Acne Prone Skin...A rule of thumb

Editor's Note: Hi wamsmom, thank you for sharing this detailed list of rules for keeping the skin acne free. We are delighted to inform that your contribution has been selected as Best of Forums and featured here. Now you can share these tips with your loved ones.

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Hello Everyone,

I have seen many posts here for acne prone skin, and I wanted to offer some advice. Realize the importance of skincare first before makeup because your makeup will only look as good as the skin that's underneath it. What I'm writing now is not for the extreme, clinical medicine-needing situation, but for the woman who may not be treating her skin correctly, and therefore exacerbating breakouts.

1: When choosing a cleanser for your face, you don't want to choose something that is going to dry your skin out too much, and you don't want to choose something that's going to overly moisturize your skin. You definitely want to choose something that's oil-free. I've tried many cleansers, and I keep going back to Clinique facial soap. It's hard-milled so it lasts for months, so it's very economical, and it doesn't overly dry your skin and it doesn't moisturize. It makes your skin feel simply clean. Wash your face with this twice a day. Make sure your makeup is off when you wash with this at the end of the day.

2: Use an astringent that contains salicylic acid after you wash your face. This will gently exfoliate your skin so that the dead skin is off and your pores can "breathe". A major, if not THE major cause of breakouts is clogged pores. Neutrogena makes a great astringent that contains salicylic acid and won't break the bank. Not only does it help to clear pores, but when you put makeup on, you don't have the dead skin that can make your foundation and powder look rough, but you'll have a smooth, soft canvas that makes your makeup look more natural.

3. If you must use a moisturizer, use an oil-free variety. I've seen oil-free moisturizers that also contain SPF's of 15-55! These are a great deal. I don't care how old you are, you should always use sunblock. Again, Neutrogena makes a moisturizer that's worth the money, combining two products in one. Remember, the higher the SPF, the better.

4: If you have a rogue pimple, treat it with a treatment that contains salicylic acid. Another trick I used to use when I was a teenager was simple toothpaste. I would dab the pimple with simple toothpaste before I went to bed, and by morning, it was drying up, and noticeably smaller.

5: If you have somewhere special to go to, or just once a week, use a facial scrub, or take a baby washcloth (the smaller, smoother variety meant to bathe infants with), wet it, and use the soap with it to massage over your face. Follow with the astringent and moisturizer.

6: You only have one body...treat it right! As many people have suggested before, drink plenty of water, eat right, and get plenty of rest. Your skin is a reflection of what's going on inside of your body. For example, someone who lives on caffeine will have a very dull, dry complexion because caffeine acts as a diuretic and you can become dehydrated.

With these steps, if kept up, I can assure you your skin will be clearer over time. One thing I have to say though, is that you may notice some breakout as soon as you follow this, but keep in mind that whatever is clogging your pores has nowhere else to go, but up (pimple). This is your skin "working itself out". Be patient, and it will pay off.

One more thing, when you pick out foundation...remember...OIL FREE! The same goes for powder and blush. Not all powders and blushes are oil free, so look for ones that specify that they are. Also, when touching-up your powder, blot your face first to soak up any oil that is coming through, and then apply the powder. If you apply your powder without blotting, your powder puff will have oil on it and will transfer to your powder, making the powder cake hard and shiny, and therefore unusable. You can blot with blotting papers, or you can blot on the cheap with plain, dry toilet paper.

Good luck girls!

 

You're most welcome...