Are Your Acne Products Actually HURTING Your Skin?

Many years ago, I found myself frustrated with my own skincare routine. I didn’t know my skin type; I didn’t know what products to use and how to lay them out into an effective skincare strategy.

I tried numerous products, but my skin wasn’t improving, and I was spending way too much money on items that didn’t work.

While working as a skincare chemist, I realized how many people are in the same boat—unsure of what their skin truly needs and often misled by marketing claims.

As a cosmetic chemist, my mission is simple: to help you choose the right products for your unique skin needs, without overspending on items that won’t deliver results.

Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, or something in between,

One big mistake I see people making is using acne-based products when they only have a little outbreak…

It’s crucial to correctly identify your skin condition.

Light acne usually involves occasional pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads, while severe acne includes numerous often painful cysts and nodules…

Misdiagnosing your condition can lead to using inappropriate products, which usually only aggravate your skin more.

The problem with using acne specific product is that these products are meant for people with severe acne, and they will disrupt your skin’s barrier with unnecessary chemical exposure, and create an imbalance in your skin’s microbiome.

Here is what I want you to do…

Go get your skincare products right now, and look at the label on the back. Here is what I want you to look for.

If you suffer with only occasional breakouts, you want to be sure your products contain 1 of the following ingredients within these concentration ranges…

You should see either Salicylic Acid with concentration from 0.5% - 2%, or

Azelaic Acid with concentration from 10% - 20%, or

Niacinamide with concentration from 2% - 5%.

These ingredients focus on preventing mild breakouts, managing occasional pimples, and maintaining overall skin clarity.

These products provide gentle exfoliation, minor antibacterial action, and light oil control.

If your products has these ingredient within these range, the bottle should say something like “mild,” “gentle,” and “for sensitive skin”…

If your products are within these ranges, then you should be fine and you have the right concentrations to not do further damage to your skin.

If you have more severe acne that is painful to the touch, very red, or irritated, then you need something stronger and should see a dermatologist.

Unless your acne is as severe as I just described, you should try to stay away highly concentration prescription products.

The light gentle products are the way to go.

Below are my recommended affordable products…

1. CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser: what I like about this cleanser is it’s a light weight gel and will lather up nicely. The main ingredient is Salicylic Acid, which help unclogging pores and prevent breakouts. It leaves my skin feels clean and smooth without that tight or irritated feeling. Plus, this is affordable. If you have light acne, try this out.

2. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%: this is a creamy, gel like texture that will absorb quickly into the skin. With Azelaic Acid as main ingredient, it is great for calming down those occasional breakouts and redness and even out your skin tone. If you have light acne and want clearer skin, try out this budget friendly product.

I hope this information helps you make better choices for your skincare routine and ultimately achieve the healthy glowing skin you deserve.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing some essential tips and hacks specifically for those with sensitive skin. Keep an eye for tomorrow’s email.

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