Alright, so I've gone over what has helped me deal with acne. Despite how great the products are I suggested, it's not going to get you what we see as perfect skin. You may have left over discolorations from years of chronic acne or just uneven skintone and large pores. The good news is there are more great products out there that will help you go towards great skin while with a few tweaks acne can be kept at bay.
I wanted to preface my recommendations with a bit of information about Paula's Choice. I'm going to be recommending many products from the line and you may ask why. Paula's Choice is a no frills cosmetics company. They don't market lies or make any false claims. Every claim made by the company is based on documented research and every single product has it's own page of citations for any claim that it makes. All of the products are reasonably priced and guaranteed. If it doesn't work for you, return it for a refund. The company is all about responsibility which sets them apart from competition. The cosmetics industry is a massive Juggernaut built around lies and companies not backing their products. Claiming a cream can remove wrinkles is insane and simply a pipe dream.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming:
1) Cleanse.
This is a simple process and the basis for every successful skincare system. Pick a basic cleanser not containing any oils, salts or alcohols. Drugstore brands like Cetaphil and Spectro are basic formulas that will provide great results. I would recommend the Paula's Choice Cleanser.
2) Tone.
Toners have been demonized for a very long time and rightfully so. They are typically alcohol based formulas that sting to put on and really do nothing but iritate the skin. I'm unaware of any toner outside of Paula's Choice that has a helpful formulation. A toner should refresh and provide a layer of moisture. Based on your skintype you may want to pick any of a number of PC's toner.
3) Exfoliate
Exfoliation is a method of convicning your skin to recycle itself. By providing your skin with a mild exfoliant, it's encouraged to create new healthy beautiful skin and exfoliants also remove the layer of dead skin that can give you a dull and rough complexion. Exfoliants do greatly differ based on your skintype. If you have normal to dry skin it's best you use a lotion based product. A lotion will contain helpful, calming ingredients to accompany the exfoliant. A liquid will best serve those with oily to combination skin by not overdrying any dry areas of the skin. A gel is best used by people with oily skin and will spread evenly and smoothly over the skin and help counteract some of the oil production.
Now you need to decide between an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and a Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA). This again really depends on your skintype. AHA is great for acne prone skin where as BHA is not. Both will give similar results. Choose accordingly! Again, I've not found a company outside of Paula's Choice manufacturing quality exfoliants. I'm always open to suggestions.
4) Antioxidents/Medicate.
This step does vary based on your skin. If you have acne, use a quality 2.5%Benzol Peroxide in this step. Visit the thread below to find recommendations. As an acne prone individual myself I go back and forth on this step. I give my skin a break from BP every few days and just use antioxidents.
Antioxidents do dramatically help skin. Skin identical ingredients promote new, healthy skin while giving skin more of the compounds it creates naturally. Antioxidents will also protect your skin from pollution and free radicals.
5) Moisturize and Sunscreen
This step changes a bit based on the time of day. If it's during the day use a moisturizer containing a sunscreen. This will protect your skin from the sun which will in turn prevent wrinkles and aging. During the night use just a basic, helpful moisturizer. I would recommend using a more emollient moisturizer during the night as it will help makeup for a suncreen based moisturizer not being as moisturizing.
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