Why adult skin needs a gentler approach
Breakouts aren't only a teenage thing. Hormones, stress, poor sleep, heavy products and even your phone screen can all play a part in adult skin.
The temptation is to throw everything at it: scrubs, strong acids, drying spot treatments. But adult skin is often drier and more sensitive than it once was, and stripping it usually leaves it red and tight while the spots carry on. A calm, steady routine is far kinder.
Please see your GP if your spots are painful, deep or leaving scars. They can offer treatments that skincare can't.
A simple routine that helps
Cleanse morning and evening with a salicylic acid cleanser. Salicylic acid can work inside the pore, which helps keep it clear. AlumierMD Clarifying Cleanser has 2% salicylic acid with boswellia, honey and aloe, so skin feels fresh rather than tight. Afterwards, a mist of Clinisoothe+ Skin Purifier helps skin feel clean and balanced, and it's kind to blemish-prone skin.
Then a clarifying serum. AlumierMD Clarifying Serum uses encapsulated and free salicylic acid to help unclog pores and reduce the look of breakouts. Start once a day and build up to twice if your skin stays comfortable. For oilier, congested skin, ZO Complexion Clarifying Serum is another lovely option, made to reduce the look of shine, congestion and redness.
Moisturise, even if you're oily. Skipping it can leave skin tight and dehydrated. AlumierMD HydraClarité is ultra-light and oil-free, and hydrates without clogging pores.
Finish every morning with an oil-free SPF. Heliocare 360° Acnimat keeps shine down and contains niacinamide to help skin look clearer and more balanced.
Tanisha's tipStart with one salicylic acid product, not three. Once your skin is comfortable with it, you can add the next.
What I'd leave out for now
Grainy scrubs. Rubbing at breakouts tends to make them angrier, not clearer.
Lots of actives at once. Layering several acids, a retinoid and a spot treatment is the quickest way to a red, flaky face.
Heavy, oily creams on congested areas. Lighter, oil-free textures are usually a better fit for breakout-prone skin.
Toothpaste, lemon juice and other home remedies. They irritate your skin far more than they help it.
Patience, and hands off
Skin takes time. Give a new routine eight to twelve weeks before you judge it, and expect a few spots along the way.
Try not to squeeze or pick. It can push inflammation deeper and leave marks that last far longer than the spot itself. Change your pillowcase often, wipe your phone screen, and choose make-up and SPF labelled non-comedogenic.
Salicylic acid isn't for everyone. Patch-test first and wear SPF daily. Avoid it if you're allergic to aspirin, and if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, mention it at your free consultation first.
If you'd like help choosing, our free consultation takes 15 minutes, by phone, video or in clinic, and we'll build your routine around your skin.
