dermstore.com).  I use it not only as a mask to prevent breakouts, but also as a spot treatment (just dab a little on your skin before bedtime and your zit will be zapped by the morning).  This product combines a key calming ingredient with an exfoliating ingredient, which has made it a really effective acne fighter for me, personally.  And, I often find that acne-fighting products can be strong and drying.  However, the JUARA mask is really gentle and non-drying. 

So don't be fooled!  There are a lot of really great natural products that are efficacious in battling acne.  What are your favorites?