The best way to deal with blemished skin
Still suffering from blemish-prone skin but feel you’re too old to be getting spots? Unsure how you should best deal with it? We hear you and are here to help!
Adult spots (or acne as it’s referred to) can actually affect up to 50% of us, but before tackling your issue, it’s important firstly to understand why and how they are formed.
What causes blemishes?
Blemished prone skin can be triggered by a number of factors from diet to stress, genetics to hormones, a reaction to topical products or environmental factors, however the spots themselves are the result of an over production of sebum (oil) which can mix with dead skin cells and other grime on the surface of your skin leading to blocked pores.
How to best prevent them
While the dreaded blemishes are unpredictable and sadly part and parcel of everyday life for many, there are a few methods you can adopt to try and prevent them;
- Stop pores getting clogged by deep cleansing twice daily and using gentle exfoliation.
N.B We are talking gentle exfoliation! People often think daily “scrubbing” will prevent blackheads but it can actually increase the shedding of skin cells therefore causing further clogging on the pores! Make sure you use exfoliators that don’t require physical scrubbing. We highly recommend Phytomer Vegetal Exfoliant with Natural Enzymes.
- Use non-greasy, non-comedogenic (pore clogging) products or products that do not contain additional ingredients like artificial fragrances and preservatives as these commonly cause skin reactions.
- Always wash your hands before touching your face, in fact, keep your mitts off your face altogether!
- Clean your makeup brushes often (we are talking once a week) – makeup brushes naturally accumulate and harbour bacteria and an overload of bacteria can trigger breakouts!
- Adjust your diet. You want to ensure you include lots of fresh, green leafy vegetables and dramatically reduce the amount of sugar and dairy you may be consuming. Some experts agree in particular that milk may stimulate oil glands thanks to the hormones, creating a breeding ground for blemishes! Eek.
- Flush toxins by drinking plenty of water
- Remove makeup before any exercise. We are talking energetic exercise though when you may sweat a little, not walking from your house to the car.
How to best treat them
We have all been guilty of over-treating our blemishes! Topical ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide if overused can really dry out your skin (yes, we understand you want to dry out the skin and reduce the oil flow) but beware over-dry skin care can actually cause oil production to go into overdrive and in turn produce more clogged pores which equates to more spots! Vicious cycle. Also when used in unison these ingredients can slightly inflame the top layer of skin making it look red and raw! Just what you want, to replace a spot with red, raw skin! No thank you. Instead, opt for professional skincare created specifically to treat blemish prone skin with pure ingredients.
A tried and trusted skincare routine will really help with symptoms and keep those pesky pimples under control just be sure to include a face mask into the mix as we promise a good face mask can be a game changer for those with blemish prone skin. We are currently in LOVE with Phytomer’s Oligopur Flawless Skin Mask.
Just remember to keep pimples at bay, you only need to apply a face mask once or twice a week for a minimum of 10 minutes. Easy.
When your skin is acting up, reaching for your concealer and foundation seems like the only answer as there is no way you’re ready to face the world with the Taj Mahal on your chin in all its glory. But choose wisely, as the wrong foundation can exacerbate blemishes! Consider switching to mineral-based cosmetics. They contain ingredients such as silica, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide that soak up excess oil without clogging pores, allowing skin to actually breathe freely! Make sure you get your hands on the ELES bestselling Liquid Powder Mineral Foundation, it will calm skin with anti-inflammatories, provide natural-looking coverage, and won’t clog pores.
You can win the war against pimples, just be sure to follow these simple steps.
