Blemish Busting Skincare

Blemishes are extremely annoying, and although there's not a lot we can do about preventing hormonal breakouts there are products we can turn to, to reduce inflammation, shorten the recovery time and minimise any scarring. There's nothing worse than waking up in the morning on the day of a special occasion and discovering a blemish of epic proportions has magically appeared, so I always like to have a selection of blemish busters within my skincare arsenal which are ready to tackle any skin based eventuality. On a day to day basis there are products I like to use in more of a preventative measure to help minimise any potential breakouts, and help keep my pores as purified as possible. I also like to have some quick fix treatments which I can turn to should a blemish appear. So today we are sharing our top blemish busting skincare products and the order in which to use them within your skincare routine for the best results.

BLEMISH PREVENTION

Acne affects approximately 95% of the population at some time within their lifetime so it's good to have the prevention is better than cure mentality as sadly there aren't any products which will miraculously make your blemishes disappear completely. The majority of blemishes are caused by the inflammation of the hair follicles and sebum producing sebaceous glands beneath the skin. Sometimes the hair follicles can become blocked by dead skin cells which are shed into the pores leading to a build up in bacteria and a formation of blemishes and/or blackheads. By using more purifying formulas within your daily skincare routine, it can help to minimise sebum production as well as balancing the skin.

Exfoliating Daily Facial Wash

One of the most important daily skincare steps is cleansing the face to remove the buildup of impurities. Skincare experts recommend the double cleanse technique where you use a cleanser to remove the bulk of your makeup and a second cleanse for a more intense, deeper clean. For your first cleanse you could use a facial wash such as the Morrisons So Clear Exfoliating Daily Facial Wash as it'll help to clean the skin as well as manually exfoliating the skin as it contains very fine exfoliative particles as well as antibacterial agents.

Vichy Normaderm Anti-Aging

No matter what type of exfoliator you use within your skincare routine, it's absolutely essential to use a moisturiser to keep the skin as hydrated as possible even if you have oily skin. The Vichy Normaderm skincare range really is excellent as it was designed to help adults that suffer with acne so the products have kinder formulas which don't compromise on efficacy. We've previously featured the Vichy Normaderm Detox here on the LuxMagazine which we also highly recommend. The Vichy Normaderm Anti-Aging Care is a two in one product which targets both wrinkles and imperfections, and is suitable for both men and women of all ages.

The moisturiser contains two 'peeling' effect ingredients; LHA + Glycolic Acid and Vitamin C to make wrinkles appear smoother and pores tightened to reveal a more even complexion with smoother looking skin within seven days. Not only does the cream work to improve the texture of the skin, it also offers 24 hour hydration with a lightweight non-greasy texture which gently mattifies the skin. I was really surprised by how gentle and soothing this cream is considering it contains the peeling effect ingredients, but it leaves my skin feeling very smooth and clear but hydrated too. I like that by using this moisturiser within my skincare routine, it's helping to keep my skin as refined as possible due to the gentle exfoliation from the LHA + Glycolic Acid to help prevent a build up of dead skin cells within my pores thus hopefully keeping future breakouts at bay.

CHEMICAL EXFOLIATOR VS MECHANICAL EXFOLIATOR

The difference between the two types of exfoliator are that chemical exfoliators contains AHA's (Alpha-Hydroxy Acids) and/or BHA's (Beta-Hydroxy Acids) which are gentle acids to dissolve dead skin cells. Manual/Physical exfoliators generally contain scrub particles to physically dislodge dead skin cells. Exfoliation helps to slough away dead skin cells to prevent them from clogging the pores and depending on what type of exfoliator you use, you can use them daily or once to twice a week. By using an exfoliator within your routine, it allows your other skincare products to penetrate the skin better as well as revealing brighter and more radiant skin. Both exfoliator formats are effective but it's completely dependant on your skin type and its sensitivity.

I personally prefer to use chemical exfoliators within my skincare routine as my skin is quite sensitive and more receptive to chemical exfoliation. If you do decide to use a chemical exfoliator within your skincare routine, it's important to wear SPF daily as they can put you at greater risk of sun damage due to a greater sensitivity of the skin so that's definitely something to consider when choosing which exfoliator format is best for you and your skin type.

Chemical Exfoliator La Roche-Posay Effaclar

La Roche-Posay are such a great all round skincare brand and are especially good for those with sensitive skin as all of their products contain their thermal water which is effective for those with skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. The La Roche Posay Effaclar Micro Exfoliant Lotion contains LHA's (Lipo Hydroxy Acids) yet is still suitable for sensitive skin and those that are prone to oiliness, imperfections, blemishes or uneven skin texture. This lotion is a watery fluid which you simply apply to a cotton pad and smooth over the face and neck both morning and night. The LHA's within the lotion work to eliminate excess oil on the skin's surface, unblock the pores and visibly reduce their size as well as dissolving impurities without stripping the skin. It feels very gentle yet effective without causing any stinging or discomfort, but it balances the skin nicely and leaves it feeling refined and smooth.

Manual Exfoliator Clinique 7 Day Scrub

The Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream is dermatologist developed, suitable for all skin types and works to de-flake, polish, clear the pores, refine and lessen fine lines. To use the scrub cream you simply massage it into makeup-free skin and rinse or tissue off to reveal a more balanced, softened complexion. I really like the consistency of this product because it's like a thick lotion with tiny scrub particles which gently buff the skin without being too harsh on the skin. I know some people like their scrubs to be on the 'scrubby' side with larger exfoliative particles but they're not necessarily the best for the skin which is why this Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream is so effective and it's good for men too. I think this particular scrub is a good example that manual exfoliators don't have to be super harsh and damaging on the skin, and I personally really enjoy using it through throughout the Winter months when my skin tends to look quite dull and lacklustre.

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions

So you've woken up, looked in the mirror and then recoiled in horror at the big inflamed spot staring back at you. If you're anything like me, it always tends to happen when I need my skin to look its best so I need products I can rely on that will offer quick and effective results without completely depleting my skin of moisture. It's time for the big guns... the product which always steps up in my time of skincare need is the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Treatment; an oil free medicated lotion which treats existing acne as well as preventing future breakouts. It can be applied morning and night in a thin layer which creates a protective barrier against blemish-causing agents. Not only does the lotion treat the skin but it also helps to lightly hydrate and prevent any peeling and dryness. Blemishes alone are an annoyance but dry, peeling skin surrounding blemishes makes them a nightmare to conceal so this lotion helps to keep the surrounding skin as hydrated as possible.

Truthfully you don't need the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Treatment as well as the aforementioned Vichy Normaderm Anti-Aging Care as they both work to prevent future breakouts, but I like to use the Vichy cream as my daily moisturiser and keep the Clinique Treatment for spot treatments. What makes this Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Clearing Treatment so remarkable is that it delivers its claims—it clears blemishes before they've had the chance to erupt if you manage to catch them in time, so I know I can use it and get quick, guaranteed results. Sometimes spot treatments can be quite harsh and painful as they penetrate to 'zap' the spots, but I don't ever notice any discomfort when using this treatment but it certainly works with inflammation greatly reducing the spot in a matter of hours.

We really hope you find our blemish busting skincare recommendations helpful, and we'd love to know if you've ever tried any yourself? Tell us in the comments below...