So I have to admit that as an esthetician even I sometimes get a bit weary of talking about breakout..So in the interest of being uber time-efficient-extraordinaire, I am putting all the best of the best in a easily compiled list of how to beat breakout! Print it up and tape it to the damn bathroom mirror if it will help you comply. And remember just like working out or eating right the magic happens when you are consistent! Expect to integrate new practices for at least six weeks before beginning to see a difference. It took me six months to clear my skin up (with peels AND home care) but I've been virtually breakout free ever since.
-Get a facial once a month. You need extractions and a nice deep steam cleansing. You need the exfoliation. You need the stress relief and lymphatic drainage. You need it all! Discuss doing a series of "peels" with your esthetician as well if your acne is resistant. These are quick and generally should be performed once a week for four to six weeks.
-If your acne is resistant and you can't afford peels then it's important to do everything else on this list. That means dietary changes too.
-Cleanse regularly with a gentle cleanser (especially right after working out). Moisturize with an SPF in the morning and a lotion that's right for your skin type in the evening so that your skin doesn't become overly dry. IF your skin gets overly dry it will definitely break out as this causes a build up of dead skin that then stimulates your oil glands to overproduce. Balanced skin is breakout-free skin.
-Think about how to work more exfoliation into your routine. Recently a bunch of my clients have started to use Clarisonics, and I think they're fab. I probably would only use them once a day to cleanse as using them twice a day may be a bit much. Often the best "exfoliants" aren't granular at all. Instead they use alpha hydroxies i.e. "aha's" or enzymes to dissolve the build up of dead skin that is clogging your pores. Aha's can be found in masks, creams, or extremely concentrated gel forms. One great one that is both a granular exfoliant and an Aha is the GlyMed Anti Aging Exfoliant Mask. Instead of doing once a week for fifteen minutes use it 2-3x's weekly in the shower with steam for 5 or so minutes. It's amazing if you're experiencing breakout. You can purchase it at 2020skincare.com.
-Do not pick! Go to an esthetician and have whiteheads or blackheads removed. Don't expect them to try to pick bumps that haven't a developed whitehead or blackhead a this will do the same thing you are probably doing at home, i.e. actually spreading the bacteria underneath the surface of the skin. If you must perform extractions as home go to an esthetician and find out from them the right way to do it. You'll be surprised though how much better your skin will look when you stop picking. 9 out of 10 times by just spot treating the affected area the pimple will eventually go away without scarring or getting hugely swollen and awful looking. Which brings me to my next point..
-Spot treat nightly w/a low percentage benzoyl peroxide one night and a salicylic acid the next. Rotating keeps your skin guessing and is more effective. It's much like switching up your workouts at the gym. You can find both ingredients in a myriad of spot treatments in the Acne section at Walgreens or Target. You may however need also need to integrate an alpha hydroxy into your regimen to help the benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to actually penetrate the skin effectively.
-Rather than picking it is better to wrap an ice cube with a wash cloth and ice a swollen papule, pustule, or cyst. This will bring down swelling and make it look much better!
-If you don't like drinking water add a little lemon and/or mint and cucumber to it. I admit I hate regular water but add some cucumber and mint and it's delish.
-If you're a woman, think about what type of makeup you are wearing. I am adamantly against use of powder of any type if you are breakout prone. Call it sixteen years of staring at makeup under a microscope but I can almost always tell if someone wears powder as it manifests as clogged pores and blackheads. That includes the mineral type as well. Instead blot with blotting papers if overly shiny (I love the Pureness Blotting Papers by Shiseido,) and use a light oil-free liquid foundation as well. I recommend going to Sephora and having them try a couple on you and perhaps even getting some samples.
-Other than makeup if you really want to try an interesting experiment consider eliminating some foods for a week (or at least cutting back) and see what, if any, changes you notice with your skin! I recently eliminated dairy almost completely and now if I fall off the wagon..wow! I literally break out almost instantly. What you put inside also makes a big difference..
INCLUDE water, greens, veggies, fruits (especially raw), olives, olive oil, nuts, salmon and fish (if you're not a vegetarian) "Raw Meal" drink mix from Garden of Life mixed with organic frozen fruit and almond or coconut milk, avocados, green tea, sea vegetables, flax seeds or flax seed crackers, Kombucha Tea, coconut yogurt, coconut ice cream, Tofutti ice cream bars and cream cheese, etc. Vitamins- Probiotics (very important if you're breaking out) B Complex, D, A, E & C.
EXCLUDE dairy, sugar (except honey, stevia, agave nectar,) fried food, red meat, refined foods, white rice and breads. If nothing else cut back as much as you comfortably can.
Good luck and Glo-worthy Skin!
Farah Husain
check out my organic skincare at www.gloskinspa@flyingcart.com
check out my services at www.gloskinspa.com
