A Tip For Those Who Suffer With Acne

Sarah Maxwell
Jul 27, 2020
3 min read

I am no stranger to acne. In fact, I have suffered with acne for most of my life. Growing up feeling insecure about my skin is what fuelled me to become more knowledgeable and is ultimately where my passion for skincare began.

I know I am not alone in my bitter feelings towards pesky pimples, as it is the skin condition I deal with most often inside the treatment room. And let me tell you, acne does not discriminate. I've seen it in 8 year olds and I have seen it in 70 year olds, pretty much anyone and everyone has dealt with acne to some extent in their lifetime. So then what can you do to help? I am going to give you one of my most common words of advice when it comes to dealing with acne.

So here it is... Simplify Your Routine

Okay, but let me elaborate!

Getting caught up in an 11 step routine can seem like the way to go these days. However, more is not always better, even when your favourite influencer is telling you that you need it and it is in a blush pink bottle with a guarantee to clear your skin along with the matching mask, oil, balm, essence, eye mask, spot treatment, etc., It is not worth it! The skin is smart and often times when you start to add in too much, you are compromising the barrier, clogging pores, and coming out of it confused because in your mind you are trying to give the skin the most possible benefit by implementing all these "amazing" steps. There is a time and a place for luxurious add ons in a skincare routine and trust me, I am all for it. However, if you struggle with acne, cut it back. Lets start back with the basics.

Less is more... Simplify your routine.

Things to look for in an ideal routine: Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer. Morning and night.

Helpful Add ons: Specific Serums, Masks, Spot Treatment.

Some helpful ingredients to look for:

Salicylic Acid

Glycolic Acid

Benzol Peroxide

Retinoids

Niacinamide

I would love to lay out an exact routine that each and every one of you could follow. Unfortunately though, each skin is so incredibly different and it is hard for me to recommend something as a one size fits all. For example, someone who experiences breakouts and surface dehydration may benefit more so from a hydrating mild cleanser, an AHA/BHA toner (to chemically exfoliate and bring skin back to PH), and a nourishing moisturizer with vitamin a, peptides, etc. Whereas, someone who deals with heavy oil production and breakouts may do better with an acne specific cleanser, AHA/BHA toner, and a more lightweight type of moisturizer.

Add on products and in clinic treatments will also vary person to person depending on specific skin type, genetics, hormonal factors, lifestyle, diet, etc.

I know that finding and using the right products can be incredibly overwhelming. Please feel free to reach out to me and I would love to support you along the way.

Sarah

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