Acne - Take Action with the Right Approach
Acne. That one skin complaint that so many of us are plagued with – teens and adults alike – takes many, many forms. Some of us outgrow it, others continue battling it well into adulthood, and some of us only start experiencing acne breakouts as an adult. There are several potential triggers to be aware of including hormones and stress. But before you go reaching for a targeted acne treatment, it’s important to determine what you’re dealing with. Is what you’re experiencing is acne, or is it simply a reaction to a change in a skincare routine or over-exfoliation? It’s also important to remember that a couple of spots in the lead-up to (and during) a menstrual cycle is completely normal.
Staying hydrated and practising good skin hygiene can make all the difference. We recommend avoiding highly fragranced skincare products and always use a sun protectant (the higher the SPF, the better). And of course, try not to go to bed without at least cleansing your skin, preferably with a double cleanse. Although dermatologists stress that there isn’t much scientific evidence to suggest a link between acne and diet, some people do find that avoiding things such as dairy and excessively greasy foods does help them manage their symptoms.
Most people fall into three main categories which we’ll outline below. We’ve also made recommendations on what products from the Jan Marini range might be best suited to your needs. It’s important to know where you fit – to not overdo it and to be consistent with your products and routine (they don’t call it a routine for no reason!).
1. The “Occasional”
Whether you find yourself breaking out around that time of the month, or you’ve been sweating it out at the gym a little more than usual…If this sounds like you, then good news! Luckily a few simple routine changes can break the cycle. A good resurfacing cleanser, used every day, can keep the pesky breakouts at bay.
By simply keeping up with daily cleansing and replacing your pillowcases every few days can make all the difference too. In addition to this, using a good retinol product daily at night can help ensure your skin is resilient and strong, able to recover quickly from small flare-ups or breakouts.
Recommended: Jan Marini’s Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser, Age Intervention Retinol Plus & Marini Physical Protectant Tinted
2. The “Constant but Mild”
If you feel like your skin is constantly congested with a bumpy texture, or perpetually seem to have a few pimples, then you’ll need to have an acne-fighting regime with a high-powered active to put a stop to the flare-ups.
Follow a simple routine similar to the one we’ve outlined above for the “Occasional”, with the inclusion of a Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatment lotion which can be applied to the affected area to clear breakouts as needed. A retinol mask can be applied once or twice a week as needed, to amp up the retinol product you use (although don’t use these on the same night). Always wear SPF during the day when using retinol products and always apply retinol at night. This is because retinol makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays and sunlight decreases the efficacy of the product. Also, your skin has more of a chance to recharge when you’re sleeping.
Recommended: Jan Marini’s Benzoyl Peroxide 5% Lotion & Retinol Plus Mask
3. The “Full-Blown”
For a true acne sufferer, where you have red, angry, sore lesions that get you down...you need to pay some special attention to your skin and give it the TLC it deserves. This type of acne is aggressive, so you’ll need a good resurfacing cleanser to dissolve all the surface skin debris in addition to a potent acne fighter. Actives like AHAs and BHAs are your go-to here but remember not to overdo it. In many cases, less is more, and your skin can only handle so many harsh ingredients from your skincare routine.
Pick one or two products and see how you get on, and don’t apply actives and retinol together as they decrease each other’s efficacy. A benzoyl peroxide/retinol treatment combo is the daily go-to for fast-acting, acne-fighting magic. This treatment requires some commitment and compliance, but the payoff is incredible. Ease into a high strength treatment product until you can use it every night. Don’t be alarmed if your skin feels tight or dry as that’s how these products work – by minimising your skin’s sebum production. We recommend using a calming moisturiser to soothe and hydrate in the morning, under your sun protectant.
Recommended: Jan Marini’s Age Intervention Duality & Age Intervention Peptide Extreme