Today I would like to write about a topic that is close to my heart: Skincare For Sensitive Acne Prone Skin. If you are anything like me, then you have been suffering from acne for many, many years and you have tried every single product that you could get your hands on, with little to no results.
I have been suffering from acne since I was 11. It started off with just a few pimples and became very severe so that I was prescribed oral as well as topical antibiotics.
For years I thought that I had to dry out my skin in order for my skin to be less oily. I used cleansers that stripped the oil of my face, moisturizers that keep the face mat as well as topical treatment gels and creams. When I wore makeup, I would opt for the mattifying foundation alongside a mattifying face powder which I reapplied multiple times a day. As you can imagine, my skin looked horrible.
A few weeks ago I had an allergic reaction which has caused my face to flare up. It was red, bumpy, and dry, and oily at the same time and I had no idea what to do. I decided to fill out an e-consult and describe the situation in hopes of coming across a solution. A few hours the dermatologist called me and explained to me that I should be using any face cleansers, moisturizers, or serums with active ingredients alongside a specific product that is treating a specific problem, i.e. acne.
If your cleansers have salicylic acid and your toner has glycolic acid and then you slap on a prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide gel to treat the skin, you most likely will a) bring your skin out of balance, and b) if it does work, you won’t be able to tell which product has led to the positive change.
That being said, I asked the dermatologist for her advice and this is what she said:
Cleanser
Use a mild face wash that won’t leave your skin dry and that is non-comedogenic (I am using the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser, as I have used it in the past and it 10000% does not cause my skin to break out). If you suffer from sensitive acne-prone skin then you are familiar with the feeling of fear that any product could break you out.
Moisturizer
Use the simplest non-comedogenic moisturizer that you can find that doesn’t contain any acids or active ingredients, you want to simply moisturize and calm your skin. I am currently using the Calming Moisturiser With Hemp Seed Oil by Simple. It has calmed my skin after the first use, it doesn’t feel oily and it absorbs into the skin.
Sunscreen
I have to admit that I haven’t been using SPF in the past because I was afraid that the SPF would cause my skin to break out. Many of the ones I have tried in fact did cause very my acne to get worse. While I haven’t found the perfect SPF yet, I do think that the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid SPF50+ does a pretty good job and of course, is also non-comedogenic.
Exfoliation
Do not exfoliate every day and try to use a chemical exfoliant, rather than a physical one, as these can create little tears in your skin. I recommend the Pixi Glow Tonic but you could also try the Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant if you can tolerate it. My skin is sensitive and sometimes Paula’s Choice Exfoliant makes my skin very sensitive.
Why You Do Not Need a 10 Step SKincare Routine
I know that it seems very popular at the moment to have a 10-step skincare routine, but when you suffer from sensitive acne-prone skin, the less product comes in touch with your skin, the better. Especially if certain products or ingredients might cause an allergic reaction.
Many dermatologists actually recommend a more simple skincare routine. This does not only save you time in the morning and the evening, but it will also save you money as well as the environment in the long run. It has become a kind of a trend to own as many products as possible, but I recommend trying and cutting down your skincare to the basics: a face wash, moisturizer, sunscreen.
Remember that your skin has to be nurtured from the inside. Creams and treatments should not replace a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet as well as regular exercise.
