I have struggled with acne and blemishes for a huge part of my teenage life. Although it is under control now and I break out far less than I used to, I like to keep my skincare routine targeted at blemish-prone skin for fear that the dreaded spots would return if I switched it to normal. I am also left with a few scars on my forehead (a word of advice: NEVER touch your spots!). My evening skincare routine has been tried and tested, I spent months trying new products and working out what is best for me, and it has really paid off. If you suffer from acne or breakouts, I would really recommend purchasing some of the products targeted at blemish-prone skin as I have tried a lot of products out there and these are my favourites. If you don't, I have also featured some of my favourite products aimed at normal skin.
Firstly, after removing my make up with the
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (I forgot to take a photo), I exfoliate my skin using this electronic cleansing brush and a facial scrub. I have only recently purchased the cleansing brush, but I can already see a huge difference in my skin; my pores are more refined and clean, and my skin has a glow to it. This facial scrub is targeted at imperfection-prone skin, but I think it would work well for anyone. It's important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells on your face and any remains of make-up from the day - otherwise they will just clog up your pores and give you spots! Using this cleansing brush has also helped with some of my acne scarring as it takes away dead skin, leaving them less noticeable and deep.
A few times a week, I like to use a face mask to deeply cleanse my skin. If I have a particular nasty break out, I use the Quick Fix mask but if not, I stick to Simple as it contains no unnecessary artificial ingredients and it feels very soothing and smooth on my skin. I love using face masks as it helps me to relax, I often read a few chapters of a book or paint my nails while I am waiting to remove it.
I was recommended this face mask at a spa day with my mum. It was quite pricey but I can honestly say it has been one of my favourite products EVER. I only use it about once a week, instead of another face mask, as I don't want to use it up too quickly. It is advertised as a "vacuum cleaner for the skin" and I totally agree! It removes blackheads, unclogs pores, reduces the appearance of red spots and leaves your skin feeling fresh and oil-free. You only need a tiny amount to coat your entire face, or you can just dab it onto problem areas, so I definitely think it is worth the money!
After removing a face mask with warm water, or after my first cleanse, I like to cleanse again. I use a softer cleanser for this step and just use my hands to apply it to a wet face. This product is not targeted at blemish-prone skin but I think it has contributed to clearing my skin up, as it is really gentle and doesn't strip your skin of its moisture like some cleansers - which can lead to your skin producing extra oil which can clog our pores up!
This is another product I got on my spa day. I love this range of products as they are very natural and gentle, and don't contain things like alcohol where other brands do. This toner has been working well for my skin. It's important to tone after cleansing as it closes up the pores that would have opened with warm water, ensuring they are not clogged with anything.
Recently I have added this serum into my skincare routine, after reading a few articles about the benefits of using a serum. I don't use it every day as I am not yet used to it and don't want to pile lots of products onto my face, but so far it has been working well for me to apply a tiny amount after cleansing and before moisturising.
I like to use a moisturiser targeted at blemish-prone skin at all times because they usually don't contain any oil. I find this works for me as I am reluctant to put extra oil onto my face. It is important to moisturise even if you have oily skin, because if you don't your skin will think it is dry and start producing extra sebum which will cause blemishes. Occasionally, I mix a drop of tea-tree oil into my moisturiser as it works wonders for my skin, but it is too harsh to apply directly to skin on it's own.
Finally, I dab a small amount of this gel onto any existing blemishes or areas of my skin which feel like they could be forming blemishes. When I first tried this product I hated it, but because I didn't want to waste such a huge tube I decided to be persistent with it. Now, I have gone through a fair few tubes and absolutely adore it! It is non-greasy and really helps to fight spots through the night - I often wake up with completely clear skin and I'm sure it is partly down to this product!
I hope this skincare routine will help those of you who struggle with blemish-prone skin - I know just how upsetting and disheartening it is when nothing works but you really do have to be persistent! Make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day, every day, even if you haven't worn make-up or are too tired. I can't stress how important it is to have this routine! I also recommend drinking more water as it hydrates your skin and flushes out toxins. I didn't mention much of
The Body Shop's Anti-Blemish range but I often switch out these products with some of theirs - they work just as well if not better in some cases! I am in-between orders on their products but as soon as I stock up I will be writing a review.
