Top 5 Skincare Ingredients to Treat Acne

I have struggled with acne to one degree or another for around a decade now. Over time, I grew tired and frustrated of being constantly referred from one professional to another. No one seemed to offer solid advice beyond issuing an antibiotic prescription. For years my skincare regimen consisted of the same predictable prescription tablets and antibacterial face scrub (since banned by the FDA). It wasn’t until I took matters into my own hands, out of desperation and frustration, that I began to see improvements in my skin. It was a painful process but in my own research, I found skincare ingredients to treat acne, and not just cover it up.

After much trial and error over the years, I have narrowed down my top 5 skincare ingredients to treat acne. These are the most effective skincare ingredients to treat acne that I have found, with astounding results. All of these ingredients are topical, and most are available over the counter.

1. Salicylic acid.

I have sung the praises of BHAs in numerous blog posts. As someone who has battled with acne, it is an ingredient I strongly recommend. I will say however, that if you struggle with more severe cystic acne, salicylic acid will likely not be a cure-all. But for people with mild to moderate breakouts, it is certainly a tool you need in your acne kit.

Salicylic acid is the main type of beta hydroxy acid. It is lipophilic (or “oil-loving”), meaning it is solutble in oils and fats. This enables it to penetrate the pore and remove excess sebum. It encourages exfoliation, skin cell turnover and decongests pores. This prevents follicles from becoming clogged with dead skin cells and excess oil. As a derivative of aspirin, it is anti-inflammatory and can calm inflammation caused by breakouts and exfoliation.

If you want more information about salicylic acid, the best products, its properties and uses, I have written an entire blog post about salicylic acid.

I would highly recommend a leave-on salicylic acid exfoliant such as this 2% BHA solution. It is one of my favourite salicylic acid products and makes a huge difference. You will wake up with radiant skin and clarified pores. 

2. Benzoyl Peroxide.

A blocked pore creates an oxygen free environment. It cultivates the ideal conditions for P Acnes bacteria to grow and thrive. Benzoyl peroxide introduces oxygen into the follicle and kills the bacteria causing the breakout. This makes it the perfect spot treatment to get rid of a pimple quickly.

Let me tell you, that if you feel that under-the-skin painful pimple threatening to surface, benzoyl peroxide works wonders. Oftentimes, when I feel a breakout coming on, just dabbing a little 5% BPO onto the area will do the trick. Even if you just want your pimple to clear more quickly, benzoyl peroxide will help that process. It will dry out your skin though, so make sure you keep the surrounding area moisturised. This prevents dry flaky areas of skin.

3. Azelaic Acid.

This is one of my favourite skincare ingredients to treat acne. It is the most underrated skincare ingredient when it comes to breakouts. You often hear about salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide for acne. But no one ever seems to give azelaic acid the necessary praise it deserves. Azelaic acid is conventionally used as a treatment for rosacea, and it is great for doing so. However, I have found from my own experience that it is a game changer when it comes to treating acne.

As an antibacterial agent, azelaic acid reduces the growth of bacteria in the follicle. It decreases inflammation and helps loosen the build-up of dead skin cells and oil. It is keratolytic and comedolytic, meaning it inhibits the formation of comedones by reducing the growth of keratin surface skin cells that pores and sebaceous glands.

The beauty of this ingredient is that, if you do struggle with redness and rosacea, you will see your skin greatly managed and more even. You will no longer wake up with a face that looks red and irritated, and there will be less inflammation overall to your skin. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, it will not cause excessively dry skin either. It’s a win all-round!

This azelaic acid suspension is inexpensive and highly effective. However, I do find that it does not last an awfully long time. For a more sophisticated formula, this azelaic acid + BHA treatment works wonders for breakouts, enlarged pores and blackheads. It has the added benefit of targeting dark spots and brightening the complexion.

4. Niacinamide

Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide has an anti-inflammatory effect. As inflammation causes oxidative damage to sebum, it leads to pimples. Applying niacinamide topically can reduce inflammation and decrease the likelihood of a blemish forming. It can also reduce moisture loss and regulate oil flow for those with excessively oily skin.

I have spoken about the benefits of niacinamide in my how to get rid of blackheads post and several other posts. This ingredient is one of my absolute favourite all-round skin restoring and protecting ingredients. While it is one of the best skincare ingredients to treat acne, it is also effective at balancing oily skin and and maintaining skin health. Whether my skin is behaving particularly well or I am experiencing an increase in blemishes, I try to incorporate this ingredient into my daily routine.

Effaclar Duo contains both niacinamide and salicylic acid to work double duty at battling breakouts. For an even greater boost of niacinamide, the 10% Niacinamide Booster contains a hefty dose of niacinamide along with vitamin C to help brighten any pesky post-acne marks.

5. Retinoic acid.

These are vitamin A derivatives. Aside from their anti-ageing benefits, they are gold standard skincare ingredients to treat acne with. There are several different options, from over the counter retinol, tretinoin, differin, tazarotene. Retinoids have hormone-like chemical messengers that bind to receptors in the cell. This alters the way cells behave. They promote cellular turnover of dead skin cells, making it harder for oil to clog pores. Thus, they keep sebaceous follicles free of comedones. Retinoids reduce oil production and also reduce acne associated inflammation.

While many retinol can work for combatting acne, Differin (or adapalene), was specifically formulated for acne treatment. This retinoid can be obtained by prescription in the UK and is readily available over the counter in the US.

Retinoids do sensitise skin so I would recommend slowly introducing them into your routine. In my previous post about Fall Skin Care Tips, I suggested reintroducing retinoids back into your routine during the Fall. Now that your sun exposure will likely be reducing over the cooler months, your retinol use can increase without so much sun sensitivity.

Caution: Do not overdo active ingredients

I want to emphasise that you should not overdo these skincare ingredients to treat acne. The active ingredients I have mentioned are effective but very potent. Before you go to happy town smothering every single one of these ingredients on your face at once, I urge you to pause. More is not more when it comes to active skincare ingredients. Piling on a number of strong topicals all at one go may not only be ineffective, but it may also exasperate your skin condition.

I have fallen into the trap of thinking that if a little is good, then more must be better. I bombarded my face with salicylic acid twice a day, along with retinoids daily, benzoyl peroxide on every inch of my face and so on. Not only did my acne not subside, but it only seemed to be getting worse no matter what I did.

Often acne arises as a result of excess inflammation showing up on your face. I would not recommend using such powerful ingredients all at one time due to the increased risk of irritation. In individuals with darker skin, this irritation can increase the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. In a future post I will be explaining how best you can safely and effectively use these ingredients and how best to incorporate them into your routine.

You can get your acne under control

I know how frustrating breakouts and acne can be. Trust me, I’ve been there. Even to this day, when I am pushing 22 years old, I experience breakouts. The truth is, acne is a multi-faceted skin condition with multiple causes and types. It does not necessarily have much to do with a numerical age.

Many times, people who have not experienced acne try to console you by saying you will grow out of it. As if one can snap their fingers when the clock strikes 12 on their 18^thbirthday and suddenly the clouds part and your skin clears. Unfortunately, that is not quite how it works.

With the proper treatments and skincare routine, you can keep your breakouts under control. While we can’t control hormonal or dysbiosis-related breakouts with skincare products alone, proper skincare will unquestionably make a difference.

In the future I will be doing more posts on how to manage hormonal and other types of breakouts too so remember to Subscribe for when I release those articles. 

For more skin care advice:

How to get rid of blackheads for good

Essential Skin Care and Makeup Tips for Oily Skin

The Complete Guide to Salicylic Acid Skincare

Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limit,

Shannon xo

This post is not sponsored. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material is strictly prohibited.

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The post Skincare Ingredients To Treat Acne appeared first on Shannon Feetham.

Amazon Skin Care Tools Every Girl Needs

Amazon truly is the Everything Store. It is a place where you can purchase anything from spare light bulbs to toothpaste to baby nappies, and have them all conveniently delivered to your door within 24 hours. This phenomenon would have positively been considered witchcraft mere decades back. Yet, here it is today. And because it is the Everything Store, there is plenty opportunity for lovers of Beauty and Skin Care, like you and I, to take advantage and throw in some beauty goodies to our next Amazon delivery. This blog post is all about the amazon skin care tools that every girl needs.

SILK PILLOWCASE

We spend a third of our lives sleeping. That’s a whole lot of time with our heads planted in a pillow. If you are a back sleeper, I salute you. However, there are benefits with detoxification to sleeping on your side (I can cover that in a separate post). The repeated action of your face up against a surface, day after day, year after year causes creasing in your skin, and over time leads to the formation of unwanted lines and wrinkles.

A silk pillowcase will not leach moisture from your skin like a cotton pillow case. You will no longer have to wake up with crazy creases on the side of your face before you head out to work. You’ll find less hair breakage because of the soft surface. A silk pillowcase is a must-have the sake of your anti-ageing strategy, and for your beauty. Even more so if you, like me, prefer to sleep on your side for as many hours as possible. 

GUA SHA

If you read my travel skin care essentials post, I explained the benefits of facial massage after long haul flights. You can use a Gua Sha skin care tool to promote lymphatic drainage and effectively de-puff the face. 

Gua sha is an alternative therapy method used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is a means of promoting circulation and redirecting energy flow in the body. It can help promote healing, reduce inflammation and stimulate the lymphatic system.

The daily ritual of Gua Sha can provide a multitude of long term skin benefits. Gua sha use can reduce wrinkles, firm and tone, even out complexion, define the jaw line, de-puff and combat pigmentation and puffy eyes. Gua sha can also be used to relieve tension and relax the muscles.

This tool from Amazon is a great, inexpensive option if you would like to try out Gua Sha but do not want a substantial expense before deciding if you like the results from Gua Sha. But trust that if you are consistent with this practice, your skin results will soon speak for itself.

JADE ROLLER

Jade rolling is another way to stimulate the lymphatic system and reduce puffiness in the face. It consists of a larger roller on one side and a smaller roller on the other, for more targeted areas such as around the eyes. In some respects, it requires less of a skilled technique than Gua Sha and is an extremely gentle approach.

You should use the jade roller on clean skin. For extra coolness you can store it in the fridge before use. You want to make sure you are draining down the neck and towards the lymph nodes. It should feel cooling and relaxing on the face. And if anything, it is a perfectly calming ritual to add to your self-care routine.

FOREO FACIAL BRUSH

A Foreo is the ultimate cleansing and massage device for your skin. I have toyed with a number of cleansing devices in the past, including the Clarisonic. While I thoroughly enjoyed using the Clarisonic, the constant need to change brush heads became far too cumbersome and uneconomical (£20 per brush head?!) It just didn’t make sense anymore for me to continue purchasing brush head after brush head, when I had already invested a significant amount of money on the brush body to begin with.

The Foreo is made of silicone. This makes it far more hygienic and convenient as you will not have to constantly replace brush heads every six weeks.  It will really give a deep cleanse to the skin and pull every last trace of makeup from your pores. They even have adorable mini versions of the Foreo so you can leave your main cleansing brush at home and take along with you a convenient, portable one on your travels. It will soon be one of your must have Amazon skin care tools.

KONJAC SPONGE

Perhaps you are not sold on the idea of an electronic skin cleansing device. Maybe they are a little out of your budget. Or perhaps the case is just that you are an eco conscious consumer. Konjac sponges tick all the boxes and are a biodegradable, inexpensive alternative.

Konjac sponges are a popular Japanese means of cleaning the skin. They are completely vegan and eco-friendly approach to your cleansing routine. Made from the konjac root, these sponges are hard when dry and become soft and sponge-like when soaked with water for cleansing.

These sponges are very gentle and non-abrasive on the skin, while still being effective at cleansing and removing makeup. There are various properties infused into different konjac sponges, such as charcoal for detoxifying the skin.

The sponge allows you to use less cleanser per use, so your product goes further. It is also biodegradable, so once the time comes to replace it at 6-8 weeks, it can be easily composted. These sponges are economical, environmentally friendly, and do wonders for your skin too. What’s not to love?

FACIAL HAIR REMOVER

These little razors are very useful to have on hand at all times. For ladies who experience a little peach fuzz they don’t particularly enjoy, or some rogue eyebrows or upper lip hair, these razors work like a charm.

Some women swear by shaving their face and claim that makeup applies much more smoothly to a hairless complexion. There is also the argument that men age more slowly than women due to their daily shaving practices, which provide additional exfoliation. I do not dispute that, but I have fortunately never felt the need to shave my own face. If you are someone who would like to begin shaving your peach fuzz, using a little tool like this will be of great use to you.

Even if you have no interest in shaving your entire face, these razors can be used to groom around eyebrows and upper lip area between waxing appointments. And who knows what else.

Amongst all the Amazon skin care tools, there is also this inexpensive, cute electric pink facial hair remover. If you have decided that you do enjoy the results you see from shaving your peach fuzz, you’ll love this handy little device. It can be easily cleaned under running water and has a handy LED light for use in even dimly light environments.

TANNING GLOVE

If you are a user of self-tanners, you will recognise the importance of using a glove to cover your palms while you apply the tanner to your body. You will also be aware of how gross these mitts get after only a few uses and how they don’t last.

This luxury velvet self-tan mitt will last you far longer than other conventional tanning mitts. It will apply any self-tan formula from mousses to creams and lotions. It is also soft and velvety, so will smoothly apply product for a streak-free finish.

FACE WASH HEADBAND

We all know the struggle of attempting to wash our face while trying not to wet our hair. These flannel headbands will absorb any water and keep it off your hair, so you can soundly wash your face without worrying about ruining your hair or having to dry it afterwards. You can also use it while applying makeup to keep flyaway hairs from your face and prevent any foundation and other products from getting in your hair.

DRY BODY BRUSH

A dry body brush is a great way to exfoliate the skin and encourage blood circulation as well as remove toxins from the body. Because it stimulates blood flow, it plays a role in diminishing the look of cellulite and promoting a smooth, soft skin.

Dry body brushing is invigorating and energising because it speeds up the delivery of oxygen and nutrient to cells. When brushing your limbs, make sure you are brushing in an upwards motion towards the heart.

MIRCROFIBRE FACE CLOTH

It can be a pain having to re-purchase makeup remover products. Not to mention, they quickly run out if you wear makeup on the daily. A microfibre face cloth will remove your makeup easily, with only water, no product needed. It simply needs to be wet in order to remove your makeup. You can then easily wash and re-use it. No more having to reach for the makeup wipes, or cotton pads and makeup remover solution.

BRUSH FOR FACIAL MASKS

If you’re a fan of beauty self-care and facial masks, you’ll definitely want a brush on hand. The brush will distribute the mask evenly over the face far more effectively than hands alone. And it can be used to mix the ingredients before application. It’s just a handy tool for your lazy Sundays or Friday nights in when you just fancy a little extra pampering.

HUMIDIFIER

The days are becoming colder and drier. Pretty soon Winter leave your skin parched and screaming for hydration. This cold, dry air steals moisture from your skin and damages your skin care efforts. If you live in arid regions, a humidifier is a must.

The humidifier will introduce moisture back into the air so that your skin does not dry out overnight. Products like hyaluronic acid can actually work to attract moisture from the air to your skin. So you do ideally want some level of humidity for best results. Read this post on how hyaluronic acid benefits your skin and how you should be using it.

FACIAL FLANNEL

These are boring but so necessary. I recommend you use a new flannel every time you wash your face to minimise the introduction of any bacteria to your skin. Your regular bath towel that you use for a week straight will not suffice as a face towel. Hand towels and body towels used multiple times become a breeding ground for bacteria and trust me, you do not want that on your face.

EXTRACTION TOOL

Mama said not to pick your face, but sometimes we can’t help it. Sometimes it’s a straight up emergency and you need to be somewhere and look cute. And you most definitely cannot have Mr Zit looking like he’s ready to erupt in front of the whole world to see. It’s understandable.

This extraction kit will make sure you are hygienically doing away with Mr Zit, without encouraging the proliferation of further bacteria to your skin. It is one of those Amazon skin care tools you should probably have on hand for emergencies.

TONGUE SCRAPER

But these don’t count as Amazon skin care tools, you say. Well hear me out. This is a wellness tool that you absolutely need to have because when you promote health within, it shows on the outside. Tongue scraping is a necessary hygiene step that not enough people do. 

No one wants a build up of toxins and bad breath. Or even worse, that foul coating some people have over their tongues. Tongue scraping can help prevent bacteria from proliferating, causing gum disease and infections in the mouth (gross!), and promotes overall oral health.

It is believed in Ayurveda that this movement cleanses digestive tissues and internal organs. Anything that promotes health on the inside will reflect to what you see on the outside. A healthy internal environment will reflect in your skin. So get to tongue scraping, girlfriend.

NAIL CUTICLE KIT

Not all of us have the time, nor do we have the finances to head to a weekly manicure appointment. Especially during this time of year in the colder weather, your cuticles can get dry, flaky and far less than cute. This little rose gold cuticle kit will keep your cuticles maintained and ensure you do not have to deal with pesky dry nail beds.

LIGHT UP MIRROR

Doing your face makeup in a dimly lit room is less than conducive to a good makeup day. If the lighting in your house is terrible, natural window light is not an option or you typically have to get ready before sunrise or after the sun goes down, you need a light up mirror.

A lighted mirror will make doing your makeup and other facial grooming tasks infinitely easier. This mirror has one side with 1x magnification and the other with 10x magnification. I think this quality is essential when choosing a makeup mirror because the extra magnification really helps you to scrutinise the little details when it comes to makeup or just tweezing your eyebrows.

TWEEZERS

Every lady knows tweezers are an absolute essential. We should have one in our skin care cabinet, on our counter, in our makeup bags and in our purses at all times. We all know those emergencies. 

Tweezerman is by far my favourite brand of tweezers. Their blades are sharp and precise and easy to use with even the smallest hairs. I have tried my fair share of cheap tweezers and most of them are too blunt and cannot grasp small hairs or remove them in one piece.

I personally use and love these little tweezers and make sure to have a set with me at all times.

Real Techniques Everyday Essentials Makeup Brush Set

Of course, a brush set is essential for every beauty lover out there. Brushes are must have Amazon skin care tools because they encourage hygienic makeup application (just remember to wash them!). Nothing quite changes your beauty game like brushes. 

This brush set includes my favourite tools for a perfect everyday face. I really do not think you would need more than these brushes on a daily basis. Despite what you may see in makeup tutorials and on social media, you do not need dozens of brushes for a makeup look.

On the contrary, I often use only 2 makeup brushes on an everyday basis (both of which are from Real Techniques). Yes, downsizing your makeup brushes is absolutely possible. It is never about a lack of resources, or in this case makeup brushes, but about how you are resourceful with the brushes you have.

This Everyday Essentials makeup brush set contains four brushes and a sponge, all of which are my favourite brushes to use and all you will need for an everyday look. Great looking skin should be the focal point of an everyday makeup look and this set has some excellent face brushes. 

Durable and affordable makeup brushes

Real Techniques was one of the first makeup brush lines I purchased from, over 6 years ago when I first started to properly wear makeup. I will tell you with all earnestness, that these brushes are the best affordable brushes you will invest in.

I have washed them countless times and they have never once failed me, shed profusely or broken apart. Unlike some makeup brushes I own from other companies (I am looking at you, Morphe), they are extremely durable. They wash well, are cruelty free and will last you.

This set comes with the blush brush, face sponge, setting brush, deluxe crease brush and expert face brush. I use the blush brush and expert face brush every single day. Whether I am doing a more natural makeup look or a more polished makeup. If I am trying to look a little more dolled up, I will add the setting brush, eye brush and sponge too.

Face brushes

The blush brush is the perfect large fluffy brush for bronzer and blusher application. On an everyday basis I do not want harsh lines or streaks on my face, so I use the blush brush to diffuse colour around my face after foundation, to revive my complexion but not make it appear as though I am wearing a lot of bronzer or blusher. Just looking healthy.

I primarily use my ring finger to disperse concealer under my eyes. However, when I am aiming to look more “done up” I will use the face sponge for this task. It also does a perfect job at pushing liquid foundation or creams into the skin so that you do not appear streaky or unblended. I will always make sure my sponge is wet before use as the dry sponge soaks too much product.

Lastly, the expert face brush. This is a flawless foundation brush that will make your foundation lay on the skin beautifully. It distributes any liquids or even powder foundations evenly over the face and is dense enough that it will not soak up a lot of product, so your foundation goes further.

Eye brushes

The setting brush in this kit is hands down my favourite brush for setting the under eyes after applying concealer. I have tried a number of brushes and not a single one holds a candle to this setting brush. This brush is small enough that it perfectly fits in the under-eye area. But it is large enough that it actually lays down product as you push it into the skin.

The deluxe crease brush is perfect for defining the crease or socket line. On a daily basis, this is the only eye brush you need. Contour the eye with a little bronzer or blush then apply mascara. I think it’s a great look for weekdays when you don’t have copious time for an extravagant eye look. A subtly defined socket just brings definition to your eyes and makes them look awake. Of course, this brush can be used for more intricate eye looks too.

Amazon skin care tools are abundant

I hope that this post was helpful in determining the Amazon skin care tools you really need as part of your skin care strategy. These Amazon skin care tools are absolutely essential for me and make taking care of my skin so much easier. I think that every girl should consider adding some of these products into their beauty routines. 

There clearly is an abundance of awesome Amazon skin care tools to choose from, and these were just the tip of the iceberg. Amazon always makes everything easy and seamless with things like one-day shipping so that your goodies can be with you in no time.

Remember to Subscribe to the Blog for more skin care and beauty posts like these. I will even give you access to the daily skin care essentials checklist when you Subscribe.

Check out some more skin care advice blog posts:

How To Get Rid of Blackheads For Good

The Top Oily Skin Tips You Need To Know

Essential Travel Skin Care Advice for Flying 

How to Take Care of Your Skin During The Fall Season

How many of these Amazon skin care tools do you use? Do you have any must-have skin care tools from Amazon?

Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limit,

Shannon xo

This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.

The post Amazon Skin Care Tools Every Girl Needs appeared first on Shannon Feetham.