Published: June 30, 2024
Struggling with acne? You’re not alone – almost 10% of the adult population around the world finds themselves dealing with regular breakouts. Not only does this make it much harder to achieve healthy-looking skin but those never-ending pimples can really take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and confidence too.
While you may be enticed with products that promise to immediately banish your zits, chances are that you’ll end up disappointed. Sure, there are some great anti-acne products out there but if you really want to keep the appearance of breakouts at bay, you’ll need to take a multi-pronged approach. Acne is caused by a variety of factors and you need to target them all in order to see results.
Read on as CBGärdN shares the secrets behind the clear and pimple-free complexion you’re striving for.
Cleanse Carefully
Cleansing is a vital part of any skincare routine, but it becomes even more so if you suffer from acne. Cleansing your face will allow you to remove the excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells that would have otherwise clogged your pores and triggered a breakout.
However, with cleansing able to do so much for acne-prone skin, people often end up going overboard with their cleansing efforts. They look for the most powerful, oil-zapping cleanser that they can find and sometimes use this three or four times a day. Sadly, rather than helping to combat the appearance of acne, this has the opposite effect. It damages and dehydrates the skin, resulting in increased oil production and even more breakouts!
What’s the solution? It starts with finding a gentle cleanser that’s able to remove excess sebum without stripping away your skin barrier. This is something that the CB Facial Cleanser excels at. It hydrates and soothes the complexion while it cleanses, leaving the skin feeling ultra-refreshed!
Once you have a good cleanser, you then need to ensure that you’re not over-using it. Even a gentle formula could make acne worse if used too often. Ideally, limit yourself to cleansing twice a day. If your skin still feels greasy in between cleanses, follow the rest of the tips that we’re about to share and you shouldn’t have that problem anymore!
Exfoliate Regularly
While there are several factors that can contribute to acne, those actual pimples that you see all arise because your pores are clogged. Yes, plenty of things can cause those clogged pores and it’s important to identify your triggers so that you can avoid them. However, working on clearing out blockages from within your pores will enable you to enjoy a clearer complexion.
This is what exfoliation does. While cleansing keeps the skin’s surface clean, exfoliation removes clogs from pores, reducing your chances of developing acne breakouts.
The problem is, just like over-cleansing, over-exfoliation can make acne worse. It’s something that people with acne-prone skin are particularly susceptible to because, at the beginning, exfoliating more often than you should be can often help to clear up the look of breakouts. However, over time, it damages the skin barrier and increases sebum production, resulting in more breakouts than ever. The worst part is that you’ll have to stop exfoliating for a while in order for your skin to heal. This then takes away one of your most useful tools for battling the appearance of breakouts.
So, just like with cleansing, start by finding yourself a gentle exfoliator, such as the CB Microexfoliant Peel. Then, make sure that you don’t use it too often. Exfoliating three times a week is plenty for acne-prone skin – any more than this and more problems will start!
Add a Clay Mask to Your Weekly Skincare Routine
Face masks are a great way to target specific skin concerns, including the appearance of acne. Of course, you’ll need to pick the right mask for this. Applying a mask designed for dry skin to oily, acne-prone skin will only spell disaster!
When dealing with acne-prone skin, clay masks are always a good choice. Clay is loved all over the world for how it absorbs excess sebum from the skin. It can quickly mattify a greasy complexion while also reducing the appearance of clogged pores and pimples.
Clay works even more effectively when heat is added into the mix. This is why many professional treatments combine a clay mask with a facial steam. While a steam can be done at home too, there’s an easier way to reap those rewards; the CB Göld Purifying Heating Mask from CBGärdN.
This clay mask is very different from the others out there. For starters, massage it onto your skin and it will gently heat up. This keeps the pores feeling relaxed and flexible, allowing the clay to access any blockages much more efficiently. This mask is also packed with various vitamins and antioxidants. From vitamins A and C to grape stem cells and nettle leaf extract, it’s a formula that’s geared toward encouraging a brighter and clearer complexion.
Prioritize Hydration
Remember how we talked about how using the wrong cleanser or exfoliator could dehydrate your skin, which would make your acne worse? This all comes down to how the skin produces extra sebum when it’s dehydrated. Although sebum is very different from water, which is what dehydrated skin is lacking, the skin still tries to compensate for its thirst by producing more oil.
To stop this from happening, you’ll need to give your skin the moisture that it’s craving. How? By incorporating hydrating skincare ingredients into your routine.
Fortunately, there are plenty out there for you to choose from. Humectants tend to have the most hydrating power. These are ingredients that bind moisture to the skin, providing an immediate surge in moisture levels. Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and peptides are known for being some of the most effective humectants around, and you’ll find all three of them in the CB Göld Replenishing Serum. In this serum, those hydrating ingredients are combined with botanical extracts that are brimming with antioxidants. The result? Skin that not only looks plumper and fresher but also feels much healthier.
Shield Your Skin From the Sun
As you now know, keeping your skin hydrated is important if you want to combat the appearance of acne for good. This means avoiding anything that dehydrates your skin, with UV rays being one.
Research shows that over-exposing your skin to the sun dehydrates the skin and causes it to produce more sebum. It also leads to inflammation in the skin, which is what triggers an acne breakout. Even if your pores are clogged, you won’t end up with a pimple if inflammation doesn’t occur.
This makes sun protection extremely important if you want to keep the appearance of breakouts at bay. Sadly, many people with acne-prone skin hate using sunscreen. Many of the formulas out there clog up the pores and leave the skin feeling even greasier.
To get around this, look for a lightweight SPF moisturizer, like the CB Multi-Active Moisturizer With SPF 30. Not only will it protect your skin from the sun but it will also provide some extra hydration!
In addition to keeping your skin protected with SPF throughout the year, take additional sun protection measures during the spring and summer. This is when UV rays are strongest and most damaging. Wear clothing and accessories that shade your skin and stay out of the sun during its hottest hours.
Seek Out Ingredients That Reduce the Feeling of Inflammation
As we mentioned above, inflammation is a key component in acne breakouts. Even if your skin is excessively oily, preventing the feeling of inflammation will, in turn, stop the appearance of pimples in their tracks.
How can you prevent inflammation from taking over your complexion?
Aloe vera is a good weapon to have to hand. This botanical has been proven to reduce the feeling of inflammation in the skin, and it’s one that works quickly. It will also fight the appearance of bacteria, which is always useful for someone with acne-prone skin. You’ll find it in the clay mask we featured earlier.
Another good ingredient to use is niacinamide. This will also help to even out the look of your skin, lightening and brightening the visibility of any acne marks you may have. Give niacinamide a try with the CB Facial Toner. It also contains sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, making it incredibly hydrating!
Stop Touching Your Face
Do you often find yourself touching your face for whatever reason? If so, this could be why you can’t seem to put a stop to your acne.
Each time you touch your face, all of that bacteria and oil that’s on your fingertips transfers over onto your face. Sure, your fingers may look clean but, unless you’ve just washed them, they’ll be laden with thousands of tiny microscopic compounds that will only end up clogging your pores and causing inflammation.
If this is a habit that you simply can’t seem to break, keep your hands clean. Wash them more than you usually would, although make sure that you follow up with a hand cream. All of that extra hand-washing can quickly dry out the skin!
It goes without saying that whether or not you touch your face, popping your pimples is a big no. Not only can this cause them to bleed but that area of skin will soon become inflamed, resulting in more pimples around it. You’ll also be much more likely to develop an infection, as well as leave a scar behind. Acne scars are very different from acne marks in that they’re not as easily treatable. So, resist the temptation to pop your zits and keep your hands well away from your face!
Summary
When you’re in the midst of a breakout, acne can seem like an impossible challenge to overcome. However, stay strong and keep the above tips in mind. They’ll help you to tackle the appearance of acne from every angle, making it much more likely that you’ll finally be able to beat those breakouts!
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