Block Those Breakouts
When it comes to breakouts I think most of us feel the same… we’d rather do without them!
Before we can start treating breakouts we need to try and understand the causes.
The Basics:
Everybody’s skin naturally produces oil (sebum) that needs to escape to the skin surface. This oil can get trapped when the skin does not exfoliate properly and pores get blocked. When this happens the bacteria (Propionibacterium – naturally present in the follicle) start to feed on the trapped oil. This spells red, inflamed trouble!
There are other causes of breakouts some of which can be quite complex. Stress, hormonal fluctuations, and genetics are all factors that can also contribute to acne. Unfortunately some of these can be hard to treat.
Treatments:
I know I have said that some of the factors causing breakouts can be hard to treat, don’t despair! For many people simple routines and using the right products can reduce or even clear breakouts all together. Good daily routines including exfoliating, cleansing and masking can significantly reduce the chances of breakouts and clear them faster when they do occur.
When carrying out your daily routines its important to use the right products, at the right time and in the right quantities. A regular skin analysis and advice from a professional is invaluable.
There are many products on the market claiming to prevent or clear breakouts. Some of them are good others not so good. One of my favourite products is Dermalogica’s Sebum Clearing Masque. This is an absolute SKIN SAVER that everybody should have in their cupboard. As the name suggest it is a mask and all you need is 10mins!
I use it and often recommend it to clients and even my husband. 🙂
The ingredients and what they do:
- Salicylic acid encourages natural exfoliation, helping to rid the complexion of dead skin cells that may clog pores and prevent the oil from reaching the skin surface
- Kaolin and bentonite clay to control excess oil
- Niacinamide and zinc gluconate purify while soothing irritation and redness
- Spiraea and cinnamon bark extracts kill and prevent blemish-causing bacteria, leaving the skin protected and strong
The ingredients in this product should help to clear your complexion and generally leave your skin looking healthier. The cooling mask immediately soothes the hot feeling on the skin and helps reduce redness.
I always recommend an exfoliation before using a mask for best results.
Colette
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