Skincare Manifesto

In general browsing the internet there are so many people out there that are just looking for healthy, glowing skin. It's a dream they chase, a goal for the future. They buy apricot scrubs and the latest in big budget marketing but never really get anywhere. Most products that are marketed for skin are not healthy or helpful to your skin. Any potential good that can be done for your skin is counteracted by common drying ingredients in the form of alcohol, menthol etc.

Skincare is not an overly complicated thing under most circumstances. You need a few basic products that contain helpful ingredients that are both good for and gentle on your skin. There are things you may need to combat but most skin conditions can be treated with a few simple products as well. I'll break down the steps that need to be following and provide links to sample products that will give good results.

1) Acne


Most humans will suffer from acne at some point. Ranging from mild to cystic. Products sold at the drugstore typically contain too much of the main helpful ingredient. You want to get the bacteria out and calm your skin at the same time. Products like ProActiv dry your skin which will cause more acne. Acne in a very basic description is an inflamed pore. When your skin is irritated your pores may collapse or become inflamed. The first thing to do is throw away all products you currently have. You need 3 basic steps from here on out. Cleanse. Medicate. Moisturize.

Cleansing is the process of cleaning your skin. You want to use a very gentle cleanser that will remove dirt and oil from the face while not drying or damaging skin. When you wash your face never use  a face cloth or scrub. Use small gentle circular motions over the skin and then rinse skin. I would highly Recommend the following Paula's Choice product:
http://tinyurl.com/3233aft
 At your local drugstore you should also be able to pickup a very basic cleanser. Cetaphil makes a decent one and so does Spectro. While in College I even used the generic store brand and had great results.

2) Medicate

Studies show that Benzol Peroxide is a very effective ingredient for treating acne. Where most products get it wrong is the strength. Benzol Peroxide will dry your skin. There is no way around it. However the same studies also show that going above 2.5% Benzol Peroxide will not increase the effectiveness. A drugstore product will typically contain 10% BP which will aggravate your skin and potentially cause more acne then it cures. The trick is to find a 2.5% BP product and use it liberally. I will warn you that a 2.5% BP product can be hard to find in stores. I've found Spectro does manufacturer a 2.5% BP product that is effective, but it is expensive and comes in a tiny bottle that may last 2 weeks if used twice a day. I would recommend a 2.5%BP made by Paula's Choice or Acne.org.
PC: http://tinyurl.com/2bzfz6x
Acne.org http://tinyurl.com/2fdueea

3) Moisturize

You can't go wrong with this step. You need a solid moisturizer to keep up the moisture content of your skin. This will keep your skin clear and on the road to being acne free. You want to use a moisturizer that is basic and won't cause any irritation. I can highly recommend Complex15 that can be found at any drugstore. Be sure to get the formula intended for the face as it will blend to a matte finish. A moisturizer from Paula's Choice based on your skintype will also do a fantastic job. I'd suggest using a formula that contains a sunscreen for the day and an emollient moisturizer at night.


You want to be following this regimen twice a day. Morning and night or if you have a different schedule, every 12 hours. If you don't have acne watch this space for another blogpost. I'll be making a post on maintaining healthy beautiful skin and the dos and don't that lead to a great complexion. That routine will work as a great followup to the above routine once you have mostly cleared up your acne.