It’s cast in movies as one of the great battles of our teenage years. However, many adults can attest to the fact that acne is definitely not confined to that tumultuous time.
Adult acne can occur at any stage of life and its appearance is just as unwelcome as it was in our teens. So, why does it occur and what can be done to banish the breakouts?
If you’ve ever experienced acne you’re likely well aware that it’s not always easy to pin down what’s causing it. Its progression can be affected by a multitude of factors ranging from sebum production to genetics.
Yes, it’s that broad.
There are four factors that have a direct effect on the appearance of acne, and it’s these that your skincare regime can address head-on. These nefarious players are:
With the right approach and some power-packed organic ingredients, your skincare regime can effectively tackle each of these issues.
The problem is, many of us are doing it wrong.
Honestly, your skincare regime could be failing you in a few key areas. This is mainly because, when you consider what’s causing the acne, they seem like the right thing to do.
The obvious place to start is with cleansing. It’s very tempting, logical even, to simply try and wash away the extra oil and bacteria. But using strong, foaming cleansers can strip away your skins’ protective barrier (otherwise known as the microbiome) and upset your natural sebum balance.
In response, your skin will start producing even more oil in order to right the balance. And then we are back at square one.
There is a similar problem with very astringent toners. They, too, strip the skin of its natural protective oils and healthy bacteria, leaving it irritated and open to overgrowth of harmful bacteria.
Thirdly, check your face cream. Keeping your skin soothed and nourished with a good moisturiser is imperative for skin health. If you are prone to, or already suffering acne, look for a non-comedogenic moisturiser that will adequately nourish your skin without blocking your pores.
We recommend a few key products when it comes to fighting adult acne.
Our Refining Cleanser is a natural cream cleanser that will give your skin a deep clean without stripping it or upsetting the protective barrier. If you’ve been over-cleansing with a foaming cleanser it will take a week or so for your skin to adjust and slow down the extra oil and sebum production.
Our two toners will help to balance your skins’ pH levels and reduce any inflammation. Our Tone + Hydrate Spritz will gently astringe the skin, rehydrate and soothe redness. Its’ antiseptic properties will also assist your skin heal and prevent further infection.
The Ultimate Biome Spritz contains the beautiful Kakadu Plum and Green Tea to protect your skin against environmental pollutants. Probiotics improve the microbiome of the skin and strengthen your natural protective barrier.
Repair Face Serum is a non-comedogenic face oil that soothes the skin and assists repair. Two of its star ingredients are Rosehip Oil, to deeply nourish and increase skin elasticity, and Calendula, to soothe inflammation and promote wound healing.
Diet and lifestyle play a critical part in addressing adult acne. These two factors have a huge effect on contributing factors to acne such as hormonal fluctuations, stress, and even underlying systemic illness.
A healthy diet and regular exercise will start to combat the indirect causes of adult acne. Download our Naturopathic Treatment Plan for Acne for our top tips to get started on a healthy, acne-defying way of life.
Bridget x
We are all told that we need to wash our face regularly to keep it healthy. But how do we know if we’re doing it right? Cleansing too frequently, with too harsh a cleanser and using the wrong methods, could be making skin issues worse.
We step you through the reasoning behind cleansing, which cleanser and exfoliant to choose for your skin, and how to use them to the best effect.
I am often being asked for my naturopathic advice when it comes to supplements: what should I take to help my skin? Will supplements make any difference to my particular issue?
Supplements can definitely be helpful when you are not getting sufficient nutrients in your diet but I always recommend looking to food first as its often better absorbed and comes with many more beneficial nutrients.
Having said this I do take a handful of supplements to help with my skin and immune system on a daily basis and so I thought I’d share with you what I take and why.
We get so many great questions about how best to use our products and one of the most recent ones is whether or not I should be using the Lime Caviar Eye Crème or the Brightening Eye + Skin Serum for around my eyes.
