5 Skin Sins That Are Making You Breakout

When working as an esthetician, I see many cases of preventable breakouts to which my clients are prone. I have a list of questions that I ask. We all know the zit-preventing basics like always washing your face at night and never picking at your face. But, often, we’re contributing to the congestion and consequential breakouts without even knowing it.

Ahead are five questions I ask of not-so-obvious bad habits that can trigger acne. 

1.   Do you clean your accessories, phones and eyeglasses daily to remove skin oils and bacteria?

Sweatbands, headbands, scarves, phones, hats, eyeglasses and sunglasses are all covered in sweat, makeup residue and old hair product, making them key culprits of acne. To avoid these pesky pimples, regularly wash your fabric accessories and disinfect your phone, glasses and headphones at the end of each day. 

Stop touching your face! We all know this but I notice women touching their faces constantly. It’s a habit and we forget. Change wash cloths and pillow cases often as well.  

2.  Do you use cleansing brushes or makeup brushes?

 Cleansing brushes like the Clarisonic are powerful tools that effectively remove dirt and other impurities, but if you aren't cleaning these tools, they become ineffective and cause breakouts. After each use, clean your brushes thoroughly to avoid further irritation. This is also true of your makeup brushes! Makeup brushes are collectors of your skin oils and bacteria. Make sure you are washing your makeup brushes at least once a week.

I use Dawn Dishwashing Liquid Soap for this is what is used to clean industrial oil spills. Rinse them well and set them out to air dry. This will be like having new brushes!

3. Do you work out or do other activities that cause you to sweat?

Rose Facial Toner

Most women today workout at the gym, engage in sports, go to barre and yoga classes or otherwise engage in physical activities that create sweat. You cannot let sweat dry on your skin and stay there. You must cleanse your face after a sweaty activity! Of course, the best thing would be to wash your face. Quite often, this just isn't convenient. Facial wipes are great but expensive or wrong for your skin type. After researching how to make facial wipes, I decided it to be a useless time-consuming task. Here is my DIY recommendation: Use a facial toner such as Shamarwyn’s Rose Facial Toner or Rose and Peppermint Facial Toner. Spray the product on square cotton pads and just stack them together and place them in a zip-lock bag for your purse or gym bag. This way you can replace them as needed.  

4.    What kind of moisturizer are you using?

Oftentimes, we blame acne on oily skin, and opt to skip moisturizer to avoid congestion. This is a mistake! Skipping this crucial step does more harm than good because, to combat the dehydrated state, the skin will produce more oil, which leads to more zits. If you don’t like moisturizers that feel heavy to you try Shamarwyn’s Hydrating Botanical Face Crème. It’s loaded with plant ingredients that absorb quickly into the skin. The main benefit of this light moisturizer is weightless hyaluronic acid that plumps and firms your skin leaving you with only the dewy complexion we all strive for! 

Read here for more on hyaluronic acid and why it should be in your skin care routine

Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Skin Crème

5.  What kind of Makeup Do You Use?

What's the first thing we do when our skin is an acne minefield? We reach for concealer, foundation and, of course, setting powder. We want those zits to be as microscopic as possible but layers of makeup—especially powder—cause a cakey layer that amplifies the bacteria and lifespan of the zits. I always recommend using a mineral powder. True mineral cosmetics are inorganic and do not cause bacteria to grow. (See question 2 above about your makeup brushes) My favorite is Jane Iredale but there are many others to choose from. Most have the added benefit of sunscreen. 

Of course, be mindful of what you eat and drink. Inflammation starts on the inside, in your gut. There is new research on this topic constantly. The same culprits that make you feel physically unwell can also be responsible for the appearance of your skin and breakouts. Inflammation causing foods and sugars also contribute to some of the hormonal breakouts we experience. Stay informed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SKIP HARSH CHEMICALS IN FAVOR OF NATURAL TREATMENTS THAT INCLUDE ESSENTIAL OILS, WHICH CAN BE USED TO INFUSE YOUR SKIN WITH HEALTHY NUTRIENTS WHILE MINIMIZING DAMAGE OR IRRITATION. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF YOUR SKIN, THESE NATURALLY DERIVED OILS ADD FRESHNESS TO YOUR BODY AND BALANCE THE MOISTURE LEVELS OF YOUR SKIN. CHOOSE OILS THAT APPEAL TO YOUR SENSE OF SMELL AND MEET YOUR SKIN’S NEEDS.