Get Spots Under Control: Your Guide to Acne
Introduction
Few things are quite as frustrating as waking up in the morning with an unexpected blemish or dealing with pesky breakouts. While acne can be a tricky code to crack, it’s not impossible. Here, we break down everything you should know about acne, including the best skincare routine for those dealing with blemishes.
What causes acne?
Acne is a normal part of life—in fact, it is thought that around 85 percent of people experience some form of it in their lifetime. No matter your age, acne tends to be caused by a combination of things, including overproduction of sebum, clogged pores, hormonal imbalance and even environmental factors such as hot and humid conditions.
Stress and diet can both play a part, especially if you like to consume sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods, while some people are simply more acne-prone because of genetics. Yes, acne can indeed be inherited from your parents.
But at the end of the day, the main acne culprits are excess sebum and build-up of dead skin cells, which cause the accumulation of acne-causing bacteria and trigger those annoying breakouts.
Now, let’s break down the difference between teen and adult acne.
What is teen acne?
Teen acne is greatly related to puberty. As we hit puberty, a steep incline in androgens, male hormones present in both boys and girls, causes sebum production to soar. All the excess oil mixed together with dead skin cells form a plug within the pore that is a trap for bacteria.
What is adult acne?
Unfortunately, you don’t always outgrow acne. Blemishes don’t discriminate, and acne can manifest even in our adult years.
Hormones, stress and an unbalanced diet appear to be the driving factors for adult acne. Another contributing factor is the ageing process itself. With age, cellular turnover slows down. Oily complexion combined with slower cellular turnover and slower shedding of dead cells can clog pores and increase the risk of blemishes.
How does teen acne differ from adult acne?
Acne in younger years is more inflammatory than in adulthood. High oil production is a dreamland for blemishes like blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cystic acne.
Teens tend to break out mostly on their face, back, chest and upper arms. While boys typically experience more severe forms of disease, females generally show milder forms of acne.
While teen acne affects everyone equally, adult acne is mostly predominant in women due to hormonal fluctuations related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy and menopause.
Adult acne is often milder than teen acne, with fewer inflammatory lesions and more comedones. It tends to be located around the chin, mouth and jawline.
What ingredients can help banish blemishes?
Salicylic acid is a tried-and-true acne warrior. This oil-soluble BHA, or beta hydroxy acid, is a powerful exfoliant that’s able to penetrate deep into pores to dissolve excess oil and dead skin cells.
Tea tree oil is another popular acne-fighting ingredient. Its powerful antimicrobial properties help soothe skin and reduce inflammation associated with acne.
Retinoids, aka synthetic vitamin A derivatives, can also help regulate skin cell turnover to prevent the build-up of dead skin and clogged pores. The problem with topical retinoids is that there’s an increased potential for irritation.
What is the best skincare routine for acne?
Here’s where things get tricky—everyone’s skin is different, and the right regimen goes back to how severe your acne is.
If you’re dealing with severe breakouts, we suggest seeking dermatologist advice. But for those experiencing mild to moderate acne, the best skincare routine will be one that’s intentional and consistent but not complicated. And while there’s no exact recipe for a clear complexion, it definitely starts with these basics: cleansing, exfoliation, treatment, moisturising and SPF.
With this guidance in mind, here’s a blemish-busting morning and evening routine to try
01
Cleanser
(AM and PM)
Your skincare regimen should always begin with a good cleanse to remove any buildup of oil, dirt and grime—both in the morning or before bed.
Clean and purify your face with the Sebum Control Clear Skin Wash, which is specifically designed for acne-prone skin. The non-drying formula will gently and effectively wash away impurities and excess sebum to reveal a perfectly refreshed complexion without stripping vital moisture from your skin’s delicate barrier.
02
Toner
(AM and PM)
The right toner can help keep your skin’s delicate ecosystem in a state of balance which is particularly helpful if you have oily and acne-prone skin.
Not only is the Clarifying Toner great for balancing your skin’s pH levels and reducing shine, it also helps combat congestion and minimise pores. With a blend of salicylic acid, oil-controlling oak bark extract and natural moisturisers, you’ll be left with a visibly clarified and decongested skin.
03
Exfoliation
(PM)
Regular exfoliation could well be the missing piece in the puzzle for clear skin. By targeting the buildup of dead skin cells and helping to unblock pores, exfoliation can reduce existing spots, as well as prevent new ones.
Once or twice a week, reach for a deeply exfoliation treatment such as the Creamy Peel AHA Clay Mask. It sloughs off dead skin cells with a combination of 7% lactic acid and micro-clay to keep the skin smooth and bright, and your pores unclogged. This in turn helps prevent the appearance of excess oiliness and breakouts.
04
Spot treatments
(AM or PM)
Attack blemishes from all sides—here, specifically designed spot treatments can come in handy.
The Acne Spot Roll-On with 2% salicylic acid and soothing juniper stem cells will be perfect for this task. Designed to be used directly on blemishes, it helps get rid of pesky zits faster, soothe inflammation and minimise the appearance of breakouts.
For maximum results, combine it with the Acne Intense Blemish & Pore Treatment, an all-over facial treatment powered by blemish-soothing actives to help clear, prevent spots and promote a clear, balanced complexion.
05
Retinol alternative serum
(PM)
This is not an essential step, but one that might do your skin more good and make your skincare routine feel more sophisticated. First things first, synthetic retinol is known to help regulate oil production and speed up our skin cell turnover, both of which can have a positive effect on acne. However, its irritating side effects are arguably just as famous.
To reap all the blemish-clearing benefits of retinol without irritation, try using our natural alternative to retinol under your moisturiser.
It is dermatologically proven to give you smoother, refined and luminous skin without the reactivity or redness while balancing oiliness to keep blemishes at bay.
06
Moisturiser
(AM and PM)
Moisturise properly—while skipping your moisturiser can be tempting, it will only cause setbacks in your fight against blemishes since they can be exacerbated by dryness and irritation.
Check out our microbiome-balancing Acne Hydra-Derm Balancing Fluid, a clever moisturiser developed specifically for blemish-prone, oily and troubled complexions. It is non-comedogenic and lightweight yet sufficiently hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and fermented polysaccharides.
07
Sun protection
(AM)
Sunscreen is an absolute must 365 days of the year—yes, oily complexions and those prone to breakouts need to protect themselves from the harmful UV rays, too.
Sun exposure causes skin damage in the long run which manifests as premature signs of aging like dryness, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. It can also cause hyperpigmentation and contribute to a darker appearance of acne scars and post-breakout marks.
So, sunscreen should always be the final step in your morning skincare regimen, especially if you’re dealing with blemishes.
Shield your skin from sun damage and environmental stressors with the Plant Stem Cell Age-Defying Mineral Sunscreen SPF50, a broad-spectrum formula boosted by antioxidant-rich Northern Dragonhead stem cells. It protects skin with mineral filters zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which are non-comedogenic and gentle enough to not aggravate the skin even more. Plus, it’s lightly tinted to enhance your natural skin tone, goes on smooth and leaves a subtle glow without ever leaving a white cast.
How long until I see the results?
While we’d love to tell you exactly how to get rid of acne fast, nothing works overnight. Your skin needs time to show the results, so first improvements typically can be seen 4–6 weeks after beginning a new skincare regimen or product. You may also notice that your acne gets worse before it gets better but don’t be discouraged—just keep sticking to your routine.
