Acne. And the seemingly never-ending battle.
We’ve all experienced acne at some point in our lives. Some unfortunately more than others. It certainly takes a massive toll sometimes and seems to never end. One good day followed by 10 “bad” and ALWAYS before a night out with the girls or a family wedding. While acne cannot be “cured”, it can most definitely be managed.
During my own battle with acne and being a skin therapist, I have picked up a few amazing tips that can help you on your own skincare journey. I always tell my clients, skincare is not an overnight, one product miracle- It’s a journey and it takes time and patience… otherwise we would all look like that Macca’s cheeseburger bun… you know the one! (Click here)
I constantly see a stream of influencers and ads on social media encouraging people to buy their products- full of “buzz words” like hyaluronic acid, AHAs, etc. It also comes from friends or family members who may have the best of intentions with their product suggestions. This can be damaging if you don’t know what your own skin requires. Sometimes you need a super simple routine, sometimes a little more steps. It’s best to ask your skin therapist, dermatologist or aesthetician for what your skin actually needs and to address any issues.
So… the tips.
Stop with the excessive exfoliants. SO many clients come in for a treatment and they have damaged barriers due to over exfoliation- sometimes both chemical and physical. It’s time to ditch the physical exfoliation, full stop. She’s not as cute and effective as what you might think. You could be creating micro tears in your skin and further compromising your barrier. Give your skin a break of a few weeks, then start introducing a chemical exfoliant again- weekly.
Repair that barrier and add hydration back into your skin. At least 99% of the time, the skin’s barrier is compromised. This means that bacteria is able to get through and cause acne. To address this, you need to ensure your skin is getting enough hydration. Use ingredients like glycerin, beta-glucan (my personal fave) and hyaluronic acid. There are plenty of fantastic barrier repair balms. We stock one here called “Relieve it” by Summer+Bloom. So many clients have raved about this changing their skin.
Use acne calming and treating ingredients like salicylic acid and green tea. These work a treat for acne. You can find salicylic acid in many acne products- cleanser, toners, moisturisers, spot treatments etc. It’s a goodie, trust me. Try our “Stay Clear” range from Summer+Bloom or our Tribe Clearing serum.
SPF. Every damn day. I constantly tell my clients, actually just everyone who encounters me- Reapply until you die. It’s important for everyone but will make a massive difference in acne prone people. Find one that works for your own skin…. sometimes it’s trial and error.
Monthly facials. Get a deep clean, clear out the congestion in your pores and get a skin conditioning treatment. Your skin will appreciate the care.
Don’t be afraid of oils. Most people have the understanding to avoid oil based products if you have acne, but that’s the absolute opposite to what you should do. Oily skin is most likely not getting enough hydration. I honestly could talk about oils and acne prone skin forever. Speaking of……..
……….Supple Dew Drops. If you know, you know. These are the acne fighting bestie you’ve been looking for your whole life. They have your back in times of need and they also have your skin barrier’s back too. This was the main thing that actually helped my skin when I was dealing with constant hormonal acne. It’s my holy grail- which is exactly why I have them stocked at Golden Hour. Now so many of you use their babies and they’ve become your holy grails too. I love when clients don’t believe the hype, until I use it in their facials and then after i’m getting messages saying “you were right”….. I know! They’re just THAT good. Below are some unreal before and afters taken from the Supple Skin website. REAL results from real clients. The photos speak for themselves.
Photos from www.suppleskinco.com
Managing acne is about 70% home care and 30% treatments. So start by getting a skincare routine that actually works for your skin and is going to make you feel confident in no time.
Reach out for help. I am always available for skincare advice. We offer services to create skincare routines that work specifically for you and our popular 6 and 12 week acne bootcamps which get fantastic results. It is one of my greatest joys as a skin therapist to see my clients walk in with confidence in their own skin. This is everything we work towards.
Products recommended:
Supple Dew Drops Original or Normal/Dry
Phi Cosmeceuticals Hero Serum
Tribe Clearing Serum
Summer+Bloom Stay Clear range
Head to our shop to purchase these fab products.
