Adult acne is pretty common for people over the age of 25 and there is no one cure to fix all for this dilemma. People have different types of skin and each type requires a different solution. What works for your friend may not work for you.
Source: Unsplash
It is no wonder that the search for acne-clearing skincare products can get frustrating. But there is actually an easy way to determine which product would work best for you: determine the cause of your acne.
What is adult acne?
Adult acne happens when your hair follicles are blocked by excess dead skin cells, oil, bacteria, or inflammation. This results in a breakout in the skin that shows up as pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.
Source: Pixabay
As mentioned earlier, adult acne often happens after age 25. And this is not just a phase like the ones you had during your teenage years, Study shows that for some women, acne ends with menopause.
Excess oil production
Overproduction of oil is never good for the skin. When most of us have struggled with oily skin during our teenage years, there are actually a lot of factors that encourage excess oil buildup.
Source: Unique Times
One is your genes – you are just wired to have oily skin. Another is if you live in a humid environment. The third is when you wash your face too much or do not use the right moisturizer.
Using the wrong personal products
Another thing that could trigger adult acne is the personal products that you use. These products may either be wrong for your skin type or may contain ingredients that actually trigger your acne.
Source: Pixabay
The makeup, lotions, hair pomades, and other personal care products you use may be too heavy or greasy for your skin. When they come in contact with your skin, they can trigger your acne.
Slow cell turnover rate
Your acne may be triggered by a slow cell turnover rate. For some skin types, dead skin does not shed off easily and they end up clogging your hair follicles and pores. When this happens, your skin become sticky.
Source: Pixabay
The natural secretion of sebum is blocked when your pores and hair follicles are blocked. The sebum happens to play an important role when it comes to making your skin nice and firm.
Your diet
The food you eat may be triggering your acne. Research shows that certain foods can make your acne worse. So if you have acne-prone skin, you should also think back about all the food that you have been consuming.
Source: Pixabay
You are most likely to have adult acne if you eat a lot of white bread, white rice, cake, and soda. The carbohydrates and sugar in these foods will get into your blood quickly. Consider eating healthier
The best ingredients to treat adult acne
So, what should you be looking for when it comes to products that treat adult acne? According to dermatologists, there are certain ingredients that you should be looking out for.
Source: Pixabay
The next time you shop for acne-fighting products, make sure they have the following: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, alpha-hydroxy acids, retinol, sulfur, and adapalene. Read on to find out what are the best acne treatment products in the market today.
Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel
For those with acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin, you should get the Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel from Vichy Laboratories. This is the facial wash that can address your acne, enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, and oily skin.
Source: Vichy USA
This product claims to remove excess oil, dirt, and impurities with just one wash. The product is FDA-approved and contains salicylic acid, which is great to treat adult acne. The formula also has zinc and copper minerals that work well for deep cleansing.
PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash
For those who have oily skin, PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash is the best face wash for you. This product has benzoyl peroxide as its active ingredient, which effectively breaks up dead cells and gets rid of excess oil.
Source: Amazon
The product can clear existing acne not only on your face but also on your body. It is also formulated to prevent new acne breakouts to happen. Take note that this product is not recommended for those who have sensitive and dry skin as the ingredients may be too harsh for you.
SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel
If you have dry skin, you should check out SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel. This is an acid-based facial wash that works as a decongesting cleanser and exfoliating gel cleanser. It is a one of those skin care products where you get your money’s worth.
Source: Amazon
One of its active ingredients is lipo hydroxy acid which does not only helps clean your skin but also even out your skin tone. The formula is specially made so that it does not overdry your skin.
Alumier Acne Clarifying Cleanser
This is the facial wash recommended for dark-skinned beauties who want to deal with their acne and also prevent hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation is when patches of skin become darker in color.
Source: Alumier MD
This acne clarifying cleanser does not only help you deal with acne. The combined benefits of salicylic acid, rice bran extract, and honey to come up with a formula that controls and heals skin blemishes while hydrating the skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial
If you are the type who could not do a skincare routine regularly because you are too busy, this is the acne-fighting product for you. You can use this product just one to two times a week and can still get great results.
Source: Charlotte Tilbury
What makes this product work for adult acne is that it uses three types of hydroxy acids. The combination of these acids helps rejuvenate and brighten up your skin. The Charlotte Tilbury Super Radiance Resurfacing Facial also comes with a magic serum.
CeraVe Acne Control Gel
If you are looking for a good yet affordable moisturizer for your skin, CeraVe’s Acne Control Gel is an alcohol-free formula that is affordable. You can easily buy it over the counter too. CeraVe is one of the most popular skincare brands that you can find in the market.
Source: Amazon
This acne control gel has salicylic acid as its active ingredient which helps clear out acne, prevent new breakouts from forming, and easily dissolves dead skin cells that could be clogging your pores.
Tula Skin Care Clear It Up
For those who want an acne gel that clears out acne and corrects skin tone in one, Tula Skin Care’s Clear It Up is a worthy product that you should check out. The gel has a formula that uses salicylic acid, azelaic acid, and niacinamide.
Source: Amazon
This is also an anti-inflammatory product that helps reduce swelling or redness that comes with adult acne. It also helps prevent future breakouts from starting and brightens dark spots that are left by previous acne breakouts.
Alpharet Clearing Serum
This product may be on the pricier side but most dermatologists would claim that it is worth every penny. This serum has salicylic acid, retinol, and lactic acid in its formula, making it one of the best skin hydrating products on the market that can be tolerated by any skin type.
Source: Skin Better Science
Aside from dealing with adult acne, the product can also give you more youthful-looking skin. The Alpharet Clearing Serum is recommended for those with darker skin types or those who are prone to hyperpigmentation.
Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Concentrate
If you have sensitive skin and you are looking for a more affordable but effective serum, this may be the product that you have been looking for. This serum is water-based, fragrance-free, and silicone-free.
Source: Amazon
This serum will not only help you fight acne but will also help you control blemishes, reduce oiliness, and rebalance your skin so that it boosts a healthier skin environment. This product is perfect for both adolescents and adults.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch
Looking for a simple and hassle-free fix? You should try using an acne patch. And when it comes to acne patches, the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch is one of the best. It does not only clear out your zits but also helps hydrate the skin.
Source: Walmart
The best thing about it is that the patch is waterproof so you can even wear it while you are in the shower. The patch also comes in 24 different sizes to accommodate any blemish size that you would like to treat.
Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Treatment
If you are looking for an effective way to dry up your pimples quickly, you should use EradiKate. This is a spot treatment that works deep into your skin to help control oil production and clear out your pores.
Source: Kate Somerville
All you have to do is place the products on the spots that you want to address. The product is formulated with sulfur which helps control clinical acne. A lot of users swear by its effectiveness to dry up pimples.
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer
If you are looking for one of the most affordable yet effective acne-clearing moisturizers, Cetaphil is the brand for you. It does not only soothe your skin effectively to keep your skin supple and soft but it also clears out your acne.
Source: Amazon
The product contains salicylic acid and probiotics that help strengthen the protective barrier of your skin. With regular use of the product, your skin will be less irritated and will be well-protected.
Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer
Aveeno is a go-to brand for dermatologists when it comes to adult acne. The Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer is a favorite for breakout-prone skin. The good thing about it is that it is actually a great moisturizer for brightening dark spots and helping even out your skin tone.
Source: Amazon
This product is hypoallergenin, oil-free, and non-comedogenic. It also uses soy complex and salicylic acid in its formula to help fight off breakouts. If you are looking for a moisturizer that makes your skin look better, this is a great choice for you!
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen
Some sunscreen brands cause breakouts because of their heavier and oily ingredients. So if you are acne-prone and tend to have oily skin, you should consider switching your sunscreen to La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Sunscreen.
Source: La Roche-Posay US
This product is light on the skin and will not clog up your pores. It is fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic. This sunscreen brand is also formulated for those who have skin allergies as well.
Supergoop CC Screen
If you are looking for an anti-inflammatory sunscreen that would give you a little color then you should try out Supergoop CC Screen! This is a sunscreen that also works as a concealer and it is one of the best buys that you can get.
Source: Amazon
This is one sunscreen that doubles as makeup! The best thing about it is that its formula will not encourage breakouts on your face. It also evens out your skin tone as it stays on your skin and is great for calming irritated skin.