OFM Beauty: Acne Care is Self Care

Whether it is the occasional break-out, or the mass of black-and-white heads on the tip of your nose and brow, or even a cystic nightmare, acne is a problem for everyone. Small or big breakouts can throw a wrench into anyone’s plans. They can make you feel self-conscious and like a target for unwanted comments. Despite all this, we should love the skin we inhabit because acne, though persistent, is treatable.

Be it creams, cleansers, or cure-alls, someone, somewhere has told you what you are doing wrong and what you “need” to do. I will give you a guide to “aha” ingredients and the passive mistakes we make to worsen our acne. This is by no means a holy-grail guide but a nugget-of-wisdom guide for those out of patience and in need of a change.

The first and by far the most important thing you can do to start your skin-care journey is STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE. Pandemic or not, we spend 100 percent of our day touching a lot of things, things covered in dirt and bacteria. For the most part, it is nothing too serious, but transferring all that dirt and grime from your fingers to your face is the number-one cause of breakouts and clogged pores. 

Get into the habit of hovering your fingers over your face to show someone something, or even avoiding touch all together. And, did I mention, wearing the same, dirty mask everyday while social distancing is the same as having your fingers on your face? Do yourself the kindness of not complicating your skin’s health. Avoid touching your face, and change your mask. 

Next, let’s talk about the ingredients you should look for when clearing your face. First up is niacinamide. I know you have heard it all before about how niacinamide is great for controlling hyperpigmentation, but it is also a great skin saver by helping sebum production, and it can visibly reduce the look of enlarged pores. 

If you know acne, you know oily skin! Adding this into your routine during the cleansing and moisturizing stage can really save you most of the hassle that comes with oily skin. Some stellar products to try are The Ordinary Niacinamide serum or the Fenty Beauty Fat Water. Both pore-refining serums will give you a two-in-one for both acne and light pigment control. If you are suffering from more extreme acne, then you might need products that extend beyond oil control.

A powerhouse ingredient you can use to break down oils on the skin and exfoliate dead skin cells is the one-and-only salicylic acid. She works so you don’t have to! This acid is lipophilic, meaning it loves to cling and break apart oils on and inside of the skin’s surface allowing for some top-notch acne control, and the best part is that it only works on the skin when you have oils or acne. So, it’s perfect for those emergency breakouts or prolonged pimple wars on your skin. 

Some options to keep a lookout for are the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing jelly (blue tinted) with 2 percent salicylic acid or the Lancôme Hydra Zen Moisture gel cream for tired and stressed skin. This product is particularly amazing for its moringa seed extract and rose extract to keep stressed and fatigued skin calm and collected. Or, step up your routine with the U.F.O. oil by Sunday Riley as a quick spot-fix for problem areas. The sci-fi-green color blends clear into the skin; not only is there salicylic acid, but liquorice root and chamomile for more skin-soothing and -smoothing action.

Finally, I want to remind you that all these ingredients vary based upon the products you are purchasing and should be tested on skin before use. Some treatments can be harsh for some skin types, while other acne problems are not just from dirty skin or hormones. If you have persistent problems, remember to consult with a dermatologist before use or to get you the treatment you need. Remember to stay beautiful; stay bold, and stay proud.