Ever look at your skin and wish you could shrink those pores or even out your skin tone? Well, wish no more! Today we’ll tell you how to reach YOUR #ComplexionGoals with the help of some key (and powerful!) ingredients. Simply find your skincare concern below and we’ll tell you which potent ingredient will tackle it, so that the next time you look at your skin you’ll only notice how great it’s looking. “Mirror Mirror on the wall…?” You won’t even need to ask!
COMPLEXION GOALS
Smaller Pores: Salicylic Acid + Retinol
Although you can’t actually make your pores smaller, you can use a combo of two ingredients to give your pores the appearance of shrinking in size. If this is one of your 
complexion goals, you’ll want to make sure that you’re using a cleanser with salicylic acid, which will exfoliate skin and remove any clogging debris. We are big fans of IMAGE’s Skincare MD Reconstructive Facial Cleanser ($25), which has a mix of AHA & BHA exfoliators and Aloe to soothe skin while at the same time paving the way for cellular turnover.
Retinol can also help your pores look smaller by keeping them tight while simultaneously firming skin and reducing fine lines. However, you’ll want to be careful in regards to how many “active” products you use per day and during the week. We recommend you start cleansing your face (at night time only!) with the MD cleanser mentioned above about 3 times a week, making sure to alternate days. Once your skin gets used to that (it should take about 4 weeks), you can switch to a gentle cleanser and add in a retinol cream to your night time routine. We love IMAGE’s MD Reconstructive Repair Creme ($59.90), which contains a highly concentrated blend of retinol, glycolic acid and oil soluble Vitamin C to resurface, rejuvenate, and repair skin as you sleep. But don’t forget to alternate your use of retinol as well, using it only every 3 days.
Clear Skin
Benzoyl Peroxide + Soothing Botanicals will become your besties if you’re looking for clear skin. The benzoyl peroxide will work to clear blemishes and kill any bacteria on the skin, while soothing botanicals like aloe vera or green tea work to reduce inflammation and calm the skin. The best part is that you can absolutely find a variety of products that contain this magic mix, such as IMAGE’s Clear Cell Medicated Acne Lotion ($31) which contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide to really control oil and bacteria while also fighting inflammation with a mix of arnica montana, green tea, and spearmint leaf.
Smooth, dewy skin
If you want glowing skin, you need to do two things: (1) get rid of the dry, dead skin that may be sitting on your skin; and (2) make sure skin is moisturized. To achieve both of these things, you’ll need a cleanser with glycolic acid to exfoliate and smooth skin, as well as a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid which will help hold the moisture on skin. For smooth skin, cleanse at night with the MD Reconstructive Facial cleanser (recommended above) and follow that with three drops of IMAGE’s Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler ($51), a pure serum with a 18% blend of hyaluronic acid that plumps skin and leaves it moisturized in just one application.
Even tone/brighter skin
If you want your skin tone to even out, you’ll need a product that contains a substantial percentage of Vitamin C. When applied topically, vitamin C does wonders for your skin, including improving collagen synthesis for skin rejuvenation, protecting cells from cell damage, and lightening pigmentation. A great product you can add to your skincare routine in order to brighten up skin is IMAGE’s Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum ($56), which has a powerful 15% blend of vitamin C to nourish skin and create a healthy, youthful glow.