Acne isn’t just something that only affects teenagers. In fact, adult acne is on the rise with 40-55% of adults between 20 and 40 getting diagnosed with some mild form of acne.
Whether you have acne as an adult or teenager is frustrating either way. You feel like you always need to wear a full face of makeup knowing full well you’re causing more acne by not keeping your skin clean.
While there’s no one-size-fits-all miracle solution for acne – everyone’s skin is different after all – there are several steps you should add to your skincare routine that can help your skin clear up fast.
Wash Your Face in the Evenings
Washing your face every night before bed helps remove the makeup, oil, and grime that’s built up on your face over the course of the day. Thoroughly cleansing your skin will give you a clean start for any moisturizers or serums you put on before bed and make sure there’s no excess dirt to clog up your pores and cause acne.
No matter your skin type, opt for a gentle cleanser that won’t irritate your skin. For more severe acne, you might need a salicylic acid cleanser. For application, you can use a washcloth or use a spinning head brush. Choose a tool that doesn’t irritate your skin too much but still gives a deep clean.
Also, don’t shortchange yourself on the cleaning time. Wash your face for 30 to 45 seconds and make sure to build up plenty of suds. When you’re done, thoroughly rinse off your face and pat your skin dry with a clean towel.
Exfoliate Regularly
Exfoliating should be a regular part of your beauty routine. It’s not a daily activity, though. Conventional skincare advice says to exfoliate two to three times per week to remove dead skin. Removing dead skin cells helps remove particles that might otherwise clog your pores and cause acne. Exfoliating can also encourage the growth of new skin cells. If your skin is extra sensitive, try exfoliating once a week rather than two to three times.
You don’t need anything fancy to exfoliate your face. A simple exfoliator from the drug store will work just fine. They typically have small microbeads to help loosen the dead cells. You could also mix a paste of baking soda and coconut oil if you favor the DIY route.
This might be somewhat obvious but wash your face before exfoliating. Also, apply a moisturizer that works for your skin after exfoliating to rehydrate it.
Mask Up
Whenever you shop at a beauty shop or online, you are overwhelmed by the number of facial masks that are available on the market. Some masks promise to suck everything out of your pores and ones that say it’s like drenching your skin in water.
Masks aren’t as gimmicky as they sound. Some do what they say they will and can help relieve many people of their acne. Incorporating a mask into your routine can significantly help reduce face redness and pull out harmful bacteria from your skin.
There are a couple of types of masks available. When most people hear “mask,” they think of a thick paste that they rub all over their skin and leave to dry for 15 minutes before washing. Those masks are great, but they can be a bit messy. For something a bit more convenient, try an easy-apply Brilliance New York face mask that comes in a single sheet. They’re easy to apply and remove.
Don’t Touch
When you get a pimple, all you want to do is pick at it and try to pop it. While this is super tempting, don’t do this! At any given time, your fingers, particularly under your nails, are covered in bacteria that can irritate and even infect a newly popped zit. If a zit gets infected or irritated, it’s more likely to scar as it heals over, leaving you with a small dark spot on your face.
Keep Your Phone Clean
Your cell phone is another incredibly dirty thing you don’t want anywhere near your face. However, talking on your cell phone is a necessary evil when it comes to your skin. To mitigate the transfer of bacteria that can irritate your skin, regularly clean your cell phone. You can use wipes specially designed for this task or a simple cotton ball and rubbing alcohol will do. Wipe down the screen and case to ensure no germs are left.
Hydrate
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. Like the rest of your organs, it requires a ton of water to stay healthy. While drinking plenty of water won’t cure your acne overnight, it will help promote better skin health.
Change Your Pillowcase Regularly
Your pillowcase collects tons of dead skin cells and oils while you sleep. That accumulated grime can easily re-irritate your skin as you sleep. If you have particularly bad acne, consider changing out your pillowcase each night to avoid contamination. This also goes for your washcloths if you’re using them to clean your face.
Treat Your Skin Right
The better you treat your skin, the better it’ll treat you. By using gentle cleansers, exfoliating regularly, and not wearing makeup when you don’t need to, you’ll notice your skin clears up quickly. If you have more severe acne that just won’t go away, discuss your treatment options with your dermatologist.
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