Pumpkin flavor everything, shorter days, and cooler mornings can only mean one thing: Fall is officially here. But it’s not all fun in the hay- the cooler air can also mean changes to your skin. Have you been noticing flaky patches, breakouts, and/or the sudden appearance of the sun damage your skin racked up over summer? Yep, we know- sudden changes to skin are no fun, but there’s no need to panic! We’ve got you covered with a 30-day plan to help you get your best skin yet by the time Halloween rolls around. So lets get started with your plan for week 1:
WEEK 1: TACKLE BREAKOUTS
Before you start putting all sorts of masks and products on your face, let’s try to tackle one problem at a time. If you are currently suffering from the change of season breakouts, this week we will address that with tips you can implement, one at a time, for seven days.
DAY 1: EVALUATE YOUR MEDICINE CABINET
Do you actually know what you’re putting on your skin? If you are the type of person that never looks at the list of ingredients in your products, now is the time to do so. As you do, pay special attention to see if there are any irritants like alcohol in your products, especially within the first 5 ingredients, since these are the ones that make the bulk of your product. Because acne is a skin inflammatory condition, any ingredient that could possibly irritate your skin will harm and not help your existing breakouts. So do a clean up of your products and throw away anything that burns or stings- that’s not at all the sensation you need.
DAY 2: SHOW ACNE WHO’S IN CHARGE
Sure, you don’t want to irritate your skin while targeting acne, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wage a war on your breakouts- you just got to know how to do it right. Did you know that 40% of people who suffer from acne never tackle a breakout? And while we’re not going to tell you to start picking at your face, we are here to tell you how to show acne who’s boss.
(1) Be Gentle.
Do not use products with harsh chemicals or pile on one acne-fighting product after the other. Also, if you are targeting your acne with products containing salicylic acid (which can be very drying to your skin), make sure you are using a gentle cleanser to round out your routine. In other words, pick one product that targets acne and complement the rest of your skincare routine with gentle products.
(2) Be Patient & Careful.
Do we need to tell you that breakouts sometime take time and that you should absolutely NOT pick your face? More often than not, picking at your blemishes will only exacerbate the problem by adding the bacteria on your hands to your skin and/or irritating blemishes that may not yet be ready to be extracted. Our advice is always to leave extractions to a professional, but if you MUST pick at your face, at least wrapped your fingers with a clean tissue to avoid spreading bacteria to your skin.
(3) Be Consistent.
MD Reconstructive Facial Cleanser, $25
Acne takes some time to go away, and in order for it to disappear from your skin without damaging it, you need to have a skincare routine in place that is consistent. At the very least you should be: (1) Cleansing; (2) Treating; and (3) Moisturizing your skin every single day. Since you’ll be targeting acne, make sure the other steps in your routine are gentle to offset the kick of ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which help keep skin clear of breakouts but which can also dry out your skin. Be also beware that some products can tackle two steps at once, like Image Skincare MD Reconstructive Facial Cleanser ($25), which exfoliates skin with 10% Glycolic Acid and 1% Salicylic Acid for a deeper cleanse while also speeding up cellular turnover for rejuvenation and soothing skin with Aloe extract.
DAY 3: USE SOOTHING INGREDIENTS
This tip keeps in line with what we’ve already said: acne fighting products can be a double-edge sword: effective, but at the cost of inflaming skin and making breakouts worse. It may feel counterintuitive, but fight the urge to layer on acne fighting products and try your best to keep your skin nourished with products that combine acne-fighting ingredients with anti-inflammatory ingredients, like green tea or aloe extract. That way you’re sure to avoid irritation.
DAY 4: GO ON A BREAK WITH YOUR FACE CLEANSING BRUSH
With Fall’s crisp air, your skin may be more sensitive than usual and a cleansing brush this time of year may be too harsh. If you cannot shake off the need to wash your face with a brush, make sure to limit it to only twice a week and to not overly apply pressure on the brush as you cleanse.
DAY 5: HYDATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
Prevention+ Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF32+, $33
Most people confuse hydration with oil, when in fact, oil and moisture are not the same thing. Even if you have oily skin, your skin still needs hydration to function at its best. If you do want to tackle oil, try using oil blotting sheets or switching your lotions and potions for mattifying products, like Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF32+ ($33), a daily oil-free moisturizer featuring a micro-sponge technology that absorbs surface oils and leaves skin with a matte, shine-free finish, while also offering sun protection. Aside from switching to matte formulas, those with oily skin should keep the rest of their routine intact, including moisturizing.
DAY 6: GIVE YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES A BATH
Think about it: You load your makeup brushes with makeup, swirl and dab them all over your skin, and likely toss them back into a makeup bag. It’s a bacteria-ridden cycle that can lead to breakouts. So snap out of the cycle by giving your brushes a bath at least once per week by swirling the bristles in a bowl of warm, soapy water (baby shampoo works great here). Then, rinse and lay brushes flat to dry on a towel until they dry, and voilá!
DAY 7: MAKE OVER YOUR MAKEUP
Remember on Day 1 when we told you to look at the ingredients on your skincare products for possible irritants? The same holds true for your makeup. Certain makeup formulas in particular aren’t ideal for breakout prone skin, like solid products (think stick foundations and cream blushes), since these usually contain waxy ingredients that can clog pores. As always, opt for oil-free makeup products whenever possible.
SEE ALSO:
- Eye Care 101: How to Care for Skin Around The Eyes
- Look Younger: 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Fine Lines and Prevent Wrinkles
- Be ahead of the game… Prepare to WINTERIZE your SKIN
Do you actually know what you’re putting on your skin? If you are the type of person that never looks at the list of ingredients in your products, now is the time to do so. As you do, pay special attention to see if there are any irritants like alcohol in your products, especially within the first 5 ingredients, since these are the ones that make the bulk of your product. Because acne is a skin inflammatory condition, any ingredient that could possibly irritate your skin will harm and not help your existing breakouts. So do a clean up of your products and throw away anything that burns or stings- that’s not at all the sensation you need.
DAY 2: SHOW ACNE WHO’S IN CHARGE
Sure, you don’t want to irritate your skin while targeting acne, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wage a war on your breakouts- you just got to know how to do it right. Did you know that 40% of people who suffer from acne never tackle a breakout? And while we’re not going to tell you to start picking at your face, we are here to tell you how to show acne who’s boss.
(1) Be Gentle.
Do not use products with harsh chemicals or pile on one acne-fighting product after the other. Also, if you are targeting your acne with products containing salicylic acid (which can be very drying to your skin), make sure you are using a gentle cleanser to round out your routine. In other words, pick one product that targets acne and complement the rest of your skincare routine with gentle products.
(2) Be Patient & Careful.
Do we need to tell you that breakouts sometime take time and that you should absolutely NOT pick your face? More often than not, picking at your blemishes will only exacerbate the problem by adding the bacteria on your hands to your skin and/or irritating blemishes that may not yet be ready to be extracted. Our advice is always to leave extractions to a professional, but if you MUST pick at your face, at least wrapped your fingers with a clean tissue to avoid spreading bacteria to your skin.
(3) Be Consistent.
MD Reconstructive Facial Cleanser, $25
Acne takes some time to go away, and in order for it to disappear from your skin without damaging it, you need to have a skincare routine in place that is consistent. At the very least you should be: (1) Cleansing; (2) Treating; and (3) Moisturizing your skin every single day. Since you’ll be targeting acne, make sure the other steps in your routine are gentle to offset the kick of ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which help keep skin clear of breakouts but which can also dry out your skin. Be also beware that some products can tackle two steps at once, like Image Skincare MD Reconstructive Facial Cleanser ($25), which exfoliates skin with 10% Glycolic Acid and 1% Salicylic Acid for a deeper cleanse while also speeding up cellular turnover for rejuvenation and soothing skin with Aloe extract.
DAY 3: USE SOOTHING INGREDIENTS
This tip keeps in line with what we’ve already said: acne fighting products can be a double-edge sword: effective, but at the cost of inflaming skin and making breakouts worse. It may feel counterintuitive, but fight the urge to layer on acne fighting products and try your best to keep your skin nourished with products that combine acne-fighting ingredients with anti-inflammatory ingredients, like green tea or aloe extract. That way you’re sure to avoid irritation.
DAY 4: GO ON A BREAK WITH YOUR FACE CLEANSING BRUSH
With Fall’s crisp air, your skin may be more sensitive than usual and a cleansing brush this time of year may be too harsh. If you cannot shake off the need to wash your face with a brush, make sure to limit it to only twice a week and to not overly apply pressure on the brush as you cleanse.
DAY 5: HYDATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
Prevention+ Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF32+, $33
Most people confuse hydration with oil, when in fact, oil and moisture are not the same thing. Even if you have oily skin, your skin still needs hydration to function at its best. If you do want to tackle oil, try using oil blotting sheets or switching your lotions and potions for mattifying products, like Image Skincare Prevention+ Daily Matte Moisturizer SPF32+ ($33), a daily oil-free moisturizer featuring a micro-sponge technology that absorbs surface oils and leaves skin with a matte, shine-free finish, while also offering sun protection. Aside from switching to matte formulas, those with oily skin should keep the rest of their routine intact, including moisturizing.
DAY 6: GIVE YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES A BATH
Think about it: You load your makeup brushes with makeup, swirl and dab them all over your skin, and likely toss them back into a makeup bag. It’s a bacteria-ridden cycle that can lead to breakouts. So snap out of the cycle by giving your brushes a bath at least once per week by swirling the bristles in a bowl of warm, soapy water (baby shampoo works great here). Then, rinse and lay brushes flat to dry on a towel until they dry, and voilá!
DAY 7: MAKE OVER YOUR MAKEUP
Remember on Day 1 when we told you to look at the ingredients on your skincare products for possible irritants? The same holds true for your makeup. Certain makeup formulas in particular aren’t ideal for breakout prone skin, like solid products (think stick foundations and cream blushes), since these usually contain waxy ingredients that can clog pores. As always, opt for oil-free makeup products whenever possible.
SEE ALSO:
- Eye Care 101: How to Care for Skin Around The Eyes
- Look Younger: 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Fine Lines and Prevent Wrinkles
- Be ahead of the game… Prepare to WINTERIZE your SKIN