Product Junkie: The Best Acne Fighters
Isn’t acne supposed to disappear after you hit the legal drinking age? Apparently, my skin never got the memo—and judging by the plentiful, desperate questions I get on my blog and from friends, the problem is common, indeed!
It’s taken about 15 years of trial and error, but I’ve finally established a regimen for clear, pimple-free skin. Breakouts happen for many reasons, but the top culprits include hormones, stress and bacteria. While acne-prone gals (like moi) will always have to be vigilant—that means no coming home drunk and forgetting to wash your face!—maintaining a regimen will go very far. Here, my trusty superstars:
Clean and Clear Persa-Gel, $5.99, drugstores: Skin has a strange sense of timing: got a big date, huge presentation, or wedding to attend? Surprise! Pimple guaranteed! When a monster sprouts and you need to banish it immediately, this 10% benzoyl peroxide treatment is the best available—and more effective than acne creams 3 times the price.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, $6.89, drugstores: For oily-skinned, acne-prone gals, this 2% salicylic acid cleanser will become your best friend. Use it morning and night (though it removes even eye makeup effectively, I recommend a separate eye makeup remover to avoid irritating the delicate area) and wash for at least 30 seconds. Hands down, my favorite acne cleanser.
Green Cream, $43: Ask any dermatologist: they’ll recommend retinol or retinoic acid as a key part of a skincare routine. Not only will it keep your complexion clear, but—because it speeds cellular turnover, exfoliating skin—it will also help to smooth wrinkles and fine lines. Double bonus! Use at night and apply a moisturizer with SPF during the day.
Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion with SPF 15, $9.99, drugstores: There are countless SPF moisturizer options that won’t make you break out, but Purpose SPF 15 is the one I always return to. It’s cheap, sinks in quickly, provides broad-spectrum protection, won’t irritate sensitive skin, and—critically!—doesn’t clog pores. A true superstar product, derms love it, too.
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Nadine Jolie is a beauty, travel and society writer and the author of Beauty Confidential and Confessions of a Beauty Addict. A former beauty editor at Lucky, Ladies’ Home Journal and FHM, she blogs at JolieNadine.com, TheFairest.com, AOL Shopping and TheGloss.com, and has written for VanityFair.com, Cosmo, Jane and the New York Daily News. She has appeared on the Today Show, Tyra, Showbiz Tonight and CNN American Morning, has been featured as a beauty expert in two infomercials, teaches classes on blogging through Mediabistro, and provides new media/blogging consulting services for beauty brands including Dove, Oral-B, Liqwd and JolieMD. In her free time, Nadine enjoys traveling, polo, stiff drinks and learning how to say ‘Where is the nearest Sephora?’ in new languages.
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