Seeing all these pretty people with perfect, dewy skin while scrolling through social media or paging through a magazine can really shatter your self-esteem.
While most of us already know it, it’s good to be reminded from time to time that nobody looks like that in real life, and even the world’s most famous models and celebrities are prone to blemishes and breakouts. Everyone from Kendall Jenner to Justin Bieber and Chrissy Teigen have opened up about their battles with breakouts and acne, and adult acne is now considered one of the most common skincare concerns in the world.
Even with the right skincare routine, diet and lifestyle, you may still find a pesky pimple pop up from time to time. We created a simple guide to help prevent them, treat them, and hide them:
The power of the right acids
Yes, the word “acid” is always a shock, but salicylic acid and glycolic acid are the two most important skincare ingredients to use when you struggle with breakouts.
- Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid known for its amazing anti-inflammatory properties and exfoliating abilities. It is oil-soluble, meaning it can penetrate the skin’s sebum to get deep into the pores. It addresses many of the causes of acne, breakouts, white heads and blackheads.
- Glycolic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and is great for unclogging pores. When your pores become clogged with dead skin cells and excess oil, you may develop blackheads and pimples. Glycolic acid is an exfoliant that loosens the bonds formed by dead skin cells so that they can be sloughed away more easily.
Perfect your skin care regime
When establishing your daily skincare regime, make sure to include a good quality cleanser, serum and moisturiser in your routine, and add an exfoliator once or twice per week.
Not sure where to start? We have two skincare routines – a glycolic acid and a salicylic acid option – to help you find the perfect combination for your skin, featuring some of our fave products:
- Deep cleanse first: Rid the skin of all traces of grime and make up whilst giving your skin a refreshing boost with Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Cleanser (R149.95).
- Go in with a serum: An overnight serum with 4% glycolic acid is perfect to retexture the skin’s appearance. Try: Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Serum (R295.00)
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise: We love a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser that hydrates the skin whilst helping to control excess oil build-up throughout the day. Our tip: NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Moisturiser (R249.95),
- Exfoliate regularly: Retexturise and exfoliate the skin with a weekly or bi-weekly exfoliating treatment such as NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Pads (R379.95) that are soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid (2.8%) whilst witch hazel helps to tone.
If you prefer a salicylic acid formula, then this is for you:
- Cleanse and clear: Start off by washing your skin with Creightons Salicylic Acid Clay Cleanser (R75.95), which combines Kaolin Clay with Salicylic and Lactic Acids to help absorb excess oil and maintain healthier, clearer looking skin.
- Add the serum: Reduce the appearance of blackheads, blemishes and pores with Creightons Salicylic Acid Serum (R104.95), which contains 2% salicylic acid.
The all-important moisturiser: Soothe and care for blemish-prone skin without clogging pores or being too heavy on the skin. Try: Creightons Salicylic Acid Soothing Lotion (R69.95)- Exfoliate: Help reduce and improve the appearance of blemishes with NIP + FAB Salicylic Fix Spot Patches (R169.95) that contain a blemish fighting duo of salicylic acid and tea tree.
