Acne, according to WebMD, occurs when the tiny hair follicle openings are plugged or clogged with oily secretions from the skin, dead skin cells and bacteria. They appear either as whiteheads, blackheads or pimples as well as some other severe forms of acne. At one point in life, we all have had either one of this, especially during adolescence. Being acne prone, however, means that your skin type is susceptible to breakouts.
When taking care of acne prone skin, make sure that you purchase products that will not increase the breakouts. Read labels carefully to make sure that the products don’t clog your pores. The following is a list of products you can use for its care and be assured breakouts will reduce.
Best moisturizer
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The skin naturally moisturizes itself, but moisturizers duplicate this natural process. They basically are oil and water emulsions that vary in proportion. Cream and ointment moisturizers contain more oil than water while lotions contain more water than oil. High oil content moisturizers are thicker while high water content ones’ can easily be poured.
Moisturizers are essential for skin care. In fact, moisturizer is essential when taking care of acne prone skin. The treatment your dermatologist gives you will contain ingredients that dry out skin. Moisturizer will then help keep your it hydrated and protects it from drying or peeling.
Therefore a good moisturizer for acne prone skin is lightweight, noncomedogenic (will not clog pores) and is oil-free. It also contains ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hold in moisture.
Some of the products you can use include:
- Cetaphil moisturizing lotion
- Neutrogena Oil-free Moisture SPF 35
- Burt’s Bees Natural Acne Solutions Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Cleansers, face scrubs or masks
There is no need to use masks or scrubs since they offer little help. A good thing would be to invest in a good cleanser. The best cleansers for acne prone skin are non-abrasive. WebMD recommends getting a cleanser that is specially formulated this kind of a skin. It should:
- Contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
- Be nonabrasive and alcohol-free.
- Contain emollients like lanolin, petrolatum, mineral oil and ceramides
- It can also contain humectants like glycerin to hold moisture in.
The best face wash for acne prone skin should minimize shine. Clear Away Acne recommends several face washes and cleansers including:
- Claridad Glycolic Face Wash
- Facial Cleanser from Exposed Skin Care
- Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash
- Cetaphil Gentle – Cleanser
Best shave creams to use
Men who have acne should take extra care when shaving. Using the wrong products or shaving the wrong way can trigger outbreaks or cause razor bumps. Razor bumps are not acne but pop up when sharp ended hair from newly cut hair turns back into the skin, making it swell.
When purchasing a good shave cream, make sure it’s lubricating, non-irritating or one that contains benzoyl peroxide. You can also use a topical antibiotic aftershave designed for acne-prone skin. As you shave, make sure the razor is sharp so that you do not cut skin or pull on hair. Shave in the hair follicles growth direction(shave downwards) to prevent irritation. Do not splash cologne or any aftershave that is alcohol based since it will irritate skin.
The Men’s Room recommends using non-comedogenic shave creams that do not clog the pores like:
- Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel
- Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort Shaving Cream
- Pacific Shaving Company All-Natural Shaving Cream
Best foundation for acne prone skin
Acne prone individuals are always looking for ways to cover up the problem. The best way to handle this, however, is by treating this skin condition. Trying to hide acne with makeup such as using foundations or acne concealers can worsen it. The wrong foundation if used will trigger more breakouts even on clear faces. Companies that make makeup have also become sly and ingredients mentioned in the labeling are inconclusive or misleading. The wrong product can cause permanent blemishes for people who are acne prone.
Thomas Goodman et al, in their book Smart Face, say that one can no longer trust products that claim to be ‘oil free’, ‘water-based’, ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘dermatologist tested’. Even those that claim to be ‘noncomedogenic’, meaning they don’t clog pores, may not be safe for acne-prone skin. They may not contain animal or vegetable fats but they contain synthetic oil derivatives that make them easier to apply and moist.
Read the label and make sure that water is one of the ingredients. Other ingredients should be non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, oil-free and non-irritating. Those that are mineral based contain ingredients like zinc oxide, silica, and titanium dioxide that help absorb oils, hide redness and cause no irritations or pimples. Dimethicone also helps conceal redness and smooths out skin. Make sure that your makeup is not greasy.
During application, do not use too much, in fact, a little does it. Make sure you also choose a foundation color that blends with your skin color. Cosmopolitan recommends among others, these three foundations:
- Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
- Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation
- CoverGirl CG Smoothers AquaSmooth Compact Foundation
References
- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/understanding-acne-basics#1
- Themensroom.com
- Smart Face By Thomas Goodman, Susan Goodman, Stephanie Young